I think a part me will always be waiting for you – Unknow.
Adam came to see us and liked the house as well as where we were living. He immediately called Jenifer to tell her about the house. Adam met Jenifer when both were only 16 years old. She went to Ottawa-U as Adam did and Jenifer did her BA with honors where as Adam did his MBA. Jenifer came from Smith Falls and when Lynda found out that she was living in the dorm at Ottawa-U, Lynda offered her our spare bedroom which she accepted and lived with us. After completing her degree, she went to work for a small company in Ottawa. When she was having some difficulties with her boss, Adam asked me if she can come and work with us. We always needed somebody to look after the front desk plus she was smart enough to take care of all administrative activities. Currently, Jenifer was working with Adam in the business and living with him in the house when we ended up in Vegas. They appeared to be quite happy together. Adam only stayed one day with us.
One day I was lying down on a sofa in the living room, and trying to read a novel, when Lynda returned from her afternoon at the pool. She asked what I was doing and when I explained to her, she said that’s good. She continued – once you select an author that you like, you may like to focus on reading only those books that author had published. I said thanks for the hint.
I asked if she had a nice time at the pool? She said, yes. We are always laughing about something. They have been living here for a while, and they know almost everything about everybody. I asked if she heard any gossip today? She said, yes. Something came up about you and Richard that you both are doctors, and I told them that you’re not a medical doctor. I said thanks for clarifying that I don’t like to get into discussions with anybody about writing a prescription for them. She said they all got their family doctors; you don’t have to worry about them.
I said what else came up?
She said the only other thing they were talking about was Loval and Richard. She said it came up when we were discussing about the age difference between husbands and wives. I said I guess we also noticed that, but we didn’t dare discuss that with anybody, did we? She said, no we didn’t. I said I automatically assumed that she must be his second wife. Lynda said you were right she is just one year older than me which is not bad but Richard’s in late 70s. I said I wonder how they got connected with each other. Lynda said now your curiosity is getting better of you. I said I am just a human.
Lynda said alright. She used to work in his office to manage patients’ appointments and do follow ups, etc. I asked if she was married, too. Lynda said yes, they both were married with kids, but they fell in love with each other which’s not unusual. I said Richard must have grand kids, too. Lynda said yes. Ricard’s ex-wife still lives in the same place and in the same house, but Richard’s grand kids come to see him now and then.
Any other gossip? She said you already heard more than enough for a day.
She also said I am changing the topic now and would like to ask you if you are enjoying the books that you started reading? I said it appears to me as the number of books that I have managed to browse were almost the same with some minor changes in the characters. She said you need to look at those books as somebody’s imagination and all those writers are doing their best to keep you interested and make money at the same time. You cannot criticize them, Mir. I said I am not criticizing. I will try some other books to see if I get hooked. Maybe I should try to detective stories. She said now you’re talking, my man.
On another note, Lynda had also started making breakfasts on Sundays with the help of others which got popular immediately, and more folks started showing up for breakfast at the clubhouse every Sunday.
The next day, I went out to talk to a service company located close to the mall, to find out what’s it takes to register a company in Nevada. Once they explained to me and told me that they provide that service for a fee. I decided to use their services and went ahead to register a company in Nevada for providing computer consulting services in Las Vegas. The name I chose was – Adam Management Company (AMC). After a week or so, I started looking into getting connected with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in the downtown of Las Vegas, to explore the possibilities of finding ways to get connected with the businesses in Vegas as I realized that I cannot possibly spend my time by reading fictions. When I spoke to the lady on the phone at the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, she was very friendly and she suggested that the best way to find out what they do for the businesses, I should go there and meet with somebody who will walk through the process. It made sense to me, and I agreed to meet her the next day.
The next day when I got there a few minutes early and started walking around in the building, I was very impressed with the setup and the total atmosphere of the chamber. The girl at the desk was expecting me. She walked me through their offices as a brief tour before she offered me a cup of coffee. Once we sat down, she asked me about my background.
I told her that I own a company in Ottawa, Canada, and I am the president of the company which is called Automated Information Management (AIM). She said what are you doing here in Vegas? I said I came here with a plan to explore the possibilities of establishing a branch of our company as Vegas is growing and there must be opportunities for the kind of services that we have been providing to the businesses in Canada.
She said what kind of services do you provide, Mir. I started saying, even though my background is in information technology (IT), I have changed my approach as well as my attitude and became a management consultant. Even though the IT turned out to be a major tool to accomplish business objectives, I don’t believe that the focus should be the tools. My focus is on the processes then selecting the tools to accomplish the desired results. She said you need to get down one more level to make me understand about your approach as I am having difficulties to comprehend what and how you do things will help the businesses.
