new cities

Posted by bert at 03:39 PM on June 2, 2007 in ME.

I love going and integrating myself into new cities.

I'm now at the point where i've heard all about the great places to play in the city, like Adam's Morgan or Dupont Circle or Georgetown's M Street, but i haven't truly been there to know what i'm actually talking about.

this to me is one of the most fun parts of exploring a new city, because someone will call someone else, and be like "where we going tonight."   And the response will be "Adam's Morgan", only we have no idea what Adam's Morgan truly is except a random collection of bars.   (then again, finding a bar is really all that matters...)   Anyway, there's four of us KFBS'ers here in DC tonight and we're going to meet up in Adam's Morgan, and none of us know really what it should look like, or how the hell to get there if we were to be lost.

ah sad...  10 weeks left in DC. 

1 spoke it

Though it's only 8 hours...

Posted by bert at 03:35 PM on June 4, 2007 in ME.

my commute makes it an 11 hour day.   Pay me like an iBanker pls!

 

i dislike the commute either way..  crap...  49 more days of work... 

1 spoke it

segway

Posted by bert at 06:33 AM on June 5, 2007 in ME.

woo wee... these things are sweet... if the price tag wasn't so high, i'd consider getting one.

 

I got to play with one of these bad boys at work today, and a whole bunch of other nifty gizmos that we've only read about in tech crunch or endgadget or anandtech. I guess consulting has some benefits... =)

 

you can check out some of the toys at work here

src.bah.com/home 

speak it

I love telecommuting

Posted by bert at 02:10 PM on June 7, 2007 in ME.

but... at the same time theres a very sad aspect to it.

Look we all know that in the day and age of Web 2.0, the social network revolution, or whatever the heck else you want to call it,  that access is the key.

the work place made a conscious decision to be worker focused and driven, and it's a GREAT thing that companies actually listen to the employee.

Telecommuting is an immeasurably great tool to help us the employee.  Hell, reading documents has never been more comfortable.  (I can do work with a donut, some coffee, and some linkin park blasting, while in pajama pants).

But there is a very negative aspect of telecommuting that won't be seen by companies until it is (potentially) too late.

I didn't realize the problems behind this when I was at Boeing, but as a new employee at Booz Allen, I can definitely attest to it.

Like any new employee at a company, I definitely feel lost and out of place.  there are certain things that you just will not know when you go to a new office (where are the conference rooms, or where's the best places to eat).   All of these things you just need some kind soul to help you out with and it's ok.  But there are other aspects of the at-work life experience that you can only get out of certain people.   Like what's the process for X, and how does person Y like his reports, etc.   

Now I would ask my teammates in passing, or on my way back to the bathroom, or even over lunch, but.. I now work in a mobile environment where it's just me and the temp stuck at hotel desks.

Key processes like, where to find documents pertaining to sensitive information, is passed very slowly, unless e-mailed directly (rarely).

 

Anyway, as a entrepreneur,  I should look at a way to better address this.  Not sure how, but I'm thinking of ways to change some culture here.  It is a consulting world after all huh?

3 spoke it

Pandora!

Posted by bert at 10:23 AM on June 8, 2007 in ME.

I love Pandora for work. no need to go looking for new bands, while listening to remotely related music. Hrm.. Maybe Tim Westergren is hiring MBAs...

3 spoke it

ESPN Broadcaster Dreams

Posted by bert at 05:52 AM on June 11, 2007 in ME.

when Stuart Scott was busting out "boo-yahs" a couple of years ago, I think about 60% of the American males in this country thought, "damn, that just may be the best job ever."

Though I'm sad that it wasn't me who made it, my buddy Will Kimmey this past week. 

He's been writing college baseball reports for baseballamerica for the past couple of years (check out his columns!!). What they don't report is this kid likes to cook, and we've had many hours+ conversations regarding cooking before we broke into a discussion about how poor the Cubs farm system was.  (He likes Samardzija btw)

This year he got called up to the bigs (yup ESPN).  And he's doing studio analysis of all the College World Series games.   So in addition to watching UNC baseball (they are a terrible small ball version of the Anaheim Angels and just don't hit homeruns...), we cheer and drink everytime Will Kimmey gets on camera.   What an internship huh?   He's going to be a 2nd law student next year so watch out ladies. =)

 

speak it

gossiping like high school girls

Posted by bert at 06:21 AM on June 13, 2007 in ME.

I met up with really old high school peeps (from chicago) over in the Clarendon area.  (side note: i can't believe you DC people let me move to crystal city instead of Clarendon or Court House!!!)  Anyway, yes I am old and admittedly so.   It has been 10 years now, but I really did enjoy this mini high school reunion with Julie and Ethel and Ethel's husband Omar. 

I was originally planning a whole bunch of awkwardness, especially since we didn't talk/hang out much outside of our cliquey high school, but I remembered one of them as being really down to earth, and the other was... well...  the dismissive, high and mighty cheerleader type. =)

The years have treated them well, and they have both led some really interesting lives.   But after the expedited catch up.  All three of us turned into over-wound gossip machines talking about what everyone that we remember was up to.

