The Europeans get a few more holidays than we do in the U.S. The challenge of this project has been much more about scheduling resources to actually be in the office instead of any significant technical challenges. We should definitely be jealous of the time spent outside the office.
However, we do have one day a year where we "win". Today was our AP Manager's birthday. In the US, this might mean that someone would have taken her out for her birthday, or maybe a little cake or goofy presents. In EMEA, the deal is reversed. On your birthday, you are supposed to bring in something for everyone else. It works out for me, but I definitely don't plan on coming back for my birthday.
We waited to procrastinate to the last minute on our travel plans. We originally thought that we would try to fly somewhere exotic, but I think with all the work we have we need to get done, we are only going to take Saturday to tool around the countryside -- maybe to go to Gruyeres castle (for the cheese and double cream) and Interlaken for the views... TBD.
Right now it is 6 and we are going to sneak away whiles the US goes to lunch before anyone asks me to do any more "favors" for them. My favorite part of these requests are the start of the sentence... "I know that you are busy but..." or "Hey, I know that you are completely consumed with your project, but..." That "but" is a killer.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
It isn't paranoia...
...if they really are trying to get you. It is the subtle little things that make me think that Europe is ready for me to go home. Not necessarily trying to cause permanent damage, but enough to get the message across.
Sign 1: The shower is heat regulated, where there is a special button to press if you want it to go to more extreme temperatures. I leave it at the same place (about 42 C) yet starting in week 2, housekeeping likes to randomly change it to the highest setting. I haven't shattered the mirror jumping out of the shower -- yet.
Sign 2: The hidden wonders of the food... I learned last time that they don't pit their olives on pizza. Was a bit surprised that they didn't pit their cherries in the tarts. As I am on the home stretch for my second round of braces -- having to go home to the Orthodontist is less than exciting.
Sign 3: Laundy runs about $25/day for me. I am now in the process of buying new underwear, socks and t-shirts as it is cheaper than cleaning them. I would have to guess that this is a bit contrary to the Sierra Club approach -- but I have now spent over $200 on laundry and I am not finished. Time to go.
Sign 4: Television options. I have the European CNN, BBC Prime and BBC News. I am watching old movies in French -- and I must say that not understanding the dialogue in "Double Team" with Jean-Claude Van Damm and Dennis Rodman actually makes it watchable.
Sign 1: The shower is heat regulated, where there is a special button to press if you want it to go to more extreme temperatures. I leave it at the same place (about 42 C) yet starting in week 2, housekeeping likes to randomly change it to the highest setting. I haven't shattered the mirror jumping out of the shower -- yet.
Sign 2: The hidden wonders of the food... I learned last time that they don't pit their olives on pizza. Was a bit surprised that they didn't pit their cherries in the tarts. As I am on the home stretch for my second round of braces -- having to go home to the Orthodontist is less than exciting.
Sign 3: Laundy runs about $25/day for me. I am now in the process of buying new underwear, socks and t-shirts as it is cheaper than cleaning them. I would have to guess that this is a bit contrary to the Sierra Club approach -- but I have now spent over $200 on laundry and I am not finished. Time to go.
Sign 4: Television options. I have the European CNN, BBC Prime and BBC News. I am watching old movies in French -- and I must say that not understanding the dialogue in "Double Team" with Jean-Claude Van Damm and Dennis Rodman actually makes it watchable.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Mont Blanc
Now with a new found confidence in European touring, I left Coby to do this thing (which is work) for me to see Mont Blanc. No one seemed to want to join me, so I went by myself.
I was headed in the right direction and easily crossed over into France on only my second attempt. I was headed for a town called "Chamonix" where you can take a tram up almost to the top of Mont Blanc. Unfortunately, this was a toll road and the European Union had decided on the "Euro" as a currency over what I had in my wallet -- the Swiss Franc and almighty American dollar. Let's just say this...
Toll to Chamonix -- 4.70 Euros
Cost of Deoderant to cover stress sweat smell -- 2.50
Being able to use your Visa instead of offering the car behind you 50 Francs for 5 Euros -- Priceless.
Life and French Toll Booths take Visa.
I got there and took the train to the left side of the mountain. Thought "eh", had a little lunch (a Croque Monsieur which is like a grilled ham sandwhich with Mornay sauce in it and cheese melted on top). The carved ice display was closed so there wasn't a whole lot here. There was a small museum of mountain animals were the Elk had a very odd smile on his face that was a little freaky.
So I left and drove to the place where the tram takes you up to the top. I "meant" to do that first -- but my French lessons didn't include "tram", "High Altitude" or a la Star Wars -- "This isn't the tram you are looking for..."
It was, in a word, brilliant. My pictures just cannot take in the enormity of the mountain. (Posted on my facebook page). Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
My next goal is to sneak away from Coby and take a mountaineering class. My plan is to make something crash badly next Thursday. I will let you know how I do.
Now I am back to work and eating a delivery pizza. Note: They do not cut their pizza's here even for delivery. Second note: I don't fly with a knife.
I was headed in the right direction and easily crossed over into France on only my second attempt. I was headed for a town called "Chamonix" where you can take a tram up almost to the top of Mont Blanc. Unfortunately, this was a toll road and the European Union had decided on the "Euro" as a currency over what I had in my wallet -- the Swiss Franc and almighty American dollar. Let's just say this...
Toll to Chamonix -- 4.70 Euros
Cost of Deoderant to cover stress sweat smell -- 2.50
Being able to use your Visa instead of offering the car behind you 50 Francs for 5 Euros -- Priceless.
