Good afternoon, Sharks!
Don’t quite recall how I came across this, but who cares. (It’s viral and that’s what matters.) Reminds me of all the times I’ve moved back and forth across the greatest nation in the universe, and partook of the special joy in exploding thousands of bubblewrap bubbles!
Good morning, campers!
Mother Nature must be ticked off this morning; the winds she’s whipping around, along with the 30 degree temps, make going outside the house a very difficult chore! Note to self: Buy a big knit cap to cover the rock ‘n roll hair.
Well, here we are the Sunday morning after the Fall time change. (Did you remember to set your clocks back 1 hour before you went to sleep land last night?) I’m working in the home office to get caught up on two tasks I missed while I was sick with the cold and laryngitis. I’ve got the iTunes blasting and is my custom, I’m jamming to the disco tunes of my youth. All this chair dancing has made me nostalgic for simpler times …
Four songs I’ve got on heavy rotation today are Le Freak and Good Times (both by Chic), Sunset People (Donna Summer) and Scorpio (Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five). Bernard Edwards, Chic’s bassist, lays down the grooviest of bass lines and brings a huge smile to my face! Now, what’s taking me back to my teenage years is a place called United Skates of America (U.S.A.) in Evansville, Indiana. (If you’re in E’ville, is this place still around?) If memory serves, U.S.A. was located on Diamond Avenue. Mind you, I could be wrong about this, for it’s been at least 20 years since I was there. Anyway, back in the day and many moons ago, yours truly was a pretty good roller skater and at U.S.A., I let my talents shine through.
Have you seen the flick called Roll Bounce? It’s a sweet little film which I absolutely adore! The music, the skaters and the scene take me back to the times I spent at U.S.A., and all the fun I had in the process. The overnight skating sessions — 24 hours of staying awake and nonstop skating! Races, backward skates, sweetheart skates and the dancers and trick skaters in the middle of the floor. Man, I loved it all, and I’m getting a kick out of reminiscing about the sweet and special memories I hold in my heart.
When you’re at the tender age of 16, you shouldn’t have any worries at all. While I didn’t feel this way at 16 (I won’t bore you with the details), I do remember that all was right with the world when I was at U.S.A. Me and my friends, hanging out, acting tough and cool, and learning to do the latest tricks. Grabbing 4 or 5 friends, with your hands on the hips of the person in front of you, and skating backwards around that big and beautiful rink. Everything done in time to the beat of the funky music the DJ was spinning. Acting cute and sometimes goofy in front of the boys we liked — especially Jimmy Dupont. I’m not sure if Jimmy ever knew I had a crush on him, but no matter now. Back then, I remember his baby blues and the neat tricks he could do on his shiny black rollerskates. So many fantastic memories of United Skates of America, and so many good times I had there!
What say you, dear reader? What makes you nostalgic?
Dear Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Good Elves at the North Pole,
Greetings from New York, where it feels as cold as the North Pole!
I’m writing in regards to my request for a DreamWeaver Intern. I did receive the correspondence from Elf Bob, your Chief IT & Design Elf, dated October 17, 2006. And while I put into place all of Elf Bob’s recommendations, my Intern is nowhere to be found.
Per Elf Bob’s instructions:
I have apologized for the tiny piece of coal I left in my husband’s stocking last year. (A little joke between a husband and wife!)
I have been very good, loving and supportive to my friends, family and colleagues, and I have forgiven the one client who has neglected to pay me. That’s my special Christmas gift to him, and I’m no longer harboring evil thoughts about this situation.
I’ve been drinking my milk every morning and taking my vitamins every day. Forty-year-old bones need special care, so I thank Elf Bob for reminding me of how important it is to take good care of myself.
Santa, even after all of this (and so much more) where I’m trying to be good, I still don’t have a DreamWeaver Intern. It’s October and I know you’re very busy preparing for your ride on December 24th. Nevertheless, I would appreciate it if you could expedite my request. Also, per Elf Bob’s instructions, I hired a contractor to make a special landing pad on the roof; I heard that Blitzen had a slight problem landing last year, so please let Elf Bob know that problem has been fixed!
