W and I had the pleasure of visiting the home of D & S last night (D is the VP of Operations for the company I work for and S is his Wife). The two of them invited our company's entire IT Team, both Development and Systems. My Boss was there and the other VP of Underwriting as well and all of our significant others.
D and S have such a beautiful place with so much space that 26 people sat comfortably at one long table in the foyer/formal dinning area. It was so lovely. I aspire to host that way someday. The food was fabulous, the details of the table, the friends. Just lovely. Meeting the other halves of my co-workers was really a treat too. I learn so much about my co-workers by how they interact with their spouses and who they go to work for day in and day out.
W on the other hand, well, he had a good time but there was an issue with the food. I did not ask the hostess of course to prepare anything without meat so W pushed the food around a bit as he would normally do but the only catch was he sat next to the hostess, S. She kept asking him if everything was OK. He smiled and was very polite. He even took several bites. He was trapped. It was either go to "Make A Scene Town" or eat it. I felt terrible for him but he survived.
We laughed, we shared tales, we ate. I had quite the lovely evening. I prepared a small jar of peach preserves with a hand written tag to present to the hostess but I feel that I should present another small gesture to her since the dinner was in honor of me and my team. Will a thank you card suffice or should I do something "extra" for S? Any suggestions?
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Thank you for weekends
As the week grew older my stress level rose higher. I couldn't sleep last night because of work stuff. I actually just logged off and told myself to STOP working just now because its Saturday damn it!
Some days humble you. I had a third-party team of web-designers and my clients' VP of Marketing, show my development team up yesterday because they are the client and we do not contest what they say. We have to say 'yes' while they say, "I told you so." Its painful to be the team leader and have to take it like that. I'm trying to reflect and see where I could have done something different to maintain control. I think we just had two very different expectations on either side that should have been clarified in the beginning. I cannot allow myself to be so consumed by any 1 task that it may impair my view of other tasks. I HAVE to keep juggling projects. On one hand, my ADHD like symptoms are a curse and on the other hand, they are a blessing.
My take away is, to identify red flags and act on them immediately. I cannot trust that we will figure things out later when we are not busy. Lesson learned but problem not solved.
I just sent my vision of completing the impossible to my team. We are at the beginning of a very important project with very strict deadlines and we have been waiting for a third party design team to hand the project off to our integration team. It turns out, all we will get from the design team are some pretty Photoshop pictures of a website and a document, that we didn't know existed until yesterday, that tells us what the site should do. They said, "Why did you think you would get anything else?" They also said that the 72 page functional document has been available for 2 weeks and we should have dug it up. Oh I don't know why I'm panicking... they used up 7 weeks of our 12 week total time to write a fully functional web based application. No need for alarm.
My Development Team is very talented and so understanding of the situation. They are willing to pull together Monday morning. Some of them are reviewing the documentation this weekend to get started. I'm going to attempt to relax this weekend and trust that we can complete most, if not all, of the impossible because I don't always have to lead as a leader. Sometimes the team leads.
Some days humble you. I had a third-party team of web-designers and my clients' VP of Marketing, show my development team up yesterday because they are the client and we do not contest what they say. We have to say 'yes' while they say, "I told you so." Its painful to be the team leader and have to take it like that. I'm trying to reflect and see where I could have done something different to maintain control. I think we just had two very different expectations on either side that should have been clarified in the beginning. I cannot allow myself to be so consumed by any 1 task that it may impair my view of other tasks. I HAVE to keep juggling projects. On one hand, my ADHD like symptoms are a curse and on the other hand, they are a blessing.
My take away is, to identify red flags and act on them immediately. I cannot trust that we will figure things out later when we are not busy. Lesson learned but problem not solved.
I just sent my vision of completing the impossible to my team. We are at the beginning of a very important project with very strict deadlines and we have been waiting for a third party design team to hand the project off to our integration team. It turns out, all we will get from the design team are some pretty Photoshop pictures of a website and a document, that we didn't know existed until yesterday, that tells us what the site should do. They said, "Why did you think you would get anything else?" They also said that the 72 page functional document has been available for 2 weeks and we should have dug it up. Oh I don't know why I'm panicking... they used up 7 weeks of our 12 week total time to write a fully functional web based application. No need for alarm.
