Saturday, April 19, 2008
Let me start with the usual disclaimer. Should any of you wish to be removed from this mailing list, please let me know. I'll not be offended -- unless, of course, you're one of my kids and then I'll just be ticked.
No journal yesterday. I was too tired. AND I wanted to watch a movie, which I did. Using my Netflix "watch instantly" -- which isn't too 'instant' when you're connected to a hotel internet access. I tried wireless first, but the picture kept stopping so I thought I'd be clever and hook up to their "high speed" internet connection, since my work laptop comes with a patch cable. Hah.
Their "high speed" connection is apparently just a grade above snail's pace. I had to wait 20 minutes for the movie to load ... during which time I washed my face, brushed my teeth, etc. Made some tea. Ate a granola bar. Played my hand-held solitaire game.
The movie finally started -- U.S. Marshalls -- and only stopped 3 times! Each restart took anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. In spite of all that I loved the movie. Another one I can remove from my queue.
We spent most of yesterday (when we weren't outside smoking) checking that all my log-ins are working. There are 3, 4 or 5 different systems I'll have to log in to, and I have to log in to each one 3 times (once for each Service Point). You'd think I would know how many systems there are, but they were so busy throwing acronyms around that I don't know if some of them have more than one name. More than once Peggy would show me something and then say "oh, you're going to be VoIP so it probably won't be the same". Terrific.
When Adrian was leaving for the day, I did ask if I'd be taking any classes and he assured me he's looking for the ones closest to my area. Thank goodness! I don't care where they are, I'll go!!
Donna brought in homemade tortilla chips and pico de gallo. Really good! Besides the Texas donut and chocolate cake Adrian brought in. I brought in a bag of baked Cheetos. :0 ) And they were eating them! Go figure.
Yesterday was a March of Dimes hamburger lunch. We bought tickets for $5 and got a grilled hamburger with all the fixings and a bag of chips. Drinks were another $1. The burgers were small (we do these things better in CA!) so I didn't feel too bad about eating it.
In the middle of the day, Peggy said I had to turn my company car in because someone was scheduled to take it. I gave her my key so she could turn it in and completely forgot that my Magellan dashboard mount was on the passenger side floor! (Do you see a trend? It's because I'm sleep-deprived, darn it) She took me to Avis after work so I could pick up a rental car in order to get to the airport on Monday morning. It was as I was getting into the car that I realized I don't have my dashboard mount. Peggy's going to ship it to me. That's probably the 2.5 pounds I was over in my luggage weight anyway. My Magellan will still work, it just won't look pretty sitting on the dashboard.
In my effort to come down off this food high I've been on all week, I took 2 granola bars and a bowl of raisin bran back to my room for later. They had biscuits, eggs and sausage patties with sausage gravy for breakfast. I had one biscuit with gravy and only 1/3 of the sausage patty. It was SO salty I couldn't eat it. I had 1/2 the raisin bran too. I also have several yogurts in the 'frig so I'm doing yogurt for dinner. I hope I can at least get down to what I was when I got here. Of course, there are no scales around for me to check.
I'm going to do my laundry today and the laundry room is in the fitness room so maybe I'll go on the treadmill while my clothes are washing. Sounds like a plan!
Oh, the whole "let's go to San Antonio Fiesta" is off the table. Everyone is too busy, too tired or whatever. I'm just as glad. I'm not really a sightseeing kind of gal, especially with strangers. I like to look at everything and most people do a quick browse (Heather and Tami, you know what I mean). When I went to the Exploratorium with my kids, they did the entire museum in the time it took me to check out one exhibit. Sheesh.
I've not been overly impressed with the little bit of Austin that I've seen. The traffic is just as bad as ours, and made worse by the fact they're doing construction all along the stretch of freeway that I have to travel. They don't have on-ramps, they have lanes that go on to the freeway. There is no freeway landscaping ... it's basically just overgrown and weedy. Yuk. And everything looks dusty. Granted, I'm seeing just a very small part of it and it's near an industrial area so not a good place to form an opinion, but if I were here to consider moving here for a job -- I'd be heading back home.
My intention for this weekend is to complete at least one of my telecom VCU classes. For you non-Farmers people, VCU is the online "university" we access through our company web site. I've signed up for two telephony classes, one that is specifically for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). I'd hoped to have some time to do that during the week but we spent so much time outside smoking, I wasn't able to. So -- onward and upward.
The sun is shining, the sky is clear -- did I tell you about the thunder storm on Thursday night that I slept through? I vaguely remember thinking 'that sounds like thunder', but I heard no rain. Everyone said the rain was so loud it woke them up. Of course, they're not on the 4th floor of a hotel!
Alrighty then. That's it for this episode. I'll probably not write again until Monday so keep all your fingers and toes crossed that I make it to Kansas without incident. If any of you find my missing brain cells, please don't FedEx them to me. I think the US Post Office will get them here faster.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Showing posts with label The Beginning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Beginning. Show all posts
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Day 4 .. not much more
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Day 4 - and literally not much more to add.
