Writing on my 4 hr flight from Houston to Montreal
Are we there yet? It's been a long day, started with 4 back to back (to back to back) teleconferences. Oh, I used this saying already, well I think it is still humorous.
Luckily I was only mildly frustrated at the outcome of one where we are still arguing or debating over our release schedule for drawings. As it has been explained to me, we are a service company that thrives on on time delivery and customer delight. As unrealistic as our customers may be, we need to try to meet their expectations, if we cannot we need to be justified with why we can't. I'm not the design manager or have any experience in building a release schedule which should be something that is handled by the design leads. I don't get why the electrical design lead can figure this out and work to his schedule but mechanical cannot. And who has to face the customer and explain why we can't meet dates, me...
Anyways, I digress. I have had a pretty decent day today. After the 2.5 hrs of meetings this morning, I stepped onto the flight from Tucson to Houston at 10am. Flight was routine but a little delayed as we were over weight so had to get some volunteers to take a different flight. Too bad i have to work tomorrow, that $500 credit would have been nice.
Got into Houston at 2:30 cst. Went for lunch with two guys from bombardier Who are on this flight as well. Nothing fancy, we had 30 mins so just grabbed a sandwich from the sandwich artists.
This flight boarded at 4, same time as departure so we were a bit delayed. The lady working the counter explained that the pilot didn't want us on the plane while they were fuelling. Immediately me and one of the guys from bombardier know this is an excuse. They refuel planes all the time with people on it. There is going to be more to this we figure.
Well, onboard our suspicions turn true. The pilot comes on the pa once everyone is on the plane (side note - open seat beside me, awesome!). It turns out that one of the fuel transfer valves in the wing that allows you to pump fuel into the plane and automatically balance/level the fuel in the two wings, where the fuel is stored, isn't working properly.
Now it makes more sense. They were probably troubleshooting this and didn't
Want to alarm passengers. This isn't a problem so if this happens to you, don't worry. Instead, they had to fuel up the old fashioned way by manually fuelling each wing. Don't worry, no dipstick measuring approach like the Gimli glider, we are about 30 mins out of Montreal, started our initial descent so we will make it.
I was hoping to get some groceries when I got to the apartment but I'm not sure I will be able to if we get in at 9:45. By the time I clear customs, get my bag and catch a cab I'm sure the store will be closed. Don't know what I'm going to do for breakfast tomorrow then, maybe I will grab a bagel in the morning before I leave. Not looking forward to the early morning either, a three hour time difference is a lot to catch up from in 8 hrs.
I'm curious what is growing in my fridge. I think I cleared most things out but I think there was milk and maybe some cheese. Not sure about veggies but there were probably some there three weeks ago. Now, .... Yum.... I also wonder what the plants will look like. I know I watered them before I left but again that was three weeks ago. I was doing so good, watering them about once a week, sometimes twice or more.
Other things I need to do before company arrive:
- get groceries. I have lots of beer so that's not an issue
- sweep my floors
- wash my car, if it is still there. I fear it may have rusted away as there was some, not much, salt on it.
- change tires, maybe. It is supposed to snow Friday so maybe I will hold off for a little bit longer.
Well, only 15 mins longer. Time to turn off the iPad.
Ciao
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Last day in the sun
Well, returning to Montreal tomorrow. It's going to be a long day again, starting at 7am with back to back to back to back teleconferences. Then, travel from Tucson to Houston to Montreal for the better part of 8 hrs.
Today's weather was cool. I guess I've been down here too long. 64 this evening and I had to wear my hoodie and pants...
Don't really have much to say, I'm pretty tired tonight. Went for dinner last night with people from work and got home at 10:30. Was up early because I couldn't sleep. At work at 7:15 leaving at 5:45. I'm all packed up and have my clothes set aside for tomorrow just like my baseball gear when I was 6.
I'm looking forward to the weekend where Gwen will be in Montreal along with our friends Eric and Jamie. Better get caught up on my sleep now I guess...
Goodnight
Today's weather was cool. I guess I've been down here too long. 64 this evening and I had to wear my hoodie and pants...
Don't really have much to say, I'm pretty tired tonight. Went for dinner last night with people from work and got home at 10:30. Was up early because I couldn't sleep. At work at 7:15 leaving at 5:45. I'm all packed up and have my clothes set aside for tomorrow just like my baseball gear when I was 6.
I'm looking forward to the weekend where Gwen will be in Montreal along with our friends Eric and Jamie. Better get caught up on my sleep now I guess...
