Living a life

So I guess there would be no surprises - apart from working I've been out riding, enjoying the summer evenings and beautiful California countryside. The pic on the left was the sunset view from by deck a few nights back, I'm not sure the picture captures just how spectacular it was but thought it worth sharing.

Anyway back to the bike. Being mobile again means I have really started to be able to explore the Santa Cruz area - both the mountains and the coast. Last Wednesday Marcia and I headed into the mountains and did a fab ride through the redwood forest. Despite the picture, it wasn't actually raining or even vaguely damp - I raided this off someone elses blog to show what the road was like. We dropped down from the forest and headed along the coast road. On the left is a picture of the beach that forms part of Natural Bridges state park. Going from the mountains down to the coast in a ride of roughly an hour was pretty amazing.

On Saturday we rode through to Corralitos - maybe a 45min ride. It's this tiny little town that has an amazing reputation for sasuages! There's a local store with a great meat selection. The local "fair" was on and it was just like any small town fair in NZ - Scouts were out in force.....strangely (as these things go) there was also a break dancing demonstration. The pic on the left is mine and Marcia's bikes and on the right Marcia getting ready to ride. Before anyone thinks to ask - yes you do have to wear a helmet in California, yes I only ever wear a full face, no I don't ride sleeveless (I wear a leather jacket) and my riding boots.......lessons learnt long ago!

Anyway the weekend ride was fun as we drove through a lot of orchard country. A little sad too as Corralitos was hit baddly by the fires and we passed a lot of burnt out country where houses had been destoyed. Oddly too at times the entire surrounding area would be burnt out and houses untouched - kind of creepy.

Other things - works busy, as always. My new home is lovely and I am well settled in. Took the ex.room mate and her boyfriend out for dinner on Friday. Had a lovely evening and drunk some very good NZ Pinot Noir. Also watched some of the Flight of the Conchords. Haven't seen it all yet but was more than a little surprised that I could hear the accent - not at all unpleasant but strange!

Meet my new love

She's not wearing all her finery (still some accessories to come) but this weekend I picked up the bike! She is a Honda Shadow Aero 750 and, in what may seem startling, she isn't black! Actually the Aeros have a great retro look and I fell in love with this colour combination - there are other colours you can play with if you follow the link in the post (okay this is quite possibly something only I am interested in). You don't actually get to test ride here so I purchased her on the back of alot of research! Marcia drove me over to Sunnyvale (about 1.5hrs away) on her Yamaha VStar 1100, then she took me on a fanastic ride through the mountains/forest and down along the coast - about 1.5hrs. It was way more scenic and, quite possibly, less dodgy than the 17. This is the first brand new vehicle I have ever owned and so I have to break her in - which mostly involves making sure not to rev her to full throttle and change gears alot. It was the perfect first ride and I wouldn't have known how to do it. I'm very grateful to Marcia as following someone made it so much easier, I could concentrate on the bike.......not figuring out which turns to take. The motorcycle safety course really paid off. I had thought I might feel more nervous but felt relaxed and the bike is very easy to ride. Needless to say I am more than a little happy!
On Friday I moved into my new house. It's lovely, easy and bachy. It only took two carloads (although I felt that seemed like way more stuff than I should have!). I have made some effort and done some little homey things (new linen being one notable moment) and some other little things. Really I need Karen to come and visit - help me add some personal touches.......I get the theory, just not very good at implementation.
Decided not to get a TV but will go and get a monitor for the laptop so I can watch movies and online TV if I want to. Funny, in NZ I watched alot of TV.......I've just lost the moment here. I like being able to pick and choose online. I will have a room mate two nights a week. I've picked up Michelle's room mate, one of the professors from the University. Lives in San Fran but comes down here two days a week. It's a nice middle ground, not full time but some help with bills and easy company.
Work is still busy. Even though I was moving on Friday morning I still had the laptop on and was responding to calls. I've been getting some nice feedback so (while it is good for the ego) it has me feel I am able to do the job and be successful at it.
Michelle's back, briefly, before heading to LA. I've had dinner with her and Marcia a couple of times and will miss ME when she goes. Still LA isn't far and all going well Marcia and I will be able to make a bike trip down to see her before the summer is out.
Okay long post, I've been holding off waiting to share the bike.
PS - wow crap weather in NZ.......looking and sounding more like an US East Coast winter.......yikes!

Poor Veitch........

I've given up......I can't stand to read one more story about how hard Veitch is taking it.......what a terrible situation he is in.......with, at most, one line mentions of the victim and more than some implication that she is orchestrating the whole saga.....so what if she is.....Veitch made his choices now he gets to live with the consequences........gee maybe he missed the point....money doesn't much change anything....maybe a little less writing a cheque to have it go away and more checking in...... How strange it is for the NZ media to finally wake up to their own narrow minded bias (well no, mostly TVNZ who lost their golden boy)......, the NZ media turned on their own and now they are startled and horrified at their own ability to destroy peoples lives. Go figure. I'm speechless but not surprised.

Busy busy busy...having fun

The last few weeks (months for that matter) seem to have flown by. My working day is very full and challenging. This week I was on point to put the Statement of Work (the contract) for Cisco together for TechProse. I wasn't completely alone of course! It was a new thing to learn and my first exposure to how this all works in the US. Fortunately I get on well with my boss (and her boss) so I didn't have to try and "guess" a number to work to. It was a good experience as one of the things that was really challenging about immigrating was letting go of all of my industry knowledge; I knew how rates worked in NZ, I had networks of people (even if I didn't know it!), I understood the work ethic of it all, how the media and design agencies worked etc etc. I am having to re.establish and understand all those things in a country that is, surprisingly, more culturally distant from New Zealand than I might have expected.
I have also been having some fun. Two weeks back I met the new landlords and, over a vino and some great converstation, signed a year lease on my new home. Very exciting, I am looking forward to moving on Aug 1; it feels like my next "grown up" moment.
I have been scouting bikes and I am heading out later this morning to San Jose to another bike shop. Someone has suggested that I should also try getting a quote online as often you get a slightly better deal as the sales people on line are less concerned with the bottomline number than their sales quota. Worth a try as I know what I want and the accessories.....given I am going for a new bike the risks are the same as buying it off the shop floor...maybe.
Marcia (a friend of Michelle's who I have been getting to know) is coming along to check out bikes with me too (K&B have been giving great advice on bike gear as well). Marcia has a Yamaha VStar 1100 (a bike I've thought about too.....although not the 1100). When I get some time up on my bike the two of us are planning a road trip to LA to visit Michelle. It's that type of adventuring that buying the bike is all about for me.
Last weekend (as well as bike shopping) I headed to Oakland to visit a friend from work (my old boss). We have kept in touch and I had a really pleasant afternoon eating lunch and chatting with her. As I drove back I was chuckling about how I didn't think twice about driving an hour and a half each way for lunch - did I ever do that in NZ?

