Tidal Wave

Are you one of those people who work better under pressure?

I'm not sure I fall into that category. However, I find that if I have a ton to do and actually get ahead in my work (rare) then I immediately lose all momentum. Which is my I'm posting this on Thursday at 10:30 in the morning.....

I'm finding that sometimes work is like a tsunami. You know how the water retreats way out to sea before coming back in a giant tidal wave?

That's where I am right now. I have enough work to keep me busy for the next two days. But I can see what's coming....and it's a giant tidal wave.

Lately I know I'm completely burnt out. I'm restless in the evenings but not sure what I want or need. I've tried retail therapy, tried indulging in food and alcohol.....nothing works.

I think it's time for a cabin in the woods.

Best Meeting Ever

I'm finding new clients, mainly interior designers which is exactly who I want to work for.

I've been working with one designer on a massive millwork package she has to get out. I go meet with her once a week now and I always look forward to it. We got along really well, right from the very first meeting.

Our second meeting ended up with both of us wolfing chocolate truffles.

I already knew that working with designers is fun, but this was off the charts!

Best. Meeting. Ever.

Headquarters

One good thing that came out of my experience using Vectorworks - it left me with PTSD so AutoCAD is no longer unbearable.

At the height of my frustrations with Vectorworks, I wondered what their headquarters looked like. So I googled it.

One of the first images for Autodesk headquarters that came back was this:

Holy crap! What an inspiring space. Clean lines and colours, amazing wood features that look like something an insane Revit power user would come up with...that yellow glass? I'd love to work there.

One of the first images for Vectorworks headquarters that came back was this:

I'm digging the No-Name Brand furniture and cheap carpet tile. At least she has a window....overlooking a parking lot. Well, at least they let her take her shoes off for this photo.

To give Vectorworks the benefit of the doubt there was another photo on this webpage:

Underneath this photo it says "Our renovated headquarters showcases projects designed by Vectorworks users throughout the building".

When you click on the photo it takes you to a blank page that says 'hallway'.

Need I say more?!

Rear Window

I made my decision - I'm going for it!*

I'm going to work for myself for at least a year and see how it goes. So far it's fantastic! I've been busier than I have been in over a year - easily. 

I mean, seriously? This isn't a bad set up.

I love talking on the phone with nobody around to hear me. I love playing my own music out loud, no headphones required. I love making my own coffee!

I've had lots of people ask me if I have the discipline to work at home. Normally I'd say no, but when there is a crap load of work to do - it's not even about discipline. It's about putting your head down and grinding through it!

Usually I have a site meeting to go to or a meeting with a colleague. On the days that I don't have these things, I might have to start scheduling them.....

Have you seen the movie Rear Window? That will be me if things go on that way for days on end.

"Oh, there's that guy walking his dog."
"The Coho Ferry is leaving, must be time for another coffee!"
"That contractor has been here for two weeks straight.....I wonder what he's working on...."



*Thanks Dana for the nicest comment EVER!

Big Decisions

I have an extremely difficult choice to make this weekend.

Last week I had an conversation/interview with someone I really admire, respect and would love to work for. We've been talking on and off for about a year now but he hasn't been able to hire me full time until now.

But I've just started out on my own and I'm really excited about it! I put a lot of money into my new laptop among other things. I've been enjoying the process of marketing myself, meeting new people and working from home.

This guy then offered to cover the cost of my laptop if I join him.

Ugh, so difficult.

So do I take the safe route or do I walk into the sunset with my own Revit buddy and take a chance on myself?

Home Office

I've been working on my own for just over a month now. I'm settling in to it a little bit, although I have the best client ever right now so things have been going really well. 

Today I hit a a little milestone. I met someone who is interested in hiring me to cover some of his work while he goes on vacation next month.

I am super stoked! This is what I wanted - now I can work for more than one person at a time. It's up to me to make sure I don't go mental and take too much on.

I spent the afternoon going through some red lines. I'm getting more and more familiar with my new buddy and we're getting along great. I use the floor as my filing system which is no different than a studio set up in a lot of architectural offices!

When I took this photo Prince was blasting out of my laptop. It actually has amazing sound already and it came with the cutest sub woofer ever!

We re-arranged the room so that I can open the blinds all the way and see the water. It's gorgeous in the mornings, but midway through the afternoon I have to close them because there is way too much glare.

Another perk of working at home - I can take a 4 minute break and dance to my favourite Prince song whenever it comes on!

Which I did today.

New PC Buddy

The day after this post, I bought my new laptop.

We went into a local computer store and the minute we walked in I knew we were in the right place. There were wires, packages, random computer parts all over. A guy crawled out of a back room and asked us if we needed help.

He was perfect - graphic tee, grubby jeans, nerdy personality and super knowledgeable about PCs!!

I almost started crying with relief.