I had raisin bran for breakfast. Ok, I had some bacon too and a spoonful of scrambled egg. The bacon was really thin though; you could practically see through it. I couldn't pass it up because it was so crisp and I love crisp bacon.
I'm laughing as I write this because the people I'm working with are obsessed with food! I told them they're turning me into a restaurant critic because all I have to write about is what I've eaten for the day.
The first day when they were telling me how to get back to my hotel room, they were identifying streets by what fast food place was on that street. "You take I-35 until you see the Round Rock Bakery and then you turn left. Go straight until you pass Tia Tina's Taqueria" Seriously.
When I got in today (I "slept in" until 6:15 -- didn't get in the office until almost 8:30 -- subtract 2 hours for CA time) Scott had brought in a donut to celebrate my being here. In the box was ONE gigantic donut -- donuts done Texas style!
I got to spend an hour with Donna for some OJT (on the job training). She was explaining the Genesys system to me, even though I won't actually be using it. I just need to know the basics for when I'm on call, but that won't be for several months. Great. I've already forgotten what she told me and I won't even use it for months!!! I'm encouraged.
Then it was time for a cigarette break. I swear the number of times these people go out for a cigarette make it tempting to start smoking. Although as I said, I have enough second hand smoke now built up to last me a month of Sundays. Even better, when we went to lunch (Peggy, Donna and I) they were both smoking in the car! Yippee.
Lunch was at "Puffy Taco". That's not the complete name but that's what they all call it. I had a crispy taco and a chicken enchilada with Spanish rice. It was pretty darned good, too. No puffy tacos. The chips were obviously made by them and oh, so greasy! I had a few and I think I'm going to regret it. I think tomorrow will be a double raisin-bran day.
Back at the hotel dinner was Frito pie. Basically fritos with toppings of chili (it took me awhile to get just the chili w/o any beans), sour cream, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese and shredded lettuce. Took it back to the room to eat.
While I'm eating I hear this really strange noise!! Sounds like someone is vacuuming close to my door. Kind of a vibrating, moaning sound. Then I thought it might be the refrigerator. Then I thought it might be coming from the next room. It doesn't happen all the time, but every time it did I jumped up and ran to the door to look out the peephole. Couldn't believe anyone would be vacuuming this time of night. After pulling the refrigerator in and out and looking in the freezer several times, and just about ready to call management, I figured out what it is. I have my windows open and it's VERY windy out. 80% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms. Every time the wind blows hard, I hear this noise. I think the wind is making the door vibrate. Sounds like when we used to put waxed paper over a comb and blow on it to make that vibrating noise.
Oh, just before I left this evening, Charles tells me they've gotten a complaint from one of our big agents that when they connected to NorCal, they got disconnected. Three times. He asked me if I could access our switch, (no) and he was on a very lengthy conference call about it. He finally told them there's nothing to be done at this point in time. Don't think they liked that!!
Well, I'm getting ready for bed while most of you are just getting home or fixing dinner. Whatever. Adrain has offered to take me to San Antonio on Saturday for Fiesta! Apparently 80,000 people come from all over the world for this event. Sounds like fun??
BTW, people from San Antonio say Santonio. Donna is from there and I asked her if she knew the rest of the world pronounced it as two words. She laughed. No one here has a Texas drawl either. She said that's more likely people in the hill country or just the country folk. Huh.
Okay, enough of my chatter. I've been getting a real kick out of your replies to my nonsense. If this were a book, it would never hit the bestseller list! Oh, and Barb, I saw Vince Thompsen again and I said "Vince, from Pleasanton!" He confessed it was indeed him and I told him that I'd mentioned to you that I thought I saw him. We were in a group of people so didn't really have an opportunity to chat.
Okay, everyone. Good night for now. Signing off until tomorrow....
Day 4 - and literally not much more to add.
I had raisin bran for breakfast. Ok, I had some bacon too and a spoonful of scrambled egg. The bacon was really thin though; you could practically see through it. I couldn't pass it up because it was so crisp and I love crisp bacon.
I'm laughing as I write this because the people I'm working with are obsessed with food! I told them they're turning me into a restaurant critic because all I have to write about is what I've eaten for the day.
The first day when they were telling me how to get back to my hotel room, they were identifying streets by what fast food place was on that street. "You take I-35 until you see the Round Rock Bakery and then you turn left. Go straight until you pass Tia Tina's Taqueria" Seriously.
When I got in today (I "slept in" until 6:15 -- didn't get in the office until almost 8:30 -- subtract 2 hours for CA time) Scott had brought in a donut to celebrate my being here. In the box was ONE gigantic donut -- donuts done Texas style!
I got to spend an hour with Donna for some OJT (on the job training). She was explaining the Genesys system to me, even though I won't actually be using it. I just need to know the basics for when I'm on call, but that won't be for several months. Great. I've already forgotten what she told me and I won't even use it for months!!! I'm encouraged.
