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The reports of my death have been slightly exaggerated.
I’m not dead . . . but it has been a hell of a two weeks. In fact, that’s why I haven’t blogged. I had so much I wanted to blog about that I got paralyzed into inaction. I didn’t know where to start, so I didn’t start.
For instance, there was my roller coaster ride to the IABC Conference in Vancouver. The trip started with me getting bumped off my flight in Chicago, spending a night in an airport hotel with no clothes or toiletries, wiping out almost the entire contents of a minibar, ordering a $100 bottle of Cakebread Cabernet from room service, and sitting on the end of the hotel bed at 3 in the morning, completely naked, weeping uncontrollably over a M*A*S*H rerun.
(You know that dark-haired woman that runs to the helicopter at the beginning of the show, while that haunting theme song plays? I fell in love with her when I was 13, and I still sometimes get drunk and weepy, thinking about her.)
As bad as the trip began, it ended gloriously—with me sitting on a secluded beach in Vancouver, drinking local wine and watching the sun set, as my friend Ron Shewchuck, the Barbeque King of Canada, grilled racks of lamb and salmon and fed them to me.
At one point in the evening, Ron jumped in the ocean for a swim, and encouraged me to do the same. But since I didn’t have a suit, I would have had to go in naked. Normally, I wouldn’t have a problem with that—in fact, I love the idea.
But at this particular beach, there are regular seal sightings. In fact, entire families go there to look for seals.
And, given my pale, hairless body and bald, bullet-shaped head, I was afraid that if I went in, I would hear some kid yell to his mom: “Mommy, look at that gross seal. What’s the matter with it, Mommy? Why is it so much bigger and uglier than the other seals, and why is it so white?”
To which Mommy would say back: “Oh, that’s an albino seal, honey. It’s by itself because none of the other seals want to be near it. That’s what we call a ‘freak of nature.”
And, no matter how much self confidence I pretend to have, I couldn’t have dealt with that.
After Vancouver, I went to Washington, DC with Jim Ylisela and Mark Ragan, to teach the Advanced Writing and Editing class. And that is a whole separate blog item, because we stayed in a bed and breakfast with a crazy innkeeper who likes to sit outside his establishment and loudly harass the people who walk by.
I had one of my favorite nights ever with this guy (sitting with him outside and harassing the people who walked by), and he may be the greatest communicator I’ve ever met. I’ll tell you all about him tomorrow.
So . . . sorry for not posting for so long. I believe that if you’re going to have a blog, you have a responsibility to keep it up . . . and I failed miserably at that for the past two weeks.
But the good news is, I’ve got so many great stories to share . . . about employee communications, insane innkeepers, government communicators, flying, etc., that I’ll be blogging every day for a week.
Thank you for your continued patience.
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Feels like Total Recall. Er, Philip K Dick?
Actually, with Steve's example it's a bit scary --- standing at the urinal...
Comments (17)
Steve-
Glad you're back. I've missed your insight on communications and am looking forward to your upcoming posts.
Posted by Mark | June 20, 2006 11:39 AM
Posted on June 20, 2006 11:39
At last, our long national nightmare is over! Good to know you ain't dead, Steve.
By the way, one of my writers went to your DC seminar and came back raving. In a good way.
Welcome back!
Greg
Posted by Greg Marsh | June 20, 2006 12:29 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 12:29
The good news is that the albino seal is a protected species.
Glad you are back and we all feel your pain about being stranded at the airport.
Can't wait to read your next post.
Posted by t2ed | June 20, 2006 2:15 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 14:15
Glad you're back...we missed you! How was the Cakebread? What a great way to make up for being stuck at the airport. I'll have to remember that trick.
Posted by Jennifer Faircloth | June 20, 2006 2:25 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 14:25
Greg:
I didn't see anyone from Geiko on the list . . . I would have said hi. It was a pretty good group . . . this is a really fun seminar for me to do, because Mark and Jim are great, and I actually get to kick back and listen to them sometimes, instead of speaking for two days straight.
Jennifer, the Cakebread was unbelievable. I first discovered Cakebread five years ago, when I went up to Napa after a seminar, wandered in there not knowing anything, and met the owner out on the patio. I've been hooked every since . . . but I can only afford it once in a while. Actually, I can NEVER afford it, but after drinking seven drinks out of the minibar, I fooled myself into thinking I could afford it.
But it was worth every penny.
Steve C.
