In the morning, the A10 (the ring around Amsterdam) features something, that most drivers hate, the morning congestion. Everyone knows it’s there, yet noone shares their car and all of them ride alone in their cars. Idiots! ;)
Now, let’s use public transport, I thought.. bad idea, takes even longer. (50 minutes)

So I got my motorcycle out and drove on the congested highway with it. Only to find another 2 motorcyclists there.. with them we made some space between the left and the middle lane and we went through the jammed cars. It was like in a video-game, fast and exciting. Took me 12 minutes instead of 50 to reach Verizon. Yay! :D

What impressed me was the willingness of all the car drivers to let motorcycles pass.. I mean, ever tried that in Germany? Even if it’s officially allowed to sneak through traffic jams and red lights the Germans will then drive closer to the next car not to allow you to pass or even open their doors :P
It’s a jungle out there after all.. :D

The downside was the adrenaline-shock that this caused (remember 80 kph and 10 cm on each side of the bike). Basically I didn’t need any coffee till lunch and was quite shaky. ;)

being alone – not nice
going out alone – not nice
eating alone – not nice
sleeping alone – not nice
coming home from work to be alone – not nice at all

Gods, how I miss her. I behave like a dog that howls at the moon.
Well, at least I realized that it’s her that makes me feel like that. After trying to explain with 1001 other reasons ;)

I survived my first week of work at Verizon business. yay! :)

After being super-excited and actually a little nervous the first days (which apparently manifests in me talking a lot and asking a lot of questions – yes, even more questions!) they decided to give me IP training on the third day.
This was like a dream. Finally I was told the secrets of these things (Routers, switches, and so on..) that I had been using for years already but never managed to understand _how_ they work. They even told me that there is the possibility to get a Cisco CCNA certification once I have a fixed contract (not before march 2007, though) and they even pay the exam :D

anyway, it is far better than I imagined and the people are really nice. (plus I like the idea to work for the people that run the fastest and the largest Internet backbone of the earth) :P

Now I will have a quick shower and then go to the city to meet my new colleages at the irish pub. The guy I am going to replace is officialy celebrating his goodbye. (No, he left,. I just happened to come to the office for the first time on his last day)

I always wondered why IT people and callcenter people always hang out in irish pubs..

But now it’s Friday, Anna is in New York, Tuesday I will get my first salary and it’s time to go socializing! :D

I hope you are having a good time in New York.
One day I hope that I will be able to join you on such a trip.. without startling at the amount of money that this costs. ;)
Actually, I want to go to New York with a sailing ship. Like the first settlers that came there.. taking a couple of weeks to cross the ocean.

I have not been lazy, mind you. Since monday I am working at the technical helpdesk of Verizon Business and since today I am taking part in technical training. (IP basics)
As it looks, I will stay wityh them. I really like the style of this company and the flair of it. I also like the fact that you can take cisco certificates there.. CCNA/CCNP would really be nice :)

For the next 6 months I will be working as a temp worker, Verizon usually gives people a fixed contract after this time. If I behave, that is :P

For now, it’s back to school for me.. I have a lot of knowledge to catch up with.
Worst of them: The one that I never thought important: the OSI model.
Unneccesary as hell but everyone seems to judge your IT knowledge according to this. Wanna know a good helper line how to remember the 7 layers and their order? Be warned, it’s a little “mature” ;)
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The recent statements of the pope, speaking of violence and “bad things” coming from Islam have resulted in an uproar of the islamic world, calling for violent vengeance and the death/assassination of the pope.

Isn’t it sweet? ;)

after this infamous august with ±5 sunny days (if any) the summer seems to try to make one last stand against the coming autumn by giving us what millions of tourists in Amsterdam always wish for but rarely get: No clouds at all! :D

It’s been a wonderful day yesterday and today seems to be even nice!
We have been sitting at the lake behind the Rijksmuseum yesterday and just enjoyed the sun on our bodies. (well, I had to endure a shopping-session with Anna first but that’s another story ;)

Today we slept long and will now go to the city once more to absorb as much sunlight as possible.. maybe even take a ride to the beach later :P

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thursday – if nothing unforseen happens – I will sign my contract at verizon business.
even if this is not exactly the job I have been looking for, I am terribly happy to have found a job that fast. :)

As a matter of fact, it looks like the people there seem to be pretty relaxed. And I like the flair of the company :P
Apart from that they will eventually pay me education, meaning Cisco Tech certificates and such.

two more days and I am nervous as hell!