God bless

It's official: I'm on holidays. Or as they say here in the Yoo Ess of Eh, I'm on vacation.

God bless.

Great

Ain't it the truth. When you're going on holidays, why is it that you end up working a whole heckuva lot of extra hours just to have the privilege of taking that much-needed time off. Why can't it just be like, "OK, that's all. I'm outta here. See you losers later!"

Last night I had a great group in my suite at work. It was so nice to be able to work with a group leader who's really organized, knows what they're doing, has it down to a 'T', and thanks you for making things so easy. Love it! And it was just nice to do things a bit differently for a change. Don't get me wrong -- we do things in a very particular way because it works, and works well. Still, we do things that way also in part because we're told we have to. With this group, there were some modifications we had to make in our operations because they have a national contract with us that includes some specifically different requirements. And it was nice to be able to mix it up a bit.

OK, OK, this post is boring. But it was just nice to have a change.

And speaking of change.....the position that I heard about the other day -- the one that would see me add some new countries to my travel map -- has been posted. And I found out that I'll be competing against someone who is completely incompetent considerably less qualified than me. And yet, that person will probably get the job because they're best friends with the person doing the hiring.

Great.

Can't hardly wait

All I can think about is the fact that I'll be on holidays in three short days.

Oh. My. Dog.

Can't hardly wait.

Absolutely sure

I found out today that I didn't get the job that I interviewed for last week. I was disappointed, but the honest truth is that I probably would have turned it down anyway. I've gone back and forth over all of my options and have decided that I want to pursue a different path. This, despite the fact that just two weeks ago my only wish was to get this job.

So now I just have to wait (and wait and wait) until the other paths present themselves. There are two prime possibilities, so we'll see which (if either) works out for me.

It will all work out as it should. Of that, I am absolutely sure.

Nearly home free

In one week, I'll be in Montreal to party my ass off compete in the Out Games. And I'm most excited about the opportunity to enjoy a much-needed holiday compete in the sport that is my passion: track and field.

I'm competing in Decathlon, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put and Discus. And I feel some hardware coming my way -- although I'd be lying just as happy to compete to my potential regardless of whether I bring home any medals. After all, I took home 3 silver medals from Sydney, and have a reputation to uphold!

Now, if only I can make it through the next few days....I'll be home free!

I love me some H & M

Yesterday: a glorious day off. Some more shopping -- this time in the Rittenhouse Square section of Philly. Damn, I love me some H&M! This time I picked up another pair of my favourite jeans, got a couple of cheap cost-effective shirts, and decided to take a chance on some Euro-trash sunglasses. Boy, I felt so Euro-glam in my new shades as I walked among the common people on the way home!

I did lots of hanging out with Tower Girl, and a couple of late-night catch-up drinks with both Tower Girl and Lucky. And I got some interesting news of another opportunity that had me thinking all day long about some big potential. According to the tour plan currently associated with this new opportunity, I could add a few more countries to my travel map. And not just some ho-hum countries, but some freakin' good ones.

Today: back to work. And hopefully some answers that will help the crystallize the action plan a bit better.

Fingers crossed.

Fascinating, no?

There's this cool site that lets you choose the countries you've visited, and then maps it for you. Very cool, but the formatting doesn't work all that well with my layout, so I'll do the boring alternate thing and just list my 17 countries instead.

In order of first visit (repeat visits, obviously, not listed), I've been to: Canada, USA, Mexico, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Of these countries, I've legally worked in 5 of them: Canada, US, Australia, Singapore, China (Hong Kong).

Fascinating, no?

Actually, kind of boring. But I like maps.

make your own map

Always good

I am blessed with the luxury of a day off tomorrow. What am I gonna do? Not sure yet, but Tower Girl's back in town, so at least I have someone to do it with.

Well, not do it with. I like Tower Girl, but not in that way. But whatever we do, it will probably involve a bit of drinkin'. And drinkin' with friends is always good.

