Meaningful work

Thursday, September 20, 2007

For months I've been trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. The work I'm doing right now has made me realize that it is important to me to be doing something that provides more value. By value I mean more than the bottom line. I want my work to mean something and make a difference. I don't want to be writing documentation that is not valued nor read by people. I want my voice and opinions to matter. I want to be able to use my knowledge and experience to make decisions that make a difference. I want to be more involved rather than tucked away in a dark cubicle.

In my search for meaningful work, I started taking steps backwards. I looked into dentistry, teaching, and even law again. All the reasons why I chose not to go down those paths before were still there; but I was still looking to do something to help others. That is why I was adamant about dentistry. At the time, I felt it was the best and only fit. However, I know my passion has always been teaching but I never want to be a teacher. So what do I do about that?

My sister helped counsel me. She said she saw me in a role where I taught in a corporate environment. That lead me to look into the area of learning and development. Through my research I found that it was an HR role. I did not want to go back to school to get a post grad in HR because the courses covered areas of HR that I was not interested in. Another option to get into learning and development is to get a certificate in the subject area but I didn't feel that the programs I found were comprehensive enough.

After a few weeks of searching, thinking, and obsessing about it, I decided to relax; I needed to breath more and allow things to come naturally. But I was just so afraid of becoming complacent; I didn't want to end up in a career that I didn't love, only to realize it 20-30 years from now when it is too late to make a change. However, I had to trust myself that I would not allow that to happen. I had to know myself enough to realize that I would never be someone who settled for less. So I took it easy. I decided that I would enjoy my time here at IBM and learn as much as I could. Most people find themselves in similar situations in their early 20s when they first get out of university. I'm at that stage...only later in life. So technically, I am on the right track.

A few weeks ago I happened to find EXACTLY what I'm going to do once I complete my internship. I found a Masters program at Concordia University in Education Technology. Here is a description of the program from the university's website.

The master's program in Educational Technology prepares a new breed of educator who can identify educational problems and apply new developments in psychology, information/communication and technology, management theory or systems analysis to solve them. The program prepares people for work as consultants, producers and evaluators of educational media, designers of instructional materials and systems, managers of learning resources, educational planners, and knowledge engineers in educational institutions and corporate or governmental training systems.

This is exactly what I want to do. The beauty of it is that the program has an internship option. I get to work with industry partners and apply the knowledge I gain from the program to real life. Plus, it is a step forward; I will be getting my M.A. rather than going backwards and taking more undergrad courses. AND I'll set myself apart from others who posses only a certificate in learning and development. And the bonus is I get to live in beautiful Montreal (I've never been there before).

I am extremely excited and hope I get in. I'll have a few months to learn French. Once I'm in, those who know me will have a place to stay when visiting moi in Montreal!!!

In loving memory

Yesterday I attended the funeral of two very special people, Vanessa and Isabel DiCeglie. They both worked for the City at Rivergrove (where I worked for many years) and attended York University, both majoring in French. I had the opportunity to meet Vanessa a few months ago when I went to visit the pool staff and drop off magazines for them to read.

She was delightful. Those eyes and that infectious smile. She was a sweetheart. I can clearly see it in my mind, she was so happy and thankful that I brought in magazines. It was as if I brought great presents; they were just magazines. Such a simple gesture made her so happy; it made me happy. I still remember the feeling so clearly in my heart of how good she made me feel.

I was in shock when I found out about the accident and my heart broke to hear about their deaths. Vanessa, at 19, and Isabel, at 23, were just blooming into the beautiful women they would have become. In times like these, we are reminded of how truly precious and fragile life is. I honour their memory by living with a little more patience and more love in my heart.

Feeling the love

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Pictures from my b'day get together at the Madison are up. I had such a great time and so did everyone else who was there. I felt really special that night; I was surrounded by people who love me :) I realize how important social support is to well-being. I am doing very well health-wise and my spirits are high. I am truly blessed and am so thankful for the people around me.

