Archive of Marcia's Musings - January 15-21, 2001Sunday, January 21, 2001
First Things First
I was awake and out of bed by 4:30am-- ya know what? None of you post that early!!! Well, okay, the Europeans and the Bowmans had posted but it was too early for most of the rest of you!! There wasn't any email either. I played a stupid game until 5:30am and then went to shower and dress for the conference. I left for the conference at 6:30am and, of course, was there by 7:30am. I went to the meeting room and set up my computer for the PowerPoint presentation. "John" my AVP made a few opening remarks and then introduced me. I flubbed one bit but otherwise it went well-- other people made their presentations and the COO took general questions after everyone else had spoken. My region, the southeast, has made their numbers consistently for the entire year which is why we warranted a visit from the COO. I don't know if he was in the back of the room when I spoke or not-- I'm probably better off that I didn't see him!
As I packed up my computer, a couple of people came up to ask me questions which I thought was good. Much of the sales force still sees us as "The Enemy", the force trying to stop deals-- hey, I admit it: I was bonused this quarter to make sure that my region made their numbers. We don't know the dollar amount of that bonus yet-- it could be $25-- but I pushed deals through because that's my job not because I was bonused on it. I'm not the enemy by any stretch of the imagination and, by putting us in front of the sales reps more frequently, they will understand the difference between having an "Enemy" and a team player in the Contracts Department.
Geek-Y Afternoon
When I got home from San Francisco this morning, Brian and I went to Fry's to get me an early birthday present (or so he called it): a Palm Pilot, specifically a Palm m100. (I told you it was a mother of a hint!!) I spent about an hour and a half up- and downloading info and it was done. I've got to learn stuff about it yet and I don't have all of my appointments in it but, it is definitely a start!
After All is Said and Done . . .
With Brian being sick and my niece coming in next weekend, I've decided that I'm not going to take tomorrow as a vacation day afterall. I've gotta take a half-day off next Monday to take Natali to the train station in the morning to go back to San Luis Obispo so I'd rather take that time then than taking tomorrow off. If Brian weren't sick and we were able to actually go and do something, it would be different but, as I said: after all is said and done, I'd rather not take tomorrow off afterall.
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So, I need to try to call Leah after dinner-- maybe I'll get lucky and catch her at home this time. If not, there's always tomorrow.I'm going to kick back for the rest of the evening-- you have a nice one, too!
Saturday, January 20, 2001Not a Saturday!!
You know how I know this isn't a Saturday? Cuz I don't get up at 4:30am on a Saturday unless I'm going fishing. And while I did see some water from 280 on my way up to San Francisco, it was not because I was stopping to fish there!! ARGH!!! I was out of the apartment by 5:30am and, in San Francisco, parked and in the hotel where the meeting is being held by 6:40-- I was the first of 875 participants at the meeting!! ARGH!!! (I know-- I'm repeating myself but get used it!!) The first speaker in the meeting was a motivational speaker who did hypnotism on the side-- very funny indeed!! He had one guy talking to his shoe as though he was talking to a customer on a real phone. Then there were more product break-outs but it all broke up around 12:30pm with everyone going off in different directions for organized activities.
By this time half-asleep, I thought it best to drive home. (Makes perfect sense to me!) I was really proud of myself because I didn't get lost going to or coming back from San Francisco. I was, however, very tired and layed down for a nap when I got home. Brian didn't end up working on the computer for the neighbor so we didn't go out to dinner with them tonight; considering how tired I was and how "icky" Brian's feeling, that's probably better anyway.
I've already re-written and rehearsed my presentation for tomorrow morning-- yes, I am nervous but I'm trying not to be-- really, I am!!! ARGH!!!! (I told you to get used to it!) I've tried every way possible to not make the presentation boring and to have fun with it but, it is about "Assignment and Transfer" which are important to contracts but not to sales reps. ARGH!!!!
Okay, enough-- I'm not going to do this to myself all night.
The Belands have decided to stop north of Sacramento, if they stop for the night at all so we won't be seeing Keri & Matt this weekend. Oh, well, we'll catch up with them another time-- think "safety" thoughts for them as they make this trip.
I guess that's about it for me for tonight-- Have a nice evening (and think "Happy Thoughts" for my presentation tomorrow!! ARGH!!!)!!!
Friday, January 19, 2001Fun Day!
I'll let you put whatever tone you want to put on that, okay? Okay!
Well, let's see: I met a bunch of sales reps that I've only talked with on the phone before; I saw/renewed acquaintances with other sales reps that I have seen/met before; I watched a lot of presentations by our marketing people; I was approached by the manager of the maintenance renewal people who informed me that she and I will be going to Chicago next month. Oh, boy! There's another travel possibility beyond that but I'm not going to jinx it by saying something too early-- I really, REALLY want the second trip so I'll put up with Chicago so I can get to go on the second one!!
