Maybe I'll Play the Lottery

I don't know why I'm giving you all a work update, I think I just need to vent or something. Anyway, here's the deal: My gung-ho and eternally optimistic workaholic boss has another new business plan, which makes something like a million in the past few months (I'm exaggerating, but yeah). In this one, he's decided we need the help of investors, and has hatched some crazy investment plan wherein they get a huge return on their money since we're what you'd call a "high-investment" risk. That's akin to saying wolverine-juggling is a "high-blood-loss" sport. In other news, once my cuts heal, I'm considering turning pro.

Anyway, he says he has an investor lined up, but that it could also fall through at any second. Basically, the pattern here has been any time something is imminent or my boss has a great plan that's sure to succeed, it doesn't pan out and we spend the next few months the same way we spent the previous few - gradually billing a little more, not really going anywhere, still suffering from poor organization, and increasing bad morale with cruddy work conditions and low pay. The other programmer and I are pretty much fed up with the cycle - my boss makes great speeches and has ambitious ideas, but all talk and no action makes for a pretty uninterested Geoff. I know what you're thinking, why don't I take initiative and make suggestions myself or start the work towards change? Because I get the impression it won't matter, and I'm frankly beyond caring - yes, my typically cynical responses, but I'm 99% sure this company is not gonna make it, with or without my heroic efforts, and that makes it hard to want to invest in it's future, especially when I don't like a lot of what I do.

What today's little talk about investors and the business plan basically boiled down to this, for me: We MIGHT move to better working conditions if we can convince some crazy investor we're worth the effort (for the record, the product IS pretty great, but something isn't quite working with the company), and then it'll be at least 8 more months (read: probably twice as long), if everything goes ok, before we get a raise from the piddly wages we make now. That's just not acceptable to me - I understand why they want to put everything back into the business, but part of that is us, and when we've been going on a year and a half at the same pay rate per hour (which, by the way, is slightly less than I made while working produce at the grocery store, and now less than my roommate makes after 5 months at his job with the same degree as me and less qualifications), I think we've got a right to be fed up, especially when we've supposedly been able to see this "light at the end of the tunnel" for a while now. For crying out loud, we don't even get benefits. We get coffee if it's remembered, and a box of donuts if decadence rules the day. Last time I looked, "Caffeinated and Fat" was not the ideal state for employees. It's one of my personal preferences, but then again, I march to a different drummer. A fat and caffeinated drummer. Which also describes me. Oh ho, the circular nature of my own ramblings.

So yeah, I guess I'm venting, and also affirming the fact that, once I figure out what I'm gonna do with myself, I'm outta here. I just don't like it enough to stick it out, especially when it's not even providing enough recompense to pay for health needs, support any hobbies I might have, or plan for a future, which I hear is what responsible adults do.

In other news, I would like some pizza. Or maybe a pizza trophy.

Also, vote now: Star Wars Stormtrooper army vs. Genetically-Engineered Fighting Bunny army - who wins, and why?