Then it was time for a cigarette break. I swear the number of times these people go out for a cigarette make it tempting to start smoking. Although as I said, I have enough second hand smoke now built up to last me a month of Sundays. Even better, when we went to lunch (Peggy, Donna and I) they were both smoking in the car! Yippee.
Lunch was at "Puffy Taco". That's not the complete name but that's what they all call it. I had a crispy taco and a chicken enchilada with Spanish rice. It was pretty darned good, too. No puffy tacos. The chips were obviously made by them and oh, so greasy! I had a few and I think I'm going to regret it. I think tomorrow will be a double raisin-bran day.
Back at the hotel dinner was Frito pie. Basically fritos with toppings of chili (it took me awhile to get just the chili w/o any beans), sour cream, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese and shredded lettuce. Took it back to the room to eat.
While I'm eating I hear this really strange noise!! Sounds like someone is vacuuming close to my door. Kind of a vibrating, moaning sound. Then I thought it might be the refrigerator. Then I thought it might be coming from the next room. It doesn't happen all the time, but every time it did I jumped up and ran to the door to look out the peephole. Couldn't believe anyone would be vacuuming this time of night. After pulling the refrigerator in and out and looking in the freezer several times, and just about ready to call management, I figured out what it is. I have my windows open and it's VERY windy out. 80% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms. Every time the wind blows hard, I hear this noise. I think the wind is making the door vibrate. Sounds like when we used to put waxed paper over a comb and blow on it to make that vibrating noise.
Oh, just before I left this evening, Charles tells me they've gotten a complaint from one of our big agents that when they connected to NorCal, they got disconnected. Three times. He asked me if I could access our switch, (no) and he was on a very lengthy conference call about it. He finally told them there's nothing to be done at this point in time. Don't think they liked that!!
Well, I'm getting ready for bed while most of you are just getting home or fixing dinner. Whatever. Adrain has offered to take me to San Antonio on Saturday for Fiesta! Apparently 80,000 people come from all over the world for this event. Sounds like fun??
BTW, people from San Antonio say Santonio. Donna is from there and I asked her if she knew the rest of the world pronounced it as two words. She laughed. No one here has a Texas drawl either. She said that's more likely people in the hill country or just the country folk. Huh.
Okay, enough of my chatter. I've been getting a real kick out of your replies to my nonsense. If this were a book, it would never hit the bestseller list! Oh, and Barb, I saw Vince Thompsen again and I said "Vince, from Pleasanton!" He confessed it was indeed him and I told him that I'd mentioned to you that I thought I saw him. We were in a group of people so didn't really have an opportunity to chat.
Okay, everyone. Good night for now. Signing off until tomorrow....
Day 3 .. the adventure fizzles
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I said it could only get boring after the high of day 1. I was right. I'm starting to feel the effects of the time change. My laptop is still on CA time so when I got up this morning it said it was 3:00 am. WHAT!!?? Sheesh. Right now it tells me it's only 5:30 but the clock in my room is saying 7:30 and I'm feeling like it's 10:30 in any time zone.
We spent way too much time today trying to figure out why I was getting an error message every time I tried to reply to an email from my work laptop. Opened a ticket with IBM. Turns out it couldn't find my signature file. Probably because I didn't have one on that computer! Of course IBM tech support didn't figure that out. It was the desktop support guy who happened to be walking by who said "oh, I know what that is!" Problem solved.
He was giving me a bad time because I couldn't remember my password to get into my computer. I had changed my email password just before leaving home and couldn't remember if I'd changed the computer one too. Too many flippin' passwords!! He created a new one for me and was going to make it "forget123" but he decided to be nice. Of course, every time he passes me he mumbles "forget 123".
I will say everyone here has been really nice but they're a bunch of smart alecks. Yep! I fit right in!! I also find it sort of interesting that they have large signs posted on all the doors going into the building that say something to the effect "carrying concealed weapons is prohibited in this building". They explained that in TX you can carry a concealed weapon. But they also said since the sign says you can't carry concealed weapons, it must be okay to carry UNconcealed weapons!! Only in TX
OH! You might be happy (or not) to hear that my purse arrived this morning! A day late, but not a dollar short ... I counted all my money. Cal is checking into getting a refund because believe me, he paid and arm and a leg to get that thing to me overnight. More that $50, but less than $100. Isn't that insane! And then it doesn't even get to me overnight. The really weird thing is that it got to their Austin distribution center at 5:59am YESTERDAY. Apparently, it just didn't get on a truck. My brother-in-law used to work for FedEx and he said about 10% of the overnight packages don't make it overnight. That's a pretty high percentage.
I don't know if I mentioned it in my first missive, but my original luggage was overweight by 2.5 pounds. Normally, they charge an extra $50, but since I didn't have any money with me she just told me to be careful. I stopped at WalMart on the way back to the hotel tonight and bought another small suitcase. Since I now have 2 computer bags to bring with me, I'll put one inside the new bag and move 2.5 pounds of stuff to that bag too. :0 )
The hotel served BBQ tonight, which wasn't bad. Lean beef slices, bread, BBQ sauce, beans (I think--I didn't even bother to look), potato salad, sodas, coffee, tea. Nice spread that's included in the room charge. Farmers is paying for the room so I'm taking advantage of the amenities. There were 3 other Farmers cars in the parking lot when I drove in. I wonder who and what they are??
