The Land of Zaardecious

2009-03-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

Who would be in your wedding?

Don't be fooled by the title, I'm single and not wedding planning...

I heard an interesting talk a few months ago about "Who would be in your wedding" and it's something I've thought as it relationships and how relationships change. In a nutshell, if you were planning your wedding who would be standing-up on your side...Family, close friends, co-workers or simply acquaintances? Do we ask people because we really care about their friendships or out of obligation? "Well, I was in person x's wedding so I need to ask them to be in mine." Weddings can be political with who to ask and family obviously come first, that's not my point...

Guys probably don't think about weddings nearly as much as girls, but after the talk I thought about my relationships and how they've changed. A few years ago, my wedding party would be quite different than if you asked me today. Some friends are more short-term and only in your life for some reason for a brief time. And lately I've felt some friendships drift away. God has brought people into my life (both Christians and non-Christians) over the past few years and it's cool. I continue to realize I'd rather have a few closer friends who genuinely care about my friendship, want me around and enjoy my company, versus tons of friends or people who are just fitting me in their schedule.

2008-10-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

Wow, Is Gas Cheap!?!

I remember back in the mid/late 1990's, I'd be in Europe shocked at how much gas cost. It was about $1/gallon in the US and close to $4/gallon in Europe at the time. We all know the cost of gas has gone the record highs, who would have thought $4 or $4.50 for a gallon of gas in the US. (Europe at the high was over $8/gallon)...

After paying over $4/gallon, gas seems so cheap right now. As low as $2.59/gallon for regular. 2 years ago I would have thought that was pricey, but now it's seems so reasonable. Crazy how my expections have changed now. The impact of the extra $1-1.50/gallon adds up and it struck me recently as I was filling up. I was spending at least $15-20 more per week, but I did cut back in my driving a little bit. Anyways, hopefully the gas prices continue to decline or remain constant and our economy returns to some normal level again.

2008-05-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Quality, Not Quantity

Have you ever been to one of those restaurants that gives you tons of food that isn't very good, but it's really cheap? Sometimes quality is worth paying a little extra for. That analogy will make sense shortly...

I was reading a book lately and one of the questions it asked was are you seeking more alone time or more group/relationship time? I would have answered the question differently a few years ago than now. I've been feeling more alone lately and seeking more group/relationship time. Friends are dating, getting married, having kids, moving, changing jobs/careers and those all impact relationships, which are all normal parts of life. But here's the thing, when I was in college or even my early/mid 20's, I was always doing stuff and had lots of relationships but so many of them weren't healthy. I continued to invest in relationships that continued to bring me down or were just unhealthy...Ok, going back to my earlier analogy, I'm now seeking quality friendships/relationships not quantity. I'd rather have a few closer friends that I don't always get to see but I know care about me, than 20-30 surface relationships. A wise friend once told me you should be able to count your close friends on 2 hands, more than that could be too much unless you have time for all of them.

So what does this mean? Not sure yet, it'll be another interesting ride of life.

2008-04-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

Loyalty....

I tend to be a pretty loyal person, whether it's products or people. It takes a lot for me to give-up even if a product or person fails me. Someone told me recently that it's a "Midwest" thing....Maybe it's a) regional, b) skewed by marketing or c) just how I am or try to be. I'm on my 3rd Lexus, try to fly Northwest, rent cars from Avis and stay at Hiltons. Maybe I'm a creature of habit and my 8 years working in advertising the culprit. The reality is I found products that are consistent and don't let me down. And when they do let me down, the brand stands behind their product and ensure the customer walks away happy. Brands often offer loyalty programs to recognize their customers and reward their customers for using their brand. Of course not all brands, but the good ones do.

Loyalty with people is often different than with a product...When Northwest cancels/delays my flight it sucks, but it's a temporary frustration and not personal. If a friend does something that disappoints/frustrates me, it can hurt whether intentional or not. I try to be loyal to friendships during the ups/downs of life. I often wonder if I wasn't so loyal to some friendships, would the disappointment or hurt be minimized. Is there a point when loyalty goes too far; should loyalty be a 2-way street? If I'm loyal to a friend and there when they need something, shouldn't it work the same for me? In the end, maybe we all think of loyalty in a different way and that's the simplest explanation....

2008-02-16T21:28:00.000-08:00

Wanted: A Reliable Contractor

Becoming a homeowner has made me wonder, do reliable contractors exist? Of course there are a few, but how do you find a the needles in a haystack? In no other industry could you run a business the way most contractors do: "I'll be there between 8am and 5pm" or "Between 8am and 1pm." If I told my clients that, I wouldn't be employed so how can contractors be so laid back and people tolerate it? I understand things can come up, but how often does a contractor call when they are running late? As bad as airlines can be, they provide some updates when there are delays.