I left the house this morning at 6:50am and got back at 7:45pm. Tomorrow I am going to drive myself up to the city because I can control my comings and goings then without being dependent on the bus/shuttle schedule or other drivers. A number of people asked if I was going to be able to stay for lunch tomorrow but, at the time, I knew that the bus schedule conflicted with that possibility. Now, because I'm driving myself, I will be able to stay for lunch tomorrow-- I prefer being able to talk with people on my own terms.
It's 8:45pm and I have to get some sleep cuz I have to be on the road by about 6:00am which means I am going to be out of bed by 5:00am at the latest. It can take more than an hour to get up to the city, even on a weekend and I just hate dealing with traffic but I hate waiting around for people worse and hate having to deal with other people's schedules even more. ARGH!! I am definitely in a Catch-22!!
I hope you're all going to have a nice weekend-- I'll have mine on Monday, thanks! The good news is that Brian will have Saturday and Sunday and then, have Monday, too. Maybe by then, he'll be healthy!!
I'm going to go read websites cuz I haven't been able to do that-- Have a nice evening!
Thursday, January 18, 2001No Rest for the . . . PAMPERED????
Rough life, eh? Our group went to the spa today-- our company's reward for a job well done. Nice stuff, too. One woman got a body scrub which exfoliated her skin (no, I didn't want to know either), one got an herbal body wrap, a couple got pedicures and manicures and massages while I opted for the facial. I think its unique that the "facial" in this case involves the arms, neck, fingers, hand and palm-- nice massage!! Yes, I've booked myself for another in mid-March and I'm already looking forward to it!!
First Half Delivered
The Netwidows already know this, as do the Syroids so I guess I can tell you, too: the first half of the Syroids' Surprises have arrived!! Leah called me while she was on a break, which she can take cuz Tom has a car to drive to the hospital to stay with Landon while she and Danielle do something together. She was all excited because the fruit baskets we ordered arrived-- apparently, looking spectacularly and over-flowing with fruit. Landon and Danielle love fruit so she was really excited at its arrival!!
Two of a Kind
Have you been to Barbara Thompson's site today? I'm afraid that she has something in common with my husband: a fascination for construction sites!! I've put up SEVENTEEN (17!!) pictures for holidays or birthdays or vacations but of a construction site in your front yard?!?!? I had to chuckle at that!!
Brian's the same way which is one thing that bothers me about his commute: he drives through a major highway reconstruction project every day and I know he's looking around at what has progressed from day to day. (I know this because he points out the progress to me the next time he takes me that way.) As much as I worry that he isn't paying attention to traffic as he drives through that section, he must be because he hasn't gotten in an accident yet. That's something to say for his driving, eh? Either he's really good at slamming on the brakes or he really does pay attention to what's going on around him in addition to looking at the piece of concrete that's being hoisted overhead!
Oh, Boy!!
I believe I told you that my niece and nephew have moved to Southern California? Well, this afternoon, my niece called and asked if she could come up for a visit-- this weekend!! I told her about the sales conference so, we changed it to next weekend!! I'm excited-- she's excited!!! Hopefully, everything will work out-- if she comes up, it'll be by AmTrak on Friday. It'll be fun if it does work out so everybody needs to go back to crossing toes and fingers for us!!
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Well, I would say that I'm "done in" but, that would be lying. I'm only tired from the standpoint that I didn't sleep well last night and I had a glass of wine for lunch. I'm thinking that qualifies more as "relaxed" . . . I'll take it today, too. I won't be home from the city until around 7:30pm tomorrow. I need sleep tonight!
Have a nice evening!!
Wednesday, January 17, 2001Speakeasy Shortcoming
When I start getting a lot of email, because of something inside of the Speakeasy account, I stop downloading my home account email (dutchgirl.net) in Yahoo and start using Speakeasy. Yesterday, as you can well imagine, there was a lot of email!! In Yahoo, _*I*_ am the one who gets to choose when to delete email. In Speakeasy, it decides when to delete an email if I haven't put it in a file. Not a good thing!
Well, I have just dropped the mother of all hints: I want a Palm Pilot or similar product so that I have phone numbers with me!!! I had to call Dan Bowman at work to get Shelley's phone number at home!! I thought it would be in my Inbox on Speakeasy but NOOooooo, it had been deleted!! I didn't like that, needless to say.
Tomorrow . . .
Because of the worldwide conference that we're having in San Francisco this weekend, tomorrow is a travel day for most people in the sales organization. As a result, my director feels that it is "safe" for us to take a day to ourselves for an off-site. We're going to the same day spa that we went to last year!! I'm having a facial so I'll feel better when we're finished. We're also doing lunch and . . . I don't know what but it will be a nice day.
