silence is golden

Our usually loud department was very quiet yesterday as we were working on the national meeting signs. Some periodic sighs and grumbles, but for the most part, it was quiet.  I will be glad when this portion of our work is completed and we can send them off to the printers and be done with it. 

Our 'big' boss gave us a new toy the other day. Animoto will let us create videos of pictures, set them to music and upload them to our social media outlets. I had some fun listening to the songs available. When things settle down, this will be fun to play with.

And that is it for my week. It has gone by quickly and we have plenty of work to go around. I'm ready to slide on into the weekend.

when work and hobbies collide

Part of my new job is to assist with our social media efforts. Yesterday our department director returned from his trip out west and promptly made me an admin on our Facebook page and a moderator on our Linkedin page. He was also ready to sign me up to access the Blogger account. Well, that one wound up not happening as the new website we are planning on launching sometime this year (nonprofit land can be a bit loosey-goosey when it comes to some timelines) may include some sort of blog feature that will render our Blogger account obsolete.

So, I actually get paid to post to Facebook now and toy around with our other social media sites. Ha! All that time I've 'wasted' online may actually begin to pay off....pretty amazing.

I'm at work for a couple of hours today as I have to travel into the big city to do my civic duty and line up for jury selection. Ugh. Don't mind the civic duty part, but I do mind the timing and the travel. Of course today is jam packed with TONS of family stuff to do. It always works that way.

Happy Tuesday. 

half way thru

I'm only half way through the InDesign tutorials for the first course I am taking. I'm hearing the narrator's voice in my sleep. Believe me, that is not a good thing.

Today, however, may bring some actual work that does not include a tutorial. I may be pivoting to templates! Wowsa. The template we use for our Constant Contact emails is so boring and bland. My manager and I were discussing it and we may spend some time today perusing other templates and seeing if we can adapt one of the existing layouts they offer and incorporate the banner graphic we have to use.

In other news, the Literacy Council ad hoc committee met yesterday and we have narrowed our book choices down to three titles : "Guernsey Literary"...., "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet", and a book featuring Maisie Dobbs (I can't remember the title). I'm reading Hotel as I've already read Guernsey and four other committee members are reading the Maisie Dobbs book.

We meet again next week. In the meantime I have to contact the Library Director and see how much support I can drum up from them. I also need to contact the Friends. We are going to need money. Time to start begging!

Today is not my Friday.....sigh.  But, I think I will stick with only posting Monday through Thursday. So, when the weekend does arrive, hope it is a good one!

tutorials

My work life for the rest of this week is going to consist of watching hours of tutorials. Ugh. I'm excited to learn this software, but I have a mental block when it comes to learning via an online movie. Planning to 'soldier on' with all that today.

The first full day went by more quickly than I expected, although when 2:00 came around I had to make a concerted effort to keep my behind planted in that chair. I soooooo wanted to go home. The moment passed and I survived! Ha Ha

After work I met the Friends of the Library president and helped her with more of the Constant Contact features we use to email our monthly newsletter. I think she is going to be just fine. In fact, we have already started the June letter and she has a good month now to play around with that mailing and get it all set and ready to go out to the membership.

I was able to spend an hour with the oldest at the Senior Art Exhibit. She had a lovely piece displayed and I already have dibs on it for my cubicle.

Life in the cubicle wasn't too bad yesterday and I have to say, it was kind of nice to be considered part of a department.

punk my cubicle

I've gone from an office with a window to a tiny cubicle. Wah! Ugh! First project for today is to deck out that cubicle. I haven't purchased any art, yet. After I get the stuff I already have in new spots, I will evaluate and see what else I need to procure in order to make my new home more mine. Sure, I have biology, anatomy and all sorts of marketing posters I could slap up on the walls from our inventory...but I'd rather look at something else. Maybe some kid art. The oldest has a piece she is exhibiting in the high school art show. Hmmmm. That might be the ticket.

In other news, after I finish my work day I am meeting the current Friends president and giving her a second lesson in how to use Constant Contact. I will be glad to have that duty off my plate.

Happy Monday to all and here I go.....full time work week dead ahead!

impromptu interview

I interviewed yesterday for the position they are creating in the communications department. I think it went well, but it is hard to know for sure. I do know they are going to talk with the two external candidates next week and a decision will be made the week after that. But, sticking to a schedule when it comes to hiring decisions is not always possible.

My best guess is that by May 1 I will know what is what.  Which will also be about the time that I will have my one year anniversary with the association.

