"I'm not standing on the edge of the cliff waiting to jump in the lake, because I've already done that... I'm swimming across now, but can't see either shore..."
- Me, describing to a dear friend (and fellow expat) about what I'm feeling at the moment)
In other random news- I've finished a draft of my presentation for The Conference, and am waiting for my Boss to tell me what he thinks... I was asked if I could think of any training I wanted, even if it isn't directly work related- if it can fall under "personal development," work will pay for it... i'm going on a team-building trip to London at the end of the month,which will probably include a show (will be way fun)... I've finished reading Harry Potter #7, but won't write anything here about it for a while because I don't want to spoil it for anyone!...
And yes, for the ONE PERSON who asked me- Northampton is one of the very few places in England that has escaped the Katrina-esque flooding.
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Saturday, 21 July 2007
End of season party
Last night was the end-of-season party, and it was definitely an eventful night. I was on show duty, and about 10 minutes before the two (yes, we had both venues going with around 1,400 people in the building) shows were supposed to start, a massively loud alarm goes off. I've got my radio, so I can hear what's going on, but nobody's making an announcement... the issue was solved before the "evacuate the building" auto-response went off, though. So both shows started way late because of "technical difficulties."
Then, when box office met in the telesales room for our little pre-party two hours later (box office is closed at this point, so we're all off-duty), an alarm goes off again. We're all dressed up for a good party, we just opened two bottles of champagne and poured it into the nine glasses, and there goes the alarm :-P we sprint into the foyer and I snag the radio as I run through my office. So there are nine of us, in our makeup, heels, (smart shirts for the guys) and we're ready for action. It was like the box office version of the "super rescue hero team" or something. Some of us hold the front doors open while others direct patrons to the waiting area outside (yeah, we had to evacuate one of the theatres this time- thank god it was the small one).
The party itself was fabulous. After alarm crises were over, we reconvened in the telesales room with our champagne, prizes, and a little bit of german schnapps brought back from Berlin (the last bit was only for Supervisor, Deputy and me). By the time we were done, the official staff party was warming up, and that involved another couple glasses of wine and a bit of dancing. Deputy and I snuck out just before midnight to pick up Harry Potter (more on harry in a minute), then went back for ending of the staff party. Once things were shutting down at work, most of us headed to the Official Pub of the place where I work. Then some of my sales advisors thought it would be fun to play "let's get the boss more drunk than she already is." (I do want to say that I was never at the point where I'd do or say something regrettable). Involved a vodka and RedBull, a shot of sambucca, and lots of sips of various beers and ales including Guinness, then massive quantities of water. I was pretty shattered by the time I left for home at 3am (I promised myself I wouldn't look at my watch if I was having fun, so I didn't know what time it was until I was home and setting my alarm so I could get up at 7am).
It was hilarious this morning at work. I was doing alright, actually, which surprised me a bit. But I woke up one of the sales advisors when I called to ask where he was- I had a strong suspicion he was passed out from the night, and he was. He comes running in 10 minutes later, just completely wrecked. He looked like hell, and his polo shirt was so wrinkled, and he kept apologising and saying it was so unprofessional of him, and I thought he would cry. Very funny. And the whole day was full of talking to people who were in various states of recovery. It was a massive party, and I had a ton of fun and was very happy with myself.
Ok, this post is way too long, and I've been putting off reading Harry Potter for too long now, so I have to stop. I must bite the bullet and come to grips that this is the last Harry Potter novel and that no matter how long I put it off, the series will end. Besides, I should read it before I accidentally hear a verified plot spoiler.
Then, when box office met in the telesales room for our little pre-party two hours later (box office is closed at this point, so we're all off-duty), an alarm goes off again. We're all dressed up for a good party, we just opened two bottles of champagne and poured it into the nine glasses, and there goes the alarm :-P we sprint into the foyer and I snag the radio as I run through my office. So there are nine of us, in our makeup, heels, (smart shirts for the guys) and we're ready for action. It was like the box office version of the "super rescue hero team" or something. Some of us hold the front doors open while others direct patrons to the waiting area outside (yeah, we had to evacuate one of the theatres this time- thank god it was the small one).
