Wednesday, April 27, 2005

¡Bienvenido a ciuadad de Mexico!

Hi Everyone! Sorry about the lack of posting. I am a busy busy girl. I am currently sitting in the business center of the hotel in Mexico City, getting ready to return from our visit to Toluca and the Concrete Technology Center. WOW! what a trip! It was much better than I expected, and it really looks like it will be a very good fit for Holcim US and Holcim Apasco. AND i got a leather portfolio as a gift, with "El Perro" on the front. Ilove that Apasco bulldog!

Anway, by the sounds of things, the move date will be around the first of August, if Human Resources moves quickly.

My spanish has also improved greatly in the three days we have been here. and i have another week and a half to go in Cancun - i will be fluent before i know it.

Well, back to the room to pack, our flight leaves soon. Please, send lots of prayers my way - i have got a wild and crazy road ahead of me!

Friday, April 22, 2005

Mexico Ahoy!

Short but sweet update - Troy and I are travelling to Mexico on Sunday to visit Toluca and Mexico city. Then we get back, and go back to Mexico for a relaxing vacation!

I haven't had a lot to say lately because I've been so busy, but lets just say that its finally looking like its coming together!

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

New York Bound

For all of the crazy conference I go to each year, I really do enjoy the ACI ones. This year, it is in New York City. I'm very excited because I get to go to a Yankees game and maybe I'll get to see the Statue of Liberty. I've been twice before to New York, but for some reason Eunice never took me to see Lady Liberty. I think its because she's Canadian, and its not that important to her :) (just kidding Euni! I know we never had time!) Of course my primary reason there is to learn about all the hot and fabulous goings on in the concrete industry - there are lots of meetings and presentations going on Sunday through Thursday. And, on Tuesday night the "Concrete Mixer" is taking place on Broadway (insert jazz hands and/or spirit fingers here).

Updates - no contemplation

Alright, apparantly I burned myself out with all that introspection. Now, I'm back to my normal happy-go-lucky self without all that "deepness".

So, here's the update. I've been given clearance to take a pre-assessment assignment by our relocation company to identify my weaknesses/strengths etc. Before you jump ahead by wondering why the heck they would want to do something like this, let me tell you that I gladly volunteered to be the guinea pig. Holcim HR has wanted to implement something like this for a while, and I'm always up for new things, so its a good fit.

After the assessment, which will be approximately a day long of interviews and psycho/socio analysis, we will go on a site visit to Toluca for a few days. After that point a offer letter will be drafted and signed and I will be on my way.......Really though, I probably won't be able to get out for a site visit until mid-May, which means if everything goes smoothly (and lets face it, up until this point it hasn't) we won't be moving until late summer early fall. Which actually works out well because that means I can have some time to do Cedar Point once more, and maybe get a week of camping in or so.

I should be ecstatic - but with all the ups and downs I've gone trhough this whole process I'm being slightly reserved. I figure I'll have more emotion when I'm down there visiting, and meeting my potential co-workers. In any regard, there are some huge potenital life changes ahead for me!

On another happy note I got a new computer yesterday. The company decided to make the move from Toshiba to IBM. Its not too bad - increased memory, speed, and wireless internet - but they didn't load any games on it at all, which makes me kind of angry. Granted, I don't have the time to sit and play solitare all day and night, but occasionally your brain does need a little break. I'm just going to have to download them myself.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

FEVER!

Never knew how much I love you
Never knew how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever thats so hard to bear

You give me fever.....
When you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight..........
FEVER!
In the morning
Fever all through the night!

Although its a great song, sometimes its irritating to have it stuck in your head. And since thats the only verse I know, it gets old real quick. And I can't find the darn CD so I can learn the rest of it........But DAMN! Thats a sexy song!

Anywho, I feel like I have a fever right now. The weather is ridiculously beautiful, but with it comes a slew of allergies. Granted, they are much less harsh now that I'm doing shots - but still a pain in the butt. I'm all crazy drugged up.

MEXICO UPDATE
Apparantly I'm through most of the major hoops, and now they are consulting with a company to do a pre-assignment assesesment. I'm not sure what that means, but if they make me drink any wierd liquids, or make me eat corn flakes that effloresce, I'm totally not down with that!

Sunday, April 03, 2005

So what does it all mean?

Really, nothing at all. It means I’m a complicated woman who on many different occasions doesn’t know what she wants. Plain and simple. Of course, if I didn’t have many different layers, maybe it would be easier to decipher my plan. Then again, if I didn’t have so many layers I suppose I wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining to myself – now would I……….

Who Am I?

Every now and again an event will occur which sends me into a contemplative mood. It may be a movie, or maybe words from a friend which ring true, but it almost always happens when I’m already ready for it to occur. And it almost always involves crying a lot. **WARNING** THIS POST MAY BE LONG…….

