There are just some things I can't make up - they really happen to me.
As part of my work, I have helped start-up companies "get up and running". Find office space, get the books (accounting) in order, put processes in place, hire the key people to get the organization up and running. Then I usually go on to the next project.
This is fun for many reasons. I learn about many different industries, but really start-ups are all the same. They are some basic functions they all need. It also fulfills the "gypsy" in me. I can stay, but then I hop off to the next adventure. Sometimes I go into client offices, most of the time I work from home. When I do go to the client offices, its never a dull moment. Each culture is very different, yet just the same. Excitement, nervousness, learning, panic, success and failure.
Today's story brings us to a client site.
The owner of this company and two of the sales guys are in Vegas for a trade show with one of their clients. It was quite peaceful around the office today. I'm completing my various tasks and the company had brought lunch in. The owners wife was in and we were all having a delightful lunch. She's on the phone with her husband and asks me "Do you need anything from him?". Me: "Will you ask him about the grills?" She replies: "The GIRLS?", Me, "No, the GRILLS" Her: "Oh, ha ha." She then says to him, "What about the grills?" She gives me my answer and while we all thought it was funny, that was the end of it.
Later on, I was downloading yesterday's bank transactions. This is what I see:
$200.00 cash withdraw
$200.00 b-soll
$200.00 b-soll
$200.00 cash withdraw
Hmmm..... That's unusual. So, being the sweet girl I am, I look up "b-soll". Word to the wise, you can Google everything these days. Let's just say they were at a dance club.
I just smiled. I'm just there to do my job, not give my opinion. However, I had to smile. He must have had a heart attack when she thought I said "Ask about the girls".
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
I'm a cheating woman
Loyal. I'm loyal to anyone and anything LONG after it's due. Loyal to a fault.
"Give them ONE more chance"
Although I've gotten better the older I've become. People will abuse their power. People will over-step their boundaries in order to get what they want. We all do it. We also all need to stop. Stop stepping on people, things, situations, to get what we want.
Quitting is also hard.
Quitting is harder than hanging on. We try. We do our best. We give it our best shot.
BUT, sometimes, it's okay to quit. Just walk away. It's actually harder to quit. It's easier to hang on. Quiting is hard. Difficult. Because that's admitting you were wrong in the first place. That's a difficult decision.
Although, you aren't quitting. You are admitting - I no longer want to do this! What power you have. "I no longer want to do this". It takes someone brave to admit "I no longer want to do this"
Let me tell you what I no longer want to do:
Career Day at my kids school - although, last year I had the mayor come speak. This year, I have a fantastic speaker lined up up speak too. I DON"T WANT TO DO THIS ANY MORE
Volunteer - until, of course, prom. I want to volunteer there.
Recruit. I'm done.
It's been a good ride. It's been a great ride. Recruiting: Thank you for everything you gave me. Thank you for the freedom. The financial stability. The.... well, everything. Thank you for the high and lows. BUT, I have to be honest, I've been cheating on you.
Well, I've been cheating on you for years. I can't let you go, and I can't hang on any longer. I'm in love.
Love with the part-time job - he's promised me everything you said you were going to deliver. Only once again, I have hope. Hope is a bitch. She's pretty though. She's giving me the dreams you always said you were going to deliver.
Until you can commit, I'm going to cheat. I'm not a cheating woman. I'm LOYAL. Loyal to a fault. Loyal to the point until I'm waiting for you to love me more than I love him. Whomever shows up first wins the prize..
For now though, I'm going to quit cheating. I'm going to quit cheating on recruiting. I hate to tell you this, but "We are breaking up". IT"S OVER.
Mahalo for the memories. The foresight. Wow, I've loved you for a very long time. I will always love you. You perplex me these days though. "What do you do?" I'm a headhunter - that's my first response. I also help companies with their start-up operations.
When you ask me what I do - I answer the truth "I'm a headhunter" And part of me cringes. That's not what I do. That's also not whom I am.
I am mom. I help companies get up and running. I am loyal. I cheat. I lie. But most of all, I'm honest. I'm honest about cheating and lying. I've done all. But, most of all, I'm loyal. Loyal to the very end. Loyal until you understand I'm no longer cheating on you.
"Give them ONE more chance"
Although I've gotten better the older I've become. People will abuse their power. People will over-step their boundaries in order to get what they want. We all do it. We also all need to stop. Stop stepping on people, things, situations, to get what we want.
Quitting is also hard.