The party itself was fabulous. After alarm crises were over, we reconvened in the telesales room with our champagne, prizes, and a little bit of german schnapps brought back from Berlin (the last bit was only for Supervisor, Deputy and me). By the time we were done, the official staff party was warming up, and that involved another couple glasses of wine and a bit of dancing. Deputy and I snuck out just before midnight to pick up Harry Potter (more on harry in a minute), then went back for ending of the staff party. Once things were shutting down at work, most of us headed to the Official Pub of the place where I work. Then some of my sales advisors thought it would be fun to play "let's get the boss more drunk than she already is." (I do want to say that I was never at the point where I'd do or say something regrettable). Involved a vodka and RedBull, a shot of sambucca, and lots of sips of various beers and ales including Guinness, then massive quantities of water. I was pretty shattered by the time I left for home at 3am (I promised myself I wouldn't look at my watch if I was having fun, so I didn't know what time it was until I was home and setting my alarm so I could get up at 7am).
It was hilarious this morning at work. I was doing alright, actually, which surprised me a bit. But I woke up one of the sales advisors when I called to ask where he was- I had a strong suspicion he was passed out from the night, and he was. He comes running in 10 minutes later, just completely wrecked. He looked like hell, and his polo shirt was so wrinkled, and he kept apologising and saying it was so unprofessional of him, and I thought he would cry. Very funny. And the whole day was full of talking to people who were in various states of recovery. It was a massive party, and I had a ton of fun and was very happy with myself.
Ok, this post is way too long, and I've been putting off reading Harry Potter for too long now, so I have to stop. I must bite the bullet and come to grips that this is the last Harry Potter novel and that no matter how long I put it off, the series will end. Besides, I should read it before I accidentally hear a verified plot spoiler.
Monday, 9 July 2007
Ask, and ye shall receive (if I'm in a good mood!)
Some of you asked, so here it is- a recent-ish picture of me. Not the best, but it'll have to do for now. And for those of you who are going to yell at me for not being 'secure'-oh well, too bad :-) Do you have any idea how many people put pictures up of their new babies? How many of them get stolen every year? And besides, why would anyone want to steal me?
I finally worked in my second office today. I've had that room since the day I started work (over four months ago, now!), and I can't believe this is the first time I finally broke down and essentially told everyone to leave me the hell alone so I could get real work done. And I was able to check 5 shows in an hour and a half (three of them being 21 performance runs). Too bad I still don't have a second Supervisor so I could spend more time upstairs by myself. I have no idea when it's going to be finally sorted.
As you can see, nothing interesting to report today. I didn't go to a certain party tonight because I'm still a little under the weather, though immensely better than even yesterday. And I might get a Nintendo Wii. I've been saying for over two weeks now that I need to sort out a gym membership, but I haven't done it. I'm afraid it's a precursor to what will happen if I *do* finally manage to get myself over there- I get a membership, and then don't use it. However, I can spend a little bit more, get a Nintendo Wii which has a bajillion sports games with it, and I know I'll play that a hell of a lot more because I can do it in the privacy of my own home ;-) Excuse? Possibly. More fun than a gym? Hell yes.
I finally worked in my second office today. I've had that room since the day I started work (over four months ago, now!), and I can't believe this is the first time I finally broke down and essentially told everyone to leave me the hell alone so I could get real work done. And I was able to check 5 shows in an hour and a half (three of them being 21 performance runs). Too bad I still don't have a second Supervisor so I could spend more time upstairs by myself. I have no idea when it's going to be finally sorted.
As you can see, nothing interesting to report today. I didn't go to a certain party tonight because I'm still a little under the weather, though immensely better than even yesterday. And I might get a Nintendo Wii. I've been saying for over two weeks now that I need to sort out a gym membership, but I haven't done it. I'm afraid it's a precursor to what will happen if I *do* finally manage to get myself over there- I get a membership, and then don't use it. However, I can spend a little bit more, get a Nintendo Wii which has a bajillion sports games with it, and I know I'll play that a hell of a lot more because I can do it in the privacy of my own home ;-) Excuse? Possibly. More fun than a gym? Hell yes.
