It's hard to believe that I was just typing to you about a call to set up the get out the vote stuff for this campaign in Georgia... only that I wasn't just typing to you. It was five days ago.
Since then, it's been nuts. Wednesday was a complete and utter whirl wind of half upacking/ packing/ laundry/ and starting the set up. I was on the phone with hotels in Atlanta all day, trying to find a room, setting it up with phones and Internet and writing boards. Not to mention sleeping rooms for several people, and credit card authorizations, and the whole thing took so much time, I didn't even get to the grocery store for my poor, starving husband. He's been eating out since we left for Vegas over a week ago.
First flight of the morning on Thursday, and I went right to continue the room set up. I started to get ready for the workers, including calling several to show up on Friday. What were they going to do on Friday? I had no idea. Not my problem. My problem was the execution of the room, and the execution of the campaign strategy for getting out the vote.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
It has been nothing but my problem on what to do with the workers, where to send them, and what they should do.
I need to write this in a way so that it doesn't come across as complaining, which I'm not intending to do. I knew wholeheartedly that this was going to be stressful and involve 15 hours of work a day. I was a bit unprepared to be a part of positioning the workers or getting them around or deciding where they were most needed. Not only am I unfamiliar with the campaign research of what areas of Atlanta needed more awareness, even if I DID know that research, I'd have no idea where those places were or how to get people to them.
But, I've taken that challenge by the horns, I think. I admit to several swearing-like-a-sailor moments yesterday, but when I left this afternoon to fly home for 24 hours, I had workers out and about today and tomorrow, and had even "deputized" one of them (with the promise of double pay) to keep track of everyone and sign their time sheets. I also have a plan at least for the first 3 hours of work on Monday, all written out and posted in the meeting room.
(Such famous last words. You know by the time I land, a million things will have gone wrong.)
The most rewarding and the most stressful parts of this have been the workers themselves. The campaign found them because that rally that I helped with on Tuesday? ... it was right next door to a job fair. A higher up in the campaign walked over, and announced that they could come over and sign up with us to be paid canvassers for several days.
So on Thursday, I called several of them and they came in and worked all day Friday. (That's not all I did on Thursday. I also had to create time sheets, print out w-9's, create an insurance waiver, and then create a system to get all the information, keep it together for everyone, track their hours and their payment. That was actually all kinda fun, because I'm sick like that.)
This group needs the work. Many had to borrow subway or bus fair to get downtown. Most couldn't afford to buy themselves lunch (I'm working on that for Monday, trying to get the campaign to pay for lunch). They all wanted to work the maximum hours possible.
I had fun with them, but it also hurt my heart. I had to feel good that we were at least providing this opportunity for the weekend. But at the same time, you couldn't help compare and contrast with them. I was getting paid by the hour to be there also. I was just getting paid a lot more.
I may have been accused once or twice of being too soft with them -- signing up their friends for Saturday work, and agreeing to let them quit at 6:30, even though we had already cut checks that assumed they worked until 7, because the check-cashing place closed at 7, and most of them needed that money to get home and get dinner.
It was also heart warming at times, though. My deputy? I narrowed in on him fairly early, actually during my call with him to set up his working. I remembered him from Tuesday's rally. Some, like him, did what most of us would do when we want to get a job or impress people. He didn't just come over and sign up for canvassing and leave. He came over, signed up, sat down during the rally prep, offered to carry a sign, and stayed afterwards. Just lingering, but eager and polite.
Did I mention he was a 6 foot 4, 300 pound, 57 year old black man? I wanted him on my side and by my side.
So I told him that. Told him to come early, listen to the instructions, and keep everyone organized and in order. Told him I wanted him by my side while I was cutting checks.
He did that, even though the security part of it wasn't needed with this group. But he also organized rides among them all to get to today's canvassing location. He offered to take yard signs and drive up and down one of the highways and put them out. And he never left my side, but once. Once to offer to go outside (I had kept him inside with me as my body guard but also as a reward to gain his trust and loyalty for all I wanted him to do for me today) and switch places with one of the women who was getting worn out.
They were just, good people.
I fully anticipate I'm over paying them this weekend, since I'm flying back to DC right now and don't have any way of checking that they are actually going to put the fliers on windshields at the churches they signed up for tomorrow, but I don't really care. (Maybe I shouldn't write that publicly, since it's not my money that I committed.)
But when I left them this morning at a shopping center, with signs, and palm cards and buttons, I just, had a good feeling about it.
And now I'm just hesitant to his "publish post," since as soon as I do, I know this feeling of being in control of things will quickly go away as the next crisis arises...
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Midnight ramble
Talk about a whirlwind few days.
I’m back. Sorry for that pouty rant this morning (and by this morning, I mean Tuesday morning... I’m fully aware this may not actually get posted until sometime on Wednesday).
Where did I leave off telling you about Vegas? Did I mention I love Vegas? I love the glitz and over the top-ness of it. I love how it’s expected -- without special request or expectation or clearance or pleading or deal-making -- that I will eat at a restaurant where something tight, and something requiring 3-inch heels, will be worn.
And, friends, if you haven’t seen that side of me, you really must come to Vegas with me sometime.
Did I mention the Mandarin Oriental? And more than the MO, the house elves at the MO? They rival Hogwarts. Unreal. They come in and out of your room without you knowing, sometimes when you’ve only been gone for minutes. You leave out shoes, they appear back 45 minutes later all shined up. You push buttons, and all sorts of lights and curtains and waterfall music appear (or disappear) out of nowhere. You dirty a towel, I swear, they come in while you aren’t even looking and replace it. It was amazing.
It makes me a bit nervous that I was too pampered for my trip in three weeks.
What? You didn’t know I was going back in three weeks? Hey, this addict got her fix and needs mmmmmmoooooooorrrrre, baby.
Actually, it’s Vi’s (hi, Vi!) bachelorette party. Combined bachelor- bachelorette party to be exact. That’ll be whole new side of Vegas for me, what with the Thunder From Down Under and all.
