I'll Take the Work-at-Home Option, Please!

I sent my generic networking letter to over 200 recipients at midnight last night and have had a mini-deluge of responses this morning! One of the replies was from an artist/marketer I used to work with, who mentioned that Harcourt School Publishers in Orlando, Florida employs people who work remotely from all over the country. Now that sounds perfect to me right now!

See why?!

I also got a call from the ad agency who begged me (again) to come in today or tomorrow, but I (again) declined. I told them that I can work on a temporary freelance basis beginning this Saturday for a few weeks (yes, it seems they work all hours, all days), and I gave them a very high hourly rate bid, which they didn't even bat an eyelash at! So it looks like I'll likely do that for at least a few weeks -- to earn money to go to Germany before I settle down in a new, permanent position. Or maybe, just maybe, I'll find enough freelance work that I CAN pick and choose when and where I want to work. That would be perfect!

But for now I need to concentrate on my meeting with the CEO of the nonprofit tomorrow. I have done some due diligence there, talking to people who have worked there and some who still work there. The jury seems to be divided between "toxic environment" and "wonderful environment." Looks like I'll need to really trust my instinct, because in situations like this that's what always turns out to be the most reliable!

Interview(s) Update

So I drove into Seattle today for the 1:30 interview with the ad agency that was hastily set up last night around 7:00, in response to their pleading that I come in "right away" and their promise that I could name my time and they'd clear their schedules and look forward to meeting with me.

Uh-huh, sure.

Turns out the Creative Director had doubled -- if not triple-- booked herself, and that others with whom I was supposed to meet were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, ready to meet with me... and then suddenly NOT ready due the most recent ad-agency-esque crisis. By 3:00 my friend and I had completely caught up on each other's lives (which was almost worth the visit in itself) and I continued to wait. Finally the Creative Director informed me that they'd "need [me] to come back another day, perhaps this Friday afternoon?"

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

I definitely got the feeling that all they need is a warm body that can chug along for endless months of 18-hour days, with a "Project Manager" sign attached. They have an account that needs work and they need workers. At the risk of jumping the gun, but with the comfort of going with my gut and intuition, I have to say...

...probably NOT for me.

That violates my self-imposed decree of always doing work that matters in an environment where my unique contribution matters.

I drove home thinking trying not to fume about being begged to come in and then being hussled in and hussled out without ever being interviewed, and trying not to think about the $4.00/gallon commute that was for naught.

While I was on the freeway heading home, my cell phone rang. It was my contact at the executive search firm regarding the position I came this close to not applying for, the one with whom I had the pre-interview phone interview last Friday. The one I now really want! Turns out the CEO of the organization wants to meet me about the Director of Program Development position. Am I available this Friday at 1:30?

You BET I am!

A Smatterin' of Stuff

A few short tidbits today:

• My pre-interview phone interview on Friday went quite well. After a fairly long discussion, I was told that there are nine "very qualified applicants" and that the executive search company will send "only a few" on to the organization itself. My heart sunk, knowing almost beyond a doubt who at least two of those highly qualified applicants are (and they're good!). My hope was resurrected, though, when the interviewers agreed out-loud that I was "at the top of that list."
• I got an e-mail at 6 PM today from a former co-worker who now works at the Seattle office of an international ad agency, saying that the company wants to hire immediately for a variety of positions, among them Interactive Producer, Interactive Designer, and Project Manager. She asked that anyone interested call her, which I did immediately. It's not education-oriented, not with or for kids, and not nonprofit... but it could be focused on media production and it could represent a chance to be creative again. I have an interview tomorrow at 1:30.
• I decided to update my hairstyle (and color) and went for a gutsy new look, from a blunt bob to major layering. Elisabeth's high school friend, who is now a stylist, did it (and we took this picture to send to Elisabeth who's on another biz trip). What d'ya think?
  
• Since we've lived in this house, five couples/families have moved in next door. Within two years, every single one of the couples have divorced. About two years ago, a very nice (but extremely scarce) couple moved in. He works at Microsoft and she teaches first grade. I had high hopes that they'd be the first couple to defy the haunting legacy of the house. But sadly, on Saturday morning when I took Shasta out I noticed him and a friend loading a bar-b-que and a variety of boxes into a pick-up. I expect the "For Sale" sign to go up any day now. Is there a way to warn couples who might be looking at the house?!
• Tom spent the weekend building a bridge in the front yard and I spent the weekend shoveling more cedar chips and hauling them to the backyard -- and I'm not finished yet! Next, Tom will design and build the dry creek bed, put up the boulder that will hold the front lamp, and THEN I get my split rail fence!
• When Boo stayed out all night and worried us all, Bailey decided that fur is fur and cuddled up with Shasta to pass the time until Boo came home (with a mole!!).
  
• We're expecting temperatures of the mid-to-high 80's tomorrow in Seattle. On days like this, there's no more beautiful city in the world!
  

Who Meeeeeee?!

"Relax, mama! I'm programmed for this sort of mischief!"

Well, Well... Aren't WE Pleased?!

Chalk up another year to US!

Happy 24th Anniversary to chivalrous my Hawaiian Knight!

Gift for Kids: First They Want Toys, Then They Want Money, Then...

...they want sentimental stuff. I like this "phase" best, as far as gift-giving goes.

