Friday, April 29, 2005
The Piano Man, Part II
Well, I think this guy is just what we are looking for.
- “your mom goes to college.” JK5
Thursday, April 21, 2005
It's not fun typing with The Creature
Yes, yes, I have made it to the computer. I can finally Blog! I put the Creature down for a nap… ah drats … he has awoken. Ok, the fun has begun… typing with a seven month old on my lap. This will be a quick Blog.
So, Brent is in Milpitas (San Jose area), for 10 days. So far things are going ok, but I will keep ya’ll posted.
Why hasn’t mom Blogged? Has Jordan? And hey, to the people who are going to be in the Sac area on JPs B-Day, what are we doin???
I just HAVE to add this story; sorry if you read my other Blog, but I have to share. I was talking about small talk, and how much I hate it. So I said, “I would rather be neutered by a dentist." … I sleigh me.
Oh and dad, I know the difference between spay and neuter… that’s half the joke.
Peace out Napoleon.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Establishments NOT in My New Town
2.) The Gap
3.) Cheesecake Factory
4.) Round Table Pizza
5.) Chevy's
6.) Jamba Juice (but they do have a Junga Juice, WHATEVER!)
7.) Baja Fresh
8.) Macy's
9.) Chili's
10.) Disney Store
11.) Sam's Club
12.) Mervyn's
13.) Did I mention Chevy's?
14.) Marie Callendar's
15.) Cinnabon 1
6.) PF Chang's
to be continued...
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Slogans
Billings. No two intersections/traffic lights are the same.
Billings. Don't get lost on the wrong side of the tracks.
Billings. The smell of chucks added to downtown for your pleasure.
Billings. Leave your appetite for Chevy's behind.
Billings. A Taco John's on every corner.
Billings. Where 1st Ave. intersects with 1st Ave.
Billings. Where the tacky go to get tackier.
Billings. Without WalMart there would be no night life.
Billings. Bring your Round Table pizza with you.
Monday, April 11, 2005
The View From My Desk
Man, I will miss this view when it's time for me to "move on" or if we move to a different office building. But I'm so glad I was here to see it...and yes, I really am working.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Where the Deer and the Antelope Play
It's a funny thing, getting used to our new digs. The further we get from California, the more I learn and eventually adapt to other communities. For example...
1.) My kids (2nd grade and kindergarten) don't go to the same school. Kindergarten isn't offered at the school closest to us due to over-crowding, so I have to drive Isaac another mile to his school.
2.) My kindergartener doesn't have the traditional half-day schedule we're accustomed to in California. He goes two full days and one half-day each week. Weird.
3.) Spring has come and gone back home in California. The blossoms were gorgeous and in full bloom in February. Here in Montana (HOWEVER), I have been advised to not plant anything until after Mother's Day, but even then we could have a freeze or a wet snow.
4.) Honorable mention (for JP): they have no sense of decorating here in MT.
5.) I have learned that I will eventually hit a deer. Everyone has. I'm going to throw a huge fit the first time I have to pay $500 deductible because I hit a deer.
6.) By the way: Montana DOES have a speed limit.
7.) Kids get their drivers licenses at 15 here. Let me now mention that I'm 2 blocks from the highschool. Sucks to be me.
There are some neat things about Montana, hopefully I have yet to discover most of them...
1.) Rumor has is that there is virtually no crime.
2.) Daily sightings of antelope. Sometimes one. Sometimes eight. At an intersection, in a courtyard, up the street, out in the field, or like yesterday, right in our front yard in the middle of the afternoon. I did feel very sorry for the one up the street on Monday; he couldn't figure out how to get out of our subdivision with all the construction and dumptrucks and tractors surrounding him and creating an abundance of noise.
3.) I hate to admit it, but I have met very friendly people. The staff at the school, people at church, even neighbors. Let's pray that continues.
That's us far as this list goes. The weird outweighs the neat. I hope this drastically changes in the coming months.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Role playing exercise with Unca' John
Unca’ John has been helping me with starting my business. He knows the marketing part is new to me and is hard. Similar to the marketing piece I showed you (Jess, I’ll send a copy), he has been working with me on what to say the first time a potential customer calls me.
We decided he would call me at an out of the blue, unplanned time and do a role-play of being a potential customer so I could practice.
The first hilarious aspect of this exercise is how nervous I was about it before the call came. For the love of Bob, it’s just Unca’ John and it’s just role playing. But I was nervous nonetheless.
He called me this morning, role playing from the beginning.
He said he had heard about my company from a friend and from the website. I thanked him for his call and asked him about his project. He described a very challenging situation. I then described how I could help as a facilitator with processes and techniques, and we talked more about his project. He asked me about my experience and my references.
Afterwards we laughed and talked about how nervous I was and what went well and what his recommendations for improvement were.
The first topic we talked about was I need to get my reference list straight. I have references lined up regarding employment and resumes but not about an independent business. I need to call my references and discuss this.
We talked about how well the interactive phone call went as opposed to me having to come up with some kind of spiel that I hope would work for everyone. I realized that, of course, I’m much more comfortable discussing the project with someone versus giving them a spiel. I’m glad I’m more comfortable with this because it is a better method anyway. I need to have aspects of a spiel ready, but the more interactive the better.
Among the questions/promptings he recommended I include were questions like:
What have you tried in the past?
Tell me about your concerns?
Talk to the person about my initial assessment and then discuss it
I need to remember the potential customer is interviewing me from the very beginning of the phone call. I need to make the right impression.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Just for Jess
Anyway...
This morning after I dropped Paige off at school, I saw a guy walking towards Sac City in the park. At first glance, I thought this guy was be-bopping to music he must've been listening to, but that so wasn't the case.
Not only was this poor soul talking to himself (with much expression) but every few seconds he would "shoot" the banana he was holding in he left hand and make a face that could only be described as an evil grimace.
#1: Wondering if the banana was in trouble or someone else and
#2: At least I'm not THAT crazy and
#3: Please Lord, let the most dangerous thing he possesses be a banana
It also reminded me (AGAIN) that someone is ALWAYS watching. You know, like the time I fell in the parking lot here at work on my very first day. Or just the other day at the gas station when I opened my door INTO my shoulder. Or the other two times that I have tripped over my own feet here at work....
Gosh I'm graceful. I must make so many people laugh. Daily.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Is Anybody Out There?
Friday, April 01, 2005
See You Soon, Jordan
Grocery Store Stationwagon
I am seeing this all the time: customer walks into grocery store, picks up small basket. I notice them here and there throughout the store; me casually pushing my basket, them juggling the increasingly heavy little basket. By the time they reach the register, with their 10 items or less, they no doubt have tendonitis, a backache, and a hernia.
Is it like my push-basket is the big, gas-guzzling family SUV and the basket they are carrying (usually containing wine and a baggette) is the little red sports car? I have news for them: in both cases the bigger vehicle is more practical and safer.