Life has been busy, and I had this idea for branching out with my blogging to do something with Big One.  She is now 22, and graduated with a computer science degree. In order to stay connected through more than just ‘mom phone calls’ and her visits home, I decided we could blog together.  (Remember when I convinced her we should join martial arts together against her wishes?)

Since she is not a Workingtechmom, we have launched our blog   girlgeeklikeme. Check it out and give us a shout out!

I try to like you every time I fly with you.  You make it extremely difficult.

I got to the airport and breezed through check-in, immigration and security.  It is so unusual for this to occur at the Toronto Pearson airport that I found myself in a light mood with time on my hands.  I decided to go to the Air Canada Maple lounge.

I had entered the Lounge on a previous occasion and remember paying a nominal fee as my ticket and flyer status did not include lounge privileges.  Today I was informed you can’t pay for a day pass unless you do it when you book your flight.  I asked why and was told that when they let you pay at the entrance, ‘money went missing’.  I wouldn’t want to pay when I book my ticket because I never know if there will be any wait time after the immigration and security lines.

Hey, Air Canada, you could a) take credit cards, b) hire trustworthy employees, c) hire managers to manage the employees, or d) close down because you don’t know how to do business.  Even at the mall, they take your money at the register and they hire teenagers. Imagine if you couldn’t purchase something at a mall store, or a restaurant unless you ordered in advance?

As I said, I am trying to like you and I’m pissed enough to spend time blogging about this so other people know how irrational your business model is.  Imagine how the people who already don’t like you feel.

If you need help figuring out how to implement technology to help with the problem, let me know.  I have access to a few thousand developers who could work on it.

Waiting for my plane, sitting in a comfy seat, and being served by a waiter at Apropos…

Workingtechmom

1. Delicious fruit for breakfast
2. caffeine free tea, 3 weeks without coffee
3. my speech at the Town Hall went well
4. all speeches, and the team activity also went well
5. terrific conversation over lunch with team members about creating a hook for a tough speech next week that one of them will deliver
6. discussions on Cloud deployments, difficult and necessary
7. Little One called for some advice, and some ‘mom attention’
8. My India travel visa was processed
9. home early from work
10. Hilarious episode of ‘Big Bang’, love that show

Exciting day talking about a patent submission we are preparing. I have never applied for a patent before so every step is a lesson. We are so fortunate to have a patent lawyer (who knew there was such a job?) guiding us. We have passed the first gate and are now preparing for the patent search. This is where lawyers check to see if there is a patent already, or a published description already, of our idea that already exists. I hope not!

Today is also the day we look at all of our award winners for the year and submit names for the end-of-year final award that includes a fabulous celebration the Executives host for the 100 winners. It feels like a mini-Academy awards and the excitement starts mounting when we announce the winners in a few weeks.

On to a discussion about two Apps we are building. These Apps will help us understand the changes we need to make in how we deliver projects – more agile, more specific functionality focused, and maybe more fun. Technology is always changing, in how we deliver it and how we consume it. This is what makes technology careers never-boring.

The last big action for today is to discuss our itinerary for the upcoming trip to India. We will visit four tech companies and five cities. Scheduling for optimal use of time is tricky as we have to take into account flights to each city, jet lag, and making sure everyone stays healthy. These trips are taxing on the body and mind as each day is jam-packed with information, meeting new people, processing all the thoughts we have on how to evolve our application delivery, and eating food that may be familiar, but not in such quantities. The social side – seeing the culture, and the beautiful monuments, and the traffic! – is also a bit overwhelming. Preliminary plans made, refinements next week, and travel visas being processed.

One last meeting…the fun one. Talking about our team, how many people we are hiring, and the workplan for next year that looks challenging. Just what technology teams love!

What a great day!

I found myself Thursday in several conversations about the email function of ‘reply all’.  The common thread was nobody likes receiving all those replies, and yet each person involved in the conversation admitted using it.

This led me to ponder, and question, and debate if there is ever a time ‘reply all’ makes sense.

After my (limited) research, I have concluded there is only one scenario where a ‘reply all’ approach feels right.  When the original note is one of thanks, gratitude, or congratulations to a group of people, a ‘reply all’ allows you to chime in with more encouraging words to all deserving of the message.

Other than this, a ‘reply all’ is clogging up the email system for (probably) no value.

Do you agree?  Or am I missing something?  Comment below… Before I implement this challenge to my team!

How did I get here?
 
I recently earned my brown belt in martial arts.  The key word to me is ‘earned’ since my journey has been long and the test was hard.  I have been training for 7 years and the brown belt test was 70 minutes long.  As I leaned down, placed my hands on my knees, and was gulping for air after 40 minutes, my instructor yelled something that sounded like “there are no breaks allowed”.  I’m not sure those were his words, but I did stand up and prepare for the next command.
 
I must give context that achieving brown belt includes testing your stamina, flexibility, and balance.  Every kick, and backhand strike, and form involves spinning.  LOTS of spinning.  I have been trained to spin and maintain focus on the target (whipping my head around at the exact right moment), and landing my kick where it is intended.
 
So he was challenging me to do what I’ve been trained for.  And I responded in kind.
 
There was a moment before the test where the words of encouragement went something like this “You have trained and you know what to do.  Your head knows and your body knows.  Today is about demonstrating that in front of people.”  It made me realize it is not like a test in school where you may or may not have studied the right sections, and you may or may not have understood.  I have trained.  I did know it.  And for those 70 minutes, I sure did demonstrate it.  There were four black belts assessing me.  And other students, family, and friends watching.
 
As for those people watching…I didn’t see them.  I was so focused that all I saw was the target.  Just like I should have.
 
How did I get here?  Indeed.

Little One and Big One are testing for their Black Belts!  Testing together, and ready for anything.

I was doing laundry at midnight washing their uniforms after their last prep class to make sure they are clean and crisp and ready in the morning.  I then got up early to prepare a breakfast of champions.  They needed to eat in time to allow digestion before the test started at 8:00 am.  My tasks in the process were important, but not the tough part.  They will do all the work today.

One of the best “mom decisions” I made was enrolling them in martial arts years ago.  Big One started with me 7 years ago.  And Little One started 5 years ago.  With Big One away at University for two years, they have arrived at this milestone together.  Before the test, they look fresh and happy.

7 hours later, with only a “15 minute lunch break” and two 5 minute breathing breaks, they both passed!  They worked hard, for all the years and all the classes, and then they demonstrated everything they learned during their test.  They are strong, mentally and physically, and they did it together.  They stuck with it through the years, all the while handling school and part-time jobs, and time with friends and family.

After the test, they still look pretty darn good, and happy.  I am proud of them.  And in awe.

How did I get here?  Indeed.