I'm Baack

I don’t even know where to begin – whether to discuss the conference last week or the preparations for Hurricane Sandy this weekend. Let me give you a brief overview of last week – I don’t want to jinx myself but I had no issues traveling to San Francisco either from home or from San Francisco. WOW, I know that wasn’t true for many other folks whether flights were delayed or cancelled altogether; but, both Catherine and I found us to be on the good side of the airline gods. And that states a lot as she flew from Newark while I flew out of JFK. Well here I thought that I might get that late suntan in Monterey – was I surprised when it turned out that the weather back East was better than in Monterey. Our weather never got above the low 70’s and many days it was overcast; but, there was only one morning of a major downpour – we were even able to have our beach party on Tuesday evening.

At the conference there is rarely time for me to do anything for myself as I and the other Board Members are so focused on the program, the attendees and our Exhibitors. Catherine and I were able to work out three times at the hotel gym – it was convenient that it was in the same building and down the hall from our room. We also were able to go out to lunch on Saturday and went to a mall about 3 miles from the hotel where Catherine picked up shoes and some clothes – can you believe I did not buy any shoes; but, did get a jacket and a nice sweater set. I was also able to get a manicure at the spa and were my hands nice and soft afterwards. I am very proud of the conference and the program we put together over these last many months. The content was right in line with what people were looking for and at the concurrent session there were double digit attendees and people were truly engaged and asked many questions. Something we have always struggled with was keeping individuals until the end of the last day – this time we succeeded. We had the Industry Experts and Analyst panel conducted like a talk show and everyone was invited to imbibe either on a soda, water or beer during the session; and, then we had one of the Analysts speak from Wainhouse and he was magnificent and engaging.

It was great to get home on Thursday night after having been away for a week. I have to admit that I left my briefcase and suitcase in the foyer and just went into the kitchen to have my breakfast dishes set up for the morning as I was going to the gym in the morning – then off to bed. 5:50 came awfully early; but, it was good to get that high intensity workout done and out of the way. Then home to log on and answer email messages, see how our web ex service was behaving. I had a mammogram appointment at 2:30 and needed to get on a conference call at 3PM to discuss the hurricane situation. I am fortunate that the imaging facility is only 5 minutes away and when they found out I needed to be home by 3 they took care of me quickly. Home to put together communication contingency programs for the health system throughout the hurricane – still tired and have not unpacked my suitcase yet. Saturday morning and I was off to aqua aerobics and to my Zumba toning class – it had started last week; but, because I was away this would be my first one. It was terrific and I had done 2 hours of working out for the day. Some errand to do on my way home and I would finally get that suitcase unpacked – in truth it only took me about 10 minutes to get everything either in the hamper or on the cleaner pile. We received notification that those of us who were non-essential employees should not go into the office on Monday. I advised my team and the individuals who were coming for a meeting that it was cancelled and that I would re-schedule. We are all on call throughout the storm to help with either a video or web ex meeting for the health system and I have received a few requests; but, nothing outrageous.

Sunday and it is evident that Hurricane Sandy will be hitting us; but, no one knows for sure how intense it will be. I went to Zumba this morning, the cleaners and to the grocery store to pick up a few things. It is amazing that the supermarket had no water left and the milk I normally buy was gone. Some of the towns nearby always lose power and people are preparing themselves for the worse. I am of the thought that there is not much that I can do about it so let’s go with the flow. I hope that it is not so bad that the kids cannot “trick or treat” on Wednesday as this would be the second year in a row for them – need I remind you of the freak snowstorm we had last year at this time? To everyone – that has been my week in a nutshell. Be safe, be smart and Happy Halloween.

Family Time

I know, I know – you were expecting this last night. But I spent all day Saturday and yesterday cooking – same meal, two different days. I will not see the boys (Ryan and Callum) before Halloween – next weekend I am in Monterey, CA for the Visual Communications Industry Group conference and I will not return until Thursday, October 25th. Gerard and the boys will be going to Delaware to visit Gerry on the Friday and will not return until the Tuesday before Halloween – hence my not seeing them. I wanted to ensure that we celebrated Halloween, that they had their “trick or treat” bags and the other items I had bought for them.