Staying friends with an ex

Monday, July 23, 2007

I've often wondered how two people can remain friends after their relationship dissolves; or the better question would be why? When I use the term "friends," I mean that the two individuals involved not only remain amicable to one another but also spend quality time together: dinners, movies, and nights out on the town. Is there a need that is fulfilled by this arrangement and are the two truly just friends?

I'm usually the love 'em and leave 'em kinda gal. When it's over, it's over. There's no need to drag things out; simply learn from the past and move on. However, when my most recent ex got in touch with me after about a year of no contact, I thought why not try to be friends. After a few friendly phone calls, I thought this might just work. But I was wrong. As soon as we met in person, I knew he wanted something more. However, I remained optimistic. I kept my distance and allowed more time to pass whilst tying to do this friend thing. Unfortunately, nothing has changed and it's time to cut the cord.

This experience has solidified my belief that if two people who were formerly in a relationship remain friends, there is usually one person who still pines for the other; and I believe that the other person knows that. Therefore, my conclusion is that the other person keeps the "piner" around because the desire that may or may not be oh so subtle, definitely strokes the ego. In the end, there's an underlying emotional tug-of-war going on between the two that I want no part of. Especially if I'm dating, or potentially dating someone who is still "friends" with the ex.

Therefore, the whole friends-with-the-ex thing is a huge red flag to me. Unless you have children involved, I see no reason for someone to be hanging out with their ex on a regular basis. Some might deny that there are underlying emotions involved but I'd urge them to take a closer look.

Internet etiquette and Facebook

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

In the news today, the media is talking about yet another group of students that have been reprimanded for posting derogatory comments on Facebook about their teachers. I am all for free speech but I believe with freedom comes accountability.

When email began to gain popularity, it became a communication tool that made keeping in touch easy; however, without proper guidelines for use, mistakes were made. Individuals would write whatever came to mind without realizing the consequences. This led to the establishment of rules and guidelines for email etiquette that helped curb misuse and abuse. People soon learned to think twice before simply clicking 'SEND.'

Through observations of the past, it may be noted that as a society encounters change, for example in the way people socially interact with one another, there usually is a period of adjustment. Soon after the introduction of change, the pendulum may shift to the extreme which serves to challenge the boundaries of what is socially acceptable and what is not. As a society experiments with these challenges of change, rules and guidelines are established to help clearly distinguish between right and wrong. These rules and guidelines remind individuals that there now are consequences for going beyond the established boundaries.

We live in an age where communication is becoming less personal, as demonstrated by the communication tools we use everyday. Email, instant messaging, and even the cell phone limit our face-to-face contact with others. As a result, we are losing the personal contact that reminds us that on the receiving end there is another human being. It's easy to say what you feel in an email or blog without thinking about how the reader will respond. All we have is a blank screen and our words on a page.

Yes, we all have said unkind words about a teacher or someone else to others in our lives but the difference here is that when it is written, especially on an internet medium, the consequences can be far greater. Words said in haste exchanged between one or two people is very different from posting blasphemous comments that can be read by hundreds, thousands, or even millions of readers. The latter can be far more damaging for all involved.

Soon we will probably see rules and guidelines established for social networking sites like Facebook. Hopefully, this will remind those who use such sites that with the freedom of expression comes individual responsibility and accountability, and that we should all take a step towards personalizing communication again and keep in mind the person on the receiving end.

My friend Kevin M.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

On Friday, I met Kevin for lunch at Baton Rouge in North York. I have not seen Kevin in years. We met randomly and have kept in touch over time. He is an example of someone who inspires me. He is a good man in many ways. He is kind, gentle, and giving; he is intelligent, powerful, and successful; yet, he is humble, considerate, and caring.

Through the years he has taken the time to listen, share his thoughts, and encourage me in all my endeavours. Although we do not keep in touch everyday or even on a regular basis, I know that he is my friend. When I call someone my friend, that person is someone that I respect and care about; they know me and genuinely accept me for who I am .

I am fortunate to call him my friend.

Kevin on his honeymoon in Bora Bora

Punctuality...is it no longer valued?

