Saturday 9

Saturday 9: I Will Always Love You 

1) The Bodyguard is the best-selling movie soundtrack ever and this is the song most often associated with Whitney Houston. Is it on your iPod/mp3 player?  I don't like this recording. It's so over the top and was so overplayed. In fact, I've always thought it would make a good car alarm.

I do, however, love Whitney's voice and "So Emotional" is one of my favorites.




2) In the movie, Rachel (Whitney) sings "I Will Always Love You" after she realizes she can never see Frank (Kevin Costner) again. What song reminds you of a past love? "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart.


3) Despite the movie's and the song's overwhelming popularity, Whitney Houston was awarded a Razzie Award as the worst actress of 1992. What's the most recent criticism you received? That I'm not detail oriented enough at work. I know! I keep telling management that I want to take advantage of the agency's proofreader. I admit I need help.

4) On the bright side, share the last compliment you received. That I never lose sight of the big picture when I'm working. This pleased me, because I try to remember that my contribution is only a part of the process.
 
5) In the 1980s, when Whitney first burst onto the scene, a trendy woman wore big hair, big bows and big shoulder pads. Can you think of anything you wore that was fashionable at the time, but looking back, makes you cringe? Neon. I may have been wearing it when I was dancing to Whitney's "So Emotional" in the clubs back in the day.

6) When this song was popular, cell phones were uncommon and Facebook was unheard of. Which has had a bigger impact on your life -- smart phones or social networking? I still have a cell phone, not a smart phone, that rings unanswered in my purse. So I have to go with social.


7) Whitney's marriage to Bobby Brown left many people shaking their heads. Whitney and Bobby's daughter recently married the young man who was raised as her brother. Have you ever been in a relationship your friends/family didn't approve of? Yes. And it pains me to admit how right they were, and how much time I wasted.

8) Whitney Houston's grave marker reads, "I Will Always Love You," so obviously her family is very proud of the success of this recording. How would you like to be remembered? I love the way Wilbur the Pig eulogized Charlotte the Spider, as a good writer and a true friend. That's what I aspire to.

9) Whitney was born in Newark, the largest city in New Jersey. It's a major air, rail and shipping hub, and it's in the Eastern Time zone. Have you ever been to Newark ... or any town in New Jersey? I was in a long distance relationship with a guy in Philly (he of the song in Q2) and we used to take long car rides. I vaguely remember a visit to New Jersey.

There's something in the air ... again

These days, everyone in my professional life is looking for ways to tighten their belts. It's been my experience that no good ever comes of this.

My client has been reviewing their 2013 expenses and is not happy with how much they spent on/with us. I don't know that they are looking at the work we produce, per se. What I have heard about is travel expenses. Now when I visit them, I take Amtrak -- which is way cheaper than gas and mileage reimbursed to those who drive -- and I haven't stayed overnight down there in years. But we did have a team onsite down there, 4 days/week, for more than a year and I know the bills they ran up were astronomical. Never mind that the client requested the team work from their offices. Now that the bills are due, they're suffering from buyer's remorse.

Our head of account services came by and asked how long everyone on our little team has been working on this account, and in financial services in general. He explained that he thought now would be a good time to remind our client who much value they get for their buck when they work with us.

Then, on our side of the equation … We used to have beer and wine and popcorn every Friday. This year will have beer, wine, pretzels and vodka once a month. Management tells us it's better to have good booze less often.

There are metal bowls on each of the long tables in our lounge area. Before Christmas they were filled with chips and candy. In 2014, they're empty. (I wish someone would put them away.)

It was in mid-February last year that we had a round of layoffs.

I am scared. Again.