The frog in the well knows everything ...

.. but has never seen the ocean.

井の中の蛙大海を知らず。

Landed a job some months ago. Grateful for that. But, really, has it come to this? I know times are tough. Times are tough all over. I keep thinking I'm over qualified, under paid, over worked, and under utilized.

In several months, this pattern has developed. I write up specs, the Big Man rejects them as too expensive, too complicated, too difficult to implement, and I am directed to simplify, reduce, and cuts the estimates by half. Implement something, quick, direct, and speedy. Just a little code.

So coding begins. The project is delivered. Oh.., and Testing, which reveals huge gaps. The Big Man, facing a half-assed solution, remembers that full project had some good ideas, decides the said full project from months ago is now... well, ... looking good. It solves many of the problems, avoids others, and in hind sight, seems quite clever and economical.

And here I sit, wondering? Why is it, I've got a weekend to complete a two month project. A project rejected as too much time and effort. Yet, I'm on the hook to do it. Do it by extreme coding, all night, full effort, every little short cut trick 25 years has taught me. Dedication to deliver.

But this is my 6th go around. I know this music.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I wonder who it is that's at the bottom of the well? The Big Man who seems to be getting great work at fire sales prices, or me, who seems to be getting played like a fine violin?