They are often providing a specialized service that someone needs or some emergency with the furnace, plumbing, electrical that a typical homeowner can't fix on their own. So we often have to tolerate the lack of professionalism, unpredictable schedules and even being overcharged b/c it's an urgent problem. Why do we allow it? Even more amazing is contractors coming inside with muddy shoes, leaving lights on when they leave, turning up your heat, making a mess and not cleaning up or even eating your food. Everything just mentioned has happended to me, but I'm sure some of this is not uncommon.

If a contractor was reliable and showed up when said they would in range of 1-2 hours (and guaranteed it), treated the homeowner's house like their own and responsive to phone calls, they would have people waiting in line for them.....and cost becomes a minor issue. Until then, I've decided to inform future contractors I expect them to show up when they are supposed to or I'll deduct money from their bill given I'm having to take time off. I might irritate quite a few people in the process, but eventually I'll find a reliable contractor.

2008-01-19T21:47:00.000-08:00

2007 and a look at 2008

As the new year comes, most make resolutions....everything from joining a gym, losing 20 pounds, stop smoking, driving your car less, spend more time with friends or going to church more often. The gyms are usually pretty full in the first few weeks of January and then seem to thin out. Do we make resolutions that are attainable and actionable, or just stuff that sounds good? I thought about this and decided to reflect back on 2007 and some things to ponder for 2008...

- When you hire someone for a project, there are 3 main factors: reaonably priced, reliable and does good work....You need 2 of the 3, being cheap doesn't always work out.

- Some friendships are meant to last a lifetime, while others are only in your life for a short period of time. Other friendships are put in your life for a reason.

- Appearances are deceiving, yet we often judge people on them. Get to know someone first, before throwing stones.

- If you don't like your job, spend time looking for a new one....Only you can help yourself.

- If you want to see the world, see it while you're young and don't wait for retirement.

- If the first thing you do is check the pricetag, you're missing out on a lot. Sometimes paying a few bucks more is worth it.

- Things happen for a reason (good or bad) and we often don't know why, but the bad things help make our lives stronger.

- People are human and will always let you down even when they try not to, it happens.

- Sometimes the decisions you make instantly are just as good as the ones that take days/weeks to make.

- If you live where snow falls, invest in either a good snowblower or plow service.

2007-12-31T12:42:00.000-08:00

Road Trips and Europe

I've been travelling a lot for work, but vacations are one of the benefits of why you work and time to re-charge. Last month was a pretty cool month for vacations...Road tripping around northern California with David and then Europe for 11 days with my mom...

Road trips with friends are always interesting and how it goes often reflects that friendship. You're with your friend(s) in close quarters and for longer periods of time....Generally, either the friendship becomes stronger or you can't wait for the road trip to end. In my case, it was such a cool trip on so many levels and our friendship continues to grow. So....almost 400 miles in 3 days we covered a lot of ground...Carmel, Monterary, 17-mile drive, gaming it up at Dave & Busters in San Jose, experiencing Fernet, creating the "czar" shot, lunch at Boudin in SF, hiking through Muir Woods, chillin in Sausalito and dinner at Little Star in SF...It was such a cool trip on so many levels and our friendship continues to grow....

Europe was also a good trip. This year we went to London, Barcelona, Budapest and Amsterdam....London is always one of my favorites, but of course when in London so does the rain. Our dollar was really weak all over Europe, but especially in London against the GB Pound. When it costs $9 for a value meal at McDonald's, something is wrong...It was great to be back in Spain and getting to use my Spanish again. It's such a cool place for archetiture. Budapest was very dissapointing and I was expecting more. This was our first time in Eastern Europe and let's just say it's much different from the western parts...As a former Soviet property, the country is still facing economic problems. It's very dirty and poor, with very little English spoken. I guess I was expecting a little more basic English in high tourist spots and at the hotel. We were sold the wrong subway pass (no one spoke English) and were fined $30 each...Just paid the fine, I can't imagine Hungarian jail being very nice. People say how rude people in Paris are (personally, I think the people there are not rude based on experiences), but let me tell you if you think Paris is rude you won't like Budapest very much. Where shop keepers and hotels complain about how poor their country is, you think they would be very nice to any tourists...Yes, there were a few exceptions but I'm not rushing to go back there anytime soon...

We'll see where 2008 takes me...

2007-12-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

Is Europe A Country?

I was just in Budapest a few weeks ago and this is hillarious....check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juOQhTuzDQ0

2007-12-08T17:31:00.000-08:00

Styling in Vegas...

I was in Vegas this week for work which was very cool....and I missed 2 snowstorms in Milwaukee, I can't complain. I've been going to Vegas for 15 years now and I've never understood how people dress is Vegas. Why do people wear suits/ties on vacation?!? If those same guys always wear suits/ties at their jobs, ok maybe they're just used to it. Watching the tables this week, I saw the guys with suits and the guys in shorts/flip flops. The suits appeared to be more confident, but who won? Who got the comps? Answer - The person who plays the game the best and spends the most money, dress isn't a factor. I think people often dress to become someone they're not, why not just be yourself especially when you're on vacation?