Quitting is harder than hanging on. We try. We do our best. We give it our best shot.
BUT, sometimes, it's okay to quit. Just walk away. It's actually harder to quit. It's easier to hang on. Quiting is hard. Difficult. Because that's admitting you were wrong in the first place. That's a difficult decision.
Although, you aren't quitting. You are admitting - I no longer want to do this! What power you have. "I no longer want to do this". It takes someone brave to admit "I no longer want to do this"
Let me tell you what I no longer want to do:
Career Day at my kids school - although, last year I had the mayor come speak. This year, I have a fantastic speaker lined up up speak too. I DON"T WANT TO DO THIS ANY MORE
Volunteer - until, of course, prom. I want to volunteer there.
Recruit. I'm done.
It's been a good ride. It's been a great ride. Recruiting: Thank you for everything you gave me. Thank you for the freedom. The financial stability. The.... well, everything. Thank you for the high and lows. BUT, I have to be honest, I've been cheating on you.
Well, I've been cheating on you for years. I can't let you go, and I can't hang on any longer. I'm in love.
Love with the part-time job - he's promised me everything you said you were going to deliver. Only once again, I have hope. Hope is a bitch. She's pretty though. She's giving me the dreams you always said you were going to deliver.
Until you can commit, I'm going to cheat. I'm not a cheating woman. I'm LOYAL. Loyal to a fault. Loyal to the point until I'm waiting for you to love me more than I love him. Whomever shows up first wins the prize..
For now though, I'm going to quit cheating. I'm going to quit cheating on recruiting. I hate to tell you this, but "We are breaking up". IT"S OVER.
Mahalo for the memories. The foresight. Wow, I've loved you for a very long time. I will always love you. You perplex me these days though. "What do you do?" I'm a headhunter - that's my first response. I also help companies with their start-up operations.
When you ask me what I do - I answer the truth "I'm a headhunter" And part of me cringes. That's not what I do. That's also not whom I am.
I am mom. I help companies get up and running. I am loyal. I cheat. I lie. But most of all, I'm honest. I'm honest about cheating and lying. I've done all. But, most of all, I'm loyal. Loyal to the very end. Loyal until you understand I'm no longer cheating on you.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Things you can do
We've been on this big random act of kindness kick around here. Practicing random acts of kindness - expecting nothing in return. Just hoping to provide smiles or even a kind thought to random strangers.
A friend of mine asked some of the things we do. How can you do, and not also spend a bunch of money. So, I'm going to share - not to receive recognition, but to share so YOU may also participate.
Here we go:
A friend of mine asked some of the things we do. How can you do, and not also spend a bunch of money. So, I'm going to share - not to receive recognition, but to share so YOU may also participate.
Here we go:
- When you are driving down the highway, let someone over - even if you just let the last two people "in line" over
- We have a local little Japanese restaurant in the neighborhood whom mails out coupons. Take the extra coupons and give to another table.
- Compliment someone on their outfit/hair/shoes, etc. Everyday.
- Send a note to someone to just say hi
- Plant flowers - in someone else's garden
- Let someone go ahead of you in line
- If you are the type whom sends in money for rebates, send the rebate to a charity or a child or someone - you will never know if they have received it - and they don't know whom to think.
- On a cold day - hand out cups of coffee to the city workers. On hot days - water.
- Volunteer
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Summer Camp vs Hawaii
Would a compromise be: I should Summer Camp in Kona?
I asked Nolan this question two years ago when we returned from Hawaii for the first time. The year before he had gone to summer camp for two weeks. Two weeks with his friends from school - 40 miles from our house. Horse back riding. Camping. Swimming. Cute girls from other schools. All your friends. No parents. If you had to to choose, which one would you pick? Summer camp or Hawaii. You can't do both.
At the time, he said, that would be a very hard decision. He says, "I think I would pick Hawaii, but I'm not sure".
Fast forward. About a month ago (we are now entering our third summer in Hawaii), I asked again. Hawaii or Summer Camp. He replies, "It's funny you ask. Just last week the guys at school were trying to talk me into coming back to camp." "I told them, it's okay, I have my own summer thing going on.". Smile.
I asked Nolan this question two years ago when we returned from Hawaii for the first time. The year before he had gone to summer camp for two weeks. Two weeks with his friends from school - 40 miles from our house. Horse back riding. Camping. Swimming. Cute girls from other schools. All your friends. No parents. If you had to to choose, which one would you pick? Summer camp or Hawaii. You can't do both.
