August 7, 2012

Can't wait to crawl into bed tonight!

I'm happy to be back in the quiet desert after several busy days in the BIG city. When I got to the casita, I could tell Rose was happy to see me, but Roz is another story. It took her about 20 minutes to come out from under the bed. I guess she was finishing her nap and didn't want to be bothered.

Again the plane was packed, but this time it was cold inside. Fortunately I had an isle seat and wasn't squished in the middle.

Today I'm creating lots of emails that recap what I did in Houston the past five days. Tonight I'm going to relax in a tub bath (no tub baths in Houston) and then sleep with the windows open under the ceiling fan. Sleep well!

August 6, 2012

I'd like to find this bag and take it back to
Santa Fe with me, but I'm not sure I have time.

It's really not that late (10:30 p.m.), but I'm so tired. I think the heat in Houston has taken it out of me, or maybe it's all the running around I've done since last Friday morning.

Today I had a doctor's appoint to check on the progress of my ankle. It's still swollen and discolored. Although I was hoping to be released by the doctor today, I'll be back in his office in a month. In the meantime I have a new prescription for physical therapy. I hope I can find a doctor in New Mexico who will take a prescription from a Texas doctor the physical therapy. After the doctor's office I went to meet with a client before rushing home, cleaning the kitchen, and hosting the Women of Wine auction committee meeting. Not nearly as many attendees as I was hoping for, but at least some people came. Then it was off to dinner at Sandy and Dave's house. It's always a pleasure having dinner at their house because Sandy is such good cook.

Today I'm creating an agenda for my auction committee meeting. Let's see, what did we do last year and how do I make this year different and more exciting? I'll think about that tomorrow. For tonight, I'm signing off.

August 5, 2012

The birthday boy, Alex, with Dr. Mc, some
unknown dude, and #1 son-in-law Nick.

Yes, the weather was hot last night, and so was the party I planned. The sliders from Bernie's Burger Bus were so yummy. If you ever see the truck parked in Houston, treat yourself. Not only do they make the burgers, but also the chips and all the fixin's. Not to be out done, What's Up Cupcake was busy serving a variety of sweet treats all night. I had a bite of Mr. B's carrot cake, as well as a lemon cupcake. Both were equally tasty.

When White Linen Night was over, we went to a party at Dr. Mc and #1 son-in-law Nick's house. Nick's brother Alex was celebrating his 30th birthday along with about 50 of his friends. There was also a Sweetness sighting, along with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Raff. I guess they are on-again. When Mr. B and I arrived around 10:30 p.m., we  just missed Nick and Alex's 80+ year old grandmother participating in a dance contest. I understand the video will soon be on YouTube. Can't wait to see the replay.

Today I'm creating dinner for friends who are coming over to play bridge. The grill master will work his magic on a pork tenderloin and I'm going to contribute a starch and salad. I guess I should also think about dessert. Maybe I'll find the cupcake truck!

August 4, 2012

The babies are in Santa Fe in the casita with Richard. Here's
a old  photo of Rose taking an afternoon nap, on her back.

Today would have been my father's 83rd birthday, but he died five years ago. I now read on Facebook about the deaths of friends' fathers. I remember how hard it was when my daddy died, so I tell my friends to do as I have done and that is keep the good memories of their fathers alive in their hearts. It works for me!

I had a hair cut at 11 a.m. this morning, then it was off to the grocery store to buy paper goods for White Linen Night. Now I'm sitting on top of the bed trying to keep the swelling down on my ankle before standing up for five or more hours tonight. It's nice and cool under the ceiling fan.

Today I'm creating finishing touches for the White Linen Night party I've been planning for a client/friend for months. Everything is in place. It should be really fun night, if somewhat hot.

August 3, 2012

Lunch yesterday with sister-in-law Susan Pettit and
niece Meagan Pettit. Good to catch up with them.