Goodnight
Sunday, 7 April 2013
At the movies
At the movie theatre because I can't think of anything else to do to kill time. Went to the zoo had an ok time. I'm pretty lonely today and have to kill the entire day until our business unit director flies into Phoenix at 9:30 tonight otherwise I would have gone back to Tucson an hour ago (writing this at 5:15). Instead we will drive down together and I can tell I will be tired tomorrow, I didn't have a good sleep last night, don't know why.
The theatre is nice, they have flip up armrests, Gwen would like this so then She could get more comfortable during the movie, even easier to fall asleep ;)
Tix was $10 and small popcorn and large water was $10.25... Go figure lol.
Well movie is starting, gotta put my phone away.
The theatre is nice, they have flip up armrests, Gwen would like this so then She could get more comfortable during the movie, even easier to fall asleep ;)
Tix was $10 and small popcorn and large water was $10.25... Go figure lol.
Well movie is starting, gotta put my phone away.
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Coyotes vs Avalanche
What an experience. Going to a hockey game when you are wearing shorts is a new experience for me. Also new was not paying for parking, getting free shwag (a hat) and a 24 oz beer.
The arena is pretty big. I think I got in at the wrong corner and as I write this in my awesome seat, I don't really know how to get out of here and to my car. Oh well, I'll just look for the large open air mall outside and I'll know from there.
I find it strange how Phoenix has Howerchuk, Steen and Hulls numbers in the rafters. These guys never played for Phoenix how can they have any sentiment for these guys? Lol, whatever, I guess they bought the history with the team. NOT!
I got quite a few strange looks today in my jersey. But then I saw a guy in a Boston jersey, at least I have a connection to the coyotes.
My seat is seat 1 row H. A is at the glass and works up from there. I'm gonna have to pay attention to pucks getting dumped in, I'm at that level where deflections will cause a nose bleed, or concussion.
It's not the same feel as jets games, not as much energy except for the rediculously loud music at warm up. I must be getting old...
Speaking of old, this lady in short shorts, pink tank top and high heals must be in her 40's and is trying to distract the players, lol. Cougar...
5:40 pm just spotted another jets fan. GO (1996) JETS GO.
5:47 pm howler the coyotes mascot just came out to "who let the dogs out". Wow (or should I say woof)
5:52 pm saw someone wearing mitts. It's not that cold in here. I'm in shorts and sandals.
18:14 (gametime GT) coyotes score! 1-0
6:19 pm stop in play - cleaning the ice wow can they not skate
9:03 gt just saw someone on the jumbo tron with a real coyote head hat. Sweet
4:01 gt stop in play. I think they have giveaway nights each game to the first 10,000 fans. Next game - free pizza
6:52pm just high fived a jets fan
On my way back to my seat I saw a guy with a sliced green apple drizzled with caramel sauce and two (what looked like) strawberry kabobs with chocolate. What do we have in Winnipeg - perogies. To each their own...
6:57 pm just saw Tkachuk and Numminen's numbers in the rafters along with roenicks.
16:54 gt coyotes score on the power play with a 2 on 0. Score 2-0 coyotes
15:33 gt there's gonna be a fight soon its getting chippy
13:46 gt stop in play. Good jets q and eh - who should play you in a movie? Best coyote answer was Denzel Washington an this player was white. Lol
12:56 gt coyotes goal from almost behind the goal line. That's an Adam goal ;)
5:23 gt - goal by the last remaining jet on the coyotes Shane Doan. 4-0
Coyotes!
2nd intermission - they are cleaning the ice and have a girl riding on the Zamboni maybe 12 yrs old. No helmet unlike back he. Also, she is just siding sideways legs hanging over the edge of the Zamboni. What a difference Medicare makes with respect to safety equipment...
7:50 pm I'm seeing a lot of coyotes blankets in use... Again, jets merch idea... But I guess we don't go to games in shorts or sundresses ...
Time unknown (forgot to look at a clock) made friends in the bathroom. Some guy was complimenting us on having the loudest rink in the NHL. He was wearing a jets jersey. He also commented that we are the best because we also have dancing Gabe.
1:00 gt last minute of play!
Coyotes win!
Now time to walk back to my car in the 75*F heat.
8:37pm just saw a truck from Saskatchewan
The arena is pretty big. I think I got in at the wrong corner and as I write this in my awesome seat, I don't really know how to get out of here and to my car. Oh well, I'll just look for the large open air mall outside and I'll know from there.
I find it strange how Phoenix has Howerchuk, Steen and Hulls numbers in the rafters. These guys never played for Phoenix how can they have any sentiment for these guys? Lol, whatever, I guess they bought the history with the team. NOT!
I got quite a few strange looks today in my jersey. But then I saw a guy in a Boston jersey, at least I have a connection to the coyotes.
