Why is that reality, when it comes from others, presses down on dreams and ambitions? Why do people hear in those dreams and ambitions fear and I hear a chance for change. Certainly I'm not ignoring the realities of mortgage, school bills and yet no full-time job and still not quite steady freelance work. But to be in the flow and excitement of something big, just seems to make the smaller tasks easier to do. And of course, I do know what my priorities are and my most immediate goals. I'm sure that my family will have something to say about this matter, since I've been a dreamer my entire life and probably, in some ways, can get lost in the dream. (Or least appear that way).
I didn't think Pittsburgh would be as nice a city as it was nor did I think it would make me think of Dad. But of course, aided by a drink or two, made me a tad bit reminiscent of him. I'm guessing it was because the last time I was in Pittsburgh was with him, a very long time ago, to see the Steelers play the Giants in a pre-season game. I'm so glad that our last sporting event together was the Giants game versus the Cowboys on that Monday night. One, because there's nothing more fun than a Monday Night Football game, two because we were in Giants Stadium and three because we were playing the Cowboys. I'm not sure why this seemed so much more important than a Yankees game, since we both shared that passion as well, but it did. Of course, I had no idea it would be our last sporting event together but life is that way, you never know when it will be your last day to do something you love. So, without sounding to cliche, it just shows how important it is to make the most of everyday that you do have. No matter how frustrating the day maybe, find a way to make it something better for you, if at all possible.
Will be searching today for a way to tighten the hinges on my laptop. I'm using a box that Izzy decorated to support the screen for the time being. And as far as the bubble, it's not really burst, I fixed the leak. : ^ )
Don't want to forget that today is an important day. It's my Mom's birthday. Happy B-day Mom.
While we are busy saying goodbye to the friends we have made this weekend, I am distilling in my mind all that I have taken in. How it will impact what I do, what I want to do, and in some ways, who I am going to be. There is a lot of excitement in the air, and a lot of big ideas...the actions points for which will have a certain impact on what I do and how it is interpreted. Most interesting of which, is that it is very much in align with how I've been defining my work (design being a process and not a commodity) over the past several years.
Also, the hotel is currently undergoing a Parrot Head invasion, as Jimmy Buffet is performing tonight at PNC Park. Apparently, only the second concert to be performed there. Now, here's a real kicker for you true rock fans, for anywhere from $173-$1,995 you can attend this upcoming show in Pittsburgh. Nothing like overpriced, over-the-hill rock bands. (No disrespect intended, Mick.)
More later. Time to rest my mind.
Here at the AIGA National Leadership Conference Day II and woke up a little late (7) but before things get started. (Which is 8:30). Today the real work starts, yesterday being a half-day review of our national initiatives and status. Don't know that I ever thought the kid with the not-so-great grades in high school would manage to be a leader but hey, it's worth the shot. It's all in how you lead and what the results are. Of course, my results will be felt on the local level more so than nationally but I hope that what we are doing in Baltimore, or the ideas we can share, will help others in similar situations. While 'best practices' are really not repeatable, they can be educational when it comes to developing regional responses to similar problems.
And now with Starbucks in hand — Squipper did I say STARBUCKS?— it's off to a morning of leadership training. And when I come out of it,who knows, maybe I'll be ready for 2008?
It's about what's right, and if you haven't heard, just go to Tom Watson's site for the specifics about the plight of Mukhtaran Bibi and the women of Pakistan.
In his NYT Op-Ed today, Nicholas Kristof expands beyond this one story to really reach to the heart of the matter. A matter that should be on the agenda of next month's meeting between Mr. Bush and General Musharraf of Pakistan. (You know him, he leads our so-called partner against terrorism. )
So rather than spend more time reading about the everyday mundane workings of middle-class America, take a look at what's going on outside our borders. Add your voice to the cause and hope that maybe, just maybe, the chorus will be loud enough to make change happen.
It's a cloudy day in Baltimore and the kids and I are waiting on the guy who's going to take a look at our over-the-hill dishwasher. I'm really hoping it's something that can be fixed because we really aren't in a great position to buy a new dishwasher, especially with tuition payments for fall coming up in July.
Working a couple of projects right now. Both on the short-end deadline wise so a quite day at home is a bit too my advantage. And yes, I'm taking a small break right now to share my pain. Yes pain. As in tooth, well nerve pain in my tooth.
