To WI and back

Had a productive work trip to Waupaca, WI. My only concern was getting stuck at airport due to unpredictable weather. I flew via Chicago the onward flight was delayed a little bit but still made it on time, was a good hour drive form there due to lousy weather. I got back really late last night around 2am as I chose to come home rather than take an early flight next day as I wanted to be home morning when kids wake up plus had an early training session, which I just made it, so luckily no weather issue delays. There was a fresh layer of snow I had to deal with on my car as I left the car at the airport and couldnt find closed parking previous day and had to leave it on the top open floor.

AG this mornign was excited with snow in accmulated in the balcony. AL narrated about her getting a boo boo and she falling in the parking lot (which happened a few weeks back). They dream so much I think nowadays the first thing they wake up is narrate stuff to me like it just happened. About some kid or animals or some fire trucks, fire alarms, boo-boos and so on. Simple dreams that they weave from the characters and situations occuring in their small but rapidly growing and pure world :-)

Work From Home

So officially work-from-home days are being numbered. Its almost a year that I have worked from home (10-11 months) and I am looking forward to transition into an office environment soon, although a little nervous. Undoubtedly this has been one of the best things to happen ever. I started working since girls were 7 months old and they now 16 months and have been working from home with my twin girls with a nanny full time initially to help me during the day. Then parents came over to spend time and help us out for 6 months. And finally we transitioned the girls to daycare and I am transitioning back to 'the office'.

If you ask me I do not enjoy work-from-home in general. I love the hustle-bustle of the office environment. It helps you focus and seperate the work and family life which I prefer. I also enjoy interacting with people etc. But having young babies WFH was a huge blessing and in some sense a miracle for me. Simply cos for my kind of job profile WFH is not an easy option. I was able to watch my babies so closely grow and witness them reach various milestones while having a career that I am really grateful for. Mom always says how she wished she had this option back in the days. She has been a working mother, neither her nor I regret her NOT staying at home (more on that later). But an occasional work from home option would have been nice :-)

But personally for me it helps me have a better routine when I 'go' to work. An occasional day here and there is fine, sometimes it helps you get more work done if your bogged down by meetings at work. But overall having exposure to office environment feels more healthy some how for me. And especially at this point of time when kids also are into daycare. ...It will definitely take me a few days to fall into a proper routine though :-).

My two cents, but its rather banal: Key to WFH is sticking to routine and timings. Overlap between personal and work life to some extent is unavoidable (we have to be realistic), but WFH teaches you to really  'prioritize'  in your life. There might be an occasional setback of either work or family life (children's sickness or important deadline at work perhaps?)  but of course if either really slips or ends up impacting another part of your life, you are not doing something right?

I dont take a 'lunch' break at work, I eat at my desk and take a short walk or some such break. So taking the whole lunch hour at home does not work for me. But I guess for someone who is used to it, they should definitely take the time out. I used it for running errands like bank or quick grocery or pharma purchases or cook dinner, but rarely. Plus since some of my colleagues were on EST and most of them on PST I could start and finish early or start late and finish late. So luckily I could adjust the day based on how it progressed with kids. Of course meetings are meetings no escaping there. I usually logged in late after kids slept for 2 hours at night (8 to 10 typically) so I could get some time for myself and finish any pending tasks at work plus the feeling of sleeping babies is itself very soothing. So over all I made it work and I completed all my tasks. I was also lucky in the sense that the brand I was working for was relatively a 'low hanging fruit' so results of my performance were evident.

I was also very careful the kids should not be heard in any meetings or chats. I was very conscious of that and made the best use of the mute button. I feel it can rub some people in the wrong way. Every one has different mentalities and when you hear some one is working from home, some can over-analyze the positives rather than the challenges. I was wary that it could be interpreted as me enjoying time with kids along with work while others are putting in those long hours in an office. Yes I dont undermine use of some basic Psycology at work. :-)

Concord

Concord is a seperate city in itself indeed. Work is only 10 miles from home/Waltham and there is a drastic change in temperatures and even weather as soon as I take the exit. Its been pouring since last night there was no snow though. Enter Concord and a fresh layer of snow is being washed away with the rain. Ah! nature I tell you!

Mix-up

I keep saying “Saturday” for “Friday” and everybody is getting freaked out with the thought of having to work on a Saturday.

It’s been a week and I keep saying it, not sure why.

T-D-H Managers

Looks like every Tom, Dick and Harry is becoming a Manager these days. Dealing with one such PM in close quarters. Sigh! and then that attitude! Good Lord! Some people are just not ready yet for that tag and theys should know it deep down. One would think?