2007-11-30T18:55:00.000-08:00

Back to Blogging...

Yea, it's been a while and I do have stuff to blog about - a few trips, house stuff and things to ponder. Stay tuned...back to blogging here I come.

2007-08-26T21:25:00.000-07:00

Helping Others...

I had 2 friends leave for Europe today and I offered to take them to Chicago for their flight. As I was leaving the handed me money for gas/tolls and I refused. I'm not going to take money from my friends for something I offered to do for them. Part of being friends help each other out and not needing or expecting a payment (monetar or anything) for it. A "thank you" should be sufficient.

I thought about this driving back from Chicago and it seems there are different types of helping I've been running across recently. I'll help you do XX, but I would like X; I'll help you for $XX; You should hire me to do xx; I'll need some gas money; I pretty booked, but maybe next weekend I'll have a little time; Yea, I did that repair on my house myself, here's someone you can call who won't be that expensive. I haven't really helped you with anything, but can you do XX for me? [note: some are more extreme to show my point and yes I've come across people who help b/c they want to and not to receive something back] Why are we so quick to help people less fortunate, but not often those right around us. Or it's ok to charge people or let them pay for repairs themselves if they can afford it or capitalize on their mis-fortunes? Or not making time to help others when they need something?

It's just interesting how some people look at helping differently. Regardless, I'm going to continue to try my best be genuine and help my friends when possible b/c I want to...

2007-06-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Experience

Most people know that San Franscisco is one of my top 5 US cities to go on vacation or business. Now that I have a friend living there, I guess I'll have a reason to head out to SF more often.

A flew out for a weekend trip to hang out with my friend David and it was such a great vacation. As much as I travel, it was probably one of my better vacations in quite a while. I knew we'd have fun doing tourist stuff and hanging out, but the trip exceeded my expectations and the friendship is closer. I've been so disappointed lately with some relationships and maybe that's been a test from God to make me stronger. While I was there and for days later, the trip had an affect on me and made me more content than I've been in a while.

Here’s my top 10 from what I learned from being in SF recently...

10. Some grocery check-outs don’t accept cash, while some restaurants don’t accept credit.
9. Buy the transit day pass it’s worth it
8. Little Star is the best pizza
7. Just wait for the bus, by the time you start walking it usually comes.
6. Dirt Devil is the best vacuum to buy
5. White gerbils are not always albino
4. The Golden Gate Bridge is 2 miles across each direction
3. When you’re sailing around the bay and they say "you might get wet" believe them
2. Never play 3 card monty on a bus or anyplace else….and if you must, pay-up when you lose.
1. "Riding the bus is an adventure, just like going to Disney World."

We’ll see what I can add on the next trip…

2007-05-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

Something is Wrong...

Something is wrong lately and I've been in such a funk and can't sleep nights. Some people generally just disappoint me, but that's only part of it. I'm tired from working on the house basically every night. Or maybe the funk is all my fault. I've been distancing myself from some people lately both because of the funk and just disappointment. I'm a person - not a bank, charity, comic relief, food pantry, shuttle service or a carpet. I have wide variety of friendships and some treat me better than others.

I posted a while ago on friendships and it's still something I struggle with. I must be doing something wrong. People are human and all mess up. I'm no where near perfect and mess us. We're made differently and not all of us are the same levels of caring, consideration or responsibility. We need to accept others and how they might think differently. However, it's learning from the mistakes, apologizing and not continuing to repeat them that separates us.

2007-05-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Planes, Trains & Automobiles - How Travel Is Never Dull

Do you remember that classic movie "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" with John Candy and Steve Martin? Well, I think I was living part of that recently with my work travel and the advertising must go on. It's kind of funny to reflect on this a few weeks later and what sometimes we need to do to get someplace on a business trip. Emergenices are for medical staff, not for ad guys.

I was heading to Phoenix for focus groups and our plane was hit by lightening the night before and there was a 50% chance our 7am flight would leave at all. So what do we do? Go home, not so much when other co-workers are panicked...With no flights that work out of Milwaukee, we rented a car and drive to Chicago to take a non-stop and just make the flight. We get on our plane and they need to de-ice and snow is coming....in the end we got out a little late. We get picked-up and get lost going to the facility, but we got there about 45 minutes before the groups were scheduled to start. Phew, advertising crisis avoided.

The week after I was going to Atlanta for more interviews and Milwaukee is hit with a mid-April snow storm. As I parked on the roof of the parking garage and walking through about 8 inches of snow (carrying advertising), I just stopped and started laughing. Middle of a snow storm and I'm heading to Atlanta, I must be nuts. My flight was delayed, but was supposed to take-off. Well it eventually got cancelled and I was re-booked on a flight 5 hours later. Meanwhile I was getting back-up plans in place - drive to Chicago get a flight out in the morning, fly anyplace close to Atlanta etc. Lots of fun in the Milwaukee airport for 5 hours, woohoo. That flight was also delayed an hour, so it only took me 11 hours to get to Atlanta...Problems with the rental car as well. Phew, another advertising crisis avoided.

