Dear readers,

For those who don't know me well, I work as an Engineering Manager for an oil company overseeing assets in Russia, Azerbaijan, and China. I have worked there since 1997, and over the last 10 y3ears or so have traveled all over the world working on a wide variety of projects. I have spent time in South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. 2009 has not been a good year at work, with staff reductions and "cost challenges", so it hasn't been fun. Despite that, our International assets have across the board, have done very well - both technically and profit wise. Well on Monday morning, without warning, my company announced that it planned to divest (sell off) of all its assets in the Gulf of Mexico and Internationally. Worse, they announced that they did not plan to retain any of the staff working on the assets after they were sold.

So, how do I feel, you ask? I am greatly saddened by this event.

This announcement is analogous to your spouse, out of the blue, telling you that they are filing for divorce.

1) It comes as a complete surprise.
2) You both agree that you have done nothing "wrong"
3) You had agreed and committed to support each other in good times and bad
4) You routinely talk about things, both reviewing the past and planning for the future
5) Then, without warning the divorce comes
6) You hear:

We thank you for all your past contributions, but
We are not growing in the same direction
We want to go forward in on different path

We will take care of you (a severance payment)
But for now, we have to live together for the next ~ year or so.....

- until you finish up all your activities (including laying off your staff)

Then we part ways
But we wish you good luck

It has not been a good week!

Dan Dan Noodles

Dan Dan Noodles

One of the things I look forward to most about coming home from China (of course besides coming home that is), is the Noodle Bar n the Cathay Pacific airport lounge. The Dan-Dan noodles (pictured) are always hot and spicy.

You don't have to worry about eating them too fast, because the chopsticks slow you down! I always love coming through here to get fortified for the long flight over the Pacific.

I love coming home from China so I can fill up and dream about more noodles on the plane!

What did you do last weekend? I spent my weekend in China. I had to go over there, on short notice to make a presentation to the Chinese government (our partner) on putting in some new offshore platforms in SE China (about 100 miles from Hong Kong).

The Chinese think that this project is a "no brainer", but my company is not so sure. I made a presentation showing them how we evaluate the risks, and why this project may not be a good investment. I think they understood my presentation and are considering my concerns. As the "VIP Presenter" (their words, not mine), I was presented the "choicest portion" of fish - the head. They serve it to you, then everyone sits and looks at you, refusing to eat until the VIP eats first.

Okay, so I picked around quickly and carefully and found a piece of meat, not a gill or eyeball, but a small piece of meat. Talk about relief.....

Fortunately, I did get to come home a day early. Believe it or not I chose NOT to have fish on the plane!

The Office - Moscow version

I recently returned from a cold trip to Moscow. While there, I took the opportunity to walk around beautiful Red Square. There are many "picture worthy" views, including The Kremlin, the GUM department store, and my all time favorite view: St Basil's cathedral, with it's multicolored onion domes. But there was one picture I really wanted to share with you, that I call "The Office".

There are a number of vendors around selling snacks and souvenirs. In an effort to provide them with a place to go to the bathroom, city officials have installed several rows of port-a-potties. Makes sense, right?

Well, in the true spirit of entrepreneurship, one industrious lady has turned the last one on the left into her personal office. She installed a board across the sink for her desk, your typical office memos stuck to the wall, and (just to add a bit of personal charm), she has added a curtain and chair cover.

I tried to get close to take a picture without disturbing her, but apparently didn't hold the camera as still as I should have - resulting in the grainy image - but you get the point. I walked closer after I took the picture and she looked up from her newspaper, as if to say: "I'm on my break". Priceless!

The Office has arrived in Moscow!