Then later in the evening I'm running my first 10K. From sofa to street. Hope I don't get to comfy strolling:)
Friday, June 11, 2010
An Abundant Weekend
Then later in the evening I'm running my first 10K. From sofa to street. Hope I don't get to comfy strolling:)
Hotel service - Caution when booking!
Part of my job is making arrangments for guest rooms and meeting space for small gatherings that our program organizes. We're working on one in Milwaukee, WI for June, and we're pulling together a meeting in Charlotte, NC for September of later this year (yay!). I'm overexcited because it's so close to home....YIPPEE!!!
Usually we need 20 guest rooms and a meeting space (with a window!), and lately, I've become astonished at how carelessly some of these hotel folks treat my customer service.
- With one hotel, I was quoted a fantastic rate! I was ready to get the contract going, till I got a phone call telling me that the sales mananger was looking at the wrong year when she gave me the estimates!!!!
- In some cases, attendees of our meeting like to stay a day or two later. With a hotel that we had booked an event in (and paid a heavy deposit for), I asked if our contracted rate could be extended to the extra nights that an attendee would be staying. AFTER A WEEK, I called the sales manager back, and after stalling again, she gets back to me with a solid NO. Nice, huh?
- In the exact same case as above, I've been asking for a total cost for our contract. I've been in touch with these folks for 4 months. REALLY?
I just wonder why, in cases where money is being handled, professionals don't act...well, professionally! What are folks focusing on if it's not DETAILS? Booking rooms is not an added part of these people's jobs. IT IS THEIR JOB! Why do I find myself following up with them, correcting their numbers, confirming their space for my needs? Can I get a part of their paycheck, please (or at least a discount on some room service!)?
ciao y'all!
a
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Balancing Acts - A Haiku!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
51 Gigs.... #1 An Author
- Continue journaling, but with more detail, content, and exploration of my experiences (and what they mean to me)
- Park ideas right here at the Wonderland
- Become familiar with how to aggrandize the book into an actual business
- Research publishers
- Share my idea with family, friends, and loved ones (and put the energy of believing in it behind it!)
ciao y'all!
a
Balancing Acts - Planning Relaxation
When I go to yoga, I get stressed because the poses take too long, the other sounds of the gym are too imposing, and the mats that we use are probably germ ridden and disgusting.
When I try to mediate at home, the contruction outside is sooooo noisy and there are a ton of other things on my TODO list that I have to cross off.
When I try to relax after work, I rush through other things (workouts, making dinner, doing laundry) just to relax, and I get myself all worked up because I don't think I'll have enough time to relax!
I feel like I have to go somewhere (the nearby Canal for a walk is an example), buy something (candles or a eucalyptus plant maybe?), or go to a class (who wants to pay $10 for an hour of Tai Chi!?!?!?!?).
So my thinking is to build relaxation into moments, not activities. I'm not quite sure how to accomplish this, so your thoughts and practices are more than welcome! I have a few ideas, and I'm hoping to keep this list growing!!!
- At some appointed time (here I go planning again! But this could be an exception), stop whatever I'm doing, and do a breathing and meditation exercise for a few minutes.
- I'm situated at a desk for the day job, and I've discovered that taking breaks throughout the day gives me a much needed mental break. I usually just walk up and down a few flights of stairs, which gets my body working and heart beat pumping. It's not relaxing as much as it is rejuvenating, but it's all part of the cycle:)
- Drinking water - but not ice cold water....it's soothing somehow.
- Hearing water, too....I'm just not sure a fountain would work so well in my office, but somebody brilliant at Youtube has solved that problem! Check it out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDEn9P9_S-s. Love this!
- Hug someone. Just the exchange of friendly, warm, and soothing energy with another person is so relaxing. This is a pose I can hold on to for a while!
Any other ideas? Please do share!
ciao y'all!
a
Monday, June 7, 2010
What do you wear, Ottawa?
I've built like an hour into my morning routine just to deal with the disappointment of not having anything to wear.
The closet is packed - so are the drawers and corners where I stuff unwanted (but at some point, loved and highly regarded) clothes, belts, socks, necklaces, sweaters, scarves, etc.
Really, I have no excuse...except that some mornings, I just can't pull it together.
Soooooooo..........
my girls and I are putting together a style showcase in September. Ideas and structure are still coming together, but keep an ear to the ground.....will be sending more info soon.
ciao for now!
a
June topic - bAlanCe
Topics will range diversely...this is what I'm mapping out so far...
- Balancing spiritual energy - how much we invite God into the mix
- Balancing time - what we spend our time doing
- Balancing attention - who we spend our time with
- Balancing efforts - what we direct our actions towards
- Balancing wellness - how we stabalize a healthy body (diet, exercise, spa treatments, doctor's visits)
- Balancing family - how we encourage, strengthen, energize, and worry about our family
- Balance in the bank account - how we balance our money (I'll pull from learnings collected from the May focus on Money for that :)
- Balancing talents - what we want to improve, should improve, and what we can cross off our lists
I'm excited to build on what I've been learning over the past and what I'm working to become...it'll take time, but sharing is part of the journey!
Ciao y'all!
a