So why did I end up cooking a family dinner two days in a row? It was necessary to have Gerard and the boys over on Saturday because Ryan who plays hockey had a game on Saturday at 7:30PM; but, the game on Sunday was at 4:15PM. Siobhan and Matt were going to come but she had a slight viral stomach bug and did not feel comfortable leaving the house. I was actually quite proud of myself as after Aqua Aerobics I went to the bakery and picked up the cake I had ordered. I went home and read the Saturday papers and then began prepping to cook. Oh, and on Friday night I had set the table, put together the boys Halloween bags and had done the grocery shopping. Although I had bought a cake for desert – I decided that I would make pumpkin bread because Callum eats it. He has food issues with taste and texture so whenever I find out that he will eat something I make sure I have it on hand for him. I tackled this first since it takes an hour in the oven. Out it came and the house smelled of autumn with the pumpkin, cinnamon and vanilla. Pretty proud of myself. Since I had bought enough food to feed a small army I decided that I would just go ahead and just cook half of everything. Gerard had stated that he wanted to eat at 3PM, so at 1 I began chopping onions, tomatoes, garlic and then I started to brown the meat. I was making Mexican – we would have nachos, salsa, guacamole and then Mexican lasagna. I was so satisfied with myself – by the time Gerard arrived with the boys – the nachos were in the microwave ready to be nuked to melt the cheese. The Mexican lasagna was made and just needed to be placed in the oven to warm up and melt the cheese on top and I was busily mashing avocados to make the guacamole; not only that the dishes were washed that I had used.

I put out the appetizers and Gerard informed me that we did not have to eat until 5PM. For the first time in having a family dinner I was able to sit down and just enjoy talking to him and the boys and catching up – most often I am in the kitchen cooking and missing everything. We ate at 5PM and everyone enjoyed it. Callum will not leave the house until he has his dessert or cake. So I brought it out and everyone had a small sliver except for Ryan who did not want any. However, Callum wanted a second piece – I let him know that I was sending it home and he could have a second piece at home. They were gone at 6 and by 6:10 – the dishes were in the dishwasher, the table was back to normal and the house had been vacuumed. But, by 7:30 I was tired and I went to bed at 8. I have decided that I am becoming a fuddy-duddy as I need more rest lately.

Sunday I was off to Zumba and Matt and Siobhan were coming over for dinner. Well the menu was going to be the same; but, I needed to get dessert since the cake I had yesterday and it was a special order from the bakery. From the gym I stopped at the cleaners, then the grocery store and picked up a dessert from them. I decided to do the same thing and prep the entire meal before they came – this time even the guacamole was done by they walked in the door. I enjoyed just sitting and catching up with them while we first watched the Jets and then the Yankees on TV. We had dinner – I packed a goodie bag for them to take home and I gave them the dessert. Again in 10 minutes I had the dishes in the dishwasher, the dining room table back to order, the garbage out and the living and dining room vacuumed. But, tonight I was sleepy just my body was tired. I was able to stay up until 10PM and was very proud of myself. I don’t know about you – but in our family we make an effort to get together every month, be it to celebrate a birthday, a holiday or like in September there are no birthdays or holidays just to get together as a family and break bread.

I enjoy these times as too soon the boys will grow up and be on their merry way; do the same - ENJOY!!! P.S. Next week I will be at the Visual Communications Group conference hoping for an excellent turnout and will not be doing a blog - stay tuned next one will be October 28th!

It Has Gotten Chillier

WOW!!! What a difference a day makes. On Friday it was 80 degrees and that evening I was running around opening the bedroom windows because I was extremely warm and could not sleep. Yesterday it was 75; but, it was supposed to rain and the temperature was supposed to drop 30 degrees in the evening. I decided it was time to put away the patio cushions, remove the umbrella and cover the patio furniture. Although last week I moved the spring/summer clothes to the spare bedroom closet and fall/winter into my bedroom closet, I did not do the shoes or my draws – I got that done last night and made sure I had long sleeved shirts, turtlenecks and sweaters at the ready. And, boy did they come in handy this morning – once I took my bed covers off I could feel the chilliness in the air. Long workout pants on; and, a long sleeved shirt in my gym bag to wear after Zumba class.

