Friday, July 28, 2006
On course
I was on course most of this week (WebSphere Message Broker V6), so I asked my boss if anything had happened organization-wise. There's now a hiring freeze on. Quelle surprise! I met a new guy on the server team at the course. He made it in under the wire. My team is down five positions.
I also met an ex-CLAer (former GLH application developer) up at IBM. He was taking the DB2 Admin course. He's now at the Loyalty Group along with a senior application architect.
D.
I also met an ex-CLAer (former GLH application developer) up at IBM. He was taking the DB2 Admin course. He's now at the Loyalty Group along with a senior application architect.
D.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
The Transformation ends (before it begins)
The program director for the Transformation with oversight for five different initiatives has been given her 30 day notice (she's a contractor). The rest of us have to wait for the other shoe to drop.
D.
D.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Help wanted
My boss asked me if I wanted to go down for lunch yesterday. We haven't eaten together in months.
While we were down there, he asked me if I was in touch with any of the guys. I haven't been except for my Regina teammate. Then he asked me if I knew anyone who would be interested in an MQ & MQSI or possibly TAM administrator position. Everyone I know is employed.
Do you know anyone?
D.
While we were down there, he asked me if I was in touch with any of the guys. I haven't been except for my Regina teammate. Then he asked me if I knew anyone who would be interested in an MQ & MQSI or possibly TAM administrator position. Everyone I know is employed.
Do you know anyone?
D.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The last day out east
We checked out of the hotel early and waited for my husband's buddy to come. He walked us down to the ferry, and we crossed the harbour (from Dartmouth to Halifax). This is how he commutes to work every day. It was very fast. It's like taking the subway and costs about the same. While we were waiting, we went to the Peace Memorial. On the way over, we could see where the Navy vessels are docked. They are a very funny shade, at least to me, of light grey.
Once we were in Halifax, we walked up a very steep hill to the Citadel. This fort was a lot more organized than Louisbourg. We got in free because it was Canada Day. Unfortunately, the barracks weren't open because of this. There were a lot of people in uniform, both historical and modern. We walked around the top of the wall after . We saw a demo of loading the "noon hour" gun before we left.
Then we walked back down to the harbour. The adults stopped for a beer while the kids toured a navy ship (but not this one which was anchored nearby). Then we walked to/through the Halifax Marine Museum. I tried to concentrate on the Explosion and Titanic exhibits which are areas of interest to me, but I was starting to get worried about the time since our flight was at 4:30 that afternoon. After that, my husband's buddy tried to lead us through the trendy harbour area, but me and the kids were both tired and hungry so we headed back to the ferry dock.
Once back on the Dartmouth side, we went back to his place for a late lunch hour BBQ which also hit the spot. His poor wife did all the cooking and had none of the fun. I called the airline about our flight and found out it was delayed a half hour. That was OK since it gave us more time to enjoy our lunch.
Finally, it was time to go. We ditched everything we couldn't take on the plane and said our goodbyes. He escorted us back to the highway. It only took about twenty minutes or a half hour to get back to the airport. We dropped off the van about an hour before flight time. After checking in (security was tighter at Halifax), we found out the flight was delayed a bit more. Then it was delayed even more and we had to change gates (more walking and lugging luggage).
We took off about 75 minutes after the original departure time. A stewardess blamed it on thunderstorms in Toronto backing up the system (the plane had come from Newfoundland). There was no rock stars on this flight. The same stewardess let my son have a whole row to himself. I indulged my husband and bought a couple of beers. The flight back was a little rough, but the landing was smooth.
After mostly beautiful weather out east, it was raining in Toronto. We picked up the car at Park N'Fly, picked up a pizza at a village close to the home and arrived home after 8 p.m. local time.
D.
Once we were in Halifax, we walked up a very steep hill to the Citadel. This fort was a lot more organized than Louisbourg. We got in free because it was Canada Day. Unfortunately, the barracks weren't open because of this. There were a lot of people in uniform, both historical and modern. We walked around the top of the wall after . We saw a demo of loading the "noon hour" gun before we left.
Then we walked back down to the harbour. The adults stopped for a beer while the kids toured a navy ship (but not this one which was anchored nearby). Then we walked to/through the Halifax Marine Museum. I tried to concentrate on the Explosion and Titanic exhibits which are areas of interest to me, but I was starting to get worried about the time since our flight was at 4:30 that afternoon. After that, my husband's buddy tried to lead us through the trendy harbour area, but me and the kids were both tired and hungry so we headed back to the ferry dock.
