Sunday, June 24, 2012

New Toy

I just bought a Garmin Forerunner 910XT.  It's way over specced for me and is really designed for the Ironman/Tri folk - measure all that swimming/biking stuff.  It's the latest fancy gadget (yeah, that title usually lasts about a week).  The main reason I bought it was because of the battery life, a whopping 20hrs.  Although I bet that doesn't apply when the GPS is on.  Now I am doing longer runs the battery life on my old Garmin isn't long enough.....seems at 5hrs it becomes somewhat unhappy so I did some research and kept coming back to this.  Best thing is I have used some rewards/recognition points I have accumulated with ACN, so it almost feels like I am getting it for free!  Can't wait for it to arrive in the mail.  I am going to try and actually learn all the relevant features this time so I get my money's worth.
Yesterday I ran 24miles/39km.  I completed the same run I did a few weeks back when I posted pictures.  I took a chunk of time off my previous run, I think because I actually paced myself better through it and had a better understanding of where I was going.  Unfortunately the bladder in my hydration vest sprung a leak - I didn't lose all my water but had very soggy shorts as it slowly dripped away.  The run itself is incredibly beautiful and really can't beat San Francisco on a good day.
This weekend is Gay Pride and I haven't really done anything.  Irene and I went to watch the Dyke March; best part being Dykes on bikes taking off at the start.  There were hundreds and hundreds of people so it was fun to watch.  Glad I was marching though (anyone can join in) as I was a little weary after my run.
Next week is my last week on my project and I still don't know if we got the other job yet.  It will be strange to leave everyone behind and the routines I have created (particularly running after work around the water treatment station).  I guess I will just have to create new routines.

Friday, June 15, 2012

ACN Prom

Notwithstanding running 24 miles on Saturday I got all glammed up and went to the ACN Prom!



Meet the girls and one boy (photo bomb!). Event was at City Hall and very stylie. Three halls; string quartet down the stairway in one, jazz band in another and dancing in the third. Excellent food too and fun pre.party (where photo was taken). About 1100 peeps so no small affair. It was fun!


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Sunday, June 10, 2012

On the run

Tried posting this yesterday but had some technology challenges! Went for a 24 mile road, trail, beach run. Weather was gorgeous, took some photos.












Gotta go run 10 today...


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Thursday, June 07, 2012

2 Year Anniversary

Yesterday was my 2 year anniversary for joining ACN - wow, where did that time go?  I've had my ups and downs with joining such a large organization with so many well established traditions and such a strong culture!  That said, I really do like the people and I've learnt a huge amount.  I am looking at rolling off my current roll at the end of this month, so moving to a new project will be like starting a new job (we all know how much I like to do that....).  We have a client presentation for the proposal next week so, if we win that, that's most likely where I will go.  I will really miss my current team and the client - it's been a challenging role at times but I've really like the people.  The team are great fun, but folks move on, I am just one of many.
This weekend we have our "Prom"; swanky party they have at City hall.  It's for ACN Northern California folk so I think over 1000 people will attend.  Everyone will be all flashed up.  I am sort of looking forward to it and sort of nervous.  I think I'll mostly enjoy the pre-event gathering as it will be small and with folks I know.  Not sure how the bigger event will go, although I will know at least some people there. We shall see we shall see we shall see.

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Fairly dull week, ending on a fun note

Week was a little dull, until Friday.  Best part of the week, Katy (Crazy Ironman Girl) was in San Fran for training on Friday and stayed over at mine Friday night and through Saturday.  Funny adventures were had as she lost her i-phone in the cab Friday morning. Several frantic instant messages later (we have IM on our work laptops) saw me heading down to the main office of the cab company lost and found (about 10mins from my house as it turned out)....this an adventure into a world I clearly wouldn't want to be part of on a regular basis.  Long story short, cabs are housed in a huge carpark behind two barrier arms; park outside and walk in to be confronted with the "grave yard" of taxis that have been in some pretty major smashes! Gruesomely cool to check it out thought. Look across a big parking lot  and still see no sign of anything resembling an office.  Look again to check where all the random bodies might be walking to....walk that way, still no signage to let me know where, exactly, I should be going.  Finally hit a building and look for signage, nada, nothing, zilch.  Give up and ask some random woman standing outside a door.  She sends me inside, upstairs (still no signs) into some kind of office area with a waiting room and a service window.  Random guy in waiting room asks me what I need, I start to speak and the famous "glazed" look comes across his face i.e. clearly does not understand my accent ay ay ay - here we go.  Anyway finally get to the guy behind the window, describe the phone and give the cab number.  He pulls one out and asks what the wallpaper shot is....OMG, I have no idea.  He shows it to me and it's some grid iron team - well Katy isn't exactly a GI girl, as far as I know and I most definitely don't know the security code so I have to say "hmmm, not sure".  Seriously it could have been someone else's phone for sure.  Long story short I end up calling her phone from mine to prove I know her.....he finally decides I'm good to take it and phone is secure (much to Katy's relief.).
Friday night me, Katy and Monica went to BlowFish for the most awesome Sushi and catching up.  Saturday Katy and I go on a 10 mile run (yayayayayaya to having my running buddy back) and then Irene, Katy and I go to our local cafe for lunch before Katy and I go to Sports Basement to spend lots of money on sporty type things.  It's been great to catch up with her again and Monica and I think we will head to San Diego  (where Katy lives) for the 4th of July.
Sweet little Henri is also staying so Irene on doggie watch and I'm the tag along.  Lotte is so sweet with Henri and plays with him - very cute to watch.