Many years ago I was working at a local Rehabilitation Center. It was my very first Director of Nursing position. I was 24. Promoted young. Idealistic. Optimistic. Unrealistic….. but motivated.
There was another Lisa who worked with me. She was an Occupational Therapist who worked in the Rehab Clinic.
One day, we came to work and there was a girl at the door who met us with black ribbons and asked us to wear them on our lapels all day long in honor of Lisa’s 30th birthday. Black ribbons.. because she turned 30 and we were helping her mourn her youth. Later that day, we were all invited down to the Rehab Clinic for a pot luck lunch, in honor of Lisa’s birthday.
We got down to the Clinic and were presented with a fabulous buffet of great food that people brought in for the occasion. Sandwiches, Chips, veggies, various side dishes and desserts . . . all carefully laid out in a buffet line. All arranged inside a large wooden coffin lined with black fabric.
Lisa, of course, was wearing all black.
Yes, folks who work in health care have an odd sense of humor, at times. It’s what gets us through day, ya know.
When someone mentions the famous ‘5-minute install’ in reference to installing the WordPress software - either in a blog post or, say… in a book… they are referring to the time it takes to install the software itself.
They are not referring to the time it takes to:
- Investigate computer systems and do a price comparison on different systems
- Decide on the exact computer you want to buy
- Purchase the computer
- Set up the computer
- Install FTP software
- Purchase and set up your domain name registration
- Obtain a web hosting provider
- Figure out how to use FTP in conjunction with your web hosting services
I’m just sayin’.
BTW - I finally upgraded this blog from 2.3.x to the latest 2.5.1 and it went extremely smooth. *happy*
Earlier this year, I had a designer drop off the face of the earth. She is an extremely talented, and respected designer and I’m very sad to lose her. She worked with me at E.Webscapes for four years. During her time, her work was always stellar, customer service above par and work ethic beyond reproach.
A few months ago, she just disappeared without a word. She didn’t just vanish - - she left, in her wake, seven projects in various stages of completion. Some almost completely done… some only halfway done…. some just started. Seven of them. One, I had already paid her in full for. Some, I hadn’t paid her for, yet (thankfully).
I tried, in vain, to get in touch with her. I tried every single email I had for her. I even called — international long distance calls to Hong Kong (cha ching!), several times - to no avail! I begged. I pleaded. I put myself on the line.
After several weeks, she did get in touch with me - on February 7, 2008, after about a month of trying to get a hold of her. She apologized several times - - sorry she let me down, sorry she put me in such a spot and promised to deliver and get right on those projects and see them through to completion.
SOBCon ‘08 is looming large - if ONLY I could go! Time is my enemy, but I shall prevail! Over the past few months, I have been working towards a few changes in life to make room for.. well, everything! This meant giving up some vices, scaling back in a few areas and practicing the word ‘No’ a few more times than usual (sorry Michael, you were the first victim, please forgive 
To that end, last week I did a post about my SOBCon ‘08 registration. With everything I have on my plate at the moment, I don’t want to repeat the last year when I didn’t have time to breathe - - scaling back on a few things became a priority. I’m giving away my $450 SOBCon ‘08 registration to someone who will get as much out of the even as I had hoped to. Giving it away makes me feel good - like I’m investing in a community that has given me so much.
This is just a quickie…I don’t have a lot of time but wanted to share. Today, for me, has truly been a day of complete hell. I apologize for being sparse with the details… just believe me when I say it.
My lingering thought for today, and the running theme throughout my life for the past several months is love. Love of the unconditional kind.
To love, unconditionally, means to love - no matter what. The person receiving your unconditional love should have no doubts about your love.. and along with it the very strong reliance that you will be there for them… no matter what.
No matter what.
You can say that you love someone unconditionally. It’s so easy to say. But when it is put to the test.. you never really know. When things go wrong - - you find out, right quick.. and to have that unconditional love put to the test and verified.. well, its kind of empowering.
If you’re interested, I was recently interviewed by Matt Craven on the BlogHerald. I talk design, blogging, WordPress For Dummies, designers I admire and some advice for new/up and coming designers.
I worked with Matt a few years back when I did the design for his site BlogNetworkWatch. He has since sold that site to Splashpress Media and now blogs regularly at the Blog Herald. Matt and I re-connected recently, via Twitter.
Thanks Matt!
I had hoped to be able to attend the SOBCon ‘08 conference in Chicago this May. I had heard SO many great things about SOBCon ‘07 that I really wanted to go this year. I purchased my registration back in March and planned my schedule so that I could attend.
Then came the wrench (isn’t there always one??). Among several other professional and personal obligations that I have going on right now - I heard back from my editors at Wiley Publishing. A few weeks ago, I submitted my proposed revisions and Table of Contents for the Second Edition of WordPress For Dummies. They’ve gotten back to me and have not only enthusiastically accepted my proposal - but have confirmed their intention to go ahead with the Second Edition, starting immediately!
I have, roughly, 2.5 months to get it done! Judging by my last ‘go round’ with writing a book - I’m going to need all the spare time I can grab onto over here.. which means that SOBCon ‘08 is, sadly, out the window.
