A successful launch

We have liftoff! Another successful launch (if I do say so myself). We worked hard as a team and the results have been great so far.

Often times the results of our work in PR are not tangible...but on announcement day, when the coverage reports roll around, the fruits of your hard work are right there in your face.

More to come as the deluge lightens...

Where, oh, where...

...Have I disappeared off to...Oh where oh where could I beeeeee?

My double life kicks into overdrive.

I've been getting my kids' Halloween costumes ready, hosting our daughter's birthday party and helping out a girlfriend where I can with her newborn.

Oh yea, and there's work. Specifically, working my tushie off for a typical Fall in the tech world.

However, to keep me happy... I've joined a gym and my hubby has been buying a lot of wine for me. So far it's working...

I LOVED the Bionic Woman!

Perez Hilton dishes some gossip on his blog indicating that NBC is creating an adaptation of the Bionic Woman. BITCHIN!

He asks his audience who we think should play Jaime Sommers...Cat Deeley from So You Think You Can Dance? Elisha Cuthbert (already an action icon)? Sarah Chalke from Scrubs? Pink?? Amy Smart??

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Double Life Escapades

Overall, the week in the Bay Area was a success. There is simply too much to share about my trip to capture it in a post or two.

But here are some "goodies:"
* I hauled about 10 lbs worth of potatoes back to Calif.(and even had to readjust baggage loads upon check in because they were so heavy) and then forgot to disperse them to their rightful owners. Now my mother-in-law has to dole them out.

* I found that mixing mass amounts of red bull & vodka and then enchiladas is a recipe for an indigestion nightmare.

* I found that I am still not immune to the blisters I get EVERY FREAKIN TIME I go back and wear my dress shoes for a trip.

* No matter how "mature" I get, I still love Marshall's. I know that may mortify one of my clients but I simply can't help it.

* I still <3 absolutely everyone in our office. Most the people are a little loopy, but that's what I love.

* Also, I learned i do not know my way around the Stanford campus at all. I met my cousin for lunch and got completely lost in a .5 mile area. Obviously, that campus was designed to keep out people with any sort of low IQ, even a low sense of direction IQ.

* We decided that we will be back for the week of Thanksgiving so we'll have more stories to tell another time...

Anna Quindlen has my #

Anna Quindlen had an interesting "Last Word" n the 9.18.06 issue of Newsweek (yes, I am behind in my reading). The title is "Frightening --- And Fantastic." Basically, the point is to tell your kids about the pleasures in life too, don't just spend time warning them of all the perils.

Sure, I want to be a parent that encourages my kids to be educated and safe. But I also want my kids to really live life and not be afraid of embracing it with a big fat bear hug.

Laugh hard, play hard and live hard, my babies.

Here's the full article for anyone else interested.

Let the Double Life Roll...

Time to go back to my Schizophrenic ways.

Next week I leave my flip flops behind in exchange for my stillettos and platforms. My fave North Face jacket and beloved NorCal hoodie get a vacation at last. Meanwhile, my pinstripes and dress shirts will be awaken from a two month slumber. I'll have to call Animal Services to retrieve the dust bunnies camping out on my alternate wardrobe.

That's right, my friends. It's back to HQ.

To tell the truth, I am rather looking forward to seeing the earnest faces of my witty and wicked smart coworkers. And, our office is nothing if not passionate (about anything and everything) - which makes it eternally interesting.

Lotso Sleep in Seattle

Went to Seattle last weekend for a sorority sister’s wedding. We left the kids at home with Grandma & Grandpa (bless their energetic hearts). I haven’t slept so much, and so soundly in months. Four day weekend for us, two of those days I slept until at least nine. Of course, I came back to 1,000+ emails to weed through (only about.05% being spam, mind you). Those evenings preparing and catching up were well worth the “freedom.”

We did do more than sleep… Hanging out with my girlfriends in Seattle was a definite treat. The rundown on my pals? Two stay-at-home moms, one with another tot on the way. One now married product manager at MSFT. One contract PR peep at Y! with a bun in the oven. One very successful sales maven with RR Donnelly. One nurse admin. One practicing nurse with chicken tenderloins that make every man swoon (long story). One interior designer. Finally, one marketing peep at Specialized that is living in sin. What a lot.

Dedicated to Joe in Berlin

Here comes Spidey!

The new trailer for Spiderman 3 is out. There are a few "franchise" films this mom/ex-movie afficianado follows. The Spiderman series is one of them (and Harry, of course). Looks to be pretty heavy. And, lucky for me, I <3 Topher Grace, who also stars in S3 (along with Thomas Haden Church). I will have my butt in a seat for this one in Spring 2007.

Holyboomland

Saw Hollywoodland tonight. Anyone else see this movie? AND anyone else notice the boom mic hanging down into nearly every scene?! Someone fell asleep at the monitor. My friend says it must have been some big wig's son operating the boom. I think the Idaho theater must have only sprung enough for the bootleg version of the movie. Discuss your own theories here.

