New job is fast, strenuous, tiring, all-encompassing and a great classroom to learn all kinds of new stuff. Coming from a guy who thinks he knows everything, that's an achievement!!!
Do ya like my new picture? Reflects the way I probably looked this morning standing in the middle of the lot with vehicles, trailers and air hoses flying all around me. Discombobulated! I'm a beancounter for gods sake!
Getting better as I become more familiar with the equipment, staff and whereabouts of everything. I think Karen and I are going to love it there.
Leafs are still not winning BUT, they did look semi-competitive for at least 1/3rd of the game against the 'Nucks. That's a whole lot better than the Florida debacle.
'Til next time when I have more energy to rant about other things.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
NEW BEGINNINGS
Started a new job today. Karen and I are the new management team at a service outlet here in Victoria, involved in storage and hauling equipment. I'll provide more details once I know what the heck is happening. It all happened really quickly and was totally fate that we even found about it. The newspaper, which we NEVER read, was falling out of the mailbox. I brought it in and it fell open on the add for a "Management Team" Wanted.....that was Thursday before Remembrance Day ceremonies. Karen impressed the hiring team so much that we are already on the payroll!
It's kind of exciting as I haven't actually worked since June of 2008. That's not totally true since I've certainly 'worked' hard on upgrading my education and skills, completing:
the Canadian Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) certification
the Canadian Investment Funds Course (I was working with Investors Group post-military)
the Life License Qualification Program (Life Insurance)
and finally an undergraduate degree in Commerce at Royal Roads University, where I and my classmates were subjected to 2 years of curriculum jammed into 44 weeks of full-time school with one week breaks between semesters. I haven't really had a chance to breathe until now.
All this to say, now that I've got these 'skills' it's time to put them to work. I'll keep you posted about our progress and daily follies as we complete our training, get to know our staff and kill rodents, which, unbeknownst to me are quite rampant in storage facilities because people actually store FOOD in their units! Apparently, all part of the job description.
Gonna be a blast! I know Karen is excited for the opportunity to manage and be creative. She's already picked up some really sexy steel-toe shoes for work:) Me, I'm just excited to have a bit of focus, a chance to try and learn new things and most of all, get to do it with Karen by my side. I also have picked up some pretty smokin' steel toes shoes! Gotta look good.....
All that and power tools, a golf cart to get around the compound in! It's almost heaven for a jobsite!
'Til next time. The Leafs are just about to destroy those hated Vancouver Canucks!
It's kind of exciting as I haven't actually worked since June of 2008. That's not totally true since I've certainly 'worked' hard on upgrading my education and skills, completing:
the Canadian Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) certification
the Canadian Investment Funds Course (I was working with Investors Group post-military)
the Life License Qualification Program (Life Insurance)
and finally an undergraduate degree in Commerce at Royal Roads University, where I and my classmates were subjected to 2 years of curriculum jammed into 44 weeks of full-time school with one week breaks between semesters. I haven't really had a chance to breathe until now.
All this to say, now that I've got these 'skills' it's time to put them to work. I'll keep you posted about our progress and daily follies as we complete our training, get to know our staff and kill rodents, which, unbeknownst to me are quite rampant in storage facilities because people actually store FOOD in their units! Apparently, all part of the job description.
Gonna be a blast! I know Karen is excited for the opportunity to manage and be creative. She's already picked up some really sexy steel-toe shoes for work:) Me, I'm just excited to have a bit of focus, a chance to try and learn new things and most of all, get to do it with Karen by my side. I also have picked up some pretty smokin' steel toes shoes! Gotta look good.....
All that and power tools, a golf cart to get around the compound in! It's almost heaven for a jobsite!
'Til next time. The Leafs are just about to destroy those hated Vancouver Canucks!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
REMEMBERING HAS NEVER BEEN SO IMPORTANT
Poppies are on, we're off to the cenotaph in Sidney for ceremonies.
A good day to reflect....not only about lost and injured Canadians in the past conflicts, but also the state of our world now, how we got here and where we are going.
My friends in Tanzania right now are having eyes opened I'm sure. I wish more Canadians could see the abstract poverty in Africa, and other parts of the world....mostly caused by conflict between powerful, greedy men sponsored by nations or corporations intent on raping the land of whatever scarce resource offered for sale or bribe.
When I hear the annual refrain about how Canadians should be thankful for everything our veterans have done for us, maybe a higher power (by no means the ineffectual UN) should ask the question:
"What are YOU doing to make sure their sacrifice was not in vain?"
