TGIF!

A 5 day work week! How do people survive these??

My first full work week in months and I was happy to see Friday arrive and come to a workday close. Today at work we had an "All Hands Meeting" which was a 3 hour company lunch that was outside and started with a speech from our CEO, CFO and COO. Yesterday our 2009 Q4 #'s were released and they were quite impressive and everyone is in a good mood with double digit sales increase. Today was the first time I saw all 3 chief officers together in person. On my way to training the other day I cut off the COO in the hallway, oops! The CFO reminds me of Anthony Bourdain and those of you who know my obsession with No Reservations...I will do my best to behave appropriately. There was a team building activity that involved each table of people, all mixed up from different departments, to create a story about Deckers incorporating about 10 printed images. Each table had the same envelope of pictures and it was very entertaining to listen to each story created and presented. It was cool to get a sense of the size of the company and to see the true hams come up to 'present' their stories.
This company has a lot of employees that have been there for 3 years or less. Those that have been employed for more than a year are 'veterans'. There are a group that have been there for 10 years or plus, my boss being one of them, but it's interesting the percentage that have not been there that long. At my table of 10 people only 3 people had been there for more than a year.
On Wednesday night there was a get together at a local bar that one of the VP's owns. It was nice of her to invite a bunch of us out and to host us at her and her husband's establishment. It was good to get out in a social setting and meet a few more people from the 'team' and get to know them a bit more personally.
On Thursday I had lunch with my 'buddy'. Deckers has a somewhat new (within the past 2-3 years) policy of pairing new employees up with longer standing employees. They take you out to lunch early on in your start. It was a beautiful day (the only really nice day this week) and we had lunch at the Beach Cafe on the beach in Goleta. Perfection! Lunch outside, everyone knows how I love to eat al fresco, on the beach!!! Going back to work was quite a test of self discipline.

A few notes to reply to comments, correct errors, and some observations.
* It was Neptune's Net not Neptune Ned's that I ate at with T, I, C, & V last Sunday in Malibu. I stand corrected.
* I did drive Deckers Canyon which made me a bit car sick! Crazy, crazy road. But, coming around one curve and seeing the Pacific out in front of me was almost worth it. Next time I do that drive a car with a bigger engine would be nice. It was quite a chore for the Honda to keep up with T's Audi.
* @ Kev - I am doing product development for Ugg handbags. I work in conjuction with the designer to ensure the bags are made as she wants. In this position product development is more #'s driven. I have more responsiblity for pricing and schedule than I have in the past. This is a new product category for the company and there is a lot of support and excitement to get a solid line produced. But, being a former business owner I am still surprised by what ground work appears to not have been done.
* as T. commented - We saw Woody Harrelson on our hike last Sunday. T's dog got in a minor altercation with another dog and Woody and 2 women stopped to discuss what happened and offer their sympathies. I completely did not notice him and when we were heading into the parking lot he was leaving and he waved. Woody and I waved to each other, how funny!
* It is true! My b.i.l, Rich told me once he was in SoCal for work and the office he was at all left early because it was raining. Today I got an email from someone letting me know he would get back to me Monday because his 'office was closing early because of the rain and flooding'. Apparently, rain is serious weather out here. I know all of you in the NorthEast dealing with yet another Nor'easter are LYAO.
* I saw a guy in the grocery store wearing webbed surfer socks.
* I saw a guy riding a bike with a parrot on his shoulder.
* Almost every restaurant/cafe you go to has drinking water for free. I haven't inquired yet to find out of this is a state law.