1) How many relationships have disintegrated after arguments stemming from interpreting the 25 page assembly manual?2) Since it's founding in 1943, how many times has Ikea's name been taken in vain, and in how many languages?
Monday, March 05, 2007
Assembly
As 60 pieces of wood and 200 nails, bolts, screws, holders, and knobs were assembled last night to make this Ikea beauty, I wondered 2 things:
1) How many relationships have disintegrated after arguments stemming from interpreting the 25 page assembly manual?
1) How many relationships have disintegrated after arguments stemming from interpreting the 25 page assembly manual?
Friday, March 02, 2007
Thursday, March 01, 2007
New Patterns
My day is always unpredictable and full of different projects-- not that much different than a typical day at EF in that regard. But that's probably where the similarities end.
Working for a small family-run company has it's advantages. There is a disturbingly small amount of red tape to cut through. I am learning that when a decision needs to be made, regardless of category or importance, it's a-OK that I go right ahead and make the decision. No deparment heads, no meetings, no checking in with the President who is invariably off in another country drinking wee cups of vodka or espresso. Just get it done. I find myself writing copy, setting pricing, negotiating contracts, selling itineraries, donating photography (my own, naturally), hiring staff, analyzing deals, setting budgets, contracting groups, ordering supplies, planning marketing efforts, and yadda.
Breaking News! I am hitting up Aberdeen and Edinburgh for a trade show next month! My first visit to Scotland! Damir is hopefully going to meet me for a long romantic weekend there in Edinburgh, it's too good of an opportunity for us to pass up even though the ticket isn't exactly cheap. But, we've both been dying to go there a long time so bring on the haggis*!
MY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED! Did I mention it before? I am so freaking excited about it! I also happen to be la Maide d'Honour. Sweet! I haven't even been a bridesmaid before, so I feel a little like I jumped to the head of the line. Um, what am I supposed to do? I am not really sure other than get people to do what she needs them to do... like the sales assistant at Macys last week when I went with her to Register. Erin needed a little on-the-spot internet research and the Sweet Little Ole Lady took us to the registry desk and attempted to follow Erin's instructions. It went like this:
Erin: OK, so open up google.
SLOL: umm..............................................ok.
Erin: Type in "betty whatitsname sheets" [sorry, I don't remember the name now, but it's not really relavant to the story]
SLOL: ok..............................like that?
Erin: No. It's "betty whatitsname sheets"
SLOL: Betty? Like this?
Erin: No not quite...
As I noticed bead of sweat starting to form on dear sister's forehead, I jumped in for the rescue!
Maide d'Honour: I am sorry to interupt, SLOL, may I make a gentle suggestion? Get the hell out of the chair and let my sister do the search. It will be faster for us all for the love of all things holy, like the sacrament of marriage.**
And so she did. And all was well.
*Can someone please tell me what the hell haggis is?
** I was a little nicer than that about it, I swear.
Working for a small family-run company has it's advantages. There is a disturbingly small amount of red tape to cut through. I am learning that when a decision needs to be made, regardless of category or importance, it's a-OK that I go right ahead and make the decision. No deparment heads, no meetings, no checking in with the President who is invariably off in another country drinking wee cups of vodka or espresso. Just get it done. I find myself writing copy, setting pricing, negotiating contracts, selling itineraries, donating photography (my own, naturally), hiring staff, analyzing deals, setting budgets, contracting groups, ordering supplies, planning marketing efforts, and yadda.
Breaking News! I am hitting up Aberdeen and Edinburgh for a trade show next month! My first visit to Scotland! Damir is hopefully going to meet me for a long romantic weekend there in Edinburgh, it's too good of an opportunity for us to pass up even though the ticket isn't exactly cheap. But, we've both been dying to go there a long time so bring on the haggis*!
MY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED! Did I mention it before? I am so freaking excited about it! I also happen to be la Maide d'Honour. Sweet! I haven't even been a bridesmaid before, so I feel a little like I jumped to the head of the line. Um, what am I supposed to do? I am not really sure other than get people to do what she needs them to do... like the sales assistant at Macys last week when I went with her to Register. Erin needed a little on-the-spot internet research and the Sweet Little Ole Lady took us to the registry desk and attempted to follow Erin's instructions. It went like this:
Erin: OK, so open up google.
SLOL: umm..............................................ok.
Erin: Type in "betty whatitsname sheets" [sorry, I don't remember the name now, but it's not really relavant to the story]
SLOL: ok..............................like that?
Erin: No. It's "betty whatitsname sheets"
SLOL: Betty? Like this?
Erin: No not quite...
As I noticed bead of sweat starting to form on dear sister's forehead, I jumped in for the rescue!
Maide d'Honour: I am sorry to interupt, SLOL, may I make a gentle suggestion? Get the hell out of the chair and let my sister do the search. It will be faster for us all for the love of all things holy, like the sacrament of marriage.**
And so she did. And all was well.
*Can someone please tell me what the hell haggis is?
** I was a little nicer than that about it, I swear.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Snippets
There have been many blog posts on the tip of my tongue, but it seems as though I have neither time nor energy to sit and make coherent and reader friendly prose. I can't blog from work, and life at home rarely gives me the quiet time and space I need to organize my thoughts.
