Happy post Thanksgiving!
Spent Thanksgiving in Vegas with the parentals (Lin) and brother Greg. Interesting. My first holiday in Vegas. We arrive Tuesday night and planned to leave Friday so as to avoid the super expensive hotel pricing.
Fun times. Vegas was super empty when we arrived. Seemed quite surreal. And I actually liked it! not crowds. No lines. awesome!! but yes...not as much energy.
Didn't do much. i have to admit that my "vegas vacationing" style has altered from my youth. Gone are the times of hotel/club hopping, loose gambling and late night into early morning drinking (wait! did those times ever happen?). Sign me up for the one stop shop. nice hotel, gambling/spa downstairs, great club and shopping inside. we spent a lot of time walking around to our destination and not as much time at the destination.
We went to visit the Wynn hotel. The buffet was really great! great tasting. good times for thanskgiving dinner. but other than that, the hotel was a bit of a mystery for me. Sure it was new and nice...but i had trouble figuring out the overall theme of the hotel. I'd definitely go there to eat...but my hotel of choice is still Bellagio. oh...the wonderful soothing fountain show. and the beautiful conservatory and gallery. Oh.. and you can't beat the celebrity (poker) sightings. Gus Hansen sure seems taller on tv. Johnny Chan...looks exactly the same in person and on tv.
it's good to be home.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
bah bah baaaaahhhhhh!
after sometime now...Arrowhead is gone.
:(
it was actually sad. He is no longer working with me. I thought things were getting better. But apparently I was incorrect. I hadn't had much interaction with him since my last post. but it was seemingly just because there was just no project to work on together. But I guess I was wrong.
So it's sad because I thought there was more I could do. Or at least more effort that I could have tried. Maybe I could have talked to him more directly. Maybe I could have been more compassionate. Either way, the saga is over. I know now (thanks to Vince!) that there could have been more that I could have said or done. Now that there is no more time to do anything. I do wish Arrowhead well. Really. I do.
after sometime now...Arrowhead is gone.
:(
it was actually sad. He is no longer working with me. I thought things were getting better. But apparently I was incorrect. I hadn't had much interaction with him since my last post. but it was seemingly just because there was just no project to work on together. But I guess I was wrong.
So it's sad because I thought there was more I could do. Or at least more effort that I could have tried. Maybe I could have talked to him more directly. Maybe I could have been more compassionate. Either way, the saga is over. I know now (thanks to Vince!) that there could have been more that I could have said or done. Now that there is no more time to do anything. I do wish Arrowhead well. Really. I do.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Arrowhead update:
So...after my talk with Arrowhead. I was pretty optimistic. and then i got a message saying people in his group were seeing improvement. so i was even more optimistic!!
*sigh* alas...i fear that i am wrong yet again.
thought i told him, in no uncertain terms: "I need you to do _____." "I have been expecting ____ from you, is that not correct? Should I not be expecting ____ from you?" (please forgive the blanks. I'm trying to maintain some respect for Arrowhead)
Lo and behold...not so much than 2 weeks passes that Arrowhead is back to his same old pattern. He asks me to do ____. He asks my colleagues to do _____. i don't get it! does he not want to do it because he doesn't know how? if so, then say so and then we can help or go from there. everything seems to point to he does not choose to do ____. whether it is b/c he doesn't know how or doesn't want to, he just chooses not to. *sigh* what are going to do with him??
my colleague met him. and i try not to think it's my influence, but she thinking he's creepy. i don't think he's creepy. i just think he's a bit odd.
anyhow, i haven't seen improvement. i haven't seen anything. so if seeing nothing = improvement...then there it is!! ok. sorry. i just think that when people expect to see something of him, he just doesn't show anything so it looks like improvement b/c it's not anything else. i have come to the point where i have to actively jot down notes of our interactions and how I see his interactions so that I can think about whether there is improvement. *sigh* that was not a part of my job description.
one thing that bugged...we are working on this project and for the longest time it was the kind that "should be done as soon as possible." somehow, it turned into "should get done before the end of September." to that end, Arrowhead was calling all these meetings and making a big uproar about getting people together and getting things done. when it wasn't looking to be done by then, i thought, what happened in the last two weeks that brought to this "hair on fire situation" and so I Arrowhead why the end of September deadline as opposed to as soon as possible. of course, and this is what bugged...there was no reason for the end of September deadline. at least no reason that Arrowhead shared with me. so why the push on everyone including me, my colleagues, my managers, and other people's managers?
then later i learned that Arrowhead might be working on some sort of quota system.
i'm not liking the slick things that i learn about Arrowhead. he says one thing. but there's a whole story behind what he says that he doesn't let people know. tricky slicky.
So...after my talk with Arrowhead. I was pretty optimistic. and then i got a message saying people in his group were seeing improvement. so i was even more optimistic!!
*sigh* alas...i fear that i am wrong yet again.
thought i told him, in no uncertain terms: "I need you to do _____." "I have been expecting ____ from you, is that not correct? Should I not be expecting ____ from you?" (please forgive the blanks. I'm trying to maintain some respect for Arrowhead)
Lo and behold...not so much than 2 weeks passes that Arrowhead is back to his same old pattern. He asks me to do ____. He asks my colleagues to do _____. i don't get it! does he not want to do it because he doesn't know how? if so, then say so and then we can help or go from there. everything seems to point to he does not choose to do ____. whether it is b/c he doesn't know how or doesn't want to, he just chooses not to. *sigh* what are going to do with him??
my colleague met him. and i try not to think it's my influence, but she thinking he's creepy. i don't think he's creepy. i just think he's a bit odd.
anyhow, i haven't seen improvement. i haven't seen anything. so if seeing nothing = improvement...then there it is!! ok. sorry. i just think that when people expect to see something of him, he just doesn't show anything so it looks like improvement b/c it's not anything else. i have come to the point where i have to actively jot down notes of our interactions and how I see his interactions so that I can think about whether there is improvement. *sigh* that was not a part of my job description.
one thing that bugged...we are working on this project and for the longest time it was the kind that "should be done as soon as possible." somehow, it turned into "should get done before the end of September." to that end, Arrowhead was calling all these meetings and making a big uproar about getting people together and getting things done. when it wasn't looking to be done by then, i thought, what happened in the last two weeks that brought to this "hair on fire situation" and so I Arrowhead why the end of September deadline as opposed to as soon as possible. of course, and this is what bugged...there was no reason for the end of September deadline. at least no reason that Arrowhead shared with me. so why the push on everyone including me, my colleagues, my managers, and other people's managers?
then later i learned that Arrowhead might be working on some sort of quota system.
i'm not liking the slick things that i learn about Arrowhead. he says one thing. but there's a whole story behind what he says that he doesn't let people know. tricky slicky.
ok! It's been too long since I've written. Lots and lots have happened.
my friends anne and john had baby #2!! yea!! congrats. I can't wait to see them and little new max.
vince got to go to NY for work. he does not heart NY. but i think that may be because it was work. i for sure heart NY!!! even though i haven't been there lately. seems like it will take a small fortune to go there are really enjoy the things of NY.
