Fourth Quarter 2011 & First Quarter 2012
I vacillated between writing a “what’s happening now” (no, not the failed spin-off of What’s Happening) and a “since we last spoke” update. But during the process realized – hey, ain’t they both just one in the same? Why not include elements of both.
THE BIGGEST NEWS
In August the agency I’ve been with for the last few years, The Creative Group, sent me on an interview for a temp to perm position. For as long as I’ve been with them they’ve probably only sent me on a half dozen interviews. With that said the interviews have been for positions that have been dead on for what I’ve done in the past and what I have interest in doing as a day job. And while the other interviews seemed like really great opportunities, this one hit the bulls eye. After two interviews I was brought on to execute some exhibit trade show floor events initiatives for a fashion trade show company. What could be more perfect, right? I wasn’t in the office a few days before I had a feeling this was going to be it for me; finally the right job had presented itself. I worked the August show and gave it all I had. Post show and back at the office the promise (without being officially able to promise) of a full time position was discussed and understood. The only thing I had to do was to continue to do a good job while I waited patiently for my contract with The Creative Group to expire.
Finally on Friday, January 13 – after being laid off in October 2009 with a couple of very short term gigs here and there - my full time employment became official. I am the Manager of Brand Development for Advanstar Communications. Advanstar has a few different trade shows that they run. I am with MAGIC, specifically WWDMAGIC (the women’s show). Check out: www.magiconline.com. For the February show that just ended I was personally responsible for three new, major initiatives. All were seen as great successes and well received by internal staff and our clients alike.
Two of the initiatives I’m particularly proud of are a vintage dress installation and book signing. Included were some gorgeous Diors and A (not THE) pink Chanel wool suit. That exhibit alone brought much needed traffic to an area of the show that was completely dead in August. The other initiative that took A LOT of coordinating (and sprouted a few more grey hairs on this head) was the reintroduction of daily fashions shows. WWDMAGIC used to have big fashion shows before the economy tanked a few years ago. Because of that everyone was a bit nervous due to a small budget and wondered if a show could even be executed at an acceptable level. The shows were fantastic and both the exhibitors and retailers shopping the show loved them. The success was gauged by the number of people gathered ‘round every day at 1:00 as well as the many exhibitors who said they made sales each day as a direct result of their lines being seen on the runway. I’m ecstatic! Next up: the August show. How do I/we top ourselves? The wheels are turning…
IN DATING NEWS
I’ve been putting myself out there (feel free to insert a “putting out” joke here) for the last few months and have had a couple of good dating experiences. For a couple of months in the fall I was seeing a very nice, cute guy that I met online. We hung out, went on a few dates and just enjoyed each other in a casual, low key way. It ran its course before the end of the year but I’m happy to say we’re friends and I’m sure he’ll remain one. I met another guy on NYE. He was visiting from New York and we spent a couple of days together before he left. When I traveled to NYC for work in January he and I were able to have a date there. He, too, is a good guy and we’re friends. Oh, btw, the NYC guy – 27. Smell me, right? However he did say at one point “I’ve always been attracted to older men.” Fine. Still totally fine with it.
IN OTHER NEWS
The holidays were spent in Chicago. This trip I spent in my old neighborhood at the quaint little hotel called The Majestic. Love that place. I spent a few days there at the front end of my trip with my friend Eric and then a few days there at the back end of my trip with my friend Josh. It was great to be back in the hood, walking the streets (so to speak) and just taking it all in. My time in the burbs was short but awesome. My nephews and nieces are growing up so fast and/but are still the cutest, most awesome-est nephews and nieces in the world. My oldest nephew, Ryan, seems to have found his calling in music and technology and is now thriving in school studying that. Add to that, he JUST turned 21. How can that be? Didn’t I just turn 21? Didn’t we ALL just turn 21? My godson, Adam, is a freshman at U of I and is rocking a 4.0 GPA. I’m plotzing. Their little brother, Taylor (or Poor Taylor/PT as I like to call him since he always seems to be getting the short end of the stick) is in 8th grade and may just be the tallest of all three. They’re getting so old.
Speaking of old, Phillips just had her 40th birthday celebration in Las Vegas while I was there working. Poor old hag, got so drunk on her first night that she could barely rally for night #2. But thankfully she managed to make it for a very nice dinner AND also managed to choke a few drinks down that night. Atta girl! Also in the “Jennifer is 40 Club”, Venckus is in the planning stages of her 40th birthday celebration for this coming October. I swear, didn’t I JUST turn 40? Good Lord, I’m an old hag!
STILL KICKING
Now that I’m working in Santa Monica there is a ballet studio I used to go to all the time when I first moved here. It’s literally two blocks from my office so take class there on Thursday nights. I’m still taking my Saturday morning class but need/want to add another day of something cardio to my week. I’m considering starting running again. I used to do it when I traveled for work years ago but stopped when I stopped traveling since I was able to get into a regular dance class schedule. Because there aren’t as many good classes out here in LA I need to find another way to work out. Hiking Runyon used to be a good alternative but now by the time I get home it’s already dark. Maybe in the late spring or early summer it can be an option.
