What's Crazypaul been up to?

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

It's gett'n hot in here, so take off all your socks...

Not really the best office etiquette, but I've begun to take my socks off a work because of the temperature. The location where I've been moved to in the office is closer to the windows... That part, I really appreciate since before I was pretty close to the center of the building, and would only recieve natural light when I was outdoors. Though, during the winter period, that would mean never since it's dark when I get to work, and already dark when I leave as well. The view from the 3rd floor is definitely much better than the basement or 1st floot... Though, at least the temperature in the basement doesn't fluctuate at all throughout the year.

Anyways, I find myself near the corner of the cityhall (or city office which the locals call it by here, when speaking in English) building and air circulation is horrible. Down on the first floor, or by the elevators/stairs the temperatue is 2-3°C different. Because of the Cool Biz campaign which was implemented in the summer of 2005, (the summer I arrived) air conditioners only switch on if the temperature goes over 28°C. Fine with me, but unfortunately due to the old structure of a building which is called the Sanjo City Office, the whole building is wired as a whole unit. The 3rd floor is hovering around 30°C before the air conditionor kicks in, since the 1st floor is always a few degrees cooler than the top floors. The 1st floor windows are pretty much covered by the outdoor trees, and heat rises.

Not only that, now that I'm by the windows... the windows and walls radiate with heat. Hence, just yesterday I bought a USB powered small fan, which I have stationed underneath my desk. Placing it on my desk would be too obvious. So it's no socks and for me at the moment. Hmmm, I wonder if I could go as far as going trouserless...

Anyways, another day to go and then it's Koromogae. The seasonal change of clothes. From June 1st to Sept 30th, students change to summer clothing and Cool Biz officially begins. It's off with ties and jackets! Yeah! 4 months of wearing a polo/golf shirts...

...even then, it's still too hot...

Monday, May 21, 2007

work, work, work, & CSS

Well, I've never been one to do much programming, for I reckoned that it'd be bad for me health. Spending all that time in front of a computer monitor, trying to figure out what you're doing and troubleshooting all those little bugs. Eck! bugs! Ack, ack!

Anyways, for the past month I've been doing plenty of translations along with learning a bit about CSS. I really haven't done much web stuff for a few years, and it's amazing how quickly things change out there in the computer realm. With graphics, I'm still happy playing with Adobe Photoshop 6.0... developed way back in 2000. To be honset, I think that my problem is with my attitude, personality with things. My job is to act as the "Coordinator for International Relations", but to be honest I don't coordinate anything. I have to do it myself. Sure, there are plenty of foreigners in Japan on the JET Programme whom have quite a bit of time to do what they please. I guess that I get to do what I please as in I constantly start up new projects for me to do. If I see something that that's not there that I think would benefit others, I get it started and finished. But, as I'm the only one actually working on any given project, that's a lot of work. Before, I never had to take my work home, but now I'm constantly working 3-4 hours at home. Especially because my computer at work is SO bloody slow.

Anyways, I digress. It stucks that to have ambition, work ethics, drive, a slight workaholic tendency, and willingness to get things done, even if it's on your own. I find myself sacrificing my own personal time, (I miss doing my hobbies!) for really random things. Though, I must admit that I'm
learning a lot because of my drive... sucks at the same time too.

Anyways, at the moment I'm translating, and redesigning the cityhalls "Tourism page". I find the current page slightly lacking in navigation, and design. A bit too simple, with not much balance. Anyways, I shouldn't complain too much since it's work. Anyways, my need to make a slight better English version is leading me much pain and time. Well, mostly time. Never say that you'll get a whole website translated and redesigned in about a months time... While learning a new computer language. It may be possible if you had at least 3 people working on it. A designer, programmer and translator. At the moment I'm all three.

By the way, here's a comparison of what both sites looks like. I'm especially proud of the CSS rollover menu bar which I was able to program. Compared to the image rollov
er system which the Japanese link uses. With the Japanese page, once you're reading a page, you need to constantly hit the "back" button to get anywhere. Not really a naviational friendly site. But hey, what do you expect? It's a small city website...


Tuesday, May 08, 2007

blahs....

Well, as you can see my blog comes in spurts. To the untrained mind, my previous comment can be taken as something filthy, but it's not.

Well, much has happened since my last entry... Heck, it's been almost 1/2 a year. I flew back to Canada for a little bit back in March, (I know that a few of you are still awaiting me to upload those photos on my my non-existent flickr account) I performed at a concert in Feb, and my office structure has completely changed.

Well, (3rd paragraph beginning with the word "well") at the beginning of April, my desk was magically moved to the Regional Promotions Division from the Policy Management Division... and my supervisor (of 12 years of Int'l Affairs experience) was swapped for a rookie whom has never been overseas. At least my desk is closer to a window, and I have much more privacy with my laptop. Not to say that I'll be looking at un-worksafe material, but I can now squeeze in a couple of emails and blogs now... I guess.

I'd update more, but somehow my work load is aways staring down at me. Argh! Why am I so bloody ambitious when it comes to work!? I think that I'm chewing off more than I can swallow. (and once agian... my blog ends on a questionalble sentence... oh you dirty mind you...)