It's cold in the Arctic

It's also cold in Phoenix! Here I am at the lovely Crowne Plaza Phoenix, enjoying the free wireless in their lobby, and everyone is walking around complaining about the cold and wind. It was also quite wintery in California when I left yesterday (cold by LA standards, not Wyoming standards) - but the crystal blue skies and the hint of wood burning stoves (only a hint - LA is NOT known for its working fireplaces) and the nippy wind is all quite acceptable. Winter (okay, maybe it's more FALL) weather makes me nostalgic for childhood. 'Cause dammit, I had a nice childhood. Sledding is COOL. Snow angels ROCK. And frozen fingers wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate is HEAVEN (yes, I am an atheist and I know there is no heaven, but the concept of heaven - angels singing, perfect peace and acceptance, lovely floating on clouds... THAT'S HOT CHOCOLATE on a winter day). Oh man - dunking toast into hot chocolate! I haven't done that in years!!!!

Whew. Anyway, here I am in Phoenix. And it's cold.

Tonight we head for Tucson. I haven't been there since I was married to that guy. Erin's dad. Right, Dan. We visited his brother there. I really don't remember anything other than I liked the way she (brother's wife) had "pickled" her furniture with white paint. And that they had a swamp cooler that didn't seem to do much cooling.

They are talking to me about a different job at work (but they are also talking to other people - like Hank). Not sure how I feel about it. We have this thing that is the NNA's baby - it's called ENS - Electronic Notary Seal. Basically, we're trying to get the nation to move towards electronic notarizations. We are trying to position ourselves as the primary provider of both the seals and the national registry (real time proof of a notary's status)and even state registries. We've already established our presence in Pennsylvania - got them on board, conducted a massive test with four county recorders who were the first in the nation to accept publically recordable notarized documents via electronic means AND store them electronically. It is now statewide in PA and CA has begun it's tests in two counties. But there are hard days ahead for this strategy. We have to get states to alter, ammend, add to existing legislature and we have to get industries interested in functioning this way. Which means we have to prove convenience, security, need, ease, and technological readiness.

So far we haven't been excessively successful. We have about three people who try to cover THE NATION. It's just too much. So they approached me to see if I woulod be interested in talking to them further about taking on a business development/liaison type role. Still some travel - but not quite as burdensome. Money might be a bit less. And I would work under a guy I am NOT fond of... But it could turn into a hugely influential position. Like, nationally influential. Which is tempting to the old ego.

What do you think? I should point out that I am not 100% on board with ENS myself. The NNA has yet to prove TO ME that ENS is fully needed and currently viable. There are some very interesting quirks that still need to be worked out.

For those of you who are tut tutting me for blogging when I should be working, systems are down at the office so I can't log in to do the work I need to do - like updating my registration list for the afternoon session or responding to e-mail...

But I can do this for another 15 minutes before I have to head back to the seminar attendees!

I think my radio is baaaaad

About to hit the road to Berkeley and I'm very sad that the brand new radio in the Tucson seems to be weak. And by weak, I mean weak. I don't seem to have the same strong signal the Honda radio used to get. And I always thought THAT radio was weak... Maybe they put the antenna away when they were painting? Except, aren't antennas part of the windows now? I guess I better look.

Lots of traveling in my near future. Off to do a couple of seminars, pick up Erin and then drive back down to LA, pick up Mom and Pat and drive to Phoenix. I refuse to think about all of the crazy traffic I will undoubtedly encounter.

Battlestar Galactica is an amazing show. Veronica Mars has let me down. Vincent D'Onofrio should date me. And I'm outta here.

Oy, My Head.

I'm having one of "those" days. When I got home from Florida the lease renewal notice had arrived. He is raising our rent another hundred dollars. And that's if we sign the lease. If we don't, he's going to charge us an extra $250 a month to go month-to-month. Which really sucks. I know that our apartment is worth the money he wants to charge. And I love having the laundry right here inside. I DON'T want to ever go back to relying on a laundromat. And I like having a garage - lame as this one is. But really, cannot start paying $1700/month. Especially not when I want to scale back in case I have to take a position that pays less (traveling is taking its toll - I think I need to change - I think they may be firing someone from my group soon - maybe they'll offer me her position? HAH).

So glad we picked up a new car payment.

Argh.

Back to Craigslist where all of the apartments are UGLY and the only ones we can afford are numbingly dull and ugly and in fabo neighborhoods.

Tampa - Life in the Humid Lane

Ah, Florida. Hot, humid, and flat. I don't think I could live in a place without mountains - or at least big hills. Horizons without 'em just ain't natural.

I think my traveling days may have to end soon. Every time I hit the road, I get sick. Sometimes I just feel lousy, but other times it is full-on illness. This time it's a cold. Fortunately, I'm here with a Certified Instructor - he's doing all the speaking. I was alone for the first day in Ft. Myers and by the time I was done my voice was hoarse and cracking. Very attractive. And I know it is because I don't take care of myself so my body just shuts down on me when faced with travel and bad eating and messed-up sleep schedules (have I told you how much I hate getting up early on the east coast?).

Now, before you jump in, Bruce, and tell me how much better it would be for me in Arizona, you should know that I have been doing my research - that path to a teaching credential that was so attractive to me? Doesn't really exist. Meaning, it exists in theory, but no schools are actually willing to hire someone under that program. So that plan appears to be out. Plus, Jen seems to have realized how much money she actually makes up there in Dubois...

I expressed interest in a different position at the NNA - the department manager interviewed me but I could tell that he wants someone with REAL experience in the exact job - not someone with just a good brain. I understand why he feels the way he does - I just don't know what to do about MY situation. I like my benefits there. I like my 401K and medical and all the time off I have accrued - but seriously, when I am on the road I start to believe that I am cancer-ridden, diseased, and on the brink of death. And there are NOT many positions I would be interested in at the NNA. And I don't know how much credence to put into the rumours of lay-offs and the hints that they are trying to phase out live seminars (apparently they want to move to webinars). It could all just be talk.

I could be all talk.

I probably am all talk.

Maybe I just need more prozac.

I'm going to a tea house lunch type o' thing tomorrow with Ya-Lei and Nicole. That will be very, very nice. But it will remind me how little I like my current co-workers. Well, most of them. Some are good peeps. But there isn't a Nicole or Ya-Lei among them.