Life and French Toll Booths take Visa.
I got there and took the train to the left side of the mountain. Thought "eh", had a little lunch (a Croque Monsieur which is like a grilled ham sandwhich with Mornay sauce in it and cheese melted on top). The carved ice display was closed so there wasn't a whole lot here. There was a small museum of mountain animals were the Elk had a very odd smile on his face that was a little freaky.
So I left and drove to the place where the tram takes you up to the top. I "meant" to do that first -- but my French lessons didn't include "tram", "High Altitude" or a la Star Wars -- "This isn't the tram you are looking for..."
It was, in a word, brilliant. My pictures just cannot take in the enormity of the mountain. (Posted on my facebook page). Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
My next goal is to sneak away from Coby and take a mountaineering class. My plan is to make something crash badly next Thursday. I will let you know how I do.
Now I am back to work and eating a delivery pizza. Note: They do not cut their pizza's here even for delivery. Second note: I don't fly with a knife.
Breakfast in Switzerland, Lunch in Liechtenstein, Dessert in Austria, Dinner in Germany
That was our goal. We had to do too much work to spend the night anywhere and we wanted to pick up a couple of countries. Seemed simple. 4 countries, 1 day. We would cover over 1,000 kilometers. (Is that a gilometer?)
Challenge 1. Neither of us knew how to get to Liechtenstein to get us started.
Challenge 2. We remembered to get a map after we had left the office and did not have access to a nice printer.
Challenge 3. The computer/printer at the hotel requires coins and charges by the page/minute.
Not to be overcome, I researched all of the information on my computer and then went to duplicate this on the hotel computer to print. What you should know about "google" and other websites abroad is that they cater to non-Americans. Odd, but Google in Switzerland is in German. You can choose English to search, but Google maps reverts back to German. So, as I was running out of coins, we printed directions in German. This worked fine once we realized that there the directions were telling us to turn right and not sending us to the same town over and over.
Border Crossing #1 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
We made Liechtenstein only to be horribly disappointed. It was a beautiful town, full of beautiful people -- sure -- but there was no McDonald's to be found. What kind of fit healthy people are these freaks? Nervous about the populace, we left Liechtenstein after settling for a tasty little brie/salami/tomato panini done with bread very reminiscent of croissant. (Coby had beer).
Border Crossing #2 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
We drove back across the border to head to Austria & Germany.
Border Crossing #3 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
We realized crossing the border that there was a cool little plaque that showed the border as we couldn't see anything else that would prove that we were here. So we turned around and took a picture
Border Crossing #4 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
...and then had to go back...
Border Crossing #5 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
...and then had to go back to get to Austria
Border Crossing #6 (Liechtenstein to Austria)
...and with that settled, we crossed over into Austria with a border guard wave of the hand. We stopped in a cute little town (Fieldriech) to satisfy the craving for mass produced meat burger product stuff at the local Herr McDonalds. Snapped some photos, I got an appel strudel at a local festival and we were on our way. I have to say that I have now seen the longest word ever. It was advertising the Sunday Buffet at the Holiday Inn and here was the word -- and I am not kidding "Langschlaferfruhstucksbuffet". I took a picture. I truly believe that the German people are so efficient in other aspects of their lives in order to make up for the time it takes them to communicate using words like that.
Border Crossing #7 (Austria to Liechtenstein)
We cannot escape... What seemed like an important destination now just seems to be in the way.
Border Crossing #8 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
Freeway found. We don't need no stinkin' directions. We are men. Manly men. Manly men that can't speak a lick of German so that there is no use even asking.
Border Crossing #9 (Switzerland to Austria)
Okay, now we are on a freeway... Crusing along at 140 (kilometers, but still that is moving)
Border Crossing #10 (Austria to Germany)
We were just going to pop in for our McDonald's picture, grab a Der ChikenFrufenNuggetshafen (my attempt at German) and get out. (Actually, I had a Mexican Chicken Wrap that wasn't bad.) It was called "Mexican Chicken Wrap" in German. Maybe my language skills are improving.
However, something weird was happening.
Not that I put anything past the German reputation, but we started noticing more an more people dressed in leather and boots and, well, seemed a little out of place for a stroll along the lake. We were headed down the lake to look for the ferry that could cut up to an hour out of our trip home by cutting across the lake. However, the ferry was $135 Euros and we couldn't get past the boat next to it.
To back up a bit, the lake that we were enjoying is Lake Constance which is bordered by Austria, Germany and Switzerland. There is some dispute about who governs the lake which really means that you can, in the vein I believe the Snap Dragons, "Do What You Like". This was some sort of fetish cruise. There were all kinds, ages and dressed -- although mostly undressed. ...and before anyone goes righteous on me, 90% were folks that had no business being undressed as in people that would make a mirror turn away. They were accountants and administrators, balding with glasses -- or at least that is what I focused on in order to get past the "Gimp" look. (The other 10% I admit were not too bad in a "Omigodyouareacompletefreak kind of way.) This was a car wreck that the entire town came out to watch. ...and cheer ...and bring their kids to see. This was a scene from the Twilight Zone if it were to be shown on Cinemax.
We left the scene to the sound of techno to grab a quick bite (I like to eat) at a local pub away from the masses. Quiet. Nice. Except that Team Jagermeister was promoting their stuff.... ...and wouldn't leave us alone.
We ran.
Border Crossing #11 (Germany to Austria)
Get me to my itty bitty room. Drive Coby Drive.
