The software development process — that is, the process by which software is developed — is both cyclical and iterative. I won’t bore into your brain with the nitty gritty, but a byproduct of the fluidity is that engineers are changing the software right up until the release. So, as a technical writer, I spend the last 2 weeks before a release in total documentation frenzy: Changing old content, writing new content, keeping track of unresolved issues, putting my face in my hands and crying, and secretly praying for a show-stopping bug that will push the release date back a few weeks.
Yes, it’s crunch time at work.
When I stress out, I tend to crave very particular foods. Today’s hankering was for Fruity Pebbles cereal. Screw you, oatmeal! I want my carbohydrates to be as simple as I wish life were!
Since confinement to the office left me unable to avail myself of Fruity Pebbles, I instead consumed massive quantities of Zen tea from Tazo (“a harmonious blend with lemongrass and spearmint”). When I wasn’t hunkered over my laptop or skyping co-workers for information, I was getting Zen tea in the kitchenette and getting rid of Zen tea in the bathroom.
Zen tea sounds as if it’s calming, soothing, a real aura stabilizer, but I have my doubts. Today’s low point: During a meeting, a co-worker evoked the maxim “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” I piped up: “Try using a chock collar, or kicking it.” Woah! Where did that indirect condonation of animal abuse come from? Was it the lemongrass?
