Shed #2

I haven't had much time to work on it but it is coming along, albeit slowly. I've got one of the front doors up. The other just needs hinges and it will be ready to go up too.

Cat on the Roof

Thomas, social and friendly with the humans but not hestitant to tear a strip off other felines, got stuck up on the neighbour's barn the other day. He was there for 2 hours before he finally came down.

Shed #1

The shed - prefabricated by Richard's students - is now here. This is what is looked like on Thursday morning. I picked the shed up in its various pieces on Wednesday and that evening Richard and I put the floor down and the walls up. It looked like a plywood monolith.

This morning Paul came over and we put the roof on. Here it is with the struts on:And here it is with the plywood sheeting on:A little bigger than I anticipated but I think that will be okay. Much work left to do on - trim, doors, painting, shingling, skylights. Stay tuned.

Canada's Blunderland

We went to Canada's Wonderland on Sunday. Courtesy of an employee day, we paid $10 a head for our family and $35 a head for hangers-on. The price included lunch and a bus ride. But what if we hadn't the advantage of an employee day? The price for a family of four would have been:

• Admission: $51.40 x 4 = $205.60
• Parking: $10.00
• Lunch: $35.00
• General spending money: $40.00
• Total: $290.60

More if you plan on staying over the dinner hour.

Thirty minutes of waiting for 3 minute rides . . . is that worth it?

Spring 4

May 19th - a week late. More photos to come. Essentially I've created the gravel bed for the concrete pad. I have yet to level it and tamp it but most of the work is done.

Spring 3

Photos from this morning . . . a week of warm weather has caused the trees to really fill out. It's lovely. I finished removing the sod and carting it to the rear of the yard where I replanted it. The other sod seems to have taken although it is a bit bumpy. And now I have a growing pile of dirt to contend with. Next step: level the excavation, add gravel and concrete slabs. Oh . . . you can see where the shed is going in on the first photo - right at the right end of the fence that appears on the left hand side.

Spring 2

The transformation begins! The tree is (mostly) down, the grass has turned green and the leaves are beginning to come out. These photos were taken this morning. I've already done some work excavating the ground for a base for the shed, due in a couple weeks' time.

Spring

Well, it's been a few months and life is different. Quite enjoyable, actually. Spring is here, meaning it is time for some outdoor projects. To give you an idea of what the backyard looked like a couple of weeks ago, here are some photos. Some things have already changed (other than getting greener).

The Move

Two months of no postings simply because of travel, commuting, packing, moving and settling. To catch you up on all that's happened since - I'm now writing from our new home. The move went smoothly enough but on the day we took possession a tree came in the backyard that needed attending to. A week after moving in a furnace inspection resulted in the furnace being condemned. Both expensive introductions to the house but it's nice to know that we have a new, energy efficient furnace that will be worry-free for the next few years. I always like new things.

The amount of money that flows through during a move is amazing. Lawyer's fees, real estate fees, floor refinishing, electrical work, furnace, tree removal, moving company expenses, new bed, other new furniture, etc. etc. This is not something to do regularly. The shorter commute is great - 13 minutes in the morning on a good day, down from 80 minutes before the move. A little longer in the evening. Even though the drive is shorter, one thing I find that I need to get used to is the traffic and the need to drive every where. One errand takes at least 1/2 hour.

Inspite of the troubles with tree and furnace, the move has been good - so far.

A Busy Week

Drop the price $5,000 and suddenly everyone is interested. A flurry of home visits from prospective buyers and two offers on Thursday night. Conveniently, they came in at the same time and we were able to play them off against each other to get some conditions dropped and the price upped. That settled on Thursday so we went and finalized our offer on the house in Markham on Friday. Now a week of waiting for the remaining conditions to be dropped on both houses, then we are in the clear. Moving is set for early December.

The commute continues to be long - see my CCABlog entry on the matter - and that, coupled with house buying and selling prevents me from doing many things I would normally do. Next week it is off to the US for a business trip. So it goes - quickly, quickly down the river of life.