Once back on the Dartmouth side, we went back to his place for a late lunch hour BBQ which also hit the spot. His poor wife did all the cooking and had none of the fun. I called the airline about our flight and found out it was delayed a half hour. That was OK since it gave us more time to enjoy our lunch.
Finally, it was time to go. We ditched everything we couldn't take on the plane and said our goodbyes. He escorted us back to the highway. It only took about twenty minutes or a half hour to get back to the airport. We dropped off the van about an hour before flight time. After checking in (security was tighter at Halifax), we found out the flight was delayed a bit more. Then it was delayed even more and we had to change gates (more walking and lugging luggage).
We took off about 75 minutes after the original departure time. A stewardess blamed it on thunderstorms in Toronto backing up the system (the plane had come from Newfoundland). There was no rock stars on this flight. The same stewardess let my son have a whole row to himself. I indulged my husband and bought a couple of beers. The flight back was a little rough, but the landing was smooth.
After mostly beautiful weather out east, it was raining in Toronto. We picked up the car at Park N'Fly, picked up a pizza at a village close to the home and arrived home after 8 p.m. local time.
D.
Monday, July 10, 2006
The fourth day out east
After a second breakfast of delicious blueberry pancakes, we packed up, said our goodbyes and headed back to Halifax. Three and a half hours and two stops later, we arrived at the hotel in Dartmouth (I drove). It should have been only one stop, but I didn't believe my husband when he mentioned gas at the first stop.
We called up one of my husband's old baseball buddies, and went over to his place for the afternoon and a BBQ. It was only five minutes from the hotel, but once again we got lost. He told me I hadn't changed, and that our visit was the best thing that had happened to him since he moved out there. We hadn't seen him for at least fifteen years.
We didn't stay too late because his wife had to work that evening. Back at the hotel, my son and my husband decided to walk halfway across the bridge to Halifax (we had already been told that the far end of the bridge was the wrong side of town). My husband sent my son to the van to get his camera. When he didn't return immediately, my husband went to see what was taking so long. My son was being hit on for "busfare" (a first for him).
The next morning, we found out that the SWAT team had been called out to our hotel that afternoon while we were out. Oh well, the price was right (I got a corporate rate).
To be continued ...
We called up one of my husband's old baseball buddies, and went over to his place for the afternoon and a BBQ. It was only five minutes from the hotel, but once again we got lost. He told me I hadn't changed, and that our visit was the best thing that had happened to him since he moved out there. We hadn't seen him for at least fifteen years.
We didn't stay too late because his wife had to work that evening. Back at the hotel, my son and my husband decided to walk halfway across the bridge to Halifax (we had already been told that the far end of the bridge was the wrong side of town). My husband sent my son to the van to get his camera. When he didn't return immediately, my husband went to see what was taking so long. My son was being hit on for "busfare" (a first for him).
The next morning, we found out that the SWAT team had been called out to our hotel that afternoon while we were out. Oh well, the price was right (I got a corporate rate).
To be continued ...
Thursday, July 06, 2006
The third day out east
After a cheese omelette and toast made by my uncle Thursday morning, we headed out to a Scottish Highlands pioneer village. Along the way, we toured the parking lot of the Dundee golf course and stopped at the Orangedale Railroad Museum but it was closed. My daughter was impressed by the snowplow engine.
Again, there were characters in costume in the village. The buildings were arranged in chronological order. The first cabin was pretty primitive with a centre hearth and pen for the animals inside. It had a sod roof, and the beds were boxed in because of leaks. The kids bought candy sticks at the general store and learned some Gaelic.
After a bit of lunch, we headed to the Alexander Graham Bell museum at Baddeck. We had to cross from one side of the lake to the other using a cable ferry at one point. In a way, it seems like Bell spent the rest of his life trying to repeat the glory he had achieved with the telephone. There is a full-size recreation of the hydrofoil he built that is pretty amazing. He was an American which I didn't realize. We headed home for supper taking a more direct route. It was a lot of driving in one day.
To be continued ...
Again, there were characters in costume in the village. The buildings were arranged in chronological order. The first cabin was pretty primitive with a centre hearth and pen for the animals inside. It had a sod roof, and the beds were boxed in because of leaks. The kids bought candy sticks at the general store and learned some Gaelic.