Opportunity: present thyself

I'm sure it's just the heat and humidity. Gawd, I hope so. Ya, surely it is. I mean, I look at my black shirt at the end of the day and it's covered in salt stains that represent the extent of my discomfort. I'll be honest -- I'm a big fella (6'1" and 180 190 pounds) -- but I don't normally sweat quite this much.

Anyways, that's all. The heat is making me grumpy, and I'm wondering whether I'm just over this job or whether I'm just feelin' a bit uncomfortable.

Or maybe I'm just fixated on a new opportunity that reminds me that I'm being underutilized. Damn, should I keep doing something that I'm great at, but that doesn't tap into my potential? Or should I leap at a new opportunity that is by no means a sure thing, and that would see me have to endure some geographical challenges that I just don't reslish? An opportunity that I may not even be considered for.

I'll let opportunities present themselves and then decide. The first one is scheduled to present itself as early as this week. Well, that is, if I'm offered the job that I've already interviewed for. And if it's not offered to me.....hell, I may not have any choice in the matter regarding my next step.

But regardless, can this crazy weather stop?! Puh-leeze?!?!

11 days

Only 11 days until my vacation. I can already taste the booze freedom.

Days like these

It was either 98 degrees of 100 degrees, depending on which media outlet you trust. Either way, it was the hottest day in Philadelphia in 4 years. This follows by a few weeks some of the most extreme flooding seen in years. In all, I'm told that this is the most extreme weather in 100 years. Oh dear.

And yet I managed to avoid the slug-like existence that usually marks my Mondays. I went out last night, but purposely controlled myself and only had a couple of drinks. I just didn't relish the thought of waking up with a hangover and wasting all day today. So, a couple of drinks later, I went home at a decent time last night and managed to sleep a full 5 hours -- damn that ridiculous internal alarm clock that woke me up at 6 freakin' AM this morning. Arrgghh!

But I managed to nap again for a few hours and woke up refreshed and ready to tackle my Monday. I did some exploring -- driving my car for only the third time since coming to Philly on June 28 -- and finally saw a little bit more than the route that our shuttle takes to work daily. The plan for the day was to head to America's second-biggest mall, but the drive there nearly killed me. It was only 30 or 40 minutes, but it was so freakin' hot that I nearly expired on the way. Usually, my non-air-conditioned Jeep is fine. I'm a big fan of WD-120 air conditioning: Windows Down, 120 km per hour. But today, the wind in my hair was so uncomfortably, stinkin' hot that I felt like I was getting blown dry. Not fun.

Finally, I made it to my destination and did a wee bit o' shoppin'. Not that I need anything, but I'm never one to turn down yet another funny printed t-shirt a bargain. Needless to say, I left with a few things to stuff into the two suitcases that I call my worldly possessions. Just what I needed -- more crap : )

I finally feel like I actually did something on my day off instead of just recovering from a hangover, overwork, or whatever else is ailing me. Days like these are good. Hot, but good.

PS: for America's second-biggest mall, I was pretty seriously disappointed. Just nothing really spectacular, ya know?

Definitely in need of some distraction

I've heard that the temperature tomorrow, my day off, is skyrocketing to 97 degrees or 36C. So my plans to get out and about to check out this city have been temporarily shelved. Having said that, however, I do know one thing: shopping malls and bars are both air conditioned. So who says I can't get a feel for the city by seeing some of the indoor highlights?!

It's just ugly here with this heat and humidity. Thank goodness for air conditioning, but there's a limit to the amount of time one should spend indoors. In his bathrobe. Gorging on M&M's. Guzzling Diet Coke. Watching useless television. And feeling like a slug.

We've got two shows today, and it will be a challenge. With this heat and humidity, air conditioning is fully maxed, people are cranky, and it makes for a difficult day. Hopefully we'll make it to the evening, when it will be time for some end-of-week fun. Not having a second day off this week, and with the uncertainty surrounding all the employment changes, I'm definitely in need of some distraction.

Bottoms up!

Lusty lips

I had a 30-minute meeting yesterday with our Senior HR Advisor to talk about all that's going on with the changes in my employment situation. Having a lot to discuss regarding past and current frustrations, and future opportunities, the meeting stretched all the way to 90 minutes. I felt we accomplished a while heckuva lot, and I was able to discuss in great detail the biggest challenge I've been having; the challenge that has plagued our entire department for the past few months.