My Development Team is very talented and so understanding of the situation. They are willing to pull together Monday morning. Some of them are reviewing the documentation this weekend to get started. I'm going to attempt to relax this weekend and trust that we can complete most, if not all, of the impossible because I don't always have to lead as a leader. Sometimes the team leads.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Today is a great day
I wanted to brag on my husband a bit. He is one of the more responsible and hardworking men of the species. He is such a caring parent and maintains focus on our children's education consistently. He is easily consumed with play and activities with our children. He is eager to help even when he is not needed but it is nice to have the offers. He makes great breakfast for dinner and there is a unanimous vote of best all time dish - his German Pancakes. Now I never knew of the German Pancake until I met him so I am convinced it is a westerner thing.
I find him exceptionally handsome, strong, extremely intelligent and never awkward. He's great! He is the love I waited so long for and I treasure his reciprocated feelings for me. Happy ANN W.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Deathly Lunch Hour
Yesterday I almost died 3 times during my hour lunch break. I went home to eat, as I do frequently. Its a 10 minute drive. As I heading back to work, I found G walking home from school and I asked her if she wanted to drive herself to the house. She had to take the long way around the block because turning around would have been too difficult. During the 3 block distance she almost clipped a neighbor bringing in his garbage can, sat at a dead stop at a 4 way stop intersection while 9 people went through, and lastly, took a left hand turn onto our street at 25 miles per hour. My heart was in my throat! I was so scared and all she could say was, "What?"
Near death experience #2 happened a few minutes later while I was discussing #1 on the phone with W and safely in control behind the wheel on my way back to work. A rescue truck nearly slammed into me rushing into backed-up traffic because there happened to be lane closure up ahead. I was forced to get into the closed lane and pull off the street into a Circle K. Now there was no way to get back into traffic! I had to abruptly hang up on W so now he thinks I've wrecked or something and my lunch hour has turned into 1 hr and 45 min.
#1 wasn't nearly as exciting but it could easily cause heart failure or aggressive behavior which was what I was just getting into on the phone with W and how frustrated I was about it and then G scared me so bad.
I received a phone call from a girl at the orthodontist earlier in the lunch hour and she proceeded to tell me that I was responsible for the $1000 that the insurance co. promised to pay on both kids treatments and that they would just tack it on to the end of the payments of G's account. For some reason the insurance co. made me pay their portion to the orthodontist at the time of the down payment and then they promised reimbursement. Now wait a second. Why am I paying for an extra dental package that "includes" orthodontics if they will not pay on a claim? She said the Ins. Co. told her that I changed my plan as of 7/1/2013 to include a 12 month waiting period. Meaning they won't pay for orthodontics until I've had my plan for over a year. I have 2 kids in braces. Why would I "change my plan" to include this. I called the customer service line and the dude told me that if didn't have the plan last year then I would be subject to a 12 month waiting period. I explained that I have two kids in treatment and the estimates were approved before the 7/1/2013 "change". THEY ALREADY APPROVED B's CLAIM. They wrote 2 checks to me.
I actually am the only person who wasn't on the plan last year because the broker forgot to sign me up and all year long I paid for the dental plan. I obviously didn't try to use the plan until late in the year because the dentist I wanted to go to did not accept the insurance therefore I bought a separate discounted plan. I tried to use the co. group insurance (discount plan not insurance) in October of last year when E hurt herself at school and needed stitches in her lip and her teeth were turning gray. That's when I discovered I didn't have coverage. My boss refunded me the entire years dollars spent but I didn't have coverage. The 12 month waiting period did not apply to our group coverage when the company changed plans in 1/1/2013 but it does apply to me! I read through my policy and all I could find was "may be subject to 12 month waiting period".
I'm so sick about this whole thing. Dealing with insurance is the worst. It causes more pain and anguish than anything else. I would have rather been responsible for the extra $2 k up front then be promised and denied. I probably would have edged around discounts for paying cash or shopped around a little longer to find cheaper treatment or Groupons or something!
Near death experience #2 happened a few minutes later while I was discussing #1 on the phone with W and safely in control behind the wheel on my way back to work. A rescue truck nearly slammed into me rushing into backed-up traffic because there happened to be lane closure up ahead. I was forced to get into the closed lane and pull off the street into a Circle K. Now there was no way to get back into traffic! I had to abruptly hang up on W so now he thinks I've wrecked or something and my lunch hour has turned into 1 hr and 45 min.
#1 wasn't nearly as exciting but it could easily cause heart failure or aggressive behavior which was what I was just getting into on the phone with W and how frustrated I was about it and then G scared me so bad.
