Archive for 'Just….Working'
On Work and Passion
Posted on 30. Jan, 2009 by Deb.
Just because I bypassed the word “passion” as one of my words for 2009, doesn’t mean that I have allowed it to slip by me. In fact, the reason that I did pass it by was because I felt as if I had already embraced it well and it had become a part of my being, and therefore wasn’t needed as a focus. It oozes out around me at times, the pure joy I get from things like golf, which I have talked about a lot lately, and to be honest, my work.
Have I mentioned how much I like what I do? It isn’t about one particular contract or overall project, it is, to be honest, the little things. I like my ability to pull things apart and help someone put them together. I love getting to know my clients on a personal level so that I know what their work personality is and what I can do to help them. I like that people bring me in on projects when things have gotten difficult or relationships fractures, because I am damn good at helping repair the fractures. And I think I am good at it because I do want to dig in, get to know the parties involved, and be honest about the situation. My job is to make things happen for someone, even if it’s because I need to tell an THE client that something they want isn’t feasible. I have discovered that honesty is a tremendous asset.
I am often hired as a sub-contractor, so my client actually has a client that I am interacting with. I consider both my client. My client and THE client. I like my relationships with both clients. I find that, even after a project is complete or in another stage where my services aren’t needed directly, I have become friends with them and miss working with them.
Today was a reminder that all the passion that I put into what I do actually makes a difference. A former client – THE client – called to catch up. Say hello, update me on the goings on in her life, and to let me know that they definitely want to work with me again. No matter what the project ends up being, I am interested. Why? Because I love what I do and what I do isn’t about the PROJECT but the people involved in the project. It’s about how I can help them with whatever pieces they have in their current puzzle. It’s about how I interact with them, and make what matters to THEM be what matters most to me when I am working with them. I love knowing that when someone thinks about an upcoming project, they think about me helping them with it because they know that I care.
And that is why I am thankful that my focus of Passion in 2008 showed me that it wasn’t needed as a focus for 2009 because it was there all along. Heart and soul with everything that I do…..
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Home.
Posted on 17. Jul, 2008 by Deb.
Thing is, home feels less like home than the hotel in DC.
The house is very quiet.
I am looking into some educational courses. I have thought in the past about geting my MBA….but I think it would be more useful right now to get my certification in Project Management. I’m looking into it right now….trying to figure out what is the best. I saw an ad for a course at Georgetown and Virginia Tech, but I need to see if I will even be in DC during that time frame. VT is looking a little more reasonable.
Sigh. No matter what I must get some sleep. Work – and my body – are still on East Coast time. Even though I am physically in Central Time Zone….
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Long time, no see
Posted on 12. Jul, 2008 by Deb.
it’s been ages – or feels like ages – since I’ve written here. I’ve been having one of those creative and private slumps where all I am seeing to do is work, and sleep and go back and forth to work and the hotel. And at times, I am content like that. (see my column at All Things Girl) I Twitter when I can (and have attempted to feed some of my twitters into this but I can’t get that email to post thing to work at all). I have been blogging over at the ATG Blog (though nothing truly substantial – mostly fluff – though sometimes, we all like fluff)
I did actually write a complete short story, though it would need a ton of polish in order to publish it anywhere. It starts well, but the end is too rushed – and because I wrote the beginning of it in June -and the end this week, it’s disjointed. I said write, by the way…not polish or edit – LOL. I have shared the story, though, since it was based on an event….I shared it with the other person involved. The Pilot Guy. Who is trying to help me by giving me some deadlines on a couple of pieces I’m working on.
I am going to see The Pilot Guy tomorrow, by the way – between home and back to DC. No expectations…we will simply see how it goes.
Kid has been with me this week in DC – and I hired this amazing girl (i say girl – she’s 24 – that’s a girl to me) to be with her and take her places during the day while I worked. She loved it, saw more of DC – or pieces of DC – that I likely wouldn’t had (think lots of modern art) – but we did the things I love the most – like the walk from the Washington Monument to my favorite – Lincoln. I love Lincoln and the walk is just lovely. Last night, though, she told me she was dreading going home – not because she isn’t ready to leave DC, but because she is dreading having “quality time” with her dad – she is wanting to just be alone a bit. I do understand that since I have become quite accustomed to alone time – as has she with her dad at work and her step mom at work or traveling.
My health is on my subconscious a lot these past few weeks and I am failing miserably at doing anything that is affecting it much. I have gotten incredibly out of shape. Earlier this month, I had gone back to my OB/GYN (though I only use him for the GYN side) to get my shot, but to also get my bloodpressure checked. I had been in the previous month for a shot, and the nurse checked my vitals and stressed out on me. I blew it off to me forgetting to take my meds about half the time, but agreed to see my Dr. when I came back.
Fast forward to last week. See, after 2 weeks of religious taking of my blood pressure meds, my blood pressure was 154/120 – on a non-stressful day in which I had been shopping and only had a conference call. My doc told me that this was above his head because what we had tried wasn’t working. He gave me new meds to try for a couple of weeks and I have an appointment with my Internist next Friday. We are getting into the more serious BP meds now. I have not at all been successful in adding exercise back to my daily routine – the gym here at the hotel is depressing and the pool is unswimmable – it’s 3 feet deep and about 6 strokes long. So, I think I am going to have to just join a real gym up here….and change my routines – to up early, and the gym, then to work. There is a gym near my office as well as a nice one right on the metro…. BUT this will affect the only consistently decent meal I am fitting into my schedule, which is breakfast. My defenses seem to be down come lunch and dinner time. And working out in the evenings has never been something I have done successfully – my experience has shown me that mornings get me going, make me work out harder, and not tire me out.
