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!

Still holidaying

I am waiting for my background check to come through so haven't started work yet....now each day feels like a special holiday! I might have found a rideshare too. Found a website that connects people and got an email from someone who lives around the corner and commutes to San Jose every day. The joy of a rideshare (apart from not having to use public transport) is that you only need two people in the car to use the car pool lane - very helpful as it is a very busy road!
I went to San Fran (well Walnut Creek.......one date now having turned into several more) for the weekend and had a fab time. Went and watched this movie. It is very very funny in that fab english humour kind of way. We also wandered into the Castro which is the queer centre of San Fran. The streets and bars were packed - mostly with gay men but best of all was the group of guys wearing pink bunny suits just standing on the corner waving and wishing everyone a happy day; no reason, just because they could! Sat in the back of a very funky wineshop and sampled so very good reds as well - had a nice time all up. Ended up in The Haight which is a very lively eclectic mix of shops and restaurants ranging from punk rocker through to good quality (expensive) shoes. All very visually interesting and a bit wacky.
It's been a movie week as Michelle and I also went to see Jodie Fosters new movie The Brave One. Not one of her better ones as it plays the usual formula that she has been running with for a while (you know, nice girl finds her inner badness.......but really she's not so bad even as she goes around killing people......). Certainly didn't prompt any deep reflection by Michelle or I.
I am also wildly excited to report that my new motorcycle boots have arrived - and most likely would have saved me from a foot munching had I worn them some years back. I really am very happy with them. My course starts in mid October and I am simply obssessed by any and all bikes I see on the street (although in the main in Santa Cruz there really do only seem to be Harley's although I do live down the road from the Harley shop so that may account for the numbers I am seeing). The Harley shop recommended the course I am doing - run through the local college. The college provides the bikes and helmets - no idea what size or type of bike. I am hoping they will be bigger bikes (ie 600 versus 250s) just because I am buying a bigger bike. Time will tell I guess.