Michelle Shocked - 17 years on

Way back when Michelle and I went to a Michelle Shocked concert in Wellington. Here we are, 17 years on having just gone to a Michelle Shocked concert in Santa Cruz! Michelle's idea of course (I've hardly walked away from my laptop in weeks so was an easy touch when she suggested we go!). Tuesday night we headed to Moe's Alley - a legendary bar in Santa Cruz that proved to be a great venue. It's large enough to hold a crowd but small enough to create a lot of intimacy between performer and audience. The evening was a blast, particularly as both M and I remembered that Ms Shocked is, well, a little unlikeable when she isn't singing - that hadn't changed! She did put on a great performance though and had the audience singing along. At one point she invited someone up to play the guitar while she sang. A woman who happened to be sitting next to Michelle leapt up and gave a very credible performance. Only in Santa Cruz would that happen! Really was a fab night. Anchorage is a very well known song among Michelle Shocked fans, so for those that aren't, here's a taste of her folksy style (oh and just in case you missed it, she's got quite a political bent, so some of her other songs deliver some pretty hard hitting messages!).

Crazy times

It's been an all out crazy week!  As if work itself wasn't enough to deal with one of my team got fired.  Yeech, not a pleasant thing to do to someone in this economy - personally I could have done without the attendant drama.  Sometimes you can't save people from themselves and I really did try to save them (or at least was open to them saving themselves).  I'm learning a lot about management US style and, most importantly, discovering the things I do and don't enjoy about leading a group of people!  I'm still really keen to become an employee of Cisco (hiring freeze is still on) - I really do want to continue in a management role (not easy to do as a consultant) and think that Cisco is a great, complex and truly global company - culturally it seems the right fit for me.  Anyway in this economy it's hard to know what will happen. Economy wise the biggest challenge for now is to stop people talking it down so much, its becoming a self fulfilling prophecy.  There's been some notable change in the debate but if people lack any confidence to invest it's going to a very long haul out of this hole.

As you can tell, I got back from Berkeley safe and sound.  Riding the bike was a blast and I loved every minute of it!  The dance was interesting, but not really my thing.  Spending time with Dee was great and just being away from my laptop delightful.  Counting down to Palm Strings now.  So excited that everyone arrives soon.  Sim is already here in the US so one down four to go.  As well as a few "party events" Sim and I have talked about going on some outdoor adventuring, including driving into the redwoods to see the trees Dr Seuss  used as inspiration for his books - that could be fun.  Sims been to PS before so looking to her to be tour guide.

A long awaited day off!

Quick post in between getting ready to go to SF overnight.  Taking the bike to a friends in Berkeley then heading to a wine tasting in SF followed by a dance in Marin....never been to Marin, it's north of SF. Guess I'm about to find out what it's like.  I've been hanging out to have a full day off, not have to check my computer and not be on call (or get woken at 3am).  YAY I am delightedly happy to be actually doing something other than work.

Life of a working gal

So really my life has mostly been about work in the last week!  Apparently I've just been part of the largest ever IT release Cisco has had.  Now that is kinda cool and marks me as a true geek - this is one of the reasons I wanted to work in the US, you get to be part of big arse things!  Being part of it has meant incredibly long hours (closer to 15 than 10) and great highs and lows.  For the release weekend I had planned two nights in San Jose but stayed three - there came a point where going home was pointless.  While working days I've "enjoyed" being on call from 1am to 9am for several days now....which has also meant being woken at 3 and 4 am when the system crashes.  It's a global company and there is always someone somewhere awake that requires an explanation! At the same time the rest of my team goes on and I have to keep managing that.  Honestly it's been a grand thing to be part of, I've learnt alot and have been surprised at my own stamina.

Staying in SJ did mean a TV for three nights...still bemused why people pay for it when they can watch for free online (yeah okay you pay for your internet connection).  But I did get to watch Slumdog Millionaire - it's a great movie, kept me on the edge of my seat though.  I thought it was very clever how they put it together.  Kept me awake between midnight and 2am...when I had to physically go into work.  I loved loved loved the dancing at the end!

It's been raining endlessly here, making Californians a little grumpy.  It's a good thing though - this place had got way to dry and it's a welcome relief for farmers.  

Countdown is on for Palm Springs and the NZ girls.  So looking forward to that!