Barb, did Vince Thompsen (?) Thomas (?) come to Austin?? I could have sworn I saw him today.
It's almost 8:00 and I can hardly keep my eyes open. They told me to sleep in tomorrow and come in around 8:00 or 8:30. They do that because they end up working from home for several hours into the night. That's what I have to look forward to.
Still haven't learned anything that will be of much use to me. Every time Peggy shows me something she says, Oh, you're going to have VoIP and that will be totally different. *sigh* Adrian assures me he will have lots of suppport for me up in OR once I get there. I sure hope so. I'm feeling like this is just a meet and greet rather than a training opportunity. And believe me, the people who smoke (Peggy, Donna and Adrian) seem to be going out for a cigarette all the time! They drag me with them, and I feel like I have enough second-hand smoke to last me several months.
I'm going to get started on my VCU classes tomorrow while I wait for them to have time to explain whatever they can come up with about the system. Peggy and I have our all-employee meeting at 3:30.
Gosh, I feel like I should make up something to make today a bit more interesting, but nope. I had lunch (eaten at work) from Tex-Andwich, which is kind of like Schlotzky's if any of you remember that chain. English muffin-like bread, with cheese melted into the bread, ham and turkey and all the fixin's (except onion). I think I'm going to lose the battle to maintain the weight loss this week. *sigh*
I did pick up some bottled water at WalMart. No one here seems to drink much water. They are definitely soda people. I've been drinking green tea but tomorrow will be all water.
okay...I'm off to bed. Read for awhile, maybe a game of solitaire...then dreamland. Keep the home fires burning and I'll chat with you later.
I said it could only get boring after the high of day 1. I was right. I'm starting to feel the effects of the time change. My laptop is still on CA time so when I got up this morning it said it was 3:00 am. WHAT!!?? Sheesh. Right now it tells me it's only 5:30 but the clock in my room is saying 7:30 and I'm feeling like it's 10:30 in any time zone.
We spent way too much time today trying to figure out why I was getting an error message every time I tried to reply to an email from my work laptop. Opened a ticket with IBM. Turns out it couldn't find my signature file. Probably because I didn't have one on that computer! Of course IBM tech support didn't figure that out. It was the desktop support guy who happened to be walking by who said "oh, I know what that is!" Problem solved.
He was giving me a bad time because I couldn't remember my password to get into my computer. I had changed my email password just before leaving home and couldn't remember if I'd changed the computer one too. Too many flippin' passwords!! He created a new one for me and was going to make it "forget123" but he decided to be nice. Of course, every time he passes me he mumbles "forget 123".
I will say everyone here has been really nice but they're a bunch of smart alecks. Yep! I fit right in!! I also find it sort of interesting that they have large signs posted on all the doors going into the building that say something to the effect "carrying concealed weapons is prohibited in this building". They explained that in TX you can carry a concealed weapon. But they also said since the sign says you can't carry concealed weapons, it must be okay to carry UNconcealed weapons!! Only in TX
OH! You might be happy (or not) to hear that my purse arrived this morning! A day late, but not a dollar short ... I counted all my money. Cal is checking into getting a refund because believe me, he paid and arm and a leg to get that thing to me overnight. More that $50, but less than $100. Isn't that insane! And then it doesn't even get to me overnight. The really weird thing is that it got to their Austin distribution center at 5:59am YESTERDAY. Apparently, it just didn't get on a truck. My brother-in-law used to work for FedEx and he said about 10% of the overnight packages don't make it overnight. That's a pretty high percentage.
I don't know if I mentioned it in my first missive, but my original luggage was overweight by 2.5 pounds. Normally, they charge an extra $50, but since I didn't have any money with me she just told me to be careful. I stopped at WalMart on the way back to the hotel tonight and bought another small suitcase. Since I now have 2 computer bags to bring with me, I'll put one inside the new bag and move 2.5 pounds of stuff to that bag too. :0 )
The hotel served BBQ tonight, which wasn't bad. Lean beef slices, bread, BBQ sauce, beans (I think--I didn't even bother to look), potato salad, sodas, coffee, tea. Nice spread that's included in the room charge. Farmers is paying for the room so I'm taking advantage of the amenities. There were 3 other Farmers cars in the parking lot when I drove in. I wonder who and what they are??
Barb, did Vince Thompsen (?) Thomas (?) come to Austin?? I could have sworn I saw him today.
It's almost 8:00 and I can hardly keep my eyes open. They told me to sleep in tomorrow and come in around 8:00 or 8:30. They do that because they end up working from home for several hours into the night. That's what I have to look forward to.