The Weekend
The sales meeting this weekend is the winter counterpart to the meeting that we had in Phoenix last July. It is fun from an educational side of the fence and it is neat to meet people that we ordinarily only talk to on the phone. The times of the meeting and my times of attendance don't match perfectly but they aren't paying for a hotel room this time, either. If I have to drive 80+ miles roundtrip every day, they aren't going to get me to stay until 10pm at night. When they spring for a room, I'll stay and go to every function being held.
Last Word
There are going to be a few things "surprising" the Syroids over the course of the next few days . . . interesting and tasty and exciting and fun and giggly things are going to be showing up . . .
I think I might've missed my calling: I should've been a Fairy Godmother!!
Have a nice evening!!
Tuesday, January 16, 2001Busy Day!!
Not with work-- with important stuff: FAMILY in the form of Friends (yes, with a Capital "F" in both cases) who are in need of support and love and nurturing!! Don'tcha just love this community we call the Netwidows and Daynotes Gang? Who needs blood relation when you've got friends as good as this is???
Ooops, sorry-- perhaps you haven't heard: Landon Syroid took an awkward fall and broke the femur in one of his legs!! The poor little guy has to be in traction for 10-14 days and then in a body cast!! Man, that is so not fun for a 20-month old!!
Speaking of "community", however, you know women: we're gonna help the little guy have fun while he's down for the count and make sure his sister has a good time, too. And you have to agree, they are gonna need to be eating healthy, too, huh?? ;>) Hmmm . . . never, never, NEVER under estimate the power (and wonder-ment) of women!!
Also speaking of "community", counting myself (and yes, Keri, I do talk to and answer myself!), I have spoken with five Netwidows today: Leah (well, DAH!!), Shelley, Barbara, Keri and ME!! That has to be some kinda record, ya know? If it weren't for the time differences, I shoulda gone ahead and called Lynne and Wendy while I was at it, too. We are a neat bunch of ladies, ya know?
Well, all of that said: continued prayers for the Syroids-- BIG HUGS for Tom and Leah and Danielle and Landon. Thanks to my family on this internet that make it so fun to be here and share in a part of all of our lives!!
Thanks to our readers, too-- it is a pleasure to have you as a powerful, sharing, and caring part of our lives everyday.
Have a nice evening!!
Monday, January 15, 2001What a Way to Start Your Day!!
Debra, one of my co-workers, and her husband, Michael, went to Los Angeles over the weekend. About an hour after they arrived, they decided to get a frozen yogurt. They got as far as the intersection and the light changed for them to have the "Walk" signal-- a bus, however, decided that it was going to make the light that had already changed against it. No, the bus didn't kill anyone but it did cause severe damage to Michael. Debra was several feet behind him and was not hit but, her scream for Michael to stop was too late.
Michael is in the intensive care at the hospital; his prognosis is good. The bleeding in/around his spleen has stopped; their main concern is watching for other internal injuries and his left leg which was somehow damaged (we're not sure if it was broken or not) in the accident. LAPD has witnesses' statements that state that the bus was driving approximately 45 to 50MPH, 10-15MPH over the speed limit.
Please think happy thoughts, render prayers, or whatever for a swift and speedy recovery-- Michael's young so that is in his favor as well as having a loving wife in Debra.
I've gotta tell ya-- when I was told about this incident this morning, the second thing I did was call Brian.
Other Happenings
The conference call that I got to work before 7am did not happen. The sales rep met with the customer's negotiators and end users but there wasn't a phone in the conference room where they had the meeting. The country manager wasn't able to go with her either but apparently, it went well. We are an accommodating company and, within reason, we will try to accommodate their needs so long as it doesn't jeopardize our software. We'll have to see how this one works out-- there are ways, now that they understand what the end user's needs are and what we are capable of doing to meet those needs, to find a compromise but the negotiators for the other side have to be (a) more knowledgable about the type of software and the way that it is licensed and (b) find a middle ground of what they really require from us on their licensing issues.
The lunch with the COO went well, too. He is a very intelligent and personable man who has the common sense to speak to people-- all of us-- like we are equals with him. His attitude, as he portrays it is that he is an ordinary guy and we're just as ordinary as he is which is, needless to say, refreshing. We got some insights on how he expects our role as contract negotiators to go forward and personally, I was glad he took the time from his schedule. Admittedly, I expected him to take/make calls during our lunch but he didn't do that once-- I was pleasantly surprised.
The AVP for my area confirmed that he wants me to do my presentation-- I've got another rehearsal tomorrow. The COO was pleased and surprised that I was making a presentation. Silly me, I suggested he come see it since he'll be in the area anyway!! ARGH!! That's great-- make myself even more nervous!!
Other than that, nothing major happening around here. We've resubmitted our ads for the car on Yahoo! and Excite, lowering the price to $4,000-- tell people about it!!! It really is a great little car-- I'm going to miss it, I think!!
Anyway, that's it for me tonight...have a nice evening!
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