Tag: Work

Photo by slgckgc, used under Creative Commons license

I would have to drink all six bottles before I’d put that CD in

Dan Dickinson2 Comments

My life right now is being measured in bite-sized chunks, less than two weeks at a time.

Last Monday, the 7th, I let my colleagues know that I’d be leaving my job in nine days. I’d been there for twelve years (fourteen total if you include my first stint) so it surprised a lot of people. There were lots of last coffees, lots handshakes, and lots of questions. I nixed any formal farewell, but did spend a few final hours with my team at Hair Of The Dog, and had drinks with friends at Caren’s. My friends and colleagues, knowing me very well and spoiling me entirely, bought me six tremendous bottles of plonk about which I’m fairly excited:

  • Maison Roche De Bellene 2009 Clos de Vougeot Pinot Noir
  • M. Chapoutier 2007 Monier de la Sizeranne Syrah
  • Domaine Bernard Defaix 2010 Cote de Lechet Chablis
  • Louis Jadot 2010 Boucherottes Pinot Noir
  • Piper Heidsieck champagne
  • Glen Breton 10 year old whisky

Oh, and a Miley Cyrus CD, just to make me wince. So it was a 9-day sprint to wrap up all my work and admin tasks before Wednesday. At 5pm I handed in my pass and Blackberry (yay!) and left the building. I took Thursday and Friday off to give myself a four-day stretch in which to relax a bit, but mostly knock some travel- and condo-related tasks off my list.

On Monday I’ll start my new job. It’s in roughly the same domain, still in Toronto. I wasn’t looking for a new job — I had no particular desire to leave my old one — but this seems like a pretty great opportunity, and I’m excited for Monday. I’m not fussed about such a short break between jobs; like my grandfather always said: “A change is as good as a rest.”

So I’ll have two weeks at the new job, and then we’re off to Africa. We got the last of our shots earlier this week, and apart from some fresh bug spray we have pretty much everything we need. A few days in Cape Town, a few in Stellenbosch, a few in Botswana, and a few in the air, and we’re back.

In my Thanksgiving post earlier this week I didn’t relate any of the many things for which I’m thankful, but it’s safe to say that great friends and two new adventures would make the list.

.:.

Photo by slgckgc, used under Creative Commons license

The riveting adventures of sicky and worky

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So far this weekend I’ve barely left the office. Meanwhile Nellie’s allergies are so bad she’s been laid low by all the Benadryl she’s been taking. We did manage to watch Brothers (imdb | rotten tomatoes) late last night, which was okay. Now all I want to do is lie on the couch, turn off my brain, watch The Pacific and Treme and try to fight off this cold I can feel coming on.

In other news it turns out I like the caffe mocha. Who knew?

Gone quiet

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You might have noticed that I’m hardly blogging these days. I’m also not reading most of my news feeds, and I don’t even turn on my Twitter client anymore most of the time.

Whyzat?

In short: work. I’m spending more hours than usual in the office these days (late evenings, and Sunday is now a regular work day) and when I’m there I’m either away from my desk or busy as ass. Even when I’m not in the office work dominates my thoughts.

You know what else? I love it. I love my work right now. It’s not without the occasional frustration, of course, but overall it just feels good.

So, things like blogging and my news junkieism are falling away. And, to be honest, I don’t really miss them that much. Also, with Nellie working equally long hours we’ve found ways to make the most of our few moments together, like dinners at North 44 or, uh, pouring IV fluids into our cat. So yeah, everything’s coming up Milhouse.

Don’t get me wrong, though, I am gonna enjoy the hell out of those three days off over Christmas.

Less Joe Mauer. More Ryan Howard.

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I’m still trying to get some work done — brilliance often strikes around midnight, right? — so no interesting blog topics tonight. This week has been bad for imagination and insight. Too much happening at work, not enough brain downtime at home, let alone time to get non-work stuff done. We haven’t had groceries in the house since Sunday morning. We’ve been on subsistence pizza for days.

Meanwhile the weather’s turned to shit, which normally would turn my mood black as pitch, but it’s not like I’m paying attention to what’s outside. Still, though…I don’t hate my days. I hate some of what happened at work today, but not most of it. I think having the right co-workers, and especially the right boss, makes up for a lot of down.

That’s it. Enough. I’ve been trying to hit for average all week. Tomorrow I’m swingin’ for the fences.