My seat is seat 1 row H. A is at the glass and works up from there. I'm gonna have to pay attention to pucks getting dumped in, I'm at that level where deflections will cause a nose bleed, or concussion.
It's not the same feel as jets games, not as much energy except for the rediculously loud music at warm up. I must be getting old...
Speaking of old, this lady in short shorts, pink tank top and high heals must be in her 40's and is trying to distract the players, lol. Cougar...
5:40 pm just spotted another jets fan. GO (1996) JETS GO.
5:47 pm howler the coyotes mascot just came out to "who let the dogs out". Wow (or should I say woof)
5:52 pm saw someone wearing mitts. It's not that cold in here. I'm in shorts and sandals.
18:14 (gametime GT) coyotes score! 1-0
6:19 pm stop in play - cleaning the ice wow can they not skate
9:03 gt just saw someone on the jumbo tron with a real coyote head hat. Sweet
4:01 gt stop in play. I think they have giveaway nights each game to the first 10,000 fans. Next game - free pizza
6:52pm just high fived a jets fan
On my way back to my seat I saw a guy with a sliced green apple drizzled with caramel sauce and two (what looked like) strawberry kabobs with chocolate. What do we have in Winnipeg - perogies. To each their own...
6:57 pm just saw Tkachuk and Numminen's numbers in the rafters along with roenicks.
16:54 gt coyotes score on the power play with a 2 on 0. Score 2-0 coyotes
15:33 gt there's gonna be a fight soon its getting chippy
13:46 gt stop in play. Good jets q and eh - who should play you in a movie? Best coyote answer was Denzel Washington an this player was white. Lol
12:56 gt coyotes goal from almost behind the goal line. That's an Adam goal ;)
5:23 gt - goal by the last remaining jet on the coyotes Shane Doan. 4-0
Coyotes!
2nd intermission - they are cleaning the ice and have a girl riding on the Zamboni maybe 12 yrs old. No helmet unlike back he. Also, she is just siding sideways legs hanging over the edge of the Zamboni. What a difference Medicare makes with respect to safety equipment...
7:50 pm I'm seeing a lot of coyotes blankets in use... Again, jets merch idea... But I guess we don't go to games in shorts or sundresses ...
Time unknown (forgot to look at a clock) made friends in the bathroom. Some guy was complimenting us on having the loudest rink in the NHL. He was wearing a jets jersey. He also commented that we are the best because we also have dancing Gabe.
1:00 gt last minute of play!
Coyotes win!
Now time to walk back to my car in the 75*F heat.
8:37pm just saw a truck from Saskatchewan
Phoenix
I made it safe and sound to Phoenix. Left Tucson at 10:30 after I switched my Jetta for 2012 Fusion with cruise control (necessary for a 2 hr drive) and a quick run. I grabbed breakfast at the hotel, loaded up my car and drove to the Deserrt Botanical Garden in Phoenix.
It was really neat, I hope to upload photos soon. There were lots of cactus that were blooming.
Weather is nice, 90*F and sunny. Here are some photos from the drive:
Leaving Tucson
On I-10 going to Phoenix not too busy
I liked the mountains and thought might as well get the road sign in there too
I thought I started in Arizona, don't know why this sign was there...
Can you see all those lanes on the GPS? Crazy
Driving through Glendale on I-17
Well, I should shower and get ready for the hockey game. Hope you are all doing well back home.
It was really neat, I hope to upload photos soon. There were lots of cactus that were blooming.
Weather is nice, 90*F and sunny. Here are some photos from the drive:
Leaving Tucson
On I-10 going to Phoenix not too busy
I liked the mountains and thought might as well get the road sign in there too
I thought I started in Arizona, don't know why this sign was there...
Can you see all those lanes on the GPS? Crazy
Driving through Glendale on I-17
Well, I should shower and get ready for the hockey game. Hope you are all doing well back home.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Deep
Delayed post from yesterday:
It’s clear and sunny on the flight to Denver right now. I’m strangely hungry, I ate a salad at TGI Fridays but I guess that wasn’t enough substance after the copious amounts of ham, meat balls, turkey and other food from the Easter festivities this weekend.
I had a great time this weekend, much more so than my birthday weekend. I’m still upset about that – that weekend started off “great” (rolling eyes) as major project issues came to head on Thursday late in the day as I was driving home… It continued to progress to another (separate) project issue that came up Friday followed by roughly 4 hrs of work on Saturday and Sunday (with one trip to the office on Sunday) to try and bring a project (which I was told was under control) back to something manageable on Monday morning. Anyways, enough about that – all is done, water under the bridge as they say.
