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Friday, January 30, 2004
Last Day
This being my last day, I cleared off the computer of any personal files, etc. I took AIM off, so anyone trying to reach me today should try my cell (if we're on for the Parkway, for example) or e-mail me. Terry, if you're reading this, my sis is applying for a job at Dr. A's office, recommended by Tommata. Are you still on good terms with him? Anything she should know or mention? My advice to her was to be super friendly but professional and dress nice. I told her to remember that each of his patients are paying through the nose for a better nose, so they expect a certain level of service.
I was so excited this morning. I woke up when J-dog went to bed (Madden) 6AM and went straight to work. The rest of today involves loading the new web site and trying not to cry when I say good-bye to everybody. Then SURVIVOR this weekend, then my new job. At least I know what I'll be wearing during all of those activities. Since I'll be essentially walking to work from now on, I wore my high heeled boots today, my last day driving. This morning it was raining hard and there was traffic, even at 6:45- I won't miss that sort of thing at all. When you walk in the rain, you only get wet, not in some horrible accident. I'll probably still drive to work once a week or so, if I have class or when I move all my heavy books into my new office. I'm blathering on, aren't I? OK, I'll stop.
.: posted by Zemlet 10:05 AM
Thursday, January 29, 2004
This is Ground Control...
In my final days at my old job, I am revamping the web site. I have wanted to fix that damn web site ever since I laid eyes on the ad for this position. Here is a case in point:
before: http://www.conceptmarine.com/CMA_Services_Overview.html
bad navigation, everything is scrunched into the upper left corner and who can read the graphic?!
after: http://www.conceptmarine.com/services.htm
universal drop-down navigation and a graphic that might not be quite as stylish but at least you can read the damn thing... oh and there are actually links to more information on each heading- what a concept
Obviously still a work in progress, but every little bit makes me feel good. I had to say goodbye to Ken today, since he won't be in tomorrow, my last day. Very sad. But I'm so excited about my new job- eeeeeee. Oh! Crap! What will I wear my first day?! More later, back to work.
.: posted by Zemlet 5:56 PM
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
more condo photos
 |  | | as you can see, the great wall of boxes is now a medium hedge | don't worry, there are plenty of boxes left- this is the dining room
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|  |  | | It seems everywhere you turn, there are boxes... and yet... just on the other side of these... | the place is starting to look like home. Hey look, Big Momma fit on the entertainment center (just barely) you can also see the lovely flowers Laura sent- thanks!!! Through the passthru on the fridge is my offer letter |
.: posted by Zemlet 4:26 PM
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Trays
In case a certain Southern Belle is reading this- I think about you every day and hope you are well. I wanted to tell you I saw Cold Mountain, and it was quite good. You are right about Reneé stealing the show- this is pretty much the only thing I’ve liked her in. (I have not seen Bridget Jones' Diary.) I loved how Ada Monroe always carries drinks on trays- that just seems the height of North Carolina hospitality to me, and it reminded me of you. My mother always thought that drinks should go on trays (and have straws, but that is another matter). In both of your cases, I suspect it could just be an excuse to buy a lot of cool trays for different occasions.
I could not locate my big, round wooden tray before our move, so I now have an excuse to buy one too.
.: posted by Zemlet 11:35 AM
The Announcement
The aforementioned announcement can now be made: I?m leaving my job at CMA for a Senior Marketing position at a large professional services firm (3,600 employees world-wide) that specializes in Water Engineering. My first day at their Walnut Creek office will be February 2nd. As a result, some changes will occur to my blog. Regular readers will no longer see entries regarding:
- Complaints about working lengthy hours
- Complaints about working alone at night in a scary building
- Photos of particularly strange things found in the parking lot of said building
- Moaning about lack of vacation time
- Whining about having to work while sick
- Boring rants about long commutes
- Photos of Mailho
- Book and movie reviews by Ken
- Reprints of odd e-mails from Paul
- Retelling of songs sung with Kate
As you can see, this is a happy occasion, but also a slightly sad one. However, I am so excited, I can barely sleep!
