Day 443: A Farewell to Cheesedip

Cheesedip 1989-2007

My sister's beloved cat Cheesedip passed away last week at the age of 17.

All cats are different, but Cheesedip's personality was stronger than most. She could be quite possessive and was prone to swat at you if she was sitting on you and didn't want to leave. But once she got to know you, well actually she would still swat at you - but we grew to know and respect her fiery nature (although I don't think my dad every lost his fear of her). She was an affectionate cat and would sit on me on her blanket when I visited my sister's house, especially in her later years as she grew more mellow. Cheesedip was an older cat and had started to decline, so my sister knew that this was coming, but this doesn't really make it any easier.

It's never easy to say goodbye to a friend and this website wishes her all the best.

Day 442: The Pianist

Someone upstairs at my apartment has just started taking piano lessons - or more likely they were already taking piano lessons and recently moved in upstairs. Lately they've been playing every now and then and it's mostly the same songs. The current selection is Beethoven's easily recognizable "Für Elise" (according to Wikipedia, in Brazil the tune is played on trucks that sell gas cylinders to notify people that the truck is nearby). Do I have a problem with someone practicing above me at 10:30 at night? Not at all! It just takes me back to when I would listen to my sister practice or more recently when I'm home and I listen to her students play. I wonder what piece they'll be studying next?


Schroder entertains us with a selection from Beethoven

Speaking of the Vancouver Canucks, I just returned from G.M. Place where we witnessed the one and only Roberto Luongo steal another game for us. It looked San Jose might reach 50 shots but they eased off in the third and only got to 40. Midway through the first period, Pete asked how we could possibly win a series against the Sharks. Easy, says I - Roberto stones them four times! Naslund came away with two assists, but he still looks a little off. But how about that baby-faced Taylor Pyatt - he had a couple of nice plays tonight. I can't wait for the playoffs because this is a team BUILT FOR THE PLAYOFFS!

Day 441: You've Got To Work Hard, You've Got To Work Hard

Nothing comes easy in this world, so you've got to work for what you can get. I complained about a few things in my previous blog which although true are certainly more than manageable. People aren't perfect and it is folly to expect them to be. And since it is certainly possible (and easily imaginable) for things to be worse, I am content. I like working and I like being around people, and it's time I learned that. Offices are good places and office people are good people.

We had a good (albeit long) meeting today and my team seem like decent folk, so I am feeling much happier (though not necessarily fitter or more productive). I strongly suspect that at least part of my mood upswing can be traced to the fact that on Monday/Tuesday it poured with rain, whereas the last two days have been reasonably sunny and rainfree. Downtown is a beautiful place on a nice day and the days can only continue to get nicer until one day all of a sudden it's July and time to go to Balfour.

One thing I'm discovering as I move through the corporate world is that the other companies aren't as "together" as you thought when you were some place else. I used to think that my company was always "less organized" than our sleek competitors. But it seems like everywhere you go it's pretty much the same. Imperfect people working on an imperfect project on an imperfect timeline. Policies may be "perfect" on paper, but people generally do what they want in the most expeditious manner when it comes to the work itself. I may be getting old but I find myself thinking "Is that really the proper process?" as I see people busily doing their work.

But hey - how about those Canucks? I'm going to officially proclaim them Playoff Bound! And with a top-notch goalie like Luongo who could conceivably steal four straight playoff rounds... who knows?

Day 440: I Already Hate My New Job

Well it's been two days now and I already hate my new job. It is early and I will give things time to improve, but being the moody impressionable sort that I am, I am nervous.

1) I am not sure that I like my new boss (this is not the old boss who got me this job). Nothing much was prepared for me on my first day and no one took me out to lunch. I still don't have a phone at my desk. My boss's attitude is a bit unsettling but I can't quite place it - I think that perhaps he is simply not respectful enough of other people. This is a very important quality to me and I will have trouble in an environment that lacks it (but I could be wrong - this is only a first impression). An example... I got an email from him today at 9:35 telling me to go to a meeting at 9:30. He didn't give many details on the meeting, nor did he ask politely (and he gave me the wrong room number so I wasn't even able to go). I was seething in fury - and I am not crossed lightly. The next time something like this happens, there will be fireworks (and a coworker referred to this as "typical" behaviour from him).
2) I have a daily 8am meeting with the folks in Paris. The curse of working for a company owned by the French (how did I make that mistake again?). I will quickly put a stop to this as there is simply no reason for me to attend a one hour daily meeting. No one needs to do this, least of all a low-level drone like me!
3) Taking the bus is fine - this is good part.
4) My computer screen is in the sight line of my manager even if he doesn't move his head! Granted, I am actually working most of the time at the office, but I am also very secretive (secrets are good, honestly) and I don't like overseers overseeing me work!