The world has never seen as much conflict or turmoil as we are seeing now and thank goodness for the USA and their ability to be in so many places at once, patching so many holes in the infrastructure of our planet. Politics and historical events aside, we must all thank the US for doing what it does.....especially given the abysmal state of their own economy. Believe me, in many of these places they are the ONLY thing between semi-peace and total anarchy. The Tea Party or whatever they purport themselves to be....would put a stop to these policies and 'close the barn door' to the developing world. Heaven help the rest of us if that should happen.
Any UN that has terrorist sponsoring nations on it's security council is a joke and I'm ashamed of Canadians for blaming our inability to 'win' a seat on the Council as a Harper mistake. Who wants to be part of a totally ineffective and inefficient, notwithstanding hypocritical, UN sponsored council? Libya, Algeria and Syria have been members of this council in the past.... It will probably save taxpayers 10 million a year or so by not having to augment staff etc with additional responsibilities.
Put the 10 million towards entrepreneurial ventures in Africa, and in Canada, that can "show a man how to fish, and not just give away a fish..." which has not only been our foreign aid policy to date but our domestic one too....thank god for oil, eh Maritimers? Building a sustainable replacement industry for fisheries was never in the offing....more handouts. I say now, that you possess valuable resources other than menu items...you hold the Feds for ransom....oh wait, that's what Danny Williams is doing now! Good on him!
If history has shown anything it is this: What goes around, generally comes around...
Remember our fallen, their efforts and not let it all be in vain....
'Til next time
A good day to reflect....not only about lost and injured Canadians in the past conflicts, but also the state of our world now, how we got here and where we are going.
My friends in Tanzania right now are having eyes opened I'm sure. I wish more Canadians could see the abstract poverty in Africa, and other parts of the world....mostly caused by conflict between powerful, greedy men sponsored by nations or corporations intent on raping the land of whatever scarce resource offered for sale or bribe.
When I hear the annual refrain about how Canadians should be thankful for everything our veterans have done for us, maybe a higher power (by no means the ineffectual UN) should ask the question:
"What are YOU doing to make sure their sacrifice was not in vain?"
The world has never seen as much conflict or turmoil as we are seeing now and thank goodness for the USA and their ability to be in so many places at once, patching so many holes in the infrastructure of our planet. Politics and historical events aside, we must all thank the US for doing what it does.....especially given the abysmal state of their own economy. Believe me, in many of these places they are the ONLY thing between semi-peace and total anarchy. The Tea Party or whatever they purport themselves to be....would put a stop to these policies and 'close the barn door' to the developing world. Heaven help the rest of us if that should happen.
Any UN that has terrorist sponsoring nations on it's security council is a joke and I'm ashamed of Canadians for blaming our inability to 'win' a seat on the Council as a Harper mistake. Who wants to be part of a totally ineffective and inefficient, notwithstanding hypocritical, UN sponsored council? Libya, Algeria and Syria have been members of this council in the past.... It will probably save taxpayers 10 million a year or so by not having to augment staff etc with additional responsibilities.
Put the 10 million towards entrepreneurial ventures in Africa, and in Canada, that can "show a man how to fish, and not just give away a fish..." which has not only been our foreign aid policy to date but our domestic one too....thank god for oil, eh Maritimers? Building a sustainable replacement industry for fisheries was never in the offing....more handouts. I say now, that you possess valuable resources other than menu items...you hold the Feds for ransom....oh wait, that's what Danny Williams is doing now! Good on him!
If history has shown anything it is this: What goes around, generally comes around...
Remember our fallen, their efforts and not let it all be in vain....
'Til next time
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
THEY SCORED A GOAL!
After almost 2 1/2 games, the Leafs scored! Hell has frozen over.
I'm back on the Argos bandwagon as I drink myself into a stupor...
bye....
I'm back on the Argos bandwagon as I drink myself into a stupor...
bye....
MY HOCKEY TEAM IS BAAADDDDD!
They are bad, sad and live.
I waited all day to say something but I just couldn't. My mom always told me that "if you've got nothing nice to say, don't say it at all...." So I didn't.
If anything, they are even more horrible tonight than they were last night. Lacklustre, lazy, no fight, a team that is not listening to the coach and his staff anymore. While I agree with Burke that the players are underperforming, does ever think that young players today don't necessarily relate to Wilson and his staff. I look at Tampa, Florida and Columbus who are having success with young, energetic coaches with an ability to communicate as well as draw up x's and o's.
Granted, it's only the 2nd intermission and there is 20 minutes of hockey left...or something remotely resembling it. There are skaters, a puck and nets...but if a Panthers/Leafs match up in an empty arena is demotivating for me, I wonder how bad it is for the players.
On a good note, my Christmas Party DJ schedule is filling up am looking forward to a holiday season of celebrations from Victoria to Comox on New Years Eve.
In the meantime, I do beLEAF but my positive energy is not transferring to the players. They've got nothing so far, maybe they'll find whatever it is they need to start scoring.