The Veitch Story

This is startling. Not because domestic violence is startling but because of the way it has gained momentum and that employers responded, the police responded and the public responded. The Tui Board sums it up.

Fireworks

Okay not my pic but this is what Seabright beach looked like for July 4. Fireworks are banned in Santa Cruz (mostly ignored). Given the California fires fireworks were supposed to be "strictly" banned. Police were posted at all the entrances to the beach and searching people.......yeah not so much success on that front. There were hundreds and hundreds of people on the beach and standing around the dunes. People on the beach put together some very clever displays; huge fun. Before going down to the beach I headed off to a friends beach house in Aptos (about 15mins away) - spent a couple of hours with them celebrating the day. Something really nice was driving through the suburbs and seeing the number of flags out. Very colourful and patriotic in a strangely comforting way.

Independence Day

It is Independence Day..........So I have the day off work, yay!

The origin of "ta"

Alright then I don't know about everyone else but "ta" as a short form of thank you is alive and well in my vocab. Language for me is practical, I don't know many big words and, while I can pull together a slick sentence when required, I am far from a mistress of the English language. Ironic given I am in communications. Every now and then I flip into kiwiana.....ta being one of those words that I flip off easily (well people are being helpful, what can you say?). The first time I got a quizical instant message back seeking to grasp what, exactly, I meant. A simple inquiry along the lines of, this is good, yes?
Today I flipped a "ta" (with an explanation that it was New Zealandish) to someone who works for me. She is new to the program so currently everything she is writing requires quite alot of back and forth while she learns both content and style/tone.....that sounds pompous, I don't mean it too......it's just part of what being in communications is all about!). So we are endlessly swapping emails and IMs all day (among the other endless emails and IMs I am getting; Kathy is away and I am learning what it is to have no immediate top cover) while she writes what is a relatively simple message - don't be fooled, these are the hardest. Finally I get to "ta" and explain it's kiwiana for thank you. Her flip back is the American version is "way to go dude". I am not sure is "ta" "way to go dude"?......made me laugh and at hour 10 in my day that was sufficient to make it all worthwhile! And to be honest, it was "way to go dude".......in the end we got there. At no point did I feel the need to just take over and do it myself (tempting but a. probably wouldn't have ended up reading as well as it did, b. not sustainable, I have 6 people who need do do their jobs so I can do mine, and c. there was a very lovely moment where I could tell she just felt proud of herself for hitting the mark.......). It was a long day in everyway but I think "ta" has become a benchmark; I am not sure I will ever get to "way to go dude" but I did get the sentiment. I am so back to being a corporate geek.

California fires and other things

I think the CA fires have been reported in the NZ news - they really are big and the air quality is pretty awful. There is a haze over San Jose and Santa Cruz and yesterday the smell of smoke was really strong. At least two of the people I work with had their homes threatened and firefighters are still trying to get them all under control. Worse yet on Friday I walked out the door to find three fire engines at the house across the road; smoke pouring out of the house and a terrible acrid smell..........at the time I thought it smelt familiar and, sure enough, 10mins later they pulled a car out of the garage. Damn thing was on fire (no one in it I might add), not quite sure how that happens but reminded me of when the peugeot went caught fire when I was driving it in Wellington during peak hour traffic! No real loss at the time, didn't like that car much but it was quite a dramatic way to get rid of it.
Come Monday I will have a car for a month as Michelle heads back to NZ before returning to move to LA in August. She's busy packing "my house", or at least the house I am moving into in August. Yesterday I sat around and watched TV at her house (a novelty for me) while she packed.......very generous don't you think! I did go buy us dinner so wasn't entirely unhelpful.
I forgot to mention this but a few weekends back I went with Michelle and her friend to Castroville (the home of the artichoke and where Marilyn Munroe was crowned Artichoke Queen at some point). We went to a dance bar, the novelty being Castroville is predominantly mexican so the bar played all mexican music. Their was also a drag show all done in Spanish (Barcelona revisited). Later in the evening I even got over my shyness about dancing - although why anyone thinks they can get me up onto a nearly empty dance floor is beyond me.....once it filled up and I could hide in the crush I felt much more relaxed. It was a fun night, we danced late and laughed alot.
Work is still busy and I finally got to meet my boss (Kathy) in person, which was very nice. Monday night I went to dinner with her boss and two others from the team then Wednesday stayed in San Jose later to have drinks and snacks with Kathy and some others from our team. Very social time and long days. Michelle gave me her car as well so at least I didn't have to catch the bus.
Things coming up: serious bike shopping. All going well come the end of July I will share a photo of my new purchase and be able to spend sunny, hot weekends touring the surrounding area and reacquainting myself with the joys of motorcycling! 4th of July next weekend so I am going to go down to the beach and watch all the fireworks. Michelle says it gets crazy and last year I was at the ranch so missed the beach part. Might see if I can get some pictures to share.

37 degrees and climbing

I kid you not, it's hot.......today was an "off site" day i.e. working from home so no air conditioning for me (truth is I freeze in the San Jose office and my hands often feel like icicles during the day)! Day started at 630am with a conference call to Europe.....fair enough - they come to late/early calls all the time. Working from home does not translate into "working less"........day ended at 6pm - that is a long day! Notwithstanding the heat; I do like my work and love my boss - it is nice to be able to influence things and work for someone who is smart and funny. My team continue to amaze me - deliver quality work in, often, unreasonable timelines! As the day finished I headed down to the beach; Ipod headphones glued to my head (day of talking to people does not prompt an evening of same) to watch the crazies convince themselves that the water was not straight off the polar ice cap. It was hot, really really hot........I still did not feel prompted to venture in!

The Price of Milk

I just watched this movie. If it's not obvious, it is an NZ movie, and came out in 2000 - clearly something I missed! It's .......quirky.....odd....very kiwi....funny in places, insightful and then just damned weird. I don't know if I would exactly recommend watching it. But it seems NZ makes so few movies these days (no Lord of the Rings doesn't count) that it's worth looking at just to know what people are (or have!) made. I found it on Netflicks (the DVD and online video store here). The Aussie movie industry is clearly doing much better than NZ - heaps of their movies are available for instant watching or to have sent to you.

