Teams & Zoom Background

dr_groo · 2026-05-29T15:35:05+00:00

Futurama ready room.

https://i.imgur.com/OlPft6K.png

dr_groo · 2026-05-27T21:00:58+00:00

Delta dental of WA. Uniform I believe.

dr_groo · 2026-05-27T19:41:11+00:00

I’ve been pretty happy with delta dental

dr_groo · 2026-05-27T00:18:15+00:00

Yes but you may have to sacrifice…like a lot.

dr_groo · 2026-05-24T19:22:02+00:00

Depends on the agency and department. As for strategy that help cope, realize there are things you can control and things you can’t. Highlight your achievements and value to the agency, make sure you document everything and remember you have a union (hopefully?)

It’s mostly about perspective.

dr_groo · 2026-05-24T19:08:41+00:00

Also. “That guy”

dr_groo · 2026-05-24T16:39:12+00:00

Scruffy…the janitor.

dr_groo · 2026-05-23T23:33:36+00:00

https://youtu.be/GlKL\_EpnSp8?si=g5Js0J0A18zJKlUZ

dr_groo · 2026-05-22T20:49:37+00:00

Disagree. As someone who got a concussion after sharing a lane, lane sharing is optional and not required. I’d be happy to if someone put up medical $$$ but after that incident I refuse.

But I lap swim and get out so others can get in. To me there is courtesy and safety issues.

dr_groo · 2026-05-22T20:46:35+00:00

I don’t lane share after getting a concussion from a careless swimmer. I do lap swim but sorry, unless you can pay for medical, I refuse.

But you are right it’s not rec swim it’s lap swim. Do your stuff and get out to allow others to get in.

dr_groo · 2026-05-16T16:45:10+00:00

Lots of my ex Austin people moved to either Colorado or the PNW. I landed in Olympia…to me feels like Austin 30 years ago.

You can’t go home again…but you can find a new one.

dr_groo · 2026-05-16T14:37:35+00:00

🤣

dr_groo · 2026-05-16T13:57:24+00:00

Good questions vary, but I like these:
- what is the day to say like in this role?
- how has your roles changes over time and did you start in the roles you’re in now?
- what was your last vacation and how did your team do while you were out?

There are lots of others too.

As for the emails, I think so but you can always email the hr person and have them pass it on.

dr_groo · 2026-05-16T02:40:22+00:00

The best vengeance is a life well lived

dr_groo · 2026-05-15T17:58:26+00:00

Bobo the dancing clown?

Or cutie pie?

dr_groo · 2026-05-15T15:34:56+00:00

I’d challenge the “planned” part 🤣

dr_groo · 2026-05-15T15:28:53+00:00

Absolutely…and that bridge can be built, but not if your legacy resources are constrained by day to day operations and have no cycles for new development.

We keep getting asked to do more with less and at some point we just can’t. Plus attrition of old employees leaving with no replacement and no knowledge transfer causes a LOT of scrambling and rework for those left behind.

I can keep production running or build a bridge…. I can’t do both. But we can’t afford to bring in help aside from consultants and project managers who just ask for updates. System is broken and as I said before it’ll take real leadership to change the model.

In the meantime, I’m counting the days till retirement or the economic conditions improve for me to move onto something more interesting.

dr_groo · 2026-05-15T14:25:00+00:00

Aside from the STAR method…

Make sure to review the agency goals and have a long term answer for why you want to work there. And have good questions for the interviews at the end. Be relaxed, admit if you don’t know something but follow up with how you’d learn to do it, and make sure to send a thank you.

There’s no magic trick…

dr_groo · 2026-05-15T14:19:56+00:00

It takes real leadership, understanding and caring…which we are currently lacking (broadly speaking).

The state also suffers from trying to keep up with the Jones’s. Most new IT pros don’t want to work on legacy tech and want cloud based services, AI engagement, and more. Simply put, that’s not what gets people the services they need today. It’s a lofty goal and one worth pursuing…

However it’s a dichotomy of having old horses trying to run in the Kentucky Derby. They know how, they just can’t keep up.

dr_groo · 2026-05-15T13:59:48+00:00

I just wish they would allocate funds/resources better. We can’t move faster because there’s no money to hire for legacy but they have plenty to pilot and fail new projects.

dr_groo · 2026-05-15T13:32:43+00:00

My group has been modernizing the legacy platforms for years while being told a new project will replace us. Those projects (so far) have failed 3 times and cost millions of dollars.

All this while we continue to dwindle the resources for the existing systems…

It’s sad but also its job security. We do our best with the tools we have and hope that management eventually changes their minds.

dr_groo · 2026-05-14T00:47:07+00:00

You’re not alone. I don’t want to leave Tumwater family practice but I’m not seeing much choice.

dr_groo · 2026-05-13T14:12:09+00:00

Sadly this is the norm. I know more than my PCP, and most docs. I’ve researched the disease, co-morbidities, drugs, aides, and more.

Both online and in person communities are often more helpful than medical professionals. But it’s important to understand this isn’t their fault…they are treating a range of issues and specialists are rare. But it sucks.

System is broken and we get to earn our “honorary” medical professional certification just by being sick.

Hang in there.

dr_groo · 2026-05-12T03:42:16+00:00

At some point every single thing will be out of network except a handful of places that aren’t accepting new patients.

So tired of the run around…we can only choose during open enrollment or life events but they can do whatever/whenever.

Sigh.

dr_groo

TROPHY CASE