Villenke
22 September 2006
Beginning of Something New
This past week kind of officially transitioned my work partner and I from one role to another. Funny, we really did not now it while we were doing it. I suppose that is generally how life is. You only realize the milestones of you life after you pass them.
As you know for the past 2 years I have been working on the application side of bringing my companies new product line to market. It has been filled with ups and downs. I have been quire proud when we were able to deliver for the company and for the customer and have felt quite down when people expect us to be able to work miracles simply because it is the new stuff.
After nearly a year of the product line being commercialized it was time to start spreading the wealth and letting all of the rest of the company to quote, engineer, and commission the new stuff. So this week we brought in a representative from each discipline from three of the regional offices. Adam and I spent the week trying to educate them with all of the things that we have learned about quoting, engineering and commissioning with the line. Needless to say they were at the same time both eager and enthusiastic and dismayed and nervous.
It was quite a different thing to spend the whole week training people to do things instead of doing them. Sure it really made the work week go by fast but it is not really my cup of tea. I have no problem trying to teach people the things that I know but I do not like having to run the room all day. There is this feeling like they not only need to be taught but also entertained.
At the end of the week our manager let us know that pretty much for the remainder of the year we are going to be in training mode. We already have another week of this scheduled for the week of 16 Oct.
Also, we are going to be asked to pick up the application engineering ball for the revision of the product line that is scheduled to have a demo site install early next year. That would mean some commissioning but there should not be much between now and then. I only have 1 week scheduled at this point and possibly a couple of trips to kick off our installation teams. ¶ 17:03 3 comments
As you know for the past 2 years I have been working on the application side of bringing my companies new product line to market. It has been filled with ups and downs. I have been quire proud when we were able to deliver for the company and for the customer and have felt quite down when people expect us to be able to work miracles simply because it is the new stuff.
After nearly a year of the product line being commercialized it was time to start spreading the wealth and letting all of the rest of the company to quote, engineer, and commission the new stuff. So this week we brought in a representative from each discipline from three of the regional offices. Adam and I spent the week trying to educate them with all of the things that we have learned about quoting, engineering and commissioning with the line. Needless to say they were at the same time both eager and enthusiastic and dismayed and nervous.
It was quite a different thing to spend the whole week training people to do things instead of doing them. Sure it really made the work week go by fast but it is not really my cup of tea. I have no problem trying to teach people the things that I know but I do not like having to run the room all day. There is this feeling like they not only need to be taught but also entertained.
At the end of the week our manager let us know that pretty much for the remainder of the year we are going to be in training mode. We already have another week of this scheduled for the week of 16 Oct.
Also, we are going to be asked to pick up the application engineering ball for the revision of the product line that is scheduled to have a demo site install early next year. That would mean some commissioning but there should not be much between now and then. I only have 1 week scheduled at this point and possibly a couple of trips to kick off our installation teams. ¶ 17:03 3 comments
19 September 2006
How About Just 50 Meme
1. First Name? Henry
2. Are you named after anyone? Yes, my great great grandfather who emigrated from Germany.
3. When did you last cry? Probably when my uncle died back in 2002. Anything else would have just been a little of a tear up.
4. Do you like your handwriting? Not really. I work on it a little from time to time but mostly it is a very fast scrawl that has no real style. I know others that have what I find interesting, therefor cool, but I do not want to copy theirs.
5. What is my favorite lunch meat? If I am buying for daily lunches then it is chopped ham. If I am making a nice sandwich then I love corned beef...thinking Reuben. Want one right now.
6. Kids? 8/9ths.
7. If you were another person would you be friends with you? Sometimes I really do not think so. I often pick on my friends a little more than is nice and I definetely do not like it when others do it to me. I am not always an ass, but I do it more than is really friendly.
8. Do you have a journal? Just this blog. During my Senior year in high school I kept a bit of journal, and when I read it now it is quite embarassing. I have a feeling that this will feel embarassing in a couple of years.
9. Do you use sarcasm a lot? No, nearly never. See, right there.
10. Do you still have your tonsils? Except for a bit of toe bone I am complete.
11. Would you bungee jump? Yes...as I sit here in a basement on a couch. I would also jump out of a plane. I think it would be quite a rush.
12. What is my favorite cereal? Don't really eat cereal. I do love breakfasts in Germany. Rolls, meats, cheeses, jellys and such, yogurt. I was never dissapointed with German fruestuck.
13. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Almost never.
14. Do you think you are strong? No. I alos do not think that I am hansome and often think that other give me more credits for smarts than I really do have.
15. What is your favorite ice cream? I like the chocolate but really a good vanilla is best.
16. Shoe size? 10.
17. Red or pink? Always Ferrari Red.
18. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I have a hard time finishing things. Once I get to 90% I would rather that someone else finish so that I can get on to something more interesting.
19. What do you miss the most? I miss those that are far away. I miss Cleveland and the friends I had there. I miss...San Dimas.