A few days later I was heading to New York City for an advertising research conference. I had decided to fly in earlier on Sunday to get some extra time in the city....Well, my first flight was perfect and I was sitting in Minneapolis waiting for the connection. I'm watching CNN at the airport and see this "nor'easter" hitting the east coast, wait that's where I'm going. Living in the Midwest I never thought I would experience a Nor'easter (and never really wanted to)....Basically, it's a storm that winds come from the Northeast. It ends up being high winds and either heavy rain or snow in a very short period. They predicted 40-50mph winds and flooding in NY/NJ. We took off an hour late and it was rough ride the last hour of flying and a fun cab ride hydroplaning over the Triborough bridge. The storm broke a record from the late 1890's on amount of rain in NYC. 8 inches of rain in the first day and then Monday was another 4...I'm glad it wasn't snow, that's the good part....

I love to travel, but sometimes it just isn't as fun as it looks. We did eat an awesome Brazilian steak house in NYC, so i guess that makes up for some of the travel hiccups.

2007-03-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

Homeowner...

So it took a while, but I'm finally a homeowner. 2 weeks I made it official and spent lots of time shoveling all the snow. I bought a 3 bed, 2.5 bath ranch in Brookfield...I've been working on de-wallpapering the house. 6 rooms have wallpaper and the kitchen has it on the ceiling!! Who puts wallpaper on their ceiling, that's what I want to know. Anyways, I won't be moving in for a while until I finish painting, de-wallpapering and get the hardwood floors re-finished...It should keep me busy for the next month or two...

2007-01-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Belonging...

I couldn't sleep last night and I pondered - where do I belong? I'll steal someone else's analogy on a different topic, but it's like a puzzle and each piece fits a certain place and in a certain way. The puzzle only is complete when all people fit in the right places. You can think of it several ways - either you're the puzzle piece or you're life is the puzzle.

For the first time in a while, I feel content at work which is great. I have no plans of changing jobs and I feel like I belong there for right now.

The rest of things are not as clear, from moving out to relationships to church. Either my puzzle is not fully complete or the pieces are not fitting together quite right. We'll see what happens...

2007-01-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

Packratting....

I tend to keep a lot of crap, yes crap and really don't get it. Packratting is the new word this week. Old textbooks from college, will I ever use them? Clothes that fit, but I haven't worn in years? People need clothes and I have stuff just sitting around, not good. Old credit card receipts for groceries and the list goes on and on. I spent some time over break getting rid of stuff, but my resolution for the new year is get cut down on the packratting...

2006-12-19T19:41:00.000-08:00

Tis the Season....For a Mileage Run....

It's the end of the year and time for a mileage run....Wait, a mileage run?!? Essentially a mileage run is a taking an airline trip to any destination to obtain more frequent flyer miles and/or reach elite level status (upgrades, bonus miles etc). Most people know how much I like to travel and I've been accused of being a mileage/point "whore"....guilty as charged.

I just did a mileage run today to Tampa, yes Tampa Florida. I left at 6am, flew to Detroit, then to Tampa to Minneapolis and back to Milwaukee. I was 3,000 miles short to remain Gold next year and now I'm set for next year. Basically, this extra trip gives me double miles next year and I can upgrade a companion to first class. When you travel as much as I do, it helps the travel sitting up front and yes the free food/drinks are also nice.

My mileage run is nothing compared to some of the guys at www.flyertalk.com. There are people who will take an international mileage run to let's say London. They'll land in London at 10am and take the 1pm flight back (the same day). That's a little much for me, so I'm sticking to the easy domestic trips.

2006-12-15T19:23:00.000-08:00

30-Something...

I did turn 30,000 on the odometer this week, but that's not what I'm talking about. With my birthday a few weeks ago, I'm no longer in my 20's and part of the 30-something group. Or the 1st anniversary of my 29th b-day. I was in Norway for my b-day and woke-up realizing I'm 30, it hit me. My birthday is always a blur for most people since it's around thanksgiving and a few weeks later is christmas. I honestly didn't think turning 30 would bother me as much as it has been on some days. Work has been so insane, so I think about it at random times (like now) and become crabby or a little depressed. It might just be life in general and not necessarily turning 30...Maybe it's thinking of not being married when the world around me is married or close, or loneliness or not being fully content at work or home situation or being disappointed with people because they're human or some friendships who I can't rely on. No, this wasn't meant to be a pity party, just a collection of things I've been thinking about lately. I've had been in a random funk for a while and I guess turning 30 added a little to it. It's in God's hands and the rollercoaster of life will always be there in some shape or form, so I better keep hanging on...

2006-11-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

Thankgiving and Being Thankful...

