Friday Travel Day

by

Friday was a bit hectic for me. I went to the NJ office where most of my team is. I was going with a new Project Manager, and two other people from the mid town office who work on the same project. One guy was new, one never met the rest of the team and the other hadn’t seen everyone in almost a year so it was nice getting everyone together to talk. We spent over 3 hours going over stuff. It went really well. We all then went out for lunch after the visitors got a tour of the facility. Those tours never get old for me.

The downside of the travel day was I was only in front of my computer for about an hour and that was in a conference room for a meeting going over a spread sheet. I was only able to read and respond to a few of the many emails I received this week. Since I am going to my sisters tonight I won’t be able to try to catch up from my backlog until Monday!

Because of the tour and lunch we didn’t head back to the city till almost 3. By the time we got to mid town it was well after 4. I ended up going home and finished up some work there before going out to meet up with friends for drinks. I was delayed in getting out because I waited to sync up my new iPhone 3GS before I left. It arrived in the mail while I was out during the day.

Drinks were cool. Meet up with Luke, Stanley, & Danny to name a few. I didn’t stay out too late so I was happy! All in all a busy and productive day.

Thursday 6/18/2009

by

Today was another work from home day. I swapped my typical Thursday & Friday schedules so I can be in NJ tomorrow. Even though I am getting a rid and not taking the bus I have to get up the usual time in order to make it out there for 9AM.

I am glad I worked from home today. The weather was horrible. I ran out to the grocery store before I started work to grab a muffin. I figured the weather wouldn’t be so bad to run across the street. The 5 minutes I was out I was sopping wet. I am glad I didn’t walk to the subway in that rain.

Today was one of the hectic schedules for the week. I was busy with meetings of some sort or another almost the entire day. Unfortunately I got called at 6:30 with other issues. It was a long day. I am going to be glad to just lie down and relax in a few minutes, but I am trying to set aside some time each night to make a blog entry.

iPhone 3GS Conundrum Update

by

I am pleasantly surprised to get an email today that my iPhone 3GS has shipped. ETA for me to get it is tomorrow, just like Apple originally said. I say pleasantly surprised because in the past (not apple per say but in general) when an automated system says something and you are told something else the automated system is generally correct.

I typically work from home on Friday’s but tomorrow I am off to NJ with some business folks who have never met most of my team. I hope to be home in the late afternoon to finish off the day.

Hopefully tomorrow nights photos will be from the new 3 megapixel camera!

iPhone 3GS Conundrum

by

When the iPhone 3GS was announced I was very interested. It solved many but not all of the issues I have with my 3G. When I found out I could pre-order one and have it delivered to me on the day it comes out I went and ordered one from Apple. I was slightly aggravated after my order went in to read that they estimated my order would ship on the 19th (the day it comes out) and not arrive on that date as the original statement said. This was about an hour after they announced the phone so I wasn’t too worried about it being sold out, but I was a bit miffed by the delay.

About a day or two later I received an email from apple telling me they are sorry for the mix up but I would in fact receive the new phone on the 19th like they originally said. The odd thing is that my order status page still says ships on the 19th. What is also concerning is that on my status page it says “custom configuration”. That makes no sense since it is a phone. It comes in one option. When I click on details it says the custom configuration is “With AT&T Rate Plan-Upgrade”. Not sure what upgrade it means. The plan on the order is the exact plan I currently have. Now I could simply ignore all these facts and wait for the phone Friday since I have a nice reassuring email from Apple, but I wont because I have dealt with enough computer systems like this. When something smells fishy it tends to be fishy. Other anecdotal evidence that I wont be happy on Friday is reading that others who are supposed to receive their order on Friday already have received tracking information.

