Monday, February 7, 2011
Quality Time Revisited
If you read Friday's post, you'll recall I was going blind from sitting in front of the computer all day and I am. And you might remember I was farming out the busy work, like accounting and web design, to spend more time on the fun stuff. And just now it occurred to me that I could eliminate even more computer time by posting only once a week. Jotsalot Media is now posting only on Fridays.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Virgin's White Flag or SWM Seeks Help
On Monday Jotsalot Media was recovering from a weekend's worth of pondering how to out Norma Timpkins without really outing her and why I was going blind. Not yippee-I'm-getting-a-dog blind, but I-finally-get-how-Superman-fooled-Lois-with-glasses blind. I sense you're not drowning in my deep thoughts or even considering hooker shoes to keep your socks dry, but these are my thoughts.
You've read what I did with Norma, now here's how I'm addressing the blind thing. I quit. And it's a victory quit like when you stop being polite and ask to use the bathroom. That's the kind of quit I'm talking about.
Ms. Marigold and Mr. B (aka The Minions) are amazing at their jobs and can't wait to get to them. Sure they look good hanging around the reception area exchanging glances, but that's not what they were hired to do. Just like I wasn't born to spend thousands of millions of hours sitting in front of a computer trying to build a website when there are people who enjoy doing it. They enjoy it and I pay them to have fun. It's the circle of life at it's happiest. So, here's how it's going to work around here from now on: The Minions will minion, I'll create and hire accountants, web designers and personal trainers to do what they do. Everyone is happy and I'll know whether or not it's Athena with highlights (looks good) or Lois in heels.
You've read what I did with Norma, now here's how I'm addressing the blind thing. I quit. And it's a victory quit like when you stop being polite and ask to use the bathroom. That's the kind of quit I'm talking about.
Ms. Marigold and Mr. B (aka The Minions) are amazing at their jobs and can't wait to get to them. Sure they look good hanging around the reception area exchanging glances, but that's not what they were hired to do. Just like I wasn't born to spend thousands of millions of hours sitting in front of a computer trying to build a website when there are people who enjoy doing it. They enjoy it and I pay them to have fun. It's the circle of life at it's happiest. So, here's how it's going to work around here from now on: The Minions will minion, I'll create and hire accountants, web designers and personal trainers to do what they do. Everyone is happy and I'll know whether or not it's Athena with highlights (looks good) or Lois in heels.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Who is Norma Timpkins?
I was listening to my Mott the Hoople CD hoping for blogging inspiration and, not hearing anything I could mangle into a post, I decided to answer the question a lot of you are asking: Who is Mott the Hoople?
No, but for some of you, Norma Timpkins is the Loch Ness monster, Big Foot and Commitment rolled into a great big WHO? She's a real person or a facet of a real person who wishes to remain private.
I met "Norma Timpkins" at a poetry reading at the Children's Museum in Carson City about 8 years ago. Standing on the stage in a blue cardigan and red turtleneck looking like a Talbot's cover, she read "Our Love is Like a Slug," "Magic Caterpillar Fingers" and ended with "Kisses Like Heaven Eats Peanut Brittle." Brilliant. We were the only two people in the room that got it was a joke and we bonded. She's single, 77 and lives in Wells.
And Mott the Hoople was a fantastic band from the 70s.
No, but for some of you, Norma Timpkins is the Loch Ness monster, Big Foot and Commitment rolled into a great big WHO? She's a real person or a facet of a real person who wishes to remain private.
I met "Norma Timpkins" at a poetry reading at the Children's Museum in Carson City about 8 years ago. Standing on the stage in a blue cardigan and red turtleneck looking like a Talbot's cover, she read "Our Love is Like a Slug," "Magic Caterpillar Fingers" and ended with "Kisses Like Heaven Eats Peanut Brittle." Brilliant. We were the only two people in the room that got it was a joke and we bonded. She's single, 77 and lives in Wells.
And Mott the Hoople was a fantastic band from the 70s.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Dreams: Taste Like Chicken?
I have a beer's worth of updating because I've done about a beer's worth of work at Jotsalot this week.