Elisabeth now has her own career and makes good money, so it's almost silly for her (unemployed) mommy to buy her things. Instead, I picked up on her latest decorating gig, which is finding meaningful photos, copying them in black and white, and framing and hanging them. So this is what we'll give her this evening when we take her to dinner. The photos are of Elisabeth as a baby and pre-schooler with Tom and me, and of "the girls" about ten and about four years ago.

We were gonna take her to dinner last night, but her friends "stole" her and took her wine-tasting for the afternoon at the many wineries that dot our town. By 5 PM, when we talked to her ("Mommy, it's my birthday!!"), it became clear that she wouldn't even remember any birthday dinner with her parents, so I just implored her friends to take good care of her, keep her away from motorized vehicles and get her home (either home, hers or ours) safely.

I'm still having a hard time believing that our kids are -- or will soon be -- adults! (Aleks and Kat will turn 18 in November.) I think we're really lucky that they've turned out to be such great kids and they often choose to be with us when they could have easily gone the "my-parents-are-so-lame-get-me-outta-there" route. I've threatened all of them with emotional and bodily harm if they ever choose to move more than an hour's drive away from us, but I know that we actually have no control over where their lives take them, and all we can do is support them. EVEN if they raise our grandchildren far away -- which would, to be honest, break my heart.

I always knew the whole "empty nest" thing would be hard for me, even before I had kids. When my brothers and I left home and my parents were on their own and seemed to actually like and welcome the freedom, I knew that time would be harder for me. But then, I've always been more maternal and child-oriented than my own mom, for whom having children was more an "oooops" and an after-thought than a life focus.

Around this time next year, Peter, Aleks and Kat will all be preparing to fly the coop and head off to college. Peter (and Danelle) will head to Eastern Washington to finish his last two years of college at Washington State (Wazzu) and Aleks and Kat will likely head to the University of Washington (U-Dub), which is right across the bridge, but if I'm a good mom who's able to let go, I'll regard their situation as much as "off to college far away" as I did with Elisabeth at Cal.

And then it will be up to Tom and me to decide what to do. Grow together or grow apart... stay in this big family home or move... stagnate or progress... change direction or stay the course. I am scared about that time -- not because the kids will all be gone, as much as because we'll have some re-defining and re-prioritizing to do, which is always hard -- especially when the kids have been such a strong and distinct focus for so long.

But that's still more than a year away, so I choose not to think about it (much) now.

Unemployment Insurance: Get a Job (But Don't Work)!

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by an acquaintance who works for a visual design studio for the medical and education fields. She wanted to know if I was available for a short term (less than 10 hours) consulting contract to give them feedback on a game they're creating for at-rsik youth. The hourly pay was excellent, I had plenty of time, and the subject matter is near and dear to me, so of course I did the work.

One of the questions on my weekly unemployment claim form is "did you work in self-employment last week?" For that week, I acknowledged that I did and I declared my income from that job. You'd think they'd just deduct what I made from my normal weekly benefit, but NOOOO. They might as well have chased me down with hand-cuffs! I felt like a criminal when I got the letter tsk-tsk-ing me for working. How dare I work when I'm unemployed?! I had to fill out two five-page surveys, proving that I wasn't actually earning a regular income from self-employment, that I'm still seeking a "real" job, and pretty much promising that I'll never accept hourly contract work again while I'm also collecting unemployment. HUH?! Silly me... I figured that by working when I can I'd extend my benefits. I also assumed -- perhaps erroneously -- that working and earning money was the goal, and that the more I worked, the better it was for all concerned. After hours of filling out stupid forms saying, essentially, Yes, I'm still unemployed, but I'm taking jobs I can, when I can because some job is better than no job, I've realized that the smart thing to do next time I'm confronted with this situation is to either not accept the work, ask them to pay me under the table, or not declare the income. I'm no goody-goody (OK, maybe I actually am, kinda...), but they sure make it close to impossible to supplement unemployment income with an honest day's work!

Happy Birthday, Elisabeth!

Twenty-three!

You're TWENTY-frikkin'-THREE!!!

My birthday advice to you: Never really grow up. Always be willing to be just a bit goofy...

Love, Mom

She Held that Pig's Beating Heart in the Palm of Her Hand

No, really -- she actually did!

Elisabeth works for a medical device company. She sells little do-dads like stents, catheters, filters and such. They're made out of stuff like titanium and to the untrained among us, they could just as easily be slipcovers for pencils as ridiculously expensive lifesaving devices. Part of becoming a good salesperson is understanding -- really understanding -- how these devices work and knowing how to implant them during surgery. One of Elisabeth's main responsibilities is to accompany surgeons during procedures specifically so she can consult and guide them regarding the specific device being used. The best way to do that is to actually have completed the procedures herself. So on a regular basis, she trains as a "surgeon" at a research facility in Portland, using heavily sedated pigs as patients. Yup, PIGS. Because apparently the structure of their organs closely resemble the structure of equivalent human organs.

Unfortunately, the pigs don't make it through the day. (I know -- I had a problem with this too; I really had to remember that the dying pig could save my father's or husband's or child's life.) They are so heavily sedated and so poked and prodded that at the end of training they are given a lethal injection. So yesterday after having medical devices implanted into it all day, the pig was given the lethal injection and Elisabeth asked if she could hold the heart.

And there she stood with a beating heart in her hand. She said the experience was almost surreal and she was completely taken by what was happening. It was a strong beat at first and then slowly it just faded away... and when it stopped completely and had been still for a long moment, Elisabeth squeezed. And it started beating again! It beat for another minute or minute and a half at that point! I guess her squeeze was like a form of CPR.

