No sooner did I get my computer back, but my MT files got corrupted and I couldn’t post to my blog. That explains the long absence. My crack design and technical support team had to first investigate and diagnose the problem then do some software reinstallation, but now things are back to normal. Thanks guys.
Now to get caught up on things:
My 9-5 has kept me pleasantly engaged. I work for a provider of housing and supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS, in the technical assistance department. That’s non-profit-speak for training and direct consulting services. In essence we help others do what they do better, in areas of organizational development.
When I first joined the firm four and half years ago, I had an idea for a workshop on organizational communications, that after sharing with my supervisor, I simply sat on. Earlier this year, I shared the idea with a co-worker with similar thoughts who challenged me to actually do it. So it got put on the training calendar as three half-day workshops, two of which have been delivered over the past two weeks.
The trainings have gone very well and have been well-received by all participants, most of whom are from start-up or growing organizations. My 20-plus year employment history includes work in the news media, public relations, writing for a wide-variety of media, internal communications, and organizational operations and development in non-profit settings. The training attempts to teach not just how messages and information is communicated inside and outside an organization, but what management structures and awareness needs to be in place to do it efficiently. As we created our outline, my co-worker and I spent a lot of time discussing and sharing philosophy on the things we’ve learned in the real world and it has been a fun process of mining my own brain to determine and evaluate what I know about this subject and how best to present it. I’m quite satisfied with the work we’ve done.
I was also able to pitch two ideas at our department staff meeting that were well received by the director and helped make me feel like a valued employee. First, we’re going to consolidate several separate email listservs into one department wide listserv, to more effectively brand our name as a service provider. I’ll oversee that listserv. And I’ll also begin researching how to incorporate podcasting with our other informational resource materials.
I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel for my externship to complete my culinary school studies. I’m about four weeks away from the end and it can’t come soon enough. Don’t get me wrong, I’m having fun and learning, but the long days and weeks are taking a toll on me. And I’d like more of my evenings back. But a week ago I had another encouraging moment. The manager went around to all the kitchen staff and said she wanted us to come up with some new items to serve in the bar area. Apparently she’s made this request of our Executive Chef before and nothing has happened. Two Friday’s ago, we had a lull, and I was improvising with some ingredients and came up with some simple finger food. The pastry chef tried it and liked it and brought it to the manager’s attention and she liked it. It’s still a work in progress, but some variation of it may wind up on the menu. I feel like I’ve contributed beyond just my usual duties.
Speaking of cooking, I took a recreational class on African cuisine at the school a week ago and met the chef of two restaurants in Brooklyn. It was a hands-on class and so I got to cook for him in a way. We’ve exchanged business cards and I’ve promised to stop by his place soon. It’s all about networking.
I’ve managed to get some quality time in at the gym and like the results I’m seeing. With the weather turning cooler, the inclination is to start packing on the pounds again but I’m resisting.
And speaking of things athletic, my busy schedule has prevented me from posting anything sports related, but don’t think I haven’t been following the action. Although this is now ancient news, I can’t say I’m surprised the Yankees were eliminated from the American League Division Series by the Angels. They haven’t had a pitching staff all season and it finally caught up with them. As a New Yorker, I’m disappointed, but as a Mets fan, ah, so what. However I am annoyed at the way George Steinbrenner drove out another loyal Yankee, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyer. Mel has spent 21 years with that team, first as a player, later a coach, and didn’t deserve to be blamed for the shortcomings of an inherently inferior pitching staff.
I don’t think I’m going too far out on a limb picking the Chicago White Sox to win it all this year. Since the Boston Red Sox got the monkey off their back last year, it’s only fitting Chicago does it this year. Their World Series drought is even longer.
The football season is underway. My New York Giants are in a very close four team NFC East race. I won’t jinx them by making any predictions, but surprisingly the offense is on track at the start of the season while the defense is playing catch up. It has been the other way around in recent years.
The Jets have brought back one of my contemporaries, Vinnie Testaverde, to try to save their injury-damaged season. They played well in his first game back, but I’d be surprised if they finished at .500 this year. In college football, my alma mater has a new coach, but is doing worse than the old one did. Bring on the basketball team. And finally, the National Hockey League is back after a year off that few people missed. They’ve got new rules to open up the game and create more scoring and it’s actually making games exciting. That may help bring back casual fans. Die-hards never really left.
I’ve caught you up. I’m out.