Here are some cool shots from the beautiful state of Pennsylvania. Enjoy!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Where in the World is Janie?
Can anyone guess where Janie is today?
Geographically, Gretchen is probably the closest blogger I know! So, hey, girl, what's up?
Geographically, Gretchen is probably the closest blogger I know! So, hey, girl, what's up?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Pup With Purpose
After my last snarky post, I thought I’d lighten it up a bit. The Zanna-girl grows.
Her "coy" pose. (Really, I woke her up taking this shot.)
And here she is, in yet another "pond" shot, playing with her new friend Laci, a black Lab belonging to Ronnie and Lisa Burnett. The item of interest? Nothing more than a stick.
She's one determined gal, I'll give her that much. And she's not one bit afraid of water.Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wondering...
Okay. Help me out here. And before you start, know that names have been changed to protect the innocent. Well, except for mine.
As you know, I just returned home from a days long conference in New Mexico. At this conference, a young sales professional hung out with all of us. Every day. I’m going to call him Joseph.
The very act of our friendship afforded Joseph access to my immediate professional relationships, and introduced him to even others, very powerful relationships in their own right. Most young salespeople would love to have the access this young one gained in one weekend.
A young lady flew in from another town and joined Joseph, and as such, she was welcomed into our group. I’m going to call her Deanna. Deanna was precious, a beautiful single mom, and a national sales manager for a firm totally unrelated to oil and gas. The very first night she’s there, Joseph falls ill. She pitches in and takes care of him. Joseph recovers to attend all of the events on Saturday, as well as the rest of the weekend. Saturday night, we’re sitting together at the same large dinner table, and I tell Joseph that we enjoyed Deanna’s company that afternoon when she joined us for shopping on the square. (He was playing in a golf tourney.)
His comment, “Yeah? She’s sweet. But I have commitment issues. I just can’t do it. But you know, last night, she so totally took care of me when I was sick. I couldn't believe it. It’s caused me to wonder.”
She’s sitting right next to him. I’m so thankful she didn’t hear him. I want to slap him.
I’m thinking: you need to rope up, boy, and see gold when it appears in front of you. I see a committed, professional, single mom, who’s working her fingers to the bone to raise her son. She’s been given a weekend off, and been thrown in a huge mix of people she’s never met, and she is faring very well. She's not intimidated, she's visiting with others, and very interested in their responses. I’m impressed. The entire group is impressed with Deanna.
That night, after an event, Joseph and Deanna went out to a very small, no, tiny local bar with four of my friends and their wives. These friends each happen to be VPs with ABigHonkin’Service Company. (I skipped and went to the hotel, I was exhausted.) A large time was had by all, and said night ended with all the wives and girlfriends singing on the stage with the band. These ladies, with the exception of Deanna, had known each other for years. They took Deanna under their wings, and a good time was had by all. They were all having fun, and nothing untoward happened. Their husbands/significant others thought the time was great!
The next morning found Deanna without her purse. Her Louis Vuitton purse. With her I.D., credit cards, and house/car keys. All missing. Joseph calls me and lets me know. All of the VP’s go on the search. I go on the search. We go over every step of the night, every single place that was visited. We go to the reception, the dinner, the bar, and after a thorough search, find the purse, with everything intact. We’re all so relieved. Deanna almost cries with gratitude. Later on that afternoon, Deanna flies home, actually riding to the airport with one of the VPs and his wife.
Joseph is back with us again. And we’re all bragging on how much we love Deanna, how she fit in, and how sweet she was. How all the customers and VPs and their wives loved her, as well.
Joseph? Not so much. He totally trashes her, saying he can’t believe she got up on the stage in front of such powerful people. After all, he has his reputation to protect.
I’m in shock – my friends are in shock. I’m thinking my own reputation might be in danger, if he continues to act like this. I’ve known Joseph for 3-4 years. I’ve somewhat, in a limited by distance way, mentored him, opened doors for him, and have willingly done so. He works in the same industry as I, and also works with a non-profit that helps underprivileged kids. I think he can go far. This weekend he's sought my advice, and we’ve enjoyed some deep discussions concerning furthering his education, and his ultimate career path.
I tell him in no uncertain terms his vision’s a little off. Deanna was just letting her hair down, following the older adults in the group. Matter of fact, I remind him, he has some culpability here, as well. Deanna crossed no lines, and everyone loved her. I personally think that Deanna is a deep well, very disciplined, and sweet to boot. She’s one of those rare ones - a keeper.