And even if nothing comes of it, I feel like the right people will finally come to understand the reason behind so much discontent in our group. And that makes me feel absolutely terrific.

But the best thing about this meeting was the fact that I had 90 minutes of uninterrupted, intense, face-to-face, looking-longingly-into-those-stunning-eyes time. Seriously, all I could think of was jumping his bones how great he is at his job.

And those lips. Oh,those lusty lips.

I think that maybe I'm a dirty old man my career is heading back on track.

Still, and always

An updating of an old classic? Well, not exactly. I haven't even heard this song yet, but as soon as I heard the title, I just knew someone who would feel a certain kinship with it.

Luscious Lorna: still, and always, a Maneater.

And even if I haven't heard that song, I'm still groovin' on the first single. Lovin' the Nellster and that track!

Fingers crossed

My interview went well yesterday. I answered the questions well, I made the interviewers laugh, I was told that I'm eloquent and well-presented. I expect to hear back by the end of next week -- hopefully with good news.

Fingers crossed.

Bitchslapped

The job that I feel so much passion for and do so well, no longer exists. And the worst-case scenario is that I'll be unemployed at the end of October. The best-case scenario, on the other hand, is that I'll find something different, just as good or better.

I sat down and spoke with the incoming director on my tour who will be hiring the team that he takes to our new markets in 2007. There's a new role on our tour that sounds very interesting, to be honest. It's in line with much of my years-past experience and would be a huge departure from what I'm currently doing, but it really intrigues me.

It was the first time in a long time that I felt like someone was listening to what I had to say with an open mind and attitude. I had a chance to meet him, tell him a little bit about myself, ask some insightful questions, and casually and naturally impress him with my knowledge. And I realized it might be kinda cool working for him.

But today, I also have an interview for a position on a different tour. If that comes through, it would be really cool. Ironically, my interview is at the exact same time as our redeployment meeting is scheduled. It's OK -- if I take this job, I won't have to worry about redeployment anyway -- but I'd like to have information about all of my options before making any firm career decisions.

Without going into too much detail, the elimination of my job on all of our tours really hurts me. Mostly, I feel that my contribution and accomplishment have been extremely devalued. And that's what makes me feel like I've been bitchslapped.

Repeatedly.

Over the past seven months.

To the point where I need to remember that me being right for any particular position in this company, has to be balanced against whether that position, and this company, are really and truly right for me.

Big-time soul searching

We had our announcement yesterday. There were a few surprises, but nothing too earth-shattering. Changes are definitely afoot, but I don't know yet what the end result will be for me. There are options; there are always options. But I'm not sure how those will pan out and where this little blogger's gonna end up after all is negotiated and plotted by upper management behind closed doors said and done.

What I do know is that the company is very good at helping us through all of this uncertainty. I have a meeting scheduled to look at options on my current tour, and another to look at other options elsewhere within the company. We have a group meeting scheduled to get the skinny on the redeployment process and how it could affect all of us. And I have an interview scheduled for Thursday for the position that I recently applied for on a different tour. There are options.

I'm just not sure if any of them are what I truly want. I'm exhausted. But it's time to do some big-time soul searching.

And I just want some clarity.

Announcement Day

We drank, we had fun, we woke up with mild hangovers. But Tower Girl was disciplined enough to get her butt to the airport by 7:30 am while I slept like an old fool. I trust she's in Toronto having fun and spending some quality time wth her family and boyfriend.

Meanwhile, today is Announcement Day. We find out what happens with our jobs, and the next steps of my career will likely start to be mapped out. Who knows whether it involves staying with this company or moving somewhere else, taking some time off or moving right into the next step. Whatever the outcome, at least we'll have more clarity after today.

So starts the week. Lots of stuff to get done at work, so I'd best get there and get to it.

Tonight we drink!

It wasn't an amicable break up, yours and mine.

