Wendnesday 14th September - Politics

Posted on 2005/09/14 16:25:56 (September 2005).

Playing politics it's a rather stressfull job. Today I have had to meet several people to see if they were still interested in making the proposals of Friday's meeting actual. So far I have had one definite dropout, but I am pretty sure that there will be others soon, I'd be happy if all in all we would settle for a count of three people going out from this group.
Being a leader is not easy, and certainly I am not one, let's say that I am trying to pretend to be one. For sure it's nice when you speak with people sharing your point of view, or at least listening to you with attention and respect. On the other side, people who think that you are just doing it for some secret agenda, or generally are non-cooperative, tend to get me down a bit.

Today's person of choice is another colleague of mine, the system administrator.
He's a very big man, quite tall and well built. He's not so youg anymore so let's say that part of the muscles have turned into "beer belly". He always dresses up with very old clothes, rarely matched, with his "kind-of messed up " look from 30 years ago. He doesn't care if we are in a "fashion" business, he's a computer administrator, knows his AS400 like the back of his hand, that's enough.
Smokes a lot, though he doesn't appear to be a nervous individual, I think it's just another habit picked up when he was younger. Has a lot of ideas, dreams, but in the end he's the "computer bloke", who listen to a "computer bloke"?
A truly marvellous guy. Kind, happy, very professional. I respect him a lot.

You cannot find many people like him, simple, honest. I think he's a rare Italian, works his arse off, never complains too much, follows these fools and their crazy ideas. Well I don't want you to think that we are a complete arse of a population don't I ?!

Is he married ? Judging by the way you describe him, he looks like an old bachelor who couldn’t cut the umbilical cord which ties him to his teenage years. Apart from computers, what are his interests ? You say he’s got dreams. What sort of dreams ?

Posted by Sheri at 2005/09/14 19:01:49.

About your meeting. A 20 km displacement… is it such a big deal ? I mean, some people drive 60 km (and even more) to go to work every day.

Posted by Sheri at 2005/09/14 19:03:12.

Hi Lox: I used to be a systems administrator but I don't think I match this guy's description. Maybe this is why I am no longer a sys-admin!! :)

Posted by Nigel at 2005/09/14 20:30:08.

You've got to admire those little IBM mini's though, haven't you....?

Posted by Nigel at 2005/09/14 20:33:09.

Sheri: I think that he would like to leasrn more new stuff, but he's not allowed. Unfortunately his wife died and he never re-married or anything. As for the 20km it's not the distance, it's the plan behind it that is completely bonkers.

Posted by Lox at 2005/09/14 22:16:53.

Nigel: I guess that computers do wear you down after a while. Maybe it's a bit of a cliche, but that's my experience. I was a sys-admin before and I used to be like that. Now, to be honest I miss it, computers are easier than people and every now and then I 'd like to go back to that world. As for the IBM mini's... dunno... maybe because I cannot understand them compeltely!! They are stylish though!

Posted by Lox at 2005/09/14 22:19:20.

Lox, you’ve got talent at writing. I do a bit of writing myself, though I haven’t published anything so far. Fact is, people around me lack critical judgement. I need someone else’s opinion. I have a ‘project’ and perhaps you could be part of it. Have you ever heard of La Fontaine’s fables. These tales (about two hundreds) were written in the seventeenth century and yet they’re still very alive, cose they talk about our vices and bad habits which, basically, haven’t changed since men are men. What if we were to update them, insert La Fontaine’s witty stories in today’s context ? Keep the plot, but create contemporary characters in a modern framework. Something that can be read both by children and adults. We could ask John to correct our English and give his opinion. What d’you reckon ?

Posted by Sheri at 2005/09/15 08:03:18.

Who's the monkey (oddly dressed with a red sweater) on the above picture ?

Posted by Sheri at 2005/09/15 08:10:12.

Sheri: Why not? I am writing a book myself (actually 2) but you plan seems really cool. I need to buy the book, I need the title, as I haven't read any La Fontaine's tales. I'll buy an English version if I can find it in Milan (or over the internet). I'm on for it! :)

Posted by Lox at 2005/09/15 08:44:26.

Wonderful Weblog. I add this Blog to my bookmarks.

Posted by Bob Molding at 2011/11/05 21:00:40.

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