Why is nothing straightforward?

OK, so remember the deal with getting the Lexus registered...well, we're getting closer. We finally got the paperwork on what we've got to do, and thought we had it all figured out. I took time off work yesterday to go to the DMV and get the new title. Oh yeah...well turns out we need driving licences before they'll do that....so, no worries - of we go - I have my hair blow dried, perfect make up, the works! Trev has done all the investigation and tells me I need something with a proof of address, my passport and my old licence. Not a happy bunny when I discover he didn't realize we needed our social security cards too. We returned home - again - empty handed.

Trust me I was definitely not happy when I had to plough through a box of crap just to find them......especially as he overlooked his and i had to redo the search. At least we got them.

Take 2 will be later in the week.

The Direct TV saga

Remember the saga of actually get cable into the apartment - well, that happened finally about 10 days ago. also remember that being a brit I want the BBCAmerica channel - which our local cable provider doesn't supply. Big deal....so we thought we'd go for satellite. We chose Direct TV. With an HD TV we wanted the HD channels and the HD receiver along with the HD DVR. ie the works....well, the works with hardware and the lowest set of channels as we never watch movies because we're always watching CSI or House on DVR. Here is the events as they transpired....

Sept 14th....move in day. Realising we needed satellite I investigated which satellite company to go for. We picked Direct TV. System ordered and paid for ($325). Scheduled for about Oct 2nd for installation.

Oct 1st - Direct TV call and say they've run out of hardware and they need to reschedule. OK....not happy, but OK. We reschedule for Oct 23rd. BTW it was here they told me that I wouldn't be charged the $325 until installation....they were wrong!

Oct 18th - realizing that both Trev and I are not around for the Satellite guy, I go online and reschedule my Oct 23rd date to Oct 29th.

Oct 22nd - call from Direct TV saying they need to reschedule because they've run out of hardware and they need to do it at least a further 2 weeks out. I explained that I'd gone online and that I've scheduled for the 29th and I don't expect to have that date moved again. they asked for proof - I'd had a confirmation email and I checked online and it definitely said Oct 29th. I also told them that if they called me on the 28th to move the appointment again I'd be going to Dish Network and they can give me my $325.

Oct 29th - install day. Started off well with the guy calling around 8.30am to say he was on his way. Oh my....what a day. it ended successfully but went on a while. Hope you keep reading:):) So, he arrived - then said he couldn't possibly install the dish etc as he didn't have access to a box in the basement. I have to say here that I could hardly understand the guy - he was from Africa (I asked him)...and I really struggled. He was also not exactly thrilled with his job so wanted any opportunity to not do the install on a Sunday morning. So, i called Trev who'd disappeared to the bathroom (sorry, TMI here...) and told him he was a chartered engineer so he'd better start talking engineering stuff with this guy as I was not letting him leave til I had TV. So...we got that bit over with - 3 hours later.... Next, we had a long discussion about the boxes I ordered. Although we have 2 TVs we only wanted a receiver and DVR for the main TV in the living room. Bedrooms are not for watching TV (movies maybe...but not TV). It appears as the website wasn't clear I'd ordered 2 HD receivers (one for each TV) and then an additional receiver DVR (DVR = Tivo). They didn't say you didn't need a receiver if you ordered the DVR so I'd ordered too many boxes. I always wondered why it cost $325! Anyhow we then had to have a VERY long conversation with both the engineer and the people on the phone so that they'd give me a refund for the 2 boxes I didn't need. thankfully I got some money back (but it took 45 mins to do that). Still not done. Next, the engineer's buddy calls and has to stop by as clearly we're keeping them from socializing. so now I have 2 dozy engineers...and they're vans are blocking everyone's parking spaces. So then they have to get a picture onthe TV.....this took another 2 hours. Oh my...........at long flipping last. They left around 4pm. Can yo ubelieve that?

Very cool though - I can now record stuff andnot watch commercials again. Fabulous

The coolest of all things though was that I realized I wanted the Biography Channel (Midsomer Murders - British thing....like to watch it) so I went online to order it....and it took 2 mins to permission the satellite. Now.....that's service!