Elisabeth has always been like a sponge with any new experience, skill or piece of knowledge. Even as a toddler, she was up for anything, asked a gazillion questions, and had a very keen (and sometimes exhausting) sense of curiosity. Nothing at all has changed!

Suddenly Summer in Seattle!

You know what they say about the weather in Seattle: if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute. That's because the weather here tends to change constantly. An average day in Seattle consists of some rain, some clouds, and some sun. Those of us who have been here for years don't even notice it anymore, but visitors often comment on the constantly changing weather.

Today was different. I opened my eyes to sunshine at 6 AM and that glorious sunshine stayed with us consistently until almost 9 PM when it started (started!) to get dark. It was warm and clear and glorious today. All day!

I never know how many people will be home for dinner on any particular evening around here. Sometimes it's just Tom and me. Sometimes one or two kids join us. Tonight, though, the planets aligned and all seven of us were home for dinner! Elisabeth had been on a business trip in Portland and decided to stop at (her old) home on her way (to her new) home, so she was here. And Peter and Danelle came home and offered to bar-b-que hot dogs and hamburgers (and Boca burgers and chicken and veggies)!

So we washed the winter grime off the deck chairs and pulled the cushions from the storage shed... and THEN it was officially summer!

Hooray for Web 2.0! (And digital -- the OTHER "digital" -- soulmates with Oprah)

I have to share an experience that could only have happened in a Web 2.0 world: I was woken up by Aleks and Kat announcing their (quite impressive) SAT scores which they retrieved online bright and early this morning. After sending them off to school, I sat down at my laptop and was greeted by my Monster.com agent informing me of -- believe it or not -- a director position with Kaplan (big daddy of the SAT), which I immediately applied for.

I have this cool little toolbar applet from LinkedIn that shows me which of my LinkedIn connections can put me in touch with connections for the job I'm looking at. In this case, the name of the CTO at Kaplan pops up! And he has a blog... which I of course check out. And there's a post that I'm compelled to comment on... so I do. And within moments I get an e-mail from said CTO who mentions that he knows the director of Kaplan's Seattle office...

Now THAT'S what I call networking!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And in (completely) unrelated news:

The stuff on eBaum's World... it boggles the mind. Elisabeth sent me this photo of Oprah -- well, of her feet, anyway -- and said, "Look, you're connected!" Turns out Oprah was born with six toes on one of her feet just like I was born with six fingers on one hand! (My extra digit was removed when I was a baby, but it looks like she kept hers...)

I'd include a photo, but... yeah, that!

Old Forest, "New" Discovery

We've lived in this house for almost 15 years and a good portion of our backyard is still a mystery to me. When they were little, the kids called the forest the "deep dark" and played there often. But I'd call them home from the deck and would rarely, if ever, venture into the forest myself. I was simply too busy.

But today I took Shasta into the forest and thought it was so pretty that I went back to get my camera. Unfortunately it was a bit too dark to capture the full essence of the sun streaming into the forest, and unfortunately I moved too quickly and abruptly, trying to coordinate a camera, a leash, a dog and two cats!



Remind me to spend more time in the wonderful beauty and solitude of our forest. I think it could be healing and rejuvenating. It's such a shame that I've ignored it all these years!

Interview for the Interview

Remember that job I decided to apply for at 4 AM the day the application was due -- the one for the Director of Program Management for the nonprofit organization that focuses on the social and emotional development, safety, and well-being of children through education and advocacy? Well, I got a call from the executive search firm today, telling me that they are forwarding my application to the organization and that they want to conduct a pre-interview interview with me! The job description itself is in the form of a "glossy" 7-page pamphlet and my application was equally as substantial, with long, detailed essays in response to four tough questions, as well as all kinds of additional information.

And now, of course, I'm excited about the possibility and wonder why I didn't jump on the application sooner. I think it's because I was still a bit disappointed not to have progressed to the interview stage for another position being recruited by this firm, an Executive Director position with a brand new health-oriented non-profit addressing the childhood obesity epidemic. I really can't let one disappointment dissuade me away from another possible success!

A few weeks ago I spent $270 for an appointment with a career counselor in a downtown Seattle highrise. Although it was helpful, I cancelled the next appointment, just not convinced that the advice I was getting was worth the fee I was paying. I decided to go on my own, with the help of a few workshops at WorkSouce. So last week I attended an "advanced resume" workshop and was impressed with the instructor and the advice he gave. I was so impressed that I asked him whether I could hire him on an hourly basis to help me with my resume. He said sorry, no, since private consultation would be a conflict of interest, but then went right on to tell me that he'd recommend me for a program that only accepts 26 people per year (based, apparently, on "drive and initiative") and essentially provides all the same services as Mr. $270 -- for FREE! I had my first meeting yesterday (it lasted over three hours!), with Mr. Resume Workshop to work on my resume.

But we never got to the resume. Instead, he feels that I wear too many hats right now (producer, educator, project and program manager, content developer, etc.) and that I need to focus more. So my assignment for our meeting tomorrow is to write an autobiography... nothing formal, just a "stream of consciousness," addressing what I wanted to do as a kid, where my aspirations come from, what I loved (and didn't love) about previous positions, etc. I've tried to start the dang thing ten times today and I just go blank. Normally I love to write this sort of stuff, so what's paralyzing me now?!

So as of today my worst habit is procrastination! Elisabeth's 23rd birthday is on Saturday and I'm gonna work on making her gift. I'll post photos as soon as she sees it herself so as not to ruin her surprise.