So, I flew from Vegas to Atlanta. (I apologize if I’m repeating myself here.) I helped organize a campaign rally today (Tuesday). Landed exhausted from the weekend and flying cross-country on Monday night, only to be hit with several un-planned for loose ends on the rally. Good to feel needed and good to be able to do what was asked of me. But not eating dinner until 9:30 p.m. and going to bed after 11 p.m. aren’t really how I roll -- especially after having woken up at 4 a.m. for my flight.
The rally went off without a hitch, thanks in no small part to my cohort in crime and beautiful friend, Kristi (love to be back working with her!).
But the most interesting part of the day (ok, the most interesting part that I’m willing to publish on the Internet) was being called and asked to come back Thursday. As in, tomorrow. Organize canvassers. NOT a glamorous job at all. Possibly not even a fun job. But a huge learning experience job. A learning campaigns from the ground-up kind of job. A we’ll pay you a nice daily fee and fly you back for your Halloween party on Saturday night then back down on Sunday job (Kristin, you don’t think I’d miss it, do you?!?!).
So, kinda cool. I fully expect to complain (probably in person, not here) about my days. But I also fully expect some really fun stories, some great new experiences, some client good will, and another deposit slip.
I land tonight (Tuesday) at DCA at midnight. I’m booked on the first flight back to Atlanta on Thursday morning. So if you’ll excuse me, I’s gots some packing to do.
*****
P.S. Actually landed at 1:30 a.m. And shared a cab with a guy having phone sex with his girlfriend. That wasn't fun. But maybe I'll post about that on the flight to Atlanta tomorrow.
I’m back. Sorry for that pouty rant this morning (and by this morning, I mean Tuesday morning... I’m fully aware this may not actually get posted until sometime on Wednesday).
Where did I leave off telling you about Vegas? Did I mention I love Vegas? I love the glitz and over the top-ness of it. I love how it’s expected -- without special request or expectation or clearance or pleading or deal-making -- that I will eat at a restaurant where something tight, and something requiring 3-inch heels, will be worn.
And, friends, if you haven’t seen that side of me, you really must come to Vegas with me sometime.
Did I mention the Mandarin Oriental? And more than the MO, the house elves at the MO? They rival Hogwarts. Unreal. They come in and out of your room without you knowing, sometimes when you’ve only been gone for minutes. You leave out shoes, they appear back 45 minutes later all shined up. You push buttons, and all sorts of lights and curtains and waterfall music appear (or disappear) out of nowhere. You dirty a towel, I swear, they come in while you aren’t even looking and replace it. It was amazing.
It makes me a bit nervous that I was too pampered for my trip in three weeks.
What? You didn’t know I was going back in three weeks? Hey, this addict got her fix and needs mmmmmmoooooooorrrrre, baby.
Actually, it’s Vi’s (hi, Vi!) bachelorette party. Combined bachelor- bachelorette party to be exact. That’ll be whole new side of Vegas for me, what with the Thunder From Down Under and all.
So, I flew from Vegas to Atlanta. (I apologize if I’m repeating myself here.) I helped organize a campaign rally today (Tuesday). Landed exhausted from the weekend and flying cross-country on Monday night, only to be hit with several un-planned for loose ends on the rally. Good to feel needed and good to be able to do what was asked of me. But not eating dinner until 9:30 p.m. and going to bed after 11 p.m. aren’t really how I roll -- especially after having woken up at 4 a.m. for my flight.
The rally went off without a hitch, thanks in no small part to my cohort in crime and beautiful friend, Kristi (love to be back working with her!).
But the most interesting part of the day (ok, the most interesting part that I’m willing to publish on the Internet) was being called and asked to come back Thursday. As in, tomorrow. Organize canvassers. NOT a glamorous job at all. Possibly not even a fun job. But a huge learning experience job. A learning campaigns from the ground-up kind of job. A we’ll pay you a nice daily fee and fly you back for your Halloween party on Saturday night then back down on Sunday job (Kristin, you don’t think I’d miss it, do you?!?!).
So, kinda cool. I fully expect to complain (probably in person, not here) about my days. But I also fully expect some really fun stories, some great new experiences, some client good will, and another deposit slip.
I land tonight (Tuesday) at DCA at midnight. I’m booked on the first flight back to Atlanta on Thursday morning. So if you’ll excuse me, I’s gots some packing to do.
*****
P.S. Actually landed at 1:30 a.m. And shared a cab with a guy having phone sex with his girlfriend. That wasn't fun. But maybe I'll post about that on the flight to Atlanta tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
My next small business idea
Forget this communications stuff. I have discovered a second, serious need that America has, and I think it will be my next small business.
The first serious need? A coffee shop in Vail that opens before 8 a.m.
The second? A breakfast place that serves something other than pastries in Atlanta open before 6:30 a.m.
Seriously, people. A huge business hotel, complete with a conference center, and the restaurant doesn't open until 6:30 a.m.? Don't you think that's a bit late?
So to reward me for my "$19 + all the service charges, etc., for eggs through room service? That's a bit extravagant. I can't charge my client for that." thought last night, I am sitting at the coffee shop in the hotel lobby, with nothing but some fruit slices in my stomach, looking forward to a really long day on my feet.
Yes, I'm cranky! Just be glad I'm typing it here instead of sitting next to you giving you a piece of my mind.
Left Vegas yesterday morning and flew here to Atlanta for a campaign rally -- that's the big project I've been working on the past two weeks. I'm a bit anxious for it, I won't lie. Also a bit sleepy. And a bit "I really wish I was still back at the Mandarin Oriental, where those house elves would have surely found me breakfast by now."
Ok, ok, I would have been lucky to pay only $19 for some eggs there, but they would have been the most delicious, most luxurious eggs I've ever eaten.
Vegas was awesome, as it generally is. Seemed awfully crowded this trip, which is why I enjoyed where we stayed. The Mandarin was specifically built not to have pass-through traffic other than guests. It doesn't have a casino, and you need to be on a mission to get there in order to get inside -- a flight of stairs down off street level is the entrance, then you take two different elevators to get to guest floors.
But that meant it was blissfully quiet and a true escape.
