I’m proud to say it, and not hide anymore.

I am an IBMer, have been one for years.

I’m proud of our accomplishments, our vision, and our thought leadership, and I’m deeply grateful that the company stuck with it thru the long, complicated and frustrating process of hiring me across the Atlantic.

I’m amazed by the Blogging Policy that Big Blue has published, and the fact that it encourages us to go ahead and blog and SAY we’re IBMers. I’m not going to blog about my job anymore than I have before. but it just feels good to not hide my badge.

I understand the reasons for IBM’s policy on this, but I just think it’s forward-thinking, and, well, just cool.

Speaking of cool, my first mission, and business trip, will be to the hot sands of Arabia, next week. Initially I was to leave on friday night, which was distressing with a three day weekend coming up, but now I’m only leaving on monday night.

I have a few hours of stop-over on tuesday morning in Paris, if anyone wants to meet there for breakfast? Or in Milan on the way back?

Well, my first day of school is done. Most of it was refresher course material for me, as I’ve been with the company for four years, in Europe, but it brought back to me how proud I used to be of being in that team, and how fortunate I am, not only to have found a job here in the USA, but to have done so with such a cool outfit.

Made some new friends, been to the gym twice (I luuuuuv the sauna) and made liberal use of the free 54 Mbps WiFi.

Managed to talk to the Princess on the phone twice, and altho I miss her, I suspect as business trips go, some are going to be much worse on us, with different timezones and harder communications.

Anyhoo, I’m pooped so see y’all tomorrow!

Found my first paycheck in yesterday’s mail, for one week’s wages. Just in time to be late for deposit on my new bank account.

Also scored some delicious blueberry buttermilk pancakes the Princess made from scratch this morning, and that sets the score to 15-love after the asparagus risotto. She was so beautiful in her retro-50′s dress with the big polka dots at her friend’s wedding last night, and I was so proud to be with her… She’s such a catch, even without the home-made pancakes.

Oh, found that I had lost another hole in my belt when I put the navyblue&pinstripe suit on, so looks like I’m losing weight still, as well. Despite the tapioca pudding with fresh strawberries and bananas she just handed me

The only thing that stinks is that tonite I’ll be sleeping in a hotel and won’t come home until Thursday, four days of training for new hires. On the plus side, I finally get to meet my new boss. Down side, no sex Princess for four long days…

The Department of Homeland Security having caught up with its backlog on entry records and being able to assure the Social Security Administration that I am, indeed, in the country and that the pretty sticker in my passport is, indeed, what it proclaims to be, a work visa, SSA has seen fit to provide me with an SSN (not a submarine, a Social Security Number). Instead of the projected twelve weeks, it only took three.

I am now allowed to apply for a Bank Account, Credit Cards, Driver’s License, Car Insurance, etc, etc, etc…

In other words, I am now fully a member of society. *cue trumpets*

In other news, the Asparagus Risotto was a huge hit, and we used Austrian wine, which at least one reader will be pleased to know, and we’re going to a wedding tonite, where the Princess will look stunning and dance my feet off.

Move along, nothing to see here except happiness.

NB : Will be in training monday thru thursday next week, North of NYC, and there are two business trips, one to Ohio and another to the Arabian Peninsula on the horizon, but I don’t know when exactly.

I hate to quote Bill (not the one from Kill Bill, the one who wants to rule the universe), but I suddenly feel like my PCs are again running at the speed of thought.

Yes, you’ve guessed it, broadband and wifi are here, installed and functional, and I’m a happy camper. The bed situation is still very muddled (check out the comments on the previous post) but the internet situation is definitely looking up.

Now I just need to choose a VoIP phone provider for my home office (employer will pay for it), and I’m all set

Oh, in other news, I finished the Princess Key Lime Pie today, and I’m lobbying for another dessert, with my famous Asparagus Risotto as a bargaining chip. It’s one of those win-win scenarios where everybody gets to share the spoils