10/22/12

Find Your Sports Mole

I'm not talking about a mole on your body that looks like a football. (Thats just weird). Everyone who is not a diehard sports fan should find their "mole" to give them the inside scoop what what is going on in the sports world. Sure, you can read some headlines (really good alternative if you are a loner) but sometimes getting a personal heads up allows you to have (1) knowledge on only things relevant to your needs - like a google alert (2) less falling asleep reading each sports article (3) the necessary bias.

Let me explain.

My friend Trey gives me the heads up on A&M sports news and knowledge. He alerts me if there is an article actually worth the read. (How can anyone keep UP with that stuff: Aggies, Cowboys, Rangers, Stars... and on and on - has anyone noticed that baseball games go on several time a week? That is a commitment!) Trey advises me not because I am a die hard sports fan (clearly), but precisely because I am not. I need JUST ENOUGH information to carry on a decent conversation at work/a wedding shower/my friend's boyfriend/ etc.

Last week, while working in New York, I was asked "So what do you think about A&M moving to the SEC?". (I secretly want to respond with: "What!? A&M moved to the SEC? Where have I been?" -- and then follow up with "I thought they were still in college station?") I was prepared, gave my cookie cutter answer that I have given 100 times. The thoughts have just enough of the correct bias (trey's bias) and I was able to maneuver through the conversation without standing there dumb founded.

You might think this is lazy. I think it is proper time management. Do the things you want to do and interest you, but without living fully under a rock.

Everyone should find their mole.


Remind me to buy Trey a shot.

10/15/12

Blockbuster Blues

The neighborhood Blockbuster by my house closed down. I am sure many of you have experienced the same thing. This Blockbuster closed down almost a year ago - but I am still mourning the lost. (For the record, I hate when people use their blogs as a place to whine, but it IS my blog right? and you have free will to stop reading it and watch the latest Gangum Style remake video on youtube at free will). I simply miss the days of driving up to blockbuster and picking out a movie just for me. I had a method. I would walk the entire back wall and collect any titles I thought I would want to see... then decide. If it was a bad month I would wander aimlessly through the countless old (but cheap) movies.

Someday we will tell our kids "There was once a store that had movies from floor to ceiling and you could borrow any movie you wanted, read the back cover. You know, back cover, movies back then were physical DVDs and came in boxes. Too bad they went out of business because people were too damn lazy to go return the slightly overprice, but worth it for a better selection, movies." Man, I feel old. Is this what getting old feels like?

I have an issue committing to Netflix. You mean, I might not have instant gratification of my movie? And I have no idea how to do all the set up stuff. PLUS who wants to commit to HAVING to watch a movie or 2-3 each month to feel as though I got my money's worth. Watching a movie should NOT be a chore. (I know everyone and their mom has jumped on this bandwagon, but I'm still reminiscing about the glory days)

And redbox? who ever finds anything you really want to see in the super limited selection. And I get anxious when there are people in front of me that they are going to take the very last movie. Odds are, I will get stuck behind the world's slowest movie-picker-outer ever. AND you still have to return it the next day. Sometimes, I think "eh, its only a dollar" if it isn't convenient to return.... but then, after a week, I might as well have gone to Blockbuster.

Please, please tell me that someone out there also misses the golden years.

Oh Blockbuster, you will always remain in my heart and childhood.


10/8/12

Email Etiquette


The guide to writing emails to your boss/important people:

(1) Try to put everything he or she needs to know in the subject line. Odds are they have no intention to open the email anyways. If you put key words of phrases in the subject, they get your thesis without having to click "open" on their cellphones. (Make sure it is not a "wordy" subject or it will cut off if opened on a cellphone)  Let's be honest. Odds are he or she wont even read the subject - they might just disregard it - the subject should then be searchable so that a few weeks or months from now when he (we are just going to use the pronoun "he" from now on to cut down on unnecessary typing) asks you if you sent that email, you can say "oh yes, check the email sent on 10/4 titled *insert your title here*".

(2) Use bullet points. Or numbers. You odds are greatly increased of getting a read if you have bullet points. No "unnecessary" words in this either.  Just a quick, super short, to the point summary. (don't take this post to be the perfect example of course). Don't get me wrong, when I have been told to "write a detailed email describing the situation", I have written a detailed email that would make your eyes roll to the back of your head half way through reading it, That can't be good for anyone's yearly optometrist visit,

(3) Bold. If you are lucky enough for him to open the email, you want the bolded words to smack him in the face. He should be able to understand the entire email by simply skimming the bold words. That way, if he "skims your email" you are helping him to skim the part you really want for him to read.

(4) Don't use long words. Write as though you are writing to a small child (with all due respect). He isn't going to use a dictionary to look up presumptuous words. (such as presumptuous). You don't come off as "more intelligent" if you used your thesaurus to write a quick work email.

(5) If there is additional information, put it in the attachment. Then you can say "attached, for additional information, is the *insert name of document*" Highlight the document (you can do that in pdf or excel or word) with the important key figures mentioned in your email. IF for some unknown reason he wants to actually read your email to put him to sleep at night AND opens the attachment, you are good to go.

(6) Make sure your document is client ready. Okay, we are not perfect. Today, I forgot to spell check an excel document and there was a small, hidden, completely irrelevant misspelled word. After a couple years of constant spell check and getting irritated with others for not using the little "check mark" function on all microsoft product, I forgot. AND got called out in an email about it - making my boss look bad. Easy to do - sucks when you don't.

