Walking in Memphis

Got up at 5:15 or so this morning to get ready for the flight out -- I
had a 7:40 flight to Memphis from Intercontinental, and since I never
really fly out of there much, I didn't know how long to allow. Anyway,
I ended up sitting around for about 45 min before being able to get on
the plane and get out of town.

I got to Memphis about 9:30 and caught a cab to Harrah's, our client. I
met up with Rick, a consultant / contractor that is working for us
there, and went over where he is on the project. It's behind schedule,
and the client's PM is frustrated -- and not real satisfied with our
contractor...

I basically needed to do three things today: 1. Figure out why he was
behind schedule; 2. Get a feel for him as a person / his ability to
deal with the remainder of the project on his own out there; and 3.
Figure out how to make the best out of a difficult situation, with the
client a bit frustrated.

Answers were not really what I wanted -- that's all I'll say -- but I
think overall we'll get the project done, and possibly continue to get
work, but just not with Rick there. I think they'll want someone else,
just based on what I'm hearing. I hate that, too -- I knew we should
have put one of our Aces there, and backfilled another project with
contract talent. Putting a contractor out there alone was just too much
of a risk. Not my decision, though...

I was done by 1:30 and ended up heading to the airport early to try to
catch a flight home early, but no use. Weather in Houston was tying up
air traffic, and my 3:00 flight didn't end up taking off until about
5:30. Got home at 9, ate Pei Wei, watched some baseball, and did a bit
more work. Katie went to bed after the baseball game

I'll kiss the boys in a minute and slide into bed myself -- I'm already
packed for the second half of my week's travel. Dallas tomorrow morning
to Friday.