Templates . . .

I spent a good portion of my day making a document worse because the template's set up that way.

I've also - slowly - been developing a template for another type of document. I'm purposely leaving it as open on headings and format as possible, so we don't end up in a situation like the one I find myself in now.

Templates are good. They help us to remember to include what needs to be there. But while some documents are template-friendly in their rigidity, others not so much. We need more guidelines than rules.

And while the template I'm working with isn't as sinister as the Black Pearl, it's still going to be a jolly time this Monday explaining to my customer why things have changed so. Which means in making the change I have to be very, very precise. Which is going to take time. Which will upset the customer. But my job often entails listing to the one who makes the scariest threat on a given day, so that's the way things go.

I still very much like this job, enough I've encouraged Michelle to apply for a similar position that just opened up. It's amazing what we'll put up with to keep a roof over our heads. I hope she gets the job. Then we can commiserate more over things like templates.