Didn't do too much else this weekend - got a massage which was fabulous, did pilates which was also fabulous. other than that - watched the TV guys. Oh yeah - and housework/laundry. What a joyous life I live.

Management training

Phew! I'm knackered. Last weekend was great - Caroline came to stay and while we spent more time together than originally planned we had a great time. The weather was great too - more than I can say for this weekend.
I went on my management course this week - 3.5 days of stuff. long days - 8.30-6.30 each day then they'd do something over dinner. I didn't go outside for the whole time. i think overall it was worth it, although I felt at times they were talking to new managers. I learnt the following:

- to ensure people have accountability, make sure they reiterate the actions (not you)
- stop offering solutions, force the people to do it (by use of open questions etc) - a natural tendency of mine:)
- make sure that you show enough empathy when people are frustrated, sad, angry etc. You can cut them short by summarizing, getting their agreement and moving on (need THAT for my manager as she talks for hours!!)

Have to say I did use the "ask open ended questions" tactic on Friday and it worked pretty well. You never know....I may be quiet long enough to listen. LOL

The 360 degree feedback (I had 11 people give feedback on me) was cool. it shows I'm managing my boss very well (after the APAC experience I always make sure I do that), but that I have too many things going on to do a good job with everyone else. They did teach us something to help with people stopping by and being whiny...which i get a lot - so will try that too. You never know, I may become a new person. Hahahahahahahaha

What a week

Phew! I'm knackered. Last weekend was great - Caroline came to stay and while we spent more time together than originally planned we had a great time. The weather was great too - more than I can say for this weekend.
I went on my management course this week - 3.5 days of stuff. long days - 8.30-6.30 each day then they'd do something over dinner. I didn't go outside for the whole time. i think overall it was worth it, although I felt at times they were talking to new managers. I learnt the following:

- to ensure people have accountability, make sure they reiterate the actions (not you)
- stop offering solutions, force the people to do it (by use of open questions etc) - a natural tendency of mine:)
- make sure that you show enough empathy when people are frustrated, sad, angry etc. You can cut them short by summarizing, getting their agreement and moving on (need THAT for my manager as she talks for hours!!)

Have to say I did use the "ask open ended questions" tactic on Friday and it worked pretty well. You never know....I may be quiet long enough to listen. LOL

The 360 degree feedback (I had 11 people give feedback on me) was cool. it shows I'm managing my boss very well (after the APAC experience I always make sure I do that), but that I have too many things going on to do a good job with everyone else. They did teach us something to help with people stopping by and being whiny...which i get a lot - so will try that too.

You never know, I may become a new person. Hahahahahahahaha

Great (but busy) weekend

Phew! I feel like I haven't stopped....probably because I didn't. Trev and I had a quiet Friday night. My friend Caroline came into town from St Louis - primarily to meet her friends who flew in from England, but stay with us and catch up as we hadn't seen her in ages. We had a great time. i don't think she saw her friends as much as she thought she would, but we hung out, managed a trip to IKEA (now i live 15 mins away it's really coolio!)and ate at some ok and great restaurants.

Michael Jordan's restaurant in Grand Central Station was a complete waste of money....well over priced, average food and pretty poor service (think Manwell from Faulty Towers). That was Saturday night. Then last night we ate at the Tribeca Grill near Ground Zero. It's owned by Robert DeNiro...very nice. while one of our party had a cold meal, mine was excellent. I'd go back - again pricey....but worth it this time!

I'm now absolutely knackered. We didn't get to bed any night before 1am....this morning, I'm catching up with work then I'm on a 3.5 day training class. i get to learn how not to be impatient with my team. Should be a riot!

Another week gone!

The weeks pass by so quickly - I feel like I post only a day or so back and then I realize it's way more than that. I must get better at doing it more regularly....just don't seem to have the time.

I went on a training class yesterday for coaching. I did the first part of the course back in April and this was a follow up. You have to bring a case study with you (my manager was mine as I can't figure out what makes her tick). Also before the class you were asked to complete a questionnaire with regard to how you deal with situations. I was quite shocked at my results.