After a bit of lunch, we headed to the Alexander Graham Bell museum at Baddeck. We had to cross from one side of the lake to the other using a cable ferry at one point. In a way, it seems like Bell spent the rest of his life trying to repeat the glory he had achieved with the telephone. There is a full-size recreation of the hydrofoil he built that is pretty amazing. He was an American which I didn't realize. We headed home for supper taking a more direct route. It was a lot of driving in one day.
To be continued ...
The new broom starts sweeping
The AVP in charge of the Transformation program was let go yesterday. She was a very nice lady even though she was in over her head. Didn't see that coming ;-)
That's less than six weeks in for the new CIO. When I mentioned this to the contractor behind/beside me, she called the CIO an overachiever.
D.
That's less than six weeks in for the new CIO. When I mentioned this to the contractor behind/beside me, she called the CIO an overachiever.
D.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The second day out east
My aunt-in-law made blueberry pancakes for breakfast Wednesday morning, also delicious. This is the house specialty. They pick the wild blueberries on their own property.
We headed out to Louisbourg, a 18th century French fort, driving along the shores of Lake Bras D'Or which is actually an inland sea. Both it and the fort were a lot larger than I expected. They have people dressed in costumes who act in character. Most of the young soldiers are portrayed by young women. In the afternoon, there was a musket and cannon firing demonstration. I thought the muskets were loud until the cannon went off. I thought my heart was going to jump right out of my chest. We headed home after that. Along the way, we stopped at a chippie (fresh cut fries!) that was actually a fishing boat on a trailer. That night, my aunt-in-law made fresh (off the boat) lobster, ribs and potato salad for supper.
To be continued ...
We headed out to Louisbourg, a 18th century French fort, driving along the shores of Lake Bras D'Or which is actually an inland sea. Both it and the fort were a lot larger than I expected. They have people dressed in costumes who act in character. Most of the young soldiers are portrayed by young women. In the afternoon, there was a musket and cannon firing demonstration. I thought the muskets were loud until the cannon went off. I thought my heart was going to jump right out of my chest. We headed home after that. Along the way, we stopped at a chippie (fresh cut fries!) that was actually a fishing boat on a trailer. That night, my aunt-in-law made fresh (off the boat) lobster, ribs and potato salad for supper.
To be continued ...
Monday, July 03, 2006
The first day out east
Monday evening last week, we flew out to Halifax. We were about an hour late getting out of Toronto. We didn't know it at the time, but we were sitting in front of a couple of The Trews on the way out. It took forever to process the car rental after we landed. I had booked it through CAA Travel (online) so you'd think they'd have all the info they needed already. We got a brand new Pontiac Montana to drive. I got lost in the fog, and it took two tries to find the hotel. They don't seem to believe in well marked/lit intersections out there. By the time we got to our rooms, it was after 10 p.m. local time (11 our time) with nothing to eat (Canjet doesn't serve meals). I took my husband out to the local Tim Horton's (they are ubiquitous out there). The turkey club didn't agree with him, and he had stomach problems for the next two days. Not an auspicious start.
Tuesday morning, we headed out to Cape Breton. We got to my husband's uncle's bed & breakfast after four hours and two stops. We spent the rest of the afternoon socializing and making a quick trip into town for beer. On the way home, we stopped at a canal where my daughter and I saw our first jellyfish. Uncle Butch made scallops fried in garlic and fish & chips for supper which were delicious. He took us out to see the beach at Port Michaud that evening. It's a sandy beach miles long and at least a 100 ft deep. The kids and I collected sand dollars. The fog blew in before we got there. It's so thick it almost has presence like in the John Carpenter movie.
To be continued ...
Tuesday morning, we headed out to Cape Breton. We got to my husband's uncle's bed & breakfast after four hours and two stops. We spent the rest of the afternoon socializing and making a quick trip into town for beer. On the way home, we stopped at a canal where my daughter and I saw our first jellyfish. Uncle Butch made scallops fried in garlic and fish & chips for supper which were delicious. He took us out to see the beach at Port Michaud that evening. It's a sandy beach miles long and at least a 100 ft deep. The kids and I collected sand dollars. The fog blew in before we got there. It's so thick it almost has presence like in the John Carpenter movie.
To be continued ...
