Well, you can't argue that point. To proove it she drew one, an earthmover tire I think. The girl has potential.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
I Could be a Tire Designer
Yesterday at supper I was explaining to Jane what my new job would be. To sum it up in a few words it is essentially tire design. Not new tire models but drawing and working with some new and same existing tire designs, colaborating working with the plants on issues and solving problems with them. It is at this very point that Isabelle pipes up and exclaims: "I can draw a tire!"
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
It's All Part of Being an Expat
OK, so I am sitting in international departures after a second delay and a flight cancellation, all of which follows a two day delay for visa and immigration issues. I’m beginning to wonder if I will ever get back to Greenville.
It all started with Gran’s 100th birthday celebration, a celebration that went very well, by the way, with a good time had by all who attended. You see Jane and Isabelle had planned several months ago to come to Halifax for Gran’s birthday party. Initially I didn’t have a reason to come and was actually sort of looking forward to a weekend of working out at the gym, paddling at the US National Whitewater Center, and geocaching in and around Greenville. Maybe I could sneak in a ballgame too. Instead it has lead to the biggest travel adventure I have had since 911.
It all started because my visa expired in May. The renewal application went in back in March and should have taken a month. At the beginning of March there was still no sign of it. With Isabelle and Jane leaving after the expiration date we had two option for getting them back into the country: premium processing ($1000) or I go with them to take care of the visa on the way back into the US. Since now I had work to do in Waterville when I was there I decided to go along, besides, the visa process in at the border was supposed to be a sure thing while the premium processing didn’t guarantee it would back in time.
I booked a flight and had a good visit in Halifax, put in some time in the plant in Waterville, got to see my folks, attended the birthday party, and generally had a nice little long weekend in Nova Scotia with the family. I even got my act together and gave my Mom here belated Mother's Day gift and my Dad his early Father's Day gift. I was feeling like it was all under control. Tthen everything went south.
At US immigration we ran into some issues with the visa before our flight on Sunday. In the end we turned around and went back to the city. I booked myself in at the Blomidon Inn in Wolfville and Jane and Isabelle went to her parents place in halifax. We rescheduled our flight for Wednesday and let relocation and the company lawyers figure it out. Isabelle would miss some school but we would work through it.
On Monday evening we are told we are good to go. After having spent two days in the plant in Waterville I head back to Halifax on Tuesday evening to get ready to try again. At this point (insert hint of self pity here) my throat is starting to scratch and I can feel the cold coming on (Peter’s hot toddy helped but I don’t think I can dodge this bullet.) Now, just after going to bed, my phone goes off. It's a message from Continental saying my flight is cancelled. Cancelled! Really. OK, I can deal with this…
Jane and I stay up until midnight dealing with a reschedule. Now instead of a 12:30 departure we leave at 9:00. Not too bad, but we will have to get up early. Too bad Isabelle didn’t fall asleep until 10:00. She’s going to be a little cranker tomorrow.
Now I’m up at 6:00 and the cell phone rings again. It’s an automated call from United. The flight from Washington to Greenville has been rescheduled. OK no problem, but what about Halifax to Washington? I look it up and it’s delayed. We don’t go until 12:00, that’s why the other flight was moved. Well, we got up early for nothing but we can use the time with US immigration. We head to the airport.
At the airport we get sorted out both at immigration and with the airline. The wait will be long be at least we are through. I meet an old acquaintance and his family, all headed to Greenville like us, and we finally board the plane. A little mix-up with the boarding passes has us in the wrong seats but everything looks good until a lady in first class declares she’s lost her wallet. After a short delay she figures out it’s at her hotel. Too bad for her, I though we would be delayed again.