I'd like to snuggle back into those bazillion count sheets right now, as a matter of fact.
More on Vegas later, I promise!
The first serious need? A coffee shop in Vail that opens before 8 a.m.
The second? A breakfast place that serves something other than pastries in Atlanta open before 6:30 a.m.
Seriously, people. A huge business hotel, complete with a conference center, and the restaurant doesn't open until 6:30 a.m.? Don't you think that's a bit late?
So to reward me for my "$19 + all the service charges, etc., for eggs through room service? That's a bit extravagant. I can't charge my client for that." thought last night, I am sitting at the coffee shop in the hotel lobby, with nothing but some fruit slices in my stomach, looking forward to a really long day on my feet.
Yes, I'm cranky! Just be glad I'm typing it here instead of sitting next to you giving you a piece of my mind.
Left Vegas yesterday morning and flew here to Atlanta for a campaign rally -- that's the big project I've been working on the past two weeks. I'm a bit anxious for it, I won't lie. Also a bit sleepy. And a bit "I really wish I was still back at the Mandarin Oriental, where those house elves would have surely found me breakfast by now."
Ok, ok, I would have been lucky to pay only $19 for some eggs there, but they would have been the most delicious, most luxurious eggs I've ever eaten.
Vegas was awesome, as it generally is. Seemed awfully crowded this trip, which is why I enjoyed where we stayed. The Mandarin was specifically built not to have pass-through traffic other than guests. It doesn't have a casino, and you need to be on a mission to get there in order to get inside -- a flight of stairs down off street level is the entrance, then you take two different elevators to get to guest floors.
But that meant it was blissfully quiet and a true escape.
I'd like to snuggle back into those bazillion count sheets right now, as a matter of fact.
More on Vegas later, I promise!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Randomness
This blog post shall be one of those random posts. You know, where I have stuff to say, but not really enough to compose an entire story, with a beginning, middle, and end, some crisis or celebration or even silliness. And since I'm on a plane right now teetering between excitement and the internal debate of whether to wake the guy next to me so I can go pee, I don't think I could concentrate on a full blown post anyway.
1. Yes, I am on a PLANE! It has been MONTHS since I have been on a plane! Seriously. August 28th. That almost TWO FULL MONTHS not on a plane. I was having palpitations. I know I am one of the very, very few people who like planes. But it's not the planes per say that I like. It's that they take you somewhere. It doesn't have to be somewhere you expect to be awesome, like a vacation destination. Even if it's some tiny town USA, it's different, it's unique, it's full of possibilities and fun and new experiences, and I just love it.
2. Goldie is showing no signs of being affected by Tuesday night's attack, yet I do. I admit, I'm freaked. Still. Let's not ever have that happen again, ok?
3. On said plane, with Wifi (see!! planes are awesome!!), I am catching up on the 800 stories accumulated in my Google Reader. I am supposed to be working for myself now, setting my own rules and my own hours. So why does it feel like I don't have any time to myself?
4. It has been a really stressful week at the client site and on the project I'm working on. Nothing terrible, just lots of close-to-election-day stress that's permeating. And, I admit, while I'm there, clocking hours, I don't exactly feel good about browsing through Facebook and Twitter to stay connected.
5. On that whole self-employed thing, more big "business" milestones, like opening up a business bank account, getting checks with the business name, and submitting more invoices. So, why haven't I actually deposited anything into said business bank account yet?
6. Halloween. Are you dressing up?
7. I think the two men in the seats in front of me are falling in love with each other. Seriously, I don't think they knew each other before the plane and they have been talking nonstop.
And with that exciting post, the 30 minute warning! Whoo hoo!!!!!!!!
1. Yes, I am on a PLANE! It has been MONTHS since I have been on a plane! Seriously. August 28th. That almost TWO FULL MONTHS not on a plane. I was having palpitations. I know I am one of the very, very few people who like planes. But it's not the planes per say that I like. It's that they take you somewhere. It doesn't have to be somewhere you expect to be awesome, like a vacation destination. Even if it's some tiny town USA, it's different, it's unique, it's full of possibilities and fun and new experiences, and I just love it.
2. Goldie is showing no signs of being affected by Tuesday night's attack, yet I do. I admit, I'm freaked. Still. Let's not ever have that happen again, ok?
3. On said plane, with Wifi (see!! planes are awesome!!), I am catching up on the 800 stories accumulated in my Google Reader. I am supposed to be working for myself now, setting my own rules and my own hours. So why does it feel like I don't have any time to myself?
4. It has been a really stressful week at the client site and on the project I'm working on. Nothing terrible, just lots of close-to-election-day stress that's permeating. And, I admit, while I'm there, clocking hours, I don't exactly feel good about browsing through Facebook and Twitter to stay connected.
5. On that whole self-employed thing, more big "business" milestones, like opening up a business bank account, getting checks with the business name, and submitting more invoices. So, why haven't I actually deposited anything into said business bank account yet?
6. Halloween. Are you dressing up?
7. I think the two men in the seats in front of me are falling in love with each other. Seriously, I don't think they knew each other before the plane and they have been talking nonstop.
And with that exciting post, the 30 minute warning! Whoo hoo!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Bad dog
Goldie gets extra treats tonight. And I get extra wine.
I had a different post in mind to write tonight, and was still determined to write flippantly about DC parking enforcement even after having a long and stressful day work-wise. I got home after my hour and 20 minute commute, leashed up Goldie, started my audio book, and that's when the bad day got worse.
Goldie was attacked while we were walking.
She's fine.
I'm not.
I haven't stopped shaking from it, even through I am so grateful that it looked worse than it was.
A dog came tearing out of a yard as we were walking. The owner said after it all happened that he opened the front door to let in a visitor, and the dog ran out. The dog actually ran up close to us but ran past, turned around, and charged. I'm not even sure Goldie knew what was going on before the dog was just on top of her.
She was yelping and I was screaming and screaming and screaming. I'm embarrassed thinking back on it at how just helpless I was.
It was probably only 7 or 8 seconds before the owner got out and got his hands around the dog and lifted it up and off Goldie.