My Worst Habit

What's your worst habit?

Mine is biting my fingernails. I've done it all my life, and even have photos of myself at about two, chomping away at my hands. I did grow nine of my nails (I held out on my thumb!) once in my life, in 1983, for my wedding. A week later, on our honeymoon in Yosemite... CHOMP -- off they all came again!

I don't really subscribe to the whole "insecurity" theory, and I haven't subscribed to the "stress" theory -- though I must admit that I'm re-thinking that one. I really don't know why I bite my nails, but I do bite them more when things are in turmoil. Or when I'm not doing something active. I don't watch much TV, but when I do, there go the nails!

My Bay to Breakers Baby (Er, I mean "Babe"!)

Elisabeth runs the Bay to Breakers "race" every year in San Francisco. Last year, she and her friends were the Fun Police (with a very FUN version of the Miranda Rights on their t-shirts), "arresting" spectators and throwing them into their "float jail," which came equipped with a dancing pole.

This year, the same group decided to be the Baywatch Babes. This is them, with Elisabeth on the lifeguard stand.

The most original Bay to Breakers group has to be the "school" who dress up as salmon, start at the finish line and "swim upstream" toward the starting line! Hilarious! (I wonder if they're from Seattle?!)

Ah, to be 23 again!! Seriously.

Priceless (to us) Disney cel

Twenty-three years ago I was a career newbie, working at my first "real job" at a now-defunct division of Disney called WDEMCO -- Walt Disney Educational Media Company. I loved the job, in spite of the torturous hour-long commute from Westchester, near LAX to Glendale, in "the valley."

One of my mentors at Disney was an artist and animator named Geppy Vacarro. Geppy was aptly named, as he reminded me of the kindly grandfather in Pinnochio -- sweet, loving and a wonderful craftsman. Geppy, who had been trained by Walt himself, hand-drew each individual slide for the filmstrip (OK, that definitely dates me!) I produced for a multi-media kit (which, in those days meant comic book, poster and filmstrip) called Cheeseburger, This is Your Life, a production about food origins which was to be part of the opening of the Land Pavilion at EPCOT in October, 1982. One of the characters of the production Chelsea Cheese, an animated slice of Swiss cheese with rosy round cheeks and a huge cheesy smile. I was honored -- and a bit befuddled -- when Geppy announced that Chelsea was modeled after me, and I must admit that I've saved all the components that featured Chelsea, more as a memento than as a part of my portfolio!

In 1984, when Elisabeth was born, Geppy asked Tom for a photo of me and my new baby. Tom had no idea what Geppy wanted to do with the photo, but obliged, sending him a picture taken at the hospital, just moments before we were to be discharged. I was adoring my new baby and completely awestruck by this gorgeous new creature in our lives. A few weeks after Elisabeth was born, Geppy presented me with this priceless (to us, anyway) piece of art. Drawn in classic Disney cel style, Geppy had surrounded newborn Elisabeth with new friends -- Mickey fanning Elisabeth's sweet lips (and Minnie, perhaps a bit jealous), Goofy pulling back the blanket to adore her, Tinkerbell sprinkling pixie dust on her, and Donald and Daisy, showing off their newborn friend. I still absolutely love this and selfishly dread the day when Elisabeth will take it with her, but look forward to the day when it will don my grandchild's newborn nursery.

What a gift Geppy gave us - and I am forever grateful to him for it!

Yard Update

I spent the day shoveling woodchips into a huge wheelbarrow and bringing load after load from the driveway (where a tree-cutting company dumped 20 FREE yards of cedar chips) to the back yard, where I distributed it along the edges of the lawn that's finally coming in. It will take days and days to finish the job, and I feel like I've barely made a dent after working all day!

Meanwhile, Tom started -- and almost finished -- building the bridge that will cross our dry creek bed, and break up the cobblestone path in the front yard. Peter grew up helping Tom with mechanical, motor and building projects around the house and is now at least as good as Tom at this stuff -- and even gives Tom helpful advice, as he was doing when I took this picture. Those two have always been best friends and peas in a pod.

Mars and Venus/Pebbles and Bam-Bam

Tom and I talking about communication styles:

Me: "A thought is not complete until it's expressed. The expression actually furthers the thought and is an important part of the process."

Tom: "Expression of a thought is an annoying and difficult addition to the already-completed process. "

Is this gender-based? I think that most women are probably more like me and most men are probably more like Tom. I know that both my daughters are more like me, and that Peter is more like (um... exactly like!) Tom. Aleks is a very verbal, social intellectual who likes talking about his philosophies, so he probably crosses into both worlds.

What's YOUR comminication philosophy? Is communication a critical part of the thought process or is it an annoying but sometimes necessary addition to it?

Depletion and (Partial) Regeneration

For the first time in months, I let a day go by without blogging. I simply felt depleted and couldn't even express a half-baked thought. I had plenty of them, but they were along the lines of job fe-ric (that's a cross between fear and panic), motorcycle en-ger (that's a cross between envy and anger), and a strong desire to throw up my hands, turn in any contract in which I obligated myself of anything at all, ever -- tangible or not -- and head out of town (and state... and country). Escapist? Damn right.