I received a phone call from a girl at the orthodontist earlier in the lunch hour and she proceeded to tell me that I was responsible for the $1000 that the insurance co. promised to pay on both kids treatments and that they would just tack it on to the end of the payments of G's account. For some reason the insurance co. made me pay their portion to the orthodontist at the time of the down payment and then they promised reimbursement. Now wait a second. Why am I paying for an extra dental package that "includes" orthodontics if they will not pay on a claim? She said the Ins. Co. told her that I changed my plan as of 7/1/2013 to include a 12 month waiting period. Meaning they won't pay for orthodontics until I've had my plan for over a year. I have 2 kids in braces. Why would I "change my plan" to include this. I called the customer service line and the dude told me that if didn't have the plan last year then I would be subject to a 12 month waiting period. I explained that I have two kids in treatment and the estimates were approved before the 7/1/2013 "change". THEY ALREADY APPROVED B's CLAIM. They wrote 2 checks to me.
I actually am the only person who wasn't on the plan last year because the broker forgot to sign me up and all year long I paid for the dental plan. I obviously didn't try to use the plan until late in the year because the dentist I wanted to go to did not accept the insurance therefore I bought a separate discounted plan. I tried to use the co. group insurance (discount plan not insurance) in October of last year when E hurt herself at school and needed stitches in her lip and her teeth were turning gray. That's when I discovered I didn't have coverage. My boss refunded me the entire years dollars spent but I didn't have coverage. The 12 month waiting period did not apply to our group coverage when the company changed plans in 1/1/2013 but it does apply to me! I read through my policy and all I could find was "may be subject to 12 month waiting period".
I'm so sick about this whole thing. Dealing with insurance is the worst. It causes more pain and anguish than anything else. I would have rather been responsible for the extra $2 k up front then be promised and denied. I probably would have edged around discounts for paying cash or shopped around a little longer to find cheaper treatment or Groupons or something!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
The Elite Crafters Club
While getting ready for work yesterday, I decided to play a game, as I sometimes do with clothing. I might wear a "themed" getup or I could potentially "feel" like a certain person in another outfit. I might even just wear one eccentric accessory that screams "please ask me about this". I've been doing this since high school. One more not-so-important fact is, I will not wear the same thing in the same way twice. And I never forget the way I wore the article or what I matched/accessorized it with.
I've confessed my narcissistic mind games about clothing so here's the story...
After picking out a white peplum top and dark skinny jeans that were cutoff and rolled to mid-calf, I spotted a silly necklace that would be fun. It consisted of a tapered felt strip that hangs just below the neck - choker style - decorated with pale-colored satin flowers. The felt had two pieces of chain on either end to clasp around the back of the neck.
I put this necklace on and decided, this is the craft we will make first. My second thought was, since I don't have a studio yet, I will have to invite crafters to my place, but I have limited space. My mind game rule was this: those that notice and comment on the necklace are "in".
The girl who sits in the front desk is a baker by trade and working on orchestrating classes for breast-feeding and post-natal "family" building dynamics, not just mom and baby but mom and daddy, then baby. She spotted the silly item straight-away. We talked about my hopes to open a studio and her hopes to start her groups. I hinted to "craft-night" and she said she was in.
Two more ladies commented before I hit the break room to grab a cup of coffee. Two, three... As the day went on, I chatted with my "Yang" - the chick I made the snakeskin blazer for - we've been through a lot together. I'll share our Hot-Lanta adventures on another day. I told Yang about the Elite crafters that I'm secretly picking out. She laughed but I was serious. While we joked about it, another woman walked by just then and said, "I really like that necklace". I looked at Yang and quietly mouthed the words, "She's in." Yang knew I was serious. Five, six...
The first rule of the Elite Crafters Club is, we don't talk about Craft Club.
I've counted 7 people so far but I didn't make it all the way around the office. Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'm out of chairs. Sorry!
I've confessed my narcissistic mind games about clothing so here's the story...
After picking out a white peplum top and dark skinny jeans that were cutoff and rolled to mid-calf, I spotted a silly necklace that would be fun. It consisted of a tapered felt strip that hangs just below the neck - choker style - decorated with pale-colored satin flowers. The felt had two pieces of chain on either end to clasp around the back of the neck.