Border Crossing #12 (Austria to Switzerland)
1:30 a.m. "Home"
Challenge 1. Neither of us knew how to get to Liechtenstein to get us started.
Challenge 2. We remembered to get a map after we had left the office and did not have access to a nice printer.
Challenge 3. The computer/printer at the hotel requires coins and charges by the page/minute.
Not to be overcome, I researched all of the information on my computer and then went to duplicate this on the hotel computer to print. What you should know about "google" and other websites abroad is that they cater to non-Americans. Odd, but Google in Switzerland is in German. You can choose English to search, but Google maps reverts back to German. So, as I was running out of coins, we printed directions in German. This worked fine once we realized that there the directions were telling us to turn right and not sending us to the same town over and over.
Border Crossing #1 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
We made Liechtenstein only to be horribly disappointed. It was a beautiful town, full of beautiful people -- sure -- but there was no McDonald's to be found. What kind of fit healthy people are these freaks? Nervous about the populace, we left Liechtenstein after settling for a tasty little brie/salami/tomato panini done with bread very reminiscent of croissant. (Coby had beer).
Border Crossing #2 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
We drove back across the border to head to Austria & Germany.
Border Crossing #3 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
We realized crossing the border that there was a cool little plaque that showed the border as we couldn't see anything else that would prove that we were here. So we turned around and took a picture
Border Crossing #4 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
...and then had to go back...
Border Crossing #5 (Switzerland to Liechtenstein)
...and then had to go back to get to Austria
Border Crossing #6 (Liechtenstein to Austria)
...and with that settled, we crossed over into Austria with a border guard wave of the hand. We stopped in a cute little town (Fieldriech) to satisfy the craving for mass produced meat burger product stuff at the local Herr McDonalds. Snapped some photos, I got an appel strudel at a local festival and we were on our way. I have to say that I have now seen the longest word ever. It was advertising the Sunday Buffet at the Holiday Inn and here was the word -- and I am not kidding "Langschlaferfruhstucksbuffet". I took a picture. I truly believe that the German people are so efficient in other aspects of their lives in order to make up for the time it takes them to communicate using words like that.
Border Crossing #7 (Austria to Liechtenstein)
We cannot escape... What seemed like an important destination now just seems to be in the way.
Border Crossing #8 (Liechtenstein to Switzerland)
Freeway found. We don't need no stinkin' directions. We are men. Manly men. Manly men that can't speak a lick of German so that there is no use even asking.
Border Crossing #9 (Switzerland to Austria)
Okay, now we are on a freeway... Crusing along at 140 (kilometers, but still that is moving)
Border Crossing #10 (Austria to Germany)
We were just going to pop in for our McDonald's picture, grab a Der ChikenFrufenNuggetshafen (my attempt at German) and get out. (Actually, I had a Mexican Chicken Wrap that wasn't bad.) It was called "Mexican Chicken Wrap" in German. Maybe my language skills are improving.
However, something weird was happening.
Not that I put anything past the German reputation, but we started noticing more an more people dressed in leather and boots and, well, seemed a little out of place for a stroll along the lake. We were headed down the lake to look for the ferry that could cut up to an hour out of our trip home by cutting across the lake. However, the ferry was $135 Euros and we couldn't get past the boat next to it.
To back up a bit, the lake that we were enjoying is Lake Constance which is bordered by Austria, Germany and Switzerland. There is some dispute about who governs the lake which really means that you can, in the vein I believe the Snap Dragons, "Do What You Like". This was some sort of fetish cruise. There were all kinds, ages and dressed -- although mostly undressed. ...and before anyone goes righteous on me, 90% were folks that had no business being undressed as in people that would make a mirror turn away. They were accountants and administrators, balding with glasses -- or at least that is what I focused on in order to get past the "Gimp" look. (The other 10% I admit were not too bad in a "Omigodyouareacompletefreak kind of way.) This was a car wreck that the entire town came out to watch. ...and cheer ...and bring their kids to see. This was a scene from the Twilight Zone if it were to be shown on Cinemax.
We left the scene to the sound of techno to grab a quick bite (I like to eat) at a local pub away from the masses. Quiet. Nice. Except that Team Jagermeister was promoting their stuff.... ...and wouldn't leave us alone.
We ran.
Border Crossing #11 (Germany to Austria)
Get me to my itty bitty room. Drive Coby Drive.
Border Crossing #12 (Austria to Switzerland)
1:30 a.m. "Home"
Friday, June 22, 2007
Ode to a Cookie
I don't get excited about normal things I think. It is always the simplicity of the details that get me going. For instance, I watched a food network show with the legendary Alton Brown on making corned beef and the nitrates used in the "natural" process that are usually not done anymore in the US. However, here you could really see that done and the corned beef and cabbage I had for lunch the other day was awesome.
Or I got excited that the steak tartare (I love the stuff) was served traditionally where you were provided four little piles of stuff to mix in to your pleasure.
Or the plate of "exotic" fruits (that was the menu title) that I got for desserts included a perfect blackberry.
Or the green beans that I got were a beautiful mixture of different colors which looked great (even though they simply tasted like green beans).
So maybe looking back it is the little things in FOOD that I love in traveling. However, the one little thing that has just gotten me weak in the taste buds is a cookie. A wafer thin cookie (c'mon, have just one... It is waffffer thin.) But this cookie is no ordinary cookie. It is a "Finest biscuit with carmelized almonds and Swiss Chocolate" called a "MandelCaramel" cookie made by Kambly. Simple. Light. Complex. Perfect.