20. Do you want everyone to do this also? I would be interesting but not required to maintain my friendship.
21. What colour of pants and shoes are you wearing? Jeans and bare feet.
22. Who is your favorite writer/book/movie?
King, Steven
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Raiders of the Lost Ark
23. What are you listening to right now? I have "How to dismantle an atomic bomb" in the car CD player right now.
24. If you were a crayon what colour would you be? Gold baby! Gold!
25. What are your favorite smells? Autumn, hops, auto racing, spring.
26. Who was the last person you spoke with on the phone? Some crappy work phone call.
27. The first thing that you notice about people that you are attracted to? Sadly, (in terms of stereotypes) breasts.
28. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I really like the person whom I am responding to...thur the blog-tet.
29. Favorite drink? German Hefeweizen...especially my nearlly award winning homebrew version. BTW, props to Chip for winning the ESB catagory at the Great Lakes Beer Festival over the weekend.
30. Favorite sport? I like to watch soccer (european) and auto racing (F1). I watch football in the fall/winter because it is good to occupy of Sunday when you don't want to go outside and the sun goes down at 5pm. I really love going to baseball games...even the 2006 Midwest League champion White Caps, who are Class A.
31. Hair colour? Brown.
32. Eye colour? Brown.
33. Do you wear contacts? No, but I would love to. Last time I tried they did not make my astigmatisms as sharp as glasses.
34. Favorite food? I like lots of things but never really could identify a favorite.
35. Scary movie or happy endings? I really am not a fan of either. Life is not as scary as the movies nor often has happy endings.
36. Last movie you watched? That would be, "She's the Man." I fine take on "Twelth Night". Although nowhere near as good as "10 Things I Hate About You."
37. Colour of the shirt you are wearing? Black.
38. Winter of summer? Summer.
39. Hugs or kisses? From my love, kisses. From others, hugs.
40. What is your favorite dessert? Ice cream if you please.
41. Who is most likely to respond? Only KzooJason has yet to do this and I suppose he will not.
42. Who is least likely to respond? See 41.
43. What books are you reading? I am still trying to finish "The World According to Garp." I hope to soon so that I can read something good.
44. What is on your mouse pad? I do not have one. The optical mice of today no longer require one.
45. Favorite sounds? Naughty ones.
46. What's that on the telly? After answering the sports question I had TIVO que up a little UEFA Champions League. Sorry, no penguins.
47. Rolling Stones or The Beatles? The Beatles.
48. The furthest you've been from home? I have not done the math but Rome may be farther than Vienna. Those would be the canidates though.
49. Do you have a special talent? Kate helped me learn about my special talent.
50. When and where were you born? I am told I am from Jersey (New) in the year of 1975. I am not almost 500 years old. ¶ 21:42 2 comments
2. Are you named after anyone? Yes, my great great grandfather who emigrated from Germany.
3. When did you last cry? Probably when my uncle died back in 2002. Anything else would have just been a little of a tear up.
4. Do you like your handwriting? Not really. I work on it a little from time to time but mostly it is a very fast scrawl that has no real style. I know others that have what I find interesting, therefor cool, but I do not want to copy theirs.
5. What is my favorite lunch meat? If I am buying for daily lunches then it is chopped ham. If I am making a nice sandwich then I love corned beef...thinking Reuben. Want one right now.
6. Kids? 8/9ths.
7. If you were another person would you be friends with you? Sometimes I really do not think so. I often pick on my friends a little more than is nice and I definetely do not like it when others do it to me. I am not always an ass, but I do it more than is really friendly.
8. Do you have a journal? Just this blog. During my Senior year in high school I kept a bit of journal, and when I read it now it is quite embarassing. I have a feeling that this will feel embarassing in a couple of years.
9. Do you use sarcasm a lot? No, nearly never. See, right there.
10. Do you still have your tonsils? Except for a bit of toe bone I am complete.
11. Would you bungee jump? Yes...as I sit here in a basement on a couch. I would also jump out of a plane. I think it would be quite a rush.
12. What is my favorite cereal? Don't really eat cereal. I do love breakfasts in Germany. Rolls, meats, cheeses, jellys and such, yogurt. I was never dissapointed with German fruestuck.
13. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Almost never.
14. Do you think you are strong? No. I alos do not think that I am hansome and often think that other give me more credits for smarts than I really do have.
15. What is your favorite ice cream? I like the chocolate but really a good vanilla is best.
16. Shoe size? 10.
17. Red or pink? Always Ferrari Red.
18. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I have a hard time finishing things. Once I get to 90% I would rather that someone else finish so that I can get on to something more interesting.
19. What do you miss the most? I miss those that are far away. I miss Cleveland and the friends I had there. I miss...San Dimas.