At the time, he said, that would be a very hard decision. He says, "I think I would pick Hawaii, but I'm not sure".
Fast forward. About a month ago (we are now entering our third summer in Hawaii), I asked again. Hawaii or Summer Camp. He replies, "It's funny you ask. Just last week the guys at school were trying to talk me into coming back to camp." "I told them, it's okay, I have my own summer thing going on.". Smile.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Why I run
To be honest, I don't like to run. I don't get that "runners high". Don't get me wrong, I do feel good AFTER I run. And, it's not too bad.
More of a swimmer. Or a bike rider. That is why I LOVE triathlons. Just when you are tired of swimming, it's time to bike, then just as I begin to get bored on my bike, it's time to run. By that point, I'm over a 2/3 of the way done with the race. The running isn't so bad, there is an end in sight.
There is a line in the Back To the Future III movie - they have gone back into the Old West. One of the actors says to the Michael J Fox character "People run for fun?". That's how I feel.
Now my sons, they are gifted runners. I run.
Looking back at all the races I've done now, you would think I was a runner. I do run. Also looking back, I like how I look when I'm in shape to run. Toned. Able to breathe and run at the same time. It's does make me feel good - AFTER it's over. Plus, I run to music. Clear my head and sing along. Nothing but me and the road.
I run in races to complete goals. To have an achievement.
I run because I can. Because others can't. I run because it's just me. To see what I'm capable of. What my body can take. What my mind can handle.
Then it becomes a community. I am one with others. Hundreds and thousands of others. Yet, less than 1% of the world population has completed a marathon. Running in Greece - from Marathon to Athens, I was one with the world. Part of history. History of fighting. History of champions. History of Olympic athletes.
Less than 1%, but with 99% of the population whom continues to be astounded when someone wants to hurt others.
No, I haven't run the Boston Marathon. You have to QUALIFY to run the Boston Marathon. You must first run another marathon. Complete that other marathon within a certain time for your age group. THEN, you are put into a lottery and must run within 3 years of being chosen for your lottery spot. If you run GET to run the Boston Marathon, you are truly one of the chosen. That's more marathons that I would have to run than I ever want to run. I might change my mind one day.
For now, I will run for help. To help. So, I run again......
More of a swimmer. Or a bike rider. That is why I LOVE triathlons. Just when you are tired of swimming, it's time to bike, then just as I begin to get bored on my bike, it's time to run. By that point, I'm over a 2/3 of the way done with the race. The running isn't so bad, there is an end in sight.
There is a line in the Back To the Future III movie - they have gone back into the Old West. One of the actors says to the Michael J Fox character "People run for fun?". That's how I feel.
Now my sons, they are gifted runners. I run.
Looking back at all the races I've done now, you would think I was a runner. I do run. Also looking back, I like how I look when I'm in shape to run. Toned. Able to breathe and run at the same time. It's does make me feel good - AFTER it's over. Plus, I run to music. Clear my head and sing along. Nothing but me and the road.
I run in races to complete goals. To have an achievement.
I run because I can. Because others can't. I run because it's just me. To see what I'm capable of. What my body can take. What my mind can handle.
Then it becomes a community. I am one with others. Hundreds and thousands of others. Yet, less than 1% of the world population has completed a marathon. Running in Greece - from Marathon to Athens, I was one with the world. Part of history. History of fighting. History of champions. History of Olympic athletes.
Less than 1%, but with 99% of the population whom continues to be astounded when someone wants to hurt others.
No, I haven't run the Boston Marathon. You have to QUALIFY to run the Boston Marathon. You must first run another marathon. Complete that other marathon within a certain time for your age group. THEN, you are put into a lottery and must run within 3 years of being chosen for your lottery spot. If you run GET to run the Boston Marathon, you are truly one of the chosen. That's more marathons that I would have to run than I ever want to run. I might change my mind one day.
For now, I will run for help. To help. So, I run again......
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Granny goes to Hawaii
Granny and I have a week together in Hawaii this year. A week to ourselves. The boys won't be there yet. Lily won't be there yet either. It's me and Granny.
The advantage of having young parents. Well, I've been lucky, I've had young grand-parents.
I don't remember how old I was when I told my Granny this "For your 75th birthday, my 35th birthday - I will take you any place you want to go. Let's go on a trip". I think I was around 30. Not really sure. I can tell you where we were sitting and what we were doing - just don't have the time perspective.