So while vince was in NY. i took an impromptu trip down to LA. fun! i seriously kept thinking "I will not drive down to LA like a madwoman. I am in no rush. I will not drive down to LA like a madwoman." well. didn't work. once i hit the 5 freeway...helllllooooo madwoman. i can't help it. so then on the way back up...I kept reminding myself: "I will not drive like a madwoman back to the Bay Area." of course. my wishful thinking never prevails. I think I must convince myself next time that i HAVE to be safer. and be nicer to my little car.
LA was fun! got to see my family: mom, dad, bro, sis-in-law, nephew, niece, and little nephew. I hadn't seen little nephew in a while. cute as a baby could be. little smileys. apparently equipped with a death grip. my friend tina brought her little guy over and though he is about 1 month younger, got an early lesson of older bullies. somehow mason (my little nephew) and bryson (tina's son) got to holding hands. and then a few second later, brsyon starts crying! nothing changed. no one changed positions. mason was just holding his hand. with his death grip. sorry bryson!!!
fun part was watching a gazillion little kids play soccer. soo funny. some little kids were actually pretty skillful. but for the most part. it was a group of 8 little boys trying to kick the ball in a certain direction.
other things...hmmm...to recap...dinner with friends, wedding and work. doesn't seem like a lot. but it somehow jam packed our last two weekends! this weekend...shopping! no luck. and relaxing. lots of luck.
tune in next week as vince and i meet up and spend the day with our very own personal shopper!! should i be scared that i told her I'm looking for a new wardrobe and i'm pretty open? yikes. maybe just my wallet should be scared!
my friends anne and john had baby #2!! yea!! congrats. I can't wait to see them and little new max.
vince got to go to NY for work. he does not heart NY. but i think that may be because it was work. i for sure heart NY!!! even though i haven't been there lately. seems like it will take a small fortune to go there are really enjoy the things of NY.
So while vince was in NY. i took an impromptu trip down to LA. fun! i seriously kept thinking "I will not drive down to LA like a madwoman. I am in no rush. I will not drive down to LA like a madwoman." well. didn't work. once i hit the 5 freeway...helllllooooo madwoman. i can't help it. so then on the way back up...I kept reminding myself: "I will not drive like a madwoman back to the Bay Area." of course. my wishful thinking never prevails. I think I must convince myself next time that i HAVE to be safer. and be nicer to my little car.
LA was fun! got to see my family: mom, dad, bro, sis-in-law, nephew, niece, and little nephew. I hadn't seen little nephew in a while. cute as a baby could be. little smileys. apparently equipped with a death grip. my friend tina brought her little guy over and though he is about 1 month younger, got an early lesson of older bullies. somehow mason (my little nephew) and bryson (tina's son) got to holding hands. and then a few second later, brsyon starts crying! nothing changed. no one changed positions. mason was just holding his hand. with his death grip. sorry bryson!!!
fun part was watching a gazillion little kids play soccer. soo funny. some little kids were actually pretty skillful. but for the most part. it was a group of 8 little boys trying to kick the ball in a certain direction.
other things...hmmm...to recap...dinner with friends, wedding and work. doesn't seem like a lot. but it somehow jam packed our last two weekends! this weekend...shopping! no luck. and relaxing. lots of luck.
tune in next week as vince and i meet up and spend the day with our very own personal shopper!! should i be scared that i told her I'm looking for a new wardrobe and i'm pretty open? yikes. maybe just my wallet should be scared!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Work work work...
Seems like these days all i do is work. Not that I'm complaining. Just an observation. Get up. get ready for work. go to work. go eat dinner, maybe go work out. then go home and log in and do more work. then go to sleep. geez. I hope I get a raise. and i don't think a pda for work will help the cause either.
So I had another talk with Arrowhead. I think this one is the winner! I tried to be very clear and say things like: "i don't think we are on the same page as to what it is we expect out of each other." and "I expect you to do this, is that wrong, should I not expect that? do you not know that i expect that?" and then even went as far as to say "I want to see this from you and I haven't been seeing it." of course, i think arrowhead got a little defensive. but all in all it was a fine conversation and I'm hopeful things will change. Not withstanding the several people before me who were probably not as nice about it and much more direct who tried to talk to him about the very same thing, and things have yet to change. *sigh* why do i think i have the magic touch?
but i'm forever hopeful.
fall is coming. the weather is colder and much more windy.
Seems like these days all i do is work. Not that I'm complaining. Just an observation. Get up. get ready for work. go to work. go eat dinner, maybe go work out. then go home and log in and do more work. then go to sleep. geez. I hope I get a raise. and i don't think a pda for work will help the cause either.
So I had another talk with Arrowhead. I think this one is the winner! I tried to be very clear and say things like: "i don't think we are on the same page as to what it is we expect out of each other." and "I expect you to do this, is that wrong, should I not expect that? do you not know that i expect that?" and then even went as far as to say "I want to see this from you and I haven't been seeing it." of course, i think arrowhead got a little defensive. but all in all it was a fine conversation and I'm hopeful things will change. Not withstanding the several people before me who were probably not as nice about it and much more direct who tried to talk to him about the very same thing, and things have yet to change. *sigh* why do i think i have the magic touch?
but i'm forever hopeful.
fall is coming. the weather is colder and much more windy.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Happy post-Labor Day weekend!Silly me for thinking during the weekend that it was really long. Come Tuesday morning I kept wishing that it was still the weekend! *sigh*
In between the long working sessions, Vince and I got to head down to Santa Cruz for a spell. My first time at the Boardwalk! Out under the sun. Where we had some fun. The Boardwalk.