I look forward to your reply.
Respectfully,
Lori Davis
Good morning, campers!
It’s Wednesday, October 25, 2006. What are YOU doing today to make it happen in business? Here on the East coast, it’s closing in on 11:30 AM, and I’ve been up for hours. I’ve got some breakfast in my tummy, I’ve cleaned my bod, the rock ‘n roll hair is drying and here I am, workin’ the web. If you’re still in your jammies and contemplating the lint in your belly button, tsk tsk tsk … 
Let’s get to it, shall we? I’m on the hunt for the very best virtual assistants to join DavisVA’s Referral Network. If your ego is as large as mine and if you dig being able to work from home, I want to talk to you. More importantly, if you’ve got the skillz to pay the billz, I really want to hear from you.
I know many of you don’t want to spend the time and energy in producing a website and promoting yourself. While I do disagree with your thought process, I do respect your decision. I’m contacted nearly every day by women and men in this category who inquire about joining my team.
Here’s what I’m looking for in someone who wants to join my Referral Network:
Want to learn more about joining DavisVA’s Referral Network? Of course you do! Either call me at 866.611.LORI, or shoot me an e-mail to lori AT davisva dot com with “Lori’s Referral Network” in the subject line.
I look forward to hearing from you!
For all of you who’ve wanted to participate in my Craig’s List training, now is the time to sign up. I’ve got 5 slots remaining for the next training class, which is co-sponsored by Wild Women Entrepreneurs. This is the last time I will offer my killer Craig’s List training at the rock bottom price of $49.95.
In case you’re still sittin’ on that proverbial fence, let me break it down for you:
Go ahead … wrap your head around that last bullet point. You read that correctly, Sharks: 4 billion page views per month. That’s the kind of traffic we’d all kill for and in my case, it’s the kind of traffic I’d eat broccoli for!
Your goal is to arm yourself with the knowledge of how to post efficiently and effectively to the site and luckily for you, I’m willing to share the secrets of my success. On average, my site receives anywhere from 4K - 6K hits per day and at least 1/4 of that average can be tracked back to my craigslist campaigns.
Am I promising instant success and that my posting method is easy? Absolutely not! Come on now, you know me by now: If you WANT it you’ve got to WORK for it. What I am promising, however, is that I will give you the tools and the organization you’ll need to post your own campaigns.
Here’s what some of my students have to say about this training:
Lori Davis took my maze mindset and turned the experience into a piece of cake. The icing is her teaching skills. Her credentials dealing with Craig’s List allowed for a program filled with experiences and high content. The handouts were filled with insider information. There was no fluff and no pitching, just pure information. I highly recommend Lori Davis as a person, and this course to anyone looking to participate in Craig’s List.
Raleigh Pinskey
Branding Strategist & Media Consultant
http://www.PromoteYourself.com
DavisVA’s web training added the specifics I needed to make advertising on Craig’s List a success. In the past I was posting with no plan. Lori gave me the organization and tools I need to succeed.
Heather Moore
http://www.gotfollow-up.com
Last call at $49.95! Let your mouse do its thing and scroll on over here to sign-up for my next (and last at only $49.95) Craig’s List training session.
Date: Thursday, November 2, 2006
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM (Eastern)
I’ll “see” you in class!
Who: 9rules
What: Round 5 Submissions
When: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 (tomorrow Sharks!)
You must be very special to receive yet another reminder about tomorrow’s final submission round for 2006.
Mark your calendar and good luck to all!
Good afternoon, Sharks!
Time magazine has a fantastic series of articles in the October 30th edition of the magazine. The series, entitled “America By the Numbers,” discusses America and all her glory in regards to how we vote, who we are and where we live. In the earnings portion of the article series, Time shows us this very interesting breakdown:
Question: how much time does it take to earn $1,000? (The stats below are U.S. average.)
