That didn't take as long as I thought to find something else to do.

So the office was caught off guard when the gig ended six weeks early. I wish I could say that it was because I'd wrapped up the project that far ahead of schedule, but, alas, I think they were unsatisfied with me. I was certainly unsatisfied with them, and maybe it showed.

I showed up, and the project they wanted me to work on was not ready. This happens. They gave me some busy work to keep me entertained while they finished getting the project prepared. That never happened. They used me for piece work and lame make-up stuff, with no specifications, no deadlines, no guidance, and very low expectations. I think I delivered. I took any opportunity to leave early or arrive late, often on the same day. I never just skipped work, but when I had a mid-day appointment, I'd not drive across town twice, and would work on the ASP-to-JSP conversion from home (I copied the code to my thumb drive--my home PC is faster and my monitor bigger...so there). I wasn't given anything with which I could impress them, and I took it down another level by not impressing them with the lame stuff I was given. Bad state of mind, I guess.

I say this now because as I was at the office getting the details for my new gigs, I was admonished for the way I behaved, and told that I need to redeem myself. Internally I took it both ways I could; I should have done better as I am a professional and expert at what I do, and I'm not sure I should need to redeem myself after working with these people for five years on a half-dozen satisfied projects, most of which end with a plea for me to take a full-time gig. I pledged to do better on this next one, which is also not exciting, but at least matches the same timeline (end of this year).

Of course, as soon as I get home, I get a call from another recruiter that I had previously contacted and she's got a Lead Java Architect gig for me just a few blocks from my house. I told her I was making just a couple dollars more an hour than I really am, and suggested even more would be better, but less wouldn't be at all, and she didn't balk. The company is interviewing over the next couple weeks and would like to start someone in the next couple weeks after that as this person would be integral in assembling the team that would be working on the projects (I already have some people in mind). The timeline is close, and if I did take it I'd either have to get them to postpone, or I'd have to bail early. I've never left early from one gig for another, although I have left early 'cause I finish, so that's what I'll have to shoot for.

When it rains it pours, right?