.: posted by Zemlet 11:27 AM
Monday, January 19, 2004
Moved!
Well, we're moved into our new place and totally love it! I have a few things to grab from my old house, like the telescope, which I'll bring over when the weather clears up. As you can see from the photo below, our entry is currently known as "The Great Wall of Boxes". This image shows about half of Jonathan's collection of books and games. The stack is taller than I am. Damn, that boy loves his library!
I only have 2 boxes left to unpack in the kitchen and I've found my shoes (hurrah). You learn what is important to someone by what they unpack first. I got to work on the kitchen right away and totally ignored my desk. J started setting up the computers and finally had to set mine up for me so he could hook it up to the network and test everything out. I probably wouldn't have gotten to it until all my clothes were arranged, the bathroom unpacked and the kitchen totally settled. Just goes to show you what people's priorities are. Of course, I was reaping the benefits of the LAN last night when we played Neverwinter Nights until midnight.
For those of you who have been waiting for me to make an announcement- I am currently in negotiations (!) and will be able to report something soon. Stay tuned to this bat channel.
.: posted by Zemlet 12:07 PM
Monday, January 12, 2004
Dinner Party
I hosted a dinner party for eight at my house in Oakland. It was a last hurrah to bid farewell to a formal dining room with full-sized table. I had never done a sit down dinner for that many people- so hard to keep that much food hot! I probably put the same amount of effort into feeding 8, as I did feeding 55 with appetizers. It was fun, but I am recalling now why I usually do buffet. Anyway a lot of folks asked me for the recipes, so I wrote them all out here. Some are of my own devising, so I don't really have clear measurements. I like reading recipes and cooking, but for some reason have a hard time combining those activities, especially when it comes time to actually make something. I also tend to alter recipes based on things I know I'll have in the house. Like one calls for dried corriander, I never have that so I skip it, the same one also wants canned italian style tomatoes. I never use that either, but I have tons of plain pasta sauce in the cupboard, so I substitute. I highly recommend trying the croustades recipe. It is quick and easy and makes a nifty appetizer no matter what you put it in (well, as long as you use some cute garnish). Everyone seemed to like the fennel salad with pomegranate, which, if you borrow somebody's mandolin (thanks, Melissa!) and then do not cut your fingertips off, is a snap to make and turns out very sophisticated.
Anyhow, the party was actually for book club and we read "The Orchid Thief" so the menu is themed with that in mind. I made paper orchids for cocktail picks and napkin rings and used all my new plates.
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.: posted by Zemlet 6:05 PM
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Wait... it's... beer?
So, "Craig the Tall" (so dubbed by Kate, then later bastardized by Jesús into "Tall Hall") came by the office the other day bearing gifts for a lucky chosen few. We are clients of his, so this isn't too far fetched a thing to happen. There are many tangents this story could take now, but I will choose this one:
I love to get presents and was so excited he included me as a receiver, that I didn't pay it much mind, proceeding instead of chatter away with him. It looked like champagne of some sort in an oversized magnum. I come to find out today it is BEER. In a magnum. And not just any bottle- one that is ENORMOUS. You can see in the photo how dwarfed my hands are by this potent potable.
So who recalls when I decided I needed a new boyfriend and how I was going to go about attracting one? That's right, I put good beer in the fridge with the firm notion that this would magically bring men to my house. The plan was, these men would show up at the house, be offered the beer I had cleverly preloaded in the refrigerator, drink it, then ask me out to a free dinner. (It worked really well, by the way, so try it all you single gals!) Furthermore, different beers attract different men. Of course Anchor Steam or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale are going to bring in completely different potential dates than, say, Corona or Zima. (In fact, stocking Pabst Blue Ribbon or Mickey’s Big Mouth might get you a fun date, but not a free dinner.) So one of the engineers came into my cube today wondering aloud what sort of man I would attract with my gigantic bottle of beer from Craig?
Luckily I no longer need to attract unsuspecting, would-be dates to my bachelorette pad, so I need never find out!
.: posted by Zemlet 6:46 PM
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