I am certainly ready to return home for good. I am very tired of dealing with people by phone and email. I am learning my capabilities to manage projects from a distance – it is much easier to do so when you can sit down with the person/people for 5-10 mins and go through in detail what is needed. Talking over the phone doesn’t have the same effect.
Throughout the course of my 6 months away from home, I have come to appreciate a lot of things along with learning things about myself:
I like my space – apartment living is not for me. As much as shoveling and cutting grass is “not fun”, there is something about having space that you can call your own that makes it ok.
I don’t like being by myself. I know, weird when I can be so quiet – but spending an hour FaceTiming Gwen everyday isn’t the same as being able to talk (or just listen) as we make dinner, do laundry, shovel, etc. I truly underestimated this fact going into this adventure.
Combined with number 2, when there is no one (or nothing) to occupy my time, I tend to be consumed by work. I need to draw better lines between “work time” and “personal time”. It’s too easy to say “hmm, nothing to do, might as well read email” or “work on this report” or whatever might need to be done.
The philosophy in Montreal (at work) is very much “production, production, production” whereas other modification centres (such as Tucson) it has a more relaxed or realistic feel. I guess I feel I have better control over the destiny of the projects there than in Montreal where it is very much “here is what we want and better get”.
I have difficulty delegating. Big surprise, I knew this already. However, I have learned why this is – I expect people to be autonomous like myself, to be able to act with little direction provided, search out potential solutions and then talk to the proper people to validate if those solutions are viable. I guess I need to learn how to delegate better – provide guidance and training and check in more often.
I guess it is all part of the experience of working away from home. You get to experience new things and learn about yourself in the mean time.
Well, time to iron some pants for work tomorrow. Hope to blog again soon.
Adam Coolidge, E.I.T.
Certification Specialist / Program Manager Montreal Completions
ACS-NAI Ltd., EMTEQ Canada
Office: (514) 855-5001 ext 50665
Cell: (204) 226-2761
Email: acoolidge@emteq.com
Website: www.acs-nai.com
It’s clear and sunny on the flight to Denver right now. I’m strangely hungry, I ate a salad at TGI Fridays but I guess that wasn’t enough substance after the copious amounts of ham, meat balls, turkey and other food from the Easter festivities this weekend.
I had a great time this weekend, much more so than my birthday weekend. I’m still upset about that – that weekend started off “great” (rolling eyes) as major project issues came to head on Thursday late in the day as I was driving home… It continued to progress to another (separate) project issue that came up Friday followed by roughly 4 hrs of work on Saturday and Sunday (with one trip to the office on Sunday) to try and bring a project (which I was told was under control) back to something manageable on Monday morning. Anyways, enough about that – all is done, water under the bridge as they say.
I am certainly ready to return home for good. I am very tired of dealing with people by phone and email. I am learning my capabilities to manage projects from a distance – it is much easier to do so when you can sit down with the person/people for 5-10 mins and go through in detail what is needed. Talking over the phone doesn’t have the same effect.
Throughout the course of my 6 months away from home, I have come to appreciate a lot of things along with learning things about myself:
I like my space – apartment living is not for me. As much as shoveling and cutting grass is “not fun”, there is something about having space that you can call your own that makes it ok.
I don’t like being by myself. I know, weird when I can be so quiet – but spending an hour FaceTiming Gwen everyday isn’t the same as being able to talk (or just listen) as we make dinner, do laundry, shovel, etc. I truly underestimated this fact going into this adventure.
Combined with number 2, when there is no one (or nothing) to occupy my time, I tend to be consumed by work. I need to draw better lines between “work time” and “personal time”. It’s too easy to say “hmm, nothing to do, might as well read email” or “work on this report” or whatever might need to be done.
The philosophy in Montreal (at work) is very much “production, production, production” whereas other modification centres (such as Tucson) it has a more relaxed or realistic feel. I guess I feel I have better control over the destiny of the projects there than in Montreal where it is very much “here is what we want and better get”.
I have difficulty delegating. Big surprise, I knew this already. However, I have learned why this is – I expect people to be autonomous like myself, to be able to act with little direction provided, search out potential solutions and then talk to the proper people to validate if those solutions are viable. I guess I need to learn how to delegate better – provide guidance and training and check in more often.
I guess it is all part of the experience of working away from home. You get to experience new things and learn about yourself in the mean time.
Well, time to iron some pants for work tomorrow. Hope to blog again soon.
Adam Coolidge, E.I.T.
Certification Specialist / Program Manager Montreal Completions
ACS-NAI Ltd., EMTEQ Canada
Office: (514) 855-5001 ext 50665
Cell: (204) 226-2761
Email: acoolidge@emteq.com
Website: www.acs-nai.com
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