I'll try and describe it - it's a quadrant. Q1 (top left) is for talkative, defensive, argumentative, dictatorial, drill sargent styles etc, Q2 (bottom left) is for quiet, "whatever", passive, reflective people, Q3 (bottom right) is for friendly, talkative, pleasing people and Q4 (top right) is for the "ideal" mgr who ask questions, provides guidance, challenges, delivers etc.

Blow me down - I was in Q3 - squarely. If you'd asked me where I would have been put it would have been between Q1 and Q4 (ie half asshole, half pretty good).....but me - friendly? Someone who doesn't make decisions? Someone who likes to please? hahahahahahahah. On analysis it turns out that because I've been in a new role I'm compensating by trying to gain respect by being friendly.

My case study is a pure Q1 BTW. What I also learnt is when dealing with a Q1 personality it brings out the Q1 in you. And oh, is that so so so so true. I felt like I was slapped with a wet fish around the face - it was a light bulb moment. It so helped - I'm glad I managed to find the time to go as it's going to help me going forward. It was so refreshing! At least I know what to look for and work accordingly.

The other thing that happened yesterday is that a big project came my way. Our wonderful Sales team had won a deal for 700 new key stations. The only kicker was that all the end user training had to be complete by end of November - that's 5 weeks. Of course I do not have people sitting around waiting for things like this. My boss tried to get resource and failed.... so not sure if the gods were with me. But I did it. I got every senior manager around the company to agree - I even manage to change some of their minds (they told my boss "no"). And I did this all while in training. Hahaha - I look like a genius. All I have to do now is execute on the plan.

What it made me realize is that what I love is the project side of work....not the managing people bit. It's OK, and I do it well - I just think a lot of the time that I have babies working for me.

Oh well, as I head into performance review time.......should be a riot! I have 59 direct reports. That's 59 hours of one-to-ones, at least 100 hours of prep time. I won't do anything else between Nov 1st and Christmas. Oh what joy!

Storm

Oh dear! We had a storm rip through here the other day. We have a storage thing in the garage, up agains the wall where the pianos and oodles of other stuff is. Well, turns out the builder hadn't sealed it and the rain from the storm soaked everything. I daren't even go and look. I will be so upset if the pianos are ruined.

Our place is getting so dusty and dirty so quickly it's annoying. The floors are the worst, especially as they got so scratched. I bought some refinisher today to see how they would come up. Should be OK....just getting Trev to assist was a challenge. I dunno - why is it that women see the housework to do, and men are oblivious? I think it's deliberate. then they get mad when you suggest they might help. Oh well, they'll get over it. I think this stuff will work, so that's all that matters really.

Quiet weekend overall. Went out with our neighbours last night and had a good time. Just to the sushi place around the corner, but it was excellent. they are fun, it's nice to have friends outside of work.

I guess I should write my to do list for work...but really can't be bothered.

It's working

As everyone who knows me knows I am on a permanent quest for a svelte like figure....without doing any of the grunt work. Well, when it comes to eating anyway. I exercise regularly and try to watch what I eat.

Today I had myself lined up for an hour of pilates (Power Pilates....I'm exhausted at the end) and then an hour straight after with my trainer. Then 30mins after that a massage:)

Well, I managed pilates but my trainer got stuck on a train due to a fire so that never worked out. What made me think that i could even do 2 straight hours of exericse I have no idea- it seemed a good idea on Thursday. I'm actually glad I didn't...I think i would have run out of energy.

My massage was awesome...but the coolest thing. My masseuse is starting to see a change in my figure...and it's becoming more muscular. Hahahahahahah - yipppeeeee. Well, still a fatty in double figures wiht the jean size, but if i can do it without cutting out all the stuff i eat then it's worth every dollar i spend on trainers and gym memberships.

My weekly routine is now:

Monday - 20 mins cardio, hour with trainer
Tuesday - 20 mins cardio, pilates
Weds - 20 mins cardio, hour with trainer
Thursday - 20 mins cardio, pilates
Friday - off
Saturday - yoga and pilates (pilates trumps if i don't feel like both)
Sunday - off

Now it has to be said the trainer for pilates on Tuesday is a weird one. She'll put you in one of the poses and then spend 5 mins describing in minute detail what it'sdoing to your muscles. You end up looking at the clock and feeling like it's a complete waste of time. If I'm to give an hour to a trainer...then the least I expect is to feel like I've had a damn good workout. She's sooooooooo strange. So, that means if i feel like it I don't go on Tuesday.