I spent yesterday at the local Work Source office, attending two workshops. One was a "true colors" workshop, in which we explored our natural personalities, motivations and career styles. Not surprisingly, I am a "blue." That means that I "seek to express the inner me. I value authenticity and honesty above all else. I enjoy close relationships with those I love (the fact that some of them are green makes it difficult, though!) and possess a strong spirituality in my nature. Making a difference in the world is (apparently) easy for me because I cultivate the potential in myself and others. I am sensitive to subtlety and -- with great flair -- create roles in life's drama." Yeah -- pretty spot-on. The problem is that, although people like working for blues because they're empathetic and supportive bosses, "coming down hard on someone" doesn't come easily to us blues, so those who manage US can get frustrated with our more gentle and touchy-feely approach. I found that to be an issue yesterday as I explored the type of work that I'm apparently best at: teaching, social work, nursing, coach, zookeeper (zookeeper?!). Interesting that Technology Teacher and School Media Specialist were on the list (because they deal directly with kids and teaching), but media and content developer weren't... probably because they work in isolation from their end-audience. Every job that I came across that I thought I'd love had a salary level that was nowhere near high enough. The mantra of you have three more kids to put through college didn't leave me all day, and by evening I felt like what I want to do and what I need to do are worlds apart.

I woke up at 4 AM, remembering that I'd half-applied for a job as a Director of Product Development for a health education non-profit (long, detailed, essay-based application process) and then let it go, thinking I didn't have the right qualifications. I decided that, at this point, I can't let anything slip by me, so I got up and started back in on the essay, barely looking up from my laptop for the next four and a half hours. At 8:30, I submitted the application and within a minute I was on the phone with the spa, asking if by any chance at all they had an opening for a message today. My neck muscles were almost seizing at this point! Lo and behold, they had an available appointment in 15 minutes! I took it! It was absolutely glorious and SO needed! (Thanks to my daddy, whose 50th birthday gift certificate I'm still using.)

And now I'm almost late for an "advanced resume" class at the Work Source office. Let's see if I canfinally focus all my varied experience and passions (though I question that today) into one concise statement. That is the next challenge of the day.

Zero Degrees of Separation? (A Meme)

I was reminiscing today about a dear friend who I haven't seen in a few years, wondering how she's doing. Perhaps in LA, working on a kids' show, I thought, or touring in Europe. My friend, Courtney Campbell* is by no means a household name, but to thousands of children (including my own) she's a magical goddess for her storytelling and singing talents and charming goofiness. The night that she came over for dinner and sang Elisabeth and Peter (ages 5 and 3) to sleep with her glorious lullaby voice still brings tears to my eyes. I don't think of Courtney as famous; I simply think of her as my (extraordinarily talented) friend. But remembering her this evening made me wonder whether I do know any famous people.

Nah...

But as I pondered it, I realized that I have met people in my life whose names might be recognizable to more than just their family and friends. And the more I thought about it, the more names came to mind. And of course, being such a blogger at heart, I thought it would make a fun blogging "meme" (where did that word come from?) to pass on. Who do YOU know? I'll bet you know more "famous" people than you realize! So here are mine. Tag -- you're it!

The Romper Room Lady: Yup, around 1961. All I remember is that I was there with my brother, Stephan and a family friend, Luki, who was quite the brat then. Luki pushed the RR Lady to her wits end, Stephan wouldn't talk at all, and I wanted the Baby Ruth bars that were too high for me to reach.

Ducky Nash: The voice of Donald Duck. I met him at a voice-over recording session when I worked at Disney. Dirty old letch of a man!

Hal Smith: The voice of Winnie the Pooh in the 80's. I also met him at a VO session (for a computer game our team designed, called Winnie the Pooh in the Hundred Acre Wood). Adorable, sweet old sweetheart of a man!

"Screamin' Scott Simon": Of the oldies rock group Sha-Na-Na. Did the music for 10 games I designed for Panasonic in the 80's. They never saw the light of day. Funny, funny guy.

Dave Scott: Champion Ironman Triathlete. Was a consultant for a game we designed at Disney, encouraging kids to move. It also never saw the light of day, but was apparently ahead of its time. My favorite memory of Scott was his refrigerator when he was in training. It contained about 50 fresh oranges and nothing else!

John Naber: Five time Olympic Gold medalist (swimming, Toronto, '76) and the first man who broke my heart.

Claud Mann: I played in the sandbox with Claud. We were next-door-neighbor buddies for years as children. At that time he was "famous" because his dad was the local newscaster. He later became famous in his own right as the charming chef on TBS's Dinner and a Movie. He was kind enough to donate his time in 2004 at the national launch of FUEL. What I want to know is, how the hell does he look so great at 50?! Man!!!! :-o

Mike Love of The Beach Boys. Apparently I danced with him at a nightclub in Santa Barbara when I was in college. I had no idea it was him till afterwards. I have very little recollection of this occasion...

Bill Dorfman, the dentist on Extreme Makover: I met him when we were contestants together on Press Your Luck, a TV game show in the early 80's and he was at UCLA dental school. He won big and I lost big. I got an ice chest; he got a windsurfer. I shared an elevator with Willie Nelson that day, but was too shy to talk to him, so I don't think I can count that.

Jeffrey Wigand: The subject of the movie The Insider (played by Russel Crowe), about the tobacco industry. He was a consultant for us at the non-profit health education organization for which I worked. Great guy. The stories he has to tell about the stuff that goes (went?) on in that industry would scare you to pieces!

LouAnne Johnson: Author of My Posse Don't Do Homework, on which the movie Dangerous Minds (Michelle Pfeiffer) was based. The influence LouAnne had on her classroom of at-risk high schoolers, and how she turned them around, is absolutely inspiring! I hired LouAnne as a subject matter expert for CHILL, but for the paltry amount we paid her, it's safe to say that she volunteered her time.

