Project Updates:

What did I learn this week?

• The Southwestern bell customer service people can be helpfull. After spending much of Monday afternoon on the phone cancelling Earthlink and other cable related stuff I called SWB to renew my DSL contract. The only bad thing about it was that they had the Kenny G Xmas album as their hold music.
• Froogle is really good for bargain hunting. I used to be a Bizrate shopper but the advertizements are annoying and sometimes it can be really hit or miss.
• Silicon cake pans aren't that great. I borrowed Jeremy's to make a chocolate pound cake and it stuck to the pan and they pans were a pain to clean.
• You can not turn mashed potatoes into waffle fries in a belgian waffle maker. You can however make bad vodka into way better vodka with a brita filter (see www.ohmygoditburns.com).
  

Does my current project have explicit learning goals?

• http://www.lesliegarcia.com/: The blog is now incorporated. I personally wouldn't be blogging from Jamaica but Leslie can if she wants to.
• Homemade Christmas presents: My sewing machine arrives in the mail tomorrow. Mom finished a few projects for me but I should be sewing the rest.

What did I learn this week?

• Earthlink customer service isn't that great (the internet support is pretty decent but the live phone thing needs some work). I was in the process of setting up cable internet and IP phone and after waiting on hold for over an hour I found them to be not so helpful in answering my questions... I will be cancelling the service today.
• Alarm systems and IP phones aren't that compatible. The technologies are improving but its not advised to make the switch just yet. Most people who make the switch to the IP phone keep a LAN line for the alarm system incase of a power outage.
• I should have believed the sales rep at Cingular when he explained that my phone got crappy service because it was on the "old technology." It turns out that I don't have a GSM phone (meaning no SIM card). It looks like I will be getting a new cell contract in January so I can get better service rather than just getting a new phone.
• The SBC Yahoo spam filter can be a dangerous thing. It had been eating my mail for the last 3 weeks. I had 60 emails to go through on Saturday (none of it was spam).
• Car batteries are supposed to be filled with water. I had no clue. I also didn't know that the power steering in older cars tend to get air bubbles. This will cause the high pitched screaming noise that my car has been making. Why can't I just use a teleporter and forget about the car thing?
• Dyslexia testing will cost me $1,000 through the Scottish Rite Leaning Center. Time to regroup once again.
  

Does my current project have explicit learning goals?

• Web project: Robby's email on webdesign and such was sucked into the spam filter. I am still digesting it so I will write more later.
• www.lesliegarcia.com: I made a few updates and fixed the gigantor image problem.
• Homemade Christmas presents: I subcontracted some of the sewing out to my mom. She is a much better sewer.

I just got back from my first pampered chef party and I think I know of a way to solve my cash flow issues and be able to afford new pots and pans.

I am hosting a pampered chef party on Monday, December 13th. This will get me my pots and pans for half off and a bunch of prizes. After that I will see if I want to peddle the merchandise and make some cash on the side.

Selling kitchen wares would be way more useful and interesting to me than peddling spa products.

What did I learn in the past week?

• One meeting has changed the lives of many. My self-help group met once again and since the last meeting many people have made some big decisions. PROGRESS. Businesses started. Brands created. Raises acquired. More proof that women with an agenda can do great things.
• Once again I was reminded that I do not have to be Wonder Woman (atleast not every day). Thank you Paula.
• It is important to recognize people for being who they are not just what they do.
• It is never too soon to get things moving at a new job. Holding back has never been one of my strong points. Oh well...

Does my current project have explicit learning goals?

• Web project: Yes Roy, page sizing will be fixed one day. I am also toying with the idea of making web design my part-time job. More on that later.
• www.lesliegarcia.com is up. I am in the process of incorporating a blog so Leslie can update her site from the road (should she choose to go near a computer in Jamaica).
• Homemade Christmas presents: That's right. I am making gifts for Christmas which is not so unusual for me. But the challenge for this year will be sewing. I am sewing the majority of my gifts.

I did it. Its finally up.
Is it done yet? Nothing I create is ever really done I suppose. A work in progress. My life, my house, my projects in general.