I've wanted to tell you how four times this week when getting into my car for a quick lunch break from my new job, the song "So You Had A Bad Day" (I think that's the title) by James Blunt (I think that's the singer) was on the radio when I started the car. Then he was a Jeopardy question last night. Weird.
I've wanted to tell you my reflections on living in a household where I don't speak the predominant language and the etiquette rules I have learned about being in the middle of a conversation I cannot participate in. It's a bit of an art to look neither completely disinterested nor overly eager. I can't say I do this successfully, but everyday I try.
I've wanted to tell you about the multiple day trips we've made out East to some beautiful parts of Long Island. I never knew that there was such beauty here, and I am constantly surprised by the quiet coastline and quaint towns.
I've wanted to tell you about my job and the trials of being the "new girl" again. It has been a long time since I was the NG, the last time I was 23 and fresh to the corporate world. Now I am a decade older and expected to make big decisions about the future of the company while still figuring out if the milk in the fridge is community milk or private milk.
For now, I just leave you with these snippets. I'd like to tell you I will be better and blog more, but I can't say for certain it's a promise I can keep.
I've wanted to tell you how four times this week when getting into my car for a quick lunch break from my new job, the song "So You Had A Bad Day" (I think that's the title) by James Blunt (I think that's the singer) was on the radio when I started the car. Then he was a Jeopardy question last night. Weird.
I've wanted to tell you my reflections on living in a household where I don't speak the predominant language and the etiquette rules I have learned about being in the middle of a conversation I cannot participate in. It's a bit of an art to look neither completely disinterested nor overly eager. I can't say I do this successfully, but everyday I try.
I've wanted to tell you about the multiple day trips we've made out East to some beautiful parts of Long Island. I never knew that there was such beauty here, and I am constantly surprised by the quiet coastline and quaint towns.
I've wanted to tell you about my job and the trials of being the "new girl" again. It has been a long time since I was the NG, the last time I was 23 and fresh to the corporate world. Now I am a decade older and expected to make big decisions about the future of the company while still figuring out if the milk in the fridge is community milk or private milk.
For now, I just leave you with these snippets. I'd like to tell you I will be better and blog more, but I can't say for certain it's a promise I can keep.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
A poem for ME
There lives a girl in Long Island
Who today seemed to be smilin’
She just turned thirty-three
So she sang Happy Birthday to ME!
Who today seemed to be smilin’
She just turned thirty-three
So she sang Happy Birthday to ME!
Did you get me a present?
OK, I admit. I was never the poet.
To commemorate the big day, I wore this same outfit pictured to work today.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Back to School Season!
It feels like those last lazy days of August, when, as a kid, I would be reluctantly getting ready to go back to school. I am excited to get back into challenging my brain everyday, but I want to take advantage of these last days of freedom. And by "take advantage", I don't mean spend an hour waiting in the 6x10 foot waiting room at the Social Security office as I did yesterday. I lost my soc card and you have to have one in order to get a NY State licesnse... I guess my current MA license, passport and original birth certificate aren't enough to prove who I am.
TO-DO items on my checklist:
- Hair cut
- New shoes
- New Notebook, calendar, no. 2 pencils (ha ha, kidding on that last one)
- Drivers License
- grocery shop to prepack lunches for next week
- update makeup, hair products
- Trapper Keeper
- Lunch box and what my brain wants to call a thermostat, but isn't a thermostat at all! What is the name of that cannister like thing that keep beverages and soups hot? Damn. My brain really does need the work out.
See, just like the days at Winston Churchill H.S.!
Speaking of WCHS, I learned recently that my high school math teacher killed himself. I am gutted! He was a little out of the ordinary, but I really liked him, despite my intense hatred for all things mathmatical. He slicked his hair back and smelled like cigarettes, but he had a good sense of humor and seemed to "get" us crazy kids. It makes me sad to know that he was that unhappy.
Well, off to Supercuts. See, not only do I need the brain work, but I need the pay check as well. Lets hope I don't totally screw things up when I attempt to highlight my own hair later today.
TO-DO items on my checklist:
- Hair cut
- New shoes
- New Notebook, calendar, no. 2 pencils (ha ha, kidding on that last one)
- Drivers License
- grocery shop to prepack lunches for next week
- update makeup, hair products
- Trapper Keeper
- Lunch box and what my brain wants to call a thermostat, but isn't a thermostat at all! What is the name of that cannister like thing that keep beverages and soups hot? Damn. My brain really does need the work out.
See, just like the days at Winston Churchill H.S.!
Speaking of WCHS, I learned recently that my high school math teacher killed himself. I am gutted! He was a little out of the ordinary, but I really liked him, despite my intense hatred for all things mathmatical. He slicked his hair back and smelled like cigarettes, but he had a good sense of humor and seemed to "get" us crazy kids. It makes me sad to know that he was that unhappy.
Well, off to Supercuts. See, not only do I need the brain work, but I need the pay check as well. Lets hope I don't totally screw things up when I attempt to highlight my own hair later today.
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