Prepare for Life - Buy a Stapler

At my school, and almost every other place I have worked, finding and keeping a stapler is like panning for gold. Why is that? When I went off to college my mom gave me a survival gift basket of must-have supplies. In it she included a stapler. Little did I know that she was giving me insights into life in the real world.

I kept that industrial strength stapler until 2008 - over 15 years - and then foolishly left it in London. What was I thinking? It felt like just too much to pack up that stapler which I had carefully shlepped out to the UK. Perhaps I was inspired to leave it behind as a parting gift as finding office supplies in the UK was just as difficult as staplers in the US. Hopefully it has found a good home.

Reading Strong Intuition

Since I've been teaching Meyers-Briggs for about a year now, the various types are starting to become clearer to me. Now, when I am interacting with someone, I take the time to observe what they are telling me and how it is being told - visually, kinesthetically, and verbally.

What I'm recognizing in the process is my own intuition, which, I suppose, is what allows me to be so observant. I never really understood what it meant to say, "my intuition tells me" and I still have a long way to go to fully understand. Intuition is seeing patterns and drawing conclusions. In the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, the opposite is sensing - using your five senses to take in and process information. Of course, most people are a mix of both.

My intuition is very strong and now I am learning to listen to it and responding. When I don't, my body and mind step-it-up and say to me, "take care of yourself." This was the case when I was living in the UK and had developed all kinds of phobias. It wasn't the UK itself that was causing these, it was my personal situation, being frustrated and feeling out of control. The conflict in my psyche was playing out. The more I tried to make myself OK with my situation, the more phobias I developed. As soon as I removed myself from the situation, the phobias disappeared.

This summer I have been somewhat hiding away, being introverted. Yes, I am extremely extroverted, but as one of my extroverted students pointed out, our type needs downtime. All the energy I am putting into teaching is demanding that I find balance in decompressing. At this point that is happening when I sit in front of the computer in the wee hours of the morning and the late hours of the night grading papers, creating lesson plans and responding to emails. Really, these are not great ways of relaxing my intuition tells me.

Earlier this week I had a strong reaction to a new friend's communications via email. We haven't known each other very long but we are developing strong rapport quite quickly. There was something "off" in the email and it impacted me. I was using my intuition, looking at our communication patterns, and my reaction was "something is out of sync." All week I let my intuition ponder my reaction. I kept expecting an email from my friend saying that something is wrong. When I did get an email, my friend told me they are having a difficult time this week. I knew I was recognizing a "blip" in the pattern. All I could do was respect their situation, where in the past I would have tried to solve it.
Now I head off to class where I am substituting for my co-teachers and will have 75 students to "read".

Three Years Later It Still Makes Sense

The Center for Cultural Innovation asked me to provide an article for their new website which will launch later this month. In looking through my existing articles, I found one about Board Commitment that we decided would fit the content of their site. They thanked me for being so "prolific" which I guess is another term for extroverted or living out loud.

The article we chose was first written when I lived in the UK and so it has spots of Queen's English. But otherwise, it is all me. In re-reading the article I was amazed at the clarity of my thoughts and how my approach to Board engagement and strategic planning still holds true three years later. When I wrote the article I had only completed a few strategic plans. Since then I have facilitated and created numerous ones and my original methodology still holds true. My approach is core to my belief in leading-together.

When the article publishes on the CCI website I'll include a link.

Letting Go and Holding On

This has been a week of letting go and holding on. Seems like a reverse sequence of events, but it makes sense. In canceling my UK trip I had an unexpected feeling of "letting go". The past was suddenly in the past instead of so closely tied to the present. I took notice and realized I was feeling more settled into California and the US when I let go of my trip. My apartment became more welcoming and my my eagerness to do what is right for me became more of a drive. I had been floating down the river, still lightly tethered to the past.

Then today, in our Saturday morning yoga class with Nancy Leigh-Smith at Alameda Yoga Station, I experienced healthy holding-on. The yogis in this class are a welcoming pool of support, providing an anchor for me whenever I am lost at sea. We practiced a stretch where we held hands with a fellow classmate and stretched as far back as we could while holding our joined hands in front of us and our other (deliberately not calling it free) hand behind us. Nancy asked me to demo it with her in front of the class and I instantly felt like we were figure skating partners. It was so much fun. She kept saying, I think you can go back further, you can pull harder.

