And... I'm Done!
Well everyone, I guess this is it for Canadia Mania. All my stuff is back in Massachusetts. In fact, I'm not even writing from my apartment. I'm doing this update from work as I have no internet access. I kind of feel like I'm back in the stone age. No chair to sit in, no TV and no internet. How the hell did people live?
So I'm here until Wednesday and that's it. I've got a light, 3 pairs of dumbbells, a couple dishes, some mementos, bathroom items (shower curtain, toothbrush, etc) and 15 bottles of Samuel Adams. I wish there was a way to polish them off. Taking them back across the border isn't too tough, it's just one more thing to carry and I hope the change in temperature doesn't skunk them. Otherwise it would be a true waste.
This company really has its head up its ass. Tons of opportunity but due to poor execution, they're not where they could be. I moved up here just about a year ago. Was promised this, that and the other and that after I left in 2 years, things would be great, I could move back down, etc etc. Well, that wasn't reality. Reality was that I never had the budget to do what I proposed. Despite that, we made due, regardless of the bullshit that had to be dealt with as a result. Then we get this new SVP promising everything under the sun to my boss, so they cut my contract a year early, and all kinds of shit is messed up.
One recent development is that we have a new president for all of North America who told my boss last week it doesn't make sense to move service from Canada to the US. It's cheaper and easier in Canada. Well that makes me feel a little better since that was part of my basis for recommending the move last year. But now things are once again on hold. Either way, I'm done in Canada. It still falls under me, but I'll manage it from the US until they either migrate it totally or find another sucker to deal with it.
Canada has too many bosses, not enough workers. Everyone wants something done, noone knows how to do it. In the past month as I've been slowly sunsetting things, everyone is beginning to realize that they need to learn fast cuz I'm not going to be their crutch anymore. But on the US side, there are a lot of operational issues that also need dealing with. Essentially, this is turning into an oil/water relationship and I'm stuck in the middle. My interim boss in the US is just never available. And when things go wrong, he pushes it to me to be fixed. Fine, it gets fixed, but I look like the asshole. The only problem is, I can't really complain to my boss in Canada about it cuz, he'll go to his boss, who goes to the SVP in Maynard, who comes to my interim boss and guess what.. I get shit on. It's really fun.
The problem is, and I'm not sure they realize it yet or not, is that both teams are kind of screwed without me. Canada won't have a connection in the US to get things done, and the US won't be able to fully support Canada without me. So Friday I should be getting my relocation bonus. Once I have it, and see what the stipulations for me are in regards to it, I'll see what happens.
Ultimately, I'd like to get it, stick it out in Maynard through the holidays then find something closer to home. But if they do what they did last year and make me sign on for a year, then that could be a problem. If I leave voluntarily, I have to repay the bonus. If I get laid off or terminated involuntarily, I don't. The problem is, I don't know what the deal is just yet. If I have to sign on for a year, I might be better to let this shit continue so they think I'm a poor performer. I'd hate to leave on a bad note after putting in 2 years, but if I have to do it just so things work out, well, I will.
So I have a meeting with my Canadian boss tomorrow to discuss what's going on with the migration as well as my own personal concerns and recommendations. We'll see what happens.
Either way, that's it for Canadia Mania. I'm all moved in with Julie in Thorndike and plan on being there for a while. Feel free to check back now and then. Maybe I'll decide to start up a new blog, though Thorndike-Mania just doesn't have the ring. Plus I won't have as much time to dedicate to it. But then again, you never know. So check back and see what's up.
Annnnnd.... I'm done.
So I'm here until Wednesday and that's it. I've got a light, 3 pairs of dumbbells, a couple dishes, some mementos, bathroom items (shower curtain, toothbrush, etc) and 15 bottles of Samuel Adams. I wish there was a way to polish them off. Taking them back across the border isn't too tough, it's just one more thing to carry and I hope the change in temperature doesn't skunk them. Otherwise it would be a true waste.
This company really has its head up its ass. Tons of opportunity but due to poor execution, they're not where they could be. I moved up here just about a year ago. Was promised this, that and the other and that after I left in 2 years, things would be great, I could move back down, etc etc. Well, that wasn't reality. Reality was that I never had the budget to do what I proposed. Despite that, we made due, regardless of the bullshit that had to be dealt with as a result. Then we get this new SVP promising everything under the sun to my boss, so they cut my contract a year early, and all kinds of shit is messed up.
One recent development is that we have a new president for all of North America who told my boss last week it doesn't make sense to move service from Canada to the US. It's cheaper and easier in Canada. Well that makes me feel a little better since that was part of my basis for recommending the move last year. But now things are once again on hold. Either way, I'm done in Canada. It still falls under me, but I'll manage it from the US until they either migrate it totally or find another sucker to deal with it.
Canada has too many bosses, not enough workers. Everyone wants something done, noone knows how to do it. In the past month as I've been slowly sunsetting things, everyone is beginning to realize that they need to learn fast cuz I'm not going to be their crutch anymore. But on the US side, there are a lot of operational issues that also need dealing with. Essentially, this is turning into an oil/water relationship and I'm stuck in the middle. My interim boss in the US is just never available. And when things go wrong, he pushes it to me to be fixed. Fine, it gets fixed, but I look like the asshole. The only problem is, I can't really complain to my boss in Canada about it cuz, he'll go to his boss, who goes to the SVP in Maynard, who comes to my interim boss and guess what.. I get shit on. It's really fun.
The problem is, and I'm not sure they realize it yet or not, is that both teams are kind of screwed without me. Canada won't have a connection in the US to get things done, and the US won't be able to fully support Canada without me. So Friday I should be getting my relocation bonus. Once I have it, and see what the stipulations for me are in regards to it, I'll see what happens.
Ultimately, I'd like to get it, stick it out in Maynard through the holidays then find something closer to home. But if they do what they did last year and make me sign on for a year, then that could be a problem. If I leave voluntarily, I have to repay the bonus. If I get laid off or terminated involuntarily, I don't. The problem is, I don't know what the deal is just yet. If I have to sign on for a year, I might be better to let this shit continue so they think I'm a poor performer. I'd hate to leave on a bad note after putting in 2 years, but if I have to do it just so things work out, well, I will.
So I have a meeting with my Canadian boss tomorrow to discuss what's going on with the migration as well as my own personal concerns and recommendations. We'll see what happens.
Either way, that's it for Canadia Mania. I'm all moved in with Julie in Thorndike and plan on being there for a while. Feel free to check back now and then. Maybe I'll decide to start up a new blog, though Thorndike-Mania just doesn't have the ring. Plus I won't have as much time to dedicate to it. But then again, you never know. So check back and see what's up.
Annnnnd.... I'm done.
posted by Surviving In The Burbs at 10/17/2005 04:57:00 PM
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