Which brings me to my current state. I watched a movie, and now I’m like – Why am I Here? What is my purpose? Am I doing what truly makes me happy and what I feel like I’m called for? And then I think to myself – man, it would be awesome if I wasn’t this deep and never thought of these questions, and I wonder if those that don’t contemplate things ever achieve the culmination of their life, or if they just live and enjoy. Sometimes its hard to be an onion. Or a cake.

Anyway, I think in order to understand the whys, it is of utmost importance to understand the whos. As in, Who Am I?

I am hard to define, so lets break it down to likes and dislikes, and in general how I feel about me.

I love my skin. I love my back. Even though the weight of time has changed them, I believe I have damn near perfect breasts. I love my brown hair and my brown eyes. I love that my eyelashes are straight and long and that my fingernails have a good shape. I love the freckles on my nose and the freckles on my lips. I am overweight, but I am beautiful.

OK, since I lack the ability to really write cohesive poetic prose, I will from here on out just type whatever pops into my head.

I like getting up early when I’m camping and sitting on the beach before anyone else and watching the sun rise. I love the sound of just a campfire. I love the quietness of nature, and the bustle of the city. I’m selfish, yet I want to save the world. I want to become one with nature, as long as I can have a Starbucks Chai Latte. I’d love to give all my money away, but I love jewelry from Tiffany’s.

I love the energy that surges through me when I saw Mark McGuire break Roger Maris’s home run record. I love the sound of “Play Ball!”. I love beer. I believe only mustard should be put on hotdogs when at a ball game. I believe at the beginning of EVERY season that yes, this could be the Lions’ or Tigers’ year!

I only purchase bras and panties from Victoria’s Secret – and I used to work there!

I really love the smell, feel and taste of a good wine. I love boursin cheese on a water cracker. I love gorgonzola, but only if I’m in the mood. I always love it on a good juicy steak. I don’t like onions. Or mushrooms. No matter how many times I try. I really don’t like Italian food – but I don’t really dislike it either. I grew to love tomatoes, and asparagus. I LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut butter – but only JIF.

I listen to talk radio. I really love sports talk, and I love singing to country. I love the way my body wants to move with Salsa. I love the driving base of hip hop, and the way my emotions can be moved with a symphony. I love how a song about a soldier can make me cry, and how anything by Enya can sail me away.

Sometimes, I just like to cry.

I love cartoons and sappy movies. I can’t watch horror or suspense because its just too intense. I’ve never seen Pulp Fiction (although I did just go out and rent it to watch tonight). I love chic lit and classic lit. I’ve read “Who Moved My Cheese”. I like Stephen King, even if he is twisted. I like to read smut magazines. I’ve subscribed to ESPN the Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and Latina.

I like that I do........even though I sometimes shouldn't.

I am addicted to anticipation. I love the way it feels coursing through my veins……waiting for the next email, the next call………waiting for the next letter on wheel of fortune…....waiting for the next score in a game. Or maybe I’m just impatient. I’m passionate, I’m governed by my emotions, and yet some decisions require meticulous research, thought, and planning.

I love my family and my animals.

I love butterfly kisses.

It makes me angry to have to “Spring” ahead an hour. Sometimes I think trains are stupid. I occasionally get a little crabby in the mornings. Most of the time I get REALLY crabby in the mornings…….*sigh* my fingers are getting tired so I guess I should just call it good here – I never knew I knew so much about me!

Friday, April 01, 2005

Meet me in St. Louis....

Had a fantabulous time in St. Louis this week. It was pretty cool being there with all the buzz about the Final Four games this weekend. I had a couple moments of weekness when I wanted to steal some of the hotel decor/final four garb as a momento for my sister-in-law, but I figured if she wanted some of that crap she'd be able to get it. The woman has more connections than any 20-something should have.

I spent the time in St Louis at our plant in Clarksville, which is actually about an hour or so north of St Louis. There's no place to stay in the immediate vacinity, so St Charles is a good choice. It has brand name hotels, a Walmart close by, and plenty of things to entertain yourself in the evening.

I don't think anyone really understands how much hard work goes into concrete testing. 40 different mixes in two days is backbreaking work. Of course, I only did one day of testing so my back didn't hurt that bad :) I also learned how to strip concrete cylinders and grind off the tops. Very informative, even if Concrete Joe did yell at me for not making my 8's correctly (FYI - they are supposed to look like snowmen).

Aside from the po-dunk cities and back breaking labor, the weather was nice, and of course there was good company. So all in all, I had a really great trip. I enjoy getting together with my fellow tech service engineers (i.e. concrete nerds a-go-go). I always end up learning new methods or information, having great conversation, and the people are just so damn enjoyable. I wish we could get together more often.....

Lucky for me, I get to see one of them, the Manly Irish/Polish Man who covers Chi-Town, next week, and then again in NYC for the American Concrete Institue's Spring Convention. Yes, there is an American Concrete Institute. Don't laugh, you all know you wish you could know as much about concrete as me. I'm a very passionate person......even if it is just the grey stuff!