Archive for the ‘Werk’ Category
Friday, July 21st, 2006
I’m writing my first restaurant review. While I have written lots and lots about food - especially Asian food and cake - I haven’t produced a professional review before. I’m confident I’m up to the task, but I am not too proud to look for help.
First, I asked my friend Knox, a critical diner who feeds me all the time, to join me at dinner. He was the perfect companion, not just because it’s been eons since we’ve gone out together, but because he said things like, “This dish is too many different temperatures.” And he helped me gain perspective on the price, neccessary because I don’t eat expensive so much. I’m more about the “authentic” ethnic place than I am about the fancy.
I also looked for guidelines on the Internet for how, exactly, to prepare a review. I found two helpful things:
- How to write a restaurant review
This is a handy checklist of things to take note of while you’re in the restaurant. It’s also quite useful when your server comes round to find out if you have questions. Even if I didn’t have questions myself, I found that there was something on the list I should have asked but didn’t.
- Eat like a pro
This article contains good advice for everyone who’s eating out, but it absolutely applies to novice reviewers. I did okay, but I caved on the fancy cocktails because I could not resist the idea of jalepeno infused vodka in my lemonade. It was a hot night and that sounded Just So Refreshing. Next time, I’ll do better. Here’s hoping there is a next time.
Nope, I’m not going to tell you where we ate just yet. But I will link to the review once it goes up.
Also, in related news, I recieved a contract today to write travel articles for pay. If I had a day job, I wouldn’t quit it, but I am excited to be picking up more of this kind of work. Thanks for all your encouragement.
[tags]restaurant, fine dining, writing, reviews, big foofy cocktails, travel writing[/tags]
Posted in Food, Glorious Food, Werk | 8 Comments »
Friday, June 9th, 2006
Yesterday I got a call from a an HR guy. His company needs a writer and he found my resume online. While it’s tempting to veer off into a discussion on how, if you call on a Thursday and for a job that starts on Monday… oh, never mind that. Let’s go right for the meat.
After the call, I went to look at the corporate site to see what they do. Here’s what I found:
[Company Name] is a customer driven organization that delivers a total information technologies solution that transform business objectives into a technology plan that improve your operational and business performance.
Excuse me? What, now?
Posted in Werk | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006
“Sorry I’m late. The traffic from the bedroom this morning was killer, it took me forever to get out of there. Then there was that whole detour through the kitchen, so I’m JUST getting in.”
Posted in Werk | 2 Comments »
Friday, March 17th, 2006
I wish I could say that I spent my evenings in Salzburg dining in delightful little guest houses and strolling cobblestoned back streets, but I’d be lying. I spent the week working and when I was dull witted from sitting in the office, I went back to my hotel where I worked some more while watching MTV and the Simpsons in German. Okay, I did watch a documentary about badgers and two short films, one about street kids in India and the other about a girl in Cambodia who wants to be a dancer but loses a leg to a land mine.Talk about how media helps you gain perspective on your world. Good lord.
Thank god for those little films, though, because I was one unhappy guest at the hotel. Oh, the hotel was fine, a decent enough place with a rather nice breakfast buffet, even if the coffee was inadequate. But every night, every single night, I was busted out of my slumber by the busloads of students that arrived each evening around dinner time. The third night was the worst, the room across the hall to me seemed to be the temporary rumpus room for an unlimited number of 15 year old Italian boys. Last night was better, but I learned why from a coworker this morning. The boys had taken their activity to the floor below where they decided that the hall was a good place to play soccer at 1am.
You can imagine what I told the manager when she asked if I’d be coming back next week. I should have changed hotels after the second night, but I was too tired to think straight. Next time, next time. For now, I’m pretty content to be back in Aigen.
Posted in Werk | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 14th, 2006
Because I work at home most of the time, I forget what going to an office is like. Being in this modern glass box isn’t really much different than being in any modern glass box - there’s computer hardware and wires everywhere, tan cubes full of technology nerds in cool shoes, a messy kitchen… we have real glasses and coffee cups and a dishwasher,and an espresso machine - but no fridge full of soda. I’m waiting for a computer, for a log in, for network access, but forging ahead with the help of piles of printed docs. So far, no big surprises. I’m not expecting that feeling to last, but I’m hopeful.
My hotel is a renovated old gutshof - big farm house. Last night just after I checked in the lobby filled to bursting with Italian students, a group on their way to or from somewhere. They chattered like birds in the hallway outside my room but I feel asleep anyway and woke up in the darkness of night to see new snow.
It’s funny to be here in the big glass box that’s the office after having breakfast in the wood-paneled dining room at the hotel. The place is decorated with all the farmhouse antiques that are so typical for here - and now, three minutes later - it’s all high tech.
Posted in Austria, Werk | 1 Comment »
Saturday, March 11th, 2006
It went like this:
The recruiter called at about 4. The phone interview was at 5. I asked about deadlines and location and the hiring manager said he’d get back to me. The offer came a few minutes later with the answer that yes, I could work from home part of the time. The usual negotiations took place. Then the recruiter said things like, “Congratutions! You start on Monday!” I told them that it was premature, because after all, the offer came at 5 and now, it was 6:30 and some thinking needed to be done. I needed to sleep on it.
But this morning i said yes, let’s do it.
Computing division, computing section
I’m going to work at Sony’s digital media division in Salzbug starting next week. It’s short project and the hiring manager/project lead sounds like a decent guy. Deadline looming, digital media, new technology, hey ho, let’s go.
It means a delay in our return to the US, which is totally unplanned. Tickets must be changed, vacation days rescheduled. But I am always up for an adventure and when one hurls itself out of nowhere at you, it seems best not to duck. Splat. Oops.
With the Aigen Ukulele Players Club in swing, school, and now, a job, I seem suspiciously residential. I feel like a trick is being played on me. But I am not fooled, oh ho no. Austria, you are trying but I’m still going back to Seattle in the spring. Just late spring rather than early. Me and the von Trapps, escaping over the mountains from the evils of… what, exactly? Contract jobs that allow telecommting? Ukulele playing neighbors and their generous, liberal parents? Wacky classmates from Kosovo and Acapulco? What? Huh?
Stupid Austria. Quit smirking, you know who you are.
Posted in Werk | 4 Comments »
