Why do creative people get notes like this all the time?

“Hope your having a great day!

I stopped by your desk, but you weren’t there so I just left my notes for you, I hope you don’t mind

I only have a few changes, I know we thought we were done, but I just showed it to my boss for the first time, and she wanted to make a few edits.

First, her name is spelled wrong. (Oops!) We better get that right! And the one address on the back is out of date. Also, apparently we are changing the rate that’s on the inside. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you so much!”

What if my auto mechanic decided to send me the same sorta message… “By the way, I actually have this bolt that was supposed to be somewhere on your car, I just forgot all about it. You don’t mind coming by to let me fix that up for you, do ya?”

The sandbox has been fun, but I’ll be moving on. The new test site is HERE, and I hope to unveil it as the new DCGrrl.com on Drupal soon. I’ll be interested to hear your feedback as I move through this process. Thanks to everyone who is supporting me on this venture!

I think it would be awesome if someone had a talk show with all the guests that show up on everyone else’s talk shows all the time… folks like Scott Ian, Henry Rollins, Kevin Smith, George Takei.

It’s the spring semester, and a new year, so I’m hitting the books!

Actually I’ll be hitting the keyboard and peering into the screen, learning some more about interactive web at the Corcoran continuing education program. I took an earlier class there a few years ago, which helped me redesign this here blog, and it’s time to kick it up a notch. So please bear with me while I play around a bit, make a few adjustments, and learn new tricks.

More exciting new experiments will be going on in my designated play area, my new SANDBOX.

Off to do my homework….

We already have the office party on our calendar for December, how about you? Sometimes this event is a potluck, sometimes there’s a ‘Secret Santa’ gift exchange involved, sometimes there are cocktails involved.

How do you navigate this road full of potential etiquette potholes? I’ll share a few mistakes I don’t want to make again:

Don’t miss the office party. I know many folks that don’t do parties well, and simply prefer to avoid the experience. The holiday party should never be required attendance, but I definitely believe that if at all possible, you should make an appearance at the holiday party. It shows that you are a team player, and that you are trying to fit in with the team you work with during the day. One of the important reasons for the holiday party is to celebrate and strengthen team cohesion, and missing out on that puts you a step behind.

Don’t try a new recipe for the potluck.I’m no Martha Stewart – if you are, the rules are different. If it’s a potluck and you’re not a chef, get to the to-do list early! Volunteer to bring a dessert you can pick up from a local bakery or see if you can bring soda or the paper plates and napkins.

Secret Santa should not be extravagant nor too personal. Fast Company suggests that meaningful gifts are the best way to go for the office gift exchange. I often look around the counters at the bookstore and the Container Store.

Don’t talk too much about yourself. The most important phrase for you to remember might be “How about you?” If you find yourself stumbling for a way to explain how you are related to a certain cousin, you have said too much.

Don’t drink too much! Keep it to a minimum. Remember this is an opportunity to make a good impression, to learn more about your colleagues. Don’t drink so much that you will have trouble remembering what you talk about with your coworkers.

Spread some good cheer when given the chance, and you may find it catches on.

Happy holidays, and a prosperous new year to you!

Don’t miss this opportunity. It only comes once every four years! We’ll be stuck with our President for a while, and if you didn’t take this chance to make your voice heard, you could regret it.

AND, besides that, many places have other important ballot initiatives for you to sound off on. Should gambling be allowed near your home? Should marriage be allowed for everyone?

PLUS, there are Congressional-level and lower elections we need to be concerned with. Sometimes these touch us much more personally and more quickly than the Presidential election.

I understand if you may be disgusted with all the debating and arguing, I sure am. But it’s time for the big pay off. Cast your vote. Negate the vote of someone you disagree with. Make your citizenship count.

Make your voice heard! Get out there and vote, Tuesday, November 6!