Next week is the first big conference at my new job. And since we are the event and conference group, it’s my team that runs it all. We get the credit or the blame – whichever way it goes. Most of the team is seasoned and has done multi day events before, but it’s the first time at the event for the new CEO. So everyone is nervous. We had our first big walk through yesterday and it went amazingly well. The team is buttoned up and ready – but they are still panicked that they’ll miss something. So I shared my favorite “I think I missed something” story (have I already shared this? If yes, sorry, go surf the internet and come back tomorrow).
Years ago I was doing my first big event in a new job, for two very – ahem – challenging bosses. The event was an interview with Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks. The event was in mid-February in downtown Chicago. Already fun right? For months I stressed about the venue, the weather, the staging, and whether anyone would actually show up to this thing. Did I mention it was crazy expensive? It was. I found the right interviewer for Ernie. I made sure we were taping it so we could use it again for something – look at me being cost effective! No stone was left uncovered!
Cut to the morning of the event.
I had flown in with one of my bosses the night before and had a nice, passive aggressive dinner where she reminded me how important it was that I don’t mess up.
Gulp. Yummy.
The next day, I woke up at 5am – even though we weren’t setting up until 1pm – in a cold, hard sweat with one thought:
I never invited Ernie Banks to the Ernie Banks event!!!!!!!!! Omg!!! WTF??!!
I had visions of how it would go down.
Instead of facing the humiliation, I would just head to the airport and go home.
There were other jobs, I thought.
How could I have forgotten to invite him?
But of course I did.
Ernie was all set to go.
But I was so freaked that I actually called his house at 6:30…I forced myself not to call at 5:30. His housekeeper picked up and I pretended to be his car service and asked,” is a 6pm pick-up ok for Ernie tonight?” She said he was all set and hung up.
Real story.
Please note that this didn’t happen in my first few years as a planner. I was a so-called professional at that point.
Every planner has an Ernie Banks story, it’s part of the job.
Moral of the story – you invited Ernie Banks. Everything is ok.
Ernie Banks Moment
30 Jan 2014 4 Comments
in Yes, I'm an event planner Tags: Baseball, Chicago, chicago cubs, Ernie Banks, Events, humor, Job, Life, work
A plague on both your houses!
25 Jan 2014 4 Comments
in Brave New World Tags: cleaning supplies, disease, humor, Life, Photo, Sick, stomach
Actually, no. The plague is on our house. Thanks for nothing Shakespeare.
It’s bad. Really bad. Super bad.
Stomach Bug 2014 is much worse than snowmageddon or sharknado.
Only the spry teenager has escaped so far. See, there’s a reason why they text, tweet , and Instagram. You can remain disease free.
I’m in bed. Waiting. Gross.
Here’s a pic of my night side table.
And of the cat. The only living thing allowed near me.
TMI? No . That would have been a pic of me sleeping on the bathroom floor last night.
Just sayin’
Come on!
24 Jan 2014 3 Comments
in I need to tell you about this right now Tags: commute, crowd, humor, Life, NYC, people, Photo, Train, travel
How could all of these people have left work exactly the same time as me? Don’t they know I wanted to get home early today?
People. They’re a bitch sometimes.
Domo Arigato NYC
17 Jan 2014 6 Comments
in Brave New World Tags: food, Geisha, humor, Japan, NYC, Photograph, Pizza, Subway, travel, Writing
Maybe it’s because I love it so very much that I have guilt. Yesterday’s post about how NYC can sometimes stink has me feeling bad. And because some folks reminded me that I sounded like a spoiled baby…waaaa….it smells bad. They said,” You know what smells bad? War torn Africa! Crime riddled Mexico! And small American towns with no good bagel shops. So chin-up! Get over it!”
So – like a cheap suit I’m folding today and telling you the good parts of my commute.
There’s this ridiculous view at the front of my building. Beautiful.
Across from the pee block (ahem) is a little place called Underground Pizza. It completes me. Know why? Because it makes this…
It’s the most amazing slice ever. On a side note, in college, my friend Maureen and I would go to this kick-ass pizza place called Broadway Joe’s. It was the best pizza in the city (they burned down and rose from the ashes in Upstate NY, but that’s another story for another day) We’d always get the same thing – a Sicilian slice. Then we’d ask the very Italian dude to scrape off the cheese and add more sauce. He’d do it – but he wasn’t happy about it. Then we’d load it up with red pepper and black pepper. Sigh. Good times. My college memories are of pizza not keg parties. I know you’re not surprised. (Tell me you remember this Maureen?!)
What was I talking about?
Last but not least – this is the Geisha that rides the subway with me every morning. We’re on the same schedule. She gets off at Fulton Street to go about her Geisha day. The first time I saw her I snapped a pic. Now I just pretend it’s normal like everyone else.