Well geeze.........time flys

I am having a great time; really enjoying my new job and getting out and about a bit. Hours are proving to be long but interesting. I have definitely landed in the hot seat! Expectations are high (which freaks me out a little) and we are at a difficult time in the program. Still my boss is letting me change things and is very supportive. I will, for the first time, get to meet her when she comes to San Jose later in the month. We speak at least once a day by phone and instant message throughout the day. I have to say being able to IM people works well when you want instant answers but also generates a whole other layer of work! My team IM during the day as well and sometimes you can have three conversations going at once. The only time we all come together face-to-face is on Tuesday when I have my team meeting. Surprisingly I am really enjoying running a team again......for the first meeting I introduced them to "biscuits" as opposed to cookies - little cultural moment for everyone. Biscuits here are something entirely different.

Two weekends ago Michelle and I headed into San Jose on Sunday to see my roomates digital arts and media show. Maragretha's masters show,The birds, the bees the flowers and the seeds looks at war and nature, and the similarities between the way war functions and how nature operates. She had set up a garden (see the sketch right) that you walk through and included military objects and flowers. As you walk around you trigger commentary about nature and war........it was very complex and fascinating. You get to pick up objects and could toss poppy pods across a stylized wire fence - much like tossing a hand grenade. It was very clever and, compared to some of the other student work, was much more challenging in how it presented the ideas. It was my first real insight into her work. There were some other clever presentationts too. The Human Morality Index was a website where you get to invest based on "vice trading", click on lust and see the stocks associated with it etc. It was very clever and took a real shot at free markets and trade.

This weekend I am doing nothing but lounging around......I am tired and home alone with Goldfish as M and her boyfriend are camping. I am loving the Kindle, it is prompting me to read more widely. Best feature is being able to download a sample chapter before you decide to buy the book!

Girls...and boys in frocks

Went to the NCLR dance on Saturday night in San Fran. Several things of note. First, there were 100s of women......the place was packed, second, apart from the two women I went with (one I met on the night), I knew no one (so nice to be anonymous!), third I need to revise the idea that I don't dance, apparently I do and quite alot. It was a great night starting with a very fine Thai dinner at a very cool bar/restaurant called Koh Samui and the Monkey Bar - says it all really. I stayed in a hotel near Union Square and managed to get a ride back to Santa Cruz so didn't have to Bart (subway), Caltrain (train) and Highway 17 (bus) back.
Landed in Santa Cruz and headed to meet Michelle and her friend at Santa Cruz Gay Pride. A year ago Michelle and I had wandered around and watched the entertainment - what a difference a year makes. Most notably, nothing surprised me and there were some "interesting" outfits to see.
I am still loving the job - it's insanely busy during the day and I have learnt the art of sending emails, while sitting in on a meeting, while instant messaging. I'm not sure if it is more or less efficient to work this way but they sure know how to maximise time. Best of all I am now only physically in the office three days a week (although spend 80% of my day in meetings....so never feel lonely).
Because I could and because I no longer have to buy furniture I have been on a little shopping spree. Most notably and with all the geekiness that comes with it; I brought myself a Kindle. It is Amazon's electronic book.....so far I love it. You can download sample chapters of books and then buy the whole book and it arrives in seconds (it runs off its own wireless system so as long as I have coverage I can buy anytime and read offline). I can subscribe to newspapers/magazines and they have free newsites. Nice feature - it has a dictionary so when I come across a word I don't know I can look it up. It's fun and a nice size...I like it.
I still don't consider myself to be a techo girl but feel strangely drawn to electronic gadgets at the moment. I got myself a speaker for my Ipod too; no I don't care to have an Iphone. Mostly because you can only access service by AT&T and their coverage is not as good as Verizon. Except when you are on the Ranch!

New job, new home & Bonnie Raitt

Started the new job and I am busy...busier and more challenged than I have been for a long time! I am the Communications Lead for a global program focused on having partners and customers adopt a new contract management system........they have to actually, we are about to retire the old system!!! My job is to co-ordinate the various communications folks to make sure we are aligned and do the right things in the right way. So far that involves lots and lots of meetings, putting in place some processes so that we work as a team and trying to figure out if we are actually doing the right things. Its fantastic to be in a global program and work with different parts of the world. My team are great, very professional, capable people who all want to do well. My saving grace is that this program is a sister program to the one I have left so I at least understand some of the technical content and the context in which we are trying to do this. My boss is grand - we have never met, she lives in Southern California and only comes here once every 4 or 6 weeks.....her boss is in Texas and runs the same gig. This really is virtual working and amazing to get a job on the back of telephone interviews.
Come July by roomie finishes her Masters so I have had to think about where I am going to live. I had thought I would leave Santa Cruz but now that I only have to work in the office a minimum of one day a week (I choose 3) I have decided to rent Michelles beach cottage when her lease is up (1 August) and stay here. It has surprised me as I did seriously look at Mountain View (home of Google). The Cottage is fully furnished, two bedrooms, one block from where I live and one block from the beach. I know the landlords well having negotiated Michelle renting it in the first place. And it comes with a weekday boarder (Prof from the University who lives in SF but works down here during the week). I am not keen on a full time roomie so this is a nice compromise. My biggest delimma is whether I buy the three for one package and get TV, Internet and a landline!!!! Since I have started watching programmes/movies online I don't much care about TV. I think I will give that a miss and just get a large monitor to hook to my computer to (nice for work as well).

This weekend Michelle and I headed off to the Santa Cruz Blues Festival to watch Bonnie Raitt. It was a great day. Arrived about midday and the place was packed. We did manage to find a very nice place on the lawn and proceeded to sit back and relax for the day. The show was in a natural amphitheatre so we were surrounded by trees. Bonnie was the last act (and by then we had found some of Michelle'sfriends) so we all got up and danced and laughed. The crowd was interesting. Mostly white, middle class to very wealthy, with a heavy sprinkling of hippies. I am pretty confident the average age would have hung in the 40s somewhere. While it looked very conservative it was quite clear that, despite the "no smoking" by-laws there was smoking of all kinds going on. Alcohol was also available and what made the whole thing nice was that I never saw anybody behaving badly. Just a mellow, happy crowd.

It's Memorial Day weekend (I think this is kind of like our ANZAC Day) so there is a general air of relaxed. Next weekend I am off to a dance fundraiser for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (they are leading much of the work around trying to have gay marriage legalized). Anyway it's part of a much bigger weekend event. It's in SF so I have booked a hotel and I am going with a friend, Dee, who I met quite a few months back and her friend.......who I haven't yet met. Dee lives in Berkley but used to live in Santa Cruz so anytime she is down this way we try to catch up for a walk, drink or dinner. I am looking forward to the dance - it's a formal affair so I am very intrigued to see how people dress (SF Californians don't really do "formal"). Anyway I am assured there will be lots of girls in frocks (no I won't be one of them!).