Joseph still keeps griping. I tell him to look in the mirror, that this is really about him, not her.
The next morning, Joseph’s readying to fly home, himself, and can’t find his rental car keys. He calls me, and tells me he thinks that Deanna took the keys home by mistake. The rental car company has to drive from another town and make a new set of keys so he can get to the airport. He calls her, and she doesn’t have them. He’s still blaming her.
I give up. Whatever this is, it’s not about me.
Tonight, I receive this e-mail.
Janie-
It was great seeing you again this year at NMOGA.
As always, I had a great time with you and your friends/customers.
You are such a great person and always so kind to me. It is no wonder why you are so loved everywhere you go.
On a not so "cheesy" note, haha, I was hoping to follow up with a few people to say thanks.
If possible, please send email addresses for the below.
Dean Brown (wifes name?)
Jim Ican’trememberhislastname (wifes name?)
Danny (last name?)
Ronald & Rhoda S – BigHonkin’ServiceCo (last name?)
Peter G/J – BigHonkin’Service Co(last name?)
Dolores & Lonnie Smith
Thanks again! Hopefully next year that man you love will join the fun... ;)
G'Night!
Joseph
I don’t know if I’m more pissed that Joseph didn’t think to get their business cards or that I still might be a little ouchy from once being a single mom myself. Or if I just feel used.
Guess I’d better go look in my own mirror. If you hear this big crash, know that it shattered the moment I showed up.
As you know, I just returned home from a days long conference in New Mexico. At this conference, a young sales professional hung out with all of us. Every day. I’m going to call him Joseph.
The very act of our friendship afforded Joseph access to my immediate professional relationships, and introduced him to even others, very powerful relationships in their own right. Most young salespeople would love to have the access this young one gained in one weekend.
A young lady flew in from another town and joined Joseph, and as such, she was welcomed into our group. I’m going to call her Deanna. Deanna was precious, a beautiful single mom, and a national sales manager for a firm totally unrelated to oil and gas. The very first night she’s there, Joseph falls ill. She pitches in and takes care of him. Joseph recovers to attend all of the events on Saturday, as well as the rest of the weekend. Saturday night, we’re sitting together at the same large dinner table, and I tell Joseph that we enjoyed Deanna’s company that afternoon when she joined us for shopping on the square. (He was playing in a golf tourney.)
His comment, “Yeah? She’s sweet. But I have commitment issues. I just can’t do it. But you know, last night, she so totally took care of me when I was sick. I couldn't believe it. It’s caused me to wonder.”
She’s sitting right next to him. I’m so thankful she didn’t hear him. I want to slap him.
I’m thinking: you need to rope up, boy, and see gold when it appears in front of you. I see a committed, professional, single mom, who’s working her fingers to the bone to raise her son. She’s been given a weekend off, and been thrown in a huge mix of people she’s never met, and she is faring very well. She's not intimidated, she's visiting with others, and very interested in their responses. I’m impressed. The entire group is impressed with Deanna.
That night, after an event, Joseph and Deanna went out to a very small, no, tiny local bar with four of my friends and their wives. These friends each happen to be VPs with ABigHonkin’Service Company. (I skipped and went to the hotel, I was exhausted.) A large time was had by all, and said night ended with all the wives and girlfriends singing on the stage with the band. These ladies, with the exception of Deanna, had known each other for years. They took Deanna under their wings, and a good time was had by all. They were all having fun, and nothing untoward happened. Their husbands/significant others thought the time was great!
The next morning found Deanna without her purse. Her Louis Vuitton purse. With her I.D., credit cards, and house/car keys. All missing. Joseph calls me and lets me know. All of the VP’s go on the search. I go on the search. We go over every step of the night, every single place that was visited. We go to the reception, the dinner, the bar, and after a thorough search, find the purse, with everything intact. We’re all so relieved. Deanna almost cries with gratitude. Later on that afternoon, Deanna flies home, actually riding to the airport with one of the VPs and his wife.
Joseph is back with us again. And we’re all bragging on how much we love Deanna, how she fit in, and how sweet she was. How all the customers and VPs and their wives loved her, as well.
Joseph? Not so much. He totally trashes her, saying he can’t believe she got up on the stage in front of such powerful people. After all, he has his reputation to protect.