Next I practiced the stretch with a partner and while I reached my hand back, another partner team, Jeff and Andy, were right there. Jeff and I instantly clasped hands and it became a four person stretch halfway across the room. It made us laugh and smile. We looked to see if we could include more classmates but we were too far away. However, we were all connected through our grasp of California.

Slowing Down

For the past three months I've been going at full throttle and the intensity is finally taking its toll. I'm craving a slow-down. The UK trip, that I was planning on starting this Friday, would have kept me going at breakneck speed and the uncertainty of it moving forward was becoming quite stressful. I've decided, or perhaps the Volcanic Cloud and British Authorities have influenced me, into deciding to call off the trip. I haven't been able to refund my tickets from Virgin Atlantic as of yet. I may just have to head out to the airport and do it at the check-in desk hours before the flight.

This past weekend I produced an gala dinner for the organization for which I am the Interim Director of Operations and Communications. It went extremely well. Out of 100 points I would give it a 95, which is an A in my grading book. But preparing and presenting that event, in combination with teaching two 8am classes, for which I keep getting up at 5am, has put me in the zombie zone. Plus, an extended evening of unexpected fun the night before the event was wonderful, but it added to the sleep deprivation.

Today I have taken it easy. Took a long mid-morning nap and feeling the benefits of fifty extra winks. Plus, I've scheduled a day at the Calistoga Spa and Hot Springs for myself next week. Yes, I am disappointed about not getting to the UK, London and Scotland, but I am feeling blood start to recurlate in my brain as I slow down the speed boat and get back onto my current time zone.

Physically Here and Virtually There

The holidays impact in ways you never expect. Since I don't celebrate Christmas and got all my cards and cookie baking out of the way, I thought that I had little stress this holiday season. But for the past three weeks I've been losing all kinds of things. First the iPhone and now I keep leaving the Blackberry places, as well as my sunglasses.

My hairdresser, Kathy, made an observation - I'm lacking focus. I thought about this and realized that I'm highly distracted. Yes, the spider bite does cause some distractions but it is more than that. It is being away from the UK and my former family - as well as being so far from my siblings and folks in the US. Yes, I have so many wonderful, amazing family and friends out here in the Bay Area, but Christmas and New Year's were something special to celebrate with my former in-laws. Gosh, divorce impacts you in so many ways, for so long. You may be letting go of something or someone that doesn't "work" but you also let go of relationships that do work when you end a marriage.

Today, when I was in a colleague's office, I noticed a watercolor painting of Edinburgh on his bookshelf. We talked about how beautiful the city is and the fun of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It brought warmth to my heart remembering all those special times I was there. At least I my heart is open and I can celebrate the love that was there for me.

Earlier today I was on a conference call with Martin, Leah and another colleague Lois. Leah and I were skyping from our Oakland homes while Martin and Lois were in London. How wonderful that we keep these long-distance connections and continue to collaborate.

So, although I may not be physically in the UK, I am at least there virtually.

One Year Anniversary

I have been back in San Francisco for one year, a full year, 365 days, 12 months. Honoring this moment is important for moving forward. This evening I will be sailing on the San Francisco Bay with some close friends - both old and new. What better way to get perspective?

The year was both fast and slow. Sometimes I can't believe I've been here that long and there are all those days between me living in the UK and now. Other times it feels like a blip on the radar screen of life. So much has changed, all for the better. Ultimately, I am living my dreams and reaching my goals. This week has been a bit emotional and I suspect that this milestone may be at the center.

Here's to savoring every minute of the next year, connecting with friends, building new relationships and getting creative.

Life is Good

Reflecting on my daily activities I've realized that my life is very
good. To be able to make a career in the arts is a dream. I consult
with dynamic individuals who inspire me daily and believe that my
approach to strategic planning allows them to reach their goals by
Leading-Together.