So, visit www.lesliegarcia.com and tell me what you think.

I thought I would clue you in to my favorite lunch time reading sites.

Tom Peters
Halley's Comment
Wonder Branding
FastCompany
No Set Plans

This is what I end up reading instead of studying for the GRE.

Regardless, this state employee is feeding her brain and checking to make sure that the area her backside covers is less than the area of the chair.

Speaking of brain usage check out this one from Fast Company

What did I learn in the past week?

• There are alternatives to lasik. Roy is currently testing out a vision correction method that involves wearing hard lenses while you sleep. The effect is semi-permanent. Wear the lenses all night. See all day. Its been a week since the contact thing started and there have been improvements but there is an odd double vision problem that is being caused by the contact not sitting in the correct place.
• I had to break down and call the exterminator due to an "occurrance" (more like infestation but that is what the man called it) of fire ants. The ants were trying to get into my house (NOT GOOD). The exterminator claims that the ants may want in because they are after termites. If I could co-exist with the fire ants no problem, they can take care of the termites. In the end I made the 2nd call to the exterminator. He will be stopping by today to spray for termites (and to remove the last fire ant mound I discovered while mowing my lawn.
• I don't need a new lawnmower. Last week I complained that needed a new lawnmower to battle my strange grass blend. In reality I just needed to tune up my little pushmower. I oiled it, tightened the wheels and sharpened the blades. Much improved.

Does my current project have explicit learning goals?

• Web project: I decided to take a chance and add the new style sheets and make a few adjustments. I am hoping to get the RSS feed up and running in the next day or two.
• New web project: a website for Leslie Garcia. Still waiting for important info before launching. Jeremy has granted me server space so its safe to register the domain name.

Here is the scoop on job #11.
As of November 1, 2004, I am the Project Coordinator, providing program technical support and communication coordination for the Groundwater Planning and Assessment program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

What will I be doing? Here are some snippets from my job description (in the usual state job description format and vague language). As always, this is subject to change...

• Coordinates stakeholder communications, committee meetings, public meetings, conferences, and work groups; participates in work groups; communicates with stakeholders of various backgrounds and disciplines on program technical activities and issues; and, prepares and presentstechnical presentations and reports for meetings with local government officials, agency representatives, and the public.
• Assists with the development and preparation of guidance documents, administrative reports, legislative reports, publication reports, rulemaking and the review of contract deliverables.
• Researches programmatic and technical information related to groundwater management practices and program activities; maintains project records; and assists in the preparation of charts, maps, tables and reports.
• Assists with the development and management of contracts and grants, including contract and grant tracking and progress reports.
• Assists in ensuring state mandates and federal grant commitments related to groundwater management evaluations and groundwater qualityassessment are met in an accurate, timely, and efficient manner.
• Assists in the collection of field and laboratory data related to groundwater water quality.

Ok, I finally updated the site with the latest group of stylesheets. Things seem to be working ok on my end but I know that not everyone is using Firefox. I know that the left border of the content box doesn't show up in IE (but that is because IE can't add). There are more improvements to come. I want to make sure the browser sizing issue is solved for the most part. I want to fix the menue up a little more.

In other news, I started my new job last Monday and it is a definite improvement from Job #10. I won't be doing as much editing (dyslexic people should not be editors). I will be doing SCIENCE! I will be working for the Water Quality Planning and Analysis group at TCEQ.

What did I learn in the past week?

• I know that your last week at a job is supposed to be hectic. Tying up loose ends, etc. But it really isn't supposed to be a 3 ring circus. Oh well. Job #11 started on Monday. I am now working for Water Quality Planning & Analysis. Things seem to be going well. I can see a window from my cube (a definite step up).

Does my current project have explicit learning goals?

• Web project: still in testing. There is a random green rectangle went away but now IE won't close the border around the main content box.
• New web project: a website for Leslie Garcia. Still waiting for important info before launching. Check out the tabs on the classes page (won't work in IE yet. Download the fox).