Recently, at work, I've noticed that nothing starts on time; meetings begin about 10-15 minutes late, people show up late to meetings all the time, and on two occasions I had no shows for 1-on-1 meetings.

This phenomena started to get me thinking about punctuality outside of work. Last weekend, my friend Maria was planning a surprise party for her boyfriend Pedro. We were supposed to show up at the club between 10 and 10:30pm. I was there at around 9:45pm because I did not want to be that person to ruin the surprise. When I get there, the club wasn't even open yet. So I waited outside and talked with a couple of bouncers who were nice enough to keep me company. Time goes by and no one has shown up. I decide to call Maria to see if I may have gotten the plans mixed up.

Of course, Pedro picks up so I had to bullshit and keep my cool at the same time. I finally get Maria on the phone and she's able to get the message across that I did get things right and they were on their way. So I make my way into the club and get myself a drink. (I needed one by this time.) There were only a handful of people in the club; thankfully, one of the promoters was nice enough to keep me company.

To keep a long story short, at around 11:30 I see Pedro roll in with his brothers and friends. I do my best to hide; I make my way out the front doors and call Maria. She says they are pulling up. So 15 minutes later I meet up with her and we get the party started.

To get to the point of my story, I am wondering, is punctuality no longer valued? Meeting at 7pm doesn't mean 7pm anymore; it now means 7:30, maybe 8, or maybe even 9--it depends on the individual.

I think people should be more considerate and aware that if you make plans for a specific time, you should meet those commitments. If you're not able to, get in touch with the other person and let them know.

I'm not faulting my friend Maria at all. My own sister does this to me all the time. And honestly, if you take the time to pay attention, this lack of punctuality happens all the time--everywhere. It seems to have become an acceptable social practice--to be fashionably late. Personally, it signals a lack of organization and consideration.

So I propose that people become more aware and at least try to honour their words and not keep others waiting. I think this will do a lot to promote respect, consideration, and simply, an honouring of someone else's precious time; we all know there's precious little of it in a day :)

Wishing for the sun

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

I am sick of the cold; no more snow and rain! Boo! I want the summer now. I wish I could get away to a beach or something. Here's pic of 505 Beach in Maui. Wishing I was there.

The phases of Facebook

Monday, April 2, 2007

Skepticism
At first you're against joining another one of these online communities. Knowing that there have been many similar sites that have come by before: Friendster, MySpace, etc. You resisted joining or might have joined and realized they were just hype. So this time, you're NOT going to join.

Surrender
So you finally give in and join Facebook. Every detail that you fill out in the registration process has you doubtful but you go ahead with it anyway. Now you're ready to add friends.

Surprise
You are shocked by who you find on Facebook. Wow. This is kinda neat!

Excitement
Look at all the people you're catching up with! Friends from highschool, people you haven't seen in decades, old loves, and people you've lost touch with over the years. It's so interesting to see what everyone's been up to.

Addiction
You search and read and search and read. It's amazing to read about what people have been up to. So, what has so and so accomplished in life? Interesting. Kids, married life, career, wow. Holy less than six degrees of separation!! It's a small world.

Facebook Anonymous
You know you're addicted. Work should ban this site. People are on the site when they should be working, including you. You spend hours looking at people's profiles. So addictive.

Reality
After some messaging back and forth, you realize you don't have much in common with most of the people you have just got in touch with. You've maintained ties with those that you've been close to and have no need for Facebook to keep in touch with them. You might remain in contact with one or two that you just reconnected with but the reality is people lose touch for a reason. The things that kept you close before are not enough; your goals and values in life either grow or remain stagnant and that drives you in different directions.

Loathing
(I'm at this point.) I cannot stand the site. Yes it's interesting and fun and it's a great way to reconnect but if you're friends already, why the need to use the site for communication. Why not call or use regular email? Why do couples have to write on one another's wall? "Thank you honey. You're so awesome. I love you." Why not just tell them face-to-face or over the phone?

I can't seem to put my finger on an exact reason why but I really do not like the site anymore. Maybe it's the mass appeal and the mask that some people put on. Mainly, I don't like the pretension of some and they get away with it due to the very nature of an online community.

