#30 - Bizhub

An all-in-one machine that copies, scans, faxes - sounds like a winner, right? Not always... I have spent more time unclogging this beast than I care to think about. Seriously, I think I could be a tech for the copy machine company at this point because I know this machine and its components all too well. I have temp. help on M/W/F and guess what she spends a lot of time doing? Printing - that's right, good guess! But today is Thursday...lucky me. Feel free to share your work-day woes. I'd love to hear them!

#29 - What do you do?

Several people have asked me this but I don't know if they know or really understand (which I'm assuming they really want to know the answer to since they asked) so here it goes -

I am the Marketing Manager for the South Coast Inland Empire Division of D.R. Horton, largest national builder for the past 7 years! My actual duties include:
1.) updating our community webpage (http://www.drhorton.com/corp/DivisionSearch.do?divisionid=25)
2.) touring community sites and making recommendations to increase foot traffic (if you went to the link above you'll see my properties are spread out all over southern CA = lots of driving)
3.) working with our ad agency on campaigns - includes media schedule (radio, TV, newpaper, magazines), unique URLs, on-site promotions
4.) opening & closing new communities - includes coordination with interior designers on model interior furnishings as well as sign companies for on & off-site signage
5.) working on collateral materials for the sales offices: brochures, flyers, price sheets, special event pieces

That's just a snippet. It's a fun job - no day is ever the same. I'm in the office mostly but prefer working in the field. I occasionally work weekends (ex. Saturday public grand opening of a new community). Challenges include tracking sales from marketing efforts, dealing with sign damage/graffiti, coming up with innovative ideas to help reach sales goals, lack of communication with those working in the field (I rely on my eyes in the field!), volume of work - we have 20 actively selling communities!

#28 - PINK EYE

If you never had pink eye, I hope you never get it. I woke up with it on Christmas morning, eye crusted shut. Went to the walk-in clinic the next day and got drops but my eye continues to itch like crazy, run and is swollen; there's also a good amount of sinus pressure on my left side. The super unflatering picture below was taken just after I removed an ice cube wrapped in a paper towel from my eye - it is the only way I can keep myself from scratching it. (Sidenote: I just had to get up and grab a tissue because my eye won't stop running.) I hate being a work w/o eye make-up; a co-worker just stopped by my office to tell me I look baked. Nice. Also, I know I am overdue for some eyebrow shaping but the last time I went they got SO thin and right now I don't think anyone should get near my eye. Without medical treatment, the internet says it'll run it's course in 7-10 days. I'm at day 5 with treatment...waiting...keep washing your hands, use hand sanitzer and hope you never get this.

#27 - Merry Christmas!

Christmas greetings and good wishes from Lola and Tobey!

#26 - Christmas Pig Out

Here are the tables in just one of our office's kitchens - they are COVERED in goodies! Some of them homemade, some not. Check out the massive gold box of See's candy on the far table - it has four 1 lb. boxes of chocolates in it. The items covering the tables change many times over the course of a day. It's no wonder I feel like a blimp (or that I've swalled one), I can't walk by the tables without grabbing a little something to snack on. I could completely avoid the kitchen but curiosity of what might have landed on the table since the last time I passed by keeps me reeled in.

#25 - Two dogs are better than 1.

Here the dogs are on their bench in the living room enjoying raw hide bones. Sometimes Tobey likes to drop his bone right in front on Lola then chase her around to get it back.

Below is a pic of both dogs in one bed. They are both snugglers (sorry for the tight cropping but it's right next to the toilet - the dogs are currently staying in the bathroom when I'm at work, at least until the kitchen gets done)!

#24 - Lui turns 35!

Went out on Saturday for Lui's b-day (which was really yesterday)! Here are friends, Marissa & Tony.

Hit Joe's Crab Shack for drinks and appetizers, followed by Shamrock for more drinks then Garlic Jo's for dinner - SO good! Here are Autumn & Kevin, Lui's long-time pals.

After dinner we tried out 333 which was too crowded so we opted for The Harp where we danced for hours and the live band sang Happy Birthday to Lui - so much fun!!