MW

At work today I was going to warm my lunch in the microwave and as soon as I opened the microwave it smelled of some meat dish. It really upset me. Somehow the smell of cooked meat (not just sea food) is something I cannot take. In New Zealand I had quit warming my food in the microwave because of this but the advantage was my mom cooked fresh lunch in the morning to take it to work. And it wasn’t that cold to have it in matter of 3-4 hours (8am – 12pm). But I am not like my mother in that aspect. I prefer finishing all my cooking at night if it’s a working day the following day, heck I even have to have my breakfast ready. Anyway that means I have to pack lunch after dinner and keep it in the refrigerator all ready and packed for next day morning (only then can I sleep peacefully). That also means my food is really cold and I have to use a microwave next day to consume it for lunch. But today the ‘stink’ if I may say, was really bad, and the thought of that smelly ‘meat’ fumes settling on my vegetarian home made food is simply yuck and unappetizing. I am not saying nobody should eat meat just cos I don’t, to each his own, but I just don’t want it interfering with my food.

Wish I could have a separate microwave for vegetarians only……..


Maybe I should carry my own MW cover?

Canada!

Officially my 'Canadian connection' has come to an end. Closed my TD bank account - snif! snif!

It was simply great working in Toronto, Canada and I met some wonderful people at work. I really miss my colleagues and boss. Oh the best boss I have worked for ever! bla! bla! bla! :)

I hope P & I have the stamina to take up another adventure before we head home and thus complete a full circle.....

H1N1/Swine flu

Last week the first Swine flu /H1N1 case was lodged at work. We got this email about a colleague (whose details will not be revealed) who caught the flu and is expected to fully recover. Hand santizers, wipes etc have been increased everywhere. As if my addiction to Purell wasn't enough its now become an obsession. I hate touching surfaces and especially door knobs and restroom doors. Pouring that Purell all over my palms every couple of hours. I think they should reveal who it is my colleagues spent time wondering who was missing work. And my department happens to be in a seperate room so that was some solace, maybe? Media here is definitely supressing it here. I still see regular reports in NZ and Indian newspapers online, that its getting pretty bad and scary!

Phew!

I finally made through most dreaded experience which I have been thinking about for weeks. Got my US work visa stamped at Vancouver. I have cribbed earlier about this and each time experience gets only worse. Dealing with DOS or USCIS is painful. My interview was on a Wednesday. I had flown into Seattle Monday night (BTW Deval Patrick, Governer of MA was in the same flight as me on Jetblue) and taken the Greyhound to Vancouver on Tuesday(Greyhound and my trips to Canada - hopefully this is the last one :)) It took 4-5 hours on the bus to get there. I had to take the Sky Train to get to that part of downtown where my hotel was booked. First thing you notice about Vancouver is undoubtedly the scenic views. Beautiful snow capped mountains as a backdrop to the downtown. Its picture perfect. Unfortunately there were quite a few beggars - people seemed to attribute the warmer weather as the reason. As soon as I would reach out for coins for the sky train someone would attack me for a dollar! And I am somehow afraid of beggars. Yes! one of the many things I fear in life, so it was not very pleasent in that sense.

My interview was a disaster, everything that could go wrong went wrong. The Visa Officer was a Fraud Prevention Manager and he just let it all out on me. Basically I lived through the typical Murthy dot com forum case/scenario. I had booked the hotel for only 2 days so I extended in another hotel for 4 days. The previous hotel was not in a comfortable location for me. By this time I couldnt take it; 3 days had passed and I requested my DH to come down and be with me for the weekend as I could not re-enter US and asked him to get extra clothes etc for me. I was basically close to implementing Plan B (and I was secretly relieved). As soon as the weekend passed things changed dramatically. I had provided the additional documents requested on Monday and the Officer called me and asked me to drop my Passport for the visa next day. In a day my visa was processed as if nothing had ever happened and before I knew we were driving back to Seattle on Tuesday. So it took a whole week for the process. Probably if someone reads my post might claim I just complain a lot, but hey I am human and in fact this post dosent justify my experience completely. I do not want it to actually. My experience was much worse than I state here.

After this experience my Plan B has only become more firm now and actually become my Plan A. It will happen very soon. I hope it does!

God & Destiny - you both owe me now! come on! :)

Close of a chapter:

Another chapter in my life is complete. My last working day today. Emails are pouring in from colleagues wishing me success and others stating they will miss me. Whether all of them mean it or not its making me very sentimental. I have been working for such long hours continously last one year and become so attached to the company. Now I am so sad to let go of it. I will be feeling low today definitely. Added pressure being everyone asking me that I quit my job when the economy is at its worst. I just did what I thought was best for me.

I am happy that my Manager did everything possible to keep me and he really wanted me. I am glad he really thought I was value-adding and an asset to the department and company. I am glad that its me who let go of the company (and not the other way around).

I know everything happens for the best!

And so it begins ...

