Category: Work News

74

74 hours. That’s what I worked last week. It was not fun. Way not fun. Sometimes, I wonder why I even do this job. But then, they’re supposed to send me to Europe which would make up for it. … unless they make me work another 70+ hour week… in which case I won’t even SEE Europe… I will only see the inside of an office building and then it will be dark. So much for my relaxing business trip to England.

Well, I’m hoping it’s not that bad. I’m anticipating that I can get a co-worker to come out with me so we can ‘share the pain’ (and the warm English beer…)

Anyway, I’m still tired from last week. I’m sure I’ll be going to sleep early for a few days this week. Of course, I will be travelling many thousands of miles this week: Houston to Orange County, CA to Greenville, SC and back to Houston. Quite a week. At least there’s no working ’till 5am this week.

Nice Weather

Well, I’m back in Houston for this week and will actually be working here for once. However, I don’t know where I’ll be after next week. I was supposed to travel to England for this project, but it doesn’t look like that will happen this soon. It will probably be two more weeks until that happens.

We just had a late lunch with Mike and Jason. The weather is so nice here: it feels like California, even. We ate outside which is something you can’t normally do here in Houston. It’s so nice, that I think I’m going to go out of my balcony and have a cigar. When I get to Cozumel, I’m sure Jason and I will be enjoying some Cubans… Well, maybe one or two. 😉

Mortality

Ever have one of those days where you really stop and think how fragile your situation in life really is? I’ve just heard about several layoffs in my group. It makes me truly grateful that I have a job. Yeah, sure I complain about it, but I’ve been working through the entire ‘recession’ and other hard times. I have to thank God that he’s lookin’ out for me – now, it’s ‘us’, too!

So, in the spirit of thankfulness, I would like to state my thanks to God for some of the simple things in my life:
1) My wife loves me. This totally rocks.
2) I have a job. Even when it sucks, I still get paid.
3) My cell phone is working today. You never realize how important this is until it’s taken away.
4) I have a cool house. Even though I have to climb up and down 4 floors, it’s still cool.
5) I’m slowly paying off my consumer debt. It was getting larger, but now it’s getting smaller!
6) I get to go diving this year. I didn’t last year, but God provided a way this year without increasing my debt.
7) I have cool friends.

Life is too short to be a whiner. (Talkin’ to myself there…)

Back To The Ole Drudge

Well, I’m back in California, this time without Laura. It was so nice having her here to see where I work, sleep, eat, etc. I could get used to that. We’re planning another trip out here in November if things stay the same with the schedule. Hopefully, they will. I’m also eagerly anticipating news on the possible work trip to the UK.

It’s a bit lonely out here without her.

I’m researching potential dive gear for our next dive outing and have decided on going with Poseidon regulators. These seem to be the choice of equipment for cave divers and since I’m headed that direction and need to upgrade my equipment (slowly over the next few years – it’s expensive!) I’m probably going to buy the new Xstream Duration.

California, Here We Come!

Well, tomorrow morning Laura and I begin our first-ever joint business/pleasure trip: I will travel for business, she for pleasure! I will be working during the day, but I’m sure we’ll find some time to tour the area. Think I’ll probably have to go in real early so I can get out and enjoy the sunlight.

This week, my co-worker Greg somehow, through slieght of hand or shrewd negotiations, landed a Ford Thunderbird for a no-charge rental upgrade. Now – That’s the kind of ride I need to grab for my week with the wife in SoCal. Of course, after examining the trunk, I’d have to leave her at the airport and ferry the luggage to the hotel first… kinda tight in there. And, yes, he let me drive it! It feels exactly as I would imagine the ’57 T-Bird did originally… big throaty engine roar with a slushy suspension. It positively ROLLS through the turns. No high speed cornering in that car.

Scripting & Mice

Well, it looks like I’m stuck in a scripting loop. I’m trying to do creative things that the Windows command language was never meant to do. However, I’m sure I can make it work given enough time. What bothers me, though is staring at the screen for so long. I think I’m getting a headache now. Well, no. I KNOW I’m getting a headache.

Of course it doesn’t help that today is one of those days when you would have played hookie from school and hit the beach. The day is so beautiful outside… I wish I had windows in my office, but all I have are four walls… piled high with boxes.

Good news, though: I have a new cordless, optical mouse! Yes, it may not seem like much, but when your company has been cutting expenses for over 3 years due to market turndowns and profitability pushes and other miscellaneous inconveniences, any new purchase should be welcomed with rare thanks. So, Welcome, Mouse! May your tenure as my pointing device be fruitfull and fulfilling! (Especially since you’ll probably be with me a LONG time…)

I’m Wireless

2012-01-08 23:28:44

Don’t you love being able to connect anywhere you want? Right now, I’m at the John Wayne/Orange County Airport. It’s a small, but very nice airport. But, the best thing is that it has WIRELESS INTERNET! It rocks! Of course, some times it is a bit unreliable, but that just may be me. Wireless also means I can sit in the airport and submit status reports and hours and do other general administrivia.

Well, as for travel – this next week I actually get to work in my home city: Houston. It’s actually been a while since I worked where I live, but I’m sure it will be nice. I worked close to home last year and loved it – except that I lost my airline elite status and have had to re-earn it this year. There’s always a trade off.

This time, I’ll be working in Sugar Land, which is not too far of a drive away – especially considering that it will be against traffic. Business travel has become a bit tiresome now that I’m married. I kinda like bein’ around my wife, you know?

“Travelling Companion”

Well, my distrust of the Project Management Team previously mentioned was probably too harsh of a statement. So I must issue apologies to any of that team who read the previous post! It seems that now I have a schedule far enough out to allow me to book a trip to California with my wife, Laura. She, of course is thrilled. So, she’ll be having fun sight-seeing while I’m working.

In other news, Microsoft has now released more certification exams that I must take to keep my MCSE/MCSA W2K current for the new product: Windows Server 2003. If you are new to this site, you may be thinking: Hey – this thing’s running on Irix with Open Source products… what’s this guy doing playing with Microsoft products??? Well, I like to think that I’m broad-minded… that I give all OSes a chance. And I do. I gave IIS a chance to run on my Windows server… It was much faster to run the site on an almost-obsolete SGI O2. Go figure. I do enjoy working with Windows, however. I also enjoy keeping my skills diverse. And, Microsoft work pays the bills.

So, that said, I’m studying a huge book (like 1700+ pages) on Server 2003 so I can update my certifications. It has to weigh at least 20 pounds. And I carry it to work with me to study in the slow times – like lunch time. It’s begining to hurt my back! Studying is hard work…

California

I have been working in California for the last couple of months. The weather, of course, is much nicer than in Houston. I’m south of Los Angeles, in Orange County, so I’m away from the worst of the smog. The travel schedule becomes more dificult now that I have a new family member to come home to!

I’m hoping that this project will bring about some international travel. I have been given a schedule that includes places like Camberly, UK and Calgary, ALB. However, I’ve been run around in circles so long that I don’t really trust the schedule anymore – nor do I trust the project management team. I am hoping that I will be able to make plans soon because I want to bring Laura with me. I’ve been wanting to do that for quite some time and have not yet been able to have sufficient notice.

Anyway – I am enjoying this new program: Movabletype. It’s quite cool. I can now use this program to edit and post news to my site no matter where I might be.