Now waiting the weekend isn’t the end of the world, and I don’t need the phone first thing Friday. On the other hand I want it Friday and I only ordered it online because I was told that is when I would get it. If I knew I would have to wait I wouldn’t have ordered it online. I would have gone to the 5th Ave Apple Store and wait like I did last year. If they are shipping units to people I assumed the purchase process this year would be allot easier. Unfortunately the conundrum is that I can’t cancel my existing order and goto the store to buy it on Friday. I now have to wait and see what apple system is right? Will the phone arrive on Friday or simply ship out on Friday?

On the plus side it is only a phone and either way life will go on. It would be cool to have a new toy (productivity tool) to play with this weekend. Let the waiting commence.

Lunch Out

by

Today was a work in the office day.  I got lunch with a vendor.  We hadn't spoken in several months so it was good to catch up and get him up to speed with my current needs.  Some work lunches can be painful or painfully boring.  Thankfully this one wasn't.

I thought my meeting schedule was relatively light but enough stuff came up to make me think twice about that assessment by the time the day ended.  I don't know why I ever think that because when I do I always learn to regret it.

On the way home I grabbed a hair cut.  Then it was home for a quick dinner.  I was tired so nothing major went on this evening.

Monday 6/12/2009

by

Today was a work from home day for me. It wasn’t the best weather out so I didn’t mind. Had several meetings and spent allot of time getting updates from my team. It is amazing how days like this go by so fast.

Thankfully a hectic but uneventful Monday.

Puttering Around The House

by

I got up early and couldn't go back to sleep. Thankfully I felt better than I did yesterday. I cleaned up my apartment. I also decided I didn't like my Desk Reorg and removed the extra Apple Display. I moved my Media Center iMac back to where it was last week and took my Dell monitor and plugged it into my bigger iMac. I am still using a dual display setup but I took apart my Laptop station setup. I just didn't use it.

The Apple Display I have is starting to show its age so I don't feel right selling it on eBay. As Kai likes to point out anything I sell generally is in top notch condition. I take pride in my reputation (and the added resale value good condition brings) so I won't sell it. I think it is still good enough to give to my parents. They have a 19" LCD I bought for my dad's birthday a few years ago. Maybe they will like the upgrade.

Puerto Rican Day Parade?

by

In the afternoon I figured I would take advantage of the good weather and head into Manhattan. I wanted to swing by the Apple Store and head into Central Park for a bit. Little did I know my plans were doomed to failure. When I got off the N train and started walking up the steps I saw a lady with a Puerto Rican flag. I immediately thought is today the Puerto Rican Day Parade? Then I saw like 10 other people with Puerto Rican flags by the time I made it to the last flight of stairs to the street. There was no doubt in my mind the parade was today. Now I wondered does my memory serve that the parade goes up 5th ave right by the park? When I got to the street my memory was proven correct. 5th Ave was completely blocked off.

My plans were toasted. I should have gotten back in the subway and gone home, but I didn’t. I walked around for a bit since it was a really nice day. Since it was getting late I ended up heading over to the Outback for some dinner before I headed home. I love that place and I don’t go too often. It was good. I walked back to the subway and headed home afterwards. Granted my plans didn’t pan out (well if you call them plans) but I had a good day anyway.

I went home, finished my laundry, and relaxed a bit. Now I am off to bed since I have a meeting first thing in the morning.

Puttering Around The House

by

I got up early and couldn’t go back to sleep. Thankfully I felt better than I did yesterday. I cleaned up my apartment. I also decided I didn’t like my Desk Reorg and removed the extra Apple Display. I moved my Media Center iMac back to where it was last week and took my Dell monitor and plugged it into my bigger iMac. I am still using a dual display setup but I took apart my Laptop station setup. I just didn’t use it.

The Apple Display I have is starting to show its age so I don’t feel right selling it on eBay. As Kai likes to point out anything I sell generally is in top notch condition. I take pride in my reputation (and the added resale value good condition brings) so I won’t sell it. I think it is still good enough to give to my parents. They have a 19″ LCD I bought for my dad’s birthday a few years ago. Maybe they will like the upgrade.