Then, just as I think they are about to close the door, the captain comes on and says, and I quote: “I’m sorry folks, I hate to have to tell you this, but it appears the plane is really broken. We are going to have to ask you to deplane while we wait for maintenance. We may be an hour or more late…” Really broken! as opposed to slightly broken or kinda broken. (I also wonder if it was broken before or after it landed just a few minutes ago. Who knows!) Oh well, the lady in first class will get her wallet back. And now I sit in the departures lounge thinking about the joys of being an expat… It’s a good thing I like my job; otherwise I may start thinking a little more seriously about being a kayak guide.
It all started with Gran’s 100th birthday celebration, a celebration that went very well, by the way, with a good time had by all who attended. You see Jane and Isabelle had planned several months ago to come to Halifax for Gran’s birthday party. Initially I didn’t have a reason to come and was actually sort of looking forward to a weekend of working out at the gym, paddling at the US National Whitewater Center, and geocaching in and around Greenville. Maybe I could sneak in a ballgame too. Instead it has lead to the biggest travel adventure I have had since 911.
It all started because my visa expired in May. The renewal application went in back in March and should have taken a month. At the beginning of March there was still no sign of it. With Isabelle and Jane leaving after the expiration date we had two option for getting them back into the country: premium processing ($1000) or I go with them to take care of the visa on the way back into the US. Since now I had work to do in Waterville when I was there I decided to go along, besides, the visa process in at the border was supposed to be a sure thing while the premium processing didn’t guarantee it would back in time.
I booked a flight and had a good visit in Halifax, put in some time in the plant in Waterville, got to see my folks, attended the birthday party, and generally had a nice little long weekend in Nova Scotia with the family. I even got my act together and gave my Mom here belated Mother's Day gift and my Dad his early Father's Day gift. I was feeling like it was all under control. Tthen everything went south.
At US immigration we ran into some issues with the visa before our flight on Sunday. In the end we turned around and went back to the city. I booked myself in at the Blomidon Inn in Wolfville and Jane and Isabelle went to her parents place in halifax. We rescheduled our flight for Wednesday and let relocation and the company lawyers figure it out. Isabelle would miss some school but we would work through it.
On Monday evening we are told we are good to go. After having spent two days in the plant in Waterville I head back to Halifax on Tuesday evening to get ready to try again. At this point (insert hint of self pity here) my throat is starting to scratch and I can feel the cold coming on (Peter’s hot toddy helped but I don’t think I can dodge this bullet.) Now, just after going to bed, my phone goes off. It's a message from Continental saying my flight is cancelled. Cancelled! Really. OK, I can deal with this…
Jane and I stay up until midnight dealing with a reschedule. Now instead of a 12:30 departure we leave at 9:00. Not too bad, but we will have to get up early. Too bad Isabelle didn’t fall asleep until 10:00. She’s going to be a little cranker tomorrow.
Now I’m up at 6:00 and the cell phone rings again. It’s an automated call from United. The flight from Washington to Greenville has been rescheduled. OK no problem, but what about Halifax to Washington? I look it up and it’s delayed. We don’t go until 12:00, that’s why the other flight was moved. Well, we got up early for nothing but we can use the time with US immigration. We head to the airport.
At the airport we get sorted out both at immigration and with the airline. The wait will be long be at least we are through. I meet an old acquaintance and his family, all headed to Greenville like us, and we finally board the plane. A little mix-up with the boarding passes has us in the wrong seats but everything looks good until a lady in first class declares she’s lost her wallet. After a short delay she figures out it’s at her hotel. Too bad for her, I though we would be delayed again.
Then, just as I think they are about to close the door, the captain comes on and says, and I quote: “I’m sorry folks, I hate to have to tell you this, but it appears the plane is really broken. We are going to have to ask you to deplane while we wait for maintenance. We may be an hour or more late…” Really broken! as opposed to slightly broken or kinda broken. (I also wonder if it was broken before or after it landed just a few minutes ago. Who knows!) Oh well, the lady in first class will get her wallet back. And now I sit in the departures lounge thinking about the joys of being an expat… It’s a good thing I like my job; otherwise I may start thinking a little more seriously about being a kayak guide.
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