Vote Steve for President

I don't know how it happened, but I have been elected President of the 501(3) c organization I work with. Maybe it's because I talk too much at the meetings. So for the next year, I will run our monthly meetings and make sure we stick to our goals as an organization. I suppose it's an honor, but considering that I really only wanted a supportive / immaterial role, it amazes me how we tend to work ourselves into positions with responsibilities and costs with little or no monetary compensation. I have seen over the past two years how this organization helps those with Multiple Sclerosis. I also see the vision of where this organization is going to go in the next five, ten, twenty years. It is very unique in how it supports and helps without a heavy or negative or 'woe is me' sentiment. The education provided is given in a format that is so easily digested over a luncheon with wonderful meals. I have seen the evidenciary results in emails and even in one obituary notice by a woman that died from complications to MS--that it was the one time a month that she got out of the house--that she looked forward to it each month. I witnessed the tears in the founders eyes as she read the notice and realized just how much her mission has touched the lives of so many. So, the 'gig' that started out as a technical support roll, "He's my computer guy" has evolved into a long term involvement. The compensation is that I know in my heart how much the monthly luncheons mean to this little community (me included) of people with MS--not only the educational aspects--but more so the social value. I want to see this organization grow from 300 individals to 50,000. We're going national!!!

Two weeks crammed into one

I'm going to a conference in Austin next week. Should be fun, but it's taking a lot more prep than I anticipated. And since I'm going to be busy and out of the office all next week I have to get everything done this week that would usually be done next week. This means I've now got two weeks crammed into one, and I don't feel like I'm on the winning side of this battle right now. I can't believe it's already Thursday. I think I lost a day somewhere between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Pricing myself out of a job

I live! Yes, it's true, I still exist on this site. I just had a somewhat surreal conversation -- a potential client at a company I already do some work for called me about a project. It sounded remarkably similar to what I do for client number one at that firm, so yeah, I could do the job. And then we started talking about price. What he was proposing to pay was less than a third of what I charge client number one. Tragically, I told him my rate, and now I fear he's going to call client number one and say "Are you crazy? You pay that much for this kind of work?" I have a counter-argument: I know your site as well or better than you do, I work quickly, and you never have to worry about my work quality -- but it's still disconcerting. This may mark the first time I've turned down a job. I have a lot of other things going on right now (for once), and it's not work I enjoy. I'll work cheap on things I like -- my TV writing, for example -- but I just don't want to spend my time doing production work unless they make it worth my while. Still, it feels wildly arrogant to have turned down a job. It may take some time to get used to this.

It's hot here today. 99 degrees...

I just thought I would share this poem. My Creed by : Howard Arnold Walter (1883 - 1918) I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care; I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare. It is time to go out and mow the grass. It's already 77 degrees out there and will be 90 by 11:00 O'clock. I don't like the heat, but the grass (weeds) must be cut.

Maybe we're not so dead yet

Well, the retainer I was so excited about didn't work out. That happens sometimes with startups. It's the nature of the business. Here's hoping they weather the stock market storms and come back to me with more work in the future. I continue working on the weekly articles about ultrasound news. I've also got a few local projects going. In some ways that's good - a meeting at the client's office doesn't take a week-long roadtrip - but in some ways it's a little weird to work for people who know your parents. I've had kind of a rough day today. My dog Duchess decided to slip her collar and go for a run this morning, herding cars on the road just out my back door. When she got one to stop she wasn't quite sure what to do with it, though. Some of the drivers were very nice about it. Some of them were annoyed and mean. Why are people like that? I was doing my best, and yes I was obviously failing to get my dog to obey me. The dog was causing other people inconvenience and scaring them. I was aware. I didn't need it yelled out the window at me. Now I guess I need to let it go and get on with work. Some people are just that way, and they're beyond my control.

Funny Lady

This mom is really funny... http://mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/

My humble apologies

Sorry I've been so absent lately. I've been busy doing things and just never got around to typing in all my activities. They would have been really good blogs too! You would have been totally interested and extremely fascinated!!! So now, I tell you this so that you become angry at my and then I will feel badly and start posting again. See, that was easy. You were angry for a split second at all the premium posts I've skipped, and now you have already forgiven me because I am an interesting person to read. Just to catch you up on things. 1) Our new house is lovely, but the grass is dying. I hate the lack of rain... Everything is either thrown away, given away or put away. Life is good... 2) We bought a new car. With only one car in the house, we like to have a warranty and low mileage. It was time to buy new shocks and tires, so we decided to just buy a new car with a warranty. It's not really the greatest financial decision, but when you don't walk well, you don't want break-downs. 3) The organization that I donate a lot of time has decided to go national, so I've been very busy going to meetings and discussing plans. We have another meeting next Tuesday to finalizes future structure of the organization and to sign some documents. Wee! Now that I've caught you up. I am soooOOOOO sorry for not blogging more frequently. I do enjoy the company that this blog creates and I have decided to try and blog more than once every 3 months!!! :)