Still haven't learned anything that will be of much use to me. Every time Peggy shows me something she says, Oh, you're going to have VoIP and that will be totally different. *sigh* Adrian assures me he will have lots of suppport for me up in OR once I get there. I sure hope so. I'm feeling like this is just a meet and greet rather than a training opportunity. And believe me, the people who smoke (Peggy, Donna and Adrian) seem to be going out for a cigarette all the time! They drag me with them, and I feel like I have enough second-hand smoke to last me several months.
I'm going to get started on my VCU classes tomorrow while I wait for them to have time to explain whatever they can come up with about the system. Peggy and I have our all-employee meeting at 3:30.
Gosh, I feel like I should make up something to make today a bit more interesting, but nope. I had lunch (eaten at work) from Tex-Andwich, which is kind of like Schlotzky's if any of you remember that chain. English muffin-like bread, with cheese melted into the bread, ham and turkey and all the fixin's (except onion). I think I'm going to lose the battle to maintain the weight loss this week. *sigh*
I did pick up some bottled water at WalMart. No one here seems to drink much water. They are definitely soda people. I've been drinking green tea but tomorrow will be all water.
okay...I'm off to bed. Read for awhile, maybe a game of solitaire...then dreamland. Keep the home fires burning and I'll chat with you later.
Day 2 ... the adventure continues
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Day 2 isn't nearly as interesting as day 1. Thank goodness!!
I finally got to eat. Remember the complimentary breakfast? I had a mini omelette (already prepared -- with some kind of cheese sauce inside), a bowl of hot oatmeal (yum!), some cottage cheese and a small blueberry muffin. And 4 oz of milk. I even took a Nutri-Grain bar for later. One never knows when one will be without food!
I've spent the majority of the day shadowing Peggy Lyle. We were waiting for my laptop to get imaged and kept checking the mailroom for my purse, which Cal FedEx'd overnight. The cell phone Pat Winnie sent arrived (thanks Pat!) but no purse. Fortunately, the credit union is onsite so I went in and took out some much needed cash. He asked for my ID (yeah, right) and Peggy was just about to say she'd vouch for me when he asked my mother's maiden name. I told him and he said okay...no one else would know that. :0 ) I now have $25 dollars to spend. Woo hoo!
Adrian took us all out to lunch at Rudy's BBQ, which was really good! I had extra lean brisket and coleslaw. Adrian shared his creamed corn which was pretty darned good. The serving plates are white butcher paper. They put your meat order on more of the paper and throw in some bread slices so you can make a sandwich. Very rustic. Fun.
Spent most of the day going outside with Peggy and Donna while they smoked and occasionally Adrian joined us. I'm so glad I don't do that. Also got a tour of the building and spoke with a few of the management types and other people I'll be working with in my new position. Spoke with one of the girls in Resource Planning (?), Resource Management (?) .. I don't remember what it's called .. but they're the ones who monitor what everyone is doing and keep track of the yellow and red alerts. There are 3 or 4 people who do that all day.
Oh! I saw Judith Miller from UW!! What a pleasant surprise. Big hugs and how are you's but no time to talk. Didn't see Mary or Don Powell.
Another big surprise. Lynda and Barb you'll love this. Peggy pulls up her Sametime window and I said "OH! Tom Bunn! I just love him." She said ... very quietly ... he's my brother. She wasn't kidding! That was a real shocker. We talked at some length about what a jerk he can be and such a pain in the neck, but I told her I grew to respect the knowledge he has; just didn't like his teaching methods all the time.
Left work about 5:00 after Peggy put about 2 dozen different links I'll need once I get going. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed for me to get through this first year relatively unscathed.
Once I got back to the hotel, they were having complimentary dinner. Sandwich makings and potato chips. I certainly got enough to eat today!
Now I'm trying to read the booklet for my new cell phone to figure out how it works. Another number to memorize.
Cal sent me the FedEx tracking number and it shows the box arrived at their Austin distribution center at 5:59 this morning. Now cross all those fingers and toes again because tomorrow I've got to find out what happened to that package! It has all my extremely important STUFF!! This is almost as bad as having my purse stolen. Kinda scary.
Okay. My computer says it's 8:07 pm but my cell phone says its 10:07. I'm going to bed to read for awhile and get psyched up for another day. I hope I start learning something tomorrow because time is running short!!
TTFN and here's hoping day 3 is productive. Or at least less boring. :0 )
Day 2 isn't nearly as interesting as day 1. Thank goodness!!
I finally got to eat. Remember the complimentary breakfast? I had a mini omelette (already prepared -- with some kind of cheese sauce inside), a bowl of hot oatmeal (yum!), some cottage cheese and a small blueberry muffin. And 4 oz of milk. I even took a Nutri-Grain bar for later. One never knows when one will be without food!
I've spent the majority of the day shadowing Peggy Lyle. We were waiting for my laptop to get imaged and kept checking the mailroom for my purse, which Cal FedEx'd overnight. The cell phone Pat Winnie sent arrived (thanks Pat!) but no purse. Fortunately, the credit union is onsite so I went in and took out some much needed cash. He asked for my ID (yeah, right) and Peggy was just about to say she'd vouch for me when he asked my mother's maiden name. I told him and he said okay...no one else would know that. :0 ) I now have $25 dollars to spend. Woo hoo!
