Frustrated

I've been a bit sparse lately, and there is a reason. Work is heating up, and I'll tell you why. I am a contractor, which carries a higher monetary reward, but the moniker carries with it a certain notoriety, a stigma if you will--people look at you different, regard you in silent judgement. I was asked to go permanent last week and I respectfully declined.

I am designing a software solution that is going along very well, but the company knows that I may leave, are afraid that I will leave before the work is complete, at least this is what I surmise. They hired a knuckle-headed, know-it-all to eventually take my place, who constantly harangues me about the decisions I've made, quibbling over every small detail, while working on pieces that I've assigned him and doing sloppy work that side steps in some cases the design I've set forth. He's been thrust upon me before I was ready to assign work, so he's programming on the edge of what I've thought out.

So, tonight I'm writing design documentation in a desperate attempt to stay ahead, and preparing to present my completed design by early next week. I fully expect to be sabotaged by the new guy, who is the type that takes great pleasure in being contrary for the very sake of it.

In short, I'm ready to rub his fat face into the carpet. I've already told him to back off, not to interrupt me when I'm speaking, that sort of thing. I'm losing my cool.

Luckily I have a few people on my side, and others in the office have stated plainly that they couldn't work with him. He buys candy and puts it in a bowl, then posts a sign outside. Everyone stops in and gabs now, mostly the marketing and support people. The developers are too busy working. He barks out to join conversations three and four cubicles away, and almost always unnoticed by anyone but myself.

I just need to get this done and implemented, put that feather in my cap and move on. Meanwhile, God give me patience and protect me from frustration. What was the old definition of frustration? The feeling you get when you want to kick the shit out of someone who desperately deserves it. Close. And accurate.