In the last week, I've added several folks to the distribution list for this web log, so I'd like to step back and bring everyone up to date. In March I was laid off from my job as a manager at IBM. I started a web log as journal of my activity while I was out of work. This week I returned to work on a contract, meaning that I'll be working as an hourly employee for several months. I have recast this web log to record the goings-on as I return to work.

It's also important to remember what it is that I do for a living. Even those who worked with me weren't always sure. In brief, I am a technical writer, preparing documentation primarily for computer software products. I've been doing something like this for close to 25 years. In that time, I've also done related work, managing people, projects, and computer systems. At the core, though, I've focused on improving the way that a company manages its technical information to help its customers do their jobs.

Toward that end, I spend a lot of time on what may seem like peripheral activities: investigating new ways for technical writers to create, manage, and publish the technical information. Yesterday I was working on a particular problem (using Emacs for DITA authoring, for those of you who care about such things), when the senior manager of the group stopped by. I explained to him what I was doing. "How does that help us?" he asked. So I explained how this work fit into their process-improvement strategy. He seemed to buy it, because the discussion then veered off to a more general discussion of how the strategy was being developed and rolled out to the group. For me, it was a day of play that someone is willing to pay for. That's a good day at work.

We're in a gray and rainy stretch, making it all the easier to go to work. This weather pattern may continue for another week.

For now I'm not planning to bring a lot of personal stuff to my office, perhaps just a few reference books. It's a nice enough cube, large by some standards, with six-foot walls. In previous jobs, I'd spend 10-12 hours a day at work, so it was natural that my office would become a second home with a change of clothes, refrigerator, and many personal effects. My contract limits me to 40 hours per week and only for a few months in duration.

My iPod is the only personal accessory that I bring with me. Its eight-hour battery gives me just enough music for the work day. I like playing disc jockey. Some days I wander through the whole collection; other days I'll listen to just one artist. Yesterday it was Van Morrison.

Last night Sandra and I went out to dinner with son Mike. He's an interested guy, always asking good questions. Lynn and the kids are on vacation in Vermont this week. He'll join them this weekend.

In conversations with my new co-workers and others, I'm finding that a lot of people were out of work for a long time, a year and more. Theirs is the tone of shipwreck survivors, glad to be on the beach, any beach, away from the waves and the sharks.

Two players from the Red Sox, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, hit two-run homers in last night's all-star game. Now, if the Sox can pull off the trade for Randy Johnson, life would be really good. RJ is grandson Joe's favorite player.

Yesterday was a quiet day at work, spent reading and taking care of administrative tasks. I'll meet a couple more people today, including the leader of my project.

It's not as easy to read and send my personal email from work. I like to keep personal email separate from work stuff. I use a web-based email reader that isn't as elegant as the stand-alone email programs such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, and others. There's a nifty web-based service at Oddpost.com. I've used them before and may do so again.

I went grocery shopping on the way home yesterday. That's another adjustment resulting from my return to work, tending to the household chores. I'd been shopping, washing clothes, going to the post office, feeding the birds, and such during the day when the crowds are smaller. Some things will now be done at different times and probably a few things won't get done at all.

We've embarked on a new season of socializing at the camp. It started with having our grandsons stay overnight on the 4th. We had company last weekend and will again this weekend. It makes us look at the place differently, trying to make it more welcoming to visitors. Sandra painted a couple of signs that we hung on trees along the dirt road. We're also learning to cook differently, using the little gas stove and the outdoor grill.

So, as we approach the middle of the work week, my mood is good. I'm still a bit nervous about having to do real work, but believe that it'll be ok. I'll talk more with the people who were out of work a long time to find out how they made the transition.

I made it through Day One with nary a bump or bruise. Because a couple of the key people weren't available in the morning, I worked just the afternoon. My new work computer was ready for me and most of the administrative chores were in good order. My manager, George, introduced me to his team. The people are very nice. Day Two will be a challenge because I have to remember the names of all of the people. I will go around the office area this morning and check names on the cubicles. I spent most of yesterday afternoon reading, familiarizing myself with the company's policies, procedures, and standards. It will be another day or two before I'm expected to do real work. I have a laptop at work and may be able to work from home once in a while.

The most tiring part of the day was the commute home. It's been many months since I've driven in a Massachusetts rush hour. I'd forgotten, but quickly remembered, the tricks of the road. When I was commuting to Lexington, I would send a wackiness report to Sandra every morning. On this day, the wackiness was about average, but it was a lot for this guy.

You might detect my reserved attitude toward this job. Make no mistake. I'm very grateful for the opportunity and look forward to doing a good job. It's just that, well, knowing that this is temporary is quite a distraction. In many ways, though, this is a good next step. It gives me a chance to reacquaint myself with the work and technology, to sharpen my technical skills, to learn how to work again. I learned that my job was going away last September. I started looking for work full-time in February. In this business, that's a long time to be away. This job will make me ready for whatever is next.

I put the original web log in http://www.queenlake.com/blogs/roasterboy-original.html.

Today I start a contract writing job. The job should last a few months. In the meantime, I'll continue my search for permanent work. (I use the word permanent advisedly. I may have mentioned this before, but I heard one person describe work as the thing we do between layoffs.) I have a couple of interviews in the queue that I'll need to schedule around my new work day.

So, how do I feel about returning to work? Mixed. It's a good group of people. It will be good to use my mind again and to be in regular contact with people. As I noted earlier, I've experienced a sharp drop-off in the amount of email that I receive. It will be good to rejoin a working team. Oh, and the money will be nice. On the other side, it's difficult to get really excited about something that is temporary. In the past few years I've thrown myself headlong into my work and have experienced all of the joys and bumps of such intensity. With a contract job, we don't reach that level of involvement. Also, in some past contract positions, I've even been invisible, there to do a job and all but ignored by the full-time staff. This group may be different. I hope so.

Last week I sank into a blue mood for several days. I'm doing better now. I have a wonderful family that supports and encourages me. I'm truly blessed.

I started this web log as a way to record my activities and thoughts while I was out of work. I should, then, retire this journal and start another with a new theme. Watch for the further adventures of Roaster Boy.