there is a Disco Ball ruining my day

This week is apparently the week of time sucks. Every meeting I sit through lasts forever with no new conclusion. I have mounds of work piling up on my desk, phone calls to return, information to send. I can't seem to keep my head above water. Then this afternoon someone comes into my office to tell me that there is a rental company asking for me in the lobby. Ok, I used to work for a rental company - I know how they operate - SLOWLY. So I go meet the guy - seems nice, probably right out of college and can't find the job he really wants. I show him where to set up and tell him I will hang around until the placement of the disco ball is determined.

What's that you say? You thought I worked at a corporate conference center? Yeah, that's what I thought too. Anyway, they drag in a whole bunch of stuff and start setting up - the craps table. I think, well, the pieces are heavy and they might as well put them in place as they bring them in. Then they roll out the felt and start placing it on the table...as I'm sitting there watching them. Does anyone remember the sentence where I said I was only staying until the disco ball was up? When they start using rolled up tape to clean any lint off of the table is when I can't take it anymore and tell them to stop playing with the table and set up the disco ball so that if they need anything from me I am still there. I don't think they like me anymore. And quite frankly, I don't care...because now I am back in my office where I can get work done and complain about them on my blog.



P.S. to all my English teaching and loving friends - I do realize that the title of this post is not correct. However, it was visually pleasing to me this way.

Are We There Yet?

This priceless road trip question popped into my head this afternoon as I was thinking about my upcoming college reunion. This weekend I will celebrate 10 years since graduating. I'm excited to see friends that I haven't seen in years and reconnect with old roommates and classmates.

Who am I kidding? Everyone thinks I'm taking Friday off to see the Royal wedding. While I do plan to watch, I really am more excited about seeing old friends. The more often we reunion, they are truly becoming OLD friends. I however, haven't aged a bit. I've just grown.

Stay tuned as the adventures of Snarky and Sassy unfold in what is sure to be an entertaining weekend, some of which will undoubtedly be at my expense. Some will be at their expense too, so it all works out in the end. I can't wait to see what happens!

Questions are Concerns

Grammar is very important. It is a reflection of who you are and your level of intelligence. Even on Facebook! As you all know, I am a HUGE fan of my intern. However, I am trying to be patient and calm and teach her. After all, there are thousands of people who helped me along the way, and while I feel that somehow they all used the tough love approach in teaching, I am trying to be a more kind and caring teacher.

This week, almost every email I have seen that the intern has sent, reads "Please contact me with any questions are concerns." At first, I thought it was simply a typo. As I write this, I'm trying to figure out a way to bring it to her attention without making her feel too horrible.

Other grammar issues that are driving me crazy this week:
1. To, Too and Two are different words and mean different things.
2. Today is one word, not To Day
3. There is no R is Wash

I (hair) Do

Working in this industry, I am extremely opinionated about most things relating to the wedding. However, there are some aspects in which I am completely clueless. Such as how I would like my hair. As with most anything in my life that I don't know what to do about - I went to the internet; specifically the knot, to see what words of wisdom they could impart. Then I had to send this to Snarky and Sassy to see what they thought. You should know that Sassy has really dark brown hair - but for this most sacred occasion in my life, she has graciously offered to go blonde and to match her dress will die the braid dark purple. Only because Snarky offered to pay her to do it. Yea, that's the love and support you get when your wedding theme is Sarcasm and Sophistication....still looking for the sophistication.

For your own safety

 I realize that all you want to do is sit at your desk and look up pricing on the internet for new things to buy. However, what I have asked you to do is inventory. Nobody likes it, everybody hates it....you can even sing the song while you are back there counting things. However, it does us no good to start pricing items when we don't know if we even need them. For your own safety, stop arguing with me every time I give you a project.

I understand that you think your way is the better way of doing something, but just once, I would like you to consider that maybe I have a reason for the way I'm asking for this to be done. While it makes more sense for you to start set up in one room, maybe that room is in use, maybe there are items being stored in that room for another group. MAYBE you should do things the way that I ask you to....for your own safety.

I appreciate that you think because you had a difficult time finding a place to park yesterday that you are now an expert in large groups. However, pointing at me and telling me that you spent all your time "dealing" with the parking situation is your own problem. To my knowledge there was no "situation", just some people trying to park. If you would like to keep that finger, I suggest that you stop using it to point at me during our discussion.

Little White Lies

It's the age old question...is a little white lie ok? They seem harmless, but are they? Someone will end up paying for the lie....
1. We had an accident with the pasta salad - makes the servers look clumsy
2. You look great in that dress - now you are out in public looking like a fool
3. That cookie is fat free - ok, no one really ever believes that one!

But I hope that you can see my point. While they seem innocent, someone is left to look foolish. So what if people refer to you as harsh or insensitive. At least you are honest.

I am not as stealthy as a Ninja

I like to think that I am highly professional most moments of my life. What is interesting about my current life, is that I get to do a little bit of everything, meeting planning, table moving, buffet set up...if it needs to be done, sometimes I'm the only one around to do it. Today we have a very small meeting and so there was no need to pay to have servers here when I can  mess it up myself.

So here's how it went down. I load up everything the group will need for lunch onto a cart, so that I can just roll it into the room, drop it on tables, take the dirty dishes and break food away and get out of the room. Great plan right? The loading of the cart went well, but the rest, not so stealthy. I quietly near the door to the room with my cart, slowly turn the handle of the door and cccrrraaaaacccckk POP, well, now the door is open. I make my way into the room, smile at all the people who are now staring at me and get to work. As quietly as possible, I'm picking up break food, setting out lunch food, clearing trays of dirty dishes and refreshing water glasses. I move so smoothly and quietly the group is able to turn their focus back to the original topic. I'm feeling much better about this situation until I finish. I have to open that door again...no ninja status today.