Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Meme From Memphis (part two)

 

Have any memories that you’d like to forget? Not many, but a few.

Is there someone you really like to hang out with and just talk about stuff?
My best friend. He's been awfully quiet lately on his end lately. I miss him and hope he's OK.

Have you ever been called prince or princess? No.

Do you think teenagers are weird? Yes, but I think I'm supposed to. Every generation of teenagers looks weird to adults. It's the natural order of things.

How fast does your mood change? I wish this one would change fast! I'm kind of in a funk these days.

How are you feeling? See above. I'm sure that once I come back from vacation and baseball starts, I'll feel better. I'm always happier when I can watch baseball.

Do you want someone to call you right now? My best friend.

What do you always take with you? My keys.

Is your bed comfortable? Indeed

Would you say you’re an understanding person? I try to be

Are you generally a happy person? Not this weekend, not this month, but generally yes

Who’s in your facebook profile picture with you? Just me and Don Draper. You can get yourself an awesome retro avatar, too, just go to Mad Men Yourself. (Use safari; it doesn't like Firefox.)

Were you single on Valentines Day? Yes

What is the last movie you watched? At the movies: Amour. On TV: Grand Hotel

Do you listen to songs when you’re done? I'm sorry, but I don't understand the question.

How long does it take you to fall asleep at night? Depends on whether I have stupidly napped on the sofa earlier in the evening.

Are you talkative? Yes, I'm pretty unstoppable

What are your St. Patty's day plans? I feel bad that I forgot it was this weekend. And here I am, 15% Irish.

Small Victory

I haven't been happy at work. Part of it is that four of us are toiling away in an office designed for two, max. I really can't stand this much togetherness. It's making me crazy!

Another thing that's bothering me is the work itself. We got a new, rather high profile assignment. It's an expansion of what I've been doing for the last (gulp!) eight years, only finally with a budget. It's something I'd normally tear into with the same relish that I approach a ribeye.

Except for my boss.

He had a vision for this that surprised me because it seemed so over-the-top and inappropriate. Our client is a highly conservative, middle American company and I believe strongly that they wanted work that reflects that. I worked on a concept that was sincere and authentic, reflecting what we had done with moderate success for them on a far smaller scale in the past.

My boss was openly derisive. "If your approach is so good," he asked, "why do they only have 4% market penetration?"

Oh, please! Because I never had a budget before! I could have developed the most brilliant campaign ever, but if no one sees it, it can't work!

I couldn't believe my boss was being so bitchy. I was also disheartened that he acted as though my past work was completely MY work -- like instead of being the supervisor who approved everything I did, he was on vacation in Belgium or something.

I tweaked my concepts but stood by them rather stubbornly. He was not pleased.

We had an internal review. He presented his vision with jokes and humor and enthusiasm. Then he got to mine -- which he'd pinned on the bulletin board much higher than my 5'2 frame could possibly reach, so I assumed he was presenting. No. He handed the meeting over to me with no fanfare whatsoever. I thought it was a disaster.

Well, guess what ...

Beginning Monday, we'll discuss how to make MY concept work for Thursday's big presentation. My boss seemed tired when he gave me the news. No praise, of course.

Like I said, it's a small victory.

I like doing my work. I like my client. I just really don't like the agency I work for. I hope the economy gets better ... soon ... so I can leave. Of my own volition. I hate going to work every day to a job I don't like because it feels like the best I can do. It weighs me down. Makes me sad. And makes any other bump in the road feel that much bigger.

Oh well, I'm a little over two weeks away from vacation.

Image courtesy of AMBRO / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Saturday 9: Hakuna Matata

1) Sam is crazy for The Lion King. Do you have a favorite Disney movie? Mary Poppins. It was my first movie ever at the theater and it had a tremendous impact on me. I still remember the moment when the red curtains parted and I was transported to the rooftops of London. It began a lifelong love affair with going to the movies.

 

2) The song tells us that Hakuna Matata "means no worries." Is something worrying you right now? The same stuff that's been bothering me for the last six months -- mostly that I'll be laid off before I can pay the costs involved in settling my mother's estate. I will be so grateful when this is over.

 
3) Who is the most optimistic person you know? Usually me, but the last 18 months have been rough. I'll bounce back though!

 

4) Elton John wrote "Hakuna Matata" but didn't record it. Name a song Sir Elton is famous for singing. I don't know how famous it is, but this one is my favorite. 

 
5) Can you play the piano? No, I'm tragically musically challenged.

6) Congratulations! You just won a guided African Safari Tour! 8 days in Zambia and Botswana for you and a friend. All expenses paid, and allowing you access to breathtaking, unforgettable sights. It takes at least 30 hours to get there, and before you go you'll need yellow fever and hepatitis vaccinations and medication to prevent malaria. Are you up for it? Not at all. Sounds like way too much stress for vacation. Can I get the cash value instead?

 
7) There's been a mistake. You really won a 4-night Disney Bahamas Cruise for two. Are you relieved or disappointed that you'll be partying with a guy in a Simba suit on the Lido Deck instead of observing a real lion in the wild? Relieved, I suppose. I know this makes me sound awfully ungrateful, but I don't know that I want to go on a cruise, either. Those cabins look awful tiny and restrictive to me. Can I get the cash value instead?

 

8) Let's bring this back to real life -- do you have any vacation plans? The Spa at Colonial Williamsburg in April. I cannot wait!

 

9) Describe your luggage. Is it durable and high quality? Or are you like Crazy Sam, who has been known to use an Old Navy shopping bag as her carry-on? I have very nice luggage. It's not new anymore, it's rather scuffed, but it's durable. Good luggage is a good investment!