I said, you’re absolutely right. Let me put it this way. In my experience most of the businesses where computer technology was deployed, it appeared to me as they were in a hurry to implement computers without giving any thought whether that was the right or best tools for their businesses. They didn’t select the technology based on the business processes or the availability of the relevant information, not to mention the skills of the folks who were charged with the responsibilities to use those technologies to perform certain functions and produce the results. She said are you saying that they spent millions of dollars frivolously? I am saying that whatever they had implemented based on whoever helped them at that time had benefits, but they didn’t explore the possibilities of where and why to maximize the benefits. She said give me an example.
I said for example if an organization is providing a service or producing a product, they must go through several processes to accomplish that objective. She said, I am with you. For instance, a service may require several processes, and each process may have numerous activities to perform to produce results which could be used as an input into the next process. She said I understand that, too. I said what we do as a company is we document the current environment of the selected area which includes the processes and the activities in each process, highlighting what comes out from a given process. She said I am with you. I said then we examine each activity in each process to define the current situation by:
- What kind of information are being used;
- What kind of technology is being used; and
- What kind of skills are being used. I asked if she is following that. She said she has no problem with that.
Then I said very briefly, let me explain when we create a future model, we define what is required to perform those activities to produce the anticipated results faster and accurate. She said how do you do that? I said we go back to each process and each activity and compare and determine the gaps between them by documenting:
- What information is being used and what information is needed, highlighting the gap;
- What technology is being used and what technology is needed to use, highlighting the gap; and
- What skills exists and what skills are needed, highlighting the gap.
She said now I started seeing your logic. Perhaps the next thing you will do to tell them to bridge the gaps by deploying new information, technology, and skills. I said exactly. That will optimize their processes and produce results fasters and cheaper, but it will also require an investment in the training to meet the skills gap. She said it makes sense and thanks for having patience to explain it to me. Maybe I can come and work for you. I said we are always looking for smart people like you.
She said the final question – Do you also provide training? I said, no. We know a couple of companies which are much more qualified to provide training, and these arrangements are working very well for us. She said that opens an opportunity for the member companies to work with your companies for providing training. I said an excellent idea.
She said let me tell you that our chamber offers three types of memberships – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. In my opinion, I think perhaps you should consider becoming a Bronze member to start with then when the time is right you can upgrade yourself. I said it makes sense. What does Chamber offer for Bronze members? She said through your membership, you have access to members-only perks, exclusive networking opportunities, and ways for you to learn, boost your brand, and create buzz for your business. For instance:
- NETWORKING:
More than 100 annual events for you to meet new contacts and create business relationships;
- DISCOUNTS:
Increase your purchasing power through deep discounts on everything from office supplies, marketing, coworking space, and more;
- LEARNING:
Get need-to-know updates and business information through webinars, emails, and the Business Voice;
- VISIBILITY:
Boost your brand through a variety of publicity tools and exhibiting opportunities;
- VOICE:
The Chamber’s advocacy efforts give you a voice in the local, state, and federal government. The Chamber keeps Nevada’s businesses’ concerns front-and-center with legislators; and
- CREDIBILITY:
Consumers are more likely to do business with a Chamber member. Chamber membership enhances your business’ reputation and shows you are an engaged, involved member of the business community.
I said, I am sold.
She said you offer a very unique type of consulting services, Mir. It’s going to take some time to fully comprehend your service offerings, but I believe that you definitely have something meaningful to offer to our business community and I will do anything to introduce you to some very active members, and you can start attending our formal and semiformal meetings right away. I said I am all that for.
When she came to the parking with me to say goodbye, she looked at the license plate of my car and said you should consider changing your license plates ASAP as you don’t want to give the impression that you have just arrived in Vegas. I said I will take care of it right away and I left there.
We had heard so much about Hoover Dam and on one weekend we decided to visit Hoover Dam. It was only 20 miles from Henderson, and it took less than 30 minutes to get there. It was a nice short drive, and the weather was not that hot that day either. We found out that Hoover Dam is named in honour of Herbert Hoover, the U.S. president during whose administration (1929–1933) construction began on the dam and whose work as commerce secretary in the 1920s secured agreements necessary for the project to proceed.
The dam was erected during the Great Depression. The dam was a major endeavour that employed thousands of workers around 100 fatalities occurred during its construction. Although legislation passed by Congress in 1931 officially named the dam for Hoover, officials in the succeeding administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman referred to it as Boulder Dam, its name during the planning stages before construction.
In 1947 Truman signed a congressional resolution restoring the structure’s formal name to official use.
Instead of just wandering around, we decided to take a tour which didn’t cost a lot but provided us with an excellent opportunity to get to know things about the dam. It involved walking through historic tour tunnels, riding an original elevator to the top of the dam, and seeing the Colorado River through a ventilation shaft. It also included a tour to a visitor center with exhibits, access to the dam’s observation deck for views of the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and the bypass bridge, and options for guided tours of the power plant and the dam itself. We enjoyed the tour a lot as those days we were not aware of the fact that the dam was subject to environmental concerns. It changed the Colorado River’s course, affecting fish habitats, sediment structures, water quality, and the capacity of the initial floodplains. When we were finished with the tour, we decided to have lunch there and when we got back home, we were totally exhausted. We thought we deserved a nap to recover from a busy but interesting morning.