Updated: April 3rd 2007
Denouement
I no longer hold any feelings toward the site; I am impartial. I think it's great for getting in touch with people and though some may use it to boost their sense of self, it doesn't bother me anymore. It is what it is; just another Web 2.0 community.

Sonnet XIV

Monday, March 12, 2007

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning from Sonnets from the Portuguese

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say,
"I love her for her smile--her look--her way
Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day" --
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,--
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayest love on, through love's eternity.

Leia snoring

Sunday, March 4, 2007

This is what I have to put up with everynight. Somehow a cricket got into my room so it provides a funny soundtrack to this clip.

Black and White Cupcakes

I baked today. We're having a family gathering tonight. We've never celebrated the last day of Chinese New Year before; I guess it was just an excuse to have the in-laws over.

Vacation infatuation

Thursday, March 1, 2007

You often hear of people who have just come back from vacation proclaiming their desire to move to whatever country they just visited. This phenomenon is quite common. I experienced it myself when I was travelling in my early twenties. I had the desire to move to Australia and to BC, Canada.
However, what I've found is that there is a change in perspective as you travel when you are older; especially if you are fortunate enough to experience foreign culture from the grassroots level. What I've learned is that everyday life is everyday life even if you're living in paradise. No longer do you see the foreign land with rose-coloured lenses.

When you have bills to pay, a job to maintain, and other mundane everyday activities to do, everyday is everyday. The newness of the exotic beach you have access to will soon wear off; the nights of partying with friends in different pubs soon becomes a drain on the pocket book.

What we do have to keep in mind is that some of us are fortunate enough to escape our everyday and find excitement in someone else's everyday. That is something we should be thankful for, the opportunity to travel. Everyday life is mundane; that is reality. You cannot expect fun, excitement, and constant fulfillment in everything you do everyday. Somedays are bad, most days are average, and many are wonderful.

The grass is not always greener on the other side. For me, what is most important is having my family close by. Being able to share moments with each one of them makes the everyday worthwhile. (And when they start to drive me crazy, I can escape to some exotic island to get away.)

We've all been there

Monday, February 19, 2007

Recently, there seems to be a slew of stories about women on the brink of insanity. The most recent being, America's beloved pop princess, Britney Spears. Prior to her, a few weeks ago we had esteemed astronaut, Lisa Nowak.






It's easy to point the finger, shaking our heads, while asking the question, "What were these women thinking?" All I have to say is that we've all been there. Maybe not to this extreme but we've all had our low points in our lives.

We are fortunate that our past has not been examined under the same scrutiny that these women are facing. We probably only have ourselves cringing at the memory of our less-than-glamourous points in our lives.

I'll be the first to admit that I've been there. I was at a very low point in my life not too long ago. Those who know me, know that I have been through a lot over the years. The build up of all the events greatly impacted my life and my health. As a result, I behaved in ways unlike my usual self.

I was lost, hurt, and unhappy.

During that time, I met someone that I would have like to have gotten to know better. He was a really great guy or so he seemed. He had a great sense of humour and I believe we shared similar values. We shared good times for a very short period until I drove him away. I was sad for awhile but I have learnt to forgive myself. I now realize that I was not myself and it was just bad timing.

Regardless, here I am today. I thank my family and closest friends for understanding and sticking by me. I thank them for seeing past the insanity and being there for me as I came around.

So, what I hope for these women is that their families stick by them and support them. The rest of the world should be more understanding. For, it is not our place to judge and we should let them be. Somehow, I believe that they are both hurt and unhappy. My hope is that they both find their way through this difficult period in their lives; my thoughts and prayers are with them.

Chinese New Year

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Beginning February 18th 2007 till February 6th 2008 is the year of the pig.

The eve of CNY is probably the high point of the celebration as that is when relatives gather, from far and near, for a reunion dinner. It is a time to rekindle family ties and enjoy sumptously prepared meals.