I’m in shock – my friends are in shock. I’m thinking my own reputation might be in danger, if he continues to act like this. I’ve known Joseph for 3-4 years. I’ve somewhat, in a limited by distance way, mentored him, opened doors for him, and have willingly done so. He works in the same industry as I, and also works with a non-profit that helps underprivileged kids. I think he can go far. This weekend he's sought my advice, and we’ve enjoyed some deep discussions concerning furthering his education, and his ultimate career path.
I tell him in no uncertain terms his vision’s a little off. Deanna was just letting her hair down, following the older adults in the group. Matter of fact, I remind him, he has some culpability here, as well. Deanna crossed no lines, and everyone loved her. I personally think that Deanna is a deep well, very disciplined, and sweet to boot. She’s one of those rare ones - a keeper.
Joseph still keeps griping. I tell him to look in the mirror, that this is really about him, not her.
The next morning, Joseph’s readying to fly home, himself, and can’t find his rental car keys. He calls me, and tells me he thinks that Deanna took the keys home by mistake. The rental car company has to drive from another town and make a new set of keys so he can get to the airport. He calls her, and she doesn’t have them. He’s still blaming her.
I give up. Whatever this is, it’s not about me.
Tonight, I receive this e-mail.
Janie-
It was great seeing you again this year at NMOGA.
As always, I had a great time with you and your friends/customers.
You are such a great person and always so kind to me. It is no wonder why you are so loved everywhere you go.
On a not so "cheesy" note, haha, I was hoping to follow up with a few people to say thanks.
If possible, please send email addresses for the below.
Dean Brown (wifes name?)
Jim Ican’trememberhislastname (wifes name?)
Danny (last name?)
Ronald & Rhoda S – BigHonkin’ServiceCo (last name?)
Peter G/J – BigHonkin’Service Co(last name?)
Dolores & Lonnie Smith
Thanks again! Hopefully next year that man you love will join the fun... ;)
G'Night!
Joseph
I don’t know if I’m more pissed that Joseph didn’t think to get their business cards or that I still might be a little ouchy from once being a single mom myself. Or if I just feel used.
Guess I’d better go look in my own mirror. If you hear this big crash, know that it shattered the moment I showed up.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Drive With Me!
I’m home from Santa Fe. It’s 11:51 p.m. And I'm exhausted. I went from breakfast to midnight almost every day, made lots of contacts, and had lots of fun. Energizer Bunny, that's me. But dang, I need some Geritol.
One good thing - I am unpacked.
Ready to hit the hay, then hit the streets running tomorrow.
Thought I’d take a second and share some of the pics of the drive home. (Gretchen asked!) Santa Fe is beautiful in it’s own right. Here’s pix of the snowy mountains. Eight inches while we were there on the mountaintops – but the closest snow that hit the town of Santa Fe was about 2 minutes of sleet, while I was driving back downtown from the outlet mall. Otherwise, the weather was beautiful and cool, with nighttime rains. Awesome.
En route from Santa Fe to Midland, you hit the plains and pastures, with the mountains as backdrop. I know lots of y’all think desert and flatlands is ugly, but tell me this isn’t beautiful? I love it. Anytime I make this drive, I’m reminded that there is a God, and all the hills, valleys, and land belong to Him. What a diverse landscape we share!
An antelope buck and his babes. I couldn’t get him to pay attention to me. I wonder why? I think it's the season of the pleasing! 
And I would have made it home more quickly, had I not had to stop outside of Roswell and take these shots of the beautiful sunset . Hope you can see them.
And at Tatum, N.M., just after sunset?
You know, people tease us because we don't have any trees out here. But I think God made West Texas and Eastern New Mexico that way so we would appreciate his art work. Absolutely beautiful.
All you bloggers who kept me awake on this drive by listening to my drivel and catching me up on all I missed a la handsfree cellphone (Bluetooth, I promise!), I thank you. MLH thanks you.
Good night!
Out of Touch
I’ve been incommunicado for the last 4-5 days. We’ve been at the NMOGA conference in Santa Fe and staying at the historic La Fonda Hotel...which is SO historic that the wireless and internet and phone service SUCKS.
Therefore, no posting.
Heading back today, will try to grab photos before I get too far out of town.
Thanks for being faithful and commenting while I’ve been gone! I’ve missed y’all.
Therefore, no posting.
Heading back today, will try to grab photos before I get too far out of town.
