Bah, I tried to give blood, but the needle slipped out and made my blood all bubbly and contaminated. That's never happened before. I guess this is why they always use the right arm. I was trying for something different! Stupid left arm.

Oh Matt, I'm sorry.

Sophia, that's appalling. Tell your boss to go back and call the guy "articulate." That's about all that's missing.

Matt, so sorry.

Mandatory IT meeting this morning was about teamwork. New Guy missed it. IP VT defined stages of teamwork as

• Forming--coming together of the team, characterised by optimism and seeking definition
• Storming--conflict and powerplays as definition breaks down
• Norming--searching for harmony through conflict avoidance, development of team vibes
• Performing--peak productivity as the team vibe is in full play and people work slickly together

She says it happens with every team formation, and every time someone is added to an existing team. But I swear I didn't notice storming when I was added to the team, nor when the latest business analyst joined. We still haven't super-normed, but we've been quite productive since very early on.

Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing

That's just too... cute.

I'd add these:

• Ignoring--team members don't talk to each other.
• Goring--team members participate in the running of the bulls.
• Boring--team members fall asleep during meetings.
• Barnstorming--team members tour the country giving performances in antique biplanes.

That's the classic group-formation outline.

Did anyone comment on New Tool not being there? like management?

Matt, I am so sorry, that is rough.

My boss has left for the day. Our performance appraisals were due today, he did none of them. He did not know it was my birthday, becuase he takes no ownership of knowing stuff like that, even though I and his former asst. always tell him when it is one of his other direct report's birthday. The are visitors in town and some leave today, but no one has told me if I need to arrange anything for any of them. Hope nothing is needed last minute because I leave at 5.

Happy Birthday Msbelle.

That's the classic group-formation outline.

Yeah, I've heard it too.

Happy birthday, msbelle.

I'm sorry, Matt.

That's the classic group-formation outline.

The FSNP model was a long-term classic back in the day when I got my OD degree. Nice to see it still in play in a world of 'flavor of the week' models.

Can someone please get these guys to stop having this iPhone/Microsoft argument by my cube? It's loud, stupid, involves the self-laugher and they follow everything they say with "right" said like a question, but not meant as one.

Oh lord, now Jay Leno has been entered into the argument.