I had the good fortune to be cruising the St. Croix river on a big paddleboat yesterday afternoon. Sipping icy cool drinks and eating a nice hot lunch while basking in the afternoon sun. Sure beats my usual Tuesday in the office - and the weather could not have been better. Clear blue skies and 75 degrees...with the leaves just beginning to turn to red, yellow and brown.. A perfect fall afternoon.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
XM is dangerous for me
Having XM Satellite radio has ended up costing me more than the monthly fee.
I hear old music on Fred, or new international music on UPOP and end up on a freakin' QUEST I tell you!
A quest for music not yet released in the US or for ancient out-of-print Vinyl albums. It's nuts.
Once again, it's happened. I heard a tune from the Rave-ups (Molly Ringworm used to be a fan, so she had the band name scrawled on her notebook in 16 Candles and 2 tracks are featured in Pretty in Pink -- but not available on the sound track) yesterday afternoon and it was like getting a taste of a drug! Now I have searched all over the internet for their out-of-print 1985 album: "Town + Country" and have found it in New York for $10... on vinyl.
Now I just need to find someone who can burn a vinyl album to CD for me... (I'm sure there is a service somewhere...)
I hear old music on Fred, or new international music on UPOP and end up on a freakin' QUEST I tell you!
A quest for music not yet released in the US or for ancient out-of-print Vinyl albums. It's nuts.
Once again, it's happened. I heard a tune from the Rave-ups (Molly Ringworm used to be a fan, so she had the band name scrawled on her notebook in 16 Candles and 2 tracks are featured in Pretty in Pink -- but not available on the sound track) yesterday afternoon and it was like getting a taste of a drug! Now I have searched all over the internet for their out-of-print 1985 album: "Town + Country" and have found it in New York for $10... on vinyl.
Now I just need to find someone who can burn a vinyl album to CD for me... (I'm sure there is a service somewhere...)
1 Business Trip, 2 Lessons Learned
Ever pass by a cafe during the business day and see someone sipping a coffee or tea and nibbling at a fancy cake and feel a momentary stab of jealousy? I know I have. How rich is this person that they can sit in a cafe nicely dressed in the middle of a workday?
I learned a valuable lesson yesterday. That person you envy? They may well be very unhappy. Or actually doing work. Or both.
Yesterday I was surrounded by executives as a fill-in presenter for a work conference. I knew few people and fewer still knew me. I was very nervous and uncomfortable - and was relieved to see an old contact from a previous engagement at a client in Japan. He introduced me to a few people who were happy to talk to me, and we had a mutual interest in getting their operations in Japan better equipped. Aside from these positive interactions I was quite frankly a fish out of water. And because I knew it I tried to avoid the main area were the attendees were congregating as much as possible.
I had plenty of my REAL work to do and because the hotel had wifi I could work almost effectively as sitting at my desk. I worked in empty meeting rooms until their were none, and then to avoid being underfoot I looked for a new perch.
The wifi signal was even stronger from the 1st floor (conference on the 2nd floor) - and there was a little cafe. So, I sat in the sunny, beautiful cafe of this gorgeous old (1886) hotel and had a wonderful iced tea and a raspberry marscapone cake to nibble on.
As I sat there with my laptop, fancy suit and silk shirt and my decadent afternoon snack I reflected that to passersby I probably looked like someone having a very lovely afternoon. Then it hit me; things are often not what they appear to be.
I was miserable. Worried about my presentation, worried about who would attend and what they'd think. Worried about whether I looked right, could talk right or if the attendees would see right through me and complain. The topic is one I know - but I know it from a technical point of view and these folks are not technical or functional but operationally focused.
To add to the surreal quality of the day ... surrounded by executives and upper management* that I work beside each day but who wouldn't greet me with so much as a nod of recognition at this event something a bit odd happened at the cafe.
(*Aside: although I literally sat next to one of the management team on the plane en route to Texas he never greeted me. Because he's on the sales side of the house and I am not I suppose I can give him the benefit of a doubt that he really actually doesn't know me or my face. But if I take a job offer in the organization I've been offered he'd literally be my bosses' boss and I've worked on deals within his area in the past - so I do doubt a bit that he is completely unaware of who I am. Moreover, people who I KNOW know me by name completely walked past me as if they never saw me. My theory on this is that I am a peon, and they didn't want to schmooze with a peon.)