Howard Stern: 24 seconds
Dr. Phil: 2 minutes, 42 seconds
(Stay with me on this one, for this next part makes me feel depressed and quite pissed off)
Police officer: 43 hours
High school teacher: 43 hours
Farmer: 57 hours
Janitor: 103 hours
You have got to be kidding me! 43 HOURS for a teacher to make a 1000 bucks? The women and men who are teaching the next generation of Americans and it takes that long to make a $1,000? How about our farmers and police officers? Have you ever been helped or saved by a police officer or fire fighter? I have. Do you really know where your nourishing food comes from? I do. Do you remember your teachers? I do. I’m completely appalled by these stats and not because Howard Stern, Dr. Phil and Kobe Bryant are multimillionaires. To that I say ROCK ON with your bad self! You’ve parlayed your talents (or perceived talents, Dr. Phil) into a very comfortable lifestyle. Hell, that’s the American Way.
What kills me is the perceived value of some of those who are in noble professions. Yes, I consider teachers, farmers, police officers and fire fighters to be very noble, though of course you do have the occasional dork. (You’ve got that in any profession.) What does it say about us, as a society, when the men and women who run into burning buildings to save us make less than a $1,000 a week?
It’s above my paygrade to fully address the questions above. I’m a smart cookie, but I am by no means an economist or someone who fully understands what it takes to run a fire house, a police station, a school or a farm. All I know is this article has made me a bit sad today, made me more thankful for everything I have and yes, made me reaffirm I am proud to be an American.
Good afternoon, campers!
Let me begin this blog post with the following: ACHOOOO! Ahhhh, that feels better. This nasty cold/flu/whatever y’all wanna call it is being stubborn and won’t leave my system. The good news is that I get sick once a year, so I’m glad it’s happening now, and not during Thanksgiving or Christmas.
So, since I’m sick and not feeling well and running a slight temperature and coughing and feeling achy and my voice is still scratchy, I’m going to milk this for all it’s worth. (Would you expect any less of me?) Here’s the deal: the November/December Technology issue of Accent News is about to hit the streets, and I want you to be the first to know. Since I’m sick, won’t you be a sport and make me feel better by signing up for our newsletter? Give this admin queen a little joy and put a smile on my face? I know you live to ensure I’m happy and to satisfy my every whim, and what would make me ohhhh so …. (hold on … sneeze coming on) … ahem … what would make me happy is to add 50 new subscribers this month. I know you can do it! Scamper on over and subscribe, and make this Director of the Future very happy.
Pretty please, with sugar on top and a cherry? (Well, this always used to work with my big brother, so why not try it now?)
My wellness rests in your hands, so don’t let me down!
Good morning, Sharks!
Well, it’s 3:00 AM here on the East Coast. This Director of the Future is not able to sleep, so here I am, blogging at 120+ WPM. Don’t YOU wish you typed as fast as I do …
The little town I now call home shuts down around 8:00 PM each night. Oh sure, we’ve got some stores which are open late — Price Chopper is 24/7 and Wal-Mart is open until 10. Still, most of this town (though they do call it a “city”) gets boarded up nice and tight around the 8 o’clock hour.
So, what’s a hot Virtual Assistant to do when she’s hungry, it’s pitch black outside and the thought of cooking makes her want to throw her laptop through the window? Silly goose, she’s goes to the 24-hour truck stop. Of course!
My 24-hour truck stop — and yes, it’s all mine and my little corner of the world — is one of those classic greasy spoons. The menus are always a little sticky and the short order cook dings the bell when an order is up. Scores of 18-wheelers are parked in the back lot and you see their drivers shuffling about. Inside the restaurant the waitresses scurry about, calling all the truckers either “honey” or “sweetie” as they make idle chit chat. (I’ve noticed these terms of endearment are a bit more syrupy and bright when the waitress is waiting on a Big Tipper. Naturally.) Some of the waitresses remind me of Flo on Alice, with the hair teased just a tad bit too much and the makeup just a tad bit too garish. Still, I dig this place with all its characters and the din.
