Friday, September 22, 2006

OH MY GOD!!!! - my most favoritest part of oktober

About 3 years ago a friend invited me to Oktoberfest in Mt Tam... I went 'cause I thought it might be fun - nature and beer normally go so well together.

I had a blast and have ever since been trying to get back to that festival. It is rarely publisized (meaning you have to be in-to get in) nor talked about outside of given circles...I came across this by accident.

Address: 3115 Butters Drive, Oakland 94602. Phone: (510) 531-2930.
Directions: From Hwy 13 Exit Joaquin Miller Rd., take that road about 1/4 mile up the hill, turn Right on Butters & go about 1/2 mile. Look for a small sign and a steep downhill driveway on the right side, taking you to their parking area. A huge outdoor dance floor is on the left, and the clubhouse is on the right. The dance floor has an incredible view of Oakland, San Francisco, the Bay and the Peninsula. Not as much shade on this dance floor, so wear a good sun hat.

The Date:
Oktoberfest II - Oct 1 - Johnny Krische Band


The fest is 1-6 p.m. Admission around $10.


I would suggest that you come with...It's going to be awesome. Good beer, good food and friendly people.

Monday, September 18, 2006

4 year anniversary

I just realized...this blog will be turning 4 soon. Damn. who knew I could keep this up for this long.

Work drama!

Updates? nothing big, but its everything to do with the fact that I haven't worked at a large company...ever. So all of this, everyday of this, is new to me. Now whether or not this is good - has yet to be determined. Regardless I am beginning to see that what it does mean is that I am going to have to learn how to fight my way out of the muck and find a nice little spot on a rock above it all.

How long that will take? I'm not sure. Regardless I'm going to have to get on it. I need to find that little place of isolation where the rest of this can't reach me. Now I don't actually think that this will or even could happen. I'm not that stupid.

Anyway.. week 4 and still am feeling completely clueless and haven't got a firm grip on the reality that is quickly forming around me. and Bam!! thrust into it. I'm doing slip-shod work 'cause I have no guidance and an overwhelming sense that something...anything needs to simply be produced. (which in the end isn't great.)

The Background:
Day one - walk through the door... and get the preverbial "hot potato." My boss wants me to re-work a program and deliver it in two weeks. I say okay, not even having sat down at my computer to establish what my freakin login is. When I do get the chance to sit down and take a look at this "thing" that she wants me to rework...there is no way on gods green earth that it can be done. I have no superpowers. (boy I wish I did though...probably the ability to stop time... that always seemed cool...)

I get a new estimate for my boss cobbled together...but this is based on the prospect that I have at least 3 other people helping me out on this. I set the date for the end of September. I get to work trying to find out who can help me. nobody bites. Now everyone is very helpful in offering they "assistance" but I find that this translates to, "I will tell you what I could do If I was re-creating this, but I cant actually help you do anything." SO I'm going it on my own. I think that I can actually do it, so I break my back and work for nearly 3 weeks straight...bringing work home every evening and in many cases waking up early to get to work by 6:30 am.

I send out the best alpha versions of the program that I can slap-dash together in about 5 days and no tools. (they can't install the software I need to develop this crappy program because of some beauracratic bullshit number was placed in the wrong field...)

I ask for feedback... I say two days (since it's just a review...real quick , I think) 8 days later I get the feedback I need. I now have to adjust my schedule because of this time warp that everyone else was in (8 days = 2 days) and then proceed to update my boss on the situation. I kow-tow as best I can and explain to the best of my abilities that "I was too agressive with my timelines." Cross my fingers and press the send button. Two minutes later I get a phone call...

long story short... the e-mail got circulated all the way up to the director of the department. Now Instead of a simple time adjustment I'm seen as gumming up the works...when in fact it was never me to begin with.

I'm coping with it. I'm passing the buck as best I can...but it still sucks. "It's only my fourth week" i keep having to remind myself. But thats beginnging to sound like a simpering whiney reply to "get to work."

christ.

I only hope that it doesn't stay this way.