Now I do understand that most of my unease is the normal growing pains associated with a new job - but my last job didn't feel this bad. Also, I am used to being competent at what I do - and after two days on the job, I am not much use, so I feel devalued as an individual. I am also a little glum at the realization that despite having all the time in the world during my last hiatus, I am (again) a complete waste of space when given the opportunity to boss myself and choose anything in the world to do.

But I do have a plan. The work itself seems OK and I plan to do it really well and on my terms. Good things will happen if I can get my way. And I am experienced enough to know what really matters and what can be ignored. Just because they do things a certain way now, doesn't mean I have to do it the same way, because my way will be better. Just wait and see.

Hey - I already feel better.

Day 439: Snowy Cat vs. Money

My car's heat has not been working for some time so I took it down to my dealership in Burnaby today. Unfortunately it was a snowy morning so it was a real hassle to navigate the large distance from Kerrisdale but I wanted to have this wrapped up before I start work on Monday. After dropping the car off (85 minutes later), I took the bus home - which was surprisingly easy and what I consider a preparation for Monday when I will have to take the bus to work in the morning.

I then spent a delightful day with Scout, Andy, and Lucy (and also Laura/Lisa). Andy was a nice orange tabby and very friendly but seemed to be nursing a slight limp. Lucy was also friendly and enjoyed a good back rub. But Scout was skittish and stayed mainly away from me, a stranger. I confess that I related best to Scout, as this would probably be my reaction as a cat! While we were enjoying Laura's delicious tea and teatime pastries, my dealership phoned to inform me of the damage to my car, which was far more than I expected and slightly floored me. You people who don't own cars are ridiculously lucky, I must say. My first month at work (which starts Monday) will be devoted to paying for the repairs the car I use to get me to work. It's a fair cop.

Still, I am glad to be heading back into the workforce on Monday as it will give some direction to my listless days. I wish I could have been a terrific self-starter and achieved great things while I had all the time in the world - but I did nothing. I'm not proud of my efforts during this latest job hiatus, but I must respect that I have no inclination in this arena. Next time I get the chance, I will take only two months off from work- any more than that is a waste as you don't properly enjoy it.

But I do know the second that I start working, I will wish I was not working again. If only we could learn to be happy with what we have, we would be ... um ... happy.

Day 438: Snowy Cat vs. Decisions

A Happy New Year to all! I haven't had a chance to update my blog lately because I have been busy with work-related activities this week. What's that you say? Surely S. Cat since you have no job you cannot be busy? The facts as you say them are certainly true, but it is also true that I have received not one but two job offers in the last couple of days, both of which will need to be addressed on Monday. What is a cat to do?

This is obviously a good development because it suggests that my "income" should soon start exceeding my "outcome", but it is also a tough decision, and making tough decisions is not my forte. I want to get better at making difficult decisions and being comfortable with the results, but it will take effort as I tend to waffle and second-guess myself. Hardly admirable qualities to be sure.

A Quick Comparison:

One of the jobs is a contract and one is fulltime.
One of the jobs is downtown and one is in East Jesus.
One of the jobs is at a company I've worked at before and one is new.
One of the jobs is with a manager I know and like and one is with a new boss.

After a day of deliberation, I'm still not sure which way I'm going to go on this one so I'll have to wait for the final offers to be received. I'm leaning one way but am seriously second-guessing myself.

Still, this is a nice dilemma to have: far better than the otherwise-upcoming "Where is my rent going to come from?"


In football news, I'm choosing not to acknowledge the Seahawk/Cowboy game earlier today. I don't know what that was but I'm not convinced the Seahawks are a Super Bowl team this year. The fact that they will have at least one more game this year is a godsend and it will be impossible for me to feel upset when they lose, because they look frankly awful.

But they're still alive - and anything can happen on any given Sunday right?

Go Seahawks Go! Believe!

Conclusion: I have decided to accept the fulltime downtown job at the new company.

Day 437: Birthday Blog

Today is my 34th birthday. Hooray for me.

Happy New Year to all.