While making breakfast I noticed that the temperature in the house was 69 – time to turn the heat on, I like the house at 70 degrees – although I would put it at 72 if gas was not so expensive. I have to marvel at how quickly the weather can turn. Have you ever pondered what happens in autumn? On the East coast we tend to get a bit of rain which has the leaves falling and turning colors, it is pitch black when I leave the house at 5:45AM and the temperature has already been 45 degrees at that hour in the morning. Then as I sit and watch the 5 o’clock news I have become aware of where the sun is – it isn’t in the same place as in the summer. The front of my house faces East and it is very apparent by 3PM that we are in fall as it is already dark in the front of the house and the kitchen which faces West is nice and bright.

In a few weeks it will be Halloween – the boys will be over to celebrate it next Saturday since I will be gone the weekend of the 19th and the following weekend they will be in Delaware visiting their grandfather. I have their trick or treat bags for them and they are full with Halloween PJs, (Callum’s glow in the dark), a Halloween shirt and their Godiva candy. I will give it to them when they come over for dinner – I have decided to make Mexican lasagna (use tortillas instead of lasagna noodles), chicken fajitas and for appetizers it will be guacamole, salsa, chips and nachos.

I cannot forget to buy candy corn since Ryan distinctly remembered that I had candy corn in leaf bowls last year. I am looking to make a pumpkin bread for them to take home – it turns out Callum likes it and anytime we find a food that he will eat I make sure that he has plenty of it. There is an apple cake recipe that I found that I think everyone will enjoy and then I will have the bakery make me a yellow cake with chocolate icing, a spider web decoration and Happy Halloween written on it. Do my family dinners seem a little elaborate – probably so. I enjoy entertaining - it is a good opportunity to have the boys understand how to sit at a set table and eat properly.

As the weather changes and gets cool my thoughts go to comfort food; stews, casseroles and to baking. I know that Callum enjoys cake, my family enjoys different bread loaves; pumpkin, cranberry and cinnamon swirl; and, I do make a mean cheese Danish. I have baked since I was in my early teens whether it was cookies, cupcakes or a cake I enjoyed making sweet things that my family would enjoy. In the fall there is nothing better than the smell of apple, cinnamon and spices in your house. Enjoy this time with your family – the color of the leaves and marvel at the beauty that Mother Nature is providing us.

Happy Fall – it is here for a very short time.

By Myself

This is the first weekend in a month that I have had to myself. I very much needed this time to get my home, my work and my life in order. Why? You might ask? I have to admit that I am one of those individuals who does not function very well unless everything is in its place and I am managing it or if you prefer a stronger term, controlling it.

It was important to me to get my house changed to its fall/winter look and I was able to complete that last weekend even as a physical detriment to myself. This Friday evening I spent the time cleaning out my draws and closet and reviewing my wardrobe in anticipation of the weather getting chillier. It is always one of those cruxes as to what will fit and what will not. I was pleasantly surprised that a wraparound dress that I bought 3 years ago and which still has the tags on it fit so nicely. The Parisi High Intensity class is paying off – I can see it with my black heeled boots – cannot wait for that first day to wear it. I also had my furnace looked at by my service contractor to ensure that all was working properly and the house would be heated nicely come this winter.

Today after my Zumba workout and running errands I decided it was time to tackle the front yard and the back patio. I took my very sharp Cutco shears and trimmed several bushes in the front yard – there is one that has absolutely gone haywire this past summer so it definitively needed an extensive trim. I then worked on the back and removed all the weeds and tilled the soil. I will look to see what I will plant in it before the weather really turns cold. I also removed the garden hoses and put these down covers I have over each of the faucets and turned off the water pipe. Next weekend I will remove the patio furniture cushions and cover the furniture – it is the last remembrance of warm weather until next April.