Posted by Steve C. | June 20, 2006 3:37 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 15:37
Steeeeeeeeeeve!
So nice to see you back...I was beginning to believe those awful rumors of you losing your mind and repeatedly running into walls at El Jardin's screaming about C.R.A.P. and "grin and grabs" and "they told me to reboot!"
Posted by Rebecca (token IT Goddess) | June 20, 2006 3:44 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 15:44
Rebecca:
Oh, those rumors are true. But I sobered up and came out of it.
Hey, have you ever heard of "The Geek Squad"? My computer crashed last week, and Cindy called something called The Geek Squad, who will do home visits to fix your computer.
ANd they were great!!
Steve
Posted by Steve C. | June 20, 2006 4:07 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 16:07
At last, my virtual drinking buddy returns. Welcome back, dammit. Don't be leaving us again - we might become politically correct or something (shudder).
Posted by Meredith | June 20, 2006 4:33 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 16:33
Steve,
I knew you were not dead since I saw you at the Advanced Writing and Editing seminar in D.C.
BTW, have you given further thought to the Italian beef sandwiches. I really think it could be a boon for you guys.
Posted by Mark D. | June 20, 2006 5:03 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 17:03
I just figured you were napping. For an extremely long time. You did mention you like to...
Posted by Amy | June 20, 2006 6:20 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 18:20
Translation: "I'm back, and the hangover is finally wearing off ..."
(I kid, of course.)
(Mostly.)
:D
Posted by DeAnna B | June 20, 2006 9:16 PM
Posted on June 20, 2006 21:16
Steve - yes I know about the Geek Squad...it's a Best Buy thing. At least it is over here, I think they have their own "stores" as well. They are supposed to know their stuff, I'm glad they were able to help you.
Posted by Rebecca (token IT Goddess) | June 21, 2006 8:25 AM
Posted on June 21, 2006 08:25
Steve:
Our rep at the DC seminar was Laura; five-foot-something, really curly blond hair. If she was concealing her identity to avoid association with me, well, I'd say that's a testament to her good judgment, wouldn't you?
Greg
Posted by Greg Marsh | June 21, 2006 11:14 AM
Posted on June 21, 2006 11:14
Steve wrote: (You know that dark-haired woman that runs to the helicopter at the beginning of the show, while that haunting theme song plays? I fell in love with her when I was 13, and I still sometimes get drunk and weepy, thinking about her.)
Yeah, I sometimes feel that way about Tattoo from Fantasy Island.
Eileen
Posted by Eileen | June 22, 2006 12:27 PM
Posted on June 22, 2006 12:27
Steve,
Thanks for the great course in D.C.
Also thanks for not mentioning the whole albino, naked seal thing while presenting. After partying with my cousin the night prior to the conference, I think that might have pushed my tremendous hangover induced headache right over the edge.
P.S. My coveted "Big Brain Award" is soaking as we speak and expanding daily. Never in my life did I imagiine that being able to define a heterogeneous IT environment would earn me fame and prizes.
Posted by Rob Patey | June 23, 2006 6:53 AM
Posted on June 23, 2006 06:53
Cakebread - Smakebread.
I've got Barbera d'Asti in my backyard. And Nibbiolo. And Barollo. For under USD$10 a bottle. Eat your heart out or come to the Piemonte and see for yourself.
Posted by Suzanne Salvo | June 25, 2006 11:25 AM
Posted on June 25, 2006 11:25
Steve:
Thanks for a great seminar in DC. I met up inadvertently with a colleague (it is sad how we communicators lack the social graces enough to check on such things); we chuckled a good bit at ourselves when you covered some of the heinous examples - CRAP award winners & nominees all - mainly due to outright shame at our own shortcomings. We resolved on the spot to go on a campaign to wipe out the BS in our company's channels, or at least call it when we see it. In fact, I did it last week and my esteemed colleague "ROFL-ed" when I copied her in the email chain, I'm sure. Demonic doings.
As for Cakebread - they are wonderful wines. I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Jack Cakebread about 15 years ago when I visited Napa Valley - what a character! The love child of Hemingway and Robert Duvall, but 40 lbs. lighter. He gave me a personal "tour" of his vineyard, which really amounted to my providing free labor for the morning as I picked grapes and drank copious amounts of his yet-to-be-released offerings. Ahhh - my wild youth. Salut!
Posted by Mina | June 25, 2006 8:14 PM
Posted on June 25, 2006 20:14