Being in Europe for Thanksgiving, it's just another day here. We were walking around Copenhagen today when I realized, "today is thanksgiving." I did have a turkey sandwich for lunch, that counts for turkey :) Anyways, the point of this wasn't about having turkey for lunch, it's being thankful for that things you have in your life. Everytime I go to Europe I realize how fortunate I am and more thankful I should be. I have a job where as the unemployment rate here is 15-30% depending on the country, I'd love to make more money but so does everyone; I have plenty of food to eat and don't really think much at the grocery store in terms of only buying a few things; I'm able to travel and see places different from my own and learn from them; I have my mom and friends; I am thankful for God and his role in my life; I have a place to sleep each night and a car to get me to/from work; I have plenty of clothes to stay warm (ok, plenty for lots of people to stay warm).

Sometimes the smallest things are the ones we take for granted - food, water, clothing and shelter. Hopelly wherever you are, you can give thanks for the things in your lives. Happy Thanksgiving.

2006-11-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

Work and Vacations...

Work and vacations should never go together, but in the corporate world they are closer tied that they should be. Sometimes to be able to go on vacation you're either working late before you get to cover stuff while you're gone, or you come back and work extra hours to make-up the work you missed I worked late on Friday night and still have a few more hours to work from home before I leave Sunday. I asked myself is this just me or are a few others in the same boat. A few people at my company also concurred, so I guess it's not just me.....(yes, sample size is small) If I could delegate the work down to others it would makes things easier, but I don't have the support that I need right now...

In the end, vacations are always a good thing and it's always nice to get away. I'm going to Europe for 10 days, I nothing to complain about...

2006-10-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

The Joys of Travel....

As most people know, I love to travel but sometimes it isn't fun or exciting. This week was a good example. People will say "that's cool you're going to California" but it's all work and no play. Wednesday I was flying to Orange County and it was one of the longest travel days I've had in a while. We were about 15 minutes from landing in Houston for our connection and were told we have some "bad news" which you know it's good - either mechanical or weather. The winner was weather and they the pilot mentioned the Houston airport was closed for weather indefinately. We were being diverted to Austin (an hour away). We ended up sitting on our lovely regional jet for almost 3 hours before flying back to Houston......we missed our connection, got on a later standby flight and arrived in OC 6 hours late. It all it ended up being a 14 hour travel day from the time we left MKE. I felt we were flying to Europe, not CA. The whole day is not the norma, and I haven't been diverted years. Thursday was a long work day with clients from 9am to 11pm, then a early flight home on Friday. I did get about an 1/2 hour break outside and enjoyed the CA sun and palm trees around the office building.

Despite the long travel and work days, it was nice to get away for a few days. My work travel has really been light this year, so it was nice to be out of the office for a few days.

2006-10-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

Vacation Time....

I do travel a lot for work, but it's not really a vacation despite what some think. So we're going to Europe for Thanksgiving again this year and we've been debating where to and how long...Norway is a definate to see our friend Astrid, but other countries have be undecided. We finally decided where we're going - Copenhagen, Denmark for 4 days, then Oslo, Norway for 5 days and then Amsterdam, Netherlands for 1 night....It all it'll be a nice 10-11 day trip.

After quite a saga with Hilton this weekend, I was able to redeem some free hotel nights which makes the trip pretty affordable with 4 free nights....one of the parks of all the travel.

2006-09-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

Funktacular Week...

I did a search online and it looks like I invented a new word "funktacular", yes "funktacular." It's dervived from the word "funk," but I'm working on the defination. Lately, I've been in a funk and it's been lasting a while, hence the new word. Some people can get funks and some don't, but do you ever wonder what triggers them? For me, I guess it's been coming from work, relationships/friends and just part of life. Maybe it's some disappointment and/or frustration with people or events that have been going on for a while.

One of my friends a while back told me the story of a bear cub that got trapped in a hunter's trap. In order for the hunter to release the cub, the trap actually hurt the bear more before he finally got released. Maybe things are going to hurt a lot then all of sudden the pain will be gone...

2006-09-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

Travel

This year has been a very odd travel year compared to last few. Typically I'm gone for work about 25-30% which is a good balance, but this year has been very, very slow. I've had more day trips (either driving or flying) and fewer overnight trips. It's weird to be in the office so much and I realize that I miss traveling. I don't want to be gone every week, but it's nice to be out of the office a few days a month for the variety. I've gone to Vegas for vacation, so that was nice to get away.....

I thought being home more would help with my friendships/relationships, but I'm not sure it fully has. Maybe it has and I don't realize it. I guess we'll see what happens as my travel eventually gets busy again...

2006-09-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

Vegas, Part 2...

