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achievement award

It has been a pretty routine couple of weeks/months. There's been work, there's been hanging out, there's been some cool weekend trips, there's been some lazy weekends at home... I would typically blog about my weekend trips, but Brendan does a better job than me at that, which is why it has been forever since I have blogged. Long enough in fact that it took me awhile to remember my login...

Something happened yesterday though that broke the routine. I had a crap night the night before and went into work in not the best of moods, I wasn't being particularly friendly to anyone, I was feeling down about my job and the overtime hours I've been putting in the last few months, I was annoyed that people were interrupting my phone call to tell me that there was a morning tea on and that I should come have a cake (1. I was on the phone and 2. I have been trying to stay off of the cakes lately)....

But it turns out they were only telling me to come to the tea because I was being presented with the project achievement award for the month of May. The award came with a $250 gift certificate, a custom made trophy and an amazing feeling of accomplishment because the awards are given out strictly on voluntary nominations from your peers. My award also came with an incredible feeling of guilt for being so surly all morning.

The gift certificate is to Red Balloon, which I had no idea what it was until I googled it. It's a pretty neat website though that offers 'experiences.' Based on my browsing so far, I am thinking maybe spend it on a helicopter ride, a shark encounter, or a day of rally car driving!

The custom trophy is the best part though. It is a twisted 24mm reinforcing bar welded to a twisted 16mm reinforcing bar. I know that doesn't mean much to anyone reading this, but based on my last few months at work, it is absolutely perfect. It is also heavy. One of the guys who made it told me it took them 6 hours to make!



The only downside was the guy who presented me the award, who should know my name, called me 'Sharon' instead of 'Shannon.' It has resulted in a new nickname on site though because apparently 'Sharon' translates to 'Shazza' in Australia-speak.

Regarding the award: thank you to the NSP team for such an amazing honor. Regarding the nickname: oh, Australia...

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