Adrian took us all out to lunch at Rudy's BBQ, which was really good! I had extra lean brisket and coleslaw. Adrian shared his creamed corn which was pretty darned good. The serving plates are white butcher paper. They put your meat order on more of the paper and throw in some bread slices so you can make a sandwich. Very rustic. Fun.
Spent most of the day going outside with Peggy and Donna while they smoked and occasionally Adrian joined us. I'm so glad I don't do that. Also got a tour of the building and spoke with a few of the management types and other people I'll be working with in my new position. Spoke with one of the girls in Resource Planning (?), Resource Management (?) .. I don't remember what it's called .. but they're the ones who monitor what everyone is doing and keep track of the yellow and red alerts. There are 3 or 4 people who do that all day.
Oh! I saw Judith Miller from UW!! What a pleasant surprise. Big hugs and how are you's but no time to talk. Didn't see Mary or Don Powell.
Another big surprise. Lynda and Barb you'll love this. Peggy pulls up her Sametime window and I said "OH! Tom Bunn! I just love him." She said ... very quietly ... he's my brother. She wasn't kidding! That was a real shocker. We talked at some length about what a jerk he can be and such a pain in the neck, but I told her I grew to respect the knowledge he has; just didn't like his teaching methods all the time.
Left work about 5:00 after Peggy put about 2 dozen different links I'll need once I get going. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed for me to get through this first year relatively unscathed.
Once I got back to the hotel, they were having complimentary dinner. Sandwich makings and potato chips. I certainly got enough to eat today!
Now I'm trying to read the booklet for my new cell phone to figure out how it works. Another number to memorize.
Cal sent me the FedEx tracking number and it shows the box arrived at their Austin distribution center at 5:59 this morning. Now cross all those fingers and toes again because tomorrow I've got to find out what happened to that package! It has all my extremely important STUFF!! This is almost as bad as having my purse stolen. Kinda scary.
Okay. My computer says it's 8:07 pm but my cell phone says its 10:07. I'm going to bed to read for awhile and get psyched up for another day. I hope I start learning something tomorrow because time is running short!!
TTFN and here's hoping day 3 is productive. Or at least less boring. :0 )
Day 1, continued
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Okay! I heard from several of you that you couldn't open the attachment, so here it is in its entirety. Barb asked how Cal was getting my purse to me. He went to FedEx and had it overnighted. I'll let you know what happened in today's episode. In the meantime, here's the rest of yesterday:
After getting no answer on Cal’s cell, the security guard told me I could fly with no ID, but I’d have to go through extra security measures. Well, I have to get on the plane because I don’t even have a way to get Cal to pick me up. AnnaMarie, whatever fantasy world you are living in, one cannot – I repeat – cannot arrive at the airport ½ hour before a flight and expect to get on a plane. As we were driving in the roadside sign was flashing “high security alert”. The friggin’ line was out the door and halfway down the sidewalk past baggage claim! Besides the usual twisty, turny, snakelike section just before the screeners.
I managed to get on board after being frisked and all my possessions searched and wiped down for suspicious substances. I’m dying of thirst by now and can hardly wait for the plane to take off so I can have a drink. As I’m eating my little bag of cinnamon sticks I was thinking of the nice snacks I’d packed in my purse. *sigh*
When I get to Austin and collect my luggage I went to the Hertz car rental counter but, oh gosh, they can’t rent me a car without a drivers license. So sorry. I asked if they could call Farmers so I could ask someone to pick me up which they very willingly did. They were really very nice. I spoke with Adrian and he said he’d send Scott and have him meet me at the Hertz counter.
In the meantime, Cal had me paged at the airport with a message to call him back. Call him back! I HAVE NO MONEY. I haven’t used a payphone in years. Turns out you can use your credit card (I was just going to call collect, okay!) and fortunately, I have my credit card number memorized, including the 3 digit security code. Cal obviously figured out that I didn’t have my purse – I think it was when he called my cell and it rang right beside him that he realized what a predicament I was really in. He noticed it when he got to work and went in to tell his boss he was taking the day off and was trying to get hold of me. Paged me at the Oakland airport, but I think we’d already left by then. Here’s the kicker, as we’re landing in San Diego it dawns on me that I could have had the security guard call MY phone and Cal would have answered it and the story might have ended there. Too few brain cells that early in the morning.
Adrian called back (the Hertz people are now becoming my messenger service) and he didn’t really have anyone available because Scott was going to the dentist and Peggy was working from home. He had to go rescue his wife who just had 2 flat tires! He told me they got together $60 and left it at the front desk so I could take a shuttle or a taxi and pay when I got there.
The information booth lady told me to do the shuttle because it was MUCH cheaper, but when I asked if I could pay when they drop me off they said no! He did say I could pay by credit card … and hey! I know my number! Told him if he didn’t have to see it, I was all good.
