Taxes, passports and other things

Happy daze - I appear to have successfully completed my first US tax return. Actually it's two returns, one Federal and one State. Tax here is a nightmare to figure out. The only reason I was able to do it myself is because I really only worked the last three months of the year so was below the threshold that allowed me to file for free using an online service provider recommended by the IRS. It also helped that I didn't have anything complicated to declare. All turns out nicely as it seems I get tax refunds on tax I've already paid. Of course I'm also eligible for the tax payer "handout" as part of the "Stimulus Package". All of which isn't quite what it appears as when you read the fine print it is actually a debit against next years tax.....so for people like me whose income will increase beyond the threshold that gave me the credit in the first place - it's really just free money for a year. Not to be complained at but not quite the way it has been sold by the Bush government.
My passport also arrived, much to my relief. I'm fairly confident that, by virtue of it being a new passport that doesn't show my having arrived in the US....I will be stopped at the airport at least once when I fly out to Spain. I have been here just long enough to predict these things (or at least anticipate them) so I'll carry my old passport with me as well. Minor distraction - yay to Spain!
I am quietly, patiently waiting for things to change at work. I've got an opportunity to move onto a new program but really need the blessing of the Executive who is leading the program I am currently on.......at this stage he is reluctant to let me go. My contract is up at the end of April (and easily renewable) but we tried to wrangle it so I could go early and someone back fill. Nope - he wants me to stay and stay after April. Although I can go anytime I want in reality it's better all round if I can go without alienating anybody. He's promised some changes that I might like.....actually I know the changes he is referring to (and know that they haven't actually been discussed with him yet) and I'm not sure he will buy them, nor that they change much in my world. Sigh - in the past I expect I might have been somewhat more agressive about the whole thing. But the world changes (and so have I) so I am working behind the scenes and staying very quiet while others work things out on my behalf. Sometimes it's just best to shut my mouth and trust in the knowledge and experience of those that are older and wiser......either way I am not going to be unemployed and that is a good thing!

But seriously

Would you thank these gals if you were John McCain:

Hoppy Easter

So Easter is pretty much a non-event here. No holiday and I didn't even realize it was Easter weekend until someone mentioned it last Tuesday. We are still doing shifts for the release and have had some intense moments......dull but intense. It does feel a little like it's never going to end and we are supposed to be preparing for another release in May. Affectionately know as the "May Release" it is looking more like the "Anything but May Release". Such is life and I might not even be part of it (I hope I'm not to be honest). There is the possibility of another contract that I'd really really like - not a time to be unemployed in the US so I'm not racing out of this one (it gets renewed on a regular basis) but I've got my eye out for other possibilities. Who knows. Mostly I'd really like to settle into something that works so that I can move into a little place of my own - closer to work. I really like my flatmate and we get along great - both being very self contained - but I think it's time I actually took the next step and started to live a little less like a bachelor student and a little more like someone creating a home. Well I did take one step forward, buying a wine fridge from my landlord. He was having a garage sale (yard sale here) and had a new, unused fridge. Got it for less than half what it would cost new (nice) and he carried it into the house for me....nicer still.
On an even nicer note got word that my passport is winging its way back to me so I will have it in my hand well in advance of grand adventures in Spain (crisis, potential pouting and general grumpiness averted).
Not much else; I've got work (albeit on call) tomorrow (Saturday) then Sunday midday through to midnight. Hopefully no drama so I won't actually have to do anything. I'm going to try my hand at cleaning up our garden, having now asked the flattie what I am allowed to pull out as I don't have a clue what anything is. She was gracious and explained so that even I could understand (she was equally delighted that our yard will be tidy and her vegie planter is being prepared for the next round of planting).

Life in Silicon Valley

I’m holed up in the Hilton in Silicon Valley working shifts for the IT role out. Last night I worked 6pm to 6am……which really just meant sending messages to a whole bunch of “interested” Ciscoites at 6pm, 10pm, 2am and 6am………sleeping in between. Back on duty this afternoon them tomorrow into the office to wait out the end. I really am in the middle of the Valley, surrounded by office buildings and not much else. The room is possibly the most interesting thing to see. I’m all of 10mins from work in case something happens and I have to go in…….which means I can’t really head out anywhere in the absence of a car. On the upside I have a television (which I don’t have at home as I watch movies and TV on my computer). Having surfed the selection I don’t think I’ll ever get another TV………a lot of nothing on!!! Last night, after we’d sent the first round of messages, I went out to dinner with two work colleagues. The restaurant was buried among all the high rises – I never would have known it was there! Food was grand and it was a nice evening, then back to the hotel to work my shift.
Finally booked my tickets for Spain – just got to get the passport back now. Spend the first four days at the B&B then into Barcelona for a few days with Rose and Jo.

Busy times

Work is insanely busy as we head into a big IT roll out. We had a "final practice run" last week as "we" are taking down the IT systems for 54hrs. Every four hours the comms team have to put out a status update to business owners. Yep we do shifts and yep it means putting them out at midnight, 2am and 6am......and through the day. Because the practice run was during the week we did shifts and worked during the day. I'm clearly not as young as I used to be! Got to the end of the week and was shattered. The actual event happens next weekend. Because things could go wrong and we need to be physically on the ground for some of it I'll be staying at a hotel in San Jose for the weekend, work my shifts and be on call to come in. Although I have to be in the office for the last ten hours..or whenever it finishes. Yes I volunteered as I created the "plan" for the weekend. I think it fair to say this type of communications work (IT roll outs) isn't my favourite. I much prefer the corporate "mergers, acquisitions" stuff. Still it's another string to the bow and given I am working in Silicon Valley does open other doors.

Daylight saving started on Sunday so that puts paid to the dark days of winter and rain (I hope).

Now here is an irritating thing. I have to renew my passport and, just to make it complicated, I only have the choice of sending it to London or NZ. I was really surprised. I honestly thought the Consulate in the US would be able to do it. Nope! Currently I am passportless so should I suddenly be offered the trip of a lifetime - I can't go. Actually I don't like being passport less. Years ago I dated someone who was obsessive about having their passport with them (okay that's the way I heard it!). The theory being they could jump on the plane at any time. I thought it showed a lack of commitment to anyone or anything........geeze less judgement and more thought - suddenly I "get it".

Here's my attempt at an "arty" picture.

Not everyone gets shot in America

I've been following the news (as I do) and it seems that most often it looks like the whole of the US is shooting one another. For the record - it's not true. Although I must confess I have met one person who knew someone (well it was their sister) who works for the company that owned the shop in the mall where five or six people were shot a few weeks back (hearing that story was weird). Still I am surprised to discover that, while I regularly mocked the NZ media for reporting every little crime, the newspapers do it here too. And I am talking about the NY Times - go to the Metro Section and it's just like reading a NZ daily (except the distribution for the NY Times is in the millions). I guess community is as big or small as you make it!
Work is insanely busy and there are alot of "politics" going on - at which point I come into my own as "playing the game" (or perhaps I mean "a" game) would seem to be my bread and butter. The next three weeks promise to be very entertaining!
Had a lovely weekend spending a sunny afternoon on the deck of a work colleagues holiday house in Santa Cruz - drinking good wine and eating good food.......looking at the sea, chatting and laughing. Michelle came around on Sunday and we had a nice chat. She's just been awarded a very prestigious scholarship so she can research and write her book (and several other things) based on her dissertation. It's very grand and a wonderful acknowledgment of all her hard work. It does mean she has to move out of Santa Cruz for a while but will still be in California.