Ultimately, it just pulled out a few tufts of Goldie's hair, and didn't break skin. It looks a bit raw, but there's no puncture at all.
We're home now, and Goldie's decided to call it a night. I think after this glass of wine, I'll do just the same. Flippancy can return tomorrow.
I had a different post in mind to write tonight, and was still determined to write flippantly about DC parking enforcement even after having a long and stressful day work-wise. I got home after my hour and 20 minute commute, leashed up Goldie, started my audio book, and that's when the bad day got worse.
Goldie was attacked while we were walking.
She's fine.
I'm not.
I haven't stopped shaking from it, even through I am so grateful that it looked worse than it was.
A dog came tearing out of a yard as we were walking. The owner said after it all happened that he opened the front door to let in a visitor, and the dog ran out. The dog actually ran up close to us but ran past, turned around, and charged. I'm not even sure Goldie knew what was going on before the dog was just on top of her.
She was yelping and I was screaming and screaming and screaming. I'm embarrassed thinking back on it at how just helpless I was.
It was probably only 7 or 8 seconds before the owner got out and got his hands around the dog and lifted it up and off Goldie.
Ultimately, it just pulled out a few tufts of Goldie's hair, and didn't break skin. It looks a bit raw, but there's no puncture at all.
We're home now, and Goldie's decided to call it a night. I think after this glass of wine, I'll do just the same. Flippancy can return tomorrow.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A Tease
Eeek!
So it's, what, the second week I've been writing up here again (third?) and I've already let four days go without a post. Where does the time go?!?!
I have a post partially written about a parking ticket from last week, and I need to tell you about Mike's quarter-marathon yesterday (and riding around Baltimore with an awful map on my bike, trying to find the race route to cheer on Mike, Mel and Danny), Bobby opening up a bottle of Insignia in celebration of Mike losing weight (jealous?), Goldie's sleep over at Bobby and Kristy's with their two dogs, and my complete and utter obsession with anything Chilean-mine related.
Tomorrow, I promise.
Side note shout out to Aunt Rita!!! She's home from the hospital (oops, add that to the list of things to tell you about), doing great, and sayin' she ain't afraid of no stinkin' blood clot!
So it's, what, the second week I've been writing up here again (third?) and I've already let four days go without a post. Where does the time go?!?!
I have a post partially written about a parking ticket from last week, and I need to tell you about Mike's quarter-marathon yesterday (and riding around Baltimore with an awful map on my bike, trying to find the race route to cheer on Mike, Mel and Danny), Bobby opening up a bottle of Insignia in celebration of Mike losing weight (jealous?), Goldie's sleep over at Bobby and Kristy's with their two dogs, and my complete and utter obsession with anything Chilean-mine related.
Tomorrow, I promise.
Side note shout out to Aunt Rita!!! She's home from the hospital (oops, add that to the list of things to tell you about), doing great, and sayin' she ain't afraid of no stinkin' blood clot!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Purse. And the Stupid Thing I Did.
I have this purse. And it's beautiful. No, that doesn't do it justice.
It's exquisite.
It's the result of one very, very, very successful night of craps at the Wynn casino in Las Vegas.
It started as a kind of joke. A ploy, really, to get me to gamble instead of insisting we go find drinks or walk around or anything else but gamble. One of those, "Ok, Maureen, here's $100. I have $100. We'll play craps. You can take whatever money you walk away from the table with, plus half of what I walk away from the table with, and buy whatever you want."
The "whatever you want" part kind of already being pre-established because I had seen this purse while walking around Caesar Forum Shops that afternoon and am pretty sure I hadn't yet stopped talking about it, even though this was probably 10 at night.
So we began playing. And played. And played. And rolled. And rolled, and kept on rolling. It was one of those movie scenes where people starting coming over to the table to get in on the action themselves.
When we finally crapped out (and this is where Mike can probably leave much more information in the comments section about every single die rolled, but you all know I wasn't really paying that much attention. I was dreaming of a certain handbag) we had done... well.
We didn't go right back to the Caesar Shops, although I'm pretty certain we could have (sometimes I think they might be open 24 hours... at the very least, they are definitely open when the wine has been flowing and the gambling being done). I slept on it, and even admit to having second thoughts. But promptly brushed those aside once I saw the bag again.
Mike makes fun of it because it's a bag that comes with it's own bag. When I travel with it, there's no way it goes on the floor under my seat. It first goes in its bag-bag, then it can go on the floor.
One of the beautiful things about the bag is that it has rosettes sewn along the side, at the top. (It's also a deep violet patent leather, and the rosettes are the same patent leather and violet suede, alternating.)
Over time, one of the rosettes starting drooping.
Drooped so far, in fact, that I thought I was in danger of accidentally bumping it and knocking it off.
So I decided to take matters into my own hands. There seemed to be enough space where I could gently pull the rosette down, put super glue on the back of it, and secure it back on to the patent leather.
Yes. Yes, I know. I have typed the words ... "result of one very, very, very successful night of craps," "exquisite," "it's a bag that comes with it's own bag," and ... "superglue" all in the same post.
Take me out now and shoot me.
Of course it didn't go well. Did you know that super glue on violet patent leather doesn't show clear, but rather white? Did you know that glue has a tendency to spread? Did you know that super glue doesn't really work on patent leather?
Can you imagine how many tears were shed when I came to my senses?
After much fretting and gnashing of teeth (and tears), I found a shoe and leather repair shop in Alexandria (Alexandria Shoe Repair & Leather Service on N Fayette in Old Town to be exact). I dropped it off on a Monday morning, and to make what's already been a really long story shorter, I thought I was about to get ripped off (the guy asked what brand of purse it was AND he took a hold of my left hand and told me that was quite a diamond I had on there), but he ended up charging me just $10.
I admit, I was nervous.
It took a few days longer than expected, but low and behold... perfection. They ended up having to take the inside lining of the purse off, remove the rosette from the inside, clean the entire thing, and then reattach. Unreal.
Can't even tell, can you?
It's exquisite.