As I sat in the cafe attempting to calm my nerves before my big presentation and trying to get some work done (because my regular job has deadlines, and the deadlines don't wait for me to get done doing a presentation that is NOT part of my job)... a homeless (or so I'd guess) man wandered in.
He was wearing hospital pants - like scrubs but for patients, had hospital id bands on both arms and a fresh bandaged spot that I'd hazard a guess was where his IV had been on his hand. He had been catheterized, and I know this because his, um, collection bag, had overflowed. Over his shirt, pants ..down his side. And into this posh hotel cafe in the middle of a sunny afternoon he wandered in looking quite unwell. He sauntered up to the cafe bar clutching the small plastic bag I know from my past experiences volunteering in the ER was used to hold his personal possessions. This was all he had. Well, that and some loose cash which I beleive he tried to use to buy a drink at the cafe bar. I think they said something along the lines that they weren't serving and he'd need to cross the street. Still, he perched on the stool just next to my sunny cafe table and stared blankly at his surroundings for a while. I got the sense I was being watched, looked up and our eyes met briefly. I smiled in greeting, acknowledging our eye contact and then turned back to my work. In a few moments he shuffled out the door, but as he passed my table he lifted one hand in a sort of noncomittal wave goodbye.
So, while the people I was there to help - to present on behalf our mutual employer wouldn't spare a nod or a smile or a "Hello"... at least thanks to the cafe waitress and this homeless man I was sure I wasn't suffering from a form of temporary invisibility.
And, I learned something about myself. I'm not cut out to be upper management if there is something about that job that makes you learn to not "see" others. I will always acknowledge others with a nod or a smile or a "hello" -- even if I don't know them or work with them. My natural reaction when I see someone approach is to smile in greeting. If I know them, I tend to say "Hey" or "Hi" or ask how they're doing.
I am apparently not made for management.
So, two lessons learned:
1. Things are not always what they appear to be.
2. There are some aspects of how I interact with people I am unwilling to change for any amount of money. Perhaps my personality and people skills are in fact, unsuitable for a managerial position.
And, when I got to slip my jeans on for work today and sit at my computer and sip iced tea I thought to myself... now THIS is the life.
I learned a valuable lesson yesterday. That person you envy? They may well be very unhappy. Or actually doing work. Or both.
Yesterday I was surrounded by executives as a fill-in presenter for a work conference. I knew few people and fewer still knew me. I was very nervous and uncomfortable - and was relieved to see an old contact from a previous engagement at a client in Japan. He introduced me to a few people who were happy to talk to me, and we had a mutual interest in getting their operations in Japan better equipped. Aside from these positive interactions I was quite frankly a fish out of water. And because I knew it I tried to avoid the main area were the attendees were congregating as much as possible.
I had plenty of my REAL work to do and because the hotel had wifi I could work almost effectively as sitting at my desk. I worked in empty meeting rooms until their were none, and then to avoid being underfoot I looked for a new perch.
The wifi signal was even stronger from the 1st floor (conference on the 2nd floor) - and there was a little cafe. So, I sat in the sunny, beautiful cafe of this gorgeous old (1886) hotel and had a wonderful iced tea and a raspberry marscapone cake to nibble on.
As I sat there with my laptop, fancy suit and silk shirt and my decadent afternoon snack I reflected that to passersby I probably looked like someone having a very lovely afternoon. Then it hit me; things are often not what they appear to be.
I was miserable. Worried about my presentation, worried about who would attend and what they'd think. Worried about whether I looked right, could talk right or if the attendees would see right through me and complain. The topic is one I know - but I know it from a technical point of view and these folks are not technical or functional but operationally focused.
To add to the surreal quality of the day ... surrounded by executives and upper management* that I work beside each day but who wouldn't greet me with so much as a nod of recognition at this event something a bit odd happened at the cafe.
(*Aside: although I literally sat next to one of the management team on the plane en route to Texas he never greeted me. Because he's on the sales side of the house and I am not I suppose I can give him the benefit of a doubt that he really actually doesn't know me or my face. But if I take a job offer in the organization I've been offered he'd literally be my bosses' boss and I've worked on deals within his area in the past - so I do doubt a bit that he is completely unaware of who I am. Moreover, people who I KNOW know me by name completely walked past me as if they never saw me. My theory on this is that I am a peon, and they didn't want to schmooze with a peon.)
