Ch-ch-changes

Lady V here...

Wow, it's been over 3 months since I've updated. That usually happens with me and journals. However, I plan on looking back on this in 10 years and either laughing at myself, or wishing to be back in this situation, or learning from my mistakes, so I plan to follow through

Things took a turn very quickly (not sure if for the better or for the worse yet) these past few months and I've been working on getting my mind and life straight.

things that matter, in pretty much chronological order:

In February, I started the planning process for a large scale event in celebration of my Alma Mater's 75th Anniversary. It has now turned into an outdoor music festival and fair with a very nice budget. I'm acting as a mentor to the current members, as they will be doing the contract work, as I...well I'm not quite sure what I'll be doing yet. I am so excited to move forward with this and help to create a memorable event for thousands of people.

I also attended a conference for my job in February. It took place in Boston and was so much fun! I got to meet a lot of great people and got my feet wet in the industry. We had an artist showcase, and she was amazing! We had a ton of students and administration at the booth after her performance and about 15 schools that showed interest in booking her. I did my thing as I spoke to a lot of great university programmers, some of who told me how good I was at this job and how I was meant to do it.

So, I come back to the office after and received a "can you come in my office?..." IM from my boss. Now, I thought we were going to talk about the upcoming conference. At this time, he was unsure as to whether he was going to send me or not. Instead, I was told that I was being taken off of the College Booking Division because our artists did not bring in as many requests as he believed it would have taken to decide to keep me. There didn't seem to be enough work coming into the office for two people. He wasn't unhappy with me and offered me the opportunity to go in another direction with the company. One thing he mentioned was the Festival market. This was something that we had spoken about in supplement to my college booking. In the end, there was nothing that I felt existed that would make as much money as quickly, not take as much money to start up and that I would be as passionate about as the college work. I decided to move on from the company.

However, that same day, my ex-employer (where I was laid off in May) reached out to me for some part time, temp work. I would be working on cleaning up multiple databases and helping the organization merge everything into a Super Database. Of course I took it! I've been there for about a month and I love it :)

I've also decided to go back to school and get my Masters. I am applying to Higher Education programs. Through all of my experience, I've found myself most happy while programming in the college environment, both while in and out of college, so I'm listening to my heart and opening to make it a career. Wish me luck!!

In between all of this, I went to Puerto Rico with 4 amazing friends. This is my 3rd time vacationing there and every single time, I try to figure out a possible way to live there for the rest of my life. I can never come up with a really good reason to not follow through.

I'll leave you with my #1 reason everyone should do it:

love love love....I want your love

Lady V here...

This upcoming March, it will be 1 year of being single.

For a while there I didn't quite feel single, as I was still talking to and hanging out with my ex and couldn't get away from feeling attached to him. The situation has gotten much better, as in I don't feel like his girlfriend anymore. The natural feeling of love I have for him will always be there though; I want the best for him, I want him to succeed and do something that he loves, I want him to find the right kind of love that will encourage him to be the best possible person for himself and for his significant other. I have accepted, as hard as it was, that that person is not and probably never will be me.

And I want to get away from thinking about the opposite sex in an emotional way. I was so used to being someone's girlfriend, where my thoughts constantly focused on how they were doing and what I could do for them and how I can still live my life and be a good girlfriend. After almost 4 years of doing that and somewhat feeling like his thoughts and efforts didn't quite match mine, I had this feeling of "fuck guys. I want to worry about myself and that's it. Who knows when I'll get the chance to only be responsible for only myself ever again in my life."

But why is it so hard? I know I'm allowed to miss someone or care about someone, but I can't keep doing this when the someone or someones are completely wrong for me and there is no chance of it becoming anything more.

So then I think, well maybe I need myself a new man? and then I'm back to thinking about someone else and not just me...grrrrrrr

A Day in the Life of My Mom

Lady V here...

It's been too too long since I've updated on here, and that was what I was afraid of.

I had a blog-worthy day yesterday which has brought me back.

Quick update though:

• My job is awesome. I have my own office, which I love. I've booked two events so far, although neither were from my cold calling. But I'm very comfortable on the phone and am having good conversations with people and starting to develop that relationship that I want.
• I've been babysitting a ton, but enjoying it, for the most part. I have 5 families that I work for, 2 being less often than the rest. But, it's great money and great experience. I've become really close with one of the families and that has added a whole new aspect of my life that I really enjoy.
• I am continuing to lose weight, although it is going slow. I hit -31 before Christmas and with the combination of a friend's birthday outing (I never drink!) and Christmas (where my mom makes a ton of Italian sausages, spare ribs, and meatballs), I am now at -26 and pushing hard. I could definitely be doing better, which I'm always striving for. but I love food too much :(
  
• No comment on the celibacy. It's better for the both of us, trust me.

My Blog Worthy Day


I went to the mall yesterday with my mom, my dad and my little sister/cousin. Our day started at the Food Court, of course.

I go to Sbarro's with my little cousin. The guy serving her is real cute. Someone I can see as my boyfriend. Which was a weird thought, to be honest. To think about dating someone else, being someone else's girlfriend, experiencing new things with a new person. It kind of bugged me out. (and yes, I'm crazy and my thoughts lead from some cute boy whose name I don't even know, to falling in love with someone new, him being a potential candidate. But I'm a girl, isn't that normal?)

So then, my mom and I go to Blimpie. Now, there is always some kind of problem at this Blimpie stand. I went one time, and asked for a toasted sandwich. They took the bread, added the meat and cheese and went to put the sandwich in the sandwich press. I asked if they could put the lettuce and mayo on the sandwich before putting it in the press, because that's how I felt a toasted sandwich (with the panini press) was made. They made a big stink about it, saying that that wasn't the way they did it. Ok, so maybe that's not how they did it, but that's how I wanted it. What's the problem with that? What harm does it do to them?