Erin Gruwell: Author of The Freedom Writers' Diary, which was turned into the movie The Freedom Writers. Another inspiring story. Erin spoke at the symposium that our organization sponsored. I was riveted! Great woman!

Harrison Ford: Or as we lovingly call him, "Uncle Harry." Tom's cousin is married to Harrison's brother Terrence. My kids have met Terrence; none of us have met Harrison! I can hardly count this, eh?!

Dan Crow: Children's entertainer and songwriter, who did music for us when I was at Disney. He also did the music for the kids' movie The Adventures of Milo and Otis. I introduced Dan to Courtney in 1987 when I organized a small little concert at Peter's pre-school (where I taught very part-time). *Courtney refers to this little gathering in this interview... (!!)

Which kinda brings it all full-circle...

So tag -- you're it! Think! I promise you'll come up with way more than you might think...

Search for: Media, Kids, Education, Jobs... Mindreader!

I wish my career had a one or two-word name. I envy people who can define their professional interests and expertise with one or two words: copywriter, engineer, patent attorney, babysitter, Prince of Whales (OK, that's three). When they create a resume, it's pretty straight-forward. When they look for job openings, entering keywords into a search engine is pretty easy.

But for me, it all seems to get muddled. Who am I? What do I do? I'm a media producer, but I don't operate a camera or write code for games. I'm an educator, but I have very little teaching or classroom experience. I work with educational content, but I'm not specifically a curriculum specialist or an instructional designer. I'd be as excited about producing a cool educational casual game for kids as I'd be developing a non-profit program helping at- risk youth finding their media voice.

Do either of those even exist? If not, I could start such ventures! Except that I need to pay bills right away. Damn bills; they always get in the way!

So the keywords I want to use -- education, media, learning, content, kids -- are really too generic and broad, eliciting gazillions of results, most of them completely inappropriate for what I do.

I think my strategy is going to have to be to go granular. I'm going to have to identify and categorize my network contacts into focus area and then develop an effective approach and "elevator speech" for each. Then I'll need to contact individuals within those groups, by phone and/or by e-mail, as a first step in securing my place on their radar. Because I agree with the career coach I saw last week: the right job for me is not listed on Monster or Career Builder, or EVEN on Craigslist (which I love). Instead, it's an idea brewing in someone's mind, a problem without a current solution, an inspiring idea that needs a shepard. Those things never make it onto a job board, so I need to go find them and nudge them into existence.

How do you put THAT whole idea into a search engine?!

Seattle Weather!!

Remember this...and this... and this?

Those are painful and distant memories today because today in Seattle we have THIS! (80 degrees and 100-mile vistas...) When it's sunny and warm in Seattle there is truly no more beautiful place on the face of the earth.

(With the possible exception of Ruhpolding, Bavaria, Germany...)

At this moment, Tom is boating (and hopefully wrapping up the sale of our boat) on Lake Sammamish, Peter is flying with a friend who is piloting a private plane (sheeeeesh... did I need to know that?!), Elisabeth is surely playing and sunning with friends on Green Lake (I don't know this to be a fact, but I can almost guarantee it), Aleks and Kat are playing ultimate frisbee with practically the entire high school class of 2008, and I...

...I am attempting to write an all-important job seeking letter to my network connections, procrastinating in doing so (it's SO pretty out there!), and feeling guilty, sulky and less than confident.

SOLD! (Or: Battle of the Mid-Life Crises)

We sold our boat! Actually, no money has exchanged hands yet (although there was a handshake), as the man who will buy it had to drive back home to Canada last night to take care of logistics on his end. He'll come back today for a final test drive on the water and to (hopefully!) seal the deal with cash -- more cash than I've seen in one place in my life.

So selling the boat is a good thing.

But Tom's midlife crisis looks like this... And once it's "logical" (in my mind, it will NEVER be logical!), this is what he wants to buy with some of that cash.

I think a trip to Germany is much more LOGICAL.

So The Battle of the Midlife Crises is on!

You better believe that if another one of these (this photo is of Peter's bike) finds its way to our garage and no ticket to Germany finds its way into my (or our) hands, we'll have one very unhappy camper on our hands.

But no mid-life crises are allowed for either of us until I find a job. Oh wait -- that's a damn mid-life crisis of its own!

I've decided that I want to be a midwife.

Unemployment: The One-Month Mark

As of today, I've been unemployed for a month. As of today, I'm officially feeling a bit panicky. I've revised both resumes (health/education/non-profits and retail/consumer products) and I feel pretty good about them, but I can't send them out to my network of 181 professional contacts until I write the all-important cover letter(s).

And I can't write the cover letter(s) until I finish this short-term freelance job -- consulting on a computer game for at-risk youth.

If I could line up a few of these gigs, I could continue a business a started 20 years ago, called Sandcastle Designs. At that time I designed a game for The Learning Company. Now I could do content development, design, and educational consultation for kids media -- film, print and software.

Hmmmm... maybe it's time to consider "hanging a shingle" -- or building a castle -- again?!

Feelin' Blessed and Grateful on Mothers Day

My Boyz

So for the briefest of moments this evening, my boys weren't their typical get-that-camera-out-of-my-face selves!

As you can imagine, I took full advantage of the situation!

(That's Aleks, saying hello to my German readers... especially to my BAVARIAN readers!)

