Jannie Culshaw:  

Hello Everyone!!! WoW!!! It has been a long time!!! I earned my BS in physics, immediately followed by my MBA. My PhD in computer engineering followed later while I was working in Germany for Diehl GmBh. As I was working on my MBA while working at Martin Marietta now Lockheed Martin, I established my reputation as a Senior Systems Engineer, Project/Program Engineering Manager such that I was able to launch my own company in Europe enabling me to pick and choose my contracts. I always made sure they were close to the ski slopes and an international airport. I love jet setting around the world. My first position was working and living in Paris. I worked for Thompson Brandt at 52 Avenue des Champs-Elysées living only 2 and a bit blocks off the Avenue des Champs-Elysées and around the corner from Avenue George V at 41 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie. There is nothing like living in the heart of Paris. I also had a house in St. Denis en Val just outside of Orléans. However, the BEST of all was meeting the love of my life, an Englishman, while on business in Nürnburg!!! What a life! David and I married and coordinated our contracts so we were both in Germany. We both had a passion for skiing and would go every weekend in the Alps. Yes, I am spoilt.. rotten!!! David bought me a small manor house as my bridal gift to bring me home to after our honeymoon. (Little) David was born in 1983. We flew home about once a month until we decided to have a second child when I stopped working; that was in February 1989. Sadly, our little girl, Karen, did not survive live child birth. What broke my heart was the love of my life dying in my arms of a heart attack at age 38 December 16th, 1992. I know CPR, but, no amount of CPR would have brought him back to me. My son, David, now 25, is still studying in university (loves higher education, where did he get that from?) who is unmarried and not looking. The next 6 years of my life were a living hell. No one would ever believe me if I told you. I am trying to forgive and forget that time in my life. In 1998, I was so determined that things were going to change! Either I was going to be killed or I was going to be free. I started secretly looking for work as far away as I could. That is how prior to ever being introduced to Alan (an Aussie), I had put in for the position at IBM Global Services. How did I meet Alan? I was introduced via a mutual friend who was not trying to ¿play match maker¿. It just worked out that lunch just happened that day. However, Alan emailed me and we stayed in touch via email for 5 months until I accepted the position, then the emails increased and there were a few phone calls. The position, located in Sydney, Australia, was for the Program Manager over 300+ Joint Ventures and Subsidiaries in the Asia/ Pacific region for IBM Global Services which meant that I would be flying all over¿ Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, Fiji, Malaysia, Thailand, and on and on. They were concerned about people disliking traveling ( LOL , me?) Shortly after arriving when I was not traveling, I started dating Alan. As 1999 approached, the risk management plan was already in place and tested for the Joint Ventures and Subsidiaries. One of St George Bank¿s (5th largest bank at the time in Australia) vice presidents contacted me and made me an offer I could not turn down to get the Y2K risk management plan done and tested for them. St. George Bank is in all the states and territories of Australia with a tremendous number of unknowns. I did not know anything about banking and here it is July 1999. Anyone else would have thought I was an idiot! Elementary Watson! This is why I receive the big$$$. I even worked some Reserve Bank Clearing House problems out and finished one month ahead of schedule!!! I now know every step in the 1999-2000 Australian banking processes - all the machines- counterfeit detection, etc. Gee Wheez!!! LOL As soon as I finished up, I was going to take a sabbatical, but I kept getting these urgent messages on my mobile. Finally, I answered and the person begged...Expand for more