Are you a people watcher? Boy, I sure am! I suppose that’s yet another reason why I dig my truck stop. The old timers mind their own business and enjoy their meal, while the young guns like to make an entrance. And when a pretty girl walks into the place, she’s noticed immediately, by the old timers and young guns alike. What kills me is (1) none of these truckers are women and (2) everyone has a mobile phone. I suppose the latter shouldn’t surprise me, but for some reason it does. Quiet conversations of “how are the kids, honey?” and “I miss you” and “I’ll be home soon” drift through the air. Sometimes I feel sad for these men when I overhear their conversations. I can’t imagine how they must feel and how they go through their lives, day to day, so far from home.
Tonight was a good night at my truck stop. I had the chicken fried streak, creamy mashed potatoes and a huge salad. It must be said that was THE best CFS I’ve ever consumed; mind you, that statement is coming from a lady who’s lived in 13 different states (including Kentucky and Tennessee). I got a corner booth, grabbed my book out of my leather backpack and thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the view.
Yes ma’am, it was a good night … at MY truck stop.
It’s beginning to look a lot like … well, lots of things actually! The holiday season will be here before we know it and we’ll also think about purchasing gifts for our very best clients. And, let’s be honest, we all need a special treat every now and then …
When you’re in the market for something to satisfy all of these needs, I recommend you visit Ann Zuccardy at Vermont Shortbread Company. Ann’s handcrafted and homemade shortbread delights are quite simply THE best in the land. Correction, THE best in the universe. I’m lucky to count myself as someone who’s received her shortbread as a gift and in turn, many of DavisVA’s clients have also tasted the goodness of light and buttery shortbread from Vermont Shortbread. The pics on Ann’s website simply do not do justice to her products; you’ll see what I mean when you open the beautifully wrapped shortbread for yourself!
Scamper on over to Vermont Shortbread and place your order today. I recommend the Raspberry Jam flavor! Also, don’t forget to place an order for Ann’s Shorties and give a special treat to your mail carrier, the plumber and the other folks in your life who deserve a special “thank you.” (I’ve given shortbread to my mail carrier and she absolutely loved it!)
Are you still here? It’s okay … you have my permission to leave my blog for a bit … This way to the very best shortbread in the land!
Sniff … sniff …
Reaching for a Hannaford White Facial Tissue ….
The voice a mere squeak …
Well campers, yours truly is recovering from a nasty cold coupled with a lovely case of laryngitis. I’m feeling much better today, having felt like Bill the Cat for the past several days. (Bonus points if you understand that reference.) The sky high fever is nearly diminished, the coughing has almost ceased and all that’s left to remedy is my voice. No belting out my favorite tunes for the next few days!
I’d like to thank all the pills which have supported me in my recovery: Equate multi-vitamins, Spring Valley Natural Vitamin C, Equate Tussin CF Cough & Cold Formula and Equate Ibuprofen. Also, a big time shout out (errr squeak out!) to Tropicana’s Low Acid Orange Juice for making everything go down the food pipe smoothly and with great ease.
And uh, let me not make the same mistake Hilary Swank made when she neglected to thank her husband (okay, soon to be former husband) Chad Lowe … THANK YOU to J. for making everything all better.
Good morning, Sharks!
As you know, I’m all about delivering Killer Customer Care and I appreciate it when other companies do too. There’s nothing which ticks me off more than having to deal with a vendor who doesn’t treat me with respect and doesn’t give me the time and attention I deserve.
I’ve said it a thousand times before, but it bears repeating here: Act like you want my money!
This week’s highly-coveted Killer Customer Care award goes to 1shoppingcart.com! Here are a few reasons why:
Kudos and a pat on the back to everyone at 1shoppingcart.com.
Thank you for making me look ohhhh so good to my clients!