Changes

Looking for a cute little house in a small city, away from the hustle and bustle of big city life, yet still accessible to big city services? Look no further! This is your place. Swimming pool, new deck, new kitchen, garage, 4 bedrooms . . . and charming! Check it out the listing.

We went house shopping on Saturday and came across a couple of possibilities: one brand new house in a brand new subdivision, so new that the streets weren’t even on the map (I’ll have to speak to my people about that), the other an older 50’s type house, backsplit, semi-detached with a long property in downtown Markahm, within walking distance of the school. Looks good. If we could only now sell our own house.

The past week at work has been good. Alot of it is trying to figure out what I should be doing. Since the position is new much of it is up to me to figure out. The boss is good, the people are good, the challenges are interesting but not too daunting yet. The driving is long - check out my posting on the Cartography blog (which I have neglected because of busyness) on my travels for the first week of October. I can’t say that I really miss my old job because there is too much going on at the new one.

So far, so good.

The First Week (Almost Done)

It is Thursday night and there is one more day left in the work week. First week of the new job and I must say that it seems to be going well. The mapping process is very different from what I am used - much more structured and formal - and most of the work is research and revision of existing maps. The actual mapping work would probably bore after a while but the cartographers who do it have been doing it for 9 to 22 years. Amazing, really. They are good at what they do - they work hard and are focused. A little introverted but really - does that matter? They get the job done.

I don’t get to do any mapping myself but I can see that I will certainly be able to influence what goes on. It is satisfying to have one’s own group that one is responsible for and can shape. The boss looks upon me as the resident expert - daunting, perhaps, but also satisfying. It might be too early to judge it as a success but I’m feeling good about it. Even my worries about being a good manager have diminished. I think I know what I need to do. Once I start feeling very comfortable and secure, I tend to relax. That is when I start making mis-steps that can be costly. I need to watch out for that.

The commute is long. It took about 1 hour and 40 minutes one day but then I left at 7 AM. The next day I left an hour earlier and saved 20 minutes. So that is what I’m doing now. Audio books and a new and interesting job make the time pass quickly.

Once again, I can’t say enough about how exciting it is to be part of a company whose focus is maps. Maps, maps, maps. That is what it is all about. The Chief Operating Officer from the US was in today and it was a pleasure to hear him talk about the company, changes in the industry and the directions the company is headed. And then to think that I can be a significant part of that. (And also to hear that the boss has spoken highly of me - already!)

A happy camper? Definitely this week!

The First Day

As expected, the first day wasn’t too bad. Much talking to one person and then the next, finding out how the company ticks and what the processes are. My tendency is to feel like I’m not doing anything because I’m not sitting at a desk making maps or writing documents. But I soppose this is the life of the manager. It seems like a good work environment. I feel that it will only be more challenging from now on in. And I feel like I’m still fooling them and will be found out sooner or later. “Hey, you can’t do this job! What were we thinking?”

But maybe not. We shall see.

My 2 Lines of Fame

It is always flattering to be recognized - but this time I am not referring to the recent job offer. A couple of nights ago I began reading Tom Koch’s book The Cartographies of Disease, a book I had picked up at the past Canadian Cartographic Association conference. Along comes a quote - from me (Heersink, 2001). I reacted with surprise, of course, since I had not expected it. Someone was quoting me! I obviously had something worthwhile to say in that little book review I wrote for Cartographica. This is the second time this has happened; the first was another article in the same magazine. But this was the first time it appeared in a book. How exciting. My wife was a bit jealous, understandably, since it is she who is the writer.

Which led me to think: I could write a cartography related book and I will. I will keep careful notes of my experiences as a manager of cartography with the new company and see where that takes me. And how about editing a collection of past company map products? Now I am excited.

