So some of you know how much hoop-la and shenanigans Todd and I have to go through over the past few months. We have been trying to get me out on site so I can help him and the other surveyors and maybe learn a thing or two. We (well I) had to write safety, quality and environmental management plans, contracts, letters, and wait for the HR department to decide if they wanted to wield their all powerful pen and sign me off... dangit. In any case, I have FINALLY been given the go ahead and I start my life as a construction worker (y-ech) tomorrow with my induction.
Well dad, you wanted me to write about how things are different here, this will definitely give me more than enough fodder. Of course, I really have no idea what the US construction industry is like but this will all be a new world for me. Don't worry, Todd has been training me in the ways of the workers. We have been going to many safety shops, I have eaten at the construction camp twice, and he has taught me how to play nice with the other kiddies in the hard hats. Seriously though, this will be an experience!
Ps. Don't worry, pictures of me in my awesome new fashionable orange to come!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Wedding fever
Mom, deep breaths, I am not talking about myself :) No wedding fever/ jitters/ plans/ announcements for me but it seems that I definitely have hit the age where everyone is getting engaged. I had two friends from high school (not just acquaintances, friends!) get engaged last week. To clarify, not to each other, but wow, two!
This past weekend Todd and I escaped down to Tassie for his sister Jodie's wedding. The wedding was held at his parent's house and it was a very simple but beautifully elegant affair. The bride and groom each have children from previous marriages and the union of their new happy family was adorable. I am sure you have heard me mention Blake and Lara before but now there are two new kids to add to the bunch.
Jodie arrived by boat, walked down the jetty and met Jonathan on the river bank. They exchanged simple vows and rings, the children only squirmed a bit, and the party commenced from there. The weather could not have been more perfect and Jodie could not have seemed happier. Everything was just as it should be.
This past weekend Todd and I escaped down to Tassie for his sister Jodie's wedding. The wedding was held at his parent's house and it was a very simple but beautifully elegant affair. The bride and groom each have children from previous marriages and the union of their new happy family was adorable. I am sure you have heard me mention Blake and Lara before but now there are two new kids to add to the bunch.
Jodie arrived by boat, walked down the jetty and met Jonathan on the river bank. They exchanged simple vows and rings, the children only squirmed a bit, and the party commenced from there. The weather could not have been more perfect and Jodie could not have seemed happier. Everything was just as it should be.
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| The jetty later that day- the tide is completely covering it! |
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| The present I made them- a map of where they met and other bits of Tassie :) |
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Old Business/ New Business
As many of you know, I have been working for Todd (aka. Milestone Survey) for a few months now. I help him with all his admin, record keeping, office stuff, logo design work, etc. Basically, I am his right hand (and sometimes also left hand) woman. The structure of that may change a bit soon but I won't spill until details are confirmed.
As many of you also know, and this bit is more exciting, I have been working for a few weeks as the Marketing Manager of an eco-friendly company called Way Basics (www.waybasics.com). I found out about this company (and met the CEO) through a friend at Berkeley and I have to say that it is a great match. I love working with the Way Basics team and there is a lot of room for growth which will be fun to watch. You all should go check them out and poke around. Their furniture and storage units are made of zBoard, this 99% recycled paper product that is produced in Taiwan. The furniture is good for the environment, formaldehyde free, much easier to put together than following the IKEA stick-figures, and strong enough to stand on (I tried!).
The company slogan is building possibilities and they truly live up to their motto. Way Basics is now (as of last week) the official US distributor of a new, arty line of hand bags called Jump From Paper (www.jumpfrompaper.us). These bags are huge in Japan and they are already generating some attention in the states so yay, go team! :)
I know I was just doing some shameless plugging here but I thought what I am doing (on the business side) in my spare time might be of interest to you all.
Some more self-plugging:
As many of you also know, and this bit is more exciting, I have been working for a few weeks as the Marketing Manager of an eco-friendly company called Way Basics (www.waybasics.com). I found out about this company (and met the CEO) through a friend at Berkeley and I have to say that it is a great match. I love working with the Way Basics team and there is a lot of room for growth which will be fun to watch. You all should go check them out and poke around. Their furniture and storage units are made of zBoard, this 99% recycled paper product that is produced in Taiwan. The furniture is good for the environment, formaldehyde free, much easier to put together than following the IKEA stick-figures, and strong enough to stand on (I tried!).
The company slogan is building possibilities and they truly live up to their motto. Way Basics is now (as of last week) the official US distributor of a new, arty line of hand bags called Jump From Paper (www.jumpfrompaper.us). These bags are huge in Japan and they are already generating some attention in the states so yay, go team! :)
I know I was just doing some shameless plugging here but I thought what I am doing (on the business side) in my spare time might be of interest to you all.
Some more self-plugging:
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| The logo I created for Todd |
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| The logo modified for Todd's fancy car |
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Three Musketeers
This title of course is referring to Todd, myself, and Russ :-) This happy little family lives in a home documented below...
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| Our house |
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| Our bedroom! |
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| Living room |
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| Dining room |
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| Kitchen |
Simple post but hope you all enjoy :)
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Separation of Church and State my bum...
I was watching the American news yesterday through our handy dandy streaming tv box (we also get Croatian, Greek, French, British, Iranian, and other news stations), and I was shown a clip about the Republican debate against birth control being paid for by insurance companies. This one republican senator was saying that it doesn't matter that we have separation of Church and state, birth control was just against G-d and therefore un-American. To each his own, but that statement there pretty much sets America and Australia apart as much as possible.
Australian religion is an understated presence that is engrained in the society but never something that one would discuss. The whole, never discuss sex, religion or politics, definitely is followed here (with the religion and politics anyways). Religion is just not something that people toss around or where on their sleeve. Of course, there are exceptions and there is anti-semitism and religious persecution but it isn't shoved in your face in an offhanded comment on the news.
As far as politics goes, most Australians know more about American politics than Australian. If you asked an Australian to name the past three Prime Ministers you would be lucky if you would get two. It isn't necessarily a bad thing because the government is fairly stable and uncorrupt and the Aussie people are trusting and laid back, and they frankly don't care. Again, with every stereotype there are exceptions, but for the most part the Aussie people focus on the things that matter, their family and friends, and leave the governing up to the people they elect. I believe I have mentioned this before, but Australians have to vote in every primary election. As in, they are fined if they don't. So the people are given the power, they use their right to vote, and then they go back to their daily lives and ignore politics, at least until the next election.
Australian religion is an understated presence that is engrained in the society but never something that one would discuss. The whole, never discuss sex, religion or politics, definitely is followed here (with the religion and politics anyways). Religion is just not something that people toss around or where on their sleeve. Of course, there are exceptions and there is anti-semitism and religious persecution but it isn't shoved in your face in an offhanded comment on the news.
As far as politics goes, most Australians know more about American politics than Australian. If you asked an Australian to name the past three Prime Ministers you would be lucky if you would get two. It isn't necessarily a bad thing because the government is fairly stable and uncorrupt and the Aussie people are trusting and laid back, and they frankly don't care. Again, with every stereotype there are exceptions, but for the most part the Aussie people focus on the things that matter, their family and friends, and leave the governing up to the people they elect. I believe I have mentioned this before, but Australians have to vote in every primary election. As in, they are fined if they don't. So the people are given the power, they use their right to vote, and then they go back to their daily lives and ignore politics, at least until the next election.
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