Last week at my job. Its kind of hard trying to unload and handover all my responsibilities. Its the experience that comes with the job and comfort level developed that cannot be passed on. Moreover me being me, I get attached to people, places and things so easily. So feeling sad and emotional to let go of it. Yeah! yeah I have read the banal statements of how 'nothing is permanent but change' and so on. But again me being me, I also know that I will get over it pretty soon, like some things in the past. Especially considering I have a trip coming up to the west coast next week, which will be an adventure in itself.

Its been a pretty cold winter so far. Spring seems far, far away.

Hajjar things on my mind as usual!

And...

How do I manage to always quit right before there will be a performance review?

I have never experienced a pay hike in my career so far ; moved countries every single time
boo! hoo! :-)

I know that...

..this is going to be a crazy week at work. My boss and I both go on vacation next week and there will be so much to get done this week. I am sure I will be logging in even during my vacation at least for half hour everyday.

DH may not be accompanying me on the vacation trip to meet my school mates - sigh! I am excited about the trip, to meet the girls after such a long time, but will miss him obviously.

....

Another work trip to Toronto for 2 days - nothing eventful other than a rather turbulent flight landing because of scattered showers in Boston. Luckily didnt snow much in Canada either. It was nice to see and be greeted by all colleagues. Also coincidentally enjoyed the Christmas lunch and was in time to receive the holiday gift card ;)

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A good long shower or bath is never the same if its not your bathroom in your own home. I acknowledge this to myself everytime I come back from a trip and shower at home! I might fall asleep sometimes (even though it rarely happens) if its not my bed, but a shower, naah!

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Madame Uncertainty is trying to creep into my life again - off you go!

Routine

Work from home isn't fun - hopping from one room to the next to work and then hop to the next room after work to catch up with family life. Miss the hustle bustle at work - the gossip, the atmosphere and most importantly the monthly sample bag. Not to mention the time I spend on the phone and chasing people through endless emails and phone calls. After all its the question of ensuring the production line is running.......sigh!

I escaped a trip to Elkhart, Indiana this week, my very kind Boss went instead. But ended up working 14 hours for the last 2 days. Lack of sleep - exhaustion - less said the better about Monday and Tuesday.

I watched Khiladiyon ka Khiladi yesterday - pathetic movie. .....sigh! It had suddenly dawned on me to watch Akshay Kumar's Khiladi series ...bad choice!

Travel

Yet another work trip, this time Indiana again. Cold. Snow. First time driving experience when snowing for me. Flight delays. Almost the whole day was wasted and took 12 hours to get to Boston from South Bend - yes 3am to almost 3pm. I am never going back to mid-west in winter next time. Or at least not fly into smaller airports.

Environment friendly

Its been 3 weeks without a printer and I am managing my work well. Its a little hard at times but end of the day I am not wasting any paper. I hope I continue this way.

Need some speed!

Sometimes to make the most logical decision we keep evaluating a scenario way too much and thus delay the outcome, which is no longer as profitable as it would have been, had it been implemented sooner.

Excel

Cannot imagine work without MS Excel

End of a chapter

My Canadian adventure has come to an end for now; almost. At the end of this journey I am tierd, content, proud, motivated, a bit more experienced, and a bit more grown-up. :)After taking a little over a year long break at home after my wedding was close to heaven. The H1B not happening in the first round was a blessing in disguise, like most things are in life - a surprise package. First time in my life I was cooking, running a household with the man I love, got to spend quality time with inlaws who visited me. Did all the pending things like finishing my thesis, volunteering at Red cross etc etc.

After a year when I was applying for my H1B second time, I realized I had the opportunity to work in Canada. I sent the paper work and there was no looking back I got the first job I applied for. And next thing I know I was working Toronto in freezing temperatures in March 2008. I wanted to work for 6 months and come back , but it got extended additional one month and finally this weekend I moved back for good. I am proud of myself and my husband for experiencing Canada the way we did it. A lot of them tried to rub it in how difficult it is to be away from husband and how they wouldnt ever do it themselves etc etc. I didnt care. I knew it was temporary and I guess P and I have that maturity ; love and understanding and the strength to survive even if it is long distance for a short duration. We were both excited and now fulfilled with my mini adventure.

Though I continue to work for the organization until they find a replacement for me ; so maybe it would be next 1-2 months until I completely transition out. I pretty much bid everyone good bye at Rexdale. It was nice to know that I made a difference to the organization and my absence would be felt. I thought 7 months would be too less for anyone to be missed. But this was such a fast paced environment. That from day 1 it was hands on, nobody had the time to do any training, I just picked up stuff on the go, and contributed in whatever way I could to the team and the organization and it was a great experience over all.

Husband came to pick me up and we drove back all the way from Toronto to Boston. It was a wet day and I was extremely concerned with the driving conditions. It took us good 10 hours over all. Immigration was quick and customs check was not even done.

I plan to take a break again over the winter months, finish up with this job sitting at home.