My provides me access to arts and cultural events every day of the
week. Plus, I can take mini-excursions any day of the week and
consider them work-related research without bending the truth.

Beyond the arts management consulting I am also able to keep connected
with my extended consulting team in the UK. Leah and I are starting a
new consulting job with Martin who is working with the UN.

Nurturing my inner-artist is also on the radar screen. One of my felt
pieces has been accepted into a show called The Many Faces of Frida
which opens July in Oakland. Now to get more photography into the
mix.

Getting in the UK Groove

As I get all my consulting projects and homework in order prior to my trip to the UK I am actually very calm about the biz-venture (new term for business adventure). Leah has already landed in London by now and I head out tomorrow afternoon with a direct flight from San Francisco to Heathrow. We meet up on Friday afternoon with our co-consultants Martin and Ann. Then let the adventure begin!

I now have a UK data plan for the crackberry so planning on blogging as I go. Stay tuned!

Preparing for UK Business Trip

In preparation for my business trip to England, Scotland and Wales at the end of February I needed to get in touch with my UK bank. Thanks to the ease of Skype I was able to seamlessly contact the bank by phone. Oh how lovely to hear the Glaswegian accent of the woman at the service centre. It was so familiar and I knew I was in good hands.

At the conclusion of our conversation the call centre woman, who had become increasingly excited throughout our call, (not because of my account balance), asked me where from the States I was calling. When I told her San Francisco I could just imagine the smile on her face and the gleam in her eyes. "Oh lovely, what is the weather like there?" I told her the truth, sunny and warm. "Oh bring some of that sunshine with you when you visit" was her response. I asked her about the snow they are experiencing today and she told me it had blanketed the entire UK but hoped it would melt before I got there. "I can use a little snow" I told her.

Holiday Photo Expedition

Images from my annual holiday card photo expedition taken yesterday on the Alameda-Oakland-San Francisco ferry. The day started with thick fog and ended with a perfectly clear sky. My favorite image is the one of the American Flag but in consideration of my UK friends I decided it was too go-go America for them.

2012 Olympics

A goal I've always had is to attend the Olympics either as a spectator or volunteer. I am pledging to be involved in 2012 in the UK in some way.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Do I Have an Accent?

Riding good old Ike to my neighborhood shopping center and nearly smashed into the security guard who was also on a bike.

Security guard "nice bike!"

Amy "thanks, it folds."

Security guard "nice accent!"

Amy "accent, what accent? Must be because I'm talking about my UK bike?"

Security guard (now looking at me all gaga) "Yeah, nice accent."

At this point I had to end the conversation before he proposed marriage or something more extreme although I can,t think of what that would be.

Giving Off a Friendly Vibe

This evening I think I was giving off a friendly vibe. After hanging at my new favorite cafe in the Mission, La Boheme (great decaf Chai lattes, casual atmosphere, filled with creative types and always a place to find my friend Andrew), I headed down to 24th Street BART station and started tapping away on my crackberry. An older, professional looking man approached and asked if he could sit next to me. I made space and continued my crack addiction while he pulled out his crackberry and started looking over my shoulder. I didn't know what to make of his actions so I kept an eye on him and noticed that he was comparing his crackberry to mine.

"You're Blackberry is so sleek" he said.
"It is the newest one - I got it on Monday." I responded.
"Oh it is so nice. Mine is not so nice. It is too big. But it is for work so I have to carry it around."
"This is an addiction - you can keep getting the latest and greatest ones - just look at people going crazy over the iphone." I commented.
"Yeah, I guess this one works for me. Oh, gotta go, that's my train. Nice chatting with you." He reaches over and gives me a nice pat on the shoulder.

This guy didn't try to pinch (British term for stealing something) my crackberry, he didn't try to pick me up, he just wanted to chat about our technology.

Then I got on the train, took a seat and pulled out my new book The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Michael Chabon. The woman in the seat next to me said.
"Ooh, do you like the book?"
"Just started it, on page 11 and good so far."
"I'm reading Salomon Rushdie. His latest book is fantastic."

