Q&A with Jeremy

You probably recall that Jeremy started a new job earlier this month. He was kind enough to let me interview him about it. Here's what he had to say.

H: Where do you work now and what will you be doing there?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: The Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion...used to be called "Hospital Infections Program." JLG used to be the boss here...almost ruined it with her "re-org" mentality.


H: Are you happy that you made the move?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: Without a doubt. It always sucks starting a new job because you don't know anything and you want to "do stuff," but, you just don't have the knowledge.


H: Has your new job impacted other parts of your life?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: Heck yeah! I have to get up real early now--before 6 if I can go to bed at an early hour. In order to get a good parking spot (i.e., "large" with empty space on one side), I have to get to headquarters ("Clifton") before 8 am. Additionally, any errands I used to do during lunch (i.e., go buy stuff, go to the movies), I can't do anymore because of the First Rule of Clifton, or I'll loose my sweet parking slot. It's all kind of sad really. But, now I pick up Rowan (I used to drop him off) and have about an hour and half with him before Holly gets home. So far, I'm finding this frustrating because he just does bad stuff when we get home...like opening all the cabinet doors, putting cat food in the water dish, putting cat litter (used no less) in his mouth, crying, whining, and throwing tantrums. According to one of my new co-workers, I'm a bad parent; I should recognize these episodes as boredom and do something to distract him. (Sounds like someone has a stay-at-home wife and doesn't have to do a lot of chores when he gets there.)


H: What is the 'First Rule of Clifton'?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: Don't leave Clifton.


H: What are your first impressions of your new coworkers?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: They're OK. I haven't met any personalities yet. There's this one chick who will eat your food if you sit next to her...I don't. My boss and I are cut from the same cloth...we're both conservative and keep low profiles.


H: What's your favorite thing about your new job?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: Not having to be at/listen to/put up with DVH/DVH chatter/DVH people. I got mad almost everyday working there...I usually save that hate for the drive home when I call people two cusswords at once using the first as a verb form adjective to describe the next. For example: "GD! You eff'ing eff!" It has been shown recently that cussing lowers stress. Also, I get to start with a clean slate. People there have no pre-conceived notions about me...they hear "statistician" and think "ooooo, he must be smart." Knowledge here at CDC is very relative. You don't really have to be smart, you just have to know more than the others around you.


H: What's your least favorite thing about your new job?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: Two things actually: The first, obviously, is having to stay here at lunch. I'm a big fan of leaving the place of employment during lunch. It breaks the day up and allows you to think of something else. The second is the lack of space. Right now, I'm in someone else's office while they're away on a "detail." His stuff is still in here and now, so is mine. It looks like Mickey Rourke came by looking for something he misplaced. "Hey Marlboro, have you seen my Sharpie marker...the one with the blood on it?"


H: How does working at Headquarters compare to working at the satellite campuses?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: It's a lot more formal here as far a people's dress and their demeanor. You can tell someone is serious when they wear a tie and talk about work in the stairwell, instead of a Hawaiian shirt and the last time I'd been fishing. Fooled you, I'm the one in the tie talking about work...I'm actually interested in my new job and care about other's view of me. Not so much at DVH...and that was from day one. I don't know why this is...maybe because I'm an FTE now and my promotions depend on being part kiss-a$$. In any event, it's like that Patti LaBelle song..."Ooh ooh, ooh ooh, ooh, I’ve got a new attitude."


H: Do you think you will stay with this group a long time?
[Miller, Jeremy T.]: Yes. The subject matter is interesting, the people are OK (so far), and they have lots of taxpayer money. I guess I must explain this as I am the first person to not want to spend taxpayer money (I-Libertarian). At DVH, they never had any money and it was always brought up and people incessantly whined that they couldn't do their job because there wasn't any money. Really, they couldn't do their job because they didn't know what they were doing. (Pssst… don't get a research job if you can't do data management or stats.) So, here, if they want to do a study, they work out a plan and get busy. Oh yeah, and I don't have to get pens out of the supply closest that have bite marks or ear wax on one end.

Thanks, Jeremy. Hope your new job stays enjoyable and fulfilling!