20. Do you want everyone to do this also? I would be interesting but not required to maintain my friendship.
21. What colour of pants and shoes are you wearing? Jeans and bare feet.
22. Who is your favorite writer/book/movie?
King, Steven
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Raiders of the Lost Ark
23. What are you listening to right now? I have "How to dismantle an atomic bomb" in the car CD player right now.
24. If you were a crayon what colour would you be? Gold baby! Gold!
25. What are your favorite smells? Autumn, hops, auto racing, spring.
26. Who was the last person you spoke with on the phone? Some crappy work phone call.
27. The first thing that you notice about people that you are attracted to? Sadly, (in terms of stereotypes) breasts.
28. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I really like the person whom I am responding to...thur the blog-tet.
29. Favorite drink? German Hefeweizen...especially my nearlly award winning homebrew version. BTW, props to Chip for winning the ESB catagory at the Great Lakes Beer Festival over the weekend.
30. Favorite sport? I like to watch soccer (european) and auto racing (F1). I watch football in the fall/winter because it is good to occupy of Sunday when you don't want to go outside and the sun goes down at 5pm. I really love going to baseball games...even the 2006 Midwest League champion White Caps, who are Class A.
31. Hair colour? Brown.
32. Eye colour? Brown.
33. Do you wear contacts? No, but I would love to. Last time I tried they did not make my astigmatisms as sharp as glasses.
34. Favorite food? I like lots of things but never really could identify a favorite.
35. Scary movie or happy endings? I really am not a fan of either. Life is not as scary as the movies nor often has happy endings.
36. Last movie you watched? That would be, "She's the Man." I fine take on "Twelth Night". Although nowhere near as good as "10 Things I Hate About You."
37. Colour of the shirt you are wearing? Black.
38. Winter of summer? Summer.
39. Hugs or kisses? From my love, kisses. From others, hugs.
40. What is your favorite dessert? Ice cream if you please.
41. Who is most likely to respond? Only KzooJason has yet to do this and I suppose he will not.
42. Who is least likely to respond? See 41.
43. What books are you reading? I am still trying to finish "The World According to Garp." I hope to soon so that I can read something good.
44. What is on your mouse pad? I do not have one. The optical mice of today no longer require one.
45. Favorite sounds? Naughty ones.
46. What's that on the telly? After answering the sports question I had TIVO que up a little UEFA Champions League. Sorry, no penguins.
47. Rolling Stones or The Beatles? The Beatles.
48. The furthest you've been from home? I have not done the math but Rome may be farther than Vienna. Those would be the canidates though.
49. Do you have a special talent? Kate helped me learn about my special talent.
50. When and where were you born? I am told I am from Jersey (New) in the year of 1975. I am not almost 500 years old. ¶ 21:42 2 comments
11 September 2006
What Happend?
Sorry friends...not that things have not been going on but I have not been posting. I have also not been commenting.
Tonight reminded me that this begins the second NFL season that Roland and I have not been watching MNF together...and now with me having the sweet basement TV room. Sadly, though the MNF is now on ESPN and I do not have ESPN HD so now MNF is again in SD while I have this expensive HD TV.
I do have a couple of things to celebrate. First, the OSU Buckeyes beat the Texas Longhorns on Saturday night. This is super for Mr. Tressel and his amazing career and legacy at OSU. Second, Schumacher won the Italian GP and Sunday and then annouced his retirement at the end of this F1 season. The win, and Alonso's retirement, pulled Schumacher within 2 points of the Driver's Championship. If he manages to win the championship that would be his 8th.
Kate has passed into her 31st week of pregnancy. I have got to say that now things are getting much more real for me. Sure, Kate has been noticably pregnant for many weeks now but when you hit the final 25% things begin to get real for the man.
Work is not really all that much better, but I have started to take a more, "it is what it is," attitude toward work. I still want to do a good job, but if I do not then I will not take it home.
Quick beer note...Brain D and I made beer on Sunday. Brian made 10 gallons of American Amber and I made 5 gallons of Dunkelweizen...because fall is coming on. ¶ 22:14 1 comments
Tonight reminded me that this begins the second NFL season that Roland and I have not been watching MNF together...and now with me having the sweet basement TV room. Sadly, though the MNF is now on ESPN and I do not have ESPN HD so now MNF is again in SD while I have this expensive HD TV.
I do have a couple of things to celebrate. First, the OSU Buckeyes beat the Texas Longhorns on Saturday night. This is super for Mr. Tressel and his amazing career and legacy at OSU. Second, Schumacher won the Italian GP and Sunday and then annouced his retirement at the end of this F1 season. The win, and Alonso's retirement, pulled Schumacher within 2 points of the Driver's Championship. If he manages to win the championship that would be his 8th.
Kate has passed into her 31st week of pregnancy. I have got to say that now things are getting much more real for me. Sure, Kate has been noticably pregnant for many weeks now but when you hit the final 25% things begin to get real for the man.
Work is not really all that much better, but I have started to take a more, "it is what it is," attitude toward work. I still want to do a good job, but if I do not then I will not take it home.
Quick beer note...Brain D and I made beer on Sunday. Brian made 10 gallons of American Amber and I made 5 gallons of Dunkelweizen...because fall is coming on. ¶ 22:14 1 comments