Having fun

So the roommate has been doing an internship focused on pulling together two shows using digital art and new media. Stage one of the show, Superlight, opened in San Jose on Saturday night. Michelle and I decided to drive up and spend the night so we could go to the show and then off to a Powwow at Stanford University. Superlight had some pretty cool stuff, including one display where you walked into a room and there was a massive screen on the far wall with a guys face. As you moved around the room he changed what he was saying, reflecting how close you were to him or the pace you walked toward or away from him. It was kind of fun to see what reactions you could get out of him! Lots of other clever things too. One of the most fun things that the adults were really into was the chance to create a little doll - see mine to the left. They had set up a work bench with the felt etc and patterns you could choose from. We then all happily used glue guns and rummaged around in boxes of buttons etc to create our characters. Michelle did one too - although a little more girlie than mine. It was a real giggle. Afterwards we went back to the very nice hotel we were staying in, had a nightcap and watched a DVD.
The next day we went off to the Powwow. It was a weekend affair and included a dance competition. We managed to get to see the women performing. Some amazing outfits too. I really enjoyed the drumming that went with the dances and was fascinated to watch - very physical. There was a range of stalls selling jewellery etc so we spent some time wandering around them. Well mostly Michelle. I spent time watching people. All up a lovely weekend.....I think I am in the calm before the storm with the job so it was nice to indulge a little (hmm I guess I've been doing nothing but indulging these past weeks!).

Hola! pt 2, new job, New Mexico

It's been BUSY....fun but busy. Back to Barcelona. See the gang, including the worlds largest paella dish! After Sitges Rose, Jo and I headed to Barcelona. On the way we stopped at Montserrat where we got to see the Black Virgin (see my other post). While we qued for a hideous amount of time we did get to hear the boys choir in the Basilica. The views were spectacular and it was well worth the several hours we spent wandering around. Into Barcelona we stayed at a fab hotel near some grand eating places and close to where we could catch the tourist bus that takes you all over the place. Loved the Gaudi architecture. Particularly the La Sagrada Familia - a "church" started in 1882 and still being built using Gaudi's original drawings with different architects leading the construction at different times. I did freak myself going to up in the elevator into the spires then having to walk down these stairs. As well as making the most of the open air bus we walked alot, had some great Tapas and watched some great street performers. Jo was our tour guide and found some very cool places for us to investigate. Including and amazing design store. I loved Barcelona!
Before I left for Spain I, somewhat boldly, decided I would renew my contract so had, technically, finished my old contract. Had two possible jobs to consider when I got back. Came back to neither having materialized but being offered a weeks work in the old program (they would have had me stay but I was done with it). Anyway concurrently I also decided it was time to go visit El Rancho. Given my unemployed status I was remarkably relaxed. Then within 24hrs I had a new contract! Did the first of three interviews at 9am one morning and by 5pm that day had been offered a Communications Lead role in the sister program to the one I am in. Yippee. Headed off to NM and started the new job yesterday.
New Mexico was fun, welcoming and familiar. No yellow house for me anymore but I was more than comfortable in the bunk house. It was grand to see everyone. On the Saturday Brice, Karen and I headed to Taos for brunch then went on to check out the Earth Ships - billed as Biotechture they are made almost entirely of recycled material (based on used tires)
and can be completing self sustaing using solar power and recycled water. They can come in all different styles but tend more towards and Adobe look or something out of Star Wars! Built into the ground they are impressive and quirky. If you want to know more got to You Tube and search under Earthships.

Hola! pt 1

Wow - Barcelona has to be one of the best places I have ever visited! European liveliness, without snobbery and a real 24/7 city. Iconic architecture and a deep pride in their history. I loved this city. Undoubtedly the company helped! More about that and the picture on the left in pt 2.

The trip to Spain started out in Sitges, a half hour bus ride down the coast from Barcelona. Somehow managed to get upgraded to economyplus on the flight over (and back for that matter), which was lovely as the United flight I was on was less than glamorous......really really old plane! Arrived at the B&B to be greeted by a crowed of kiwis and two Australians. It was lovely to see everyone, apart from Michelle and Ruth I hadn't seen any of the others since I left (which is a year and a half ago now).
B&B was everything promised and then some. Lovely big rooms and a lovely welcoming atmosphere. We had booked the place out so only us! They even had an honesty bar....can't remember the last time I went anywhere that had an honesty bar. For Ruth's birthday we had a dinner at the B&B; traditional paella served in a HUGE serving dish and prepared by a local woman who came in specially. Afterwards we headed out dancing and found this cute queer bar that played classics like Oliva Newton John and Cher. Sitges is a cute seaside tourist town and we wandered around alot. If you look at the picture on the left you can see the seawalls. This allows them to claim they have 17 beaches - hmmm, not so much I don't think!

One minor glitch when one of the crowd had their bag stolen while we sat eating lunch (I sat next to a woman on the tourist bus in Barcelona who also discovered she had been pick pocketed at some point during the morning - unpleasant but not uncommon in Spain). Ultimately it was all soughted out and a new temporary passport arrived from Madrid. Given we had two cars we all headed to the Torres Winery - it's a massive producer and exports globally. Funniest part was trying to get back to the B&B - the two cars travelled separately and both had the same challenge......how not to go to Barcelona but rather head south to Sitges. The car I was in did well following a tour bus, until we stopped doing so well and had to back track and start over (well not quite but close!). Turns out the other car (minus the benefit of a tour bus) had to do the same thing - I guess all Kiwis think a like. It was also Jo's birthday so on our last night we went out to a very very lovely restaurant near the beach. Enjoyed a lovely meal outside and our final night before I left with Rose and Jo to head for Bacelona.

Doing stuff

It's been a busy few weeks. First I bought my self a stunt kite. It's very cool (Prism E2) and very "dramatic" to fly. Michelle and I took it out for its first flight last weekend. It was pretty windy down at the beach and I got to figure out really quickly that this kite wasn't going to be for the faint hearted. It came with a DVD and book of tricks. It's heaps of fun and makes a great noise while it's flying. I did get dragged along the beach a little though (accompanied by Michelle's excited screams).
Michelle also announced that she didn't think that I got enough culture and so got us tickets to the Romeros, which, as it turns out, are a very famous guitar quartet. They play classical guitar so not something everyone would have thought to invite me to! They were fantastic! Orignially from Spain it seemed timely to be listening to them in advance of leaving for Barcelona on the 17th.
Saturday I caught up with my pal from work and her husband. Spent a lovely few hours on the deck of their beach house - drinking a very lovely Pinot Noir from the the Santa Cruz mountains - then headed out to dinner in Capitola with them and a couple of their friends. Capitola (I've mentioned it before) is this very cute seaside village not far from Santa Cruz. Not sure how to describe it - upmarket seaside village with the feel of a holiday town and a real buzz in the air - accompanied by very good food and fabulous views. We then went back to one of the friends houses for dessert. Heaps of fun and, very generously, they all paid for my meal.
On the work front it looks like I am going to move to a new contract. Still at Cisco, not the one I origninally wanted......better I think. May know for sure before I head to Spain. I'll fill in more when I know.
If it's not already obvious I'm not heading up to Walnut Creek anymore. No hearts broken and no bad behaviour by anyone (can't under estimate the value of that!). Had a grand time but it wasn't going anywhere. Life keeps moving forward.