And there you have it – way too much rambling, but at least I’m rambling instead of nothing.
It’s Saturday – please have a lovely day.
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I recall that fact about myself
Posted on 10. May, 2008 by Deb.
Last year, I spent a fair amount of my time simply trying to survive. The travel was constant, but part of my lifestyle, the work rewarding in many ways, but I also discovered that when stressed emotionally, it is very exhausting. Mentally. Physically. Oh. and Emotionally as well. I thought I was in a situation that I couldn’t walk away from. It was fear, honestly, if we get down to it. Fear of something different. Because even though I was stressed out and drained, I didn’t have the courage to make a change.
When I began wrapping the project – earlier than I would have liked – but still – began wrapping. I became relieved. My heart told me that I had been making the right decision because my gut didn’t tighten up.
This week has been my first full week working with my newest (big) client. It has been really great in so many ways. I love the project and the work and really am liking the people. As I mentioned yesterday, I have a bit of a routine going, now, so that is a very good thing for me. I have also realized that in the right circumstances, I am a bit of a workaholic.
or. a lot of a workaholic.
I don’t always see that as a negative, by the way. I have been fairly absent from much of a personal life outside of work anyway, that it isn’t a detriment. I would like to spend some time writing, of course, but while writing may one day pay all of my bills, at the current moment, putting together puzzles and providing my QA background does.
I have gotten to dinner with friends a couple of nights this week. That has been a very good thing. I have NOT made it to any of my favorite spots in DC (besides dining establishments – LOL)….but if the weather holds tomorrow, I will visit Arlington and/or Lincoln.
I DID go into the office today for a few hours and it felt so good to get a head start on Monday. but I took time to get my toes done – and have a nice dinner.
I hope everyone is having a good week. Once I get into better routines, I’ll get better at keeping up with correspondence….blogging….and back to regular phone calls. And now it’s time to say goodnight….and snuggle into my comfy bed with way too many pillows. Much love.
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Never Ending Checklist
Posted on 30. Apr, 2008 by Deb.
The work with my newest client will be (mostly) out of the DC area and my next trip in will involve staying 12 nights in a row. In one way, I am really looking forward to it….because the thing that stresses me on the travel is all the back and forth part. Once I am in a city, I’m usually good.
Especially when I am in DC. I am always good when I am in DC.
But I digress.
I am working on a never ending checklist of things to do before I go. In the last few days I have:
- Bought several new suits (no time to lose enough weight to get into old ones)
- Got my Estrogen Shot
- Bought Pet stuff: dog food, guinea pig food
- Dog to Groomers
- Nails Done
- Hair Colored and Cut
- Cleaner’s
- Kid’s Meds Filled
I know there are still things I need to do….and I need to start packing since I am going for such a long stretch. Good thing I know a couple of folks in DC with washing machines 
Now, the good thing about packing is, if I stay at the same hotel each trip, I can leave stuff there. You know, bathroom stuff, and suits that have been cleaned. Stuff like that.
I am hoping a little bit more structure to my work days will help me structure better some other things. For some reason, I find the more I need to do, the more I actually accomplish. We’ll see if it holds true. I am hoping that I will visit the gym at the hotel – and I know that I will do more than a little bit of walking. Part of the reason i chose the hotel I did was that it is in a place where I can walk to places for dinner – or hop the metro and go somewhere.
Tomorrow, I am heading to Dayton, OH and will be visiting the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum. Home Saturday and then back out Sunday evening.
gotta run. Dog is done being groomed. And I have kids to pick up from school in a bit…..
Happy Hump Day!
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Need to Visit the Man
Posted on 25. Apr, 2008 by Deb.
I have until tomorrow on this trip….and I am thinking that tonight, I need to visit this man….or at least his Memorial.
I really enjoyed my visit to the Jefferson Memorial earlier this month, but it isn’t in my heart like The Lincoln Memorial is. I think, tonight, after work, I will make a visit to Old Abe… Spring in DC is wonderful…not too hot, not cold….cherry blossoms litter the streets….
Work is going well. Yes, I am already at work. I spent the day in the office yesterday and am starting to begin to mentally settle in. The back and forth will be interesting, as it is with any contract, but I think the true test will be the first two weeks of May when I am up here for the long haul.
I tend to forget things when I pack, so I am beginning a checklist. Clothes and such for 2 solid weeks is different than packing for a weekend.
Time to run so I can head into the office…I have a meeting at 9 AM.
YOU have a truly wonderful and fabulous day!!
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Scratch That
Posted on 24. Apr, 2008 by Deb.
Well, this is no longer a writing week. I had one day where I was able to spend more than a few stolen moments writing, so I can’t exactly call that dedicated writing time.
I agreed to a new consulting contract yesterday. The rates are inline with what I wanted for PM type work, so I was thrilled. To top it off, it’s going to be a real challenge. I thrive on challenge, so that makes me super excited. I am actually beginning today on the work.
Otherwise, I’m just so thrilled to be in the DC area. I love it here and it always comes back to me when I see the Washington Monument, the Capitol or the Masonic Temple in Alexandria. Even if I am working and can only look at them from afar, I still know that the city is out there….and at night, I can still….breathe in in….
Have a fabulous Thursday!!