I just finished my last day at PMC and celebrated with a mani/pedi at the mall. I even have little flowers on my big toes - very exciting!
Went out for lunch yesterday with my coworkers. Today there was a pizza lunch with all the co-ops and their supervisors. My boss wasn't in the office so I went by myself. However, one of my coworkers showed up at the lunch with a gift bag. Not just any gift bag - this one came with a big star-shaped balloon tied to it! If this wasn't enough to get me noticed, I also got a ribbon with "star student" written on it. Of course everyone was watching and I went all red. The gift bag was full of all sorts on inside jokes - pencil crayons and a calculator (for my art and math projects), baked beans (my coworker brought them back from Texas), Cadbury Easter eggs, 100-calorie snack packs (we all discovered them at the same time), hand sanitizer (used it to get ink off my hands when a pen exploded in my hair in Anaheim), and a Starbucks gift card (I got my coworkers addicted to London Fogs).
Heading back to Victoria tomorrow!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The last week
It's my last week at PMC-Sierra. In some ways it feels like I've been here forever, in others it seems to have flown by. While there were some boring times, for the most part I have enjoyed the job. I'm excited to be finished and heading back to class but it's also bittersweet because I've been working with some wonderful people.
On Monday my boss, Cheryl, and I went out for lunch together. It was a nice way to wrap up our time together. Tuesday after work, our department met went out together for drinks and appys after work. Willie, our graphic designer, made me a card with everyone signed. I also received a PMC backpack full of all the promotional products I'd ordered as one of my projects - including a great mini wireless mouse which I'm going to use with my laptop. Best of all, Cheryl gave me some jewelry from Blue Ruby as a going away gift - earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace. They're totally my style too!
On Monday my boss, Cheryl, and I went out for lunch together. It was a nice way to wrap up our time together. Tuesday after work, our department met went out together for drinks and appys after work. Willie, our graphic designer, made me a card with everyone signed. I also received a PMC backpack full of all the promotional products I'd ordered as one of my projects - including a great mini wireless mouse which I'm going to use with my laptop. Best of all, Cheryl gave me some jewelry from Blue Ruby as a going away gift - earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace. They're totally my style too!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Let there be light
The federal government has decided to ban incandescent light bulbs by 2012. My question is, why not sooner? I've been using fluorescent bulbs for the past couple of years. I've never had to replace a single one, they've never broken or burned out. The only difference is that they take a couple more seconds to turn on once you've flipped the switch, and you don't even notice it after a few days. I suppose they do cost more, but since they use 75% less energy and last approximately five years, it's worth it.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Weird News of the Day
Toilets in Japan Recalled after Several Catch Fire
How does a toilet catch fire, you ask? Well apparently these are super deluxe toilets.
Read the full story: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/070416/K041608AU.html.
Unfortunately, they're not sold outside the country - damn!
How does a toilet catch fire, you ask? Well apparently these are super deluxe toilets.
Read the full story: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/070416/K041608AU.html.
Unfortunately, they're not sold outside the country - damn!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Fanny Packs
I'm sorry, but I don't care who made it, how much it cost, or where you bought it - fanny packs are NOT cool! Even if you're eighteen years old and think you're "all that" - NOBODY can pull off a fanny pack. I know they're practical, I know they keep your hands free - but really, what are you thinking?
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Anaheim - Days 4, 5 & 6
Wednesday and Thursday were the last days of the show. For the most part everything went smoothly - other than the meeting suite key getting locked in the room and getting hot water instead of coffee from catering. After the end of the show on Thursday we packed up our demos, got the shipping in order, and that was that.
Wednesday evening after the show Kim, Sharleen, and I went shopping! Not that there's not shopping in Vancouver - there's just different stores south of the boarder. Thursday after the pack up Kim and I dragged Ron and Richard out.... shopping! They weren't very excited about it but we made it up to them by going to the Olive Garden! The food was okay, the wine was pretty good - but really, when it's 9pm and you haven't eaten anything since lunch, you just want whatever's fastest. On Friday morning Kim, Sharleen, and I had breakfast at IHOP. I hadn't been to an IHOP in a loooong time - it reminded me of when I used to go for late night pancakes with my friends in high school after we'd been to a concert.