Still, it's nice to know the effort's paying off.

Last night we ate a great restaurant about 6 blocks from where we live. It has japanese, chinese, malaysian and vietnamese food all in the same place. And it was awesome!

Tonight we're meeting up with our neighbours and going out for dinner. Should bea larf.

We're

Drama in NYC

After my day at home yesterday, I felt much calmer. I admit i worked until about 11 (I did take time out and went to the gym etc)...and I got my to do's up to date, other stuff together and was doing pretty OK. I like that feeling...I felt like I was almost in control and had a handle on everything.

Today I was out visiting a client with one of my teams...and all was going great until all of a sudden the markets took a nosedive and the tension in the building went up. Turns out that a plane crashed into a building in Manhattan. I was over 20 blocks away...but believe me, for a time everyone was wondering whether it was an accident or not (flashback to 9/11...everyone thought it was an accident until the second plane hit). Obviously there was no way my team could continue trying to train our end users with such news going on....it's a waste of effort. By 3.30 we had left and I bought everyone a beer. That was nice.

Our new neighbours stopped by tonight to say hi. We're basically sharing the bitching of all the things wrong with the apartments. For them, they have a balcony and sliding door....with no lock. And I thought we had problems. Still no internet, will be another 2 weeks (heard that before, right?? LOL). We're going out for dinner on Saturday so that should be fun. they recently moved from Chicago so we already have stuff in common. It'll be nice to socialize outside of the work environment.

OK, I'm off to bed.

I feel so much better

I admit it - I skipped the gym a couple of times last week.

I did go Tuesday, although my trainer was sick - but I did cardio for 20mins then went into an hour's pilates class.

Then Thursday i usually go to pilates. The trainer was out and it was somebody else. Then a friend invited me for a beer. Need I say more....I went for a beer. Home by 9 though so not too bad!

Saturday I had planned to do yoga followed by an hour with my trainer. He cried off again (sick)....so somehow being at home meant I didn't get off my ass to go.

Sunday when I could have gone when Trev left....I didn't. Very very bad.

That, coupled with a few stressy things at work (I still can't get whatsherface working like a manager) I was feeling yucky.

Tonight, I had a meet with Billy (my trainer). I did 25 mins cardio (arc machine, stair master and a bit of bike) plus an hour of a gruelling workout.

My old pilates instructor in St Louis had it right......"you never leave a gym feeling bad". I need to remember that more.

Think I'm sick

So, before I went to bed last night I got a sore throat and felt kinda achy. Hmmm...well this morning I now have a hacking cough as well. Think I'll be working from home today.....

My friend Caroline has confirmed her trip for the weekend in a couple of weeks - should be fun. It's always nice to see NYC through the eyes of a visitor. I get so bogged down by trekking to Times Square every day I forget what fun it can be.

We had a great time at my boss' on Saturday night for dinner. lots of Italian food, and copious amounts of wine. We finished it off with jello shots (yummy! bacardi 151, capt'n morgan, orange liqueur and creme de cassis!!). It was a good night and we all had fun. Most of the time either whining about work, or reminiscing about the past (it's funny when you pay attention what you find out about people). Hahah.

Sunday we not much of anything - pottered about, got my eyes tested (you know, that dilation thingy where you can't see anything for hours afterwards - yuk) and relaxed. It was fun. Rewatched the movie The Incredibles. Blinking hilarious - makes me laugh every time I see it. Also watched Carry On At Your Convenience. 1970s movie from the UK - those movies always make me laugh no matter how terrible they really are. not sure they had Carry On movies in America.....what a loss! Mind you, not sure the humor would work here. Now of course, I want to add to my collection....so ebay here I come!