As I sat in the cafe attempting to calm my nerves before my big presentation and trying to get some work done (because my regular job has deadlines, and the deadlines don't wait for me to get done doing a presentation that is NOT part of my job)... a homeless (or so I'd guess) man wandered in.
He was wearing hospital pants - like scrubs but for patients, had hospital id bands on both arms and a fresh bandaged spot that I'd hazard a guess was where his IV had been on his hand. He had been catheterized, and I know this because his, um, collection bag, had overflowed. Over his shirt, pants ..down his side. And into this posh hotel cafe in the middle of a sunny afternoon he wandered in looking quite unwell. He sauntered up to the cafe bar clutching the small plastic bag I know from my past experiences volunteering in the ER was used to hold his personal possessions. This was all he had. Well, that and some loose cash which I beleive he tried to use to buy a drink at the cafe bar. I think they said something along the lines that they weren't serving and he'd need to cross the street. Still, he perched on the stool just next to my sunny cafe table and stared blankly at his surroundings for a while. I got the sense I was being watched, looked up and our eyes met briefly. I smiled in greeting, acknowledging our eye contact and then turned back to my work. In a few moments he shuffled out the door, but as he passed my table he lifted one hand in a sort of noncomittal wave goodbye.
So, while the people I was there to help - to present on behalf our mutual employer wouldn't spare a nod or a smile or a "Hello"... at least thanks to the cafe waitress and this homeless man I was sure I wasn't suffering from a form of temporary invisibility.
And, I learned something about myself. I'm not cut out to be upper management if there is something about that job that makes you learn to not "see" others. I will always acknowledge others with a nod or a smile or a "hello" -- even if I don't know them or work with them. My natural reaction when I see someone approach is to smile in greeting. If I know them, I tend to say "Hey" or "Hi" or ask how they're doing.
I am apparently not made for management.
So, two lessons learned:
1. Things are not always what they appear to be.
2. There are some aspects of how I interact with people I am unwilling to change for any amount of money. Perhaps my personality and people skills are in fact, unsuitable for a managerial position.
And, when I got to slip my jeans on for work today and sit at my computer and sip iced tea I thought to myself... now THIS is the life.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
I am so not balancing home and work
After emailing back and forth a bit my (prospective future boss and) colleague calls long distance to my mobile number from Australia.
Just after I pick up the call (my first mistake), the younger bites the older one's hand (she had a toy he wanted) and they both start screaming. They are wet, want to be held (both of them) and are screaming blood curdling cries in the bath. I am mid-sentence trying to explain a technical concept. I don't think, until this point, this gentlemen even knew I had children. This was a harsh introduction to that bit of information.
I don't think I could have handled that professional call with more (lack of) grace under pressure unless I'd managed to drop the cell phone in the toilet on top of it all. Small mercies, the phone is still dry, and now so are the children - and they're quietly sleeping at last.
Just after I pick up the call (my first mistake), the younger bites the older one's hand (she had a toy he wanted) and they both start screaming. They are wet, want to be held (both of them) and are screaming blood curdling cries in the bath. I am mid-sentence trying to explain a technical concept. I don't think, until this point, this gentlemen even knew I had children. This was a harsh introduction to that bit of information.
I don't think I could have handled that professional call with more (lack of) grace under pressure unless I'd managed to drop the cell phone in the toilet on top of it all. Small mercies, the phone is still dry, and now so are the children - and they're quietly sleeping at last.
First Day of "School" Mr. Man
His first day at his new "school" - it's cute as all get out, and he loves his Thomas the Train "pack pack" ...but he is definitely wanting to be with mommy and daddy. Hopefully he'll get settled in this week..
First Day in Kindergarten
She made it through with a little help from her big sister. Apparently she was a bit tearful at some of the transition points - but she reports that her new teacher has "magic hugs" and is "the best teacher ever!!".
First Day in the 4th Grade
Cutie patootie. What you can't see in this picture are the leggings that go with this outfit. Leggings under dresses are all the rage in the 4th Grade Fashion World this year apparently... and so Em is looking very cool.