On New Year's day, ceremonial candles are lit, incense burned, and new clothes (red is the custom) worn. Greetings of "kong hee fatt choy" are made, which literally means "Happy New Year." Visits are made to relatives, friends, and neighbours to exchange wishes for health and good fortune.

Guests arrive bearing gifts of mandarin oranges which symbolize gold. It is also customary for married couples to give children and unmarried adults money inserted in red packets known as ang pow (which means "red packet"), as a gesture of wealth and good health. (I think this is probably the only time I'm happiest being single, just kidding!)

There are also taboos and beliefs, some of which are spiritual in nature, that must be observed. For example, traditionally, feasting generally goes on for 15 days. A break is taken on the third day where most businesses remain closed and visits to relatives and friends are discouraged.

Also, no one is allowed to sweep the floors on New Year's day as it is considered unlucky; doing so might result in one sweeping away one's good fortune for the new year. What is believed to bring good fortune and ward off evil is the lion which, according to legend, was the only animal that managed to wound the Nian.

In Chinese mythology, the Nian is a beast that arrives in the spring and would come to China and eat up the people it saw. The Chinese tradition of decorating in red, burning firecrackers, and the lion dance with loud drums and gongs was to scare away the beast.

The 15th and final day of the Lunar New Year is known as Chap Goh Meh (in Malaysia). The term is from the Hokkien dialect and translates to literally mean fifteenth day of the first month. It is the occasion of the first full moon of the New Year.

The occasion is marked by more feasting and festivities. In traditional Chinese culture, the day is celebrated as the Latern Festival; it should not be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival which is also known as the Lantern Festival in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The Lantern Festival is a very sacred, happy, and joyful festival. Children go out at night carrying bright candle-lit lanterns. The brightest lanterns were symbolic of good luck and hope.

Traditionally, the date once served as a day for love and matchmaking. Matchmakers acted busily in hopes of pairing couples and young people were charperoned in the streets in hopes of finding love.

Leia's Bath

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Leia doesn't really like taking baths so getting her to stay in the tub can be a challenge:

She may not like it, but I love giving her baths. I see it as a time for bonding:

You can see why I like it more than she does:

Look at my baby all clean:

She's ever so keen to get out of the tub:

She helps dry herself off with the towel:

Almost done:

Attempts for freedom:

All clean and cozy, taking a nap:

All this was in preparation for Chinese New Year. On the first day, you're not supposed to clean or do any work. That includes showers and even cooking, specifically you're not to use a knife. All these superstitions have something to do with luck. If you clean, you wash away the new luck the new year has brought in.

More Outdoor Fun

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Valentine's Snow Day

She did not want to stay outside.

Sunday Night Dinners

Sunday, February 11, 2007

In exchange for my parents having to put up with me living at home (though they love me being home), I offered to be the designated Sunday cook. I miss cooking and it gives them both a break from the kitchen so we all gain from this arrangement. On the menu today is Rachel Ray's You-Won't-Be-Single-For-Long Vodka Cream Pasta: a tribute to this week's V-day celebrations. It is a simple recipe actually and it was a lot of fun to cook.

Ingredients
Course salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 ounces pasta, such as penne rigate
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken broth
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn
Crusty bread

Put a large pot of water over high heat for the pasta. When the water boils, add salt and penne. Cook according to package directions to al dente. Drain

Cutting the shallots made me cry.

Here we have the minced shallots and garlic, along with the shredded basil.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil, garlic, butter, and shallots. Gently saute garlic and shallots to develop their sweetness.

Add vodka and cook to reduce by half.

Be careful not to inhale the evaporating vodka. It might be an interesting way to do vodka but it almost made me choke.

Add chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble, then reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

(In my drunken stupor, I forgot to take pictures of the sauce and the next few steps.)

Stir cream into the vodka sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove from heat. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. Serve immediately along with crusty bread. Yum!

An easy, quick recipe.