I hit a new record, going to Vegas 2 times in 2 weeks...It'll probably be months before I go again. Weather was great again - the sky is always blue and the sun is always shining. People were complaining about the high humidy, it was 25% while we were there. I told them to come to WI and they'll be ok with the 25% :)

I've been a fan of The Price is Right game show for years, but never get to watch it much anymore except on vacation days. Being Vegas, they have a slot machine game that is based on the Price is Right. You get the hear "Come on down, you're the next contestant on the Price is Right." You get to play Plinko, Cliff Hanger, Dice game and even the showcase showdown!!! I admit, I'm hooked on the game when I'm out there but know my limits. The odds of the game aren't really the best, but I did win some money playing it. I have realized I need to stick with blackjack when I'm out there. I seem to do very good at it and enjoy it. No huge winnings, but I broke even for the 4 days which is always a good thing.

2006-08-18T23:14:00.000-07:00

"Vegas Baby, Vegas!"

I think most people know Vegas is one of my favorite vacation spots and no I don't even gamble that much. It is odd to see slot machines at the airport and grocery stores tho. The city was not built on winners and I've contributed to the purchase a few palm trees over the years. I needed a break for a variety of reasons, so I flew out Thursday for a 2-day trip to relax. The mountains around Vegas are very cool, great shopping, entertainment and lots of cool hotels to take a look at. One hotel is bigger and better than the next.

Vegas is truly a "fantasy" land for some people. People living a lifestyle the only do in Vegas. For a while people always said "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." The limos, 4-star hotels/restaurants and all the best clothes/jewerly. No limo for me, I had Dodge Caliber... I was playing blackjack at the tables tonight and had to laugh at several people at my table who thought they were "money" with their 100 dollar bills and fancy clothes and then watched how they played. If you ever play blackjack, you ALWAYS split aces if you get them. The dealer was making fun of this guy who didn't split aces and then busted. Oh and almost always double down on 11...

2006-08-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Friendships

What is a friendship? Are all friendships created equally or meant to last? I've been struggling and thinking about this for a few months. Friendships change, people change, life changes...

Everyone defines a "friend" differently which is perfectly ok, just interesting. For me, if I meet person X today I don't call them my friend right away, they are an acquitance with the potential of being a friend. Others immediately call person x their friend. People often have different levels of friendships - best friend(s), close friend(s), good friend(s), friend, acquiantance, family or maybe something else.

If you check out Wikipedia, they help define what friendship is and the values.... "Values that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating on a consistent basis":

- The tendency to desire what is best for each other
- Sympathy and empathy
- Honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth
- Mutual understanding

Is a co-worker a friend or a co-worker? Co-workers often know more about our lives than our close friends and family, but if they leave the company or leave do you stay in contact with them? They know more about your lives just buy working with you 40 hours a week and the amount of interaction you have with them. However, when Friday comes at 5pm we generally say "goodbye, have a good weekend" and go on our seperate ways. Monday morning comes around and you find out how their weekend was. I'm sure there are exceptions and yes I've occassionally gone out with co-workers. Maybe this is one of those hybrid friendships/relationships....again, there is nothing wrong with it...

Are people in our lives for certain reasons or certain periods of time? Sometimes you have a friend, then something changes (new job, marriage, kids, move, social group change, church change) etc and you eventually lose touch. You're still friends and nothing is wrong. Was the friendship based on a connector and once the connector is gone, can the relationship continue how it was? I think people are brought into our lives for different reasons and different periods of time, some longer than others.

We also have those friendships that we're willing to fight for and not give up on, regardless of what's going on. Petty fights, verbal or physical brawls, hurt, disappointment, lies, backstabbing, money, theft and communications...I have friendships that as much as I've been hurt, I'm not given up on them.

Here are some cool quotes to ponder....and yes, I also need to think about these....

"Sometimes you pick your friends, sometimes they pick you."

"Friends are God's way of taking care of us."

"Every man should have a fair-sized cemetary in which to bury the faults of his friends." - Henry Brooks Adams

"An honest answer is the sign of true friendship." - Proverbs 24:26

"A friend means well, even when he hurts you. But when an enemy puts his hand round your shoulder - watch out!" - Proverbs 27:6

2006-08-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

The Saga of Sickness

Being sick is no fun, especially when the doctors take a while to find out what's wrong (yes, it's good when they finally know)....

So a few weeks ago I was having chest and rib pains and went to urgent care. I had thought it was pleurisy which I've had before and a weird illness. It's viral infection where the pleura (lining of lungs) is inflamed causing chest pains. I had begun getting side effects from the anti-inflammatories, another trip to urgent care for more medicine, then more side effects and a 3rd trip to urgent care on Monday for chest x-rays and an EKG. They now had realized that I don't have pleurisy, but inflammation of the cartilage b/c my ribs, chest and back were hurting. More side effects so yet another pill. From the x-rays they found a fracture on my rib that is causing the problems. A fractured rib is so weird and playing indoor soccer is the only thing I can think of. I've taken a few bad hits the past couple of weeks, so that must be cause...They still think I have inflammation of the cartilage in addition to the rib fracture. I'm taking 14-16 advil a day and starting to feel better, so hopefully another week or two I'll be doing even better.