We had an awkward parting of the ways, and I wasn't coping well. I tried to move on with my meager existence life and be positive. I took up a new hobby to distract me, figuring that I could acquire a new interest to fill the void created by the loss of you. I thought I was doing fine. In fact, I still think I did a very admirable job of moving on and starting anew.

And then you came back. And I realized just how lost I had been without you.

But it's all sunshine and cheesecake now that you're back in my life. It's only that spending quality time with you is still proving to be difficult. I long for that oh-so-elusive alone time passed with only you and me, while the rest of the world looks on with noses pressed against windows.....wishing and wanting to be part of the secret life of us.

Yes, now me and my blog are back together and happier than ever. No more of this half-assed internet connection to worry about. It's blog and me, united together to fight injustice promote social causes help the downtrodden improve ourselves and the world ramble on about trite and trivial things that nobody should really spend too much time thinking about.

So much to catch up on. Here are some highlights:

• Ottawa was great. Awesome temp staff, awesome accommodation, awesome site, awesome everything....except my numbers weren't good. I had some pretty quiet days, and it was such a drag to have a staff that was sooooo good, but had soooo little to do at times.
• Our Tour Plan has changed and Nashville and Raleigh are no longer on the schedule. The tour has confirmed a new market as our first stop in early 2007, so these two cities were dropped in order to prepare for that international transfer and Set Up. I'm disappointed that Nashville and Raleigh are off the schedule, cuz Luscious Lorna had planned on coming to visit me there. Still, that was about all I was looking forward to in those cities, so I suppose it's for the best.
• I have a new roommate in Philadelphia. I'm shackin' up with Tower Girl and it's a blast. We have the same schedules, so it's fun to come home to someone with whom I can have a cocktail, chat about the trials and tribs highlights of our work day, and just generally enjoy being around. I really like(d) my last roommate, The Coach, but Tower Girl and I were meant to live together.
• I did my entire Set Up in Philadelphia on my own. Normally Tower Girl is given to me as a resource, but this time she had a different schedule which precluded her from being assigned to my operation. As a result, I used temp staff labour for a couple of shortened days (18 temp staff hours in total), and did everything else on my own. Ev. Ree. Thing. Where is the equity?
• My vacation is coming up in 19 short days. I shortened it by one day in order to be responsible and do one last thing at work before heading off on July 28. But I am sooooo looking forward to going to Montreal for the Out Games, competing in my track events, hopefully bringing back some medals, and hanging out with my buddies. It's gonna rock!
• This coming Tuesday is going to be a red letter date for me and my entire department of colleagues. We find out what happens with our jobs and new structure after the North American Tour. As I mentioned above, we'll be heading to the brand new market in early 2007, which means that there will be some changes -- some for the good, and some for the not-as-good-for-me. To make a long story short(er), I'll have a bit more clarity as to what the future holds for me as of Tuesday. In fact, the end result could be that I'll be unemployed at the end of October. And I'm actually not all that stressed about that. OK, maybe just a wee bit.
• I am stressed about another opportunity that may arise. I've got another iron in the fire -- oh, that sounds so sexual!! -- and I'd like that to eventuate, but I'm getting less and less convinced that it will happen, and I'm quickly coming to grips with the fact that this would be OK, too. Whatever happens is meant to happen, of that I am sure. I'm just really clueless as to what that happening will actually be. The first question will be answered on Tuesday: will I have a job on this tour after October? Damn, where is my Magic 8-ball when I really need it?!

That's about all I have time for right now. It's Milestone Sunday and I have to get ready for another two-show day at work. So far, things have been going fairly well. The staff seem OK and the crowds seem enthusiastic and well-behaved, so I think we'll have a successful city run here.

But I'm sad. Tower Girl goes on vacation tomorrow, too soon after we've started our roommate experience. We'll have a week together when she returns, but then I'm away for 10 days, so we'll be apart once again : ( So in order to compensate, tonight we drink!

An open letter to my admirers

I'm aliiiiiive!

I'm in Philly doing Set Up. I have internet access that seems reliable. I have great accommodation. I'm back, baby!

More updates later. There's a lot to share....

Did ya miss me?