Then it was time for me to fly back to Vancouver. Of course I was randomly selected for the pat down at security - again! They said I was randomly selected by my airline which makes me think it wasn't very random - the woman at the check-in counter seemed to have a real problem with the fact that my passport was expired. She kept asking me if I had an extension on it; I kept telling her I didn't but that I'd gone through customs and immigration on my way into the country. I think she "randomly" selected me just to make my life difficult. At least the woman who gave me the pat down was really nice - she even commented on my new shoes! If I had to compare Vancouver security with Orange County security, I'd say that Vancouver was more thorough on the pat down but Orange County was more thorough on the bag search.
So I made it back safe and sound, completely tired, and with a pair of sore feet. But I would have to say the show was a success, a few mishaps here and there, but overall a success. It's funny to think I've got 1 month left here before my last semester of classes start!
Wednesday evening after the show Kim, Sharleen, and I went shopping! Not that there's not shopping in Vancouver - there's just different stores south of the boarder. Thursday after the pack up Kim and I dragged Ron and Richard out.... shopping! They weren't very excited about it but we made it up to them by going to the Olive Garden! The food was okay, the wine was pretty good - but really, when it's 9pm and you haven't eaten anything since lunch, you just want whatever's fastest. On Friday morning Kim, Sharleen, and I had breakfast at IHOP. I hadn't been to an IHOP in a loooong time - it reminded me of when I used to go for late night pancakes with my friends in high school after we'd been to a concert.
Then it was time for me to fly back to Vancouver. Of course I was randomly selected for the pat down at security - again! They said I was randomly selected by my airline which makes me think it wasn't very random - the woman at the check-in counter seemed to have a real problem with the fact that my passport was expired. She kept asking me if I had an extension on it; I kept telling her I didn't but that I'd gone through customs and immigration on my way into the country. I think she "randomly" selected me just to make my life difficult. At least the woman who gave me the pat down was really nice - she even commented on my new shoes! If I had to compare Vancouver security with Orange County security, I'd say that Vancouver was more thorough on the pat down but Orange County was more thorough on the bag search.
So I made it back safe and sound, completely tired, and with a pair of sore feet. But I would have to say the show was a success, a few mishaps here and there, but overall a success. It's funny to think I've got 1 month left here before my last semester of classes start!
Anaheim - Day 3
Tuesday was the first day of the show. I arrived at the booth at 8:30 to relieve security, set up the demos, and sign for the catering at the meeting suite. As it turns out, our security guard works for Green Day when they go on tour!
The show went really smoothly. There was a LOT of standing! Afterwards we went to an NBDL basketball game. The NBDL is the NBA development league and we were watching the last and second to last teams in the division! But where else are you going to see a 7'2" Korean guy play basketball? You know someone is tall when they make the 6"6" guys look short. Plus, one of my coworkers knows the event manager at the arena so we were set up courtside with an all-you-can-eat buffet and an open bar!
After the game a couple of the guys really wanted to go out. The only place we could think of close by was the House of Blues in Downtown Disney so we crammed seven of us into a cab and headed down. Unfortunately when we got there we were informed by a couple of security guards that there was a private party going on. Most of us were ready to turn away and find somewhere else to go but Babak started telling the security guards that we were on the list! Another group who was ACTUALLY on the list walked up and one of them was trying to get all of us in. But then the party-pooper of the group said "well WE'RE on the list, not these guys". So we were left out in the cold, but then Babak starts telling the security that we know so-and-so who works for such-and-such company, etc... and they let us in!!