'Til next time......
I waited all day to say something but I just couldn't. My mom always told me that "if you've got nothing nice to say, don't say it at all...." So I didn't.
If anything, they are even more horrible tonight than they were last night. Lacklustre, lazy, no fight, a team that is not listening to the coach and his staff anymore. While I agree with Burke that the players are underperforming, does ever think that young players today don't necessarily relate to Wilson and his staff. I look at Tampa, Florida and Columbus who are having success with young, energetic coaches with an ability to communicate as well as draw up x's and o's.
Granted, it's only the 2nd intermission and there is 20 minutes of hockey left...or something remotely resembling it. There are skaters, a puck and nets...but if a Panthers/Leafs match up in an empty arena is demotivating for me, I wonder how bad it is for the players.
On a good note, my Christmas Party DJ schedule is filling up am looking forward to a holiday season of celebrations from Victoria to Comox on New Years Eve.
In the meantime, I do beLEAF but my positive energy is not transferring to the players. They've got nothing so far, maybe they'll find whatever it is they need to start scoring.
'Til next time......
Sunday, November 7, 2010
WINTER IS HERE!
Almost had frost this morning, which for Victoria, means winter is here! I'm going to break out my new mitts and touque!
Discovered freebie fun Texas Hold'em Poker on FB. Heaven help me now!
Recovery from surgery continues.....
Karen's birthday tomorrow...will be quiet though as she's in the dentist chair for a couple of hours in the afternoon:) Been there, done that! I'll make something soft from the Joy of Cooking!
The gang and I will celebrate with her next Saturday at the Upper Deck. Hockey, beer and oh yeah, a birthday!
Now, a lazy Sunday watching NFL and NASCAR!
Discovered freebie fun Texas Hold'em Poker on FB. Heaven help me now!
Recovery from surgery continues.....
Karen's birthday tomorrow...will be quiet though as she's in the dentist chair for a couple of hours in the afternoon:) Been there, done that! I'll make something soft from the Joy of Cooking!
The gang and I will celebrate with her next Saturday at the Upper Deck. Hockey, beer and oh yeah, a birthday!
Now, a lazy Sunday watching NFL and NASCAR!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
VALUE VS. LOW COST
I've said many times before, you get what you pay for when it comes to live entertainment. At Big Eye, our prices include everything with no hidden charges for cordless microphones, DJ in a tuxedo, or full dance lighting. Taxes are also included. That's just the beginning though.
Real value is found when your guests leave the party thanking you for giving them a good time and with sore feet from dancing! The best feedback I ever get is when people say to me "I haven't danced like that in years!" or "I haven't heard that song since high school!". You have to ask yourself when looking for a DJ, what is important and what are you really getting for value?
Do you want a bigger company that hires and fires DJs regularly and pays them minimum wage? Personally, I've always felt more comfortable dealing with the owner when it comes to service providers. As the owner, I have a vested interest in your delight with my show. It is my reputation on the line and all of the people in attendance are potential future customers. I ALWAYS bring my best for you and your guests because my business depends on it!
There is just no way an inexperienced DJ can instinctively know what to play for diverse crowds. I grew up in the 70s during the hey day of AM radio, boogied the nights away in the 80s, was forced to listen to BackStreet Boys and Spice Girls in the 90s, and modern Top 40 and Hip Hop now.
It is that flexibility and experience that cannot be replaced by playlists or IPODs.
Lesson for today: make sure you ask the DJ about his/her musical experience and knowledge so that you are comfortable about their ability to adapt to you and your guests.
Til next time....
Real value is found when your guests leave the party thanking you for giving them a good time and with sore feet from dancing! The best feedback I ever get is when people say to me "I haven't danced like that in years!" or "I haven't heard that song since high school!". You have to ask yourself when looking for a DJ, what is important and what are you really getting for value?
Do you want a bigger company that hires and fires DJs regularly and pays them minimum wage? Personally, I've always felt more comfortable dealing with the owner when it comes to service providers. As the owner, I have a vested interest in your delight with my show. It is my reputation on the line and all of the people in attendance are potential future customers. I ALWAYS bring my best for you and your guests because my business depends on it!
There is just no way an inexperienced DJ can instinctively know what to play for diverse crowds. I grew up in the 70s during the hey day of AM radio, boogied the nights away in the 80s, was forced to listen to BackStreet Boys and Spice Girls in the 90s, and modern Top 40 and Hip Hop now.
It is that flexibility and experience that cannot be replaced by playlists or IPODs.
Lesson for today: make sure you ask the DJ about his/her musical experience and knowledge so that you are comfortable about their ability to adapt to you and your guests.
Til next time....
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