Olympic torches

No I am not in San Francisco protesting China hosting the Olympics. Perhaps I should be? I've never been much for "isolationalist politics" (I think I just made that up!). I mean I've always worked within the system. Fortunately I have some friends who don't.....I am happy to feed them as and when they need it - I do my best as and when I can!

Bocce Ball and the life of a new immigrant

I know I haven’t really posted many photos but here is one that has some of my work colleagues and at least one or two who are becoming friends. We had an afternoon of Bocce Ball. What is Bocce Ball? Yeah right, a cultural moment, I had no idea. At first I thought it must be some form of indoor soccer……long story short it is much like Petanque. BB is Italian, Petanque is French. Go figure. NZ took up Petanque not BB; cultural moment. Although a far better cultural moment, and much funnier, was being at the lunch prior and ordering a “Cheddar Burger”……..that the waitress heard, repeatedly (as did my work colleagues), as “Cheetah Burger”. Post actually being able to make my order someone asked if we ate Cheetah in NZ. I assured them we did but that it was expensive, as we had to import it. This, readers, is the life of an immigrant and I speak English, thank you very much!

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.

Moving along

Life continues to be busy! Tahoe was fun and the snow grand. I really enjoyed snow shoeing and think I’d like to do that more next year. Work is heading into it’s first big event – honestly I can’t believe I’m working in an IT world – hilarious. The Presidential primaries continue to tumble on. Obama seems to be turning the tide but it’s never that clear here. I haven’t got anything particularly exciting planned in the next few weeks but the weather has turned which brings me ever closer to buying the bike.
I've had a lovely blast from the past having been contacted by a "friend" from long ago. It was an unexpected email and welcome. I think that when you live in a world that seldom (if ever) references who you were having a reminder of someone who knew you well (or some days those that know you best) always makes for a moment of reflection and (at least in my case) quiet laughter. I have all too often taken myself all too seriously........not so much these days!

Oddities

This is one of those oddities that appeals to me.........check out the slide show.

ifly

Still getting over being sick but much better! Went to ifly and it was amazing, odd, outside the box.......well worth the trip. It's not like parachuting as there isn't a moment when you fling yourself out of the plane. But it is a blast - well a wind blast - the instructor is in there with you. When you have your body at the right angle you can fly alone - otherwise you need him to adjust your body position....it was odd but fun! And I confess......I'm am a little sore the day after - muscles long unused and I'd still rate myself as fitter than many....but clearly not as fit as some.....okay maybe even a lot of others! Hrumpf.
Elections trundle on and it's deeply fascinating to watch it roll out. Because I don't have a television I get quite a different view of it........TV news reporting here is appalling. Here's a fascinating thing. I've never had an ounce of fascination around celebrity reporting but have become much more interested. Why? I have a theory. On a daily basis I am bombarded with news - information - complexity - stuff and more stuff. Celebrity news is easy, lite (although it is shocking to think that hollywood is probably the only industry in the western world that would tolerate such a high rate of "accidental" deaths............and feel compelled to do nothing about it).
We've broken the back of the bad weather. Nice. Today Alex, Sharon, Maddie and I went to a dog park on the bay - it was lovely. Just to be outside. Kite flyers in abundance including a group of four who flew their kites in formation. I have a stunt kite in NZ that I brought in Montreal many years ago. I'm going to buy another one - I felt strangely envious watching the kite flyers today!
We're off to Tahoe (snow country) on Thursday. Going to try snow shoeing. Will take my camera - I promise to load up some photos. Maddie is coming along and it will be her first time in the snow!

It's just a theory

It is my personal theory, not widely accepted, that like everything else in Amercia, bugs are BIG. I have been sick for the last week...........although suffering heavy bouts of denial. Everyone tells me it's not that the bugs are big here it's just that THIS YEAR they are particularly harsh........hrumpf. This comment sits in the same space as "it doesn't USUALLY RAIN this much". Not unlike New Mexico where it was "the BIGGEST SNOW we've had in 50 years". Either everything is going to hell in a handcart or people are making it up! Rant aside, groundhog day has been and gone and I'm now coming to work in daylight hours and getting home before it is dark - nice.
Work moved into a new flash building. All open plan, with a pool table, bean bags etc etc. Open plan seems to be a surprise to some. Better yet - we hot desk. I like this because moving around all the time freaks people out. It keeps me entertained to watch people look a little startled when they find me sitting at "their" desk! Random fact. The San Jose Cisco campus (yep that's what they call it) has no less than 27 buildings between two and three stories high. There are 12 Smart Carts (shuttles) that ferry us between buildings and I am reliably told that each of them does around 100 miles per day. There are also shuttles that take us to various transit points to catch public transport (that is how I get to Walnut Creek each week - shuttle to the nearest train - BART, a half hour away, catch a train, switch trains and arrive in Walnut Creek where Sharon picks me up from the BART station - she lives within spitting distance but it is very very nice to be met at the station door. All up takes about 2 hrs with a good run). Commuting stories are like talking about the weather here - everyone has a story.
Now check this out. A few weeks back it was Alex's birthday. He's not much into stuff (me neither) so I searched around and found ifly. It simulates free falling when parachuting......well it better.......that's what it promotes itself as. We are all off to have an introductory fly this weekend. The very cutest thing is Alex likes to do adventurous things that "appear dangerous but aren't really" (this according to his mother). This is perfect!

Presidential Primaries and other things

So I am currently watching millions of dollars being blown on the Presidential primaries. Touring around the country, democrats and republicans fight between themselves to choose their presidential candidate. Oddly in some states they let only party members vote – in others they don’t. Surprisingly there isn’t even that much clarity around Clinton or Obama. I read one commentator who said he pitied anyone who came between the Clintons and presidential power………that, I guess, is part of the problem. Nice dilemma for the voters; white woman, black man – I’m desperate to know how the southern states vote!!!
Life is busy and the weathers been trashy (damn cold too). Today is lovely and I am working at home. It’s Martin Luther King day on Monday – Cisco have it off but I have one meeting I have to attend (on the phone of course, very much the done thing at Cisco you can go to a meeting and find there are more people on the telephone than in the room). So I can do it from home, which is a bonus.
Starting to gear up for Spain and feeling very excited about going to Barcelona and the very stylie B&B in the mountains that Ruth has chosen for her four day celebration. So far planning to land, go to B&B hang out for four days then back to Barcelona for a few days then back here – 8/9 days all up. Can’t complain about that!
Went to Cirque de Solei last weekend – very cool.