Maybe I just need some quality time at home.
Or I got excited that the steak tartare (I love the stuff) was served traditionally where you were provided four little piles of stuff to mix in to your pleasure.
Or the plate of "exotic" fruits (that was the menu title) that I got for desserts included a perfect blackberry.
Or the green beans that I got were a beautiful mixture of different colors which looked great (even though they simply tasted like green beans).
So maybe looking back it is the little things in FOOD that I love in traveling. However, the one little thing that has just gotten me weak in the taste buds is a cookie. A wafer thin cookie (c'mon, have just one... It is waffffer thin.) But this cookie is no ordinary cookie. It is a "Finest biscuit with carmelized almonds and Swiss Chocolate" called a "MandelCaramel" cookie made by Kambly. Simple. Light. Complex. Perfect.
Maybe I just need some quality time at home.
Surprise! It tastes the same
Today for lunch we drove out to the mall. Why? Because we deserved a break today.
Yep. We went to McDonald's. Having not been to this bastion of American cuisine in some time, I prepared to help Coby order in case the cashier did not speak English. See, he wanted to get a Big Mac. If you are not a McDonald's aficionado, which we are, this is two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun. Coby's "Le Big Mac" is exactly that, just hold the special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions.
I glanced over the menu. What should I get? Should I get the chicken sandwich? Should I get the special Ciabatta burger? ...and then I saw it. The one thing I must have. Menu Item Deux.
Le Royale with Cheese.
What is this? This is a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Why don't they call it a Quarter Pounder? ...because they have the metric system, they wouldn't know what the $%@# a quarter pounder is... Ah, Vincent Vega, we hardly knew you.
Yep. We went to McDonald's. Having not been to this bastion of American cuisine in some time, I prepared to help Coby order in case the cashier did not speak English. See, he wanted to get a Big Mac. If you are not a McDonald's aficionado, which we are, this is two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun. Coby's "Le Big Mac" is exactly that, just hold the special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions.
I glanced over the menu. What should I get? Should I get the chicken sandwich? Should I get the special Ciabatta burger? ...and then I saw it. The one thing I must have. Menu Item Deux.
Le Royale with Cheese.
What is this? This is a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Why don't they call it a Quarter Pounder? ...because they have the metric system, they wouldn't know what the $%@# a quarter pounder is... Ah, Vincent Vega, we hardly knew you.
Big Plans
The weekend is looming ahead. We definitely feel the pressure. We are in Europe and there are expectations heaped upon our heads -- needs to see the world, needs to make exciting Monday morning conversation. The stress of doing somethinig "cool". Of course, we for the most part, are going to go with option 2, which is to try and instead garner the sympathy vote by spending the weekend working. This option definitely has rewards, but we are going to work through a compromise.
We are going to take Saturday off and run over to Lake Constance which is on the border of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. We are going to try to figure out if we can get a boat to the middle so that we can stand in three countries at the same time.
On Sunday, Coby is going to take option 2 for the entire day. I am going to "take one for the team" and go for a different experience during the day and then work through the evening. My goal is to try to go to Mont Blanc and see the sites.
I have to drive to Chamonix (France) which shouldn't be "too" hard and the great thing about our hotel is that it is very close to the airport -- so getting back is easy. This will be my first border crossing in Europe by myself. Not that it is challenging, but no one ever lets me stop and ask for a stamp in my passport. So if I don't post Sunday night, it probably because I made the border guards angry for stopping traffic and I am in some French prison.
Today we are back in the exciting hotel lobby working. I went into the office this morning for meetings, but the whole office is leaving at noon to celebrate their 10 year anniversary in Geneva. (We were not invited). We work on the wireless in the lobby so that I can secondhand smoke. Coby is very good to sacrifice and smoke here so that I can maintain my vice.
It has been a long week and I look forward to getting away from everyone for a bit.
We are going to take Saturday off and run over to Lake Constance which is on the border of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. We are going to try to figure out if we can get a boat to the middle so that we can stand in three countries at the same time.
On Sunday, Coby is going to take option 2 for the entire day. I am going to "take one for the team" and go for a different experience during the day and then work through the evening. My goal is to try to go to Mont Blanc and see the sites.
I have to drive to Chamonix (France) which shouldn't be "too" hard and the great thing about our hotel is that it is very close to the airport -- so getting back is easy. This will be my first border crossing in Europe by myself. Not that it is challenging, but no one ever lets me stop and ask for a stamp in my passport. So if I don't post Sunday night, it probably because I made the border guards angry for stopping traffic and I am in some French prison.
Today we are back in the exciting hotel lobby working. I went into the office this morning for meetings, but the whole office is leaving at noon to celebrate their 10 year anniversary in Geneva. (We were not invited). We work on the wireless in the lobby so that I can secondhand smoke. Coby is very good to sacrifice and smoke here so that I can maintain my vice.
It has been a long week and I look forward to getting away from everyone for a bit.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
I don't get it
Wednesday, we went to a comedy club with our Scottish friends here. It was pretty funny, although there was a lot of British pop culture references that I needed a translator to laugh appropriately. I did get the one Harry Potter joke of the evening although it did involve one young guy in the audience and some not so Muggle-like sexual innuendos involving - well - not for general readers.
The work has been tough. We are pretty much getting a good list of why things will never work and having to use that to create our list of what needs to work. Simplest comparison is going blindfolded through a maze -- you can get to the end, but you are going to be pretty bruised from bouncing off all of the walls to find the exit.