Turns out it was this company's decade anniversary! They had a Blues Brothers cover band playing and everyone was dressed up in hats and sunglasses. Then the CEO got up on stage to do a raffle, but a lot of people must have left so he decided to give the gifts away to those who cheered the loudest. So Mark and I started yelling and Mark ended up winning a $45 bottle of wine! They also gave away tickets to the Beijing Olympics, tickets to Disney, etc. All in all it wasn't a very good party, I think a lot of people had left by the time we showed up - although it was funny watching the drunk people dance!
As we were leaving Richard grabbed a "gift bag" which was really a satchel bag that turned out to be filled with all sorts of goodies including mini bottles of champagne. So of course we all had to run back and grab one! Meanwhile, Babak asks the security guards where there's a good salsa club and discovers there's one called Tia Juanas. We all pile into a cab again with Ron protesting that he doesn't want to drive to Tia Juana. Turns out the salsa club was too far away but the cab driver suggested he drive us to another club not too far away. Kim, Richard, and Ron are stuck in the stifling hot back of the van, I'm up front with the cab driver who's hacking up a lung. Meanwhile, the cab driver is telling us about how he's in a business laying fiber and solar panels across Africa. When we finally got to the club it turns out to be a strip club - with all these seedy looking guys standing outside! So we headed back to the hotel for another night of not enough sleep before another early morning!
The show went really smoothly. There was a LOT of standing! Afterwards we went to an NBDL basketball game. The NBDL is the NBA development league and we were watching the last and second to last teams in the division! But where else are you going to see a 7'2" Korean guy play basketball? You know someone is tall when they make the 6"6" guys look short. Plus, one of my coworkers knows the event manager at the arena so we were set up courtside with an all-you-can-eat buffet and an open bar!
After the game a couple of the guys really wanted to go out. The only place we could think of close by was the House of Blues in Downtown Disney so we crammed seven of us into a cab and headed down. Unfortunately when we got there we were informed by a couple of security guards that there was a private party going on. Most of us were ready to turn away and find somewhere else to go but Babak started telling the security guards that we were on the list! Another group who was ACTUALLY on the list walked up and one of them was trying to get all of us in. But then the party-pooper of the group said "well WE'RE on the list, not these guys". So we were left out in the cold, but then Babak starts telling the security that we know so-and-so who works for such-and-such company, etc... and they let us in!!
Turns out it was this company's decade anniversary! They had a Blues Brothers cover band playing and everyone was dressed up in hats and sunglasses. Then the CEO got up on stage to do a raffle, but a lot of people must have left so he decided to give the gifts away to those who cheered the loudest. So Mark and I started yelling and Mark ended up winning a $45 bottle of wine! They also gave away tickets to the Beijing Olympics, tickets to Disney, etc. All in all it wasn't a very good party, I think a lot of people had left by the time we showed up - although it was funny watching the drunk people dance!
As we were leaving Richard grabbed a "gift bag" which was really a satchel bag that turned out to be filled with all sorts of goodies including mini bottles of champagne. So of course we all had to run back and grab one! Meanwhile, Babak asks the security guards where there's a good salsa club and discovers there's one called Tia Juanas. We all pile into a cab again with Ron protesting that he doesn't want to drive to Tia Juana. Turns out the salsa club was too far away but the cab driver suggested he drive us to another club not too far away. Kim, Richard, and Ron are stuck in the stifling hot back of the van, I'm up front with the cab driver who's hacking up a lung. Meanwhile, the cab driver is telling us about how he's in a business laying fiber and solar panels across Africa. When we finally got to the club it turns out to be a strip club - with all these seedy looking guys standing outside! So we headed back to the hotel for another night of not enough sleep before another early morning!
Monday, April 2, 2007
Anaheim - Day 2
Monday was set up day - getting everything ready for the show start on Tuesday. Started out with overseeing the contractors assembling the booth, making sure the rented TV and furniture set up was done correctly, and setting up the demos. A couple of unplanned for mishaps: some of the promotional giveaways didn't make it (or rather I was sent a single sample rather than the twelve logo-ed items I ordered). Our booth supplier didn't send the brackets to mount our monitors - which eventually got fixed at 8pm. The biggest "whoops" was a mix up between the shipping company and the general show contractor. Of course, they both blamed each other - the shipping company said they were turned away by the contractor and the contractor said the shipping co. went to the wrong place. Either way, I didn't have the demos I needed - but after ten or so phone calls, we eventually got it all sorted out!