Feeling Unbalanced
After working 60+ hour weeks for most of July and August I knew I needed a break. I meant for this week to be all about "getting balance" in my life. Eating healthy meals, exercising, quilting - whatever would replenish me and make me ready to go full power through the fall.
However, what I didn't know is that by planning to take some "me" time I would actually feel more guilty than rested. In my search for balance - all I feel is like I am doing everything all wrong. Or maybe I should say that I'm feeling like I do everything half-assed.
I think there must be something wrong with me that I cannot take a day off and not check email. That I make lists, lots of lists, and follow them each day - on vacation! That I feel as if I am playing "hooky" by not being at work, and feeling "lost" without my daily work routine.
The kids are at their first week of school and the youngest is starting at his new day care, I know I need to have them go to their respective places each day and get with the new fall routine. But, because I'm home during the day and not with my kids - I feel like a "bad" mommy.
Because I can't just "turn off" my work brain and keep checking email - I feel like I'm doing a half-ass job at "vacationing" too.
Still, after doing too much errand running and not enough of the things I'd PLANNED to do on my vacation yesterday - I think today I did better.
Today I took a Fitness Yoga class, got new books (woo hoo!) by some of my favorite authors, had a Pedicure and took a 6 mile bike ride. I also managed to throw in a bunch of errands and a few emails (because apparently I can't not check work emails).
Tomorrow I hope to do another Yoga class, pick up Jeff from the airport and maybe meet with my mentor for coffee. Then my buddy Holly comes for a visit and I think Friday I will really manage to put the "Out of Office" message on my computer email for that day. That day I will REALLY vacation. Or.. at least that's my goal.
And maybe then I will feel "balanced" ...just in time for vacation to be over.
However, what I didn't know is that by planning to take some "me" time I would actually feel more guilty than rested. In my search for balance - all I feel is like I am doing everything all wrong. Or maybe I should say that I'm feeling like I do everything half-assed.
I think there must be something wrong with me that I cannot take a day off and not check email. That I make lists, lots of lists, and follow them each day - on vacation! That I feel as if I am playing "hooky" by not being at work, and feeling "lost" without my daily work routine.
The kids are at their first week of school and the youngest is starting at his new day care, I know I need to have them go to their respective places each day and get with the new fall routine. But, because I'm home during the day and not with my kids - I feel like a "bad" mommy.
Because I can't just "turn off" my work brain and keep checking email - I feel like I'm doing a half-ass job at "vacationing" too.
Still, after doing too much errand running and not enough of the things I'd PLANNED to do on my vacation yesterday - I think today I did better.
Today I took a Fitness Yoga class, got new books (woo hoo!) by some of my favorite authors, had a Pedicure and took a 6 mile bike ride. I also managed to throw in a bunch of errands and a few emails (because apparently I can't not check work emails).
Tomorrow I hope to do another Yoga class, pick up Jeff from the airport and maybe meet with my mentor for coffee. Then my buddy Holly comes for a visit and I think Friday I will really manage to put the "Out of Office" message on my computer email for that day. That day I will REALLY vacation. Or.. at least that's my goal.
And maybe then I will feel "balanced" ...just in time for vacation to be over.
Friday, September 01, 2006
A Letter Would Be Better
Where we live in the Twin Cities, for some reason they have a very unique system for how you find out who will be teaching your child each year. They post teacher assignments on the glass windows of the entry doors and have an Open House. No letter home with an annual class supply list and a "Welcome to 1st grade and Mrs. Blah Blah's class".. You have to find the supply list online, and come to the Open House to figure out who your teacher is.
This whole system.. I think it's impersonal and at best.. and most years feels like barely controlled chaos.
You wade through the sea of people to wait your turn to make it near the glass to look your kid's name up on the list, walk in the doors and surf the human tide on your way to the classroom to meet the teacher for the first time. You and.. about 3000 other people all at once.
See, it's the largest elementary school in the US (or so I've been told) with 1,370 students K - 5. So, imagine, 1370 kids, with their 2+ parents (step parents, siblings) all cramming into the building in a brief 2 hour window to find out who their teacher for the year is and picking up vital paperwork to be filled out, etc.