American Prom for a German Mädchen

As I type this, Elisabeth is applying Eva's make-up for her first American prom, which will take place tonight. I don't think German high schools have anything quite equivalent to our prom, so this is all new and very exciting to Eva, who will be attending with her (American) boyfriend of five months, Austin. So we made an event of the day and served a spaghetti lunch before The Make-Up Event.

This brings back two memories, one from my own high school experience and one from last year.

Because my parents were native Germans, they knew nothing of a typical American high school experience -- nor did they have any real interest in it. My reaction to that, of course, was to defiantly throw myself into it, becoming a varsity cheerleader (whose boyfriend was the captain of the football team), and absolutely reveling in all the high school social traditions -- like fall football games, homecoming, and prom.

The other memory that tickles me today is remembering Laura's first prom last year when she lived with us. Like Eva, she savored every piece of this typically American experience -- and today I miss her especially much. (This is a photo of Laura and her prom date.)

Eva's gorgeous vintage 1940's dress is at her friend's house, so I can't get a photo of her wearing it today, but she promised to send me photos (or perhaps I'll take them myself this evening if I can make it to the "photo op"), and you can be sure that I'll post a follow-up as soon as I get them!

And now... presenting --- EVA and Austin, Prom 2007, Washington, USA!

Kid and... Visions of Grandkid?!

Kat and I went shopping this afternoon. (Yes, the Starbuck's cup is a permanent fixture.) She found a cute cowgirl hat and I found --but could find absolutely no true justification to purchase -- an adorable pair of white Mary Janes for a three-year-old for ONE DOLLAR and NINETY-EIGHT CENTS!! Yup -- $1.98! God, I love a good deal! Believe me, I almost bought them. Surely I know someone with a cute little 3-year-old on whom they look adorable. Don't I? Aaaaanyone?!

But yeah, Kat said the same thing: "Mooooom, that would just be weeeeeird."

So I didn't buy 'em.

Sigh.

Mother's Day - Then and Now

Long ago, when my life was all babies and toddlers all the time, I counted the days until Mother's Day because it was the one and only day of the year that I felt justified to just leave the life of a perpetual and constant mommy behind. I'd leave early in the morning, usually with a fellow mommy or two, and not come back until bath and bedtime were long over and house was sure to be quiet and peaceful. My friends and I didn't spend a fortune at an extravagant spa or on a shop-till-you-drop day. Instead, we'd go out for breakfast, maybe shop a bit and then we'd revel in having no plans, no demands, no interruptions, no diapers, no bottles, no bickering and no deadlines. It was bliss because every day, all day for the rest of the year was otherwise spent with children who were a complete joy, but also a complete drain.


A lot of rejuvenation was to be had on Mother's Day during those years. That, in itself, was almost a pressure. Relax -- quick! This day comes but once a year!

Oh, how things change.

This year I would love nothing more than to escape with all four kids instead of from them for Mother's Day! Whereas they used to keep me busy from morning until night with their needs and demands, now their own lives keep them busy from morning to night and I'm lucky if we have a half hour a day together. When they clamored at my feet all day long and regarded my body as their jungle gym, I longed for the freedom I now have, spending long stretches of time with my own thoughts and doing my own work. And now that I have that freedom and that distance, the best way I can think of to spend Mother's Day is with the same feisty brood that I used to escape from on that day.

No one can tell you how quickly the years go. Believe me, people have tried to tell me in the past and I never listened. Since I met her, my mother-in-law has been constantly lamenting about her kids growing up (and I, for one, am glad that at least one of them did)! But listen to me, you young, exhausted mommies out there: time really DOES go by in the blink of an eye, and before you know it you'll long for those arms that wrap your neck so tightly that you feel like you can't breathe!

THAT is bliss.

I Won! (Kinda Sorta...)

Lookie! I won second place in the Mother-Daughter Story Contest! I'm giddy-thrilled and I feel like dancing! Silly, isn't it? Once I'm finished with these damn resumes, I just might dance a jig!

I think I'll take Elisabeth out to dinner with my $200 winnings. Maybe we should invite Ben too...

(I love the essay that won first place and can SOOO relate! In fact, in the ovarian cancer journal that I wrote for Mom during her battle, I remember asking Mom the exact same question... about Elisabeth, who was causing me such aggrivation then! So Kathleen, first place winner, here's to you, your mom and your daughter!)

Resume Workshop

For three days now I've been staring at a blank screen, trying to revise my resumes. (I have one that showcases my education and non-profit experience and another that highlights my retail and consumer products experience.) Isn't it odd that, after spending all day, every day reviewing others' resumes for weeks on end a few months ago, I can't seem to even start to revise my own resume? Or maybe that's why I've had this blockage -- because I know how important that first half-page is, and it feels daunting to me.

This morning at 6 AM I decided that enough is enough and I got out of bed, made myself a strong cup of coffee and sat down in front of the damn persistent blank screen. And then I began to type and edit. By 8:30 I had completed both resumes and, although they're not ready to send out yet, I finally feel that sense of accomplishment I longed for on Monday night. I decided to emulate the format that my dear friend and former manager, D, used for her resume: profile, career highlights, skills & qualifications, experience, and education. Because I've done quite a bit of freelance as well as employment work, a quick review of my experience presented in the traditional chronological resume format makes it look like I "job hop." Not good. But more and more, I really want to go back to being in business for myself and starting my own consulting firm for youth media development.