Set up ran from 8am to 7pm and then we had to run out to BestBuy to grab a few things. Fortunately I was able to have a good breakfast, because the only thing I had time to eat between 9am and 9pm was a power bar! We went to an awesome Mexican restaurant for dinner - the waiters barely spoke English and often sang amongst themselves in between waiting tables. They even made the guacamole fresh at our tableside!
Set up ran from 8am to 7pm and then we had to run out to BestBuy to grab a few things. Fortunately I was able to have a good breakfast, because the only thing I had time to eat between 9am and 9pm was a power bar! We went to an awesome Mexican restaurant for dinner - the waiters barely spoke English and often sang amongst themselves in between waiting tables. They even made the guacamole fresh at our tableside!
Anaheim - Day 1
Sunday was day one of my trip to Anaheim, California for OFC 2007. In January, the US implemented a new rule which requires everyone entering the US by air to have a valid passport. I'd applied for my passport back in January but due to the huge influx of applications, they've had huge backlogs. So after two months and no word on my passport and a week and a half of attempting to get through on the Passport Canada phone line, I finally discovered that my passport wouldn't be ready in time for my trip.
Since I was going to attempt to fly on an expired passport, Sharleen, my coworker, and I got there early enough to give me enough time to get through customs. Good thing too, since it turned out that the travel agent never confirmed her flight with the airline and she didn't actually have a ticket! Half an hour and a bunch of money later, she had tickets. Now onto customs.... as it turned out, they didn't have a problem with the fact that my passport was expired. What they DID have a problem with was the fact that I had a Resident Alien Card that allowed me to live and work in the States. Forty-five minutes and one surrendered card later, I was onto security - where, of course, I get randomly selected for a pat down! One bag search and a pat down later, I'm through security to meet Sharleen and Kim.
Then our plane is forty minutes late. Next, halfway through loading, there's a problem with the power hookup - so they unload the plane, twenty more minutes, and finally we load and take off for San Fransisco. It's a good thing we'd had a two hour layover scheduled in San Fran because by the time we landed our next flight was already loaded! So they hustled Kim and I over to our next flight, loaded us on, and took off. Unfortunately, Sharleen wasn't so lucky and couldn't make her connection in time. Then the airline couldn't find her in their system and didn't want to help her get on another flight. They finally put her on standby for a flight to LAX and she got to Anaheim at 2am - four hours after Kim and I!
So, a long and painful start to the week. Tomorrow - the set up begins!
Since I was going to attempt to fly on an expired passport, Sharleen, my coworker, and I got there early enough to give me enough time to get through customs. Good thing too, since it turned out that the travel agent never confirmed her flight with the airline and she didn't actually have a ticket! Half an hour and a bunch of money later, she had tickets. Now onto customs.... as it turned out, they didn't have a problem with the fact that my passport was expired. What they DID have a problem with was the fact that I had a Resident Alien Card that allowed me to live and work in the States. Forty-five minutes and one surrendered card later, I was onto security - where, of course, I get randomly selected for a pat down! One bag search and a pat down later, I'm through security to meet Sharleen and Kim.
Then our plane is forty minutes late. Next, halfway through loading, there's a problem with the power hookup - so they unload the plane, twenty more minutes, and finally we load and take off for San Fransisco. It's a good thing we'd had a two hour layover scheduled in San Fran because by the time we landed our next flight was already loaded! So they hustled Kim and I over to our next flight, loaded us on, and took off. Unfortunately, Sharleen wasn't so lucky and couldn't make her connection in time. Then the airline couldn't find her in their system and didn't want to help her get on another flight. They finally put her on standby for a flight to LAX and she got to Anaheim at 2am - four hours after Kim and I!
So, a long and painful start to the week. Tomorrow - the set up begins!
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