Tower of Babble

With the 2009-2010 school quickly approaching, a few weeks ago, I wrote about as adults perhaps we, too, should involve ourselves in new learning activity for the “school year.” (If you are having a difficult times choosing your new learning experience, all of the Dale Carnegie programs have open spots. – semi-joking).

To heed my own advice, I decided I would try to learn French from CDs from the library. French is a language I have always wanted to learn. I truly believe in a future life, I will be a Parisian. But then I also believe in a past life, I was a cat.

So last week, on the way home from work, I stopped at the library and grabbed a case of French language CDs. As soon as I left the library, I inserted a CD into my car module and began listening. My excitement was high! Finally, I am starting to learn the French language. In my enthusiasm, I did not look close enough to the case. Guess what? The CDs were level 3 French. I was way over my head! There was not even a simple – bon jour and merci.

So yesterday, I repackaged the CDs and returned them to the library. Not the end of the world, I would just find beginner French CDs. While perusing the CDs, I decided to become more influent in another language – Dale Carnegie.

Each and every industry has its own language. Within each industry, each company has a slightly different language. Working within the retained search industry for 20+ years, I am exceedingly fluent in that language. In fact, while trying to learn my new language of Dale Carnegie, I am still using the language of search. Learning a language takes an investment of time and commitment.

The one Dale Carnegie phrase I have accomplished is:

Make it a great day! - MOM

Love is a Battlefield

Ouch! That’s when I touch one of the many bruises on the right side of my body. Pat Benetar was right, “love is a battlefield.”

But my pain is from an 18 month old baby named Coco. As most of you know, she is the love of my life. This weekend I had the opportunity of having Coco spend Saturday night with me. During the evening hours, we visited with the neighbors and enjoyed a bonfire. She made friends with the 2 year old girl across the street.

There was a time when Coco was younger, she spent her night’s sleep in her pack n’ play until she made a sound. When she made a sound, I awoke out of a sound sleep and brought her to my bed. Now, she goes right to sleep in Mimi’s big bed.

The past Saturday, Coco had a fitful night’s sleep. She tossed, turned and KICKED. No matter how many times I pushed her further away from me, I found her right next to me and kicking. Yes, I could have got up and placed her in the pack n’ play. But no, I’m too lazy. And, like all babies, when she is asleep she looks like an angel. How could I?

Love can be pain. Do we learn from it? No, we keep going back to be kicked again and again.

A bruised MOM

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Follow the yellow meridian on the road to OZ. Or, follow the stairway to heaven. Or, just follow the signs for Minnesota Highway 61 North. It leads you to a small piece of heaven - Minnesota's north shore.

Little known fact: Minnesota Highway 61 is the second most scenic coastal highway in the United States. California's Highway 1 is number 1. Bob Dylan wrote a song about Highway 61. Not being a Bob Dylan fan, I must rely on my sources for this to be true.

Minnesota Highway 61 North starts in Duluth, Minnesota and winds along Lake Superior. This is a two-lane highway. But no need to rush, the road is lined with beautiful birch and pines trees. You can view Lake Superior (the Midwestern ocean) from your car. At one point, the road goes through a tunnel cut from the stone of the huge hill.

At mile marker 72. the girls and I have always stopped at this little place to eat. It's called the Satellite. They have the best homemade pie. On the way home, we stopped for breakfast. More about the yummy food in another session.

That's all for tonight - MOM

Summer Vacation

One of my earliest school memories is still very clear to me. It was in fourth grade. Each of the students prepared an oral report on "What I did on my summer Vacation. " Gosh, I was so very impressed by Joseph Kowalski. He and his family drove to CALIFORNIA! How could I ever beat that? Each summer I went to Minnesota and spent the summers with my father. Oh believe me, he made sure we had plenty of activities. We took day trips all over the state of Minnesota. We waded across the source of the Mississippi River. We rode horses. Our neighbor was a family with 9 children and thousands of acres of pasture. But how on earth could this compare to California?

As I have grown wiser, I now know that it is not necessarily the spot but the adventures and experiences. Those summers in Minnesota were rich with experiences and fun. In turn, I mentally go through each summer preparing for that oral report on "What I Did on my Summer Vacation." Now that my girls (Monkey and Neptune) are grown I hope that they have wonderful summer memories.

This year, Monkey and I went to MINNESOTA Personally, I enjoyed a perfect vcation. Over the next week or so, I will be writing pieces about my latest summer vacation.

MOM

Casual Fridays?!

It all started with Casual Fridays. Somehow this became a company benefit. My questions are how? And why?

Last week, I was downtown for a meeting. In my mind, the downtown dress code was set at a higher level. Not anymore. Recently on a Thursday morning (not a Friday), on the train platform waiting for the train downtown, I noticed how extremely casual the crowd was dressed. Now, I am not talking about gym shoes for the walking portion of commute. I am talking about scruffy jeans and gym shoes, t-shirts, Capri pants and wrinkled clothing. Honestly, on the train car where I sat with a friend, we were the only two people dressed professionally.

One may say, well it’s suburbanites coming into the city. I beg to differ! Once downtown and away from the train station, the same dismal and unprofessional clad people were far outnumbering the professionally dressed people. In fact, most of the tourists were dressed better than the employed people.

To this day, I have two complete wardrobes in my closet: my work (suits, dry-cleaned clothes) and my casual clothes (still neat).

So who decided we could go to work looking like slobs? And how is this a benefit?

What not to wear - MOM

August!!!

Where does the time go? Looking at the calendar, I can’t believe that August is staring me in the face. While the month of August does not hold any major holidays, it is a very important month in the year. The fun and relaxed days of summer are drawing to a close. Labor Day and September are just around the corner.

August is the time to start preparing for the school year or the last quarter of the business year. In September, when the school world has resumed for the year, the business world bears down to finish the year on the upswing. Some find this a good time for personal development. Of course, personally, I would like to everyone to sign up for a Dale Carnegie Program, but only if is right for you.

Maybe the last sprint to the end of the end will include:
Joining a yoga class
Taking a cooking class
Taking a fun class at the local community college
Learning a foreign language
Taking a trip where you have never been before
Actually going to the gym and working out
Joining a group such as a running club, whatever
Starting a group to complete a group project

Whatever you choose, make it enjoyable and fun. As Nike says just, “just do it.”

Enjoy!


MOM

1st

AAAHHH!

Remember your first anything. It was memorable and significant. To get you started, below is a list of some firsts:

• the first kiss of a new relationship
• your first legal alcoholic drink
• your first date with someone special
• your first day of school
• your first time you rode a bike without training wheels
• your first soccer goal
• first time your drove a car

Aren't these events grand? The last three weeks have been filled with firsts. All have been exciting and fun. (You can tell I am back to work. I compose in list form.) Here's my new list:

• first day of work
• first staff meeting - great fun
• first day of outside blitzing
• first phone calls - I was nervous
• today, at our weekly Popsicle climb party (We have a board with Popsicle sticks marking $1000 increment sales. ) We celebrated my first $1000 sale. Along with the Popsicle climb, I got to slam the gong. Yes, we have a life size gong in the office. It's a fun place to work.

Onto to first base - MOM