(7) Make sure all attachments are print ready, and the little box in the excel document is at A1. Don't make it any more confusing than necessary or he might close it with all of the confusion of starting out on cell F45. You might have one of those old-school bosses that print everything - welcome to 2012 bossman,

(8) The email should be "client ready". If you can adequately write a professional and quick email, your boss can simply forward on the message to the appropriate party, (also eliminating the need for him to read it all together, ideal)

(9) Never BCC your boss. He wont feel special and your odds of him reading it are slim to none, Plus, who BCCs anyways? You shady bastard.(That being said, I do appreciate being BCCed on the "I'm quitting the firm" emails. That way I don't have to scroll through all the people you've ever passed in the hall after your 2-5 years with the firm.)

(10) Don't over use the "!" Urgent. You are going to be the "boy who called wolf". What is REALLY IMPORTANT to you, might be not such a big deal compared to the rest of his day.
Don't use Urgent unless one of the following has occurred:

  • Someone is bleeding (actually, then you should call the doctor, or give them a bandaid depending on how serious the cut)
  • There is an extreme emergency (but maybe you should be calling him at that point?)
  • Something requires immediate action (but then you could just write "Immediate Action Required" In the subject line so he knows there is an action item associated with the whole mess)

Good Luck and Happy Writing.



10/1/12

Bridesmaids: The User Manual


I have not been able to blog recently. Because, well, it is wedding season. Which got me thinking…..

There are so many bride’s blogs and magazines out there, but there really are not nearly enough “bridesmaid” guides. And let’s be honest, when you are a bride you can do whatever you want because “It is YOUR wedding” but when you are a bridesmaid? Well, you do what you are supposed to do because it is NOT your wedding.  But what is it that you are supposed to do exactly? And really, you are going to be a bridesmaid way more times than you are going to be a bride in your 20s and 30s (or at least let’s hope so). 

I am not going to pretend that I know everything about being a bridesmaid, but I am going to put together a list of useful tips that I have learned in my 20s that just might help others out there.

1. Never, ever, ever wear white. Or off white. Or really light pink for that matter. Don’t you have a bold color in your wardrobe? This goes for showers, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, etc. Actually, just forget that those light pastel colors don’t even exist. You never want to compete with the bride or have the other bridesmaid talking about you behind your back.

2. This is not your day. Do not cause drama. Do not make any part of this about you. Infact, I even prefer the maid of honor (etc) speeches where they don’t drone on about how they are besties with the bride. This isn’t about you either maid of honor.

3. Always thank the parents. They paid anyways.

4.  Wear something that is “adult friendly”. I am going to quote a grandmother at a recent shower I went to (not to me, thankfully). “Honey, is does that skirt have wheels, because it sure keeps riding up”.

5.   Do not ever out dress the bride. Keep your glitter and sequence at home.

6. If the bride says dance (even if it is in a choreographed dance) do it. And do it well. Even if you suck at dancing (likes yours truly)

7.  Stay calm. The bride will be stressed out enough. If you have a tendency to be a drama queen (most of us do) pretend that you don’t. Never scream or use loud voices on the wedding day until there is a fire or someone is bleeding (and I am not talking about a paper cut).

8. Buy them something off the registry. That is what they wanted anyways. OR (my personal favorite) buy them a gift card for the place the registered. That way they can get whatever is left on the registry that they REALLY wanted. And you know they like the store. Who wants that 5th napkin ring when they could use your money towards the crock pot they wanted. Sure, it is not “personal”, but do you really want your friends to remember you every time they use that napkin ring? Or do you want them to think of you as that awesome/fun friend that you are.

9. If you run out of shower ideas (since you cant get them a gift card for that) personalize something. Everyone likes something with their name on it.

10. Always RSVP to stuff. People our parents age really appreciate when people RSVP. People our age always seem to forget. (especially if it is a phone number to call – who talks on the phone these days anyways?)

11. Dance at the party. The bride wants people to have a good time. And you will get other people on the floor if you dance. You don’t even have to be good – just white girl wedding dance.

12. Only bring a date if you are seriously dating someone or if you would not know many people otherwise. No guy wants to go on an early-on date to a wedding anyways. Why make your friends pay for an extra plate if they don’t need to? If you are in the wedding it means that the guy would spend all day by himself anyways.

13. There is always going to be “that bridesmaid”. Suck it up – they don’t have to be your friend at the end of the wedding. I am not referring to anyone specifically because there is literally one at every wedding. (If you don’t think there is one in the group of bridesmaids… well, it is probably you then, and you should tone it down… or take a zanex)

14. If the bride’s hair is messed up? Fix it. Don’t just say “oh you look great”. She is going to have to look at those pictures the rest of her life and if there is a hair in her face – it is your job as a true friend to fix it.

15. Bring tide-to-go. Worst case scenario, look for bleach in a bathroom cleaner at the church/reception/etc.

16. Buy those comfy pads for your shoes. Worth the investment. And don’t lock your knees. Eat something the day of the wedding. (you wont look that much “thinner” if you skip the meal anyways). Make sure your spanx are not too tight – you want to breathe to prevent passing out.

17. Don’t stuff your bra with tissues. Did you really think you would reach down your dress while standing on stage if you start to cry? If you feel like you are going to cry – open your eyes really wide. Or simply wipe with your hands. Or think of things that don’t make you cry.

18. Just because the alcohol is free doesn’t mean you should drink until you vomit. Never be that girl.

19. Remember all the stuff like “don’t cut the bows” and “save them for a rehearsal bouquet” and the “something borrowered something blue”. At the end of the day, the bride will be thankful since she has enough on her plate to remember.

Brides and Bridesmaids - I would LOVE to hear any additions you have to this list (especially since I stopped awkwardly at #19) - Or comments, because... not every thing on this list will apply to bride/situation.