So I did manage to get to the office after all. It looks much nicer in the pictures. And Heather, the fleet cars aren’t nearly as well kept up as yours! Peggy was telling me their guy does a really good job. HAH. The gas tank isn’t full and the car is dirty inside and out. Whatever. I’m hoping to pick up my rental tomorrow.
I have a really nice room (Peggy had to come with me to use her corporate credit card to hold the room until my purse arrives) with a kitchenette – and no food! There was a bag of popcorn here that I microwaved and devoured. I drank 2 cups of tea. Now I’m just counting the hours until the complimentary buffet breakfast tomorrow. As luck would have it, they also have complimentary dinners on Tues, Wed and Thurs. Tomorrow night is deli sandwiches and chips, Wed. is BBQ and Thurs is Frito pie. Yeah .. don’t ask me. This is Texas. If it sounds like I’m obsessing about the food it’s because I am. I’m hungry!
The best part of this place is they have a library! Can you believe it. My books are in my purse. I have nothing to read, but they have a library! Take a book and leave one. Great philosophy. I’m taking one and returning it at the end of the week. They have free wireless internet too, so I can jump on Netflix and use the “watch now” feature to watch a movie. I love Netflix!
As bad as this day has been it can only go up from here. It does make for a good story and I met some really nice people on the shuttle. In fact, the gentleman I sat next to was from Alabama where he says it was cold. I said I just came from CA and it was very nice out. He asked where in CA, and turns out he has a daughter who lives in San Francisco and a son who lives in Castro Valley! Small world.
Okay, I’m signing off for day 1. Stay tuned for more adventures. (you know the rest of the week will be BORING)
Okay! I heard from several of you that you couldn't open the attachment, so here it is in its entirety. Barb asked how Cal was getting my purse to me. He went to FedEx and had it overnighted. I'll let you know what happened in today's episode. In the meantime, here's the rest of yesterday:
After getting no answer on Cal’s cell, the security guard told me I could fly with no ID, but I’d have to go through extra security measures. Well, I have to get on the plane because I don’t even have a way to get Cal to pick me up. AnnaMarie, whatever fantasy world you are living in, one cannot – I repeat – cannot arrive at the airport ½ hour before a flight and expect to get on a plane. As we were driving in the roadside sign was flashing “high security alert”. The friggin’ line was out the door and halfway down the sidewalk past baggage claim! Besides the usual twisty, turny, snakelike section just before the screeners.
I managed to get on board after being frisked and all my possessions searched and wiped down for suspicious substances. I’m dying of thirst by now and can hardly wait for the plane to take off so I can have a drink. As I’m eating my little bag of cinnamon sticks I was thinking of the nice snacks I’d packed in my purse. *sigh*
When I get to Austin and collect my luggage I went to the Hertz car rental counter but, oh gosh, they can’t rent me a car without a drivers license. So sorry. I asked if they could call Farmers so I could ask someone to pick me up which they very willingly did. They were really very nice. I spoke with Adrian and he said he’d send Scott and have him meet me at the Hertz counter.
In the meantime, Cal had me paged at the airport with a message to call him back. Call him back! I HAVE NO MONEY. I haven’t used a payphone in years. Turns out you can use your credit card (I was just going to call collect, okay!) and fortunately, I have my credit card number memorized, including the 3 digit security code. Cal obviously figured out that I didn’t have my purse – I think it was when he called my cell and it rang right beside him that he realized what a predicament I was really in. He noticed it when he got to work and went in to tell his boss he was taking the day off and was trying to get hold of me. Paged me at the Oakland airport, but I think we’d already left by then. Here’s the kicker, as we’re landing in San Diego it dawns on me that I could have had the security guard call MY phone and Cal would have answered it and the story might have ended there. Too few brain cells that early in the morning.
Adrian called back (the Hertz people are now becoming my messenger service) and he didn’t really have anyone available because Scott was going to the dentist and Peggy was working from home. He had to go rescue his wife who just had 2 flat tires! He told me they got together $60 and left it at the front desk so I could take a shuttle or a taxi and pay when I got there.
The information booth lady told me to do the shuttle because it was MUCH cheaper, but when I asked if I could pay when they drop me off they said no! He did say I could pay by credit card … and hey! I know my number! Told him if he didn’t have to see it, I was all good.
So I did manage to get to the office after all. It looks much nicer in the pictures. And Heather, the fleet cars aren’t nearly as well kept up as yours! Peggy was telling me their guy does a really good job. HAH. The gas tank isn’t full and the car is dirty inside and out. Whatever. I’m hoping to pick up my rental tomorrow.
I have a really nice room (Peggy had to come with me to use her corporate credit card to hold the room until my purse arrives) with a kitchenette – and no food! There was a bag of popcorn here that I microwaved and devoured. I drank 2 cups of tea. Now I’m just counting the hours until the complimentary buffet breakfast tomorrow. As luck would have it, they also have complimentary dinners on Tues, Wed and Thurs. Tomorrow night is deli sandwiches and chips, Wed. is BBQ and Thurs is Frito pie. Yeah .. don’t ask me. This is Texas. If it sounds like I’m obsessing about the food it’s because I am. I’m hungry!