2006-07-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

Workplace Theft...

Here is something pretty amazing to me - theft in the workplace. Even worse, theft by a co-worker. I guess in the gym it might make you feel a little better, but at work? Yesterday my intern Luke had his camera stolen from on his desk and wallet stolen from INSIDE his desk drawer. He brought his camera in to download pictures to share from our company picnic, nice huh. I'm still in shock and disgust that this happended and feel terrible for him. It turns out that another employee had her IPOD stolen last week.

It appears that our company won't replace anything he lost. I guess it makes sense since from a company standpoint, but it's sucky for the victim. I'm getting him a Best Buy gift card to put towards a new camera and a few other employees are going to contribute. In the end, I geniunely want him to walk away this summer with a good experience.

It has caused greater awareness at work and others are now locking up their file cabinets with valuables, but the cost of that was someone lost trust in co-workers. Or in Luke's words "it sucks to be a victim."

2006-07-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Cell phones or address books?

A few months joined the 21st century and finally bought a new cell phone. I figured that 4 years was enough for my tired phone. It's amazing what cell phones have become and how vital they for finding a phone number. Since my phone was too old, I had to write all the phone numbers down and I realized "Why are some of these people in here?" Granted some were work contacts, but there were people in there that I've never called and my phone served as an address book. I came across my written phone list this weekend and realized I didn't include a few numbers, hence my thinking on this topic. My realization is that I haven't needed the numbers in 3 months and I have them written down if I ever need them.

2006-07-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

Pets are family too...

Whether you have a dog or cat (or some other animal), pets are really part of your family especially if you've had them for years. A few weeks ago, I had to put my cat Pumpkin to sleep and it was probably one of the most difficult things I've had to do. She has been sick for a while and I could tell she was getting sicker and was hiding in the house. Instead of being selfish, I made a hard decision but the right one. I've been thinking a lot about this lately and it bothers me even as I type this post. As difficult as things may be, GOD is there for us for the joys and sorrows of our lives...

2006-05-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

The Politics of Corporate America..

Office politics are really crazy sometimes - what you say, how you say it, what others hear, who you need to ask to get something done, why it takes 4 people to get a computer set-up, jealousy, anger, climbing the corporate ladder, different rules for different people, lack of support, having the wrong title to be included, being the favorite, having connections, stress and probably a bunch more.

Every job has some kind of politics, but at what point is it time to move on? But wait.....when the politics aren't there, you love your job. Do you stay and put up with it, or look for something else. Maybe the politics are worse someplace else and what you're experiencing isn't that bad?

I found this great quote from Jay Chiat about his advertising agency.... "We don't have titles on our business cards. No one really gets any special treatment. No one gets a corner office to put pictures of their family and their dog in."

I'm interested....Where do I sign-up?

2006-05-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Anger

Do you ever get angry? Come on, we all do in some way. I'm just as guilty as the next guy and I won't deny it. Just because no one sees us get angery, doesn't mean its ok. Anger doesn't have to be punching someone or yelling, but also thinking it. A few weeks ago in church, the pastor gave a great message about anger around James 1:19-22. "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angery." Isn't that the truth, but doing it sometimes is the hard part. Sometimes we need to think for the extra minute before our instincts take control. I used to be very quick to send back an email when some people would upset me, but I've been slowing realizing to wait a few hours or maybe even a day before I respond back. Sometimes it just isn't good to keep fueling the fire, especially over stupid stuff.

The pastor gave these steps to win the batter against anger...

1. Acknowledge anger exists and try to get rid of it
2. Confess
3. Forgive anger, but don't put up with it
4. Confront and reconcile
5. Develop a new nature

No guarantees I'll follow these, but I'll give it a shot.

2006-04-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

Trust and Reputation

Trust and reputation are 2 key elements in the way we live. You need to be able to trust someone in order to be their friend or in the business world. Trust is the foundation for any relationship and once it's broken, how easy it is to fix? Reputation is connected to trust. If your reputation is tranished, it's often hard to recover.

Lately, I've thought about this more as it relates to work, but also holds true in my non-work life. I try to be honest and geniune and want my words to mean something. Recently, my job put me in a situation that was a wild ride to say the least. I was told to do something and then our company changed their mind a week later after I made promises and committments to a client. In the end, the client was upset and had every right to be. I still remember his words "You've lost your credibillity." Wow. What do you even say back? "Sorry" doesn't seem like enough. For their viewpoint, it's true. Days later I still feel like crap about the whole situation. This particular situation is weird - I was only doing what I was told to do by my company. If I over-stepped my bounds or did something wrong, I'm willing to accept the responsibility for my actions. I've been able to gradually re-build credibility.

Trust and reputation are vital. I'm not the used car salesman type that only wants to "close the deal", but I want and try to make my words/actions mean something to friends, clients, relatives and anyone I come in contact with.

2006-04-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

No more mouse ears...