I started attending meetings at the Chamber but never forgot what that lady had told me about the Canadian license plate. The next day, I made enquiries about the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) near where we lived. I decided to visit the DMV to find out the process. When I got there, I couldn’t believe the crowd at the DMV. People were lining up even outside of the office to get information or apply for a driver’s license. I guess it all had to do with the way the population of Henderson was growing. Most of the people who were lining up were Mexican ancestry which I had no problem with as there were a lot of opportunities for the folks to find work in the casinos in Las Vegas and Henderson. I didn’t see any other way but to lineup, if I was interested in finding out what does it take to get a driver’s license in Nevada. It took me almost two hours to get to the counter. As soon as I got there, the girl sitting behind the desk asked me something in Spanish. I said, I am sorry I don’t speak the language. She said I am sorry I thought you were Mexican. I said I wish.
She asked me how she can help me. I remember asking her what does it take to get a driver’s license here in Nevada? She said the basic requirement is that you need to pass a written test before you become eligible for a driving test and if you passed the driving test, you would get a driving license. However, she continued, you must be a citizen of the United States, or you should have some kind of legal status in the country. I said I used to have driver license in Chicago in the 1960’s but currently, I have a driver’s license from Ontario, Canada. She said unfortunately, we don’t accept driver’s licenses from other countries. I am not sure if we have access to the Illinois driver’s licenses in the 1960’s to confirm the validity. However, if you are here for legitimate reason and have some kind of proof, you are eligible for a driver’s license in the state of Nevada. I said it makes sense. I asked if I could make an appointment for a written test? She said, of course, and she looked at the monitor-screen of her computer and said I do have an opening in almost three months. I said, three months? She said that’s the best I can do for you. She also said, you don’t have to worry about driving here in Nevada with your Canadian driver’s license until you get your appointment. Ignoring what she said, I asked is there any way I can get driver’s license sooner. She said perhaps you should go to the City of North Las Vegas; they may not be as busy. I thanked her and left totally frustrated.
I didn’t know what I would be able to do to overcome the difficulties associated with obtaining a driver’s license in Nevada. I asked myself if I should consider applying for the immigration. There were two significant problems with that approach – one it will take a long time to go through the process and two Lynda wasn’t interested in staying in the States forever. Even if we wanted to live in the states only for a few years, I need a Nevada driver’s license as Canadians were allowed to drive in Nevada with Canadian driver’s license only a few months. The reality was:
- In Nevada, Canadian drivers can use their Canadian driver’s license for up to 90 days in a calendar year if they are over 18 and are not establishing residency in Nevada. If they are establishing residency in Nevada, they must obtain a Nevada driver’s license within 30 days.
I thought it was critical that I must find a way of getting a driver’s license if I would like to continue to live in Las Vegas or any part of the states. I also thought going to small towns or cities may help me to minimize the waiting time for getting a driver’s license, but it will not change the requirements for getting a driver’s license in the States.
I was very upset with myself for jumping the gun and purchasing a house without giving any thoughts to the logistics of getting settled down in Las Vegas. Yet, I was so determined not to mention it to Lynda about what I was faced with. I knew how she was going to react and as a matter of fact she had every right to be absolutely distressed with me.
One day, when Lynda came home from the clubhouse, she said Bob and Jean would like to go out with us tonight for supper. I said it sounds okay, but I wasn’t too excited with the idea. Nevertheless, we went out to a nice restaurant. Bob and Jean Myers had come from Illinois. Bob was in the military, and Jean used to do secretarial work where they used to live. Jean had an aunty living in Henderson and they used to come to Vegas frequently and used to stay with her aunty. When Bob retired from military, they decided to settle down in Henderson. After living at the Mountainview for a while, Bob decided to find a part time job to keep himself busy, but Jean was totally involved with every activity at the clubhouse and they both were enjoying their lives.
Once we finished with our meal, Lynda and Jean decided to go play machines and try to win some money. While they were gone, Bob and I decided to continue to chat. Bob asked me if I am still enjoying Vegas. I said – yes, indeed and I told him that I had incorporated a company in Nevada and thinking about doing little bit consulting to keep myself busy. Bob said it sounds like a plan. I said the only difficulty is that I cannot continue to drive in Nevada unless I get the driver’s license here. Bob said what’s stopping you from getting a Nevada license. You used to drive in Chicago when you were living there, didn’t you? I said of course, I did but it doesn’t matter, I must go through the process to get a driver’s license here in Vegas. Bob said that shouldn’t be difficult, should it? I said but to go through that process, I must have a legal status here.
Bob said but I know somebody at work, he’s a consultant who is a Canadian and he works part time who also drives a nice car. Bob said he assumed that he has a Nevada driver’s license. I said it will be great help if you find out how the heck he managed to get a Nevada driver’s license. Bob said leave it with me, Mir.