That is all I have today. I'm rather tired this morning. Enjoy Wednesday!

oh happy tuesday

Three day work weeks are lovely things. I have Spring fever and the thought of being cooped up in my cubicle for the next 6 hours is a bit depressing. But, at least I have a window! I can take short breaks and looks outside and enjoy nature through that glass portal to the outdoors.

Still reading "Child 44." I didn't get as much reading done yesterday as I thought I might, as I started puttering around the house and began to clean the stuff the kids always seem to miss: baseboards and doors and other woodwork. I got a decent start on that chore, but it really needs a good half day devoted to just that and then it will gleam.

But, off to work I go! Hi-ho, hi-ho.

big projects

We are embarking on a journey at work. A rather big project has been assigned to us by our board of directors, specifically the past president. This guy is a go getter - global sales director for a major player in our field - total East Coast kind of guy. I've spent the last two days cruising the web for ideas and materials for the HUGE website redesign/overhaul we will begin to work on this year. 

New projects are always so shiny and spiffy....for about the first few weeks. Then the slog begins. The saggy middle. The part that never ends.  Good thing my boss and I can cheer each other on as we travel this new road. Going to be a learning curve as far as the tech stuff goes and an opportunity to polish our 'herding cats' skills as we deal with the various other non-profit groups involved in this. Dealing with our board can be a bit of a herding exercise as well, although I have to say, we both wanted to give a gold star to one of our stalwart board members yesterday. This gal kicks butt, big time. She knocks out projects and has enthusiasm to spare.

So, fun stuff for me at work. Makes the days go fast and the weeks fly by.

I'm at my Friday, folks.....enjoy your weekends and see you on Monday.

brain cells not required

I made my travel plans yesterday for later this fall. I'm being sent, instead of my boss, to Louisville for a convention. Never done this sort of thing before....but hey, I'm not too old to learn! Part of packing for these conventions is stuffing takeaway bags for the attendees. I have 300 such bags to stuff today for the gathering my boss is attending in Indy next month.

So, lots of brain cells will not be required today as I work the assembly line and fill bag, after bag, after bag.

I sort of enjoy days like that and I often use the time to do some real thinking about various projects. The quiet, the repetition and the steady pace seems to free up my higher thinking processes and the creative ideas flow!

Perhaps my blog title isn't accurate....brain cells are required! I have some thinking to do!

and then the bigwigs arrive.......

After working 'solo' for over a month, my boss arrives next week in order to prepare for the bigwigs to arrive a day later. It is time for their annual board of director's meeting and I will have the opportunity to meet all those folks whose names I've become familiar with over the last several weeks.

It should be interesting. It will be tiring. I'm sort of looking forward to it.

The best part of my job, so far, is when I get to write. I've been writing letters, I've been working on a new public outreach course, I've been crafting text for an annual report. That is fun stuff. The worst part is when I have to input data into excel. Excel is the bane of my life at the moment. I spent two hours working in that program yesterday, left with a raging headache, and dread the thought of having to do anymore with it today.

I'm not sure where my loathing came from, other than Excel deals with and is driven by numbers. Ick.

I do need to rise above my dislike, however, as I do have to use the program several times a week. I need to force myself to play with it, become more comfortable with it and try and hide my distaste for it.

All in a days work as we get ready for next week and the bigwigs to arrive!

knowing your audience or word choice matters

They say that attitude is everything. And it is and it can be in many situations. What supports attitude is word choice and knowing your audience. When you are first meeting someone, how and what you say to them is crucial, especially in a work environment with a new 'teammate.'

After my interactions yesterday, I did a lot of thinking about my working style and management skills when I was in my twenties. Gave me a lot of food for thought. Most of the women I worked with had a good twenty years on me. They were where I am now. A lot has changed in the business model in the 17 years I've been out, but some things remain constant.

How you talk to people is one of them. Knowing who you are talking to matters. The words you use matter.

Food for thought.

and so it begins.....deja vu

I accepted a position at a local bank yesterday. Yep. Guess that means I've come full circle. I start on Monday, but until then I have to pass a drug test and drop off proof that I have the education I listed on my application. The kids all know and we will be having a big family pow-wow over the weekend about what comes next.

In the meantime, I have the book sale setup to finish. I have to break this news to the ladies I volunteer with at the library and I need a haircut.

Monday will see me driving all the way into downtown, something I am dreading, for the day long new employee orientation. Tuesday I will be at the branch to observe for the rest of the week. After that I get to attend two weeks of virtual training. Just me and a computer, all day long.

Then, I guess, they will turn me loose on the public.

The one major perk......this branch is right next door to a LIBRARY!!!!!  I can spend my lunch hour basking in the sights and smells of my passion.

And so it begins. Deja Vu. What goes around comes back around. And all that jazz.