Thursday and Friday we had just enough energy to sit at the hotel bar and learn French from the bartender (after leaving work between 8 and 9).
Saturday we decided to take it easy. All the shops are closed here on Sunday, so we got up and went shopping at the local Walmart (Carrefour) for snacks and diet coke. After fighting the crowds, we decided to drive to Bern and wander around. (I posted pictures on my Facebook page -- post a message if you want a link).
There was a protest march that stopped traffic, but since we didn't see any words that looked like "Death" or "Americans" we felt pretty safe wandering around. Bern is a pretty good little city. They banned wooden building back around 1400 after the last fire. The walls are around 1,000 years old, etc... Town has a bit of history.
We stopped by Einstein's apartment from back in his patent office days and arrived just in time to listen to the video in German. Oh -- and my German is not as strong as my French. My Swiss German is not as good as my regular German. So we ate Italian and I went through and decided what we should order -- and then were given English menus.
We drove back and were so energized that we drove back and took a nap. Nicole woke me up with house news and I woke Coby up just on general principle. We decided at that point to stay in.
Sunday was work all day -- and I am writing this after doing 10 hours of documentation work. So, the humor is somewhat lacking.
However, I have to tell you this...
I am in here in Switzerland eating good food. Nicole is in Lexington doing the following:
1. Cleaning House 1.0
2. Mowing/Yard work at House 1.0
3. Painting House 2.0
4. Negotiating with the realtors
5. Keeping up House 2.0
I, again, am here getting room service and complaining about a tough job. Why did she marry me again? I forget.
The work has been tough. We are pretty much getting a good list of why things will never work and having to use that to create our list of what needs to work. Simplest comparison is going blindfolded through a maze -- you can get to the end, but you are going to be pretty bruised from bouncing off all of the walls to find the exit.
Thursday and Friday we had just enough energy to sit at the hotel bar and learn French from the bartender (after leaving work between 8 and 9).
Saturday we decided to take it easy. All the shops are closed here on Sunday, so we got up and went shopping at the local Walmart (Carrefour) for snacks and diet coke. After fighting the crowds, we decided to drive to Bern and wander around. (I posted pictures on my Facebook page -- post a message if you want a link).
There was a protest march that stopped traffic, but since we didn't see any words that looked like "Death" or "Americans" we felt pretty safe wandering around. Bern is a pretty good little city. They banned wooden building back around 1400 after the last fire. The walls are around 1,000 years old, etc... Town has a bit of history.
We stopped by Einstein's apartment from back in his patent office days and arrived just in time to listen to the video in German. Oh -- and my German is not as strong as my French. My Swiss German is not as good as my regular German. So we ate Italian and I went through and decided what we should order -- and then were given English menus.
We drove back and were so energized that we drove back and took a nap. Nicole woke me up with house news and I woke Coby up just on general principle. We decided at that point to stay in.
Sunday was work all day -- and I am writing this after doing 10 hours of documentation work. So, the humor is somewhat lacking.
However, I have to tell you this...
I am in here in Switzerland eating good food. Nicole is in Lexington doing the following:
1. Cleaning House 1.0
2. Mowing/Yard work at House 1.0
3. Painting House 2.0
4. Negotiating with the realtors
5. Keeping up House 2.0
I, again, am here getting room service and complaining about a tough job. Why did she marry me again? I forget.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Hard Working Pays Off Tomorrow
Yesterday went pretty well. From our November workshops, we all knew where we were going to argue and for the kickoff, we simply joked about it in preparation. There is some argument from our friends in IT that the previous efforts were not documented to their standards, but from my perspective as their executives signed off on the earlier efforts -- the amount that I care is somewhat diminished. The only way to be successful is to focus on what you can do and what you are tasked to do.
We went to lunch and I had a cheese tart that was sort of like a thin quiche. Technically, I have no idea how they made the crust on top so perfectly. Annoying. You would think that the French chef had some training.
Leaving the office at 7:30, we had to choose between working to get prepped for today -- or going out to shoot some pool with some guys in the office. It was a tough decision, but being the professionals that we are, we decided to shoot pool. Oddly, my skills had not improved by lack of playing. We then wandered over to the British bar "Mr Pickwicks" for dinner, getting in just before the 10:00 buzzer. I had steak and kidney pie -- because as they say, "When in a British Bar in Geneva..."
The fun part of the evening really was the conversation. There were six of of us -- two Americans, one French, one Brit, one Scot and one German. The British guy and I discussed conversation starter phrases. He was dating an American girl and was going to meet some family in Boston -- so I gave him a few choice phrases. For those of you that don't use conversation starters, they operate on the principle that most people are really not interested in hearing your opinion the majority of the time. Therefore, you simply need to ask a couple of questions and usually the person will happily chat on for hours and hours -- and leave with thinking that you were very enjoyable. Key learning if you ever decide to be a bartender.
Anyway -- here are the football conversation starters for the US.
1. How do you think (QB)will do this year?
2. We didn't get much draft coverage over here, how do you think that (NFL Team) did?
3. How do you think that the defense will be this year?
He didn't believe me that it was that easy, so he walked around and talked to a few Americans in the bar. Unfortunately we had not worked out conversation extraction strategies and he was stuck with each person longer than intended.
For Americans, we simply have to say something like "What do you think of the new (country leader)?" or "When do you think the UK will take the Euro?" or "Sorry about Bush".