A related dream last night: I dreamt the new offices were simply a cinderblock warehouse, dingy and dark. The manager had glass doors and walls to his office but inside it was decrepit and weedy (yes, weedy). The hallways were dark and dank but instead of feeling deceived and depressed I thought that it wouldn’t be too hard to improve on the situation.

It is still 3 weeks away until the new job starts. I am looking forward to it.

It is Official

The deed is done. Signed, sealed and alomst delivered. It’s hardly a secret at the office anymore. Even the manager of the section was congratulating me and asking me questions about the job. Much positive feedback.

Just as well since I am still plagued by doubts even though I know now that this is something I must do. What about all those good friends? And the fine community? And the cheap comfort house and lifestyle? I tell myself not to be afraid even though it all looks uncertain. The new boss said he would come up and have dinner with me sometime and discuss how things really are (now that he can tell me company secrets). How are things really? What terrible secrets are being hidden from my view?

I will do okay. So far, things are falling into place: a free car, for instance, certainly helps. An unexpected termination payment from my current employer (too good to be true). I tell myself not to be afraid. This will be an adventure that will, in the long run, be beneficial.

I start on the 25th of September. Three and a half weeks of saying good-bye to fellow coworkers.

Day 36

Well, Thursday was sort of the day . . . they didn’t have a written offer ready (supposedly it is to come today but it is already nearing the end of the business day) but I did get the details.

The job is mine, if I want it.

And I do want it. I just don’t want it at their proposed compensation. It is at the bottom end of the pay scale and I was looking for something more towards the middle. The headhunter suggests that I’ve got waht I wanted - if you include the bonus but I can’t run my family budget by going into debt $7,000 every year, only to dispense with the debt with the bonus at the end of the year. A bonus is a bonus - it’s not something that should be counted on for daily living.

So . . . I’m unhappy. The headhunter doesn’t know this; she thinks I’ve reconciled myself to the situation and will accept the offer. Hmmm . . . . let’s see the actual written offer first before I commit myself.

This has gone on long enough and has consumed my summer. I am hoping this will end this week, one way of the other. I thought it would last week so perhaps it will take longer than another week to finish up.

Today is the Day

Today is the day I find out about this job. I am pretty sure that the company will make me an offer; the question is now what will that offer look like? I alternate between feeling nervous and calm and anticipate feeling this way for six months as our lives get shaken up. Is it worth the stress? Should I just stay in the cozy little Shire where the only thing that really seems to get people excited is the possible building of a cross-town street?

I am in too deep. How to say no without a good reason other than it is too scary? A push out the door and into the land of Mordor . . . or Gondor. At least I will not be bored or restless for the next few years. Anxious, stressed out or unhappy maybe but not bored. And boredom is something I fear.

Interview, Round 3

Yesterday I went in for my third interview. This one was with the general manager again and some of the other managers. The interview went well although I felt that I wasn’t as enthusiastic or on the ball as on the previous ones. I think I essentially have the job - if I want it. They need to confirm with their US parent that this is the route they should be going so I won’t hear anything until Wednesday at the earliest.

If I want it. That’s a big question. Already I feel under stress all the time. Will it be like this from now on? First there is the job: it is a manager’s position and will require some difficult interpersonal interactions with the staff. As the boss said, the current group of cartographers is a tight circle that needs to be broken and reshaped. That will be the biggest challenge for me - facing hostility and possibly personal challenges. Not something I enjoy. But, I think if I am clear and intentional in my communications I should be able to do it. There is much to learn here and I can do it - if I want to. I must learn not to avoid that which I don’t want to do. The rest of the job looks easy in comparison. That I am not worried about.

And then there is the cost of housing. Of course I don’t know what I’d be paid but right now I think we could not go above a $225,000 mortgage which limits us to a $325,000 house. Alot for where we live now but on the lower side of things for over there. How can we maintain the same lifestyle we have now over there? We can’t. We will end up with a smaller house, a smaller lot, a bigger mortgrage, another car, higher expenses. It is depressing. But let’s wait until they make an offer, I suppose.

