Yesterday it was confirmed that I will get a local team mate. He will be starting next week!
I am looking forward to it. I met him during his interview process and got a chance to spend an hour with him to talk about his previous experience, his education, what the looks for in a job, etc. I also got to tell him about the company and I think we both liked what we saw.
Next week we’ll see how it goes, but I am pretty sure it’ll go well.
It’s a very dark and rainy Sunday today. Typical Vancouver November weather. The perfect day to snuggle up in bed, read a good book and maybe have a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
Yesterday was nicer, there was actually some sun in the morning. Brigette and I took the opportunity and went to Trout Lake to check it out. It’s a doggy paradise. Many cute little (and big) puppies. It was a little chilly, though.
Afterwards we went strolling down Granville street and finally watched Shut Up & Sing, which is a really good show. It’s also scary. It shows how people can get so bent out of shape by a (fairly harmless) comment that they call for the Dixie Chicks to be tried for treason (never did they actually say they weren’t supporting the troups, btw) or, much, much worse, send them death threats.
It’s not the easiest of times right now. It seems like one thing piles on top of another. First there was wedding stress, then there was condo and moving stress. Now it’s grieving stress topped off by Air Canada being utterly stupid and inhumane.
I am really starting to feel the need for some vacation time, some time to just relax and enjoy life.
Oh, and BTW:
At work, I am the only member of my team in Vancouver (Burnaby, actually). All the others, including my manager, are in San Jose. Yep, in the very heart of Silicon Valley.
It takes a little getting used to, but I’ve been doing it for the last nine months and it’s been going quite well. Without doubt, it helps that I know many people at the local office here from a previous job, so I still have (and always had) people to hang out with and talk to.
The fact that the team is 1500km lead to something else as well: The opportunity to travel to San Francisco and the Valley three to four times a year. For others this may be a downside, but I actually enjoy going on a little trip every four months or so, even if it’s for work. (Being on the road too much wouldn’t be so good, though.) When I go down there, there’s usually lots of good food involved and my co-workers are really nice people. I always enjoy meeting them in person. Besides, there’s the option of extending the stay over the weekend and having the wife come down as well. 
Mini-vacation. We did that early this year and we are planning on doing it again next spring.
However, for the second time now it looks like I might be getting a local team mate here in Burnaby. The last guy, a couple of months ago, rejected the job offer, but this time around it may actually happen. I should find out fairly soon one way or the other. If he accepts, he’s supposed to start in November.
A good friend of Brigette’s mom passed away today. She was only 57. Thursday night she had a stroke, out of the blue. Apparently she suffered from multiple more strokes after she got to the hospital and passed away early Sunday morning. How scary and sad is that?
I met her only twice. Last Christmas and at our wedding, which she attended only two months ago. A very happy and good person. She was involved in community work and helped other people. Never got a chance to take it easy, retire and just enjoy life, always concerned about the well being of others. She will be missed by her family and friends as well as the people she took care of.
This tragedy also raises two points (and it’s surely not the first time they have been made):
Rest in peace, Heather. My condolences to her family and friends.
I am feeling exhausted and burnt out. I haven’t been sleeping very well over the last little while, getting maybe five and a half hours of sleep a night. A little more on weekends, but not enough to catch up. Last night was especially bad. I barely slept for five hours, I think.
I feel like crawling under the covers curling up in bed and not coming out till at least Monday. Considering the weather forecast, that might not be too bad of a plan.
What the hell?!?! Yep, NaBloPoMo. I think I am going to wuss out this time around. I’ve started my blog in September (less than two months ago) and wanted to see if I would be able to write a post every day. — I wasn’t.
I didn’t do too badly, but there are a couple of 4 and 5 day gaps, which is not so good. So I won’t enter the competition this year, but instead keep trying to post more regularly. Maybe next year I’ll be fit to join in.
Don’t forget to check out Brigette’s blog. She’s participating.