She calls me at some point later (not sure if it was months or years). "I KNOW what we need to do". Okay. Do tell "There is a Riverboat Cruise up the Mississippi River from New Orleans". My reply "Granny, I will take you ANY PLACE you want to go. In the ENTIRE world. This is what you want to do? " She replies, "Yes". "Several of my friends have done this, and LOVED it". "We would leave from New Orleans and go for three nights".
Long story short, we went. I flew to New Orleans. So did she. We met at the airport and took a cab to our boat. We had a MARVELOUS trip. Of course, I was the youngest person on the boat (staff excluded) by at LEAST twenty years. We gambled. We toured a plantation. We sat on the deck in rockers and drank mint juleps. I flew back to Denver. She flew back to Dallas.
This was the year before Katrina. I'm so glad we went.
40/80 trip as we like to call it? Vegas baby. She had never been. It's quite fun to take your 80 year old grandmother to Vegas.
We already have our trip planned for next year. Nashville. Neither one of us has been. We can't wait. Nolan said years ago he wanted to go - make it the 15/45/85 trip. I'm still betting he's not going to want to go.
This year? We normally don't have trips "in-between". This year is different. Granny is booked. Watch out Hawaii, here we come.
She arrives the day after me. We have a week to ourselves. We then fly over to see Pearl Harbor and put her on a plane directly to Dallas. The longest flight of her life. I will then hop back to my island.
Granny is ready, but might need a few travel items:
Neck pillow
Light blanket
Wide brimmed hat
Comfortable clothes
A bathing suit? I wonder when was the last time Granny wore a bathing suit?
Her paints and sketch pad
Her camera
The thing I'm worried about most? She keeps saying she needs some "thongs". I keep telling her, they are now called sandals.
Hope the islands are ready for us.....
The advantage of having young parents. Well, I've been lucky, I've had young grand-parents.
I don't remember how old I was when I told my Granny this "For your 75th birthday, my 35th birthday - I will take you any place you want to go. Let's go on a trip". I think I was around 30. Not really sure. I can tell you where we were sitting and what we were doing - just don't have the time perspective.
She calls me at some point later (not sure if it was months or years). "I KNOW what we need to do". Okay. Do tell "There is a Riverboat Cruise up the Mississippi River from New Orleans". My reply "Granny, I will take you ANY PLACE you want to go. In the ENTIRE world. This is what you want to do? " She replies, "Yes". "Several of my friends have done this, and LOVED it". "We would leave from New Orleans and go for three nights".
Long story short, we went. I flew to New Orleans. So did she. We met at the airport and took a cab to our boat. We had a MARVELOUS trip. Of course, I was the youngest person on the boat (staff excluded) by at LEAST twenty years. We gambled. We toured a plantation. We sat on the deck in rockers and drank mint juleps. I flew back to Denver. She flew back to Dallas.
This was the year before Katrina. I'm so glad we went.
40/80 trip as we like to call it? Vegas baby. She had never been. It's quite fun to take your 80 year old grandmother to Vegas.
We already have our trip planned for next year. Nashville. Neither one of us has been. We can't wait. Nolan said years ago he wanted to go - make it the 15/45/85 trip. I'm still betting he's not going to want to go.
This year? We normally don't have trips "in-between". This year is different. Granny is booked. Watch out Hawaii, here we come.
She arrives the day after me. We have a week to ourselves. We then fly over to see Pearl Harbor and put her on a plane directly to Dallas. The longest flight of her life. I will then hop back to my island.
Granny is ready, but might need a few travel items:
Neck pillow
Light blanket
Wide brimmed hat
Comfortable clothes
A bathing suit? I wonder when was the last time Granny wore a bathing suit?
Her paints and sketch pad
Her camera
The thing I'm worried about most? She keeps saying she needs some "thongs". I keep telling her, they are now called sandals.
Hope the islands are ready for us.....
Thursday, April 11, 2013
It don't matter
The boys and I met a new addition to the "family" today. He's one week old. He lives 1.25 miles from us. Round trip it's only 2.5 miles. An "easy" run. Unless you are training for something, well then, it's a "warm up".
Mr. BBK. I refrain from using his name - see, they are our family. We share our lives. Only, yet, we don't. I'm not sure how they would feel about me putting his name out to the world - that's their job. Even though now we are all one. Only not "related".
