Stanley Chen (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} ecafracs) wrote,@ 2007-02-10 04:27:00 |
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Early to Work
On Wednesday, I got to work around 6:30am.
After easily finding a parking spot, I pulled my luggage and snowboard equipment out of my car, and headed out front to where a line of busses waited... to take us to Tahoe. I can't think of a better reason to show up to work at such an early hour.
This week, Google employees were sent in three waves to spend a day at Squaw Valley over Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The Wednesday wave was apparently least popular, as most people opted for Monday in order to make use of a full weekend, in addition to the company-paid portion. It turned out that the Monday and Tuesday folk had to maneuver around large brown patches of dirt, while us Wednesday folk were treated with a blizzard, giving us fresh powder, replenished throughout the day. Unfortunately, that also meant we were going around blind for most of the day. I'm ever so glad I picked up a ski mask after the previous outing. Aside from the windchill, it wasn't very cold, and I ended up needing to remove a layer.
Each night, they hosted a party featuring three themed rooms, including an undersea room, an ice room, where they had two chainsaw-wielding ice sculptors performing live, and a safari room, where an excellent 80's cover band played all night, flanked on both sides of the stage by girls in tiger-print bikinis dancing in vine-draped cages. Throughout were various arcade games, the customary free food, bars (two drink tickets provided, you had to pay after that...) and some other more isolated rooms where the geekiest of Googlers could play board and card games. You get one guess where I spent most of the night.
Even with all the Googlers split between three waves, we still had to be split among three hotels; I stayed at the Resort at Squaw Valley. I was supposed to have one roommate, but he never showed, so I had the entire suite, with kitchenette, living room, bedroom with a king-sized bed, and a rather spacious, swanky bathroom to myself. Not bad at all...
The following day, we had our choice of departure times: 9:00, noon, and 4:00. I, of course, chose the latest time, getting another day on the slopes. Fortunately, I already experienced my hangover the previous night as the party was winding down, so I woke up in the morning hangover-free. Unfortunately, I actually had to pay for this lift ticket out of my own pocket. Sad, I know.
This time, the weather was mostly clear, and I got to see the mountain and the slopes for the first time. Consequently, there wasn't much powder, but at least the weather was nice. Sadly for me, I cramped up rather early on as I made a rather pathetic attempt on the black diamond on the back side of the mountain. I had to take it easy for the rest of the day.
Between traversing the mountain blind the first day and cramped the second, I fell a lot more times than I would've liked. My helmet probably saved me from a nasty bump the first day. Even with the helmet on, my head was ringing a bit after that fall. The second day, I managed to sprain my wrist a bit. Perhaps it's time I invested in wrist guards...
Still, aside from the personal damage, I'd have to say it wasn't a bad way to spend a couple paid days of work.
On Wednesday, I got to work around 6:30am.
After easily finding a parking spot, I pulled my luggage and snowboard equipment out of my car, and headed out front to where a line of busses waited... to take us to Tahoe. I can't think of a better reason to show up to work at such an early hour.
This week, Google employees were sent in three waves to spend a day at Squaw Valley over Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The Wednesday wave was apparently least popular, as most people opted for Monday in order to make use of a full weekend, in addition to the company-paid portion. It turned out that the Monday and Tuesday folk had to maneuver around large brown patches of dirt, while us Wednesday folk were treated with a blizzard, giving us fresh powder, replenished throughout the day. Unfortunately, that also meant we were going around blind for most of the day. I'm ever so glad I picked up a ski mask after the previous outing. Aside from the windchill, it wasn't very cold, and I ended up needing to remove a layer.
Each night, they hosted a party featuring three themed rooms, including an undersea room, an ice room, where they had two chainsaw-wielding ice sculptors performing live, and a safari room, where an excellent 80's cover band played all night, flanked on both sides of the stage by girls in tiger-print bikinis dancing in vine-draped cages. Throughout were various arcade games, the customary free food, bars (two drink tickets provided, you had to pay after that...) and some other more isolated rooms where the geekiest of Googlers could play board and card games. You get one guess where I spent most of the night.
Even with all the Googlers split between three waves, we still had to be split among three hotels; I stayed at the Resort at Squaw Valley. I was supposed to have one roommate, but he never showed, so I had the entire suite, with kitchenette, living room, bedroom with a king-sized bed, and a rather spacious, swanky bathroom to myself. Not bad at all...
The following day, we had our choice of departure times: 9:00, noon, and 4:00. I, of course, chose the latest time, getting another day on the slopes. Fortunately, I already experienced my hangover the previous night as the party was winding down, so I woke up in the morning hangover-free. Unfortunately, I actually had to pay for this lift ticket out of my own pocket. Sad, I know.
This time, the weather was mostly clear, and I got to see the mountain and the slopes for the first time. Consequently, there wasn't much powder, but at least the weather was nice. Sadly for me, I cramped up rather early on as I made a rather pathetic attempt on the black diamond on the back side of the mountain. I had to take it easy for the rest of the day.
Between traversing the mountain blind the first day and cramped the second, I fell a lot more times than I would've liked. My helmet probably saved me from a nasty bump the first day. Even with the helmet on, my head was ringing a bit after that fall. The second day, I managed to sprain my wrist a bit. Perhaps it's time I invested in wrist guards...
Still, aside from the personal damage, I'd have to say it wasn't a bad way to spend a couple paid days of work.