As today is September 30th I am a little behind in my holiday shopping. Today, I ordered for the boys Halloween shirts and pajamas – yesterday I bought each of them a trick or treat bag – I will put these clothes in the bag when I give it to them. I have started to get everyone’s Christmas list and little by little I am chiseling at the requests – my goal is to have all my shopping completed by Halloween. I also went to Hallmark on Saturday and bought all birthday cards for October and November, Halloween and Thanksgiving cards. This is the way I like to organize myself so if a “surprise” or my time is needed for something I will not feel guilty, resentful or give myself undue stress. That is my personal life. Professionally I am caught up on my projects, presentations and MOVI/Web Ex requests by my customers. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by my job because I wasn’t getting it done in the timely manner that I like; but, all of that changed this week. And, the VCI-Group conference is coming along. Now I need to get End Users to realize the importance of this conference and get their butt into the seats.

I am determined to continue my workouts and to add diversity to them. I have again signed up for the High Intensity workout given by the Parisi School at my gym. They are introducing a new Zumba class called, “Zumba Tone” and it will be with the Zumba batons – this is supposed to help tone my over 50 arms and get rid of that flyaway flab. It is an 8 week program that will take place every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30; so Saturdays I will do a 2 hour workout beginning at 8:30 with aqua aerobics and then I will do my 10:30 Zumba Tone class. I am psyched. No, the scale isn’t moving down; but, I know that my body is more toned than it has ever been.

Lastly, I will leave you with something I forgot to mention last week. So as you already know last weekend was hectic and on Sunday I had the whole family over for dinner. What I didn’t write about was that as I was cooking dinner I received an email from American Express regarding my Gold card (I also have Platinum) it was asking me if I had made a charge as they thought it might be fraudulent activity. After they told me the charge, $2040 to a place called 511 Inc (never heard of it) they then proceeded to give me other charges $500 to Dell (I haven’t owned a Dell computer since I was in my EMBA program); and, another for $21.90. I have to tell you that Amex was wonderful and advised me that they were cancelling my card, issuing me a new one and for me to let them know if I see any other charges on my bill that do not belong to me. By Tuesday evening my new Gold card had arrived and I was able to activate it. I am waiting for the bill to come in a few weeks to see the charges on my old card and if there is anything else to report. The one hassle was going through and remembering who I have charging directly to my card like EZ Pass and changing the card information. I know some people are bothered by this – but, I appreciate that they are aware of my charging habits, the stores I frequent, the amount I usually spend and reached out to me.

Sometimes, Big Brother is not that bad.

You were expecting this last night – I know and once I explain to you my week and weekend I think that each of you will understand why it didn’t go out. As you know I am helping my niece get her father’s house in order to sell – they have lived there for 29 years so I don’t think I need to tell you what it means to have to go through everything in this very large house. I have been spending 2 to 3 days a week helping sort and clean through each room. Last Thursday I worked from her house and between conference calls and responding to email messages we started on the spare bedroom upstairs because her father was coming home for the weekend and would need to use that room. We didn’t get it all done ad Siobhan had committed to transfer some kittens to their new home that afternoon – I was expecting to return on Friday morning after my workout. On Thursday at 5PM I received a call from my boss advising me of a meeting the next day that he recommended that I attend – there went my early morning high intensity workout. I went to the office and before my meeting began at 11AM, I completed a presentation on my organization for my boss and the new budget for our “All Hands” meeting scheduled for November - YEAH. Right after our meeting ended I headed to Siobhan’s, changed out of my business clothes and helped finish cleaning the bedroom and setting it up. By the time we were finished with that her brother arrived with the boys (Ryan and Callum) who were spending the night at my house since both parents were working on Saturday.

We got to my house a little after 5PM and I immediately started cooking dinner for us – dinner done, dishes in the dishwasher and it is already 7PM. By 8 that evening Callum was ready to go upstairs to bed; but, did not fall asleep until 11 – I never rest well when he is with me because I am always attuned to his movements. I was awake by 7 and showered and I could hear that Ryan was up and had headed downstairs. Callum woke up at 8:30 and was ready to have orange juice while for Ryan it was pancakes, bacon, orange juice and tea.