Random stuff

Okay so this is kind of creepy and kind of cool (in that creepy cool way.........). The NY Times article titled "In A Blog, A Military Man Writes About His Own Death" is about a US Army Major who got posted to Iraq and started a blog (that then moved onto a news site). Before he left he wrote a final entry to be posted if he was killed. He was and this story is about his final entry. It's weird to read and then not. He says he likes to have the last word - so he does.
Weather here has been hellish for the last four days. Don't believe that "it never rains in California". We've had three storms in four days. The place is sodden and many slips. Driving over the infamous 17 is somewhat (but not much) short of terrifying (okay exaggerating and I did manage to not drive home on Friday night........luckily......as it turned into a four hour delay for my rideshare who did have to drive back to Santa Cruz.). Brownouts are common and appear to be taken in stride. So much for the modern western world. The weather appears to be coming right but not before Sharons pool came close to overflowing and has turned an odd shade of green (pool guy will fix it but it makes for an odd backyard feature right now).
Back at work full time, been out socializing with Sharon's friends and generally happy in my world.

Xmas week

I have had a lovely Xmas week. I've been staying in Walnut Creek and working remotely (although infrequently). Xmas day we had some of Sharon's friends over and Alex joined us at midday. Mid afternoon we had a plumbing crisis so I found myself under the kitchen sink repairing the plastic pipes (well trying to rejoin them) and laughing hysterically with Lydia. Crisis averted we sat down to Xmas dinner, including crackers, bought by Michelle. They don't do crackers here as that is a strictly British tradition. Trivia fact, crackers were invented by a London confectioner who based them around bonbons he saw in Paris. Originally he just sold bonbons then he realized that they sold best at Xmas so he developed the cracker! In the evening the others played cranium and Sharon and I lounged around laughing (we played the next day - it really is one of the few board games I do like).
Later in the week we went and watched Charlies War. A drama based on Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects. I really enjoyed it but then I like my political dramas! We also went to see Juno. This was really really good. It's about a young girl who gets pregnant - sounds awful but it's funny and insightful.
I had my biggest birthday treat on the 29th with Sharon taking me to Osmosis, a spa in Sonoma. As an added treat we also stopped at an antique shop that boasts the largest military museum (privately owned)! At the spa we started with a Cedar Enzyme Bath. This was amazing. You literally lay down in heated wood chips that are then heaped on top of you. It really is fantastic........even if it sounds odd! We then had a full body massage followed by the best facial I've ever had. It was an unexpected treat.
Back to work for the second half of next week then back full time the following week. I hope everyone's had a lovely break (well I guess it still is the summer holidays there).

Making an elf of myself and other stuff

Never let it be said that I can't dance and get into the Xmas spirit. I just made a total elf of myself: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1671421541 .
It's been a busy few weeks combining hardwork and some adventures! On the adventure front I went to an NBA basketball game between the LA Lakers and the Warriors (local team). WOW. It was amazing. The Warriors won by two points after having lost the eight previous games to the Lakers. Around 21,000 people filled the stadium and, as we arrived, everyone was given a Warriors teeshirt. It was Sharon's treat and she had arranged for Alex to bring his friend Justin (who thought I was an exchange student at College!). Long games they play here - the whole thing took 2.5hrs but there was lots of entertainment. I was sporting a cold so was a little subdued but enjoyed it all.
Work's been busy and I've been thinking about what I really want to be doing. Things will change a lot in the New Year but I'm relaxed about it. For Xmas I am heading to Walnut Creek and Michelle is going to come too. I get to work from home all week so that's grand (no such thing as boxing day here of course). Sharon's invited some friends over and Alex joins us for the second half of the day. I'm looking forward to food and festivities.
My birthday was really nice too. I had the day before off work and stayed at Sharon's ,had a lovely dinner and headed back to San Jose for work the next day. Michelle and I then went out for dinner at a local restaurant I've been wanting to try. All very nice. On the 29th Sharon is taking me on a "unknown" adventure as well.
I'm still looking at bikes and aiming to buy one in the new year. It won't be the tourer yet but Brice and I have come up with a clever way I can have a real touring bike.......get a side car. As tall and strong as I am I really couldn't see how I could actually holdup one of the big touring bikes - Brice and I hit on the sidecar idea at almost the same time. It's a fantastic option and means I can get a real tourer. They add a bit to the overall price but I'm not looking to buy for another year so have time to save pennies and build by credit rating.
Life here moves along quickly and I am feeling very settled. Can't quite believe we are back at Xmas and what a different place I am in. I'm not going away for the holidays but will look for a few local adventures. I've never actually been to Alcatraz but I am going to give a trip to Alex for Xmas so we will all make a day trip of it. Hope everyone has a great break (it's a little cooler here but no snow.......at least that part of life in California is proving correct......but it does rain - although not often). Merry Xmas all.

Daily life

Time is moving quickly and Xmas looms. Nice really as I'm such a sucker for all the Xmas lights, the tree etc etc etc. Every night I drive home past a park that has a massive light display with pirate ships, palm trees, animals etc etc. It's a drive through display so I only see it flashing past between the trees as we drive home on the freeway. Still it never fails to captivate me.
Last weekend we went and saw American Gangster. It's a really long movie and a true story. It was good as far as it went but not one of my favourites. Even though I don't have a television one show I have become obsessed with is Dexter. The story line sounds odd "Orphaned at the age of three and harboring a traumatic secret, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) was adopted by a Miami police officer named Harry Morgan who recognized his sociopathic tendencies and taught him to channel his gruesome passion for killing and dissecting in a “constructive” way: by killing only heinous criminals (such as mob assassins and serial killers of the innocent) who have slipped through the justice system. To satisfy his interest in blood and to facilitate his own crimes, Dexter works as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami police." It really is very good and Dexter is a strangely likable character.
Some adventures planned before Xmas, including going to a dance this weekend and a basketball game the following weekend. We had the consultants xmas function on Monday and I won a door prize.........cool. It was a book voucher so I gave it to my flatmate (poor student so I figured she'd get more out of it). My rideshare is so sweet, she stayed an extra hour and a half later to wait for me so I could go to the Xmas party! Not sure what the break is over Xmas - given it's not that big here. Some weeks I get to work from home (or Sharons) on Fridays so that's a break from the commute.
I am glad I have the exercyle and I have been using it. My gimpy leg needs the exercise and it makes me much happier to feel that I am at least putting some effort into being/staying fit!!! Life is happy - although expect to hear about more changes in the New Year, I haven't quite finished moving around as I need to move closer to the job (or whatever job I might have).