It's the result of one very, very, very successful night of craps at the Wynn casino in Las Vegas.
It started as a kind of joke. A ploy, really, to get me to gamble instead of insisting we go find drinks or walk around or anything else but gamble. One of those, "Ok, Maureen, here's $100. I have $100. We'll play craps. You can take whatever money you walk away from the table with, plus half of what I walk away from the table with, and buy whatever you want."
The "whatever you want" part kind of already being pre-established because I had seen this purse while walking around Caesar Forum Shops that afternoon and am pretty sure I hadn't yet stopped talking about it, even though this was probably 10 at night.
So we began playing. And played. And played. And rolled. And rolled, and kept on rolling. It was one of those movie scenes where people starting coming over to the table to get in on the action themselves.
When we finally crapped out (and this is where Mike can probably leave much more information in the comments section about every single die rolled, but you all know I wasn't really paying that much attention. I was dreaming of a certain handbag) we had done... well.
We didn't go right back to the Caesar Shops, although I'm pretty certain we could have (sometimes I think they might be open 24 hours... at the very least, they are definitely open when the wine has been flowing and the gambling being done). I slept on it, and even admit to having second thoughts. But promptly brushed those aside once I saw the bag again.
Mike makes fun of it because it's a bag that comes with it's own bag. When I travel with it, there's no way it goes on the floor under my seat. It first goes in its bag-bag, then it can go on the floor.
One of the beautiful things about the bag is that it has rosettes sewn along the side, at the top. (It's also a deep violet patent leather, and the rosettes are the same patent leather and violet suede, alternating.)
Over time, one of the rosettes starting drooping.
Drooped so far, in fact, that I thought I was in danger of accidentally bumping it and knocking it off.
So I decided to take matters into my own hands. There seemed to be enough space where I could gently pull the rosette down, put super glue on the back of it, and secure it back on to the patent leather.
Yes. Yes, I know. I have typed the words ... "result of one very, very, very successful night of craps," "exquisite," "it's a bag that comes with it's own bag," and ... "superglue" all in the same post.
Take me out now and shoot me.
Of course it didn't go well. Did you know that super glue on violet patent leather doesn't show clear, but rather white? Did you know that glue has a tendency to spread? Did you know that super glue doesn't really work on patent leather?
Can you imagine how many tears were shed when I came to my senses?
After much fretting and gnashing of teeth (and tears), I found a shoe and leather repair shop in Alexandria (Alexandria Shoe Repair & Leather Service on N Fayette in Old Town to be exact). I dropped it off on a Monday morning, and to make what's already been a really long story shorter, I thought I was about to get ripped off (the guy asked what brand of purse it was AND he took a hold of my left hand and told me that was quite a diamond I had on there), but he ended up charging me just $10.
I admit, I was nervous.
It took a few days longer than expected, but low and behold... perfection. They ended up having to take the inside lining of the purse off, remove the rosette from the inside, clean the entire thing, and then reattach. Unreal.
Can't even tell, can you?
Monday, October 11, 2010
Introducing: Contagious Communications
Go ahead, check it out.
It's about 75% where I want it to be. I wrote last week about frustrations with the iWeb program I was using. It's an Apple product and so the site looked perfect on my MacBook. Then I saw the site on a PC and was horrified. I did some research and discovered this is a known issue with iWeb (oops): it offers way more fonts and colors than most PCs can pick up on, spacing gets off a bit, and heaven help you if someone is using Internet Explorer on their PC instead of Firefox or Safari.
In fact, I take that "go ahead, check it out," comment back. If you are in the Dark Ages and use Internet Explorer on a PC (seriously, why would you do that? Just change to Firefox. Trust me.), go to the top of your browser, click on "help," scroll to "About Internet Explorer," and if you do not have version 8 of Internet Explorer, I emphatically REFUSE to let you visit my website.* First, download the update to version 8, or better yet, get another browser.
There is still a lot of other work to be done on the site, but it has the basics! For the JB's of the world offering to spread my name, feel free to bookmark it.
And, feel free to be true friends and tell me if I have broccoli in my teeth. See a broken link, misspelled word, or dangling modifier? Don't hold your tongue.
*Which, yes, speaks to the limitations of the site. And the lesson was certainly learned. I went with iWeb because it can easily be hosted with Mobile Me, which I have because of my iPhone. So the hosting wasn't any extra. If I keep this up another month, I'll use Joomla or something similar and find another company to host it.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Nate's First Bday Party
I can't believe Nate is one already. I think he grows cuter every darn day, and is always so happy and smiley.
Yesterday wasn't an exception as we gathered to celebrate his birthday. David and Lauren's new house looked even better than ever (love the new painting over the fireplace, by the way), and what can be bad about a huge spread of Moe's make-your-own fajitas?
Some of the highlights:
Yesterday wasn't an exception as we gathered to celebrate his birthday. David and Lauren's new house looked even better than ever (love the new painting over the fireplace, by the way), and what can be bad about a huge spread of Moe's make-your-own fajitas?
Some of the highlights:
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Pay the Bills
I can officially pay the bills now, out of my official small-business checking account.
Of course, I need to actually deposit money into said checking account, but those are just details.
More details on this later... headed to Nate's first birthday party!
Of course, I need to actually deposit money into said checking account, but those are just details.
More details on this later... headed to Nate's first birthday party!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggg!!!!
I know, I can't have a post one day titled "A Good Day," and the next type one titled "Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggg!!!!" but that's how I feel right now.
Completely unrelated to yesterday's post, this one is over my website. I created it on iWeb, an Apple program. It is beautiful, if I do say so myself.
Then I opened it up on a PC. Disaster.
Yes, I have had my MacBook for a mere four weeks, and I am a Mac snob. It's just... better.
So back to iWeb to see if I can figure this out. Boo.
Completely unrelated to yesterday's post, this one is over my website. I created it on iWeb, an Apple program. It is beautiful, if I do say so myself.
Then I opened it up on a PC. Disaster.
Yes, I have had my MacBook for a mere four weeks, and I am a Mac snob. It's just... better.