The other good thing about this format is that I can quickly revise my resume in the profile to highlight what's important for any particular position or to emphasize freelance and contract work.

So, what do you think? Here it is, with both "profile" sections -- and with the names of the companies I've worked for omitted, for obvious reasons. Yes, I am open to critique! (And I'm also open to job offers...)

(Education, health, non-profit-oriented profile and highlights:)

PROFILE

Ø Passionate educator and executive producer of inspiring media products for youth focusing on healthy lifestyles and positive development

Ø Results-oriented, compassionate leader and motivational manager of both internal staff and external contractors

Ø Detail-oriented, organized program and product manager with expertise in developing and supervising budgets, timelines and contracts

Ø Dedicated writer, researcher, curriculum developer and educational/developmental specialist

Ø Enthusiastic marketer with experience in research, branding, package design, user testing, and peripheral material development

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Ø Designer, Developer and Executive Producer of FUEL and CHILL, innovative, award-winning video series for youth focusing on reducing childhood obesity rates and managing teen stress

Ø Lead educational design consultant of award-winning Blue’s Clues software products for young children

Ø One of the original five members of what is now Disney Interactive and designer of Disney’s first educational computer games

Ø Designer and Producer of Edmark’s award-winning math game, Carnival Countdown and educational design consultant for other successful Edmark products

Ø Successful freelance designer of educational media products for publishers such as McGraw-Hill, Microsoft, The Learning Company, Educational Insights, and KnowWonder

(Consumer products and retail-oriented profile and highlights:)

PROFILE

Ø Experienced designer and producer of award-winning media and consumer products for the youth market

Ø Familiarity with production in a variety of media: software (Internet/CD/DVD), film, and print

Ø Results-oriented, compassionate leader and motivational manager of both internal staff and external contractors

Ø Detail-oriented, organized program and product manager with expertise in developing and supervising budgets, timelines and contracts

Ø Enthusiastic marketer with experience in research, branding, package design, user testing, and peripheral material development

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Ø Lead educational design consultant of award-winning Blue’s Clues software products for young children

Ø Designer, Developer and Executive Producer of FUEL and CHILL, innovative, award-winning video series for youth focusing on reducing childhood obesity rates and managing teen stress

Ø Designer and Producer of Edmark’s award-winning math game, Carnival Countdown and educational design consultant for other successful Edmark products

Ø Successful freelance designer of edutainment media products for publishers such as McGraw-Hill, Microsoft, The Learning Company, Educational Insights, and KnowWonder

Ø One of the original five members of what is now Disney Interactive and designer of Disney’s first kids’ computer games

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS (both resumes)

Ø Project and Program Management

o Oversee all aspects of production, from original concept through completed, shipped product

o Create, oversee and manage product budgets and timelines

o Hire, manage and mentor internal staff. Provide team leadership and management..

o Hire and manage contractors – artists, writers, producers, directors, musicians, developers, SMEs, etc.

o Initiate and oversee contract process with outside resources

o Manage website development process

Ø Content Design and Development

o As key design team member, contribute creativity and educational expertise – from brainstorming through finished product

o Write design specifications – preliminary to final

o Create accompanying activities and other peripheral materials

o Establish storylines, scripts and character design

Ø Marketing

o Conduct market research

o Create, administer and analyze surveys

o Contribute to package design

o Assist with branding efforts

o Write sell sheets and other marketing copy

o Compile competitive product comparisons

o Plan, implement and supervise product playtesting sessions

Ø Video Production

o As Executive Producer, hire production company and oversee all aspects of video production, from treatments through post-production

Ø Writing and Editing

o Guides (education and consumer markets)

o Game content and specifications

o Activities and peripheral materials

o Help files

o Packaging and other marketing copy

o Web content

Ø Curriculum Development and Educational Consulting

o Specify educational goals and objectives

o Correlate product design with relevant state curriculum standards

o Devise ramping and problem sets

o Oversee educational content development

o Assure that activities are developmentally appropriate

Ø Web

o Create content

o Assist with interface design

o Manage website development process

TEACHING EXPERIENCE (Education resume only)

Various teaching positions, including infant and toddler, pre-school, kindergarten, elementary, learning-disabled and adult programs

Certified Childbirth Educator (ICCE)/Labor Assistant (Doula): Teach Prepared Childbirth, Refresher, and Sibling classes. Provide labor support.

EDUCATION

Stanford University: Master of Arts: Education (Program Emphasis: Educational Media) Summa cum Laude

University of California, Santa Barbara: Bachelor of Arts: Developmental Psychology Magna cum Laude

HONORS AND AWARDS

The Aurora Awards: Gold Award (2004)
HeSCA (Health Sciences Communication Association): Bronze Award (2006)

CHILL:
“In the System”: 2005: Honorable Mention, Chris Awards (Columbus International Film & Video Festival)
"Playing the Part": Communicator Award of Distinction

BLUE'S 1-2-3 TIME ACTIVITIES:
Parent’s Choice Gold Award, 1999

BLUE’S TREASURE HUNT:
Parent’s Choice Noteworthy, 1999

CARNIVAL COUNTDOWN:
1998 Directors' Choice Award—Early Childhood News
1997 Developmental Software Awards—KIDS Project
1997 Best Software Award for Ages 6-9—Child Magazine
1997 Top 100 CD-ROMs—PC Magazine
1997 Platinum Award—Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
1997 Award of Excellence—Technology & Learning
1997 Bronze Apple Award—National Educational Media Network