You know how they, parents mostly, tell you not to quit your day job but you do anyway and now live in their basement which is why they told you not quit your job in the first place? That has nothing to do with me or Jotsalot or Timpkins and her fully functioning fax machine which has been sending me warm scrolls of editing all week. What does concern me and The Minions is retirement. It's been taking up a lot of my thinking lately leaving limited lobe capacity for editing, website building, illustrating and, oh yeah, WORK. Why am I suddenly concerned about retirement? I think it has something to do with stalking classmates on Facebook and seeing how secure they look with their houses, law partnerships and children. My God they've even bred successfully!
And here I am weeks into a business wondering about it all. I have complete resolution and confidence in the business, but sometimes I think I just need a little "like everyone else."
Okay, my beer is making that barely splashy sound when I shake it and thus ends another week at Jotsalot Media LLC.
You know how they, parents mostly, tell you not to quit your day job but you do anyway and now live in their basement which is why they told you not quit your job in the first place? That has nothing to do with me or Jotsalot or Timpkins and her fully functioning fax machine which has been sending me warm scrolls of editing all week. What does concern me and The Minions is retirement. It's been taking up a lot of my thinking lately leaving limited lobe capacity for editing, website building, illustrating and, oh yeah, WORK. Why am I suddenly concerned about retirement? I think it has something to do with stalking classmates on Facebook and seeing how secure they look with their houses, law partnerships and children. My God they've even bred successfully!
And here I am weeks into a business wondering about it all. I have complete resolution and confidence in the business, but sometimes I think I just need a little "like everyone else."
Okay, my beer is making that barely splashy sound when I shake it and thus ends another week at Jotsalot Media LLC.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Taking a Spin Class
On Sunday afternoon we do a lot of what I call "big thinking" here at Jotsalot. Now other people might call it strategic rationalizing or even napping, but I like big thinking. Real and promising ideas are generated and even written down on the Someday List of Grand Ideas so it really isn't time wasted so much as time unaccounted for. But enough about watching football with my eyes closed.
I've decided hiring out some of the art for the Timpkins books would be a good thing. If you are a photographer, illustrator or other and interested, please contact me for a list.
I've decided hiring out some of the art for the Timpkins books would be a good thing. If you are a photographer, illustrator or other and interested, please contact me for a list.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Meeting of The Minions
Today Jotsalot Media held its first Friday Where are we? meeting. I thought it would be a good idea to meet once a week over bagels and discuss where we are as a company. You know, are we meeting deadlines? does anyone have any suggestions or grievances? that sort of thing. The suggestions and grievances part was a strategic error on my part, but live and learn. For example, creative people can be sensitive not me personally, except sometimes I feel like my underwear has handles for the World's wedgie-giving convenience, but some around the office are. I thought they understood that me in my boxers was no different than Hef in his pajamas, but I guess not.
I think most of what goes on around here should be private so you'll have to wait until The Minions' tell-all book. Here's the where we are part
The illustrating of Timpkins' Wisdom book took a leap forward this week when we found out there's a photography studio available for hourly rental. That makes a number of ideas possible that were shelved due to space and lighting limitations plus it frees up layout/work space in the office.
Timpkins' first book should be off to the copyright office on schedule and the ISBN will be applied for at the same time.
We're still looking for someone to build our website and still considering hiring out some of the illustration work.
Hey, maybe that was the boring stuff. Hmm. . . You want to hear about Poppy's dirty little secret? She's working on a blog.
I think most of what goes on around here should be private so you'll have to wait until The Minions' tell-all book. Here's the where we are part
The illustrating of Timpkins' Wisdom book took a leap forward this week when we found out there's a photography studio available for hourly rental. That makes a number of ideas possible that were shelved due to space and lighting limitations plus it frees up layout/work space in the office.
Timpkins' first book should be off to the copyright office on schedule and the ISBN will be applied for at the same time.
We're still looking for someone to build our website and still considering hiring out some of the illustration work.
Hey, maybe that was the boring stuff. Hmm. . . You want to hear about Poppy's dirty little secret? She's working on a blog.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Out of the Closet
It was an interesting weekend for Jotsalot Media. I had a thought, which is always a good thing unless it's that one about the bus stop which is bad. But if you can think all the way back to Friday, or just scroll down and read, you'll remember I'd decided I need to get out of the offices a little more. On a couple different levels.
This is one.
This is one.
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