OK, off to "work from home"

Busy week again

It seems that I look up and it's gone from Sunday night to Saturday morning....every single week. I had a minor meltdown on Thursday....not really sure why. Just fed up with people issues at work, too many projects, messy home, not completely unpacked etc etc etc. I think what started it was on Monday night Trev saying "I think we need a cleaner...because the floor needs swiffering". I asked him if after that thought that he'd picked up the swiffer and then duly wiped the floor. yeah well - no. "I didn't have time". I think that was the start. Too much work was the end. So......I decided to take a sanity day and took yesterday off. I couldn't live with it anymore - and to be honest, I like doing it on my own. If Trev's there all he does is ask what to do or where to put things....an dit's not like i have all the answers:) Talk about feeliing more sane. I like it.

While I spent 6am-1pm finishing tidying up and cleaning, everything now has a place and with the exception of a couple of things, we're set. I feel soooooooo much better. I also got my hair cut and coloured yesterday. Went red and blond this time....although the red is pretty browny so not as bright as I'd hoped. The condition of it is great and while I'd spent time thinking about having it cut short again I really like it like this. I've got into bad habits and had my hair in pony tails every day. So on Weds I blow dried it - and everyone at work thought I'd had it done. I think I'm going to make more effort to fix my hair for work...esp as I pay a premium to get it done.

Trev's flight was late again last night so we missed our date with our neighbours. We'll reschedule for next week. Tonight we're off to my boss' for dinner. I've made jello shots (mixed fruit and orange jello, Bacardi 151, Cap'n Morgan, Creme de Cassis and Orange Liqueur...yummy) and I know that someone else is bringing wine etc. We've got a car ordered as it's out in Staten Island....sounds miles away. I think it's really only 10 miles..... should be fun.

I'm had 3 social trips out this week - admittedly one was work. Someone asked for my opinion about something. I feel if we're in a social setting it's easier to talk. Then I met Mary Ann for a drink and food, and then out with Heather on Thursday. Trev thinks I'm never home....he doesn't seem to realize that I'm home by 8 usually! Hahahaha - I accused him of the same.

I'm hoping this weekend we'll get time for us. About time. I'm so glad I got the cleaning out of the way - because now we can hang out and relax. We so need that. I'm encouraging him that we need a week away...although I'd be happy for a week at home, with no work. I have over 2 weeks vacation to take so gotta get it arranged. I think the hardest thing for us to do is find some blinds for the bedrooms and living room. For the bedrooms, the blinds will be drawn most of the time so I'm OK with blinds...in the living room we're overlooked (kinda), so I think I'm going for sheer curtains and then some kind of drape. Not sure yet though. Luckily I live 15 mins from IKEA.

The person who's driving me nuts at work is still driving me nuts. `Trying to get her to understand she's now a manager and has to think for herself seems alien to her. Whenever she owns a project there's always the "it's not possible, what do I have to do". I feel like she doesn't even try to figure out the steps. At least on the phone yesterday I gave her (again) my wisdom of about how you look at it. Not "we can't do it because of x, y or z", rather "we can do it, but we need a, b or c". Maybe I'm unique, but I don't think so.... I met with my first boss in this company this week and asked his advice as he had to train people into being project managers without being on site with them. Hopefully I'll figure this out - or she'l lbe getting a new job. I put her in my ONLY manager headcount.....and she's not managing. It's not often I'm at a loss.... but I'm at a loss. Penny, want a job?

Random thoughts:
- my trains run every 6 minutes. Why are there people who run for them?
- I'm in need of an ipod and I haven't got around to buying one yet. Not sure what's stopping me
- Why can't I get the enthusiasm to work out on my own. Why do I need a trainer? I'm Ok going to the pilates and yoga classes but if I don't have something organized, I can always find loads of things to do.
- Why is it so difficult to get cable/internet into the building. It's been 2.5 weeks. I'm fed up I can't keep up wiht Project Runway:)

How weird are you?

You Are 50% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird... But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

Why can men only do one thing...

A little whine.

Why is it when women work at home they can take care of their job, do conference call, clean, do laundry and get a meal ready? Why is it that men cannot do this?

It's a ploy so they don't have to.

So, tonight - I've worked hard, had meetings til 6, got home at 6.30...to find that yes, Trev had put the chicken in the crockpot. No veg done, no laundry done, dishes out, boxes not in garbage - and then he had the audacity to say "so we're still having a full roast then....?". that means roast potatoes, yorkshire pudding etc.