It was hot hot hot!!! The place was filled with beautiful colors!!! Although we didn't avail ourselves of the games or food, the booths were quite attractive.
And don't think that we were the only ones there! there were tons of people! Though it was quite tempting to go into the water given the heat, I was reminded that the water there was not as pristine as could be. And, given that I'm from CA and had the privilege of growing up in SoCal about 15 minutes away from the beach, I didn't think I was going to be missing anything.Our highlight of the day
came when we were hanging around some sea lion who were basking away in the sun on a small little floating dock. Most of the time they just relaxed. All hanging around, laying on top of each other. Soo cute! Some of them would stir and move around. There was a little baby one that was so close to the edge and kept getting almost pushed off. All in all, they would stay in their same position with eyes closed. Then... lo and behold! a pelican landed on the one edge of the dock! 
It was quite an alarming session and the sea lions did not really welcome the intrusion. As you can see, little baby sea lion is not quite oriented. Good thing there are plenty of adults around. and invaded their peaceful slumber! Well, the sea lions did not really like it. And when they were shooed off the dock by a man (booo!) this one showed us how she really felt about the pelican! 
She was just floating along, swimming around and then out of nowhere... Isn't this one of the most awesome pictures ever! Such natural action! Thanks and Great photography skills Vince!!
What a fun short day. I can see why people like the Boardwalk. It's out in the sun. It's fun. It's the Boardwalk. And I can't believe we actually heard and saw people eating this:Wednesday, September 05, 2007
SATC
On another note...this thought just popped into my mind... I actually am looking forward to the Sex and the City movie!! Not that i'll go watch it...maybe. But i'm very curious to know what the plot will be.
I have mixed feeling. Are they going to pick up right where they left off? that seems to boring. They are no longer "single" gals and definitely are a few years older. So i am quite curious. I hope the movie doesn't suck and then taint the feeling towards the series b/c I actually thought the series was well done and wrapped up quite nicely, and very happily.
Hmmm...we'll see...
On another note...this thought just popped into my mind... I actually am looking forward to the Sex and the City movie!! Not that i'll go watch it...maybe. But i'm very curious to know what the plot will be.
I have mixed feeling. Are they going to pick up right where they left off? that seems to boring. They are no longer "single" gals and definitely are a few years older. So i am quite curious. I hope the movie doesn't suck and then taint the feeling towards the series b/c I actually thought the series was well done and wrapped up quite nicely, and very happily.
Hmmm...we'll see...
I fail to understand...
Arrowhead doesn't get it! Our talk today, I thought, was quite productive. We got through the materials we needed to get through, albeit, I'm sure not in the great detail he wanted but certainly more to my liking. I have no problem giving guidance and doing some of the work when necessary. but it seemed like it was not necessary to do all of the work. In any event, I thought the conversation went well when I released some of his binds and said things like: you can do it, use your judgment, you create something and then send it to me to review.
THEN!! I can't believe it! I get an email on this very day saying: "Have situation A. Need you to help create, when next week can we discuss?"
ARGH! I suppose I am being ultra ineffective in my efforts. How can I say: "I cannot hand hold you" or "I cannot do your work for you" or "I cannot do your work with you" without seeming like i'm a crazy bitch or at the very least, non supportive. *sigh* i hope my response to that email can make him get it. all I want to say is "you do the work, you give it to me for review." how come he still thinks that he can "set up a meeting to discuss" when I have nothing to discuss because I have nothing to review and don't know what is going on?
I can only blame myself. I must not be a good communicator.
Arrowhead doesn't get it! Our talk today, I thought, was quite productive. We got through the materials we needed to get through, albeit, I'm sure not in the great detail he wanted but certainly more to my liking. I have no problem giving guidance and doing some of the work when necessary. but it seemed like it was not necessary to do all of the work. In any event, I thought the conversation went well when I released some of his binds and said things like: you can do it, use your judgment, you create something and then send it to me to review.
THEN!! I can't believe it! I get an email on this very day saying: "Have situation A. Need you to help create, when next week can we discuss?"
ARGH! I suppose I am being ultra ineffective in my efforts. How can I say: "I cannot hand hold you" or "I cannot do your work for you" or "I cannot do your work with you" without seeming like i'm a crazy bitch or at the very least, non supportive. *sigh* i hope my response to that email can make him get it. all I want to say is "you do the work, you give it to me for review." how come he still thinks that he can "set up a meeting to discuss" when I have nothing to discuss because I have nothing to review and don't know what is going on?
I can only blame myself. I must not be a good communicator.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Visits
How surprising! I got visits from two of my new best friends today! So unexpected. They just...popped in.
Facilities guy came to visit me today. He's very nice. Always carrying some sort of folder with papers and all. He has really only come by to visit me to give me an update as to what he is doing on a particular deal and then to give me a heads up as to what to expect. Pretty cool. I do appreciate that. I feel bad because I don't know his last name. :( I'll try to sneak a peak at his badge the next time he comes. Or all he has to do is email me. which he hasn't yet b/c he opts for the pop in.
IT guy came to visit me. I feared that I would be losing him as a BFF as the project he was supporting me on was nixed and is no more. But hope is revived!! He popped in and talked with me about nothing in particular. Except how his work went on a past project that had a similar fate to the one we were working on together. We will of course have to find other things to talk about after we've exhausted talking about our no longer live project. Also, my cube neighbor also on IT guy's BFF list, is leaving in a few weeks to go work somewhere else. :( I wonder if IT guy will come visit knowing that she is not here anymore. I did not have the heart to tell him that she was leaving. I hope he doesn't get mad when he finds out. :O He won't. IT guys is like Mr. Cool. Nothing seems to phase him.
corporate politics alert!! I will be trying to have a conversation with Arrowhead tomorrow about our working relationship. :S I hate feeling like I'm doing his work! But then again, the question is, am I? Or maybe it's more I wouldn't mind doing what I would do, maybe just after he tried to put in some effort. My example, I told him that he had choice 1 (yellow) or choice 2 (green) and that he would have to choose which one to use. In the end, he sends it back to me for my input while leaving both choices 1 or 2 to select and did not color them yellow or green. *sigh* not only did he not choose, he even seemed to forget that I made them yellow and green so that it could be easier to know what belonged to whatever he was supposed to choose.