Sunday, 8 July 2007
Tuna Fish
I don't think I'm going to be eating a tuna sandwich again anytime soon. I had one on Friday for lunch, and by Friday night, I was a little rumbly in my tummy (and not because I was hungry). By the time I woke up on Saturday morning, I was in full-blown food poison mode. What really sucked was that I absolutely had to go into work anyway, because I was supposed to close, and the supervisor that opened couldn't do a double because she had to go to her second job afterwards. So I drag myself in an hour and a half late, and basically sit at my desk with my head down for the afternoon. But three separate people from other parts of the building came in to check on me, and offer their help. It was sweet. I feel a little bit better this morning (able to keep down two glasses of water and an ice pop so far), and am going out to the store in a few to buy medicine and soup (afraid to eat, but I know I have to). This was the first time I'd been sick here, so I guess you could call it a landmark of sorts. :-P
Something good did happen on Friday (actually two things). Flights are finally booked for the trip to Arizona, and we're going a day earlier than planned, which means we'll have the Sunday to chill out by the pool. We're also taking a night flight out on Sunday, which means all day Friday and Saturday, and part of Sunday, in New York. So if any of you in New York want to do something... I'm taking suggestions ;-)
Even better than booking flights is this: my Deputy Manager and I were having a meeting with My Boss, and he showed me the email requesting him to do a presentation at the conference. He said he didn't want to do it, even if we wrote it for him. I countered with the idea that it would be a major prestige thing, and it would be good for Our Company's visibility. My Boss then says, "I think you should do it." What?!? He said "it would be so good for you- everyone will see that you're in England now, and that you're special, and that you're good enough to do this." (kind of a polite way of saying "screw you" to everyone that didn't hire me in the States). So, I'm doing a presentation at the conference now, but I only have two weeks to put it together before it has to be mailed off. I am supposed to be getting help from everyone at work, though. I'll let you all know how it turns out! And, I don't know if it's due to karma or what, the Tessitura person overseeing this particular session is someone I worked with in Santa Fe :-) Happy Days.
Something good did happen on Friday (actually two things). Flights are finally booked for the trip to Arizona, and we're going a day earlier than planned, which means we'll have the Sunday to chill out by the pool. We're also taking a night flight out on Sunday, which means all day Friday and Saturday, and part of Sunday, in New York. So if any of you in New York want to do something... I'm taking suggestions ;-)
Even better than booking flights is this: my Deputy Manager and I were having a meeting with My Boss, and he showed me the email requesting him to do a presentation at the conference. He said he didn't want to do it, even if we wrote it for him. I countered with the idea that it would be a major prestige thing, and it would be good for Our Company's visibility. My Boss then says, "I think you should do it." What?!? He said "it would be so good for you- everyone will see that you're in England now, and that you're special, and that you're good enough to do this." (kind of a polite way of saying "screw you" to everyone that didn't hire me in the States). So, I'm doing a presentation at the conference now, but I only have two weeks to put it together before it has to be mailed off. I am supposed to be getting help from everyone at work, though. I'll let you all know how it turns out! And, I don't know if it's due to karma or what, the Tessitura person overseeing this particular session is someone I worked with in Santa Fe :-) Happy Days.
Sunday, 1 July 2007
Spooked
I went to work on Friday afternoon, and on the noticeboard was a two-page fax from the local police department warning entertainment venues to be extra vigilant "due to what happened in London this morning." So I hop on the computer and find out that there were two car bombs, that thankfully didn't go off. Both were in the entertainment districts in London, and both had the capacity to potentially kill hundreds of people. I think to myself "ok, glad it wasn't here" and went on with my day. Later on, I read that there was a "suspicious" package at the airport in Ibiza (Spain- one of the most popular places for the British on holiday) that the authorities did a controlled explosion on. Then yesterday, I read that a flaming car tried to ram itself into the terminal at Glasgow airport. It didn't make it all the way in the doors, so someone got out of the car and tried to push it further inside.
Any one of those incidents on their own wouldn't have bothered me. I think having all the terror alerts all the time in the States helps numb, but all of those incidents within 36 hours of each other, in such a small area, aimed at British citizens, the week before the 2nd anniversary of the London Tube bombings, and the anniversary of the Madrid train bombing, the new prime minister of Great Britain taking office just this week, and the recent knighting of Salman Rushdie... it really made me on edge. Maybe because England is such a small island, and I feel like I couldn't get away from it if anything happened? I don't know... last night I was on the internet for far too long waiting for something else to happen. It's really hit home that I won't be able to escape terrorism, wherever I go. Anyone want to send a hug my way?
Any one of those incidents on their own wouldn't have bothered me. I think having all the terror alerts all the time in the States helps numb, but all of those incidents within 36 hours of each other, in such a small area, aimed at British citizens, the week before the 2nd anniversary of the London Tube bombings, and the anniversary of the Madrid train bombing, the new prime minister of Great Britain taking office just this week, and the recent knighting of Salman Rushdie... it really made me on edge. Maybe because England is such a small island, and I feel like I couldn't get away from it if anything happened? I don't know... last night I was on the internet for far too long waiting for something else to happen. It's really hit home that I won't be able to escape terrorism, wherever I go. Anyone want to send a hug my way?
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