...IT consultants are never paid to do the obvious, or easy. they're brought in when the regular employees go, duh this is too hard, i'm going to get coffee. or they are brought in when the regular employees quit. or when the staff is at wits end. then the IT consultant not only has to fix the problem that everyone gave up on, but can't make them look like the idiots they really are, because 9 times out of 10 it's the regular employess that screwed it up. and 9 times out of 10 it's because of internal politics, egos, etc. the it consultant has to fix it so he looks good, and his customers look good. then when he's paid and walked out thinking he pulled a rabbit out of the hat, the regular employees are blaming anything they can't figure out in 2 seconds or less as the consultants fault. LOL it's a tough job. your BOY is truly a road warrior. and he can handle frustration well, or wouldnt be in the business long.