11 posts tagged “work”

not sure which forces are aligning but my sister and I are ending our jobs at the same time. In both cases we have been a valuable part of the company and both companies really really didn't want to see us go. Her company (she manages cosmetics for a major retail department store in the southwest) was pretty much BEGGING her to stay. No extra compensation offered, just a plate of good, old fashioned guilt. Which made her waver a little, but in the end today is her last day.

And tomorrow is mine. I'm most excited to not have to use Lotus Notes anymore. Hate hate hate that product. Not looking forward to leaving behind colleagues who have become friends, especially my former manager, while I know I'll remain close to her, it just won't be the same not being able to pop down to her office on a whim and rant or rave about any given thing.

The worst thing about my sister quitting though is that my supply of free cosmetics and perfumes (Lancome, Dior, Givenchy, etc) will come to an end. And well, I can't justify spending $60 on face cream or $40 on mascara, so I guess it's back to CVS for me, sigh. Still, it was very very good while it lasted. :)

Sooo I just scored a new job as a PR Director for a big tech firm, helping grow the PR program for one of their newer divisions. It will be a good challenge for me and I'm really excited.

The tough part is telling people at my current job that I'm leaving. My timing is bad, so that doesn't help as we're hiring a new PR firm and we're going to be doing a lot of transition related to that change, much less having to transition my own work. Some people are worried about the hole I'm leaving and I can sense frustration when I mention I'm going. Many understand my reasons. Others are outright joyful that I'll be doing something good for me. But for the most part people have been sad, as I have felt--sad that I won't be working with such great people anymore.

But it's spring now and the peepers are out--I heard them yesterday. What a wonderful sound!

 

The crabapple and cherry trees will bloom in a few weeks and the grass is starting to pop up through the dirt. The temperature will be 70 today! Everything is poised to start bursting and blooming, to follow along the cyclical change and flux of the seasons.

It's a good time to change things up. Fall and spring always seem to represent new transitions for me. New job, new creative infusion, new possibilities.

except that I'm going without Joe which really sucks. And it's not for fun, which also sucks.

But I do get to eat at Red Square & Fleur de Lys in Mandalay Bay. And Daniel Boulud Brasserie in the Wynn (be forwarned, it takes forever to load and is not up front about giving you information until it talks at you).

And I do get to see coworkers that are far away from me (most of the people I work with are in Canada, Atlanta, Boise and California) that I will enjoy seeing.

I suppose there may be a little bit of blackjack and champagne.

And there will be little sleep because when you work shows in Vegas, you are "on" all the time, regardless of where you are, schmoozing, making sure you are saying and doing the right thing.

Hoping I can get some writing in on the plane, but we'll see. I always take a ton of stuff intending to write but then I never do. This time I pared back to just my moleskine and some printouts of my chronological timeline. Would be just my luck to be on a writing streak and bemoaning that I didn't bring more background material with me...

I may or may not post from Vegas, but you'll hear from me soon!

* I toasted the winners of an award ceremony at a black-tie event

* I talked with people from Russia, and the Netherlands.
* As we were driving by, I heard from a cabdriver about his experience when the plane hit the Pentagon during 9/11.
* I helped create video for innovative technology stories that revolutionized and directly benefited society in healthcare, retail, government, education and finance.
* I talked to a big game hunter about his upcoming trip to the Arctic to hunt caribou.
* I discovered that when you really need someone who knows how to tie a bow-tie that no one around has any clue.
* I scored cheap, dressy shoes at Macy's to solve a fashion emergency.
* I drank way too much wine on a weeknight.
* I had to deal with two blisters.
* I discovered that the pants I planned to wear this morning were too big.
* People that should have didn't wish me happy birthday. And people that didn't have to did (THANK YOU!).
* I ate bacon twice.
* I drank champagne.
* I had my picture taken at least a dozen times.
* I spent a few hours here at a lovely formal dinner.
* Spent an hour on a plane that wasn't in the air.
* Was late boarding that plane because some Army Sargeant had special boarding because he was escorting some sort of cargo. Hmm.
* Paris Hilton spent her first night in jail.
* Snagged a cake at Finale at the last moment.
* Slept for a total of 6 hours including the nap.
* I learned some of the secrets to green screen.
* I rode in two limos, a shuttle bus and two cabs.
* My husband made me a cake...or well, drew me one.
* I finalized one press release.
* I wore a pretty dress.
* I hugged a lot of people.
* I gave out all my business cards.
* I ate a lot of beets.
* I inadvertantly found out that I might have a new boss soon  :(
* Kitty and I were angry with each other. He was angry because I left him. I was angry because he didn't greet me when I came back. We're so dumb.
* I chipped a nail.
* I learned that when you toast in Russian you say, "Budem zdorovy" meaning, "To stay Healthy."
* I received a bottle of wine direct from the Cote du Rhone.
* I started year 36 in the life of Crystal.

Here's the next project 365 installment:

Downtown Boston

The view as I drive into work every day...

The little acupuncture statue with all the points in my acupuncturist's office:

The emergency water wheel in the fire escape stairwell at work...

Here's the Project 365 round up for the week.

Day 13:  This is the view from my cube. Sigh. Our office actually has windows all the way around every floor so it does have a lot of light. I just happened to end up on the wall with the main support section which means I get less window. I suppose that's okay. It means I have to get up and walk around to check out any turkeys that appear in the parking lot.