I said recently that I was starting to grow mouse ears with all my trips to Orlando. Our company decided to close our Orlando office 2 weeks ago. I had a feeling it would happen at some point. A very large account was lost and the office was closed a few days later. Hmm, coincidence? That office has always been my second office and has often given me more opportunities than my home office. I'm sad to see it go both personally and professionally. I've been going down there for almost 6 years and it's been a great group of people to work with over the years. I've been down there a few days this week and last week for client meetings which has been a little weird. I was on the airplane last week not really wanting to go, but I'm glad I did. It gave me a chance to see a few people who I might not see for a while. I hope and pray that everyone down there finds a job. In the end, I think everyone will be much happier and will be better off...

2006-04-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

The Places I've Been....

create your own visited countries map

create your own visited states map

2006-03-14T21:52:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about the natural consequences of actions or behaviors? It's another thing that I've thought about lately. Things happen or something is said, and there is some natural consequence or response from it. A window breaks and there is glass to be cleaned up; you're unemployed and don't spend much time finding a job, so you can't afford things you once could; you don't put gas in your car and eventually it runs out. They are all the natural consequence of doing or not doing something.

When we do something wrong to someone else, it's sometimes hard to accept those natural consequences or even think about from another perspective. (Before anyone says it, no I'm not perfect on this) A few examples to think about....If you're not dependable, people might not count on you when they need something; if you lie and people find out, they may not trust you; you're a gossip and that's why people don't tell you private information.

Sometimes we jump to conclusions or want to blame another person for something we said or did, instead of just saying "I'm sorry, I messed up" and not justifying it. I've used this example before: "I'm sorry I hit your car, but it was in the way." The natural reaction is that the person is sorry, but doesn't want to accept responsibility.

Well, maybe something here encourages others as it has encouraged me in my own life...

2006-03-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

An advertising or research emergency?!? You're reading this right now thinking 'are you joking?' People think it's crazy, but it happens and I'm not even a doctor. No serious injuries, but sometimes quick action is required to make the client happy or to heal the wounds. A change to the advertising strategy, new business pitch, 'too many cooks in the kitchen', last minute client changes or the last-minute research project that needs to be done "right away." An emergency, or just a mild panic is question.

The past 2 days lots of emails and phone calls have been exchanged and the thought of a 'research emergency' entered my mind and I laughed today for a few minutes. My phone rings during a lunch and of course I answer it (some of you know me too well). I'm either too dedicated or a sucker for punishment, sometimes I think it's both. At the end of the day, no fatalities and everyone goes home happy....Another day in Advertising.

2006-03-03T20:20:00.000-08:00

You scored as James Bond, Agent 007. James Bond is MI6's best agent, a suave, sophisticated super spy with charm, cunning, and a license's to kill. He doesn't care about rules or regulations and somewhat amoral. He does care about saving humanity though, as well as the beautiful women who fill his world. Bond has expensive tastes, a wide knowledge of many subjects, and his usually armed with a clever gadget and an appropriate one-liner.

James Bond, Agent 007

83%

Batman, the Dark Knight

71%

Indiana Jones

63%

William Wallace

63%

Captain Jack Sparrow

63%

The Terminator

63%

Lara Croft

58%

Maximus

58%

El Zorro

54%

The Amazing Spider-Man

54%

Neo, the "One"

50%

Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com

2006-02-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

Advertising and marketing can sometimes get a bad rap. People trying to sell you things you don't need, all those commercials that interrupt your favorite TV show or annoying Internet pop-ups.

Here is the side of advertising few people ever see and I was fortunate this week to experience first hand. This week I was working on a non-profit client who hired our company to develop communications for them. We're not "selling" anything, but trying to help their organization raise funding and be able to help more kids. The company helps at-risk and troubled youth turn their lives around after facing some pretty serious issues. Programs from kindergarden up to 18-20 years old. One of their programs are wilderness camps is rural locations which I visited on Wednesday. I honestly didn't know what to expect and the whole process just surpised me for the good. Hearing the stories of these campers is pretty amazing and makes you think how fortunate you are. One girl was never shown love at home and on every drug possible by the age of 14, another boy was stealing jewerly to pay for food and another boy at age 12 took tried to kill a parent with a knife. And now their lives are being turned around and you can see the difference in them whether they are currently in the program or already graduated.

One employee made a comment that's hard to forget being in Advertising, but just as a person: "Thank you for helping us help our kids." Wow. I didn't even know what to say except we're here to help. These people are the most committed and probably some of the most unselfish people I think I've ever met or talked with. Some give up 2 years of their lives to live in the wilderness only to help these youth get better and nurture them back to recover.

Sometimes we never realize there are people out there who are hurting. Maybe I live in a sheltered world, buti don't think that any my friends are homeless, lacking clothing, in foster homes growing up for most of their lives, or going hungary. This whole experience was amazing and I'll probably never forget it. It makes you be thankful for your life regardless of how bad things may seem...