We've been doing this now for a few years..as this year we have a Kindergartner & a 4th grader. We've learned a few tips that other parents could use:
1. Get there EARLY. There will be no parking, legal or not, by the advertised start time.
2. Did I mention you should get there early? Because it starts at 4pm, that actually means "Thou shalt be parked by no later than 3:45pm, or else". Really. I always take this afternoon off early and make sure to get there well before 4. It's always almost full when I pull into the lot at 3:45. Also, even when I've arrived earlier than 4pm - the doors are always open and other people have already gone on in.. So, it actually starts earlier than they say.
3. After meeting the teacher (don't hog! A brief introduction will do, then move along please!) you MUST go into the gym and sign up for Fall parent-teacher conferences. Don't know what your schedule looks like in November yet? Well, woe unto you.
4. There are cookies in the cafeteria, and activities in the art rooms. Prepare the kids in advance that you will not be partaking - because it's not worth fighting the crowds. We promise other fun activities for afterwards (swimming at the Y, shopping for the older one) instead.
5. Because the Open House falls EXACTLY at the dinner hour any McDonalds or Subway within a 5 minute drive of the school will also be CHAOS. Avoid those at all costs. Drive the 10 minutes in any other direction to find a McDonalds in a different school district.
This post was inspired by reading Mary's post on her son's first grade letter from the teacher:
http://www.circuslunch.com/archives/2006/08/
How I wish they would just send a nice, simple, personal letter by mail to welcome each child.
This whole system.. I think it's impersonal and at best.. and most years feels like barely controlled chaos.
You wade through the sea of people to wait your turn to make it near the glass to look your kid's name up on the list, walk in the doors and surf the human tide on your way to the classroom to meet the teacher for the first time. You and.. about 3000 other people all at once.
See, it's the largest elementary school in the US (or so I've been told) with 1,370 students K - 5. So, imagine, 1370 kids, with their 2+ parents (step parents, siblings) all cramming into the building in a brief 2 hour window to find out who their teacher for the year is and picking up vital paperwork to be filled out, etc.
We've been doing this now for a few years..as this year we have a Kindergartner & a 4th grader. We've learned a few tips that other parents could use:
1. Get there EARLY. There will be no parking, legal or not, by the advertised start time.
2. Did I mention you should get there early? Because it starts at 4pm, that actually means "Thou shalt be parked by no later than 3:45pm, or else". Really. I always take this afternoon off early and make sure to get there well before 4. It's always almost full when I pull into the lot at 3:45. Also, even when I've arrived earlier than 4pm - the doors are always open and other people have already gone on in.. So, it actually starts earlier than they say.
3. After meeting the teacher (don't hog! A brief introduction will do, then move along please!) you MUST go into the gym and sign up for Fall parent-teacher conferences. Don't know what your schedule looks like in November yet? Well, woe unto you.
4. There are cookies in the cafeteria, and activities in the art rooms. Prepare the kids in advance that you will not be partaking - because it's not worth fighting the crowds. We promise other fun activities for afterwards (swimming at the Y, shopping for the older one) instead.
5. Because the Open House falls EXACTLY at the dinner hour any McDonalds or Subway within a 5 minute drive of the school will also be CHAOS. Avoid those at all costs. Drive the 10 minutes in any other direction to find a McDonalds in a different school district.
This post was inspired by reading Mary's post on her son's first grade letter from the teacher:
http://www.circuslunch.com/archives/2006/08/
How I wish they would just send a nice, simple, personal letter by mail to welcome each child.
A short list of goals for my week off:
1. At least 2 exercise sessions, one of which shall be BodyFlow and/or FitnessYoga.
2. Go see "Little Miss Sunshine"
3. Finish Penny's quilt
4. Begin cutting pieces for new quilt
5. Lunch with Angie
6. Visit with Holly
7. No more than one day at work instead of home on vacation (though, I can't help but check email..)
8. Eating healthier meals, and lots of cooking/baking at home.
9. Perhaps the bi-annual tradition of hauling my other season's clothes out of the crawl space.. if I get to that..
2. Go see "Little Miss Sunshine"
3. Finish Penny's quilt
4. Begin cutting pieces for new quilt
5. Lunch with Angie
6. Visit with Holly
7. No more than one day at work instead of home on vacation (though, I can't help but check email..)
8. Eating healthier meals, and lots of cooking/baking at home.
9. Perhaps the bi-annual tradition of hauling my other season's clothes out of the crawl space.. if I get to that..
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