Pee
16 Jan 2014 4 Comments
in Brave New World Tags: Asia, Babies, Bathroom, disgusting, Family, gross, humor, Life, masks, Photo, Train, travel
So my new job is really great – I had forgotten what it was like to be the new toy in town. It’s fun. Really fun.
New people, new challenges, I’m even getting used to the commute – all in all a great way to start the year.
BUT! There is a but.
Not a great big but, just a little one. Here it is…
All I obsess about as soon as I get off my train is pee. Sorry. It’s gross. I’m disgusted just thinking about telling you about it. And please know, I am not that girl. I can’t deal with bathroom humor or bathroom anything. If I saw a shrink I’m sure we’d talk about all the bodily functions that I’m grossed out by. Even when I had my babies… When normal mothers readily stick their noses, fingers, etc in all kinds of places -I had issues. I did it. But I was tortured by it.
Anyway. Back to my point. All I smell when I step off the train is pee. I don’t know where it comes from. I don’t want to know. But it’s the scent that follows me up from the train and down one whole block. One long, stinky block. There’s a rush of relief when it ends at Pearl Street. Thank goodness for Pearl Street, it’s exactly like it sounds. Clean, cool, shiny and pretty. I try to hold my breath for that long block before Pearl but I can’t. Eventually I have to breath. I’ve developed a system where I bury half my face in a scarf. If I could wear one of those surgical masks without feeling like a freak, I would. Those overpopulated countries in Asia have all the luck. Everyone wears one there.
And what am I going to do in the summer when my scarf won’t be there to save me?? What shocks me as much as the smell is that I don’t think other people are bothered. They don’t wrap themselves up like a mummy – terrified of accidental inhalation. Some of the lunatics even have coffee and breakfast while walking on that block, the pee block. Wtf?? Could I walk down another block? I’ve tried. The side streets are just as bad.
Are you reading this and thinking, “what am I reading? what is wrong with this girl?”. Well let me tell you, there is a lot wrong with me. But in this particular case, the problem is that I have a supersonic sense of smell (and hearing, but that’s a different story). I have visceral reactions to smell. I can’t overcome a stinky place/people/things. It stays with me like a layer of dust or a cloud of that clings to me.
On a positive note, a good smell can change my whole day. It can make me happy, excited, or relaxed. I may not love diaper duty, but a baby’s head can make my day! I’m a weirdo. I know it. But I can’t help it. Like Lady Gaga said – I was born this way.
Jump!
02 Jan 2014 1 Comment
in I need to tell you about this right now Tags: Christmas, foot trampoline, Fun, Gift, humor, Jumping, Kids, Life, Photo, Photography, Playing, Trampoline, YouTube videos
We finally set-up the trampoline that we got the kids got for Christmas. I won’t tell you how much fun we had setting it up. The sheer joy when we thought we were almost done and then had to completely start from scratch – even though we watched 1,000 YouTube videos on how to put it together. And then, once we restarted, had to undo and start again! Did I mention it was 10 degrees out and my husband was fighting a cold? Good times.
In the end – we did it. Because we had no choice. We couldn’t have a half done, 15 foot trampoline in our backyard. We have neighbors ya know. But the kids love it. It’s what they’ve been begging for since 2008. Literally. We’ve decided that when the kids are done with it – when they’re like 30 – we won’t even bother taking it apart. Again. We’ll just move.
(I just noticed that my girl is still clutching her cell phone. Mid-air. Incase she gets a call. Or tweet. Or text. Sigh.)
Year of the Horse
01 Jan 2014 1 Comment
in Brave New World Tags: 11 year old, 16 year old, Drinking, food, Fun, humor, Life, New Year, Party, Photo, Photography, Sky, Weather
Happy New Year friends. Hope you did exactly what you wanted last night. We went to a grown-up party – I slapped on some make-up and everything. It was loads of fun. In fact, fun is what we’ve been having since Thanksgiving. Eating, drinking, merriment making fun *burp*.
This was the sky when we finally headed out of the house today. Well…this was the sky after a couple of filters but you get the point.
2013 was a year of change for our family – and we rocked it. In the moment the changes seemed scary and jarring – but looking back they were exactly what we needed. We shook off the negative to make room for the positive. Was it perfect? No. But that’s how we like it. Perfectly imperfect.
I have no idea what this new year will hold for me or my family. I’m sure there will be successes, failures, laughter, tears, music and fun. There will be a 16th birthday, an 11-year-old boy in the house, a new driver’s license, family gatherings, an 18th wedding anniversary and two adults sinking deeper into their 40s. How will it all go down? I dunno. But I promise you one thing. I promise you that I’ll blog every step of the way.
Thank you so much for the year behind us and here’s a toast to our year ahead! Together. Whether you like it or not. Ahem.
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