I would like to introduce...

As I have blogged, I have only lost one post.  This site does seem to be fussy when going between PC and Mac.  The post I lost was about a conference I went to in Manchester.    The conference was in April and Gill happened to be attending - what a coincidence?!?


My boss from Hanford was also there, and we had 2 good days, but it was a bit overwhelming as it was the first public conference since we had taken over the site, and the contractors there were very oriented on meeting me and telling me about their fabulous company/product.  I got stepped on and spilled on and in the end, Gill pretty much had to act a bouncer, which I totally appreciated, but seriously should she have to do that - No!


I did a presentation there about the new contract.  It was fine, but I had a slight wardrobe malfunction.   You see the stage was about 18 inches high, and there were no steps.  I had on a tight wool pencil skirt.  I was pretty sure I could not get onto the stage without embarrassing myself.


The good news was that I was on right after lunch - I always seem to get these great slots.  So I had John hoist me up onto the stage.  I was waiting for everyone when they came back.

Gill says this is why she never takes the pictures

I did my presentation and then hoped off the stage landing on both feet - in heels. 


Well this week, I went back to Manchester for another conference where I was doing a presentation.  Guess what, Gill and John were there - what a coincidence?!?


I hate giving presentations.  It is not a skill I own, and the whole thing makes me feel a bit sick.  This may seem strange given all of the times I have to do it, but I really do hate it.  I actually enjoy getting up in front of the workforce.  I also enjoy talking about the technical aspects of my project.  


But the blah blah blah presentations about we are so this and that, well they seem sort of artificial - or unauthentic - but it is part of the job.  I always remind myself just before I stand up, that this in my opportunity to representation the incredible men and women that put it on the line every day to make the program and that usually gets me through. 


The most consistent feedback I get is you are so enthusiastic/animated.  This is often said with surprise and/or confusion, which I think is PATHETIC!  What sort of a world do we live in where it is surprising that someone can get excited about doing something positive for the environment and a community?  What could possibly be confusing about being animated about men and women that come into work every day and do work that is complicated, difficult, and risky - they are working themselves out of a job and yet they never let up.  You'd have to be dead inside not to get excited about that - right?!?


The personal benefit about conferences is I often get to see people I really like - like John and Gill.  And we always try to make a few plans, which generally involve dinner.  


Both conferences, we went to a place called Australasia.  This is THE restaurant in Manchester.  It is so so so so yummy that there is a time limit on how long you can have your table.  Parties under 5 get 2 hours.  It's little plates of fusion food.  They also have this really amazing mango soufflé...which I ordered on both trips.

It is absolutely as good as it looks

This week, John had brought his son Jake, who just graduated from high school and they were on their way to Wimbledon after the conference.  Jake was hilarious, great company and had opinions on everything.  He is one of the coolest 18-year olds - like EVER.