We showed him a link to the computer I wanted, and I bought it off him right then. I had it by the end of the week.

The great unveiling

 
Such a great experience!! Buying local, I'm totally satisfied and they offer lots of support. Plus - real humans!!

Next was the big install.

I drank gin as AutoCAD and Revit installed.

My little office is all set up and ready to go. I bought a mouse last night. There were so many choices?! Mine looks like a spaceship.

Last night I said to Brad "What's the next thing on the list of stuff for my company?"

He didn't hesitate: "Get a job?!"

Point taken.

Coffee and Daft Punk

I've been working in a different office for the last two weeks. Actually, it's the office I used to work at! It was funny because the night before I was starting I had anxiety - you know - it's a new job, first day....

...until it kicked in that I know and adore everyone in there?!

I'm working on a few projects and it's going really well. One of them needs a bit of cleaning up before it goes out for tender. Once I met with the people organizing it and got my head into it, it was time to do my favourite thing:

Drink lots of coffee, plug in to Daft Punk and slam it out as fast as I can.

I've had to figure out a new lunch routine. There is really only one good place to hang out that's near this office, but it's really small. In the summer it has a great outdoor patio but the weather hasn't been great.

So I'm missing my old hangout.

It's crazy though because in another month I have no idea where I'll be working. Could be this office, could be with a millwork designer or I could be working from home for someone else. Or all three!

What am I doing again?!

PC Hell

Okay.

I've already felt like I've been pushed into making a ton of changes lately. This isn't a bad thing. In fact, I'm still really excited about where this could go.

However, today I'm a little on edge.....

So I have to buy a computer. I knew this would happen, but it's happening much quicker than I thought. Again I'm not complaining. That being said, I'm venturing into territory I'm really not familiar with. 

I need a PC laptop*. I don't even know where to buy a PC?! Some friends have told me good places online I can try. Okay a good place to start...

I'm looking to spend quite a bit of money on this thing. I'm a little uncomfortable buying something off a website like this......without being able to see it in person. Sometimes there aren't even photos?!

I know, super judgey.

I found one that was perfect, but I can't buy it. It's either out of stock or simply won't ship to Canada. I'm long past the point of just wanting to talk to a real life human. We have the name of a store we'll try tomorrow, but there are so many different PCs out there it's not like they will just have the one I want.

Bottom line: I don't want a massive, heavy, manly, cheap black plastic with red backlights and exhaust ducts laptop!?


*Technically I could buy a Mac but it would cost me over $3,500. Yeeaahhhhh....

Changes

Hooooollllyy crap.

I've had a really intense, exciting, crazy two weeks. I'll quickly summarize:

I'm now a business owner......and I work in a different office.

I had so many things to do on the weekend, my brain wouldn't stop. At one point I drove Brad a little insane.

I'm not going to get into details, but I'm really excited. I've had lots of positive feedback, encouragement and offers from people. I've even met new people and connected with old friends.

My purgatory is over.

Vectorworks is Ruprecht

Remember this post?

There was a major downfall in accepting my current job: they don't use Revit. In fact, they don't even use AutoCAD. I had to learn a program that I had never used. I had also heard it was a complete nightmare to work with.

If Revit is like Data from Star Trek, that means it's calm, cool, collected, logical and smart. It holds together in stressful situations, it's intuitive and easy to work with. For the most part I could reason with Revit and if something was wrong there were a series of steps I could take to figure it out.

Vectorworks is Ruprecht.

I remind myself hourly that I haven't had any training, the drawings I'm working in aren't set up correctly (which I only recently found out) and I still don't know a lot of what this program can do.

However.

It blows my mind that there are classes, design layers and attribute palettes to control the display of objects. There is such a thing as too many options.

How does a drafting program not have a Copy tool?

It's nearly impossible to stretch and contort my fingers into the shortcut keys the program offers: Command+Shift+Option+3 - really? Some of the shortcuts are quick but they're strange: 2 for Line. What's wrong with L?! Oh. L is used for Split - riiiight of course.

I find myself wishing for AutoCAD multiple times in my day. If I could only open this up and take a look at it with software that other people in the industry use.....

My boss is planning on converting to Revit which is one reason she hired me. In the meantime I have to stick it out with Vectorworks and give it my all. When Revit and I meet again I think I'll break down and cry tears of joy and relief.

First Week Back

I just finished my first week back at work after my double jaw surgery. A bit of a shock being back after six weeks off but the timing was right. Honestly, it felt good to be out in the world again.

I have really supportive work mates and felt so pressure at all to work full time. It was a relief to go back to an environment like this after everything I had been through. I took a couple hours off each day, mainly because I was starving by 3pm and had to go home to eat.*

Remember when I quit my job a few months ago? Well, this is my new office.