Part 2 of 2: busy times

So we have just had Thanks Giving. This proved to be fun on lots of levels. First off I was able to work from Walnut Creek for the week, so no comute. A little frustrating when the internet was slow but lovely to roll out of bed, put the coffee on and sit around in my PJs. Sharon and I headed to Santa Cruz with Maddie and had Thanks Giving at Michelles. All the trimmings, turkey, pumpkin pie and walking on the beach. All quite lovely. The next day Sharon and I headed back to Walnut Creek to pick up Alex and then we went to the most lovely B&B in the Santa Cruz mountains. Claiming to be both dog and child friendly it really was. We had a fab room with a loft for Alex. Maddie was a charmer of course and thanks to Sharons commitment to her training she is turning into a lovely friendly lab. She's gaining weight rapidly as she grows from a puppy into her adult weight. The whole setting was idyllic. We had a private deck, although the whole place is fenced so Maddie could run free, and this included an out door jacuzzi. All three of us had a late night soak with bubbles and then lit the fire in the room. The other real fun bonus (apart from the most fantastic breakfasts) was the trampoline. Alex loves them and hasn't been on one often so I got to do a little teaching.......yes when I was 10/11 I spent a lot of time bouncing on a trampoline and can even do a few tricks. I haven't been on one for years but could still do sit downs, turns, backdrops and front drops - I wasn't brave enough to try the forward flips but it did all make me laugh alot. Sharon had never been on a trampoline so bravely had a go and perfected the sit down. Alex is 12 so he managed to give most everything a go, as only 12 year olds can. I also did a lot of driving around so that is good for my confidence and now I don't need to think about being on the right side of the road as much! We briefly headed back to Michelle's at the end of the weekend and she came for another walk on the beach with us before Sharon, Alex and Maddie headed back to Walnut Creek. How life has changed. For Thanks Giving last year I was staying in Santa Fe by myself while a visit was on at the ranch. It's nice to feel a sense of change and progress. Xmas is coming of course then Ruth's birthday in Spain.
Oh and on a health note working back in an office has me fixated on how to stay fit so I went and bought an exercycle. Days are getting darker earlier so I figure at the very least I can comitt to half an hour a day. I spent a happy few hours today putting it together and feel quite smug about the whole thing........of course that's only sustainable if I actually get on the bike every day......

Part 1 - busy times

Because it's been a while and I haven't updated I"ve broken this into two parts........one of which I wrote a few weeks back but hadn't posted! Work has been a rolling ride as the program figures itself out. Good learning and, while I am tired at the end of the week (with the commute making for an 11 hour day) I'm learning alot. It helps that I have generally taken a far more relaxed view of life - although I still have my moments. I really do need to start to think a little more about what happens next but in the mean time I'm rolling with it.
I've been having some fine adventures too. Last week Sharon, Alex (her son), Michelle and I headed off to the football. This was very fab and Sharon had got us seats very near the field and one of the goal lines. All the pomp and ceremony with brass bands etc etc and the game itself proved to be quite exciting. It was, however, raining, so we all ended up very sodden along with the other 80000 people who pack into the stadium. Michelle commented that we were looking at the population of Whangarei - although I did point out that more people in this crowd were likely to be employed! For the record "we" lost.
The day before we went to the Bee movie, which was quite funny (although not as funny as Shrek), it was light and entertaining. On Sunday we went dog walking and generally lazed around. Although I did spend an hour or so installing a new outside sensor light at Sharon's house - love playing with electricity!!! Not so much actually but it was kind of fun to figure it out.........I am easily entertained. Michelle and I drove back to Santa Cruz in the evening, after Sharon cooked a yummy dinner. All and all a fun weekend.
During the week Michelle and I went to a poetry reading by Adrienne Rich. This was amazing as both Michelle and I had been introduced to her political thinking in our first year at University. She is clearly a very smart, funny, insightful woman. After the reading we headed out to a very yummy Japanese restaurant.

Being on the 'b' team

So today United Airlines called me and asked if I was still interested in being a flight attendant. Actually they left a message on my cell - I deleted it, I guess my answer is clear. How odd to send such a definitive "thanks but no thanks" and then call back......on my cellphone. Oh well a few months does make a difference and I am in a different place and time (i.e. I guess I am not completely driven to be a flight attendant). As it is I am quite busy enough and reminded that life generally throws you where you are meant to go!

Last weekend involved a little adventure to Carmel-by-the-sea.......yes a really odd name but commonly referred to as Carmel. Imagine, if you will, Queenstown-by-the-sea. Sharon, Maddie and I spent a weekend adventuring. The beach really was spectacular and the town really as dog friendly as a dog lover could hope for. It's only about an hour or so from Santa Cruz - which did mean Sharon had to drive the hour and a half to Santa Cruz first, a big ask on a Friday night. I then drove us to Carmel.......in the dark and quite comfortably given I had been a little nervous about driving in the US before I got my license. We found accomodation that could accommodate Maddie.......it was "rustic" but not unpleasant and clean. She did manage to chew her way through the cord of the coffee machine (Maddie not Sharon) - before we realised - but she's little, it's forgivable. I confessed it to the staff and so far I haven't heard what the penalty is...........it's America, you should never assume anythings gone away until it has but they will be hard pushed to charge me much given the less than high end coffee machine! And I'm way more vigilant about following these things up than I was in NZ.

Job goes well. Every day I learn something new and get some insight into working in the US and for a global company. In terms of my skills it's an evolution not a revolution. I'm not sure what it looks like 12 months from now and I'm not sure that it matters........12months........or six weeks for that matter.......changes everything. I'm happy to roll with it and see what tomorrow brings (as long as I can pay the bills and then some!).

Diplomats decry State policy

Draw your own conclusions..........

Happy halloween

Halloween has to be my favourite US holiday! Grown-ups and kids alike dress-up and there are some very fab holiday candies to be had. After work I met Michelle and we walked down to the Santa Cruz diner (standard diner fare but fresher than most I suspect). We then wandered down onto the main street of Santa Cruz and mingled with the steadily growing crowd of costumed folk. The main street was completely blocked off and I expect it's all going to get very messy later in the evening. The police were out in force and travelling in gangs of five! There really were some impressive costumes though. Walking to the diner we spotted a few very cute kids out trick or treating too. All very fun and home by 930pm.
I had my final motorcycle class on Saturday and we sat our practical test. I was more nervous than I thought I would be but passed - not everyone did which was a bit sad. Now all I have to do is sit the written test with the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles), hand over my passing certificate and I get my full license. It's not like NZ, here (if you haven't done the safety course) you get a learners permit and can ride any size bike you like. Last I knew in NZ you couldn't ride anything over a 250cc on a learners license, here they don't care. On a learners permit you can't ride on the freeway or at night but they don't care what size bike you are on. Overall I thought the course was really well done and I learnt alot. Extra bonus is doing the course gets me a discount on insurance when I get the bike.
Last night I also had my first California earthquake experience. It was 5.6 and really did make the house shake. People here really hate them and several asked if it was my first experience of an earthquake, I laughingly pointed out all of NZ is on a fault line and we learn what to do in an earthquake at school (or we did, I assume kids still do). Apparently only CA kids learn about earthquakes........I guess kids in Florida and the like learn what to do when hurricanes and tornadoes hit.