So back to iWeb to see if I can figure this out. Boo.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
A good day
This is going to be one of those annoying posts where maybe I should just not post at all.
It's to tell you that I had a really good day today. But not really tell you why it was such a good day.
Typical woman, right?
The morning was crazy hectic. I stayed at home today because I was focusing on one project and thought I'd really only bill a couple of hours on it because I'd spend most of my time waiting for people to return my calls.
Only, they all did. And then there were changes, so I had to call them back. It was like a nonstop phone fest.
Which was only stressful (don't get me wrong, I loved it -- I thrive in that shit) because I had a specific time I needed to stop. I had an interview this afternoon and one I was really, really excited about.
I wanted to brush up on the company, be super-careful in the makeup application, print out an updated resume (you know, one with my new biz on it and all -- oh! I also finished one page of the website last night, but hoped to do more today), leave with plenty of time to get there... you know, be me.
But I worked right up until 5 minutes after I had planned on leaving, rushed, ran out the door and winged it.
Which, I think was a good thing. At least, I think it went really, really well. In the worst case, this will turn into more consulting work. But I think it might be more.
It's to tell you that I had a really good day today. But not really tell you why it was such a good day.
Typical woman, right?
The morning was crazy hectic. I stayed at home today because I was focusing on one project and thought I'd really only bill a couple of hours on it because I'd spend most of my time waiting for people to return my calls.
Only, they all did. And then there were changes, so I had to call them back. It was like a nonstop phone fest.
Which was only stressful (don't get me wrong, I loved it -- I thrive in that shit) because I had a specific time I needed to stop. I had an interview this afternoon and one I was really, really excited about.
I wanted to brush up on the company, be super-careful in the makeup application, print out an updated resume (you know, one with my new biz on it and all -- oh! I also finished one page of the website last night, but hoped to do more today), leave with plenty of time to get there... you know, be me.
But I worked right up until 5 minutes after I had planned on leaving, rushed, ran out the door and winged it.
Which, I think was a good thing. At least, I think it went really, really well. In the worst case, this will turn into more consulting work. But I think it might be more.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Morning Routine
I need to get a morning routine down if I'm going to continue to come to this client site.
I'm riding in with Mike, and we've always left the house by 7:00 a.m. That gets us in to the office between 7:20 - 7:35 a.m., depending on traffic. This timing worked for us because we would leave on the earlier side, between 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. I also loved the time alone in the office it gave me to enjoy my coffee, wake up with Facebook, and generally get my day in order.
I used to actually describe myself as a morning person. I wake up at 4:40 a.m., walk the dog, work out in some fashion, shower, in the office by 7:30 a.m. I'm not sure many people in this town even wake up until 7:30 in the morning.
But I came to realize as there would be various interruptions in this otherwise seemingly perfect (for me) routine, that I am not, in fact, a "morning person." I can be very, very, very productive in the morning. More productive than most, I'd even venture to say.
If you leave me the f&*k alone.
I have realized that I am not a bubbly morning person, and get down right awful if you mess with my routine.
Right now, I don't have a routine. I had one for the first two weeks of unemployment that I really enjoyed. I slept in (until 5:20 a.m.), walked Goldie, workout, shower, breakfast, then sat at my kitchen counter and enjoyed the coffee and Facebook.
But now I'm coming into the client site for the foreseeable future, and I have absolutely no routine to speak of. If I don't come in with Mike, there's a big (as in expensive) issue about parking. But if I do, it's way earlier than this particular office opens.
Everyone at this office seems to be on a later schedule than I'm used to. I need to investigate if that's everyone, or just the people I'm working with. I went in last week one morning at 9 a.m. and there were, like, two people there. I need to ask when the earliest person gets there to open the office, so even if I'm not billing, I'm at least warm and safe and comfortable.
Because right now, I am sitting a block from the office, in a very, very small Starbucks playing really, really loud Caribbean music, crammed into a seat at a high bar next to a very, very crazy man.
No, really, crazy. He's talking out loud to himself and writing something in 72 point font that looks to be some legal appeal. He also seems to know every word to said Caribbean music. Wait... no, he isn't actually saying the words. He's humming out the drums. And he's really enjoying himself.
I need a better morning routine.
I'm riding in with Mike, and we've always left the house by 7:00 a.m. That gets us in to the office between 7:20 - 7:35 a.m., depending on traffic. This timing worked for us because we would leave on the earlier side, between 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. I also loved the time alone in the office it gave me to enjoy my coffee, wake up with Facebook, and generally get my day in order.
I used to actually describe myself as a morning person. I wake up at 4:40 a.m., walk the dog, work out in some fashion, shower, in the office by 7:30 a.m. I'm not sure many people in this town even wake up until 7:30 in the morning.
But I came to realize as there would be various interruptions in this otherwise seemingly perfect (for me) routine, that I am not, in fact, a "morning person." I can be very, very, very productive in the morning. More productive than most, I'd even venture to say.
If you leave me the f&*k alone.
I have realized that I am not a bubbly morning person, and get down right awful if you mess with my routine.
Right now, I don't have a routine. I had one for the first two weeks of unemployment that I really enjoyed. I slept in (until 5:20 a.m.), walked Goldie, workout, shower, breakfast, then sat at my kitchen counter and enjoyed the coffee and Facebook.
But now I'm coming into the client site for the foreseeable future, and I have absolutely no routine to speak of. If I don't come in with Mike, there's a big (as in expensive) issue about parking. But if I do, it's way earlier than this particular office opens.
Everyone at this office seems to be on a later schedule than I'm used to. I need to investigate if that's everyone, or just the people I'm working with. I went in last week one morning at 9 a.m. and there were, like, two people there. I need to ask when the earliest person gets there to open the office, so even if I'm not billing, I'm at least warm and safe and comfortable.
Because right now, I am sitting a block from the office, in a very, very small Starbucks playing really, really loud Caribbean music, crammed into a seat at a high bar next to a very, very crazy man.
No, really, crazy. He's talking out loud to himself and writing something in 72 point font that looks to be some legal appeal. He also seems to know every word to said Caribbean music. Wait... no, he isn't actually saying the words. He's humming out the drums. And he's really enjoying himself.