Thanks for being faithful and commenting while I’ve been gone! I’ve missed y’all.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Over in Santa Fe
I’m stupid.
I was supposed to leave this morning for Santa Fe, NM. That was my intent.
However, I woke up at 7:45 a.m. My intent (I’m full of that crap, aren’t I?) was to be at the cleaners at 7 a.m., come home, pack, take the dogs to the kennel, and leave. By 10 a.m. at the latest.
The best laid plans of mice and Janie. All shot to heck because I decided to work this morning until 1:35 a.m. And then I went home.
Well, decided to work is probably incorrect. Realized I’d not done my expenses in 2 months and figured I better get them done. In reality, received a rude phone call from American Express Corporate Card and decided I’d best get in compliance before I got my whole company cut off from utilizing their credit cards.
So busy girl too dang busy to do her expense accounts e-mails her boss, in a totally subservient and contrite manner, after completing 2 months worth of expense reports. At 1:30 in the morning.
Um. Oh, Jamison, oh, greatest boss in the world, oh man of much wisdom who always takes care of everything for me…
Amex cut me off today. At least they called me so I wasn’t embarrassed too badly – well, except when NMOGA called me and my card was declined. I put it on my personal to save face. Gotta love that.
And now, my expenses are officially caught up. Sorry I let them get behind. Can you get them (#1) paid asap and (#2) my Amex turned back on?
I have been SOOOOO busy but you know that. There’s no excuse. Please forgive me and don’t take it out of my bonus – or better yet, my driving allowance. I know you have compassion for a busy girl who keeps putting off doing her expenses…didn’t the same thing happen to you recently?
(I wouldn’t be so busy if I.didn’t.have.to.(insert rant about a situation).) (I didn’t say that. I didn’t. I didn’t. Oh, yes I did.)
Ahem.
Anyway, God willing, it won’t happen again.
I’m off to Santa Fe, boss. Have a good dove hunting trip and think about me while you’re blapping those poor defenseless dove.
You didn’t e-mail that to your boss, Janie.
Oh, yes, I did.
And to his credit, he’s not responded. At all.
Hell. I might be fired.
Nah.
Anyway, back to my story.
I was tired. I overslept. Then I had to run all sorts of errands.
Go to the cleaners. Go back to the office and print off the insurance card for my new Sequoia. Which by the way I freakin’ love. Then, called Baby Brother Scott, because, all of a sudden, I HAD to see him before I left town. I picked him up, then we dropped by the house and unloaded the truck full of cleaning. We loaded up the dogs and took them to the kennel, where I felt like a mom dropping her kindergartner off on the first day. Except Zack and Zanna didn’t cry, they just went. With someone else. Sob. Sniff. Howl.
Okay. So, then, Scott and I went to eat lunch. It’s now 12:30 p.m., and lunch lasted an hour or so. We had fun. I’m glad I took the time to be with him. And, he bought! Yeah! (Just teasing, Scott.)
So, I go home. No, I didn’t. I still had to run more errands. Got those done, then went home.
Started trying to pack. I think I took everything out of my closet. I was just stuck! Formal wear. Jeans and shooting stuff for the sporting clay tournament. Pairing items together. Jeans and dressy jackets for that downtown Santa Fe look while shopping. The.right.shoes.for.every.little.outfit. (Guys, don’t check out on me here.)
I get to that certain point.
You know, the one where you need a second opinion?
Cherie to the rescue! It’s now 5:30 p.m. Bob and Cherie go get sandwiches, and come over to help. Cherie cheerleads me into getting it all done, packed, and in the truck. It’s now 8:00 p.m.-ish.
Yup. 8:00 p.m. I’m almost ready to leave for Santa Fe.
8:20 p.m. I finally leave for Santa Fe. A good 8 hour trip. Santa Fe. Where every single event I attend I will be attending without MLH. Everybody will have their spouse there, and I’m flying solo. I don’t even want to go without him. It’s a tradition, and I feel like I’m breaking it.
Drive, Janie. Drive.
I make it to Roswell, 211 miles away, where MLH tells me to stop and get a hotel. I’ve not slept since. I think I could have made it all the way to Santa Fe, but I didn’t want him to worry, and to be realistic, I need to sleep.
Instead, I’m writing this blog entry. Think I’m a little jacked on priorities today?
I think I’ll go start my October expenses. Then, leave for Santa Fe around 8 a.m.