What was nice about having the boys is that Ryan likes to help around the house – since I had not changed my house over for the fall, I recruited him to help me. He was unbelievable in that he assisted in turning the mattress, putting on the bedskirt, changing all the comforters, throw pillows, rugs in the three bedrooms and updating the bathrooms. We then came downstairs and he helped me roll up the area rugs in the living and dining rooms and put down the fall/winter rugs. By now it was 1PM and I needed to drive the boys back down to see their Grandfather and get picked up by their Dad. I visited with Gerry for a few minutes and then came home to finish what I had started. I stopped by the cleaners to pick up the curtains that I had given them for storage – well they were supposed to be ready on Friday and here it was Saturday at 3:30 and they were not done yet – they were being pressed could I come back. I went home ate some chicken quickly and then gathered all the spring/summer decorations and went into the storage room to start pulling out all of my autumnal and Halloween decorations. Before I knew it was 5:40 time to run to the cleaners and pick up those curtains before they closed at 6PM – they were ready – now home to finish up. I got the downstairs rooms all decorated – I hung up the curtains and folded the ones I took down to take them to the cleaners on Monday morning after my workout. I then ironed the curtains for the powder room and the shower curtain and got those hung up – needless to say I finished decorating the house, every room by 10:40 – I was exhausted and ready for bed. I woke up a couple of times during the night and when I got up and stepped away from my bed I got very dizzy – I am unsure if I had not eaten enough that day or if I was dehydrated; but Sunday morning I was fine.

Sunday was no slower as Gerard, the boys and I were going apple picking; but, before I did that with them I had to run to the grocery store and pick up the last few items I needed for dinner that evening. It was a beautiful sunny day with just enough of a breeze to enjoy trudging through the orchard. This year Callum enjoyed picking apples – he would select a red and then a green one. He enjoyed saying “apple – DELICIOUS”; with just one problem he doesn’t eat apples. Well, we picked a bushel – got them to the car then headed to their store to pick up the requisite apple butter, apple cider and to choose our pumpkins. Then to the bakery were we bought apple cider donuts, a cherry and an apple pie for dinner. Once at home with everyone having cider and donuts – I began on the salad then the appetizers since Gerry, Siobhan and Matt were joining us for dinner. It was an Italian dinner with baked ziti and garlic bread and pies for dessert. It was great to be all together and the family left at 7 and my house was back in order by 8 last night.

Now am I forgiven? It was a very busy, fulfilling weekend and I enjoy the time with my family and doing different things with the boys – now I need to learn to be a little less hard on myself and not try to set up the house in one day when I normally do it over three days. But, it is done and I am more at peace with myself because of it.

As they say, “To each their own” and I am not sure I will be changing anytime soon.

Are You Ready for Some . . .

I LOVE this time of season; but, probably not for the reasons you are thinking.

You are thinking it has to do with the crisp, cool mornings – NOT. It was 45 degrees the other day when I got in the car at 5:45 to drive to work. I had to put on the heat in the car and the seat warmer. Also, if you dress for when you leave in the morning you will roast in the middle of the day when it gets to 85. Also, at night if I don’t have the down blanket on I can’t sleep because I am cold; if I do have the down blanket on I can’t sleep because I am too warm. There is no happy medium.

You are thinking it has to do with apples and pumpkins – NOT. I don’t like apples; not whole, not apple pie or muffins and very little apple juice; I will eat apple sauce with pork. Nor do I eat pumpkins – not pumpkin pie or anything else you can make with pumpkin. I have never carved a pumpkin or decorated one. Having said all that next Sunday we will take the boys to go apple and pumpkin picking; I will make an apple cake and I will choose a nice big orange pumpkin to decorate the steps to my front door.

You are thinking it has to do with pulling out sweaters and cords to wear – NOT. I would prefer to wear less clothing and not more. I am happy just wearing a sleeveless dress with a cotton cardigan to the office. For the weekends I can throw on a tee shirt over a pair of shorts or Capri workout pants and go about doing my errands. Nowadays I have to throw on a long sleeve tee and a jacket to hit the gym. I have to start bringing out my long sleeve shirts to wear under my office suits and I go through the dilemma if I want to throw on a raincoat when I head to the office in the morning.

You are thinking it has to do with my being ready to change my house into its fall wardrobe – NOT. Although I enjoy doing this it is several days of work where every curtain, rug, comforter and accessory is removed, put away and the new ones are brought out for the season. It means that I am rotating my queen size mattress, rolling up and laying down a 6’ x 9’ foot rug in the living room and a 5’ x 7’ rug in the dining room by myself. It is no small task and it takes all my strength, coordination and creativeness to get it done.

