Office

The setup at the Brampton office:

The IT department had a computer up and running for me on the first day.

Still no time to try on the wetsuit

I’m helping to create training materials, taking the courses on the software, and supposedly giving a lesson on clear writing with a purpose for our new tech support people. If I have time to organize my thoughts.

My contract has been extended

My initial contract was for six weeks, ending August 8. It’s now been doubled to September 19. Our team is creating a wiki and writing training materials for a technical support group with many varied applications to support.

Contract interview

Today I had a short, pleasant interview for a contract with a government ministry. I’d be helping to develop design requirements at, and after, Joint Application Design meetings. I feel positive about it, but there are four candidates so I might not get the job.

Day off

Today LotStreetWiz went to his swimming course. I was going to go and see the Chinese dinosaur exhibit but got side-tracked by a phone mail message about a job prospect. I’ve been tailoring my resume for the contract.

Second contract interview

On Thursday I had a second interview with a prospective client, this time with a line manager rather than the Human Resources department. I think that things went well and I’m hoping to get the contract. Also they don’t mind my taking a planned vacation during the contract.

Hospital visit

After my interview, editing test, and writing test (all of which I survived), I walked up to the hospital to visit my friend. I brought in a science-fiction magazine.

She was worrying again about how she’d manage when she went home and how soon that would be, and her friends promised they would look into what needs doing to get her apartment ship-shape. She says we’ll have to get rid of the old new bed and send it back to the store, buy a new bed and set it up, get rid of the couch, buy a new couch (long enough for her to lie down on and not too low), get rid of the cats because they pee on the bed (although they don’t any more now that someone is cleaning the cat box every day), get rid of all the kinds of food she can’t eat during recovery, and lay in more supplies of foods she can eat. And some medical supplies. And make room in the bathroom for her medical supplies. And wash her winter clothes. And move her work briefcase and personal tote so that they won’t get buried. And unpack her suitcase from her last trip. And make sure she has room to move about with a walker. And move the bookcases so they’re not blocking the heaters any more. And get rid of her four-drawer filing cabinet. And move her two 2-drawer filing cabinets. And haul out her heavy Muskoka chairs. But we can keep the beat-up old armchair–it’s for guests. I took notes.

She did some exercises for basic mobility and walked around the hospital floor. She continues to improve but each change of accommodation is another source of worry. I was there for two hours.

When I went home I had so much to do and was so tired that I skipped the STC meeting.

I’m supposed to get up for a 7:00 a.m. swimming lesson tomorrow. I might have a second interview this week.

Contract interview

Today I’m going to an interview with a prospective client who needs editing help and Microsoft Word mentoring.

End of contract

My contract is completed and my client is satisfied with the work. There are promises that my name will be proposed for other projects in ongoing programs. It’s always nice to hear that. LotStreetWiz and I celebrated with dinner at our local Gabby’s restaurant.

Wrapping up a contract

I’m on my last week on this project, wrapping up the documentation of network security, a small part of improving a far-flung computer network to meet the new Data Security Standards (DSS) for the Payment Card Industry (PCI). I’ve written a security hardening guide and documented the configuration of many brands of devices. Rather to my surprise, system security is exciting. And my job function for this contract has been “Security Analyst” work.

I’ve updated my C.V. with this contract and am starting to apply for other contracts. There isn’t room to add the project management / technical communication conference that I attended last week and the XML course I took earlier this year unless I knock off a couple of old contracts from the bottom.