Another time, my mom asked if the sandwich could be cut into three. They made a big stink about how they couldn't do it, they could only cut it into four. And it's always this one guy who makes the stink!

So this time, my mom and I are sharing a foot long sandwich. I asked for it to be toasted, she doesn't want it like that. She asks for half of it to be toasted (which, yes, is kind of an annoying request, then it kinda becomes two different sandwiches). The guy says no and starts to make a big stink. Well, my mom goes OFF on him! Talking about calling the Blimpie headquarters and reporting him, calling the Better Business Bureau, cursing at him, saying he's awful, telling everyone on like he's a jerk, saying some stuff about "this is America", just going crazy. I'm standing there, "Mom, please stop. Please." So embarrassed. We walk away and she goes "Whew! I've been dying to do that to him!" This is very typical of my mom, but it's always great to laugh at afterward.

So we get on the elevators, and a group of your typical, skinny, white, 15-year-olds walk in before us. As we go down, one of them says "Oh my god! I love going down on the elevator, that feeling it gives you in your stomach!" I'm not really paying attention to what they are saying, but looking back at my mom who is DYING to get in their conversation, leaning towards them and smiling. This causes me to crack up laughing. The group of girls think I'm laughing at them and scream "fuck you!" as they get out of the elevator. That causes me to laugh more. Because of that, I should have laughed at them in the first place.



Well, here's to a new year! I'm really looking forward to it. My resolutions are:

• Save at least $50 a month, no matter what. Aim for more, of course.
• Don't be so lazy. Park far away from stores, take stairs if it is an option, bend down to pick something up instead of ignoring it, etc.

2010...watch out!

Inspiration

Lady V here...

I owe everyone a full update. I want to introduce everyone to the families I babysit for. That provides for some interesting stories and it's a pretty big part of my life right now.

But I wanted to share with you a reply e-mail I got from boss. This was in response to an blast e-mail that I drafted.


"Perfect!!

i wouldn't change much of anything. The only thing I would think about is whether we want
to write the last line. IM me when you're around and we can discuss
it more. Other then that I think this is great!!!"




:)

I IMed him later and told him my point of view on the "last line" he mentions. He saw where I was coming from and told me to leave it in.

As lame as it sounds, it feels good to do something right.

Week 1

Lady V here...

A few highlights from this week:

• My transition from intern to employee was solidified this week when I was given my own office :) I can't wait to decorate it and completely move in. I've decided to wait until the end of this internship period to make the move though...I don't want to rub it in any of the other intern's faces.
• I've been working out as much as possible and eating better than I have in the past. I feel the weight coming off and look forward to reaching my goal.
  
• I babysit the most adorable little girl. Going to watch her is the highlight of my week. We went for a walk along the Hudson River, which was so beautiful (see picture below, which I didn't take, but is where I walked) After the walk, on the way back to the house, she proceeded to accidentally pee on herself, due to a pull-up that was falling down. That was fun.
  

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I had to do some research for my job on cold calling. It seems like I'll be starting this up either next week or the week after, but here are the main tips that I've learned about being a successful cold caller:

1. Be prepared. Do your research on who you are calling and what they do. You want to offer them something that is a good fit for them and helps them out as well. On the same note, know everything possible about your product. Be prepared for all possible questions.
2. Have a goal and a plan written out, but not a script! Come up with an idea for the opening line, but don't write it out. Be natural and positive. The person on the other line will be able to hear it. Come up with a goal for the call, whether it's setting an appointment to talk face-to-face, or that you will send them an e-mail further showing your services (with a follow-up phone call soon after). Develop a list of questions that will engage the person on the other end of the phone. If they don't seem too interested in what you have to say, ask them about their current situations in regards to what you are saying. People like to talk about themselves :)
3. Above all, stay positive and be persistent. The more calls you make, the easier it gets and the better you get at it. Don't get frustrated and be persistent. "Eighty percent of new sales are made after the fifth contact, yet the majority of sales people give up after the second call."

Wish me luck!

Poppin' My Blog Cherry

Lady V here...

Let me get you up to speed. This is my life at this moment:

• I am 23
• I live at home
• I graduated college, got an amazing job, and then got laid off due to budget constraints
• I started interning at a booking/management company that has asked me to join their team and start a whole new branch of the company, for which I have a strong passion for, from the ground up. The trick = it's paid entirely on commission
• I have my debts, but I'm also blessed with helpful parents and grandfather
  

  
  

But I don't want their help. I'm attempting to do this on my own. I'm single after being with my first boyfriend ever for 4 years. I'm at the point in my life where I want to focus on ME. Unfortunately, that doesn't come naturally for me.

I want to use this blog to be help accountable for my actions and bring you all along with me! Therefore, here are my top three focuses (I like listing things...and I'm a nerd)

1. Taking this new career opportunity and rockin' the shit out of it! While making the kind of money I need to save for my future.
2. Lose weight! I am currently -23 lbs since starting to focus on my diet and exercise at the beginning of the summer. I'm a big girl (but sexy!), so this number could and should be higher, so I decided to punish myself. Which brings me to number 3...
3. No sex until I'm -40 lbs :) This is mostly a self-control test for myself. I want to stick to something that I promise to myself for once, and use something, that shouldn't be abused anyway, as a punishment/reward.

My "homework" for my "job" (which I still find weird calling a job since I haven't made any money yet) is to research cold calling. Something that somewhat terrifies the hell out of me, but is going to prove beneficial in making money (goal #1) Therefore, bring it!