This is exciting, an adventure but it is also very scary. What if it doesn’t work out? What if I am not up to the job? What if I don’t like it? Sometimes I feel that I need to take this job just to force myself to grow up. I feel that I am in a position now where I have already committed myself too much to be able to go back to the way things were. Could I continue in my present job and be happy? Or will I be kicking myself for a missed opportunity? Probably the latter, knowing my personality.

If it doesn’t work out, I suppose we can always buy a $50,000 house in Mattawa and scrounge around for freelance work!

Sigh.

More Waiting

Am I impatient? Perhaps . . . but it the process is going well, though a bit too slowly for my liking.

Another interview tomorrow, this one a 3 hour interview that is more a meeting with future colleagues to see if we can play well together - I think. They like me so far so I think that, unless I screw up things tomorrow, they will make me an offer. I hope this weekend but I’m starting to lower my expectations. Perhaps by next week.

I’m still nervous about all of this, of course. How will the meeting go tomorrow? What will be discussed? What questions will be asked? And what kind of offer will they make when the time comes? I am hoping that their offer will make it easy to decide to accept the job. After more waiting, we shall see.

In the meantime, I will just remain nervous about it all.

The Waiting

The waiting is the hardest part. The uncertainty of which directions things will go is unsettling.

They liked me, very much. Both men who interviewed me had very positive reports of me to give to the head hunter (so she said). There is no else that they are interviewing right now. If the want someone in this position it will be me. But I don't have the job yet. The last week was spent by the company determining what it exactly I’ll be doing if I get the job and if they in fact want this position to exist.

This part doesn’t make sense. Shouldn’t the employer first decide whether or not to have the position, then interview? Not the other way around? The head hunter said thatthey had done so, had interviewed and offered someone the job which they turned down. They continued to look but couldn’t find anyone, then decided that they needed to develop a Plan B in case they didn’t find anyone. Then I came along. Now they need to re-evaluate whether to go with Plan A or Plan B. They hoping to have it decided by yesterday. But it didn’t happen.

On another note, I feel that the head hunter is preparing me to accept a lower salary. Originally she said that she expected them to offer in the middle of the range. Now she says she expects them to offer in the lower end of the range. I shared with her my minimum expectations, then a while later said that I had to revise numbers because of Markham being more expensive. Yesterday when I spoke with her she said she had no recollection of having that conversation. How conveneient. Also annoying.

So the waiting . . . for a job offer AND for the specifics on the job offer. Meanwhile I’ve made commitments to the college to teach courses in the fall. If I’m to back out of them I’d need to know by August 14th by the very latest. The job looks interesting and, given the right offer, I’d accept it. I’m jus getting frustrated and annoyed with this process.

Interview, Round 2

Another interview today, a follow-up to the one last week. The general manager from the Canadian company liked me and so called up the Vice President of the American company and asked him for his input on me. This one was a telephone interview and again it was much like a conversation. He was a nice sounding man with a pleasant, mild American accent. I liked him. We talked about maps and cartography, about his company, the directions he sees it going, about me, of course, my interests, what I’ve done. All very pleasant. I hope he felt good about our conversation. I can’t say he felt bad about it but I have a nagging feeling that perhaps I didn’t come across eager or strong enough. He was all so relaxed so I was too.

It’s out of my hands now. I hope I get the job. I look forward to the fun of saying good-bye and moving on to something new. It still makes me nervous. Would it work out? Will I work out? It’s frightening and exciting, an adventure. As long as it ends well.

A Door Opens, the World Changes

Every once in a while something happens that spins you around and suddenly the world looks different.

About 7 weeks ago my wife goes to a trade show and learns that a respected map company is looking for a manager of their cartography / GIS shop. She gets the card of the sales manager and I send her an email, asking her about it. No response. That’s okay. Perhaps the opportunity had already passed.