Yesterday, before I boarded the flight back to Houston, I had lunch with my sister-in-law (Susan Pettit) and niece (Meagan Pettit). They live in Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C., but had just flown into ABQ on their way to Santa Fe and then Denver. As luck would have it, I was leaving Santa Fe the same day, coming back to Houston, but we were able to meet in ABQ for lunch. It was good to get together and catch up with them, even though it was for just over an hour.

Today I had lunch with people I used to work with at American General and AIG. We try to  have lunch once a month, but it ends up being once a quarter. Also good to catch up with these ladies. Then I was off to a meeting about White Linen Night, which is tomorrow. Everything seems to be on track the the party I've planned for a client. It's always fun planning a party when the unknown is whether there will be 75 or 200 guests! Next it was off to the meet and greet with fellow Bayou City Art Festival board members and two potential board members. The margaritas were tasty and cold! Finally dinner with Marcus, Alle and Mr. B. After being on my feet from 11:45 a.m. until approximately 8 p.m., guess the size of my ankle?

Today I'm creating magic. I'm at home now with my foot propped up. Tomorrow will be another long day prepping for White Linen Night, but it's going to be a fun party! I love party planning!

August 2, 2012

Although it looks shady and cool outside the
Houston house,  reality is much different!

I made the drive to ABQ this morning for a flight back to HOU. This is the first time in years that I've been in HOU during August. The minute I walked outside of Hobby Airport I was struck by the reason I avoid my hometown at this time of the year: heat and humidity. I fussed at Mr. B for making me wait outside for him. By the time he arrived (35 minutes late) I was soaking wet.

It's weird to be here without Roz and Rose. My friend and super-hero Richard is staying in the casita with the girls. I warned him that Roz might not come out from under the bed – except to eat – the entire time I'm gone. Sure enough that's exactly where she was hiding when he went to the house to take the girls outside around noon.

Today I'm creating responses to emails and trying to finish an ad while in the midst of traveling. Atlas, it's not going to happen. When Mr. B and I got to the house from the airport, it was around 6 p.m. and still very hot! I had to strip down and have a nap while the energizer bunny was running around making noise. But all is right with the world right now after my nap and cooling down.

August 1, 2012

rBST. What the <bleep> is that?

While eating my yogurt this morning, I was puzzled by the packaging claim “Milk from cows not treated with rBST.” What? Apparently the copywriter who wrote this for Trader Joe’s Greek Apricot Mango Yogurt forgot a couple of key marketing rules, the first of which is don’t use jargon. How many consumers know rBST? Not me. So I went on a Google search. Come to find out (thank you, Wikipedia): Bovine somatotropin (BST) is a hormone produced by a cow's pituitary gland to regulate metabolic processes. Since 1994, it has been possible to synthesize the hormone and create recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) or artificial growth hormone. Interesting, but so what? Trader Joe's had me at Greek Apricot Mango Yogurt (yum). Why should/would the absence of rBST influence my purchase of the yogurt?

Second forgotten marketing rule: Sell the benefits of a product or service, not the features. Most people could care less about your products or services. They want to know what the product or service can do for them; how it will solve some problem or help them achieve some business or personal objective. Too often copywriters concentrate on the great features offered, but neglect to translate them into the real motives for buying. So what is the benefit of a rBST-free yogurt? Simply: Health of the animals. And how will the health of the cows solve some problem or help me achieve some business or personal objective? Since I'm a caring human being, not harming animals is a personal objective. To (hopefully) drive home my point, wouldn’t you be more excited to purchase the yogurt if the package labeling stated that no animals were harmed in the making of the yogurt, rather than if you read milk from the cows was not treated with rBST? I rest my case, except to say that actually it’s not the milk that is treated with rBST. In truth, the cow is injected with the hormone so it will produce milk for a longer period of time. But truth in advertising is a subject for another day.

Today I’m creating an ad for a quarterly publication. I took into consideration the marketing rules discussed above. It just wouldn’t be prudent of me to criticize a peer for not following the rules if I did’t follow them myself.