It's a "boutique firm" which is trendy talk for "a super small office". I've always worked for big firms - minimum 20 employees. In my new office there is one full time employee and everyone else, including me are on contract. The reason is that they're a new firm and just getting started.

This is so refreshing after working for giant firms. It feels more personal - the relationship I have with my work mates, the projects and the clients.

It's also exciting to get in on the ground level and work for a small firm. I'm super stoked.

Today it's pouring rain - a perfect day to stay home. Lots of baking, cocktail drinking, baseball watching and reading happening here.


* I'm still not willing to eat in public yet.

It's been a good run...

So I quit my job yesterday.

(musical intermission)

Yes, after everything that's happened.

Obviously this was a tough decision, mostly because I didn't exactly have anything lined up until the day before I quit.

There is always a lot to learn in every business. I'm certainly no expert* but I'm always looking to grow and expand my knowledge so I can be better at my job. The thing is, I need the right environment to do this in. I don't think I'm alone in that desire and this just wasn't the right fit for me.

So I'm looking back at good memories and savouring the next two weeks with workmates that I know I'll miss a lot. It was a good run and I'm proud to have this experience on my resume.



*My site super was laughing at me (rightfully so) for something I didn't know on Friday.

The Red Guy

Remember this guy??

I have been adding him to almost all the models I've worked on since I created about him in 2009. He gets around!

Nobody has ever found him in a Revit model. He's tricky because he only shows up in a 3D view so it's unlikely that people will stumble on him.

Today my workmate D proudly announced, "I found the red guy!"

Blank stare from me. "No WAY!! Nobody has ever found him!!"

D continued, "I moved him."

Jabba, "Oh?"

D, "I put him in the toilet."

What a great way to start a Monday.

Podcasts

My walk to work is way longer than it used to be. It's great though - if I have a bad day it's all taken out on the sidewalk on my way home. The other night I stomped home after giving Revit the finger all week*, when I got here it was all forgotten.

Since we listen to music all day in the office, I'm tired of it by the time I leave for home.

So I've started listening to podcasts instead. I have three favourites right now.

1. Snap Judgement

On cold mornings I wrap myself up in Glynn Washington's voice and it warms me all the way to work. This  podcast is very similar to This American Life but I like it more.

Under the Influence

Formerly known as Age of Persuasion, I love this guy! I've always been fascinated by marketing and he delivers. He explores all the nuances of advertising and you get so much history behind products and ads you heard growing up.

This American Life

Of course I indulge in this one because it's a classic. Good stories and I love never knowing what you're going to hear about.

What other podcasts do you guys recommend?


*Railings and stair detailing, need I say more?

Drummer Boy

My new office is downtown on one of the best shopping streets in Victoria. It's great, working downtown is fantastic and I really enjoy it.

Lately most of us have been putting in long hours. Usually by late afternoon we're getting ready for another few hours of work. Not necessarily getting ready to go home.

In the last week or so we have something new to contend with. This guy shows up around 4:30 every day and sets up outside, across the street from our office. He gets out an empty water cooler tank and starts drumming on it. 

Understand - this guy is not talented. He's literally just banging on an empty water tank. The same simple rhythm...over and over and over. It's gotten to the point where he starts up and we all simultaneously groan/reach for our iPods/sigh/lay our heads on our desks and moan.

On Friday my workmate was taking a quick break, standing by the window. Quietly, he remarks "Drummer Boy has arrived."

The collective groans ensue.....

(pause)

"He has a new costume."

Sorry about another finger photo, but this is one is necessary.

Error Messages

You know you've hit the big time in nerdiness when you have collections. I have some - yarn, fabric, books - the usual stuff. I'm not embarrassed about any of it. I'm not embarrassed about what I'm about to tell you either...just sayin'.

I collect error messages.

Let me share a few and maybe you will understand.

"Problems"

 This is one of my favourites. I find it super helpful and because of this message I was able to figure out exactly what was wrong. Uh-huh. It happened in Revit (which produces some of the best errors ever) and was related to AutoCAD which is also a good source of madness.

OK, what's wrong? Use your words and slow down....

I got this one this week at work. This error is one reason why I hate PCs and upgraded to a Mac at home. Now I realize that these types of messages are likely created for IT people, but let's get real. What am I supposed to say to my IT guy when I call him? My favourite bit is the error: 26. Right.....

 Victim Impact Statement

I didn't realize all this drama was happening right in front of me!? It seemed like murder was being commited inside my computer and I could only stand by, laugh nervously as I created my screen grab and quietly hit the OK button.

Ummmm....?

 

There are a few Revit error messages like this one, I have another one that just says "Light Source". It's another message where you take a look around you to make sure nothing is amiss and quietly click 'Close' and move on with your life.

 My Favourite Error Message of all Time

(drum roll please)

I've heard about a legendary Revit error message that says something like 'Warning: You have no Warnings' but I have yet to see it. Even though I like to brag about the model I created that had no warnings.