I declined a meeting invite he sent. sad b/c it was just for me. I hope I wasn't too rude in my decline. But we have to work out a better relationship here. we'll see what happens! wish me luck!
How surprising! I got visits from two of my new best friends today! So unexpected. They just...popped in.
Facilities guy came to visit me today. He's very nice. Always carrying some sort of folder with papers and all. He has really only come by to visit me to give me an update as to what he is doing on a particular deal and then to give me a heads up as to what to expect. Pretty cool. I do appreciate that. I feel bad because I don't know his last name. :( I'll try to sneak a peak at his badge the next time he comes. Or all he has to do is email me. which he hasn't yet b/c he opts for the pop in.
IT guy came to visit me. I feared that I would be losing him as a BFF as the project he was supporting me on was nixed and is no more. But hope is revived!! He popped in and talked with me about nothing in particular. Except how his work went on a past project that had a similar fate to the one we were working on together. We will of course have to find other things to talk about after we've exhausted talking about our no longer live project. Also, my cube neighbor also on IT guy's BFF list, is leaving in a few weeks to go work somewhere else. :( I wonder if IT guy will come visit knowing that she is not here anymore. I did not have the heart to tell him that she was leaving. I hope he doesn't get mad when he finds out. :O He won't. IT guys is like Mr. Cool. Nothing seems to phase him.
corporate politics alert!! I will be trying to have a conversation with Arrowhead tomorrow about our working relationship. :S I hate feeling like I'm doing his work! But then again, the question is, am I? Or maybe it's more I wouldn't mind doing what I would do, maybe just after he tried to put in some effort. My example, I told him that he had choice 1 (yellow) or choice 2 (green) and that he would have to choose which one to use. In the end, he sends it back to me for my input while leaving both choices 1 or 2 to select and did not color them yellow or green. *sigh* not only did he not choose, he even seemed to forget that I made them yellow and green so that it could be easier to know what belonged to whatever he was supposed to choose.
I declined a meeting invite he sent. sad b/c it was just for me. I hope I wasn't too rude in my decline. But we have to work out a better relationship here. we'll see what happens! wish me luck!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Lunar Eclipse
Wow. I can't believe I stayed up for this. Okay. I didn't really stay up. I went to sleep at 11pm and woke up at 2:15am. Thereafter I got ready and went downstairs outside my apartment at got ready to take pictures. Granted, I wish I had a tripod and a bigger lens...but I am glad to have gotten to see the beauty and majesty of the lunar eclipse. Even it it happens quite a lot of times. But from what I read, not so common is the total eclipse. Enjoy!
1st shot at 2:40am
subsequent shot at 2:54am:
at 3:15am:
at 3:33am:
at 3:49am:
at 3:59am:
last shot at 4:02am:
although it would have been awesome to see the moon cycle back to full, I just had to go to sleep.
Wow. I can't believe I stayed up for this. Okay. I didn't really stay up. I went to sleep at 11pm and woke up at 2:15am. Thereafter I got ready and went downstairs outside my apartment at got ready to take pictures. Granted, I wish I had a tripod and a bigger lens...but I am glad to have gotten to see the beauty and majesty of the lunar eclipse. Even it it happens quite a lot of times. But from what I read, not so common is the total eclipse. Enjoy!
1st shot at 2:40am
subsequent shot at 2:54am:
at 3:15am:
at 3:33am:
at 3:49am:
at 3:59am:
last shot at 4:02am:
although it would have been awesome to see the moon cycle back to full, I just had to go to sleep.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Performance Goals
So I'm new to this concept. At my old workplace, there was no formal review period. no setting of goals. things were from the hip and it was alright with me.
Now, working for the Company, it's all about performance, goals and action items.
:)
This place I work is such a interesting social experiment for me! The newest thing to analyze...
Performance and goal setting!
What goals should I set for myself? Do I set low goals so it'll be certain that I can meet and exceed them? Will my manager know I'm low balling the goals and ding me for that? should I be aggressive and set lofty goals and bank on effort being seen rather than results? of course, in a perfect world, i'd set lofty goals and reach them!! but for now, i have no goals. for i joined the Company mid-review period and was told not to set back goals for the 2 months I was working.
will i get a raise? we'll see!!
oh...and the latest on Arrowhead...i met the nicest lady today that, from day 1, has had a terrible time working with Arrowhead. I can confirm now...that it really is him. I thought, maybe some of use are too critical and too bossy or whatever. but this lady was super nice. right off the bat. and for her to have a problem. *sigh*
So I'm new to this concept. At my old workplace, there was no formal review period. no setting of goals. things were from the hip and it was alright with me.
Now, working for the Company, it's all about performance, goals and action items.
:)
This place I work is such a interesting social experiment for me! The newest thing to analyze...
Performance and goal setting!
What goals should I set for myself? Do I set low goals so it'll be certain that I can meet and exceed them? Will my manager know I'm low balling the goals and ding me for that? should I be aggressive and set lofty goals and bank on effort being seen rather than results? of course, in a perfect world, i'd set lofty goals and reach them!! but for now, i have no goals. for i joined the Company mid-review period and was told not to set back goals for the 2 months I was working.
will i get a raise? we'll see!!
oh...and the latest on Arrowhead...i met the nicest lady today that, from day 1, has had a terrible time working with Arrowhead. I can confirm now...that it really is him. I thought, maybe some of use are too critical and too bossy or whatever. but this lady was super nice. right off the bat. and for her to have a problem. *sigh*
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Evaluations
So I'm now worried about the fate of Arrowhead. Apparently, he's been having some problems dealing with people in the past. It' snot that he's a terrible guy. But it seems that he not quite as effective as he should be and may in fact drag people down with him.
I never really thought about him and his work and its effect on others. but today, a colleague was doing an impromptu review and now i feel bad for him. he has all the best intentions. but for some reason, he cannot turn those intentions into product. my colleague asked me if he had given me some product that he created and worked on. and i can't say that he had. :( i'm racking my brain to think of the positives. not that he has that many negatives. it's just that they sort of overshadow his positives.
it's weird. not until today have i ever really thought about the work performance of someone that i work with. i hate that it's not a great impression. and now i'm worried about Arrowhead. I wish I could help him. i'll try to. i'd appreciate any ideas to help. Or maybe I shouldn't help. Maybe I should just let things happen as they may? oh...these are the days of my life...