Last night my company workgroup had a really amazing dinner at Sorellina. Wow--really loved that place. Incredible decor, great bar and extremely tasty food.  Definitely want to go back there again. I think it places in the top 5 restaurants in Boston for me now.

Last year we had a local celebrity sighting at our company dinner--Bernie from Bernie and Phyl's furniture store. This year the sighting was much better. Red Sox hitter David Ortiz was having dinner with his wife and some other suited, diamond earring'd guy at a nearby table. I stared at the back of Big Papi's huge head for most of the evening.

Toward the end of the night, one of my coworkers, a typically shy and reserved woman, decided she was going to ask if she could take a picture. We were all amazed...tried to caution her against it...but she was determined. We told her she should ask first at least, and that seemed to be the plan. So she walked over, and instead of asking, she just took the picture. They ignored her but a woman at the table next to them mentioned that it was really rude for her to do that. She mumbled something about how she was leaving and when she came back to our table, she had turned nearly purple with embarrassment. She hastily said goodbye and bolted...leaving all of us in shock. She was so mortified, poor girl. It was very out of character for her to be so bold. We all felt really bad for her. What was a lovely evening is now clouded in an "oh my god, why did I do that," moment.

We did find out from the valet that he drives the nice big white Range Rover that waited outside the door...

Today is our annual holiday Christmas party for our company, held offsite at a local hotel. It's pretty much the same every year, held on a weekday during the middle of the day, which is lame, IMHO, because the day is shot after the party and you end up going home. It should be held on a Friday so that you are done with your week, not having to come back on the following day for a final day of work that week.

From year to year it's the same. It's held at a big hotel and since there are 300 employees, the menu is typical hotel fare; chicken and pasta. Then there is the entertainment. One year it was a really cheesy horrible local lite-rock radio personality giving out prizes and being obnoxious. Last year it was a juggler (who was entertaining but come on, it's juggling!!!). We'll see what happens this year.

At least I'm one of the few lucky ones who work out of that office but work for

a different division. It means we get two parties--today's main party for the location and then our own party for our group. We usually bring our significant others along to a very nice restaurant every year and this year we'll be heading to Sorellina, which makes me very happy. We may get pasta and chicken there, but it won't be the same limp stuff we'll have at the Waltham Westin today!

Today's little holiday song tidbit is by Burl Ives. The song, Silver & Gold, really takes me back to my childhood, when we were able to stay up late to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on television. Burl Ives narrated a funny little snowman who sang all sorts of songs, including this one.

1. I'm behind on NANOWRIMO. Still, I intend to catch up.
   
   
   Karate!
2. I'm always amazed at how much I'm not annoyed by the Dunkin Donuts commercials these days. Maybe it's because one of my all-time favorite bands, They Might Be Giants, is doing all their jingles. "Alarm Clock Catastrophe" keeps getting stuck in my head...
3. My big work project is designing a program for corporate blogging. It's something right up my alley, since I've been blogging for the last seven or so years as it is. What is interesting to me though, is trying to explain to executives how blogs bring value to the business, rather than just something that they see as an additional "task." And the other massive, potentially energy-draining hurdle will be working with the legal department on guidelines, etc. I'm worried that creating too many guidelines will deter people from wanting to participate. After all, the whole idea of a blog is the personal nature of the medium. It's often somewhat  free-form and off-the-cuff. I do think that some basics should be in place and monitored overall but I worry about creating far too much structure.
4. Everyone abandoned Joe and I for Thanksgiving this year. So we're going to head to the Berkshires and stay in his parent's house while they are in North Carolina. We'll be able to hook up with Joe's best friend, Steve, and his cousin Mark, as well as an old friend of mine, Jack, who will be up from NY. We're also meeting a new friend, someone we've connected with online. We're doing something that I've never done for such a big holiday--eating out. I'm used to a big family meal at one of our relatives.  But dang, the Thanksgiving menu at the Old Inn looks amazing! I can't wait!
   
   

   Old Inn Thanksgiving Day Menu
   Serving from 2:00 - 7:00

   Maine Peekytoe Crab and Avocado "Cocktail"
   Champagne Perrier Jouët, Grand Brut
   ~~~
   Watercress, Endive, Radicchio and Berkshire Blue Salad
   Roasted Beets, Apple, Toasted Walnuts, Smoked Bacon, Red Wine Vinaigrette
   2003 Chenin Blanc, Dry Creek Vineyard
   ~~~
   Taft Farm's Buckskin Pumpkin Bisque
   Black Mission Fig Quenelles and a Chiffonade of Parma Prosciutto
   ~~~
   Hudson Valley Roasted Organic Free-Range Barnyard Turkey
   Pear, Chestnut and Sage Stuffing, Black Truffle Giblet Sauce
   Served with: Mousse of Spiced Yams, Autumn Vegetables, Cranberry Kumquat Compote, Selection of Farm Breads
   2001 Zinfandel, Heritage Clone, Dry Creek Vinyard
   ~~~
   Rustic Apple Tart with Cinnamon Ice Cream and Apple Cider Reduction
   or
   Southern Pecan Tart with Rum Raisen Ice Cream
   or
   Shirl's Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream and Poached Cranberries
   or
   Chocolate Creme Brulee
   N.V. Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois, Septimanie
   

   YUM!