Music, Location and A Bulldog

So I've been in my new job for a couple weeks now. It's awesome! Three random things:

1. They play music in the office.  (gasp!)

I was shocked at first and not sure how I felt about it, but after opening my mind and giving it a chance for a couple days I relaxed. Now I really enjoy it.

Plus it's music I like.

Today some song came on...the singer started wailing....my blood pressure started rising.....and just when I thought I was going to go mental, my workmate who runs the music hit 'Next'. Everyone started laughing and breathed a sigh of relief that we're all on the same page.

2. It's really great/weird/crazy to be working right downtown.

My office is seriously DIRECTLY above my very favourite clothing shop in the city*. This is not necessarily a good thing. 

Image courtesy of Smoking Lily 

It's a good thing this is an old image - if I had passed this outfit on my way in to the office I would have bought it ALL.

And.... 
 
3. There's a bulldog.

The other day I came back from lunch and the woman who runs the florist shop had her bulldog there. He was so friendly and snorted the entire time I patted him. I was a little afraid he was going to follow me into the elevator, but he didn't. He just stared sadly as I walked away.

I can't wait to talk to the owner and find out his schedule.
 

*Christielli - the place where I bought that super cute dress!!

Cocktail Parties and Book Launches

Ummm? Where am I? I don't even know where to start. My first week of work......let's just say there were cocktail parties, some drinking, missed ferries, late night dinners and a lot of brain stimulation.

My workmates are amazing. We all sit at one table, it's completely open and super casual. My first two days were relatively normal and routine - lots of Revit, ironing out glitches in a new computer, finding my way around a new model, figuring out the good coffee spots in the neighbourhood.....you know.

Day Three is when things got interesting. We went to Vancouver for a cocktail party to celebrate a book they just published. Ummmm....yeah!!!??

Oh...but....oh right. Cocktail parties - so not my scene. I spent hours trying to figure out what to wear, agonizing about not knowing anyone and dreaded the scene of standing in a corner alone, trying not to look too awkward.

 (Going into the party. Take a deep breath....)

Nope. It was not like that at all.

First I had all my new workmates to get to know. And I already know two girls in the Vancouver office*, I introduced myself to a guy who I worked with on the hospital project and of course met a bunch of people in the Vancouver office.

It was so fun.

The next day was "A Day of Making" in the Vancouver office. Everyone gets together and designs/makes/creates something. This year we had to do a 2 minute presentation on social sustainability. I had only found out about this on Wednesday afternoon so I was really flying blind. I tried not to panic.

But lucky for me it was supposed to be really loose. They didn't want to give us tons of parameters. People came up with so many places, ideas and different approaches. It was really interesting, inspiring and fun.

I chose to present a building that I fell in love with a couple years ago. I actually learned a lot even though I working on my own. When will I have another chance to sit around for a couple hours and figure out why I like this building so much?! 

Most people had computers to work with, but I didn't have mine so I got crafty. I sat at a table for 3-4 hours and put some stuff together.

I don't have a photo of my final product, but this gives you an idea of what we were doing and how the day was structured.

I approach public speaking like it's no big deal. Then I get sweaty and shaky when the times comes to actually do it. I start off pretty confident then halfway through I feel like I throw my notes out the window and ramble through.

I had someone tell me they thought I did well. Yesss! 

My new boss was emailing me last week about all this stuff so I knew ahead of time. I was totally dreading everything. Think about it - it's your first week and you have to attend a cocktail party and do a presentation to a bunch of people you don't know. But I realize now that it was a good way to start. I got to know my workmates on a social level, now we can actually get to work next week. For real.
 

*This is an entire blog post for another day.

T-Minus 24 Hours

I can't believe how fast the week went. I could have used a month, I really am not joking. It's good to know I'm "in demand" but - and this is said like Seinfeld when he didn't want to wear the pirate shirt: 

"I don't wanna be in demand!!"

I wanted to read at least 3 more books, watch 10 more movies, finish 8 more sewing projects and try 10 more recipes.

I should be grateful I was able to spend some time here - my new sewing room. Yes, that's the ocean. Cool hey?

 Chip lives here for now.

On Friday I re-visited a favourite recipe. Remember this bread?  

It's got to be one of the worst things for you - bread with tons of butter and sugar. But damn, it's the BEST.

I also finished a little sewing project that I'm loving. Rawbean gave me some fabric a long time ago and I finally decided to use some of it. Just a quick pillow cover. I added a button from my late mother-in-law's stash which makes it even more special. Oh Dee, how I miss you!

Sorry about the wrinkly pillow but we all know this is no polished craft blog.

I spent a lot of time in this chair - watching a couple movies, a few cooking shows, falling asleep and catching up on a knitting project.  

I'm starting a new adventure tomorrow.