There was also one just from Brits concerning "Christmas just isn't the same without... (two comedians that are no longer on television, forgot their names).
I may fit in just yet.
We went to lunch and I had a cheese tart that was sort of like a thin quiche. Technically, I have no idea how they made the crust on top so perfectly. Annoying. You would think that the French chef had some training.
Leaving the office at 7:30, we had to choose between working to get prepped for today -- or going out to shoot some pool with some guys in the office. It was a tough decision, but being the professionals that we are, we decided to shoot pool. Oddly, my skills had not improved by lack of playing. We then wandered over to the British bar "Mr Pickwicks" for dinner, getting in just before the 10:00 buzzer. I had steak and kidney pie -- because as they say, "When in a British Bar in Geneva..."
The fun part of the evening really was the conversation. There were six of of us -- two Americans, one French, one Brit, one Scot and one German. The British guy and I discussed conversation starter phrases. He was dating an American girl and was going to meet some family in Boston -- so I gave him a few choice phrases. For those of you that don't use conversation starters, they operate on the principle that most people are really not interested in hearing your opinion the majority of the time. Therefore, you simply need to ask a couple of questions and usually the person will happily chat on for hours and hours -- and leave with thinking that you were very enjoyable. Key learning if you ever decide to be a bartender.
Anyway -- here are the football conversation starters for the US.
1. How do you think (QB)
2. We didn't get much draft coverage over here, how do you think that (NFL Team)
3. How do you think that the defense will be this year?
He didn't believe me that it was that easy, so he walked around and talked to a few Americans in the bar. Unfortunately we had not worked out conversation extraction strategies and he was stuck with each person longer than intended.
For Americans, we simply have to say something like "What do you think of the new (country leader)?" or "When do you think the UK will take the Euro?" or "Sorry about Bush".
There was also one just from Brits concerning "Christmas just isn't the same without... (two comedians that are no longer on television, forgot their names).
I may fit in just yet.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
There is no place like "Home"
When I travel, I am constantly torn between a need to experience the new and the need to make where I am more like home. Usually, I can go for a long period without any cravings for food, but there is always that day that I have to have a taco or don't think that I will get by without the requisite Diet Coke.
Sure, I always miss friends, family, my pillow and Nicole (not in that order of course, as Nicole and my pillow rate pretty high). However the experiences are always exciting. For lunch upon arrival, we went back to the local Carrefour and had a homemade pizza (ham, anchovy, caper, onion, tomato). For lunch the first day in the office, I had steak tartare with chips. I tried to go for sushi for dinner for an all raw day, but we didn't wrap up in time and they closed at 10 p.m.
The friends we made on the last trip were happy to see us and lunch/dinner arrangements were promised. All is very comfortable.
Where I just cannot make the travel leap is my bathroom habits. Since this trip is four weeks, we approached it a little differently as I figured everything consumable that I brought would run out and since I would have to buy it again anyway, why not just wait and buy it here? So I find myself looking for similar items from home -- better shampoo, soap, mouthwash, cold medicine -- and then looking to step it up a bit.
Is it wrong to want cushy toilet paper? Is it too American to ask for lotion on my Kleenex? Am I a wimp for eyeing the pillows with envy?
I find myself daydreaming a bit and wondering since I will be there four weeks, would I have time to paint the room a better color. Maybe I could make an arrangement with my neighbor and knock out a wall and we could spread out. (For reference, my room is the same size as Paris Hilton's cell -- literally).
Regardless, we are just focusing on the work and the plans for the weekends. Oddly, the biggest 4th of July celebration outside the US is in Geneva. We saw where Bush was a big hit in Albania so we were looking for flights/trains there. Maybe a day in Paris, Prague or Croatia. Actually -- anything to get out of my tiny room.
Today though, my project really kicks off. Folks are flying in to listen to me drone on about "Roles & Responsibilities", "RACI charts" and as many other "R" words as I can roll off my tongue.
Wish me luck. I only pretend to know what I am talking about.
Sure, I always miss friends, family, my pillow and Nicole (not in that order of course, as Nicole and my pillow rate pretty high). However the experiences are always exciting. For lunch upon arrival, we went back to the local Carrefour and had a homemade pizza (ham, anchovy, caper, onion, tomato). For lunch the first day in the office, I had steak tartare with chips. I tried to go for sushi for dinner for an all raw day, but we didn't wrap up in time and they closed at 10 p.m.
The friends we made on the last trip were happy to see us and lunch/dinner arrangements were promised. All is very comfortable.
Where I just cannot make the travel leap is my bathroom habits. Since this trip is four weeks, we approached it a little differently as I figured everything consumable that I brought would run out and since I would have to buy it again anyway, why not just wait and buy it here? So I find myself looking for similar items from home -- better shampoo, soap, mouthwash, cold medicine -- and then looking to step it up a bit.
Is it wrong to want cushy toilet paper? Is it too American to ask for lotion on my Kleenex? Am I a wimp for eyeing the pillows with envy?
I find myself daydreaming a bit and wondering since I will be there four weeks, would I have time to paint the room a better color. Maybe I could make an arrangement with my neighbor and knock out a wall and we could spread out. (For reference, my room is the same size as Paris Hilton's cell -- literally).
Regardless, we are just focusing on the work and the plans for the weekends. Oddly, the biggest 4th of July celebration outside the US is in Geneva. We saw where Bush was a big hit in Albania so we were looking for flights/trains there. Maybe a day in Paris, Prague or Croatia. Actually -- anything to get out of my tiny room.