So I'm now worried about the fate of Arrowhead. Apparently, he's been having some problems dealing with people in the past. It' snot that he's a terrible guy. But it seems that he not quite as effective as he should be and may in fact drag people down with him.
I never really thought about him and his work and its effect on others. but today, a colleague was doing an impromptu review and now i feel bad for him. he has all the best intentions. but for some reason, he cannot turn those intentions into product. my colleague asked me if he had given me some product that he created and worked on. and i can't say that he had. :( i'm racking my brain to think of the positives. not that he has that many negatives. it's just that they sort of overshadow his positives.
it's weird. not until today have i ever really thought about the work performance of someone that i work with. i hate that it's not a great impression. and now i'm worried about Arrowhead. I wish I could help him. i'll try to. i'd appreciate any ideas to help. Or maybe I shouldn't help. Maybe I should just let things happen as they may? oh...these are the days of my life...
Monday, August 13, 2007
New best friend #4
I can't believe I forgot about new best friend #4!! I'm going to call him Arrowhead, for he is deserving of name and I have a bottle of Arrowhead water on my desk and I can't think of anything else right now. You can feel free to suggest some new names as we get to know Arrowhead better.
Arrowhead calls me about 3 times a week and then sends me about 5-7 emails a day on average. Of course, they are not all to me only, but there I am. On all these emails. when sometimes, they don't even concern me. I do appreciate being kept in the loop, but i keep trying to find a way not to unnecessarily bombard someone's email, and I wish Arrowhead could do the same.
It's good though because at least the emails are all work related. It was funny one time as he called me one day, and I didn't pick up the phone. yes. i was screening. and then two seconds after the phone stopped ringing, I got an email that simply said:
"Are you there?"
I was. But to him I wasn't.
In any event, Arrowhead and I get along well. It's not that bad. mostly just funny. But sometimes, I think he just calls me so that he can tell me what he thinks and then sees if I think like he does and then get me on his side so he can turn it around to someone else and say that there is consensus for what he thinks. Okay, that didn't happen to me but to my colleague and so I'm wary of his motivation for calling. It's not as simple as just an exchange of information. Welcome to the world of corporate politics!
I like Arrowhead. Except for the times when i think he's trying to get me to do his work. me don't like that so much. We'll see what happens with Arrowhead. Maybe he'll chill out a little.
I can't believe I forgot about new best friend #4!! I'm going to call him Arrowhead, for he is deserving of name and I have a bottle of Arrowhead water on my desk and I can't think of anything else right now. You can feel free to suggest some new names as we get to know Arrowhead better.
Arrowhead calls me about 3 times a week and then sends me about 5-7 emails a day on average. Of course, they are not all to me only, but there I am. On all these emails. when sometimes, they don't even concern me. I do appreciate being kept in the loop, but i keep trying to find a way not to unnecessarily bombard someone's email, and I wish Arrowhead could do the same.
It's good though because at least the emails are all work related. It was funny one time as he called me one day, and I didn't pick up the phone. yes. i was screening. and then two seconds after the phone stopped ringing, I got an email that simply said:
"Are you there?"
I was. But to him I wasn't.
In any event, Arrowhead and I get along well. It's not that bad. mostly just funny. But sometimes, I think he just calls me so that he can tell me what he thinks and then sees if I think like he does and then get me on his side so he can turn it around to someone else and say that there is consensus for what he thinks. Okay, that didn't happen to me but to my colleague and so I'm wary of his motivation for calling. It's not as simple as just an exchange of information. Welcome to the world of corporate politics!
I like Arrowhead. Except for the times when i think he's trying to get me to do his work. me don't like that so much. We'll see what happens with Arrowhead. Maybe he'll chill out a little.
Friday, August 10, 2007
My New Best Friends
So in the past several weeks, I made a couple of new best friends. :)
#1 - IT guy - I have new best IT guy friend. he comes to visit me in my cube every so often for no reason at all. sometimes there is a reason. most of the time it is just to say hi. it's a little weird b/c we don't really have anything to talk about other than the project we are both on. But sadly, that project has now been scraped for the time being and I wonder if new best friend #1 will no longer visit me. hmmm...that might be alright. but it's always good to know someone in IT.
#2 - Facilities guy - I met this new best friend only last week and he has come to visit me twice and talk to me about our upcoming dealings with each other. It's cool. He's a little bit easier to talk to than best friend #1 (probably due to my lameness in the IT sector) but still...I don't really know what he's talking about. I do appreciate the heads up, though. And he's the type of guy I could see having a beer with. with a group of people of course.
#3 - Wikipedia - my bestest of all new best friends. Wiki has helped me understand what people say and write to me. I can't tell you how many acronyms have been thrown at me. I have come to rely a lot on Wiki for helping me speak a tiny bit intelligently. I see us having a long lasting relationship. no beers for me and Wiki though.
I do anticipate having more new best friends in the future. It's a big company.
So in the past several weeks, I made a couple of new best friends. :)
#1 - IT guy - I have new best IT guy friend. he comes to visit me in my cube every so often for no reason at all. sometimes there is a reason. most of the time it is just to say hi. it's a little weird b/c we don't really have anything to talk about other than the project we are both on. But sadly, that project has now been scraped for the time being and I wonder if new best friend #1 will no longer visit me. hmmm...that might be alright. but it's always good to know someone in IT.
#2 - Facilities guy - I met this new best friend only last week and he has come to visit me twice and talk to me about our upcoming dealings with each other. It's cool. He's a little bit easier to talk to than best friend #1 (probably due to my lameness in the IT sector) but still...I don't really know what he's talking about. I do appreciate the heads up, though. And he's the type of guy I could see having a beer with. with a group of people of course.
#3 - Wikipedia - my bestest of all new best friends. Wiki has helped me understand what people say and write to me. I can't tell you how many acronyms have been thrown at me. I have come to rely a lot on Wiki for helping me speak a tiny bit intelligently. I see us having a long lasting relationship. no beers for me and Wiki though.
I do anticipate having more new best friends in the future. It's a big company.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Gainful employment!!
Hurray!! The drought has finally been lifted!!! It is truly a work orchestrated by God that brought me to where I am today! On Monday, I start as a full employ where I am at. No more feeling slightly ostracized (of course, only in my head) because of my different badge. No more wondering what will happen. And no more overtime! Okay, maybe that last one was actually kind of good to have.