On and on went our conversation and it extended into clothing, mortgages, Victorian lifestyles, and Alameda - where we both happen to live. The woman offered me a ride home and I said yes. Well, should could have tried to kill me or something crazy but I decided to take the chance. We chatted the entire way.

It is still a reverse culture shock to have people be so friendly to me after my time in the UK, especially on London's Tube where even if the person next to you is reading the same book as you no conversation is made. I love that folks from the San Francisco Bay Area are eager to make small talk and get to know people. In the past I would have shied away but now I'm "living out loud" and trying to connect to people. Seems worth the effort.

West Oakland on Fire

This weekend The Crucible, a fire arts organization located in West Oakland, presented their 8th annual Fire Arts Festival. To celebrate my friend Rachel's birthday we headed out with her husband David and took the opportunity to practice night photography. Because of my fancy camera I was considered "media" which was fantastic since I got a photo pass.

The scene was OTT (over the top as they say in the UK). We arrived at dusk and all was pretty mellow, except for the growing crowds. But as the sun set we were jolted into the evening by a HUGE blast of fire. That pretty much set the tone - stand back from the roaring flames. Just writing about it has set my heart racing. Rachel, as always, was fearless.

As for the photography opportunity, we were not disappointed. Our intention was to get photos of the BART trains passing overhead. We were continuously amazed that this festival was happening, in Oakland, just feet from BART.

The image with the stilt walkers is very strange. Notice David in the right corner and a little bit of Rachel.

Images: The Crucible Fire Arts Festival 2008

Seamless Business Across Time Zones

Moving back to the States from London in early May one of my primary goals was to be able to continue consulting in both countries. Six weeks later I'm happy to say that its going well. Yesterday I proved it to myself when I called a program participant in Bristol, England to discuss content for a leadership session she was unable to attend. Of course she could tell I was American by my accent but she had no idea I was calling from Washington, DC. I walked her through the powerpoint presentations and answered her questions about content.

At the conclusion of our conversation she said, "I look forward to meeting you at tomorrow's session." She giggled delightfully when I told her that I wouldn't see her there because actually I am in DC and my associate Martin would be facilitating the session. "Oh my, what time is it in DC?" When I told her 8am she giggled more.

There are a few reasons I can make this happen. Technology of course is top of the list. I am using Skype's voice over internet for calls to other skype users as well as to phones. Email allows me to arrange meetings and share documents regardless of time zone. And then my ability to speak British English is huge. Because I know the lingo of The Third Sector in the UK and how British people use English I'm able to communicate clearly. Plus, of course, the exotic factor of an American voice and way of thinking keeps me interesting.

Trying to Fly the Friendly Skys

Managed to get out of the flat this morning with three giant suitcases thanks to the help of my yoga buddies. Splurged on a car to the airport with Simone and arrived to find that my United flight had been cancelled.

I wondered why I couldn't check-in online last night. You would think that the airline would have come up with some alternative travel solutions for their stranded passengers, but no. A flight full of people had the pleasure of waiting on line to each be told that there are no flights out and we'd have to come back tomorrow.

Simone went ballistic (that's what friends are for). Come on folks, it is only 10am and there are no flight options? After a seven minute circular conversation with the ticket agent I managed to get a seat on a Virgin flight arriving in DC just a few hours after my United flight would have landed. The entire negotiation experience was bizarre.

Amy: Is there a later flight today?
Agent: Computer says no.
Amy: Is there another airline?
Agent: Computer says no.
Amy: Is there another airport in DC I can fly into?
Agent: Computer says no.
Amy: Is there another city I can fly into?
Agent: Computer says no.
Amy: What is United going to give if I take that flight tomorrow - any vouchers?
Agent: You will need to go to the website, fill out a form, mail it to United corporate offices, they will consider your request and get back to you by mail.
Amy: What? This isn't my fault.
Agent: It is a mechanical difficulty and it is your choice to stay here at the airport and look for another flight.
Amy: You're telling me that you are going to tell the next 40 people in line that they have no options? I feel really sorry for you. My heart goes out to you, but I'm not leaving the airport and coming back tomorrow.
[Repeat 2 more times the above circular conversation, seven minutes pass.]
Amy: Is there another airline I can fly?
Agent: Virgin has some seats on their 5.30pm flight and can get you into DC at 8.55.
Amy: Fantastic! Sounds like a solution to me.