Today though, my project really kicks off. Folks are flying in to listen to me drone on about "Roles & Responsibilities", "RACI charts" and as many other "R" words as I can roll off my tongue.
Wish me luck. I only pretend to know what I am talking about.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
For the Children...
Today is Sunday. However, the "day" (a day is defined as the time from when I get up to the time I am allowed to lay down in a comfortable position and sleep) began yesterday at 3:15 in the morning.
I am in Geneva now as part of a four week "little" trip. Due to approval delays I was not able to book my tickets until it was really too late to get a "good" rate. This was complicated in that we budgeted for me to do all of this travel in January (translated: cheap rates) instead of June/July (translated: Holy-Cow-You-Can-Not-Be-Serious rates).
As the project manager, I am accountable to hitting our budget. So after berating a few of the team members, when I went to book my tickets the only way that I could hit the budget was for me to fly a slightly less than direct route from Lexington to Geneva. Best case, you can make this trip in 12-13 hours with one connection. I am not completely sure without doing the research, but I am pretty sure that the worst case is making it a 25 hour trip with 4 connections (Lexington to Atlanta to Boston to Paris to Geneva).
My first flight was at 6 a.m. Saturday morning. From reading earlier posts, you might have seen mention of my issues with sleeping on the planes. To remedy this, I was going to stay up late on Saturday to see if exhaustion drives sleep. (Turns out exhaustion + Cold medicine + boring movie options = enough snoring to miss two breakfasts).
I start this wonderful travel experience by staying up late (translate: procrastinating on packing until 10:00p.m. the night before) and a plan of getting up at 3:30 in the morning to get to the airport (relaxing my 2 hour rule) at 4:30. However, as the nervous guy, I set up a three-tiered alarm system.
- Alarm 1: Normal alarm clock set for 3:30 a.m.
- Alarm 2: Cell phone alarm clock set for 3:45 a.m.
- Alarm 3: I drank a lot of tea right before bed.
I went to bed at 12:15 and alarm 3 went off at about 1:30. I tried hitting snooze on that one, but it kept trying to go off until I finally gave up and got up at 3:15 and went for a Guiness record for length of pee. After showering to rehydrate (the California raisin look went out in the 80's) we left and made it to the airport at 4:29. For future reference, airport check-in lines do not open until about 4:36 which had not been communicated to the other 30-40 people standing in line.
The "cool" thing was that I have now traveled enough to skip the normal line and was first in line for the frequent traveler/first class line. So, this early on a Saturday morning, I could feel the love all around me. Most of the travelers were headed through Atlanta on their way to vacations like Disney World, so there were a few little kids with questions like "Mommy, why did that man get to go before us?..."
Unbeknownst (wow, I never get to use that word) to any of us, there was a bit of weather brewing in Atlanta which required one person to "deplane" so that their weight could be offset by additional fuel for circling Atlanta. (Isn't deplane a silly word like you have a plane growing like a mole on your back and you need to be "deplaned"). The flight attendant begged from the lobby. No takers -- apparently the other travelers wanted their vacations. The flight attendant begged from the plane and started offering $200 flight vouchers. I snoozed. The flight attendant begged and begged and mothers started looking nervous when it was mentioned that someone would be drawn "randomly".
The flight attendant offered $400 -- so I took it -- for the children.
Interestingly (is that a word?) the guy that started out as the jerk, was later applauded by the whole plane.
I really can't say much else. My bags went to Atlanta and then Boston. I went to Cincinnati, but with a 7.5 hour layover in Boston, they had plenty of time to drive themselves, stopping to see the museums, and meet me there. We then happily met each other in Geneva.
I actually slept most of the rest of the trip.
I am in Geneva now as part of a four week "little" trip. Due to approval delays I was not able to book my tickets until it was really too late to get a "good" rate. This was complicated in that we budgeted for me to do all of this travel in January (translated: cheap rates) instead of June/July (translated: Holy-Cow-You-Can-Not-Be-Serious rates).
As the project manager, I am accountable to hitting our budget. So after berating a few of the team members, when I went to book my tickets the only way that I could hit the budget was for me to fly a slightly less than direct route from Lexington to Geneva. Best case, you can make this trip in 12-13 hours with one connection. I am not completely sure without doing the research, but I am pretty sure that the worst case is making it a 25 hour trip with 4 connections (Lexington to Atlanta to Boston to Paris to Geneva).
My first flight was at 6 a.m. Saturday morning. From reading earlier posts, you might have seen mention of my issues with sleeping on the planes. To remedy this, I was going to stay up late on Saturday to see if exhaustion drives sleep. (Turns out exhaustion + Cold medicine + boring movie options = enough snoring to miss two breakfasts).
I start this wonderful travel experience by staying up late (translate: procrastinating on packing until 10:00p.m. the night before) and a plan of getting up at 3:30 in the morning to get to the airport (relaxing my 2 hour rule) at 4:30. However, as the nervous guy, I set up a three-tiered alarm system.
- Alarm 1: Normal alarm clock set for 3:30 a.m.
- Alarm 2: Cell phone alarm clock set for 3:45 a.m.
- Alarm 3: I drank a lot of tea right before bed.
I went to bed at 12:15 and alarm 3 went off at about 1:30. I tried hitting snooze on that one, but it kept trying to go off until I finally gave up and got up at 3:15 and went for a Guiness record for length of pee. After showering to rehydrate (the California raisin look went out in the 80's) we left and made it to the airport at 4:29. For future reference, airport check-in lines do not open until about 4:36 which had not been communicated to the other 30-40 people standing in line.