So while i'm the dumb wife getting to work....he had to "do one last email"....which was 30 mins ago and I'm still waiting.

ytou have to be flipping kidding me....!!

Rant and rave over.

So, so busy

It's been so crazy - between madness at work, trying to get home straight with no time, visiting people, guym and shopping we've had no time. This is long as it's a complete braindump of things going on in my world.

Last week at work went in a blur - i just don't seem to be able to be get ahead of the game. I still get on with my boss which is awesome and I love it...I just wish i got time to socialise with the guys. Last week was my week of people issues. One guy made someone cry, I had 2 requests to remove people and put them on other accounts, one guy wants to transfer and his account don't want him to, one woman needed a kick up the ass as she's young and keeps trying to be one of the boys to her detriment and I have one woman who i put on a performance plan. yuk yuk yuk. Hopefully this coming week will be better.

The condo. it's better. I unpacked about 8 boxes a night last week. This weekend we did an awesome job. All the boxes are done - cupboafrds are in the right places and most stuff is away. We still have tubs in our bathroom - but that's waiting for me to find the right cupboard. All that's left to do is:

- Blinds/drapes/curtains for master bed, spare bed and living room
- Rug for living room
- Hang pictures
- Sort out garage lock up 0- that's where the pianos are along with craploads of boxes of stuff we wnat to keep
- Hang the rest of my clothes up.

We get that done - then I can start having fun.

I got my eyes tested on Friday - not sure i liked the optician, but at least I didn't have to pay too much for it and it's part of our insurance. originally they told me that my prescription had changed dramatically - like my left eye was the old right prescription and vice versa. Wearing them for about 2 mins I felt like my head would explode. turns out they gave me the wrong lenses and while my left eye changed my right stayed the same. However now my left eye is bright red and i think I've got some pink eye or something. hye ho - at least i have new contacts.

Had a great night out on Thursday - someone was in town from St Louis so a crowd of us (out of 6 of us, 5 worked in the support center in St Louis!). Many drinks later we got home about 10.30. That was a great night - it was so much fun. Trev came into town too so that was really nice.

Saturday we went to see Eric Clapton in concert at Madison Square Garden. While not my first choice of artist I thought it'd cheer up Trev. It did - and it was a great concert. We learnt that we live about 20 mins from there....so now we're online looking for other concerts. I think Elton John is coming next.

The gym is going really well - i work about 4 days a week. My trainer is awesome although I have to say he's a hard ass - i guess most triatheletes are. We get on well and it's money well spent. My masseuse (oh yeah, managed to find time for a massage this weekend) said they was noticing changes so I think that's awesome. you never know - for the first time in my life I could have a body I'm proud of - now there's a target before turning 40 next year.

You know I've been worried about Trev - well I still am. But at least we managed to start a conversation on Friday that meant that we "talked" on Friday. I told him we'd lost the connection, that I felt he was happy being away from home and quite frankly preferred socializing without me. He told me he thought that I was self sufficient and settled in well on the east coast. Both were probably true. He assured me all is well but that even though we've finally moved, not having cable is stressful. I know it is - and offered a couple of solutions (none of which were acceptable I might add) but nothing works so far. Hopefully it'll get better. I still feel something's going on that I don't know about....but i'll keep tabs on it.

My friend Nikki is sick. She was diagnosed with cancer last week, and although her prognosis is good and she's got friends and family around her, I feel terrible i'm not close.

Tried some new restaurants this weekend. Grimaldi's pizza is famous and is less than a block away - and was awesome. Even better, the leftovers heat up brilliantly. We also tried the Sushi house round the corner - not bad.

That's it for now....I'll try and post more frequently this coming week (don't bank on it though).

What Sex in the City Vixen are you?

You Are Most Like Carrie!

You're quirky, flirty, and every guy's perfect first date. But can the guy in question live up to your romantic ideal? It's tough for you to find the right match - you're more than a little picky. Never fear... You've got a great group of friends and a great closet of clothes, no matter what! Romantic prediction: You'll fall for someone this year... Totally different from any guy you've dated.

Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You?