Okay, it will tell you what it is – FOOTBALL. Last weekend the professional football season began and I have become devoted to my television on Sunday afternoons. Everyone asks me if I have a team I root for – NO, I don’t. I like the Jets to win because my cousin is a Jets fan; I like the Giants to win because his son is a Giants fan; but, me I want the teams to win that I have chosen for the football pool.

Yes, being in a football pool is my vice. Other people smoke, drink, gamble, etc. – I don’t do any of that except I annually join a football pool and give my requisite $85 or $170 for the season and then do my picks. I just don’t randomly pick – I have a spreadsheet and I analyze who I think is supposed to win given their wins/losses and average points scored. Is it a science – NO – maybe, if I followed who was injured, etc. I would be more accurate; but, I don’t.

Do I want you at my house on Sunday – NO. It is not a pretty site as I will be having verbal tirades with the television yelling at a team if I feel they did not do everything they could to cover the spread so that I could win. You see this is the only time it becomes all about ME and how I am doing in the pool.

So this is a little bit of insight into how I approach autumn – not for the turning of the leaves, the crispness of the mornings or the smell of apple pie. It is for FOOTBALL.

Last Two Weeks - Family

Let me give you a recap of what has been going on for the last two weeks in me and my family’s life. My cousin and his wife are now in Delaware – we made the move on Labor Day weekend and I am glad to report that both of them are acclimating nicely to their surroundings. My cousin’s wife, Eilish is in a Nursing Home in Delaware and she did extremely well during the drive from New York to Delaware in an ambulette. She is smiling and enjoying the music and entertainment that they offer at the Home – that is all we can ask for.

Gerry is renting an apartment in Dewey Beach until Siobhan and Matt’s home is built by the end of the year. Although the street below his window was very busy last weekend and we could hear the people from the various bars – on Tuesday it became very quiet. The summer season is over and Dewey Beach which for the summer time is busy with the single young 20 year olds now has become a quiet town with cars going from Rehoboth Beach to Bethany Beach or Ocean City. What Gerry did notice was that by Wednesday many stores had closed – not to open until next summer.

Now that we have that done – we are preparing the house in New York to be placed on the market. We got much done this week – the entire downstairs floor is clean and staged to have pictures taken for posting. Siobhan will take the pictures. This week we will tackle the garage so that it is sectioned into an area to place boxes that have been packed and marked to go to Delaware, a section for items for donation and a section for garbage. We will then clean and stage the upstairs. The goal is to have this completed by next weekend so that the house can be listed then.

I am hoping that someone can see what a great house it is, the room that is there and will have wonderful memories in it as we have had for the past 29 years.

By having completed everything next weekend I can focus on getting my house clean and decorated for autumn with my numerous and multi-colored pumpkins. I am looking forward to selecting a date that Gerard, the boys and I will go apple picking. Perhaps we can do that before we visit Gerry for Columbus Day and I can bake an apple cake to take with us. So as you can see we are coping with the changes happening in the family.

Work has been wonderful and busy. We have an Executive event that we are supporting almost every week. We have been deploying web ex and MOVI accounts on a daily basis and we (my team and I) are working on an “All Hands” meeting that my boss will be conducting for his department. We have grown 50% over the past year and are located in three different cities; it has come down to we do not know each other so this would be a wonderful opportunity to meet each other, understand the strategies for the next year and to understand the transformation of our organization.

The Visual Communications Industry Group conference is coming along. We have all the logistics completed, the concurrent sessions set and almost all the panel speakers. Now to promote the HECK out of it so that we have attendees in the seats. To that effort I will be doing many postings in Linkedin for every group that I belong to.

That has been my life for the last two weeks in a nutshell, no I didn’t have children to get off to school or college and I didn’t spend Labor Day weekend at the beach; although, technically I was at a beach town and I did not do anything extreme like kayaking or zip lining.

What I did was more important – I was with my family helping them start on their new adventures. Remember, family accepts and loves you with all your warts and idiosyncrasies.