Marketing 101: Is the ask clear?

In a "greening of the office" move my company is eliminating paper coffee cups. I think that's a good thing. We were asked to bring in a mug - so I dug this one up.  I think it fits our marketing model.  The ask is clear and concise (if a wee bit grabby and creepy.) No, BU, you are not in my will.

Signs of Summer?

You wouldn't know it by the gray, gloomy, awful weather Boston has been having (and which we are all bitching about) but summer has theoretically arrived. While the rain clouds are making everyone cranky, it's been all good for my tomato plants. And that is a very good thing.

Where are you now?

Let's see, another week flown by and more questions of where have you been Magno?  No Red Sox commentary, few snarky tweets and otherwise complete radio silence.

More work craziness, including a visit to the Atlanta office and Boston's Volunteer Day - and today back up to Maine to check on Tom's Uncle Ed and, mercifully, a visit to my Auntie Donna. Back to regular posting of annoyances, injustices and jewelry making next week.  Until then - seriously, this is where I've been spending way too much time - shot from the car as I type this and thanks to the Sprint card - uploaded on the road!

Background noise by Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks:

Trying to Chill

Trying to chill out after a madcap, sometimes maddening week I worked on trying to settle my nerves by creating the Lakshmi II Necklace. So here she is for your Goddess-style accessorizing.

Overwhelmed Doesn't Come Close

Let's see, it's Wednesday now.

Monday was my corporate all staff meeting that I produced at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. It is still an odd feeling to help create and write, and edit, and gather, and cajole, and beg, and sweat over an event for many weeks and months and *poof* it's all done in an hour, cocktails to follow. The event went very well thanks to an amazing team from my office (thank you Peter, Janet, Tracey, Beth, Sarah, Todd, Barbara, Miss Ann, Matty, Pete, Lindsay, Zoe & Brianca) and Deb Flohr (and all at Wolfgang Puck Catering) and Jill Coleman (the ICA techie goddess) and their fine teams at the ICA.  When the weather threw a wrench, my team and the ICA teams reacted like lightening and moved the event to a new spot at the museum and it was a close to great as it could be.  Outstanding team work people.

Tuesday Tom and I went to Maine to help his elderly uncle while he recovers from brain surgery after a fall, and prepare to move him to a more intensive elder care unit at his aging-in-place facility.  I was braced for that, God bless him at nearly 90 years old - but I was not prepared to get a call informing me that a young (very) co-worker had just had very serious surgery and would soon follow with chemo.

I am exhausted and feel like I've been crying for days. I think sleep will help, but wow. Wow, wow, wow - I just don't know how we make it through certain days & weeks.  (I mean I know - I'm blessed with an amazing and loving husband, a fine and beloved circle of friends and overall, a belief that God is watching - but damn, it's only Wednesday and it's been kinda brutal.)

I'll be back soon with happy words and pictures - after I get a little sleep.

Until then, kittens!

Lakshmi Necklace

The Goddess Lakshmi Necklace:

Turquoise, Red Coral, Aventurine, Yellow Calcite, hand-carved beads and vintage wooden beads to host the original domestic goddess Lakshmi in fine silver. Lakshmi is Goddess of Beauty and Prosperity - and that's a good thing.

A Vote for Craftastrope is a Vote for Love

Those fine ladies up at Craftastrophe are up for a Socialluxe-Blogluxe "Guilty Pleasures" award.  I know it is a two step process. But click the link and then drop down to Guilty Pleasures and vote for those girls.  It's not just that they gave Frail Whale a whole lot of love, it's that they bring the best worst in crafting every day. Like this, and this, and this And OMFG this.

I love them. Support your local snarktastics and take a moment to vote.

Blogger attacks traditional media (*laughs*)

Come on ABC News!  You got Sonia Sotomayor's name correct in the banner, but doh! - you blew it just a few inches below. She's only a supreme court nominee peeps - get it right!  I note for partial credit that you got Tim Geithner's name correct (off to the right there.)