I know many of you have heard my sad tales throughout this past year. Trying to figure out what to do with my career. Where to work? What to do? When will I find the "right" job?? Well, here is how it all unfolded with a brief recap!
After I moved up here, I got in touch with an old friend of mine. We weren't bosom buddies or anything, but he always seemed like a big brother. Or rather, though he would never say, I was just probably a pesty little sister to him. My friend, was kind enough to recommend me for a project position as a paralegal. Got to get in to the company on that and helped out as much as I could. My contract was initially for 2 months. Then one day...Surprise! I get an email saying that my contract had been extended for one month! woohoo! but then...here is where God comes in and how His timing and His working in people are so awesome.
While I was puttering away doing what I was suppose to do and trying to meet and accost people for lunch...someone in my department had given her notice to quit. She happened to be under my same boss. She happened to be doing something that, in my eyes, was not too difficult for me to pick up. She was doing something, in my boss' eyes, I was overqualified to do. Lo and behold, my boss approached me to see if I was interested in moving into that position!! and of course, i said "OF COURSE!" haha. maybe much too eagerly. so with all companies there is some bureaucracy. after sometime, the position was opened, i went through some interviews, and my boss approved me to move over into the position!!!
In a time where there was no hiring b/c there was some recent lay offs and headcount was frozen and budget belts were being tightened....God brought me to a place and the right time to be able to get to know people and do good work for things to be set up just perfectly when a full time position in the company opened up. I could not have thought it to work out any better! i don't have to move groups, i don't have to move cubes, and i'm just sliding over to doing something much more substantive than what i was doing before. And i get to stay working under the same boss who is really really great.
I'm really excited about all the new opportunities. I get to work on a much more cross-functional basis. I get to still do legal analysis and recommendations. It is very interesting to meet and work with new people. I cannot believe how big my working world is from what it used to be. Still quite an adjustment. and lots of work to be done. not only the day to day...but there is anticipated process overhaul that i get to be a part of! it's really awesome!! i can't believe how fortunate it is for me to have this opportunity. I am very thankful to God and to all those people who helped make this happen.
Tomorrow is my last day as a contractor! Come Monday...hello full time employee who has access to the gym and remote access from home!! Now the questions remains, should I get a company blackberry???
Hurray!! The drought has finally been lifted!!! It is truly a work orchestrated by God that brought me to where I am today! On Monday, I start as a full employ where I am at. No more feeling slightly ostracized (of course, only in my head) because of my different badge. No more wondering what will happen. And no more overtime! Okay, maybe that last one was actually kind of good to have.
I know many of you have heard my sad tales throughout this past year. Trying to figure out what to do with my career. Where to work? What to do? When will I find the "right" job?? Well, here is how it all unfolded with a brief recap!
After I moved up here, I got in touch with an old friend of mine. We weren't bosom buddies or anything, but he always seemed like a big brother. Or rather, though he would never say, I was just probably a pesty little sister to him. My friend, was kind enough to recommend me for a project position as a paralegal. Got to get in to the company on that and helped out as much as I could. My contract was initially for 2 months. Then one day...Surprise! I get an email saying that my contract had been extended for one month! woohoo! but then...here is where God comes in and how His timing and His working in people are so awesome.
While I was puttering away doing what I was suppose to do and trying to meet and accost people for lunch...someone in my department had given her notice to quit. She happened to be under my same boss. She happened to be doing something that, in my eyes, was not too difficult for me to pick up. She was doing something, in my boss' eyes, I was overqualified to do. Lo and behold, my boss approached me to see if I was interested in moving into that position!! and of course, i said "OF COURSE!" haha. maybe much too eagerly. so with all companies there is some bureaucracy. after sometime, the position was opened, i went through some interviews, and my boss approved me to move over into the position!!!
In a time where there was no hiring b/c there was some recent lay offs and headcount was frozen and budget belts were being tightened....God brought me to a place and the right time to be able to get to know people and do good work for things to be set up just perfectly when a full time position in the company opened up. I could not have thought it to work out any better! i don't have to move groups, i don't have to move cubes, and i'm just sliding over to doing something much more substantive than what i was doing before. And i get to stay working under the same boss who is really really great.
I'm really excited about all the new opportunities. I get to work on a much more cross-functional basis. I get to still do legal analysis and recommendations. It is very interesting to meet and work with new people. I cannot believe how big my working world is from what it used to be. Still quite an adjustment. and lots of work to be done. not only the day to day...but there is anticipated process overhaul that i get to be a part of! it's really awesome!! i can't believe how fortunate it is for me to have this opportunity. I am very thankful to God and to all those people who helped make this happen.
Tomorrow is my last day as a contractor! Come Monday...hello full time employee who has access to the gym and remote access from home!! Now the questions remains, should I get a company blackberry???
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Breaking up is hard to do... (me and my CC company)
We all have credit cards. I happen to be in the process of activating one of mine and closing another one of mine. No particular reasons. Other than the one I was reactivating I have had for a very long time but only use as my emergency card. I'm not too sure what happened to it in the interim, but I ended up opening another account when I moved. Weird. I'm only in the habit of having and using one card. and then having a back up one for emergencies. so i ended up having two for emergencies. weird.
anyhow, as i was trying to activate my old card, i ended up being on hold for the longest time!!! i couldn't to the automatic activate as i was not calling from a landline that was linked to my account. Thus the inevitable music and hold. i tried twice! was on hold for over 10 minutes each time. I know, it's only 10 minutes...but it seemed like forever to be on hold! so anyways, i wasn't too happy with that level of service given that i was trying to ACTIVATE my account so i could start USING it. but alas...i was calling at midnight saturday night...so maybe they were not as well staffed as I had hoped or expected. Lo and behold, the next day my 3rd attempt was golden and i successfully activated my credit card and got an increase in limit! awesome. and yes...only for emergencies.
having done that, i proceeded to cancel and close my other account. reasons why: b/c i just opened the account last year, don't really use them and simply wanted to stay with the card I had had for longer. the customer service number gave me no option to auto cancel my account. and here's the reason why...the "what can we do to keep you" tactic. i had to talk to my account rep and there was the tenacious effort to convince me not to close my account. and i remind you, there was not compelling reason for me to do so. simply put...i had too many credit cards and wanted to close one of them. then came the barrage of questions. some appropriate, others, i thought, very inappropriate, and all in all a bit annoying. here's my paraphrase of the questions:
Why do you want to close your account?