Texas Time.
Yeah, right.
I was supposed to leave this morning for Santa Fe, NM. That was my intent.
However, I woke up at 7:45 a.m. My intent (I’m full of that crap, aren’t I?) was to be at the cleaners at 7 a.m., come home, pack, take the dogs to the kennel, and leave. By 10 a.m. at the latest.
The best laid plans of mice and Janie. All shot to heck because I decided to work this morning until 1:35 a.m. And then I went home.
Well, decided to work is probably incorrect. Realized I’d not done my expenses in 2 months and figured I better get them done. In reality, received a rude phone call from American Express Corporate Card and decided I’d best get in compliance before I got my whole company cut off from utilizing their credit cards.
So busy girl too dang busy to do her expense accounts e-mails her boss, in a totally subservient and contrite manner, after completing 2 months worth of expense reports. At 1:30 in the morning.
Um. Oh, Jamison, oh, greatest boss in the world, oh man of much wisdom who always takes care of everything for me…
Amex cut me off today. At least they called me so I wasn’t embarrassed too badly – well, except when NMOGA called me and my card was declined. I put it on my personal to save face. Gotta love that.
And now, my expenses are officially caught up. Sorry I let them get behind. Can you get them (#1) paid asap and (#2) my Amex turned back on?
I have been SOOOOO busy but you know that. There’s no excuse. Please forgive me and don’t take it out of my bonus – or better yet, my driving allowance. I know you have compassion for a busy girl who keeps putting off doing her expenses…didn’t the same thing happen to you recently?
(I wouldn’t be so busy if I.didn’t.have.to.(insert rant about a situation).) (I didn’t say that. I didn’t. I didn’t. Oh, yes I did.)
Ahem.
Anyway, God willing, it won’t happen again.
I’m off to Santa Fe, boss. Have a good dove hunting trip and think about me while you’re blapping those poor defenseless dove.
You didn’t e-mail that to your boss, Janie.
Oh, yes, I did.
And to his credit, he’s not responded. At all.
Hell. I might be fired.
Nah.
Anyway, back to my story.
I was tired. I overslept. Then I had to run all sorts of errands.
Go to the cleaners. Go back to the office and print off the insurance card for my new Sequoia. Which by the way I freakin’ love. Then, called Baby Brother Scott, because, all of a sudden, I HAD to see him before I left town. I picked him up, then we dropped by the house and unloaded the truck full of cleaning. We loaded up the dogs and took them to the kennel, where I felt like a mom dropping her kindergartner off on the first day. Except Zack and Zanna didn’t cry, they just went. With someone else. Sob. Sniff. Howl.
Okay. So, then, Scott and I went to eat lunch. It’s now 12:30 p.m., and lunch lasted an hour or so. We had fun. I’m glad I took the time to be with him. And, he bought! Yeah! (Just teasing, Scott.)
So, I go home. No, I didn’t. I still had to run more errands. Got those done, then went home.
Started trying to pack. I think I took everything out of my closet. I was just stuck! Formal wear. Jeans and shooting stuff for the sporting clay tournament. Pairing items together. Jeans and dressy jackets for that downtown Santa Fe look while shopping. The.right.shoes.for.every.little.outfit. (Guys, don’t check out on me here.)
I get to that certain point.
You know, the one where you need a second opinion?
Cherie to the rescue! It’s now 5:30 p.m. Bob and Cherie go get sandwiches, and come over to help. Cherie cheerleads me into getting it all done, packed, and in the truck. It’s now 8:00 p.m.-ish.
Yup. 8:00 p.m. I’m almost ready to leave for Santa Fe.
8:20 p.m. I finally leave for Santa Fe. A good 8 hour trip. Santa Fe. Where every single event I attend I will be attending without MLH. Everybody will have their spouse there, and I’m flying solo. I don’t even want to go without him. It’s a tradition, and I feel like I’m breaking it.
Drive, Janie. Drive.
I make it to Roswell, 211 miles away, where MLH tells me to stop and get a hotel. I’ve not slept since. I think I could have made it all the way to Santa Fe, but I didn’t want him to worry, and to be realistic, I need to sleep.
Instead, I’m writing this blog entry. Think I’m a little jacked on priorities today?
I think I’ll go start my October expenses. Then, leave for Santa Fe around 8 a.m.
Texas Time.
Yeah, right.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