Proper Documentation Does Not Make Up For Poor Design

Friday, February 9, 2007

For my friends in ID:

Store Hours

I Fought the Law and ... I Won

Friday, January 19, 2007

I got a parking infraction sometime in August when I was moving my stuff into my parents' place. At the time they were in an apartment. I parked in the driveway at the front and was moving boxes through their patio door. When I was done, I took a rest; when I went out to move my car, there he was putting a ticket on my windshield, officer Sloute. Oh was I ever upset. I didn't realize it was a designated fire route: a $100 fine.

I booked a court date sometime in December to fight the ticket. It was my first time ever attending court so I had no idea about the proceedings. I wasn't sure if I should enter a guilty or not guilty plea. There were no signs indicating that it was a fire route but according to what I was hearing from the prosecutor, it is a known by-law that all driveways in apartment buildings and townhouse complexes are designated fire routes. So I decided to enter a plea of guilty with an explanation.

When my name was called I went up and was asked to state my name for the record; then I was asked which plea I would be entering, I said, "Guilty with an explanation." Then the judge asked me to state my explanation. I told him that I was moving my stuff into my parents' place and the reason why I was moving in was that I had been recently diagnosed with lupus. I also told him that there were no signs indicating that it was a designated fire route so I didn't know I was committing a violation. I closed my statement by mentioning that if I hadn't been upset about my personal circumstances and crying with my mom, I would have come out sooner to move my car.

He then told me that from my explanation I should have entered a not guilty plea. He motioned to strike my plea and moved my case to trial. I was in shock and so was the prosecutor AND the parking control officer. I was asked to have a seat and wait for my trial.

During my trial I presented evidence to prove that there were no signs posted where they should have been. Silly me opened my big mouth and said that unfortunately I only took pictures of one side of the driveway. The judge once again struck my motion and got the prosecutor to reschedule my court date.

As I was leaving, the officer came up to me and apologized for the whole thing. I thought that was nice of him. He then told me that usually the person would enter a guilty plea with a reason and the fine would simply be reduced. Maybe the judge was trying to throw me a bone; but I'm too honest and opened my mouth about the insufficient evidence. The officer then said that I should enter a guilty plea the next court date and go from there.

So that brings us to today. This time I was more prepared. I brought the pictures that I took of the driveway on both sides. I took the pics before we moved to our new place. We are no longer at that dump! However, I was confused whether I should enter a guilty or not guilty plea. I figured I would discuss it with the judge when I got up there.

I saw the officer when I sat down; I said how are you. He smiled and nodded. When the prosecutor asked everyone to check in, the officer came up to me while I was in line and told me that he had asked the prosecutor to withdraw my charge. I was shocked, surprised, and relieved. How nice of him. So when my name was called to face the judge, the prosecutor told her that she was withdrawing the charge. I was then told I was free to go!!!

I thanked her worship and the prosecutor; then I shook officer Sloute's hand before I left and said thank you. How awesome is that. I'm so relieved that I do not have a conviction and I do not have to pay a fine. It was definately worth all the trouble of going to court. It is also a blessing that I got an officer with a heart who was willing to see my side of the story.

Leia

Monday, January 15, 2007

The love of my life.

Always On My Mind - Pet Shop Boys

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Heard this song while I was driving recently and it definately brought me back to the 80s. I loved it. It's definately a contender for karaoke night!

ALWAYS ON MY MIND - 19/12/1987

4 weeks at #1 - 11 weeks on chart

Maybe I didn't treat you

Quite as good as I should

Maybe I didn't love you

Quite as often as I could

Little things I should have said and done

I never took the time

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

Maybe I didn't hold you

All those lonely, lonely times

And I guess I never told you

I'm so happy that you're mine

If I made you feel second best

I'm so sorry I was blind

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

Tell me

Tell me that your sweet love hasn't died

Give me

One more chance to keep you satisfied

Satisfied

Little things I should have said and done

I never took the time

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

Dream Car Updates

A couple more cars have been claimed.

Audi TT: Cat

White Escalade: Edwina

SC430: Kevin

Great choices!

Single Sourcing

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Single sourcing is the use of the same content in different documents and in different forms. For example, a company may have a common set of instructions. Those instructions are written and placed in a database available to those who might need it. Then that source of instructions may be used in different documents and it may also be duplicated in different formats.

