Making It Happen: A Non-Technical Guide to Project Management

Chapter 19. Altering Plans

Our neighbors, Harlan and Eileen Kilbrew, were strange. Little things made me feel this way, like the way he had his hair cut (as if he went to a soup bowl dealer, not a barber shop), the way she always fixed her glasses with tape instead of glue, the fact that they gave their dog Chunky, a golden retriever, haircuts. I assume they didn't use the same bowl.

My worst fears were confirmed when I noticed the two of them coming out of the video store. There, under Harlan's arm, was the classic Tim Conway video, "Dorf on Golf." I had serious reservations about living next door to anyone who watches "Dorf on Golf" of their own free will.

I was getting out of my car when I noticed them. I had stopped at the video store to pick up something for the kids to watch with the babysitter while Jenny and I went out to dinner. The project execution phase had been under way for three weeks and things had been going well; I thought a little celebrating was in order.

I tried to hide in a casual manner but Eileen saw me crouched down behind my car. "Hi, Will! Did you drop something?" She rushed over to help me while I frantically took my keys out of my pocket and pretended to pick them up. "Oh, hi Eileen, Harlan. Didn't see you. I was just looking for my keys." I held them up. "Here they are! Don't trouble yourself." I was trying to head her off before she got close but it was too late. Eileen caught her foot on the bumper of the car and fell heavily into me. The frame ...