Work Ethic

I understand that everyone has a different sense of what a good work ethic is, but I feel strongly that if you think working for an hour (still be AT work for 8) is too strenuous, then you shouldn't be in this industry. Meetings change times, their needs change, speakers on a whim will decide they need 3 more tables and 6 more flipcharts for an activity they think will be "fun". The nature of our business is a moving target. Strangely, that's one of the things I like about it. Unless of course, I'm the one moving the tables!

As we begin to emerge from this catastrophic recession, I feel that people are shocked that things are needed again. Shouldn't we be excited that there is more work to be done? Obviously if you are one of the unfortunate souls covering several peoples' positions you do not feel this way. But if you have been a slacker sitting in your office with nothing to do because there was no business, aren't you excited to have something to pass the day faster?

Apparently, not everyone shares my enthusiasm for business. I'm up to my eyeballs in BEOs, Room Diagrams, conference calls and invoicing. I'm exhausted, but I'm happy. To me, if there is no work to be done, there is no point for me to be at work. I would rather have a running to do list - prevents boredom and the ever growing addiction to facebook.

And now I have more options to tweet about. Yes, I still don't love that part...

Putting the fun back in dysfunctional

Growing up, my mom would frequently mention that we put the fun in dysfunctional...it wasn't until recently that I realized how true she was.

My family is great about getting issues out in the open...as long as it is behind your back. What we do is get together with some members of the family and then talk about the others, then you switch groups. Since we're a little southern, you hear a lot of "bless his heart" and "I'm only bringing it up out of love and concern". One day I want to out all of them for this crazy tradition. I mean, we are the people of circle of death (if you don't already know about circle of death, you have to wait until Christmas, which is when it occurs), and dinners for 25 people, why can't we just say what is on our mind like other families?

This past weekend I went home to visit. Every holiday, my brother and I ask my mom what she wants as a gift, she always says she wants pictures of us. We oblige her this request every few years. The main reason we don't do this all of the time is because it's creepy. Many photographers we have used try to make us look like we are dating. I realize we are from WV, but inbreeding is not nearly as popular as you may think. So the last thing my brother and I want to do is get dressed up and smile for a camera. But it's been several years and we thought we should bite the bullet. Friday afternoon we went to Kelli's house (remember her? she's the whole reason I ramble endlessly on this page) for our photo shoot. As we are standing there, my brother makes some sarcastic comment to which Kelli pops out from behind her camera and says "you two have the same sense of humor!". I had never thought about just how sarcastic we are and that our parents don't seem so much so. Then it hit me...

We got it from mom. After all, she's the one that talked for years about how she and her best friend were going to open a funeral home. Not only was she going to put the fun back in dysfunctional at home, she and Kaye were going to put the Fun in Funeral. They had a long list of things that they would not allow in the funeral home...the only one I remember now is a light up phone with a banner that said "He got the call." I totally agree with them on this one.

So next time you are reading this and wondering why in the world I can ramble on endlessly, it's because I grew up putting the fun back in dysfunctional.

Hairspray in the car

I have always been under the assumption that your car is for driving. This is the main purpose of having a car. While I am guilty of occasionally putting on lip gloss, I do not try to completely get ready in the car. This morning I had the unfortunate privilege of being behind a woman who must have rolled out of bed and into her car. In my 12 minute commute to work, I saw make up, hair brush, and a cloud of hairspray that would have set the whole car on fire if there had been a spark.

I will refrain from elaborating on how bad her hair looked from my car and just suggest that maybe you take that extra few minutes in the morning to complete the majority of your grooming in the house instead of for an audience of drivers who wonder when you will blow yourself up.

Scheduling

Ok, so I am fortunate enough to work in an office that goes to a 4 day work week for the summer. But here's the catch, if we have groups in, then obviously we don't all take the day off. Well, today is the first day of the first week of the summer schedule, so instead of taking 5 days to work 40 hours, you split 40 hours into 4 days. I'm bad at math, but this is a simple concept to me. Apparently though, I am a genius because everyone else can't seem to figure out when to come to work???

Advanced Planning

So there is a group who is arriving soon and by soon I mean early next week. Over 100 people. The planner couldn't be bothered to sign the contract before yesterday morning. This gives me chest pains. Theoretically, I am not going to do anything with the information until Monday anyway, but the fact that they are withholding the information is driving me crazy. As my boss would say "I'm all out of sweet girl."

So yesterday morning after I receive the signed contract, I drop everything to send them menus and AV questions. Nothing...just the frogs outside my office croaking. No information being returned, only sent. This morning I start making calls - no answers, no return calls. Blood pressure is hitting amazing levels at this point. Maybe I'll go to the hospital with the woman who felt like she was having a heart attack. Did I mention it's been a good day so far? Oh wait, she wants to go to Gaston Memorial...too far away from my house. I guess I'll just stay here and hope that maybe someone will decide it would be beneficial for me to have meeting details.

Have I mentioned that patience is not a virtue I possess? I called the assistant's cell phone. I mean, her fault for giving it to Crystal if she didn't want any of us to call her. So I'm telling her in my sweetest voice possible that I really need a decision on lunch for next week as well as how they want the rooms set up and what their AV needs are. Well, she's just so glad I have called. However, right now she is in Walmart, and can't hear me too well so she needs to call me back when she returns to the house.

Yet another way the Walmart wins out.

Nametags

So I wear a nametag to work every day...well, most days. This is to identify me as someone who works here and not a participant of another meeting. When groups are in house, some wear nametags and some don't. But today I saw something that I didn't expect.

The group that is here has printed name tags, but I have seen 2 or 3 people with hand written nametags. Not uncommon for networking events, but a little mysterious for a corporate meeting. Still, most of them have just scribbled their name on with a sharpie. About ten minutes ago I saw a woman who had taken more time with hers. Each letter was a different, bright color (red, yellow, blue and orange)and to beat it all, the letters were bubble letters! I mean seriously???? I would expect such action from a 15 year old girl, but this woman is well into her 50's. So this begs the question...how old is too old for bubble letters? I say anything past college when you are in a working environment.

Chia Pet Update

I know that everyone has been distraught by the lack of hair my chia pet was growing. He has been using just for men and the results are amazing! Now I'm trying to figure out the best style for him. Oh, and now he has a mouth, but no nose. He actually has several different mouths to choose between. Because that's what I need, one more distraction in my day. First it was Facebook, and I'm expected to use twitter two to three times a day and now I have to decide what kind of mood my chia pet is in. But on the other hand, it's pretty fantastic because now when people walk by my office and ask who I'm talking to, I tell them I'm talking to the pet. Sounds better than admitting that I talk to myself! I guess he needs a name? Send me some suggestions!

In other agricultural news from my office, my peace lilly is starting to bloom, but I'm killing a fern. It's happy and sad all in the same basket.