Is there anything we can do to make this card work better for you?
Do you have other credit cards?
Do you other credit cards give you rewards or incentives to use them?
How are we different from your other cards?
Why are you choosing to stay with them and not us?
Do you have a balance on your other cards?
Are interests rates important to you?
After the third time I had to say "i just want to close my account" I was getting a little peeved. why can't i just want to do something for no reason that is any of your business?!! i know, they are just doing their jobs...but seriously...i just want to close my account. if i had a problem with the card and with the services, then i'd say something. but really...i just have one card too many and i'm sorry...but yours gets closed. *sigh* i think i said "I just want to close my account" ten times and i was almost to the point where i wanted to say "i love my other card, i have used the 2nd emergency card before so i know them...I have never used you and don't know you so let me just close my account!!!!" After the 10th time, the rep quickly stated: "ok, your account is cancelled." almost in a manner so i wouldn' t hear it. and when i asked for confirmation of the closing, he seemed very reluctant. not such a great tactic to set things up for eventually trying to lure me back, i should say. if it's that hard to close up, i don't have a very good impression of them overall. just cut me loose. i'm not a money maker for them anyways.
lesson learned: the credit card company offers you a whole bunch (of what could be nothing) if you call them and tell them you want to close your account. too bad in this situation, i just wanted to close. nothing they said could have kept me. hehe..unless they paid me to keep it open. haha.
i must say though...i LOVE my credit card that i use all the time. they are so ON. even when it's me that using my card, they will stop transactions when they suspect something is not normal. awesome. not an annoyance at all. i'm very grateful for them doing so and they are really nice about things. emergency card has been good too. way to make me feel good to increase my limit upon my activation of my new card. yes...i know they are trying to sucker me into to using more and owing them. but alas! touche! i'm not going to!
We all have credit cards. I happen to be in the process of activating one of mine and closing another one of mine. No particular reasons. Other than the one I was reactivating I have had for a very long time but only use as my emergency card. I'm not too sure what happened to it in the interim, but I ended up opening another account when I moved. Weird. I'm only in the habit of having and using one card. and then having a back up one for emergencies. so i ended up having two for emergencies. weird.
anyhow, as i was trying to activate my old card, i ended up being on hold for the longest time!!! i couldn't to the automatic activate as i was not calling from a landline that was linked to my account. Thus the inevitable music and hold. i tried twice! was on hold for over 10 minutes each time. I know, it's only 10 minutes...but it seemed like forever to be on hold! so anyways, i wasn't too happy with that level of service given that i was trying to ACTIVATE my account so i could start USING it. but alas...i was calling at midnight saturday night...so maybe they were not as well staffed as I had hoped or expected. Lo and behold, the next day my 3rd attempt was golden and i successfully activated my credit card and got an increase in limit! awesome. and yes...only for emergencies.
having done that, i proceeded to cancel and close my other account. reasons why: b/c i just opened the account last year, don't really use them and simply wanted to stay with the card I had had for longer. the customer service number gave me no option to auto cancel my account. and here's the reason why...the "what can we do to keep you" tactic. i had to talk to my account rep and there was the tenacious effort to convince me not to close my account. and i remind you, there was not compelling reason for me to do so. simply put...i had too many credit cards and wanted to close one of them. then came the barrage of questions. some appropriate, others, i thought, very inappropriate, and all in all a bit annoying. here's my paraphrase of the questions:
Why do you want to close your account?
Is there anything we can do to make this card work better for you?
Do you have other credit cards?
Do you other credit cards give you rewards or incentives to use them?
How are we different from your other cards?
Why are you choosing to stay with them and not us?
Do you have a balance on your other cards?
Are interests rates important to you?
After the third time I had to say "i just want to close my account" I was getting a little peeved. why can't i just want to do something for no reason that is any of your business?!! i know, they are just doing their jobs...but seriously...i just want to close my account. if i had a problem with the card and with the services, then i'd say something. but really...i just have one card too many and i'm sorry...but yours gets closed. *sigh* i think i said "I just want to close my account" ten times and i was almost to the point where i wanted to say "i love my other card, i have used the 2nd emergency card before so i know them...I have never used you and don't know you so let me just close my account!!!!" After the 10th time, the rep quickly stated: "ok, your account is cancelled." almost in a manner so i wouldn' t hear it. and when i asked for confirmation of the closing, he seemed very reluctant. not such a great tactic to set things up for eventually trying to lure me back, i should say. if it's that hard to close up, i don't have a very good impression of them overall. just cut me loose. i'm not a money maker for them anyways.
lesson learned: the credit card company offers you a whole bunch (of what could be nothing) if you call them and tell them you want to close your account. too bad in this situation, i just wanted to close. nothing they said could have kept me. hehe..unless they paid me to keep it open. haha.
i must say though...i LOVE my credit card that i use all the time. they are so ON. even when it's me that using my card, they will stop transactions when they suspect something is not normal. awesome. not an annoyance at all. i'm very grateful for them doing so and they are really nice about things. emergency card has been good too. way to make me feel good to increase my limit upon my activation of my new card. yes...i know they are trying to sucker me into to using more and owing them. but alas! touche! i'm not going to!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
As there is No Cable
So many of you might not know...but we have been living without cable tv for quite a while now. No matter...we were plenty busy with the internet and the tv shows you watch online. I have to say, I went a little crazy with the shows and ended up watching almost every conceiveable show there was to watch online. I found great shows like "brothers and sisters" on abc...to not as great shows like "search for the next pussycat doll." but hey...at that time i wasn't working. and i do love my tv.
but now that it's rerun time...no shows to watch. so we've once again, resorted to dvds. tho i have been know to gether dvds here and there...i don't think i've bought a new dvd in about a year. so we've been having some fun watching the same dvds over and over again.
this week's hit of the household: O Brother Where Art Thou. what a wonderful movie! george clooney like you've never seen him before (unless you saw him on the Facts of Life). far from debonair, but nonethless, enthralling to watch. this movie is so great! loads of great quotes and facial expressions. lots of allegory. i can only wish there was some insightful commentary by the directors or the writers of the movie. but alas, we are left to interpret it on our own. the images are quite stunning. and it's so fun to watch!!! i might start getting tired of it in a few days. but for now....i'll leave you with our favorite quotes from the movie:
vince: "Ohhh... mercy yes...we got to beat that competition."
judy: "...and stay out of the Woolsworth!"