Cheer LA continues to bring me great joy and pain simultaneously. The joy is the cheering, performing, volunteer element and camaraderie that the squad offers. The pain happens every next day or so after doing all that cheering and performing. OH. MY. GOD. BECKY. We are doing a lot of physical work at our practices and during our routines. I dare say that (along with eating) my Cheer LA workouts have increased the size of my legs and butt…and I don’t like it. The boys do but I don’t. But there’s no getting around it. That’s what happens when you eat and work out. Crazy, huh? Who would have made such a crazy connection? Any old way, for an example of what we do check out our 2010-2011 highlight video
http://www.cheerla.org/video/2011Highlights.html
THAT’S IT
I wish I had more to report. Am I getting boring? Maybe the next update will have more info in it. Oh one thing that I am considering doing is posting some great DAILY OM messages or my DAILY QUOTES that I share from time to time with a small group of friends. They are interesting to just sit and think about on one’s own or as a catalyst to start a discussion with others. For example, here is what I just emailed some peeps today:
I really like the idea of this concept below. I do it often...and it's helpful. For those that are religious/Catholic, today begins a reflective time (Lent.) But regardless of religious connections I think it's always a good idea to take time with yourself to learn more about yourself.
February 22, 2012
Insight in Backward Glances
You may find yourself intrigued by life’s mysteries and strongly driven to explore the forces that have shaped your own existence. This desire to understand yourself can prompt you to delve into the world of your past through introspection, reading old personal journals, and examining the artifacts of your history, such as treasured possessions or mementoes. In order to fully understand the multifaceted effects your past has had on your present, you may need to approach family members or old friends to get an outsider’s perspective on your personality and behavior. Consider the issues you’ve left unexplored and how they may have helped or hindered your efforts to evolve as an individual. Today may be the day you break out of your old mold and enter a new phase of your life.
Exploring your past can help you understand the path your existence has taken and show you how to create a more fulfilling life journey. Reflecting upon our personal histories can often be difficult because there are issues we afraid to openly confront. But in your past you can examine the situations and relationships that have shaped you as an individual and prompted the evolution of your preferences. You’ll see how your choices have changed the course of your life and thus gain a better understanding of what makes you truly happy. Your explorations will empower you to make decisions that are rewarding in both the present and the future. The discoveries you make when exploring your past today will help you more successfully navigate the present.
What do you think? Worth posting?
I hope you are all well and I’d love to hear from you either via email or just a response to this post.
Don
THE BIGGEST NEWS
In August the agency I’ve been with for the last few years, The Creative Group, sent me on an interview for a temp to perm position. For as long as I’ve been with them they’ve probably only sent me on a half dozen interviews. With that said the interviews have been for positions that have been dead on for what I’ve done in the past and what I have interest in doing as a day job. And while the other interviews seemed like really great opportunities, this one hit the bulls eye. After two interviews I was brought on to execute some exhibit trade show floor events initiatives for a fashion trade show company. What could be more perfect, right? I wasn’t in the office a few days before I had a feeling this was going to be it for me; finally the right job had presented itself. I worked the August show and gave it all I had. Post show and back at the office the promise (without being officially able to promise) of a full time position was discussed and understood. The only thing I had to do was to continue to do a good job while I waited patiently for my contract with The Creative Group to expire.
Finally on Friday, January 13 – after being laid off in October 2009 with a couple of very short term gigs here and there - my full time employment became official. I am the Manager of Brand Development for Advanstar Communications. Advanstar has a few different trade shows that they run. I am with MAGIC, specifically WWDMAGIC (the women’s show). Check out: www.magiconline.com. For the February show that just ended I was personally responsible for three new, major initiatives. All were seen as great successes and well received by internal staff and our clients alike.
Two of the initiatives I’m particularly proud of are a vintage dress installation and book signing. Included were some gorgeous Diors and A (not THE) pink Chanel wool suit. That exhibit alone brought much needed traffic to an area of the show that was completely dead in August. The other initiative that took A LOT of coordinating (and sprouted a few more grey hairs on this head) was the reintroduction of daily fashions shows. WWDMAGIC used to have big fashion shows before the economy tanked a few years ago. Because of that everyone was a bit nervous due to a small budget and wondered if a show could even be executed at an acceptable level. The shows were fantastic and both the exhibitors and retailers shopping the show loved them. The success was gauged by the number of people gathered ‘round every day at 1:00 as well as the many exhibitors who said they made sales each day as a direct result of their lines being seen on the runway. I’m ecstatic! Next up: the August show. How do I/we top ourselves? The wheels are turning…
IN DATING NEWS
I’ve been putting myself out there (feel free to insert a “putting out” joke here) for the last few months and have had a couple of good dating experiences. For a couple of months in the fall I was seeing a very nice, cute guy that I met online. We hung out, went on a few dates and just enjoyed each other in a casual, low key way. It ran its course before the end of the year but I’m happy to say we’re friends and I’m sure he’ll remain one. I met another guy on NYE. He was visiting from New York and we spent a couple of days together before he left. When I traveled to NYC for work in January he and I were able to have a date there. He, too, is a good guy and we’re friends. Oh, btw, the NYC guy – 27. Smell me, right? However he did say at one point “I’ve always been attracted to older men.” Fine. Still totally fine with it.