See, we aren't really "family" - in the sense, we weren't born into each others life. We didn't marry. Nor adopt - in the legal sense. We all just became part of each others lives. Which, to me, is adoption in a way.
When I was in college, I answered an ad in the newspaper for a baby-sitting job. I got the job - the only job I ever got when I applied. (Whom really applies and GETS that job??? - I've always wondered that??). Anyway, a divorced dad with two kids. A new wife. And soon after, a new baby. Long story short. One of those "teenage girls" I was never supposed to raise in my life - "MY" teenage girl grew up. So did I. I showed up at her wedding (Yes, I was invited. No, she didn't know I was coming) with my two sons. Time had passed. Life had gone on. We had gone out of each others lives. She and I. Not her family.
At the wedding - her dad introduces me as "my baby sister". Then he explains "she's adopted". I remember distinctly an elderly woman saying "who adopted her?". Tim replies, "I did". He's only 13 years older than me.
I walked into the church - TWO HOURS early with a boy on each hand. This moment is clear as crystal in my mind. I had on a red dress. Nolan was not quite one. Duncan 2 and 1/2. I walked into the church - TWO HOURS early with a boy on each hand. She was in her dress. She never really got along with her step-mom. Her mom wasn't there. I hadn't seen her in at least 10 years. This once little girl didn't recognize me at first. For a moment. She says "May I help you?" Looking more beautiful than I could have even imagined. All grown up. All beautiful.
Then she took a breathe. Her eyes watered. Her lip started to quiver.
"Ah". "Is it you? You are here?" "Are these your sons?"
"Yes. It's me"
Family can be blood. Or people you once knew - friends of friends. Friends of family. Or some random people you meet from a newspaper ad. "It don't matter".
You see - when Tim finished telling the story to this woman at the wedding? She replies: "That's not family, that's people you know". Tim replies, "Ma'am, I mean no disrespect, but (and in the best southern drawl ever replies, "it don't matter what you think. She's my baby-sister.") Maybe they needed me as much as I needed them.....
And the little boy we met today, well, he is the grandson to our HouseSwap familly from Hawaii. If you can't call him family, I'm not sure whom you can.....
Mr. BBK. I refrain from using his name - see, they are our family. We share our lives. Only, yet, we don't. I'm not sure how they would feel about me putting his name out to the world - that's their job. Even though now we are all one. Only not "related".
See, we aren't really "family" - in the sense, we weren't born into each others life. We didn't marry. Nor adopt - in the legal sense. We all just became part of each others lives. Which, to me, is adoption in a way.
When I was in college, I answered an ad in the newspaper for a baby-sitting job. I got the job - the only job I ever got when I applied. (Whom really applies and GETS that job??? - I've always wondered that??). Anyway, a divorced dad with two kids. A new wife. And soon after, a new baby. Long story short. One of those "teenage girls" I was never supposed to raise in my life - "MY" teenage girl grew up. So did I. I showed up at her wedding (Yes, I was invited. No, she didn't know I was coming) with my two sons. Time had passed. Life had gone on. We had gone out of each others lives. She and I. Not her family.
At the wedding - her dad introduces me as "my baby sister". Then he explains "she's adopted". I remember distinctly an elderly woman saying "who adopted her?". Tim replies, "I did". He's only 13 years older than me.
I walked into the church - TWO HOURS early with a boy on each hand. This moment is clear as crystal in my mind. I had on a red dress. Nolan was not quite one. Duncan 2 and 1/2. I walked into the church - TWO HOURS early with a boy on each hand. She was in her dress. She never really got along with her step-mom. Her mom wasn't there. I hadn't seen her in at least 10 years. This once little girl didn't recognize me at first. For a moment. She says "May I help you?" Looking more beautiful than I could have even imagined. All grown up. All beautiful.
Then she took a breathe. Her eyes watered. Her lip started to quiver.
"Ah". "Is it you? You are here?" "Are these your sons?"
"Yes. It's me"
Family can be blood. Or people you once knew - friends of friends. Friends of family. Or some random people you meet from a newspaper ad. "It don't matter".
You see - when Tim finished telling the story to this woman at the wedding? She replies: "That's not family, that's people you know". Tim replies, "Ma'am, I mean no disrespect, but (and in the best southern drawl ever replies, "it don't matter what you think. She's my baby-sister.") Maybe they needed me as much as I needed them.....
And the little boy we met today, well, he is the grandson to our HouseSwap familly from Hawaii. If you can't call him family, I'm not sure whom you can.....
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