A few weeks later I am at a conference and I talk to someone about a teaching opportunity but it turns out that I don’t have the qualifications. No surprise.

A week or so later, this same person who I spoke to about the teaching position sends me an email and asks if I'd be interested in a job as manager of a cartography / GIS shop. Of course, I say, thinking that it is the same job my wife had heard about. Then . . . nothing.

I go camping. I return to work and get a call from a young sounding woman. She works for a head hunting agency. Would I be interested in a job as manager of a cartography / GIS shop? Of course, I say. Send me your resumé, she says. So I send the evening cleaning it up and send it off five minutes before a storm hits and the power goes out - for 44 hours. I call her the next day to see if she got the email. No, she didn’t. I have to resend it but can’t until that evening. She finally gets it, forwards it on to her client who is impressed and asks for an interview.

On Friday I go in for the interview - nervous, of course, but also confident. It’s just me and the company boss. He begins by telling me about where they are at as a company and my head is so full of questions that I have a hard time not interrupting him. The interview turns into a 2 hour conversation and by the end of it I can tell that this is going somewhere. And indeed, it does. The head hunter calls me that evening when I get home and says that the company wants me in for another interview, this time with the chief cartographer from the U. S. parent. That will be next week and it will be more of a technical interview. But the boss likes me and that’s good.

As is usual following these events in my life, I have trouble sleeping. I think, “I can’t do this job. What am I doing? I’m getting in way over my head. What if I turn out to be a dud of a manager and get fired?” It is, of course, fear of the unknown. But then I wake up this morning and am already thinking about how I’m going to deal with the problem (i.e. the big problem facing the cartography shop that I will be expected to deal with) and think “I can do this and I’ll do it in my own way - quietly, gently but with a firm idea of what has to be done.” And I feel good about it.

It’s not a done deal yet, of course. But a world of opportunity is opening up. It’s scary and exciting and I think in the end I will enjoy it.

Half Marathon Again

Even though some of the first words out of my mouth when I complete last fall's half marathon were "Tell me not to do this again," I've gone and signed up for another one. This one is in Toronto on the 15th of October. I'm not joining the Running Room group this time. I feel confident enough to do this on my own.

The weather so far this summer has been conducive to running - not too hot, that is. I haven't been doing too much long running but my regular runs have lengthened to at least 7 km, sometimes more. I'm hoping to have a 10 km regular run base so I should be used to at least the first half of the race.

And in other news . . . the brothers were by for a visit this past weekend. Surprisingly, no one seemed to get annoyed or upset with anyone else this time around. I guess everyone was happy. And I was offered the opportunity to teach 2 courses in the fall - something I will follow up with even though it means being busy for a semester at least. I hope to position myself for the chance to get on full time - if that's what I want.

I should post another vegetable garden shot so people stop thinking of it as a gravesite. It looks a little greener now.

My Other Blog Turns One

When it comes to blogging, most of my energy is directed to my other blog, Cartography - all about maps and mapping technology. It took a while for the blog to get some wings but it now averages around 400 visitors per day, something I’m very pleased about.

Garden Update #2

Perhaps this will be a weekly thing.
I moved the aspargus (second row - you can’t see them very well in the photo) and added a frame upon which the peas will be able to climb (string to be added) once they start growing. The soil is crap - it looks okay when working it but after it sits for a while it starts looking crusty and clayey. No sign of the peas, lettuce, spinach or radishes that I planted last week. But it was a cold week.
The vegetable garden is now more. I tilled it this morning. The raspberry canes will remain and soon I’ll be planting a couple of fruit trees. I planted three last year - plum, cherry and pear and all are doing well. Unfortunately, I tihnk I plannted them too close together. Even more unfortunate is that they all need a cultivar to grow fruit - which means three more trees. Two in this patch, maybe three, two next the house on the opposite side of the driveway and the others? North of the house? I need more land!!
The tulips are doing nicely, as you can see. Spring is wonderful, full of promise and life.