Of motorcycles and other things

I am now in the middle of my motorcycle course having had one evening class and a half day practical. I love it and was surprised to find I felt no anxiety at all getting back on a bike. The course itself is really great. The instructor is a female Santa Cruz police officer who runs the police dive squad for the area. She's very good and funny. She has a guy help her on the practical days........he is ex.special forces.......so I found out! The focus is entirely on safety and good basic riding skills. I was lucky, as I had ridden before I got one of the 250s (Honda Rebel cruiser) instead of the very very horrid Suzuki 125s.........these things matter of course, but only to me and the others on the course. It's also been a help that Michelle has leant me her car so I can actually get to the classes - some distance from home in Santa Cruz...........difficult on the Thursday nights when I have to travel from work in San Jose (an hour to SC, then half an hour to class). This has also meant I am driving much more and feel far less intimidated by the whole deal.

This weekend is Halloween. Halloween is my favourite US holiday because it is full of all the odd quirky things I like. People around where I live have decorated their porches etc etc. Little gravestones in yards, flying bats and ghosts and pumpkins galore. When you drive around you see "sales" yards with pumpkins in them for people to buy - it's a little like the Xmas tree lots you see but they do all soughts of things to draw people in. I expect in the scheme of things I'd like to give carving a pumpkin a go but this week is all about the bike course. I am heading to Walnut Creek to go to a Halloween dance on Saturday........that should be interesting.
Here's something I've been meaning to write about for ages but kept forgetting. It has, strangely, made it into Wikipedia...not so strange when you think anyone can put anything in Wikipedia. It's basically a bunch of wooden crosses that have been put on a hillside - one for each soldier killed in the Iraq war. It's been wildly controversial but a very powerful way to send a message. I had heard about it but never seen it until I started visiting Walnut Creek. It's right next to the freeway (or whatever they call something that seems to me to be a motorway). Just one of those US oddities.

While Halloween is almost here everyone is talking about Thanks Giving (towards the end of November....I haven't been here long enough to remember yet but it does bring two days holiday). Before then Sharon and I are off on an adventure with the puppy (staying in a cottage down the coast from Santa Cruz) and I am also going to my first football game. Life isn't at all boring.

Lost in space

No I am not yet lost but life has certainly taken giant leaps and bounds. Dating has turned into a girlfriend and has coincided with starting the new job (although she didn't come with the contract and, no, I didn't meet her at work).
Work wise I am into my first week and have been offered the "opportunity" to present some enhancements to the way communications is currently working with one of the groups in the program. I am getting a fantastic handover from the woman I am replacing (who is off to another project) - it's a shame, we make a good team and I think we could do a great double act. I am learning a whole new language (not only where IT is concerned) but in a business sense. It would seem the "net net" of some discussions are that we have "crisp" communications and much better to refer to peoples diaries as "schedules or calandars".......but these are minor things. The project (which is really a program of activities) is damn big (well the companies damn big) and I have a role in one of the streams of work - this suits me perfectly as I am learning alot watching the "bigness" of it roll out. I have found the most fantastic rideshare person who is happy to work to my timetable and we laugh and chat alot, which is good as most days she picks me up at 645am and I don't get home again until 6pm.......it is about an hour commute. At least I am not driving. Of course I now have a regular 730am meeting and one late one as well.........that is a long day. Language is proving to be a strange thing and understanding what people actually mean - I guess NZ is the same, everything is "coded". I'm pretty direct when I work but have been pausing to get some sense of the culture of the organization and to figure out if what I hear is what people actually mean! Still on balance I am enjoying it and will enjoy it more when I get my first pay packet.
Alongside this I am having a very nice social time having met a very nice Canadian girrrl. She lives nearer to San Fran - hence the weekends out of Santa Cruz and why I have learnt so much about public transport. Last weekend we had a very happy time taking Sharon's (there a name at last) 13 week old lab puppy to the dog park for the first time. This, of course, delights me as I love having Goldfish (the cat) around but have missed dogs since Misha. It's also delightful that Maddie (Madelaine) isn't mine so I get all the upside!
The net net of this is that I am very happy although realise that if I stick with the job I will have to move as Santa Cruz is a tough commute and the road I actually have to travel on is legendary for being dangerous (people do love to share) - although so far I've only seen minor smashes.
Bike course starts this week - YAY.

It is San Fran after all

Last weekend we headed off to the Folsom Street Fair in San Fran; which kind of speaks for itself. This little group did a photo shoot and was among the tamer sights to be seen. I'll refrain from adding more - surf around in the link above to see more! Yes I have started work (and got a cold into the bargain). I haven't got a computer yet so mostly I am at meetings or doing not much else. The project is still in it's early stages so it is all chaotically familiar. Managed to find a woman in Santa Cruz to do a rideshare with so the commute is now only 50mins and she picks me up door to door. She sells commercial real estate and is well travelled so we talk alot - she's got a good sense of humour too so the trip flys by. I am still working on the book and will spend some weekend days updating and adding new chapters now that I have info from NZ. My motorcycle course starts in two seeks (yay.......if not a little scared). Because I can't help but obsess about it here is the bike I want to test drive once I get my license. I quite like the retro look and will get a windshield and saddle bags. Got the boots, now need the gloves and the rest of the outfit. I've been spending most weekends in Walnut Creek so have become an expert on all the public transport options available in the "bay area". Some I have discovered are very nice (read unlike Greyhound) and I overcame my brief fear of navigating the BART system (commuter trains) around San Fran, having realised how damn easy it is. Leaning how to use public transport (strangely) inspires self confidence I have to say. Last weekend I also went to my first baseball game. While "our team" (well you do have to back someone) didn't win I thought there were some good catches..........but was promptly informed that this really just showed that I haven't watched enough baseball (hard to argue). After the game there were fireworks - which were very impressive particularly as, once they had roped off parts of the field, we were able to go and sit around the baseball diamond. The grand adventure continues. Next I want to go to a football match and then ice hockey!