Having a single source reduces translation costs, maintenence costs, errors, and improves consistency. For, the company only has to write a piece of documentation once and will only have to update that one source file when needed.

The Society for Technical Communication defines single sourcing as "using a single document source to generate multiple types of document outputs; workflows for creating multiple outputs from a document or database source."

Here is a link to the STC's Single-Sourcing Special Interest Group.

An interesting book, Single Sourcing: Building Modular Documentation, written by Kurt Ament explains in detail what single sourcing is and how to develop single source documents. The link on Amazon.com's site allows you to read an excerpt of the book.

Single sourcing is the path that many large software companies, like IBM, are taking. It is definately an interesting topic and an interesting approach to information development and management.

Tuition fee. $2055. Monthly GO Pass. $125. Internship at Big Blue. Priceless.

Saturday, January 6, 2007

What an amazing opportunity to have an internship with Big Blue. January 4th was a full day of orientation for the January intakes. There were only about 50 of us. It seems that the largest intake is in May with about 200 students.


Presentations were made introducing us to the amazing facilities at the Toronto Lab. We are known as the SoftWare Group (SWG) of IBM Canada. The site is located in Markham, Ontario and is situated on about 8 acres of land. There is a river and a few ponds; trees were planted on the site by employees and the site has received a certificate from the Wildlife Habitat Council.

An amenity that stands out is the onsite fitness centre, Active Blue. All services are free to employees, including fitness appraisals and programs. It's fully equipped with treadmills, eliptical machines, free weights, and classes that include yoga, pilates, and spinning.

There are games rooms on the second floor equipped with a ping pong (go Forest), fooseball, and air hockey table; employees can escape to oasis rooms located on the fourth floor and depending on their mood you may find them in either the Country Cottage room or the Asian themed room which is complete with a waterfall.

There are a variety of eateries to choose from. There is a Tim Horton's, Williams, and Pizza Pizza on site. There is also a mini cafe that serves a complete breakfast located in one of the buildings. The Market Place is the main cafeteria that offers a large variety of meal options to employees. Chefs can be found serving meals at different stations: stir fry, deli, grill, and other types of food. There is also a salad bar and the usual refrigerated shelves with sandwiches and drinks. Prices are similar to that of a regular food court.

The building is completely wireless up to the river! In the summer time, employees can work outside on their Thinkpads (which most of us get one). There are kitchenettes on each floor found close to employee work stations. Here employees can store their lunches in the fridge and help themselves to complimentary tea and coffee. Microwaves on each floor can be found a little bit further away from work stations so that the smell of food is not distracting.

I am fortunate to have my very own Personal Work Area (PWA). Some students are sharing due to over capacity. The building was built to house 2300 people but there are about 2500 employees. The work area is approximately 6 by 7 feet and comes complete with a desk, chair, extra stool, filing cabinets, shelves, and an overhead and task light. There is no fluorescent lighting in the work area. Employees can fit themselves ergonomically to their work area with the aid of information found on a site dedicated to ergonomics at IBM.

IBM is a supporter of ongoing learning. There are opportunities to complete professional certifications, courses, and training; there is also a library complete with full-time professional librarians. IBM offers employees the opportunity to earn their MSc on a part time basis through the CONGESE program. Top professors in every field from across Ontario are flown in to hold courses at the lab.

The past couple of days have been exciting and at the same time a little overwhelming. My coach, Agatha, has requested that I prepare a presentation on how to use a feature of the new documentation software that IBM is switching over to. At first I was extremely "scared." I haven't been scared in a long time. This fear is a good fear because it means that I am up against a challenge. I haven't been challenged at work in a very long time.

I am really happy to be at IBM. I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity. This is truly a dream internship. I am also very fortunate to be on such a supportive team. Although I have not worked there for long, I have worked in many other jobs and know how to recognize a positive environment. This job is very important to me. I am going to give it my very best.

A Card From My Sister

Monday, January 1, 2007

Thank you, Edwina, for all your love and support. I love you.