Tough

So I've been asked to show my "tough" face. Here it is.


Tonight was the first night on the job… and I still don't really know how to describe what I'm doing. I'm doing a real variety of things, all or which are, in theory, trying to lighten the workload on my boss. He dictated a lot of emails to me and I typed/edited/rephrased them and sent them to the appropriate people. I also helped look for someone who could do some freelance work for a specific project they had. I've been brainstorming 8 digit names (that will eventually become international numbers for different branches of Ford) like volvocar, gooddeal, nicecars, or newmazda (international numbers where they are trying to market are 8 digits)… tomorrow I will be doing entirely different things, I'm sure.

He's a really nice guy though, and very laid back (though down to business at the same time, if that makes sense). We get along well enough, so supposing I can figure out ways to make myself useful to his business, I may have some employment for a bit. We shall see.

Back to the grindstone…

Alright… now that my teaching days are well behind me and I’ve re-entered the real world, I’ve become accustomed to different types of questions. I no longer give permission to go to the bathroom, help to spell simple words (at least not as often), or explain why it’s not nice to punch Crystal in the face and call her a dirty ho. No. The questions - really it’s just one question - that I answer now is much more formidable.

“What are you going to do for money.”

And I’ve found an answer. Temping.

Sent out a resume on Friday, called on Monday to follow up, set up an interview for Tuesday, went in to take some computer-aptitude tests (word, excel, typing etc.) and talked with some placement agents, was interviewed at a computer consulting company later that day. My placement guy prefaced my interview with a warning that the president was “a guy a lot like Donald Trump… really down to business and intimidating.” So I put on my toughest face.

To make a long story short, there has been a lot of back and forth, but I’m not a computer guy (Mom, I know you think I am, but I’m really not) and it’s a computer company. The president there, however, seems to really like that I’m a Stanford grad and spent the day today asking around all over the company if there was somewhere I could be placed. There wasn’t, so he called me today and said that, if I wanted, he could show me what he does. I guess he’s been spending really late nights and is sick of it. He was thinking that if I could catch on to what he was doing well enough to do it myself (run the company?!) then he would have me do that during the day with him, and then maybe he could go home at the same time as everyone else. So I’m going in tomorrow for a short training to see how it goes.

I think I’m going tell him right off the bat that we should see how things go, but he shouldn’t feel like he has to hire me. I understand that I’m probably not what the company is looking for, and that if that’s the case, it’s okay. He keeps telling me: “I really want to hire you because you seem like a really good guy and I bet you’re really bright… it’s just that… well… uh…” and at this point I usually interject: “I don't really have the skill set you’re looking for?” And he’ll say (sounding relieved that he didn’t have to say it): ‘Yeah… but… you seem like a really good guy… let me check with so-and-so…”

Not really the Donald Trump I was expecting - I might actually enjoy working for him. In any case, it’s a nice way to ease into something else (even if it doesn't end up being with this company). We’ll see…

I'll leave you with a picture of me, dressed for success! Reminds me (almost too much) of the old days when I was Mr. Category.

Happy New Year!

Hey all… so I guess I'll try this out - might be a better way to keep a passive update available for those of you who are interested:

I just got back from 38 days in Europe! Kate (who is wonderful) took care of all the planning and logistics for a tour that took the two of us to Florence (1o days), Siena (2 days), Assisi (1 day), Perugia (1 day), Rome (5 days), Pisa (1 day), London (5 days), Paris (8 days), Venice (3 days), and then back to Florence (2 more days).

Clearly, I could write pages and pages talking about the beautiful things we saw and the exciting things that we did… but that might be a little overwhelming for a first post - and I want you guys to feel invited to come back! =) So, for now, I'll leave you with a few highlights and call it a wrap, but I'd be happy to email you more details etc., if you want them.

1) Kate and I spent Christmas in Rome at the Vatican – and through sheer luck managed to stumble into the pope’s Christmas morning mass. It was really weird – one minute we’re confusedly standing in a small group, wondering what it’s for – and the next, a guard opens up a barrier and everyone starts rushing to the pews (one guy even takes a spill across the floor!). Kate and I sat down, still not sure what was going on – reading out guidebook to kill time – and then a procession starts and I look over and see a guy that REALLY looks like the pope coming down the aisle. But it can’t be… so I just kind of watch for a while. Midway through, I turn to Kate and ask, “Is that the pope?”

“Um… YES!”

Haha. So that was awesome. We sat three rows from the pope’s delivery of Christmas mass. And while I was, and still am, super stoked about that, I can’t help but think that someone else should have had my seat. Someone who, maybe, would have known definitely that the man in front of them was the pope… but what can you do? I guess I’ll just appreciate the experience.

2) I got to spend New Years in London, watching the fireworks explode behind Big Ben… this experience was made all the more exhilarating, I think, because the subway was really slow and when we got off, we were part of a mad dash to the upper ground (and then over to Big Ben, which is no short distance when you’re peeling out at full speed and a little tipsy) while subway attendants urged us out chanting “1 minute left!” Good times, though.

3) The Eiffel Tower lights up at night! It’s beautifully mesmerizing. Kate was in the midst of taking a picture of another couple of tourists when we first saw it. I was, for some reason, with my back to it, watching Kate take the picture – so I just saw her eyes light up as she stood up from her crouch and said “Whoa!” In a daze, we handed the camera back to the couple and watched the lights. After the lights died down and we made our way to go climb the tower Kate turns to me, sheepishly and says “I don’t think I took a very good picture… I was so distracted…”

I could go on (and perhaps maybe already have), but those were some big ones. Some other notables, quickly: 1) I loved the food almost everywhere we went. One of the dinners in France I ordered Salmon (kind of by mistake) and Kate got steak… but it ended up being, I think, the first time in my life I’ve liked a fish dish more than a red-meat one. Also tried Tartar in France (looks like raw ground beef… but not too bad if you get past that)… had a lot of great wine and pasta almost everywhere we went… discovered the delights of mulled wine and crepes… made time to check out a McDonalds and try a Royale with Cheese (thanks for the recommendation, Samuel Jackson)… and in general, the bread (always fresh) and the cheese (often aged) combined to make heavenly sandwiches… 2) The sun sets differently in Europe. I swear it. And boy were there some beautiful ones… 3) The subways come frequently and tell you how long you won’t have to wait! NY should try to be more like that… 4) Got to see working Parisian sewers… it was disgusting, but I will probably take that one with me to the grave, vividly… 5) The Louvre was amazing, granted, but I think that I would recommend the Musee d’Orsay more… 6) A walk through the garden at the Palace in Versailles, one of my favorite memories…

Siiiigh… I'm sad it's over, but I suppose I should be happy that at least it was.

I hope you all had a wonderful New Years… please stay in touch via this blog (you can comment!) or send me an email. Love you all!

Tartar! Yum! Although I have to admit that I felt a little bit like Hannibal Lecter.

The Coliseum!

Saying hello to my little friend.