So many of you might not know...but we have been living without cable tv for quite a while now. No matter...we were plenty busy with the internet and the tv shows you watch online. I have to say, I went a little crazy with the shows and ended up watching almost every conceiveable show there was to watch online. I found great shows like "brothers and sisters" on abc...to not as great shows like "search for the next pussycat doll." but hey...at that time i wasn't working. and i do love my tv.
but now that it's rerun time...no shows to watch. so we've once again, resorted to dvds. tho i have been know to gether dvds here and there...i don't think i've bought a new dvd in about a year. so we've been having some fun watching the same dvds over and over again.
this week's hit of the household: O Brother Where Art Thou. what a wonderful movie! george clooney like you've never seen him before (unless you saw him on the Facts of Life). far from debonair, but nonethless, enthralling to watch. this movie is so great! loads of great quotes and facial expressions. lots of allegory. i can only wish there was some insightful commentary by the directors or the writers of the movie. but alas, we are left to interpret it on our own. the images are quite stunning. and it's so fun to watch!!! i might start getting tired of it in a few days. but for now....i'll leave you with our favorite quotes from the movie:
vince: "Ohhh... mercy yes...we got to beat that competition."
judy: "...and stay out of the Woolsworth!"
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Down Time
So I finally have stolen away some down time to blog. I know you all must have forgotten about me and thought I may have fell off the face of the earth. Nope. Still here. Vince is sleeping so it's just me. I thought I would turn off the TV (I think I've watched all my dvds a gazillion times anyways) and thought about turning off the computer but took a moment to touch base with my blog.
Since I wrote last time lots of things, of course, have happened. In no particular order...went to a wedding which was loads of fun! Of course, most of the fun was watching the groom and his deteriorating but fun behavior due to alcohol consumption. By the end of the night, which by the way was only 11pm, he needed two guys to prop him up and take him up to the couch. Where he lay with a half smile on his face and making weird poses with his arms as they were the only parts of his body not being supported by the couch. He was such fun and a great cooperative drunk. He even made his 6am flight out the next morning! If only I could be cooperative when I'm that gone...
Still working. I may have an update on that soon. But I really am enjoying where I am working, what I am doing, the people that I work with and, surprisingly, am very eager for more. I used to think I didn't care about what I did. But being in an entirely different industry makes me realize that there are some things on which I would rather spend my work day doing. And it is really great to be surrounded by people who strive to be on the cutting edge of what they do. Not only is the subject matter of what I do quite interesting and novel to me, even the workplace itself is pretty awesome.
If you didn't know, I came from a wonderful small law firm atmosphere that thoroughly enjoyed. But being in a big corporation with all these differently trained people and lots of hoops to jump through, is quite an experience. I didn't not know I would have to be so interactive and so nice. I mean, I am nice. and I still think I'm an extrovert...but working with others sometimes takes a lot of effort. Some of my thoughts during the day: "Why is it that I have to say the same thing over and over again? Why is it that even though I say something multiple times in multiple ways, you still don't get it? Am I speaking English?" Okay, that last one is actually a legitimate inquiry because sometimes I'm communicating with international people.
And speaking of international, I discovered (new to me that is) a new island! The island of Mauritius is my new favorite place to talk about! We all know that the island of Madagascar is off the coast of Africa, right? But did we all know that the island of Mauritius is off the coast of Madagascar?!? Not I! I keep telling people that I need to go visit some of our international entities to make sure they are in compliance. :) But alas, my suggestions have fallen on deaf ears. So one revelation of mine...I'm not as culturally correct as I thought myself to be. I am soo western-centric it's amazing. My apologies to all you internationals out there. I will try to be more sensitive to the world cultures. I still have a lot of learning to do.
Anyhow, I think I puked into this blog way to much. I will try to be better at being more consistent.
So I finally have stolen away some down time to blog. I know you all must have forgotten about me and thought I may have fell off the face of the earth. Nope. Still here. Vince is sleeping so it's just me. I thought I would turn off the TV (I think I've watched all my dvds a gazillion times anyways) and thought about turning off the computer but took a moment to touch base with my blog.
Since I wrote last time lots of things, of course, have happened. In no particular order...went to a wedding which was loads of fun! Of course, most of the fun was watching the groom and his deteriorating but fun behavior due to alcohol consumption. By the end of the night, which by the way was only 11pm, he needed two guys to prop him up and take him up to the couch. Where he lay with a half smile on his face and making weird poses with his arms as they were the only parts of his body not being supported by the couch. He was such fun and a great cooperative drunk. He even made his 6am flight out the next morning! If only I could be cooperative when I'm that gone...
Still working. I may have an update on that soon. But I really am enjoying where I am working, what I am doing, the people that I work with and, surprisingly, am very eager for more. I used to think I didn't care about what I did. But being in an entirely different industry makes me realize that there are some things on which I would rather spend my work day doing. And it is really great to be surrounded by people who strive to be on the cutting edge of what they do. Not only is the subject matter of what I do quite interesting and novel to me, even the workplace itself is pretty awesome.
If you didn't know, I came from a wonderful small law firm atmosphere that thoroughly enjoyed. But being in a big corporation with all these differently trained people and lots of hoops to jump through, is quite an experience. I didn't not know I would have to be so interactive and so nice. I mean, I am nice. and I still think I'm an extrovert...but working with others sometimes takes a lot of effort. Some of my thoughts during the day: "Why is it that I have to say the same thing over and over again? Why is it that even though I say something multiple times in multiple ways, you still don't get it? Am I speaking English?" Okay, that last one is actually a legitimate inquiry because sometimes I'm communicating with international people.
And speaking of international, I discovered (new to me that is) a new island! The island of Mauritius is my new favorite place to talk about! We all know that the island of Madagascar is off the coast of Africa, right? But did we all know that the island of Mauritius is off the coast of Madagascar?!? Not I! I keep telling people that I need to go visit some of our international entities to make sure they are in compliance. :) But alas, my suggestions have fallen on deaf ears. So one revelation of mine...I'm not as culturally correct as I thought myself to be. I am soo western-centric it's amazing. My apologies to all you internationals out there. I will try to be more sensitive to the world cultures. I still have a lot of learning to do.
Anyhow, I think I puked into this blog way to much. I will try to be better at being more consistent.
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