Category: work

All last week I was in Seattle, WA for a new hire orientation. A little late, but there were others that had started before I had. It was actually a good time. The weather was beautiful, and the people were a lot of fun. In fact, of the 35 or so of us, there were only eight of us from the US. The vast majority of the people were from the Paris office, but there were also people there from Singapore, Melbourne, Norway, and the Netherlands. Overall the classes were ok. They were management oriented, so much of what we covered seemed like common sense, but just put into words. Alas, it was good to do something different for a week, and the Grand Hyatt we stayed at was very nice.

Last weekend a group of us went from work went to see the Notre Dame vs BYU game.  It was unfortunate that the guy heading it up wasn’t able to go because of a family emergency, but we still made the most of it.  I drove a group of 3 other guys, and we were on the road at 6:30AM.  We stopped a few times (McDonald’s and then a grocery store to get a pre-ordered sandwich and chicken), and then cracked open our first beers sometime around 8:30AM. 

We then proceeded to drink, eat, and be merry till kickoff at 1:30.  During this time some other guys from worked showed up who brought even more alcohol (read: vodka and Jaegermeister).  One of the highlights was one of the guys being body slammed twice in the back of the neighboring tailgater’s pickup. 

The game wasn’t that excited, and there was absolutely no room in our seats, so we decided to head to the bar sometime around halftime.  Stayed there for a bit, went back to the tailgate, then headed home. 

Driving by US Cellular field we saw the fireworks from Dye’s homerun in game one of the World Series.  We sort of chanced it, by going that way instead of taking Lake Shore (US 41) all the way up, but since the game had already started, it wasn’t that bad.  Someone I managed to watch the Sox win without falling asleep.  I think it had something to do with the hangover I was starting to get at 9 at night.

Note, I did not say Friday night, just Friday.  And just in case you missed the sarcasm, this is in no way typical.

The day started out in regional meetings at a hotel, but then around noon we all broke out and had a corporate picnic at the Windy City Fieldhouse.  We were shuttled there by bus from the hotel, and there was food, beer, and activities.  Having beer was definitely a change from the University life, that’s for sure.

So, we’re having a good time, things are winding down, one of the buses has left, and we start playing flippy-cup with the remainder of the 2 kegs.  Talk about a team building experience 🙂

Anyways, on the way back (sometime around 4-4:30) we decide to hit Octoberfest downtown.  Somehow (actually, I know exactly how), a good chunk of us ended up wearing wigs.  Coworker Joel and I were sporting sexy mullet wigs the whole night.  In fact we may actually get in the paper, and the band at Octoberfest acknowledged us (along with a good part of the crowd at the same time).  Needless to say the debauchery continued with wigs until around 1am.  Good times, that is, until I was called at 7:30 this morning for work related things.  Doh!

Well, today is my “first day” at the new job.  Actually, it’s the first day not being a contractor.  Today has been a fun day of orientations, skills assessments, and other fun first day things.  Tomorrow will be some more of the same too with another orientation. 

It feels good to be “grounded” again somewhere.  I new it was going to happen sooner or later, but now that I have full benefits and the like again, a part of me can give a sigh of relief.  However, it doesn’t feel like anything new, as I’m still on the same project and today is just another day.

As some of you may or may not know, I’m currently working as a contractor.  This means I’m hourly, with essentially no benefits.  While this is nice, having luxuries such as health care, paid vacation, etc are even nicer.  The good news is that I was offered a fulltime position last Friday.  After some negotiation talks, I will hear back from them tomorrow.  Hopefully everything goes well.

**Update as of 7/27**

I have accepted the offer.  The hire on date is tenatively set for next week.  Yay!

Today at lunch a coworker and I went to the 7th floor of Marshall Field’s and had lunch.  I must say, my New York Steak Sandwich with mushrooms and carmelized onions was mighty tasty.  That is definitely one of the nice things about working downtown, you can always get good food for lunch.

I finally received the desk I had been pining over for the last few years.  I ordered it back around the beginning of June, I got a call from USF Holland yesterday, and I took delivery of the desk today.  Since I know you’re all wondering what kind it is, I suppose I’ll clue you in.  It’s a Herman Miller Eames Desk Unit.  I don’t remember how I stumbled upon this little gem, but ever since I did, I’ve wanted one.

Getting it up to the apt wasn’t that bad either.  I had already removed it from the packaging (lots of cardboard on a pallet), and then Aaron and I brought it up in the elevator.  Before the receptionist at USF Holland told me how much it weighed, I thought that there wouldn’t be a problem moving it around.  But at 165 lbs, it’s quite heavy.  Oh well, it’s not like it’ll be moving any time soon.

Now, to get a chair.  At work we have Aeron chairs, and I enjoy them quite a bit.  But my Aunt, who’s in the know on these things, says that Haworth x99’s are way better.  Unfortunately I can’t find a price on them online anywhere.  Oh well, I’ll just have to contact her and find out if she can help me out.

I just got my vacation pay from the University today and it’s over $1k more than I was expecting.  Talk about good times!

Much like Travis, I too have a new job.  I start up in Chicago on Monday.  For the time being, I’ll be crashing on people’s couches until I can find my own place.  Who’s looking for a roommate for a downtown apt?

Man there were a lot of college students roaming the streets this morning on the way to work.  They were also wearing a lot of green.  Oh right, that’s because today is Unofficial St Patty’s Day.

When I was back in college (oh yes, back in the day), the only time we had an Unofficial was when St Patty’s day fell on the week of spring break.  However, now, in order for the University to look better at Engineering Open House, they have persuaded the bars to do it a week early regardless.

Nothing like heading to the bars at 8am and drinking green beer till they close at 2am.  Ah, what it was like to be a student.