Your Tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker!

Ever since we went public on the two major North American stock exchanges last year, my company has been growing faster than anybody predicted, and faster than most would like.  (At least those without stocks.)  It used to be that a new hire was cause for wonder, an excuse to take them out for lunch on the company dime, and to marvel at the growth that necessitated such an addition.

Our HR department sends out new hire announcements on a weekly basis now.  Most folks read the name, the position, the enthusiastic note of greeting provided by the supervisor, and then delete and forget.

My own department has more than doubled in size in the last year.  Most of our new talent has to come from out of province, and we've also extended the search beyond the borders of Canada and the Atlantic.  Jorge joined the team a couple weeks ago.  (When hired, he immediately resigned himself to being burdened with "George", rather than the proper Hispanic pronunciation of his name.)  His wife and kids are still over in Portugal -- he expects to be able to bring them over before the end of the year.

We had a department meeting this morning in our main boardroom, focused on a new bit of software.  Before we started, Jorge and Kevin (a new-ish Newfie) were talking about today's weather and Jorge commented on how chilly it was this morning.  It was about five degrees above freezing after the sun rose.  Kevin chuckled and admonished Jorge to wait until winter, at which time (he said) you have to be careful when you go to work some mornings because the rubber of your car tires gets so cold that they retain the flat spots from being parked.  You have to drive for a couple minutes until the friction warms them up enough so they don't go roll-thump-roll-thump-roll-thump-roll-thump...

Jorge burst out laughing.

It took Kevin a couple minutes, with backing from some of the rest of us, to convince Jorge that he wasn't joking.  I don't think a man in his mid-forties gets that look in his eyes very often, so when it happens, it's even more disconcerting for those of us who see it.  We should warn people or something before we hire them from out of the country.

Comments

[Mark]

Wonderful use of the SW quote this time. How many have you used thus far? Not as many as I had hoped, but life with two little 'uns trumps all.

Anywho, on the Jorge thing. I wish he could experience a Canadian winter before bringing his family over there. The sensation of extreme weather is impossible to impart to someone who's never experienced it.

I also wish that folks would respect the fact that he is not George. That would completely suck.

My company's still growing fast, too. If he doesn't like it that cold, tell him to look us up. Down here in Texas, we know exactly how to pronounce Jorge.

[Moksha Gren]

I feel so sorry for Jorge. Suckered into Edmonton during the warm months where they mispronouce his name and quietly wait for his tauntaun to freeze.

Mark - Personally, I don't think Si's kids have anything to do with his slow down in posting. I think he just can't come up with enough good Star Wars quotes. ;)

[Tal]

Burn! I can't wait for you to be proved wrong Moksha! Heh.

Poor Jorge. Do people really call him George? I'll bet you make the effort. Although I have to say that there is something to having a name that people can't butcher...

p.s. You're joking about the tires, right? Because seriously, that's not funny. I thought Ontario winetrs were crappy...

[fv]

I don't think that tire thing is supposed to happen if you have winter tires...

[BOB]

it is just to horrible to contemplate even for a joke.....

and yeah, we know how to pronounce Jesus and Jorge down here

[Simon]

Mark, your insight serves you well regarding the kids and their concomitant distractions. Throw in a garage sale (and another one this weekend with our un-sold stuff trucked over to a friend's) and time disappears faster than chocolate covered almonds when placed in front of me.

Moksha, I recognise your empty taunt for what it is, and refuse to rise to the bait. You stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerfherder!

Tal, sorry, not joking. Square tires are a common occurrence.

fv, I'm pretty sure you're right, but I know most folks around here don't make the semi-annual switch with their tires (though many do), and so tire-thumping continues apace.

BOB, the disparity between Alberta and Florida is truly massive. Interesting that so many folks here vacation and/or retire there.

[Linda]

I vote for Mark's comment.(Since I always seem to get here late and everyone has said what I would have, from now on maybe I'll just cast my vote for the comment that best echoes my sentiments. Or try to get here sooner...)

Mokker, you gonna take that? I bet you could kick his ass with your pirate patch on and the other eye closed. ;-)