Some people have asked me, "How's work?"  I will oblige with the following short story:

I finished most of the Advanced Reports UI in December.  I was shown the next project--the Financial Export system.  Here is a short version of the conversation:

"Here are the specs.  How long do you think it'll take you?" Me: "I want to do it the right way this time--draw everything up before I start.  A week, maybe a few more days, to do a thorough job of planning--including the common module we talked about; three weeks to code; and one, two to test.  This includes if things go wrong." "Hmm...  I'm thinking of pairing someone else with you on this one." Me: "Okay.  Definitely let me have that week or so to plan it out so we avoid miscommunication and can start doing things in parallel.  Working together for the first time might push the project back some." "Sure.  By the way, we wanted it done by the end of January.  We promised someone we'd have it out some time in February." Me: "...  Uh..."

So, yeah.  It turned out I didn't have the other person programming with me, after all.  For reference, that doesn't bother me at all since I am used to programming by myself--I have never had someone else programming with me.  Never.  Ever.  Anyway, I got it done by the end of January, came up with some really cool ways to do things via JavaScript and some others via AJAX .Net.  I'm happy.

And there's more:

Friday, February 3 - "You looked through the Payroll Export specs, right?  Go ahead and start on that." Me: "Sure.  It's only a few pages and the functionality is very similar to the Accounting Export system.  No problem." "By the way, we were thinking of having it done by the end of next week--the 10th." Me: "Umm...  Sure." Three and a half hours later... Me: Semi-psychotic laughing "What's wrong?" Me: "I've done a few tests and, save for the stored procedure someone else will do, I think I'm done." " ???  What?" Me: "Check it out." "..."

I can just see it now: in an interview for another job, I will be asked why I was dismissed from my current job.  I will answer, "I ran out of things to do."  That tickles some bone; I don't know which right now.

The point: I began and completed programming a system in the same day.  I will now joke the reason I haven't been offered full-time work is because I will soon catch up which those writing the specs.  I don't like not having anything to do at work; it makes me feel guilty.  Therefore, I'm fine with the way things are.

To any colleagues reading this: It happened that way and I'm delighted I finished so quickly.  This post is not meant to be read into; take everything at face value--that's how I'm writing it.