The "cool" thing was that I have now traveled enough to skip the normal line and was first in line for the frequent traveler/first class line. So, this early on a Saturday morning, I could feel the love all around me. Most of the travelers were headed through Atlanta on their way to vacations like Disney World, so there were a few little kids with questions like "Mommy, why did that man get to go before us?..."
Unbeknownst (wow, I never get to use that word) to any of us, there was a bit of weather brewing in Atlanta which required one person to "deplane" so that their weight could be offset by additional fuel for circling Atlanta. (Isn't deplane a silly word like you have a plane growing like a mole on your back and you need to be "deplaned"). The flight attendant begged from the lobby. No takers -- apparently the other travelers wanted their vacations. The flight attendant begged from the plane and started offering $200 flight vouchers. I snoozed. The flight attendant begged and begged and mothers started looking nervous when it was mentioned that someone would be drawn "randomly".
The flight attendant offered $400 -- so I took it -- for the children.
Interestingly (is that a word?) the guy that started out as the jerk, was later applauded by the whole plane.
I really can't say much else. My bags went to Atlanta and then Boston. I went to Cincinnati, but with a 7.5 hour layover in Boston, they had plenty of time to drive themselves, stopping to see the museums, and meet me there. We then happily met each other in Geneva.
I actually slept most of the rest of the trip.
Throwing Cans of Dr. Pepper at the Squirrels
Actually, it was one can of Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper but that wasn't quite as catchy of a title.
Also, for those of you that prefer your squirrels in "scampering" mode rather than those of you that like your squirrels in a little gravy on biscuits -- I should state quickly that my keen sense of distance and timing, coupled with my strong athletic ability, was in such a high form that I was able to hit the same yard that the squirrel was in, but just barely.
To tell the story, I should start at the beginning. Not quite so far back as the "When a Daddy and a Mommy love each other...", but back about a year. My wife wanted a new house and had very specific requirements. She wanted at least 4 bedrooms with a large utility room with a basement with a nice kitchen in a good neighborhood with good schools with friendly neighbors with children holding hands and singing in the streets. I, on the other hand, just wanted trees.
We, meaning Nicole, looked and looked and finally nagged enough about a house that we went, looked, fell in like and closed in the span of 20 days (including loans, etc.) This was properly efficient for me to puff out my chest and feel good about my project management skills.
However, for those of you that have not moved into a second house, there is a universal law that things will start to go bad with everything just as you are trying to sell and then after you have signed all the paperwork and are in the new house.
For example, one week before the move House 1.0 decided that the dryer was a unnecessary luxury. After all, it was warm outside and with all the talk of global warming, we could spare the electricity. However, there was not a committee meeting to discuss the issue and my wife was not in agreement. It was still under warranty (dryer door issue) but still -- frustrating.
Not to be outdone, House 2.0 decided that a functioning garage door was also an unnecessary luxury and decided to go on strike by unattaching itself from the actual door. Again, in our fine democracy, there was no meeting, vote or majority consensus.
So that is why on a fine Friday morning I was parked outside our lovely house under our lovely old oak tree. The same oak tree that a family of blue jays had under contract with the city for air rights -- and felt that the angry sqawking was not enough escalation for me to speed up my process of removing myself from their property.
So they pooped on me.
Startled, I did the only thing I could think of as appropriate for the time. I let out a squeak like a little girl, threw the soda can I was carrying and nearly hit an innocent squirrel.
Also, for those of you that prefer your squirrels in "scampering" mode rather than those of you that like your squirrels in a little gravy on biscuits -- I should state quickly that my keen sense of distance and timing, coupled with my strong athletic ability, was in such a high form that I was able to hit the same yard that the squirrel was in, but just barely.
To tell the story, I should start at the beginning. Not quite so far back as the "When a Daddy and a Mommy love each other...", but back about a year. My wife wanted a new house and had very specific requirements. She wanted at least 4 bedrooms with a large utility room with a basement with a nice kitchen in a good neighborhood with good schools with friendly neighbors with children holding hands and singing in the streets. I, on the other hand, just wanted trees.
We, meaning Nicole, looked and looked and finally nagged enough about a house that we went, looked, fell in like and closed in the span of 20 days (including loans, etc.) This was properly efficient for me to puff out my chest and feel good about my project management skills.
However, for those of you that have not moved into a second house, there is a universal law that things will start to go bad with everything just as you are trying to sell and then after you have signed all the paperwork and are in the new house.
For example, one week before the move House 1.0 decided that the dryer was a unnecessary luxury. After all, it was warm outside and with all the talk of global warming, we could spare the electricity. However, there was not a committee meeting to discuss the issue and my wife was not in agreement. It was still under warranty (dryer door issue) but still -- frustrating.
Not to be outdone, House 2.0 decided that a functioning garage door was also an unnecessary luxury and decided to go on strike by unattaching itself from the actual door. Again, in our fine democracy, there was no meeting, vote or majority consensus.
So that is why on a fine Friday morning I was parked outside our lovely house under our lovely old oak tree. The same oak tree that a family of blue jays had under contract with the city for air rights -- and felt that the angry sqawking was not enough escalation for me to speed up my process of removing myself from their property.
So they pooped on me.
Startled, I did the only thing I could think of as appropriate for the time. I let out a squeak like a little girl, threw the soda can I was carrying and nearly hit an innocent squirrel.
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