The best part of this place is they have a library! Can you believe it. My books are in my purse. I have nothing to read, but they have a library! Take a book and leave one. Great philosophy. I’m taking one and returning it at the end of the week. They have free wireless internet too, so I can jump on Netflix and use the “watch now” feature to watch a movie. I love Netflix!
As bad as this day has been it can only go up from here. It does make for a good story and I met some really nice people on the shuttle. In fact, the gentleman I sat next to was from Alabama where he says it was cold. I said I just came from CA and it was very nice out. He asked where in CA, and turns out he has a daughter who lives in San Francisco and a son who lives in Castro Valley! Small world.
Okay, I’m signing off for day 1. Stay tuned for more adventures. (you know the rest of the week will be BORING)
Day 1, and the adventure begins
Monday, April 14, 2008
This is going to be my journal, I'm just sharing it with half the world. Most of you are getting this as a blind copy -- and aren't you glad!
The family came over Sunday night and we went out to dinner (Casa Orozco). I fully intended to treat everyone but they turned the tables on me! At the house Stacey told me I need to check my email because Ellie and Colin sent me something. On my way to my computer I was telling them how someone at work gave me a gift certificate for SouthWest airlines and wasn't that a cool idea ... guess what Ellie and Colin sent me? A gift certificate for Alaska airlines!! LOL
I was up late (midnight) packing and still trying to somewhat organize my chaos, but managed to get up at 4:00 am to jump in the shower and get ready by 5:00. Cal decided to drop me off at the airport on his way to work. Okay .. it's not on his WAY to work, but he was willing to take the time to drop me there and then scoot on to work.
We actually got on the road in plenty of time, but it was still dark out. Cal was so busy looking for Terminal 2 he realized at the last minute that he had to cross over 2 or 3 lanes to get to the curb. He stopped abruptly and parked sort of catty-wampus. He asked me to set up his GPS while he got my suitcase out of the back. I was messing with that and then hopped out to get my laptop case out of the back seat before security came to tell him to move on. The minute I stepped inside the terminal I realized I'd left my purse in the car.
YEP! My boarding pass, my MONEY, my I.D., my credit cards, my snacks, my iPod (and I'd just downloaded 7 new books!!), my cell phone, EVERYTHING I needed ... on it's way back to Livermore.
I must have looked really stricken because a security guard asked if she could help and I told her my dilemma. Have a flight to catch and no ID, no boarding pass, NOTHING. She had me write Cal's cell phone number down and she went in back and called him. I knew he wouldn't answer because although he keeps it in the truck, he seldom turns it on. He claims it was on ... but I only know what she told me.
I don't think Yahoo will let me write much more so I'm going to finish this in Word, and maybe I'll send it as an attachment. Now that I've got you all hooked on the story, I'll say TTFN!
This is going to be my journal, I'm just sharing it with half the world. Most of you are getting this as a blind copy -- and aren't you glad!
The family came over Sunday night and we went out to dinner (Casa Orozco). I fully intended to treat everyone but they turned the tables on me! At the house Stacey told me I need to check my email because Ellie and Colin sent me something. On my way to my computer I was telling them how someone at work gave me a gift certificate for SouthWest airlines and wasn't that a cool idea ... guess what Ellie and Colin sent me? A gift certificate for Alaska airlines!! LOL
I was up late (midnight) packing and still trying to somewhat organize my chaos, but managed to get up at 4:00 am to jump in the shower and get ready by 5:00. Cal decided to drop me off at the airport on his way to work. Okay .. it's not on his WAY to work, but he was willing to take the time to drop me there and then scoot on to work.
We actually got on the road in plenty of time, but it was still dark out. Cal was so busy looking for Terminal 2 he realized at the last minute that he had to cross over 2 or 3 lanes to get to the curb. He stopped abruptly and parked sort of catty-wampus. He asked me to set up his GPS while he got my suitcase out of the back. I was messing with that and then hopped out to get my laptop case out of the back seat before security came to tell him to move on. The minute I stepped inside the terminal I realized I'd left my purse in the car.
YEP! My boarding pass, my MONEY, my I.D., my credit cards, my snacks, my iPod (and I'd just downloaded 7 new books!!), my cell phone, EVERYTHING I needed ... on it's way back to Livermore.
I must have looked really stricken because a security guard asked if she could help and I told her my dilemma. Have a flight to catch and no ID, no boarding pass, NOTHING. She had me write Cal's cell phone number down and she went in back and called him. I knew he wouldn't answer because although he keeps it in the truck, he seldom turns it on. He claims it was on ... but I only know what she told me.
I don't think Yahoo will let me write much more so I'm going to finish this in Word, and maybe I'll send it as an attachment. Now that I've got you all hooked on the story, I'll say TTFN!
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