Australia? Me!?!

So for the second time since I started my boss has asked me if I've even been to Australia during discussions about training for our current project. It appears that if I can cram enough knowledge about the system into my head, I may be one of their prime choices for delivering training to the clients. Clinets in places like Brisbane, Freeport, Indiana and so on and so forth. While the developers and analysts have the required background knowledge, it seems some clients still have concerns about the strong accents many of my co-workers have. Enter me.

This would be so sweet. Travel. One of the great perks of being an employee that was never available to me as a contractor, even with the higher pay.

I think I'm gonna like this job.

:)

Uh, you actually want me to DO something?

So I just got saddled at work with the creation of project documentation for what amounts to be one of their biggest projects to date (the contract is actually worth millions). Oh, and they've never had to do anything this formal before so they don't have anything to start from. Oh boy.

Sooooooooooo, if anyone out there is reading this and actually knows of some good templates for an acceptance testing plan, implementation/transition plan, or training plan for software development and implementation I'd be more than happy to check 'em out. Hell, if all you got is a good online resource, I'll take that too.

Actually, it shouldn't be hard to throw something together since it's half bullshit and half details extracted from the heads of programmers. Now, I have to say that my BSing skills are pretty damn good, it's just that it only comes out in spurts. I guess it's a good thing they gave me one and a half months to put these things together.

Millions! That's like, 10x bigger than anything I've ever worked on. That's gonna look sweet on the resume.

Bye.

Smooth Operator

So, Fancy and I are taking a dance class. Introduction to the Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, and Chacha. We almost quit before the second class since neither of us are keen on the structured appointments thing. But we decided to keep going.

I even went to the thrid class on Wednesday by myself as Fancy "broke her toes". I danced with many ladies and was told (again) that I was doing excellent. Of course, we've only pretty much done the "smooth" dances; Foxtrot and Waltz. I'm attributing my abilities to all the weddings and polkas I've been subjected to over the years.

Since Fancy knows these basic steps, this class is pretty much to fill me in on proper footing and to figure out how we can actually dance together. It'll be nice to be able to dance to something other than Great Big Sea and Spirit of the West (where I usually just end up throwing around my partner).

However, I think my swinging hips are giving Fancy concern, since she has commented on it twice now. And then there was my spontaneous breakout into You Are My Sunshine yesterday which I thought gave her pause, but I swear she was muttering "he's got game" to herself over and over, so maybe it turned her on.

Anyway, one more class to refine my skillz. Then I will be the King of Weddings.

Bow and pay homage.

A Good Weekend

So, Fancy blindfolded me and put me in the car to drive me to an unknown location to do unknown things to/with me on Friday night. It started with a text message Friday morning while I was at work. "We have plans tonight. Bring cash!" So I picked up some cash on the way home, we had some quick supper and off to the car we went. She still hadn't told me what the deal was, so she got into the drivers seat and I contented myself with enjoying the ride to where ever. Then I get blindfolded. Now, this does not happen very often in our relationship. Whether it should happen more I won't say here.

So, with the loss of my eyes, I decided to try to keep track of where we were going. That didn't last long. I think I managed to keep up with the first two turns, then lost everything. Of course, I was bopping along to the music and anytime the car stopped, I waved to anyone who might be looking in at us. Whether anyone was even there, I had no idea. It was pretty fun. And Fancy says we may have scarred a few families. I even put my glasses on over the blindfold (which was a very hot winter scarf by the way). Fancy may have a vidoe clip and some pics of it on her BLOG. I haven't checked yet.

When she finally stopped, my guess was somewhere north east from our place. Completely wrong. We were actually south west. Richmond Night Market. It was a good little set of stands with a lot of clothing, jewellery, and other knick-knacks. Fancy got some Pooh stuff, I got my mom a gift (for when her birthday rolls around. Super early gift buying for me, I know!), and we had some strawberries with chocolate fondu. There was lots of fish/squid things everywhere too, which, I must say, did not look appealing at all.

Yesterday was a good day of shopping, for me anyway. More casual work clothes. Then we went to see the late showing of The Devil Wears Prada. By the constant tugging on my sleeve I assume Fancy liked it. I thought it was pretty good.

Today was relaxation day. Played some WoW, which I haven't done since last Sunday, hopped on the stationary bike for 20 minutes, jumped in the pool for a while, and sat in the sun. Now, if Fancy's craving for steak gets the best of her, I'd have to declare this a good weekend. Not action packed by any means, but not a waste either. It'll still be good even whithout the steak, but steak always makes things better.

Oh, and I better not forget the callout to Chris. Happy birthday dude! Hope you enjoyed it. ;)

over and out.

Disappointment

well, i have to say that this canada day didn't go quite as planned.

originally, i was going to go back to yellowknife with fancy to attend her 10 year highschool reunion. unfortunately, i had to give up camping with jette and company as they were going for the same time. the plan was set. then I got a job (and took my sweet time about it, which is probably the more important part).

so, due to lack of funding, our plans changed so that it was only fancy going to yellowknife for the weekend. i sent her off on thursday morning and proceeded to continue working for the rest of the week. i consoled myself with knowing that at least i was going to be able to see a nice fireworks display - cause vancouver has to have a good fireworks show, right? wrong. around 7pm on saturday i did a web search to see when and where fireworks were going to take place. i found the events schedule for the big canada place shindig, but alas, no mention fo fireworks. finally, searching some other sites to see what was up, i found a forum entry where someone said that due to some idiots vancouver no longer holds fireworks shows. NO FIREWORKS! damnit. then I fould a site that said burnaby would be having fireworks at 10:30 at deer lake. well, i have a very good view of deer lake, and there were NO fireworks going off at any time between 10 and 11.

very disappointing. no yellowknife, no girlfirend, no camping, no fireworks. just wow and a cat scratching post.

maybe next long weekend will be better. sigh