Blind as a Chiroptera

My double life has left me with double vision. For EIGHT long months I have been scheduling and then canceling appointments with my eye doctor for one very important reason or another. Now I am in a constant fog. REALLY looks like the Giants and Padres are playing in a very foggy stadium. They all must be able to see so well because of the performance enhancing drugs.

Anyone that may read this…. Please cross your fingers that nothing comes between me and my eye doctor appointment this Wednesday.

No-thank you, Mr. MacAdoo

I know, I know. It's been over a week. It's very busy leading a double life.

My sister was in town last weekend from Hotlanta, GA. which was all fun and games. Then, I had to work my arse off this week so I could have a four day weekend (rough, I know but it's work sponsored - how cool is that?). While she was here we watched the Emmys together. Conan was nails. Turned the normally bland programming on its head. However, my absolute favorite part of the Emmys wasn't a Conan segment - it was actual reality tv (ok, an acceptance speech).

Greg Garcia won for writing "My Name is Earl" and issued some no-thanks: "My eighth-grade social studies teacher told me to sit down and shut up because I wasn't funny -- no-thank you, Mr. MacAdoo. My boss when I was a PA on the show 'Step by Step,' who made me clean gum off the executive producer's shoe -- no thank you, ma'am, I do not share this with you."-- Chicago Sun-Times <

Creative. Very creative. I actually hit "rewind" to watch the acceptance speech several times and then made my husband watch it when he came in from the other room after watching Entourage. I love that someone had the cajones to call out the dream squashers.

Also on the Emmys and an "ah ha" moment (no not the 80s band),I own Tivo and thought all the Tivo/network advertising rants were funny. What is the difference between getting up and leaving the room versus fast forwarding commercials? Maybe the difference between gaining weight and getting a bladder infection?

Ahhhh, the weekend

Idaho Blows?

A client sent over this little gem (you'll get the pun later if you're a thorough reader) this afternoon. Considering I am torn between being a loyal "Idahoan" and thinking most of this is 100% hilarious, I thought I would share with others.

For the record: I do love where I live.

I scared away everyone - even my family

Nobody likes a negative Nancy.

I mean I don't want to blow up, but still

This past weekend I had the pleasure of flying back home from a vacation in Calif. I was traveling solo with my two toddlers -- a feat comparable to surviving many types of torture in some countries -- and had to work my way through the latest and greatest security measures as the SJC (San Jose) airport.

I made my way through the lines. First it turns out that my drivers license expired on birthday, which happened to occur while I was on vacation (yes, I am a Leo). My bad indeed. I was then labeled with “SSSS” (Special Security Screening Schmuck??) in bright red marker on my boarding ticket. Okay, I can deal with that. However, when I got through with taking my shoes off, my kids’ shoes off, breaking down our stroller and putting all our belongings on the conveyer belt -- all while holding one kid in my arms and keeping track of the other -- we then had to stand over in the special security screening area. Understandable since I wore a scarlet SSSS on my ticket. The over the top part here? After they had me patted down, they patted down my two and a half year old little girl. It just seemed so wrong. Still…I knew some sick SOB may try smuggling something on a kid so I sigh and move on.

Then they searched our things. As per the guidelines at the time, I'd been advised via an online bulletin from Delta (which I thought was pretty rockin’ that they proactively sent this to me days before my flight) that I could bring:
• Baby formula, breast milk or juice for a traveling child
• Medicine prescribed to you
• Insulin and other essential non-prescription medicines

However, I was very POed that despite the official guidelines the TSA staff at SJC, and even the supervisor they called over to handle the dispute occurring over in the C Gate, confiscated the juice and milk I had packed for my kids. They also took my diaper rash ointment, much to my chagrin since my boy had a mean rash going that definitely required ointment.

I was not looking forward to traveling for six hours without my carefully premeditated baby bag items.

I understand all these obstacles (aka precautions) are put in place to keep us safe. However, traveling with toddlers/babies is such a pain in the arse now that I’d simply rather not travel at all.

Moral of the story:
If you’re going to travel with kids and want to bring some of the allowed liquids or medications make sure you print out the latest TSA guidelines and bring it with you so they don’t fight you on it.

Phew. Sorry for long winded rant. Can you tell this was bugging me?

Descendant of Big Blue Mama

The more things change the more they stay the same. After my mom posted asking what Red Bull was she also shared that she had the handle of Big Blue Mama back in the 70s when she cruised our Chevy Impala blue station wagon, complete with CB. And there you have it. No wonder I ended up in high tech PR -- communications is in my genes. ;-)

But to answer my Mom’s Q. If you want to know all about the Toro Rojo, read up here.

Am I in trouble if I use the word Beta?

Here goes. Although I am not sure I have an interesting enough life (or time since having a double identity is time consuming) to take on a blog, I am interested enough to try it out. If I fail, so sorry to the poor soul that really wanted http://mydoublelifebyredbullmom.blogspot.com/.