While my self-diagnosis of a blocked salivary duct was correct, yesterday brought on this new pain, and I know it's tooth-involved and a screaming nerve. Even 800mg of ibuprofen have had little effect on it when it decides to make its presence felt. Usually when eating or yawning. And my appointment with the dentist isn't until tomorrow late afternoon...and it seems to be getting worst. If anyone has any homeopathic suggestions, I'm listening. Other than that, I'll just not eat and try to stay calm and relaxed. It's pain that builds character, right? Okay, now it's back to work.
Seems that our family practicioner hasn't password protected his wireless network yet, so here I am surfing while waiting. Personally, I'd leave the network as is, a great thing for those waiting room blues. I've already been waiting for 40 minutes and still haven't seen him. But hey, at least I was able to get an appointment in the same week as I made the call.
What's wrong? Nothing serious. Just some minor sinus issues and the mysterious pain in my mouth which I've self-diagnosed as a blocked saliva duct. (This after the first family diagnosis was a dental issue which proved false). Time to go and see if I was correct or not.
Anyone in my family can tell you that I love pickles, the only exception to that being sweet pickles. Dill, half-sour, sour....they are a wonderful treat for my palate. I have become so very picky about pickles, that if they aren't crispy enough (a sign of being on the grocery shelf too long) then I really can't eat them. I've discovered that my favorite half-sour pickles that I can get here in Baltimore, Ba-Tampte, are best when the pickles are a dark green and the brine is clear.
Yesterday, I mistakenly bought a jar of their Garlic Dill pickles thinking that they were the Half-Sours. I was a little wary of this particular jar because while the brine was clear the pickles were lighter than usual (still thinking it was a jar of Half-Sours). Anyhow, right before we put the kids to bed, and in need of a quick snack, I opened the jar to discover that these were sour pickles. Sour, salty, slight jolt to the tongue sour pickles. Just like the ones they bring you in a little bowl when you sit down at the deli. Pickle nirvana. Anyhow, since I have both my kids addicted to the Half-Sours, this was an opportunity for full pickle indoctrination. So, when they came up to the kitchen I offered them both a taste. I was sure it would be too sour for at least Izzy, and possibly Liam. But nope, they both loved it and I will for now, be joyfully sharing my sour pickles (disguised on your grocery shelves as Garlic Dill, by the way) with my two children. And as my family knows, I never really liked to share my pickles. See, people can change.
It's called conjunctivitis. Commonly known as pink eye and in my case that would be pink eyes. Courtesy of my youngest, who passed it on to his Mom and now me. Looks like we are all taking a trip to PatientFirst later today (Izzy has a lingering cold that may or may not be a sinus infection).
I've got a pretty good lead on a job right now. Just waiting for the next phone interview and then hopefully an in-person interview. I really am inpatient and don't enjoy the waiting for the call thing. But this is the way life is. In the meantime I have installed Mac OSX 10.4 (Tiger) on the laptop and all seems to be back to normal. (I was having some major issues with apps not responding, so this seemed the perfect time to upgrade). And while the laptop is obviously slow, my next big project may result in a new used laptop that is at least faster than this old (1999 G3, 400mhz) thing. But it's still working for now. And I'll take that blessing. And now it's back to work.
So, it's been two seasons since I was laid-off. The cold reality of corporate restructuring led to a Spring full of hope and thoughts of a new, challenging experience. Honestly, I really thought my the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day, I'd be busily adapting to a new position with a new company. Well, with Izzy's school closing in a week, June's job will be taking care of Izzy and Liam (he'll be at preschool) at least two days a week, since hiring a babysitter is out of the question for now.
I still have some leads. Still working on some potential possibilities for full-time work and waiting to hear about interviews. Have a couple of small projects to work on, a brochure coming up before the end of the month, two proposals to write. I've got a list of several new creative headhunting firms to contact with my revised resume. (The one that's a bit more 'marketing' focused.)
Next step seems to be getting more aggressive in getting my name out there to the general public. Find more 'connectors' out there to network with and whatever else I can to find some opportunities to use my knowledge and experience in order to bring more value to a client's bottom line. (One must talk the talk and walk the walk.) Advertising cheaply (Someone suggested Google, but first I need to get my site up.) is also on the list.
So, today is one of those only semi-productive days where I get a bit lost or just feel unfocused. So the rest of the day will be working on my schedule for tomorrow and refocussing on what it is I need to do.
The song for the day.
Hard Day from the album “Faith” by George Michael