Bunch of stuff

Life has been busy both at work and home. Long silences (well in the scheme of the blog this is long), usually mean I have “something” to share. Well as it turns out I do and I don’t (but it is time to update the blog….apparently).
On the work front things are changing…..again…..and I am waiting to share…..but as of today nothing looks quite like it did yesterday (how’s that for a teaser). So far it looks good for me but nothings a done deal until it’s done! Oh and it's just occured to me that next month I will have been contracting at Cisco for a year - that went by fast. I've learnt a huge amount, not only about Cisco but working life in the US in general. People here (or at least the ones I work with) work incredibly hard and I've met some amazingly competent people; both comms professionals and others, keeps me on my toes I have to say.
I went on a grand adventure several weekends back. It was Marcia’s birthday and she arranged a trip to Mendocino. Mendocino is 228 miles from Santa Cruz………well somewhat longer if you get on the coast road. A 6 hour trip going there; somewhere around 4 hrs coming back on the freeway. As it turned out Marcia’s bike was off the road so I followed her and Michelle who drove up in Marcia’s car. Being on the coast road and riding through red wood forests was really very spectacular. Redwood forests really are stunningly beautiful and I love riding through them. It was grand!!!! The pic on the left was taken just before we headed out of Santa Cruz……….yep, my hair is that long…..I like it and no one in California knows me with short hair so I thought I would "come out" and show the world.
Hair aside, we stayed at this very fab house on over 100 acres owned by 13 (?) women who bought it in the 70s. A couple of Marcia’s friends came from SF as well…….turns out Marcia and her pal can sing so we spent one night sitting on the deck (pic on left) while Marcia and Adrianna sung a whole bunch of songs…..it was an easy time, fun and full of laughter.
Nice turn of events the WHOLE family are coming to visit in December! While I live in a small cottage (see the earlier bike pic, the house in the pic is my house) the landlords have built something a little grander next door as their “holiday home”. They rent it out so I’ve rented it for early December - it will be fun and mum is going to New Mexico for xmas as well so I’m planning to go back to El Rancho ………. Thinking maybe the snow won’t be quite so big……..just thinking it, not sure I believe it and I really did/do love the snow.
Watched the first presidential debate – not convinced by McCain…..still think Obama needs to prove himself ………..didn’t like McCain pulling out the war record again…..didn’t like the edge of smarmy from Obama…….don’t get to vote anyway but have some interesting debates with my ride share about all of this! Okay so yes, I’m more Obama than McCain (well way more) – fascinating to live and work with Americans who actually get a say. I really do enjoy the culture, it is remarkably transparent….and complex.
Watching the response to the economic storm is equally fascinating. It's not something that is directly impacting me but it's pretty clear some people are really feeling the pain and there's going to be more pain to come for those facing foreclosure. Sad. In the end I am looking to buy a house somewhere and have a loose plan in my head about how I can make this happen - in the interim I am sitting back and watching how the market goes. I see from the papers that NZs feeling the pain as well - let's hope the bailout works!

2nd Anniversary

It has been two years since I immigrated……WOW. I really don’t think I knew this at the time but 1 Sept is also Labour Day in the US……..so I have the day off work! I am, honestly, startled to reflect back. The day I arrived in the US wasn’t all that I had expected nor hoped for, a year on I was, I think, equally bemused. But here I am, startlingly happy. I had some very clearly defined dreams for the US…….honestly all about me and it's all proving to be the grandest adventure. Somethings are exactly how I imagined and some things are different and bringing new and different adventures. I never did imagine living on the west coast…..I did think the East coast (NY) was where I was going. Silicon Valley? Well no, but a job that used my skills, yes always. I really am having a grand time and having the bike and my new home brings new grown up moments and a greater sense of being settled.

Two weekends back I did a road trip to Half Moon Bay. It's about 50miles north of Santa Cruz along a very scenic coast road. It was the first big ride I had taken with the windshield. What a difference that makes. Don't get nearly so tired and very comfortable to sit back and enjoy the scenary. I hadn't exactly planned to do the trip but was at the bank on the North side of town and decided I would like to spend some time on the coast, hit the road and saw the sign for Half Moon Bay. I'd travelled the road once with Michelle so I just decided to keep going. Turns out Half Moon Bay is this cute little tourist town full of galleries, a fab kitchen shop and an amazing antique store called "Half To Have It". I had quite a fun time ferreting around. No militaria but some fun stuff to look at. It was a great day and I also saw some great art along the way. Coming home I hooked in with a couple of other riders who set a nice pace. I really enjoyed the whole day.

During the week Marcia arrived back from LA so we headed down to the wharf to have some dinner. I decided to walk as I was feeling the need for exercise. The entire beach and wharf were engulfed in a sea fog - very funny to be out on the wharf and have no sense of there being an ocean out there somewhere. Rather than sit at the window we sat up at the bar and watched surfing videos taken along Santa Cruz beach.....somewhere. Marcia introduced me to Meyer Lemon Drop Martini's. Three down and I was glad I was walking home. I needed both the exercise and the fresh air. I had work the next morning so drunk gallons of water before falling into bed (worse for Marcia, she had a 6am flight out of San Fran!). It was fun though and the food was good......seafood of course.

This week we have a two and half day global program meeting. People flying in from all over the world. It will be interesting to meet some of these folks in person - given how well I've come to know their voices.