Do most people just take the first "no" as an answer and they just wait until you've proven you can endure their seven minute test - and then they find a solution?

So, we move over to Virgin and I now had to weigh my ginormous bags, already knowing that I'll have to pay for the extra one. Turns out that one is 8kg over weight. Simone and I head over to the repacking area - clearly this happens all the time, and begin to re-shuffle contents. We were not alone. The area was filled with Americans. All of us started to bond over our overweight issues. I was able to even out the contents so that each suitcase had the maximum weight amount. Turns out that the offending weight in the most-overweight bag was a cookbook by Nigella Lawson, the UK's own voluptuous domestic goddess, which made me and Simone laugh.

Bags repacked we move towards the check-in. All is good except that the woman wanted to weigh my carry-ons. Of course they are grossly overweight since I'm carrying all my worldly possessions. We did some quick thinking and magically got them down to the appropriate sizes. Walking away with our hands full of the extracted materials we begin to re-loaded the carry-ons with their former contents. Two can play at this game.

Brighton Beach

Pauline and I took a day trip to out to Brighton yesterday, an adventure we've been planning for weeks. It was a typical English spring day - cold, windy and no sun, perfect for exploring this seaside holiday destination. Taking the day off from work makes every hour a special treat and the day was over in a blink of the eye.

Although I haven't been to Brighton Beach in the US I imagine it is much like its UK namesake. There was a boardwalk, plenty of fish and chip shops, tarot card readers, cheap jewelry stores, and "art galleries". However one big difference was the beach. The Victorians didn't like sand and so the beach was filled with small rocks instead. Actually it made a nice change as the rocks were filled with all kinds of shells and unusual seaweed that got stuck each time the tide went in and out. We even found a seahorse (which I wish I had taken a photo of but didn't). It was so beautiful even though it was dried up. Pauline has it for safekeeping.

The above photo is of a burnt out boardwalk that Pauline tells me is surrounded by much controversy - some people loved it and some hated it. I like how it looks now, like a skeleton, but I imagine it is not a lovely piece on the horizon when the sun is shining and you just want to enjoy the view.
Pauline loves scary carnival rides and as you know I don't. We were able to find one that we both enjoyed - one of those twisting seats that turns as the ride spins around and you listen to bad 80s pop music. It was grand! We laughed and screamed like the teenage girls in the cart next to us. What fun!
We ended our day with afternoon tea and scones at the Grand Hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. What an indulgence. Nothing compares to fresh scones, clotted cream and raspberry jam with a hot cup of peppermint tea while sitting in over sized fancy chairs watching the waves.

Pauline took a good photo of me at the beach and I love this portrait of her pouring tea.

Counterfeit Peeps

As fellow Peeps lovers know this is the time when these yummy treats are ripe for picking and popping. I was trying to explain the joy of peeps to my UK work associates and I could tell they just weren't feeling the love. Unfortunately I ate the box my sister sent over for my birthday so I can't show them a sample.

People either love or hate peeps. There's nothing in between. To prove my theory I asked our current American intern if she likes Peeps - her immediate reaction was to scrunch up her nose and say yuck. I don't begrudge her since I know they are gross. That doesn't mean I can stop eating them.


Searching online for Peeps info I found this fantastic product: Marshmallow Peeps Maker. Unfortunately it seems to be discontinued as this WalMart site says not available online and not available in stores. Maybe peeps year-round would over-saturate the market. Is there a black market for peeps? Counterfeit peeps? Whamo!

Election night

Photos from my visit to the Democrats in the UK polling place last night. What a scene. So many Americans. So many drinks - I've never seen poll workers drink before. Adds a relaxed party element to the experience. We had paper ballots and were asked to step on stage and put our ballot in the box for the candidate we voted for. Not exactly a private way to vote. No one seemed to be paying attention to the voting - it was the see and be seen element that made the buzz.