IN OTHER NEWS
The holidays were spent in Chicago. This trip I spent in my old neighborhood at the quaint little hotel called The Majestic. Love that place. I spent a few days there at the front end of my trip with my friend Eric and then a few days there at the back end of my trip with my friend Josh. It was great to be back in the hood, walking the streets (so to speak) and just taking it all in. My time in the burbs was short but awesome. My nephews and nieces are growing up so fast and/but are still the cutest, most awesome-est nephews and nieces in the world. My oldest nephew, Ryan, seems to have found his calling in music and technology and is now thriving in school studying that. Add to that, he JUST turned 21. How can that be? Didn’t I just turn 21? Didn’t we ALL just turn 21? My godson, Adam, is a freshman at U of I and is rocking a 4.0 GPA. I’m plotzing. Their little brother, Taylor (or Poor Taylor/PT as I like to call him since he always seems to be getting the short end of the stick) is in 8th grade and may just be the tallest of all three. They’re getting so old.
Speaking of old, Phillips just had her 40th birthday celebration in Las Vegas while I was there working. Poor old hag, got so drunk on her first night that she could barely rally for night #2. But thankfully she managed to make it for a very nice dinner AND also managed to choke a few drinks down that night. Atta girl! Also in the “Jennifer is 40 Club”, Venckus is in the planning stages of her 40th birthday celebration for this coming October. I swear, didn’t I JUST turn 40? Good Lord, I’m an old hag!
STILL KICKING
Now that I’m working in Santa Monica there is a ballet studio I used to go to all the time when I first moved here. It’s literally two blocks from my office so take class there on Thursday nights. I’m still taking my Saturday morning class but need/want to add another day of something cardio to my week. I’m considering starting running again. I used to do it when I traveled for work years ago but stopped when I stopped traveling since I was able to get into a regular dance class schedule. Because there aren’t as many good classes out here in LA I need to find another way to work out. Hiking Runyon used to be a good alternative but now by the time I get home it’s already dark. Maybe in the late spring or early summer it can be an option.
Cheer LA continues to bring me great joy and pain simultaneously. The joy is the cheering, performing, volunteer element and camaraderie that the squad offers. The pain happens every next day or so after doing all that cheering and performing. OH. MY. GOD. BECKY. We are doing a lot of physical work at our practices and during our routines. I dare say that (along with eating) my Cheer LA workouts have increased the size of my legs and butt…and I don’t like it. The boys do but I don’t. But there’s no getting around it. That’s what happens when you eat and work out. Crazy, huh? Who would have made such a crazy connection? Any old way, for an example of what we do check out our 2010-2011 highlight video
http://www.cheerla.org/video/2011Highlights.html
THAT’S IT
I wish I had more to report. Am I getting boring? Maybe the next update will have more info in it. Oh one thing that I am considering doing is posting some great DAILY OM messages or my DAILY QUOTES that I share from time to time with a small group of friends. They are interesting to just sit and think about on one’s own or as a catalyst to start a discussion with others. For example, here is what I just emailed some peeps today:
I really like the idea of this concept below. I do it often...and it's helpful. For those that are religious/Catholic, today begins a reflective time (Lent.) But regardless of religious connections I think it's always a good idea to take time with yourself to learn more about yourself.
February 22, 2012
Insight in Backward Glances
You may find yourself intrigued by life’s mysteries and strongly driven to explore the forces that have shaped your own existence. This desire to understand yourself can prompt you to delve into the world of your past through introspection, reading old personal journals, and examining the artifacts of your history, such as treasured possessions or mementoes. In order to fully understand the multifaceted effects your past has had on your present, you may need to approach family members or old friends to get an outsider’s perspective on your personality and behavior. Consider the issues you’ve left unexplored and how they may have helped or hindered your efforts to evolve as an individual. Today may be the day you break out of your old mold and enter a new phase of your life.
Exploring your past can help you understand the path your existence has taken and show you how to create a more fulfilling life journey. Reflecting upon our personal histories can often be difficult because there are issues we afraid to openly confront. But in your past you can examine the situations and relationships that have shaped you as an individual and prompted the evolution of your preferences. You’ll see how your choices have changed the course of your life and thus gain a better understanding of what makes you truly happy. Your explorations will empower you to make decisions that are rewarding in both the present and the future. The discoveries you make when exploring your past today will help you more successfully navigate the present.
What do you think? Worth posting?
I hope you are all well and I’d love to hear from you either via email or just a response to this post.
Don
Um I am not an old hag, call me that when I turn 41 :)
ReplyDeleteSorry hag but ya are Blanche, ya are!
ReplyDeleteLove the reflecting part of your blog . ... really am going thru a bit of this now! and FYI: 40 is the new 20. ... and uh .. . 20/20 is the MADDOG THAT i am drinking these days from the 7-11! out of a paper bag and a straw!! - what could be so bad?
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogging from Cleveburg!! WHOOP WHOOP! ;)