I need a better morning routine.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
My Post-Workout Power Bar (Or, Cookie)
Mike and I are in a big debate over my post-workout snack. I call it a power bar. He calls it a cookie.
I think he's just jealous of them.
In truth, they are granola bars. They are adapted from this recipe on Smitten Kitchen, which does lean closer to the cookie argument (what with the corn syrup and granulated sugar).
But these work for me. I'm on a kinda low-carb diet ... which I hate even typing, because I'm clearly not on atkins. And I'm soooo not on a diet. It's more like I want to cut out the flour, potatoes, rice and such. I still eat tons of chocolate, all fruits, lots of nuts, even dried fruit.
I've been eating that way since May, and i like it. I like what it does for my body, I like what it does for my energy.
I also like working out, and found that working out and just eating eggs right afterwards wasn't cutting it. I needed more. So I found this recipe with the oats and nuts and dried fruit, maybe added in some chocolate, substituted the corn syrup with honey, dropped the granulated sugar, baked them in cupcake tins, and ... bam! Pop one of these babies post-workout, and I'm a happy girl.
Here's Smitten Kitchen's recipe list, with my changes:
1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats √
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (total of 10 to 15 ounces)*
1 cup dried fruit -- my latest batch was 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup dried apricots
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup peanut butter or another nut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons melted butter Ok, ok, this is a questionable ingredient, but ... yum!
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon water
From there, it's easy. Mix the dry...
mix the wet ...
scoop into cupcake tins, back for 22 minutes at 350 degrees and ... voila!
**** December 8, 2010 update: I lowered the cooking time by a minute, and I like that consistency better. Also, I tried Robert's idea of the almond flour instead of ground oats and I LOVE IT. So now I use Almond Flour.
Monday, October 4, 2010
I'm, like, totally legal
So remember that post where I talked about creating a job?
And how that job was mine?
That was all well and good, but it was kinda, sorta an arbitrary statement.
Until the last 24-hours, when I both:
1. Submitted my first invoice for services
and
2. Applied for and was granted a "doing business as" and business license for the city of Alexandria.
.
.
.
.
.
I'm sorry, maybe you didn't realize. I was pausing to allow for applause. Perhaps I should say it again:
I FREAKIN' SUBMITTED AN INVOICE. People want to pay me to do stuff for them -- like, VOLUNTARILY.
And I FREAKIN' HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE. As in, a REAL business. Go ahead. Call Alexandria City Hall. I'M ON RECORD WITH THEM.
Ok, ok, so I don't actually have payment for said invoice. But now you're just getting really picky.
I even have a business name, although I'm going to ask you to wait for it. (I am into branding, after all, and can't imagine MY OWN business brand getting away from me when it's been in existence a mere nine hours.)
I still don't know exactly where this is going, and if it's long term. In fact, I have an interview on Thursday. It may turn out that they become another client, or maybe it'll become something full time. I'm fortunate enough that I still have a little bit of time to figure this all out.
And even the teeniest bit longer because... I SUBMITTED A FREAKIN' INVOICE!
And how that job was mine?
That was all well and good, but it was kinda, sorta an arbitrary statement.
Until the last 24-hours, when I both:
1. Submitted my first invoice for services
and
2. Applied for and was granted a "doing business as" and business license for the city of Alexandria.
.
.
.
.
.
I'm sorry, maybe you didn't realize. I was pausing to allow for applause. Perhaps I should say it again:
I FREAKIN' SUBMITTED AN INVOICE. People want to pay me to do stuff for them -- like, VOLUNTARILY.
And I FREAKIN' HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE. As in, a REAL business. Go ahead. Call Alexandria City Hall. I'M ON RECORD WITH THEM.
Ok, ok, so I don't actually have payment for said invoice. But now you're just getting really picky.
I even have a business name, although I'm going to ask you to wait for it. (I am into branding, after all, and can't imagine MY OWN business brand getting away from me when it's been in existence a mere nine hours.)
I still don't know exactly where this is going, and if it's long term. In fact, I have an interview on Thursday. It may turn out that they become another client, or maybe it'll become something full time. I'm fortunate enough that I still have a little bit of time to figure this all out.
And even the teeniest bit longer because... I SUBMITTED A FREAKIN' INVOICE!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Apricot, Soy and Honey Slow Cooked Goodness
Last night I was reading October's Food and Wine magazine, and came across this recipe for "Apricot-Stuffed Pork Shoulder with Soy-Honey Glaze."
Looks pretty awesome, huh?
It was also a bit labor-intensive, at least in the unfolding, stuffing and wrapping up of the pork shoulder. That, and, it's fall. I want to throw a bunch of ingredients into a crock pot and smell heaven all day long.
So when I saw a pork butt at the grocery store this morning, I thought: hmmmm... I can work with this.
I took the basic idea, added a few ingredients, threw it in the slow-cooker, and, in fact, had a little slice of heaven tonight.
Intrigued by Food and Wine's suggestion to boil garlic and dried apricots, I did that. I'm interested in what the boiling of the garlic does... I guess lesson the intensity? About 8 garlic cloves and 10 apricot halves.
Then I mixed together their other suggested ingredients (um, some of them), and added some of my own:
1. 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2. 1 tablespoon molasses
3. 1 teaspoon pickled ginger juice, with several slices of pickled ginger
All that... into the crock pot.
Did I mention how much I adore pork butt?
Ever hour or so, I flipped the whole thing over, so that I could sit in the juice (the above only covered about half the butt). After 5 hours on high, it was beautiful:
So soft and tender, it came apart even as I was pulling it out of the crock pot to pull into pieces.
Before starting to shred the butt, I added 1 tablespoon corn starch to warm water, whisked it together, then added it to the sauce in the crock pot. I kept the pot on high and let that bubble up while shredding. Then I added all the pork back to the pot.
I know, you're so jealous you didn't come over tonight for dinner, aren't you? David, this just had to be the Sunday that Steelers were on regular TV, huh?