I admit to not really keeping up with those I didn't hang out with, but it was just so weird to hear all these names pop out.  It truly was nostalgia.  Like the story about that one skater girl with steel tip boots that would stalk the vending machines.   Or about that really bad relationship breakup that happened during jr. prom during the king/queen breakup.   Or about how two guys both eventually came out and started dating each other a few years later.  

man..  I could go on and on.   Maybe this 10 yr. HS reunion won't be so bad.   But...  way too many people are married.    

7 spoke it

What do Tennessee and Saudi Arabia have in Common?

Posted by bert at 10:46 AM on June 14, 2007 in ME.

No Post, just check out the link.

i owe booz another 30 minutes because of this post... 

 

 

speak it

Boondock Saints

Posted by bert at 11:43 AM on June 15, 2007 in ME.

This is perhaps one of my top 5 movies of all time.  I've never broken down my top 20'ish or so into a solidified top 5, but I love this movie.

 

anyway.. What the heck is wrong with people my age.  Everywhere I go, especially at this internship at Booz with all these young people...  no one has seen this movie.  It's like Instant Classic.

Have you guys seen this flick?  Please say yes...   please...

man.. i just want a coke now...

yeah.. "I'll have a Coke." 

3 spoke it

what to do?

Posted by bert at 08:45 AM on June 18, 2007 in ME.

my office mate is this not so attractive 40'ish woman.  And brings in breakfast (usually a breakfast burrito, but some days it's a bagel) to eat in the morning.  Then like clockwork, around 11:15, she goes to the cafeteria and gets a "healthy" wrap, and pigs out on it.  She's currently munching pretty loud right now.   The worst part is that she'll tell me about her "man-problems" and complain about how all dudes are jerks, yada yada.

 Anyway..  I've been the nice office companion with the "you'll find mr. right one day" attitude and encouraging her.  I'm also the one telling her when she has stuff between her teeth, on her chin, blouse, wherever.  

But I'm thinking about stepping in between her and her food.

If I were full-time I would say something and try to make a pact (i could use healthier eating too!).  But i'm moving to a new office (with no windows... GRRR!!) this week.   

 

Do i still intervene? 

3 spoke it

I've Been Demoted...

Posted by bert at 05:40 AM on June 20, 2007 in ME.

i know.. 3 weeks in and I've been "promoted."  Usually interns are not supposed to have their own office but being a "grad school type."  I was moved from my temporary bay desk to a nice office.

 

problem is... my temp desk was awesome.   I was next to a good looking girl from UNC within 30 feet of the kitchen and our Flavia coffee machine and had a window view to boot.  Now i'm 300+ feet from the kitchen, within range of a bunch of women who chat about their periods, in an windowless dungeon next to this 40+ year old dude who smells (not of nice perfume).

I traded up and got a raw deal.  I want my shanty little temp desk back! 

1 spoke it

Day of Silence...

Posted by bert at 05:46 AM on June 26, 2007 in ME.

the vast majority of online radio stations today are honoring a "day of silence."   While i support them totally in their cause, and feel bad that the MPAA or the RIAA or whatever acronym group is behind their rate hikes, it does mean that I too will have a silent day of work (i miss Pandora already).  

 I'm not sure how they chose this day... but i'm going to say they chose poorly, because this day coincides with the day Paris Hilton gets out of jail, and for some reason that bewilders me....  THIS IS FRONT LINE NEWS!!!

I want paris to take a year of silence and just go away.   PLEASE GO AWAY you annoying twig. 

speak it

anyone else bored today?

Posted by bert at 10:11 AM on June 27, 2007 in ME.

i am.. seriously B.O.R.E.D.

i can't believe i'd rather be at boeing... 

speak it

NBA Draft

Posted by bert at 10:49 AM on June 28, 2007 in ME.

I know most of you don't care.. why should you?  But i like basketball.. Love it actually, and my Bulls are in a position to actually do something good this year (please don't make me root for that carrot-top cream puff Noah.. PLS!!!)

 

anyway...  i understand the rating process of all the players and so on.. but seriously, where the heck is Alando Tucker in all this.. That guy was an absolute stud, and almost singlehandedly beat #1 and #4 (depending on which analyst is taking) in the draft.   Wisconsin became a basketball powerhouse because of this guy, and he's no where to be seen on draft boards (Bulls please pick him up with your 2nd round pick)..  then again.. pls go get Kobe. 

1 spoke it

new toy at work

Posted by bert at 08:08 AM on June 29, 2007 in ME.

I've been playing with this Drobo thing.  It's basically a  hot-swappable Hard-drive tower.  Man... this thing would be so convenient if we still used towers....  

I signed up to demo the motion sensitive table used for wargaming next week.. Should be a blast.  (it's basically a minority report-type interface) 

3 spoke it