JKx7 And More

Friday, April 29, 2005

Who's Going to Break the News to Mom & Dad?

Mom and Dad have been out of the country so long, there's so much to tell them. I hope they're sitting when they get the news.
Jamesson: will they be shocked to find that their youngest didn't burn down the house while they were away?
Jordan: will they be amazed to find their oldest son is on the verge of employment?
Julia: their hearts will break when they hear her husband ran off without her.
Jill: they will be saddened to learn that she spent her 30th, I mean 27th birthday in misery.
Jess: the tears will flow when they are informed of her escape to a bigger sky.
This is so much for Mom & Dad's fragile hearts to take. Keep the aspirin handy, kids. It's going to be a rough night.

The Piano Man, Part II

My husband finally comes home tomorrow. I am so excited it’s like Christmas night, and I can’t sleep. (Hmm, too over the top cheesy?… uh, yes.) So, I just put the creature to bed, and now I am reading Blogs. Since JK6 brought up the piano tuner, I will just Blog about him. Let me see if I can explain what I heard… First this guy was really friendly with JK6. I’ll paint a picture: So friendly he tuned JK6’s guitar, just to make nice. Then this man started giving JK6 pointers on how to “pass” his UPS interview. He went on, AND ON, for a good 45 minutes. Then the piano tuner man actually did some piano tuning. Every once in a while he would ask JK6 weird questions, and he would also continue to give more interview tips. THEN the guy starts playing the piano. It was so awkward, or so I am guessing it must have been awkward for JK6. Now I will serenade you with my music little boy. I must say, this guy was good! I felt like I was shopping at Nordstrom, he was so good. Then he starting playing jazz, still REALLY good music, but a little bit much. Ok, then he started SIGNING!… still he was good, but I don’t think Mom signed up for that. There at the end there was some weird story about a friend of his who had a glider accident, fell 3000 feet, lived long enough to go to the hospital – tell everyone he was fine, and then died that night. Hello sad! JK6… why did he even bring it up?

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

I am so proud of this family. I was just reading all of the comments, and we are so freak-n- supportive of one another… it’s kinda disgusting.

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

1.) Chevy's
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. Where the deer and the antelope play, but the smell of the refinery kills them dead in their tracks.

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

I just saw a Red-Tailed Hawk swoop outside my window, over the river. Amazingly beautiful and it reminded me of car trips where Dad would point out each Hawk (or other noteworthy bird or animal) as we drove by. In all those trips in the car, I have never seen one so close...one with it's wing span at full length...right outside my window...SITTING AT 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

I need to write this up anyway, so I might as well share it on the blog.

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

I was going to make a comment about how Jess is unemployed in Greenland... (I mean, Montana)...but that would probably just make us all cry...so I won't.

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?

Is this website one sided? Did you all have your keyboards taken away? Where are you guys? I specifically asked for you to entertain me. Put up!
David will be in Spearfish until Thursday. Tonight I'm going to be bold and venture out to Enrichment night. Hopefully they will have a nursery/children's class.
I've moved about 1600 lbs. of rock today (with my bare hands). There are some big ones that have been unearthed by the basement digging of the house behind me and kitty corner behind me. I wish David was here to get the really big ones. I wish I could strap a rope to the back of my car and haul them over. There is one that's huge! About 4 feet long, 3 feet wide, and about 2 feet tall. It would make a perfect backyard bench.
You see how lame I am people? I AM BLOGGING ABOUT ROCKS!
I must be extra difficult to put up with lately, my kids were really happy to go to school this morning.
I haven't seen any wild animals today, but yesterday a poor, lonely antelope was trapped on our street because he couldn't figure out how to get back to the field with all the dump trucks and tractors everywhere.
Did I mention that I went to Mt. Rushmore this weekend?
Thank goodness for cell phones and email and other wonders of modern technology. I guess I'm going to have to show you all how to use them.
Hugs, but not kisses.

Friday, April 01, 2005

See You Soon, Jordan

We've just returned from the airport. We spent an hour waiting for Jordan's plane as if all was well. But during and since the goodbye, it's been pretty brutal.
But leave it to Isaac to drop one liners during the audible sobbing...
"We need to go home and have some family time!"
"Mom, could you pass me my drink?" (in between sobs)
but the real kicker:
"How sad is this, huh?"
I guess you had to hear it from his lips
Sidenote: You know the Looney Toons cartoon where the two dogs (George & Frank) switch off guarding the sheep and protect them from Wile E. Coyote? When I was at the airport I'd hoped that there would be a shift-change and that when I dropped Jordan off, mom would be on the next shift, waiting for me to take her to my house.
Let's see if this McDonald's apple pie takes the sad away.

Grocery Store Stationwagon

What is it with people carrying those little baskets at the grocery store? Are they trying to make a statement, or challenge the big, over-sized push baskets?

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.