I put this necklace on and decided, this is the craft we will make first. My second thought was, since I don't have a studio yet, I will have to invite crafters to my place, but I have limited space. My mind game rule was this: those that notice and comment on the necklace are "in".
The girl who sits in the front desk is a baker by trade and working on orchestrating classes for breast-feeding and post-natal "family" building dynamics, not just mom and baby but mom and daddy, then baby. She spotted the silly item straight-away. We talked about my hopes to open a studio and her hopes to start her groups. I hinted to "craft-night" and she said she was in.
Two more ladies commented before I hit the break room to grab a cup of coffee. Two, three... As the day went on, I chatted with my "Yang" - the chick I made the snakeskin blazer for - we've been through a lot together. I'll share our Hot-Lanta adventures on another day. I told Yang about the Elite crafters that I'm secretly picking out. She laughed but I was serious. While we joked about it, another woman walked by just then and said, "I really like that necklace". I looked at Yang and quietly mouthed the words, "She's in." Yang knew I was serious. Five, six...
The first rule of the Elite Crafters Club is, we don't talk about Craft Club.
I've counted 7 people so far but I didn't make it all the way around the office. Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'm out of chairs. Sorry!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
I can't stop thinking about a studio
I'm stuck in a mode between reality and possibility. On one hand it sound perfectly logical to open a studio. It will generate income with a little love and a lot of planning. On the other hand, the business side of this idea scares me to death. Investing, risk, marketing, demographics, time and lots of time.
I found a gal on Craigslist.com who is looking to lease a booth in her resale store. I've been contemplating how it would look and where my craft tables would go. I don't know if the owner of the store understands the scope of the business I want to conduct. It will be noisy sometimes and chatty. I've only corresponded with her by email so far but I think I will pop in there at lunchtime to assess. I think it may even be too far from the trendy parts of town and colleges. Setting something up near those areas would be ideal.
I've been looking at web sites for crafting booths/studios where casual crafts can be conducted and sales but I haven't found any yet. I'm trying to visualize an area that would be big enough to have a couple of tables for crafting sessions and another area for displaying mine and others art/crafts for sale. Displaying arts/crafts in a booth at someone else's store would need a full time attendant but just hosting craft sessions seems incomplete. Since I cannot quit my day job then I will need A) another person or B) lease my own building and have my own hours. Option B is obviously the option with more risk and option A means having to pay someone or partnering with someone (yuck).
I have plenty of time to keep brainstorming this business venture. Any ideas of functioning studios like what I've described would be helpful. I haven't exactly found a shop in my area yet like what I want to conduct which is good but it is also harder to muster up the guts to jump into something that I've never actually seen in action. Leave your ideas in the comments of this blog if you want to help.
I found a gal on Craigslist.com who is looking to lease a booth in her resale store. I've been contemplating how it would look and where my craft tables would go. I don't know if the owner of the store understands the scope of the business I want to conduct. It will be noisy sometimes and chatty. I've only corresponded with her by email so far but I think I will pop in there at lunchtime to assess. I think it may even be too far from the trendy parts of town and colleges. Setting something up near those areas would be ideal.
I've been looking at web sites for crafting booths/studios where casual crafts can be conducted and sales but I haven't found any yet. I'm trying to visualize an area that would be big enough to have a couple of tables for crafting sessions and another area for displaying mine and others art/crafts for sale. Displaying arts/crafts in a booth at someone else's store would need a full time attendant but just hosting craft sessions seems incomplete. Since I cannot quit my day job then I will need A) another person or B) lease my own building and have my own hours. Option B is obviously the option with more risk and option A means having to pay someone or partnering with someone (yuck).
I have plenty of time to keep brainstorming this business venture. Any ideas of functioning studios like what I've described would be helpful. I haven't exactly found a shop in my area yet like what I want to conduct which is good but it is also harder to muster up the guts to jump into something that I've never actually seen in action. Leave your ideas in the comments of this blog if you want to help.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Playtime is Over
It's always tough to get back into the groove of work after a week off. I think this time, it's extra tough. I'm up on time and I've got to get the kids ready for school. Most of them get themselves ready. All but one actually.
Ugggh. I'm really serious about this. I'm totally bummed and this is not like me. Anyway, I'm off to brew a pot of coffee and try my best to make this day count.
Ugggh. I'm really serious about this. I'm totally bummed and this is not like me. Anyway, I'm off to brew a pot of coffee and try my best to make this day count.
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