Happy Labor Day

Our home computer has been in the shop since August 4. The old HP is supposed to be back sometime this weekend with a new hard drive (it had to take a trip to Cleveland, the hard drive capital of the world, to get its new guts). So for the last three weeks, the whole family has used my work laptop at night to check email so blogging has been back burner.

Ro and Jackson are Up North (again!) salmon fishing with the Emme male clan. They were there last weekend too. Man, are they loving that boat.

I think Robar PR is going on the shelf. Since we were told China was out of the picture, I've come to the realization that I like having a one person firm but I am way, way maxed out on billable hours that I can do myself. I can't take a vacation or even meet a friend for lunch. So to grow the firm, I would have to hire a staff. I really don't want to be responsible for staff and all the responsibility that entails. So, I think it is time to go back to the agency life. I am very fortunate to have offers from both Mullen and Team Detroit so I'm debating this weekend. Both are very different. It's probably a good thing Ro is out of town cuz I'm kind of distracted.

Speaking of distracted, I blew through a pink light this morning on Jefferson right in front of three police cars that were there for the Belle Isle Grand Prix. After I cussed, I let out a "Lord, help me" and it worked. The cop pulled up next to me, asked me to roll down my window and told me "show some respect for the city and its residents" and left. God is good.

Cheers!

Drip, drip

I like rainy days.

Cow Tipping

I spent last weekend organizing the Grand Opening for an ice cream store in Royal Oak. What craziness...magicians, clowns, balloons, prizes, 30 foot inflatable cows, milk mustache photos, cow milking machines, six kids (including Hannah and Jackson) dressed as cows and carnival games. You name it...we did it. I even put my Mom to work on Saturday. The corporate office gave away free ice cream cones for three hours on Sunday. I had the hard job of telling people in line that it ended at 4:00. Man, you'd think that we were giving away gold.

I started at Crain on Monday. So now I'm at the Bridge all morning, Crain all afternoon and squeezing in my other clients when I can (mostly at night). I've got some good interviews set up for Crain so I'm hoping I'll be done there by the end of September. Interesting wrinkle in my world......I had a chat with the head of PR at Mullen in Boston. She offered me a Senior VP job to come back and run Detroit PR. It would be some GM advanced tech work and then some new business. I can essentially name my price. I'm thinking.....

Jackson finished his driver's ed class on Thursday. Now as soon as we can get him over to the Secretary of State office, he'll have his permit. He'll drive with us for 30 hours and then take a second class. He is really excited.

This is a big week for celebrations. Ro and I celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, my birthday is Saturday and my Dad turns 70 on the 29th. Now if I could only find the perfect gifts.....or the time to shop for them!

Inspiration

Hannah and I went to the Detroit Urban Craft Fair at the Majestic Theater yesterday. At first, Hannah let out a "I'm thirteen and I wouldn't be caught dead at a craft fair" groan. I convinced her this would be different and I was so right. Imagine all of one city's liberal artists with funky haircuts and mod clothing in one room at the same time. (For example, the volunteers wore capes and the room had a bar set up!) No wooden cutout crap here. Everything was original with an edge. I acquired a new purse and some homespun yarn for weaving. She bought a bracelet and a doo-hickey for her hair. We also found a perfect sock monkey baby outfit for a shower we're going to next week. Big fun. Rather than doing client work that needed doing last night, I finally got back to my loom and did some weaving. Felt great!

Dilemma

Working from project to project has been my MO since I went out on my own two years ago. So far, it has been a pretty good strategy.

I've been working really hard on the Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project for Ogilvy since April. I know our role is only a temporary one....once they get their permits they probably won't need a PR/ad agency any longer. At best, we thought it would last until the end of the year. It's been a big challenge....everyone hates the owner, lots of government intrigue, way too many lawyers, a client who has never done PR, etc. I've gotten them some pretty good coverage over the past few months. I'm at the Bridge every morning (their request).

Here's the problem...I got a call from Crain's last week. Bridget (who I hired 10 years ago) is leaving for another job. Keith asked if I could help out for the next month or so until they hire a new corporate communications director. I explained that I am at the Bridge in the AM and they said they'd be fine if I just worked 20 hours a week in the afternoons. I like the people at Crain's a lot and I'd like to help them out.

So, if I am at the Bridge in the AM and at Crain's in the PM, I'll be taking care of my other clients (mostly Ford and JWT) during the night shift and I will never be in the office. The last time I filled in at Crain's (at CDB), it took them three months to find a new person.

We have a big meeting with the Bridge on Wednesday. Maybe they'll fire us and it'll solve all my problems!

Computer-Less

We had a great time in Toronto. It was the annual "girl trip" and it was just what I needed. Good R&R and lots of fun with my Mom and Hannah. We took the train, saw a play featuring the music of Queen, witnessed 20 foot girl/guys in pink feathers on stilts, shopped a lot, went antiquing. got my toes painted a pretty pink (Hannah went for the teen green on her nails), stayed in a very hip hotel, ate great food and just relaxed. Perfect.

Hannah and I returned from Toronto yesterday to a bunch of goofy text on the computer. Should have known not to leave the guys alone with the technology. Usually, I can run the PC recovery program and fix her up....but not this time. I think it is a job for the Geek Squad. Hope they can get it recovered.

If you get a chance, check out my brother's blog, Molson Bike Tour (link is on the right). He jumped out of a plane over the weekend. So unbelievable!