The pooch even got into the action. She loves butt, too.
It was also a bit labor-intensive, at least in the unfolding, stuffing and wrapping up of the pork shoulder. That, and, it's fall. I want to throw a bunch of ingredients into a crock pot and smell heaven all day long.
So when I saw a pork butt at the grocery store this morning, I thought: hmmmm... I can work with this.
I took the basic idea, added a few ingredients, threw it in the slow-cooker, and, in fact, had a little slice of heaven tonight.
Intrigued by Food and Wine's suggestion to boil garlic and dried apricots, I did that. I'm interested in what the boiling of the garlic does... I guess lesson the intensity? About 8 garlic cloves and 10 apricot halves.
Then I mixed together their other suggested ingredients (um, some of them), and added some of my own:
Ingredients
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled √
- 10 dried apricot halves √
- One 5 1/2-pound boneless pork shoulder roast (here I used a 3.5 pound bone-in pork butt. mmmm... pork butt)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper √
-
Crushed red pepper(forgot this one! Didn't purposely leave it out, just read right over top of it) - 3 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine)
or sweet sherry√
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce √
- 2 tablespoons honey √
-
2 tablespoons Dijon mustardMike hates mustard and if he can detect even the smallest amount in a dish, he'll refuse the rest - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil √
1. 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2. 1 tablespoon molasses
3. 1 teaspoon pickled ginger juice, with several slices of pickled ginger
All that... into the crock pot.
Ever hour or so, I flipped the whole thing over, so that I could sit in the juice (the above only covered about half the butt). After 5 hours on high, it was beautiful:
The pooch even got into the action. She loves butt, too.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
I Hate Networking
Networking. You gotta do it. I know this.
I know that the only nibbles I've had in both the job search and the freelance work have been through people I already know. So if I'm going to make a go of going out on my own, I need to network and continue to expand the group of people I know.
I signed up for a DC Flaks meetup on Wednesday, but ended up not going. I wanted to, I did. It was a happy hour at the District Chophouse, and while most of the people there probably wouldn't be able to give me work (because the group looked to be pretty young), I thought I'd be an unintimidating way to start this networking thing.
But then on the day of the happy hour, right as I was about to start getting ready to go into the city, the phone rang. It was my client, giving me another project. And I found myself going, "another two hours of billing tonight.... or small talk... two hours of billing... small talk...."
You can easily imagine which one won out.
And so my first official networking event was last night. I roped Mike into going with me, and promised him lots of wine to get through it.
I severely underestimated the amount of wine. And severely overestimated the amount of networking going on.
It was "Stomp the Presses" at the National Press Club.
Wine tasting, essentially, only on crack. There were over 80 wines, by my estimate, plus 6 whiskeys and 5 beers. We skipped the liquor and beer tables, but I think we hit just about every wine.
Yes, every one.
At least, from what I can remember.
After the first two tables, I psyched myself up to start striking up conversations with people there. They would either be journalists - who at this stage probably couldn't help me directly but would always be good to know - people who worked at PR firms - where I wanted to get a job or a client - or people who worked for news publications but in a corporate roll -- where, again, I either wanted to get a job or client.
The first person who made eye contact back was an intern. Yes, I knew he looked young. Yes, I knew he couldn't do anything for me. But it's baby steps, people! So a nice little 5 minute conversation, after which Mike made fun of me relentlessly for wasting time on someone who looked to be about 12. I take exception to the "wasting time" part, but we moved on.
The next one was looking promising. A single woman, we debated the merits of two wines on the table, cracked a few jokes, easy conversation going for about 10 minutes. I asked what she did, what brought her to the Press Club event. She knew the organizer she said... (good, I'm thinking...) She was a terrorist victim advocate.
Ok, moving on...
The next and final couple that we started talking to stuck with us the rest of the night (or we with them). There were the perfect kind of people to connect with ....
... for Mike. She was a final year law student and he worked for a defense contractor.
I hate networking.
I know that the only nibbles I've had in both the job search and the freelance work have been through people I already know. So if I'm going to make a go of going out on my own, I need to network and continue to expand the group of people I know.
I signed up for a DC Flaks meetup on Wednesday, but ended up not going. I wanted to, I did. It was a happy hour at the District Chophouse, and while most of the people there probably wouldn't be able to give me work (because the group looked to be pretty young), I thought I'd be an unintimidating way to start this networking thing.
But then on the day of the happy hour, right as I was about to start getting ready to go into the city, the phone rang. It was my client, giving me another project. And I found myself going, "another two hours of billing tonight.... or small talk... two hours of billing... small talk...."
You can easily imagine which one won out.
And so my first official networking event was last night. I roped Mike into going with me, and promised him lots of wine to get through it.
I severely underestimated the amount of wine. And severely overestimated the amount of networking going on.
Wine tasting, essentially, only on crack. There were over 80 wines, by my estimate, plus 6 whiskeys and 5 beers. We skipped the liquor and beer tables, but I think we hit just about every wine.
Yes, every one.
At least, from what I can remember.
After the first two tables, I psyched myself up to start striking up conversations with people there. They would either be journalists - who at this stage probably couldn't help me directly but would always be good to know - people who worked at PR firms - where I wanted to get a job or a client - or people who worked for news publications but in a corporate roll -- where, again, I either wanted to get a job or client.
The first person who made eye contact back was an intern. Yes, I knew he looked young. Yes, I knew he couldn't do anything for me. But it's baby steps, people! So a nice little 5 minute conversation, after which Mike made fun of me relentlessly for wasting time on someone who looked to be about 12. I take exception to the "wasting time" part, but we moved on.
The next one was looking promising. A single woman, we debated the merits of two wines on the table, cracked a few jokes, easy conversation going for about 10 minutes. I asked what she did, what brought her to the Press Club event. She knew the organizer she said... (good, I'm thinking...) She was a terrorist victim advocate.
Ok, moving on...
The next and final couple that we started talking to stuck with us the rest of the night (or we with them). There were the perfect kind of people to connect with ....
... for Mike. She was a final year law student and he worked for a defense contractor.
I hate networking.
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