RIP Blog

Yep, I haven't posted in ages. I have spent the last 3 weeks in Washington, PA. It's been fun, but Germans are a tough lot. Within two weeks of being home, and enthusiastically asking my family if they have read my new blog, my mother told me I swore too much (I used the word "hell" - I tried to explain it was the journalistic flourish vein - not the drunken sailor vein) and my sister said blogging was a self-absorbed exercise and didn't I have anything better to do with my time?

So, my blog ... and my blogging ... has come to a swift and sudden death.

I am working on a website. But I am not going to let me family know!

Are your efforts worthy?

This is a great post by Seth Godin ...
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/06/is-it-worthy.html

Quote:

"The object isn’t to be perfect. The goal isn’t to hold back until you’ve created something beyond reproach. I believe the opposite is true. Our birthright is to fail and to fail often, but to fail in search of something bigger than we can imagine. To do anything else is to waste it all."

RIP Russert

I was very moved by Tim's Russerts memorial service today. I think growing up watching 60 minutes I really came to have a deep appreciation for journalism and I just love hearing journalists speak. I was moved by everyone of them up there - Tom Brokaw, Maria Shrivers, Doris Kearns Goodwin. And it was a great visual to see all the prominent Washington luminaries in the audience. I felt the same when Reagan died, though I was never a fan. And, heck, I gotta say - not too crazy with Tim Russert and his coverage of Clinton but that's neither here nor there.

And to be eulogized with "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen, Russert's favorite song (mine too). Chills.

There was some difficult negotiation walking away from that keeping myself from welling up as I was about to jump on a call with a client. I pulled it together in time. :)

Arrival in Washington PA

Here I am squatting at my parents house for a couple weeks. It's nice to be home - as there hasn't been too much of my life lately that has been "familiar". The weather is just gorgeous.

And here is a great quote from my mom - speaking to my niece Emily (my mother's granddaughter):

"Well, Emily, I would turn on Elmo but Michelle Obama is going to be on The View."

LOL. That's pretty much my mother. :)

First (not really) work meeting at random location

Ok, well I am pretty certain this is not my first work-related meeting at a random location, but since I am tracking this stuff now.

Today's call took place right at 2:30 just as I arrived with my friend at Restless Wheels RV Center. We tried to work the timing a bit better but a stop for lunch bumped the phone call into the time frame where I had to take this call.

So I alternated between being outside and inside and the owners of the RV dealership we're very kind - i.e. no dirty "obnoxious cell phone lady" looks. Of course, I was on the verge of spending a chunk of change on a pop trailer so that probably helped my cause.

So I sat on the phone listening to how our company needs to become more streamlined w/ our communication efforts, and how to best work with the production teams to do this -- all from the toilet section of the RV shop.

Perhaps a post for a different day, but I learned *lots* about toilets and RVs - their price range, what kind of toilet paper works best, grey water vs black water, piping, -- you name it.

Skype and Clients

Had a meeting this AM and the PM tried to pull it all together on Skype. The project manager was with the client in NYC, I was in Manassass VA, and the development team on the project was in Washington DC.

The benefit of using Skype versus a regular conference call is that it's free for skype users, and that you can IM if you need to share documents, comments, etc.

We had some trouble though and resorted to a half-Skype, half phone call hybrid approach. Not ideal but I love the potential.

"What's with the leaping fairy as your pic?" ...

Ok, I am still here, but this is the last post. Honestly, the last time I tried my hand at a blog, I posted three in a row and then didn't touch it for 6 mos. Hopefully this round is a bit better.

So what's with the leaping-fairy-lady? Ok, I am anticipating this question. This picture was taken from an article in The Economist, as is the title of this blog. See: http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10950394

The article series is great, and well worth the read. Obviously I have a special interest as I have become fascinated with the potential of working remotely - the potential value to companies (esp non-profits looking to minimize overhead costs), and the enormous potential to live a life that's not geographical tied to a work location. Allowing more and more people to live where they want, when they want. I am passionate about finding and fulfilling life's purpose (whatever that means to you) and I love the potential for telecommuting to enable this.

Anyway, the leaping fairy lady is an illustration of a travelling "nomad" wirelessly connected (see the wireless signals coming off of her?) to the rest of the world.

Boy, I hope the Economist doesn't every stumble upon this little number of a blog. It will be a painful endeavor to have to rename this thing.