29 posts from 2007 (page 2)

The universe giveth and the universe taketh away.

I went back to the same old meeting this morning wherein I gained 1 lb.  I'm having some health issues at the moment and haven't been able to get in to see the doctor.  I finally got an appointment for this Thursday and once I discuss my issues with him I'm hoping he'll have an answer for me.

No, I'm not pregnant.

Anyway, there is this woman at my meeting that, for some reason, has become sort of a buddy to me.  We chat a bit at meetings and that's the extent of it.  Well, last Halloween my husband and I went with his brother to take our niece and nephew out trick or treating on the next street over from them.

As we approached one house, my nephew says "Bear lives here!"  Bear is this friend of his from school that he talks about all the time.  So we go up and ring the bell, and who should answer the door but my friend from the WW meetings.  She wasn't dressed up, but I was dressed as a witch so I was easily recognizable.

Ba-dum-bum.

*crickets chirping*

We told her we would stop back by at the end of the night and so we did, and we all sat in her back yard with her Halloween party crew and talked.  Then she was gone for a couple of months.  Then she started showing up at meetings and tells me that she was in Brazil.

Must be nice to be able to afford to go to Brazil for a month, right?

This morning I was getting out of the car for the meeting and so was she.  We started chatting and got into the weigh in line together and I don't know how the subject came up, but turns out she's a writer!  A real honest-to-God published writer.  She does freelance travel writing, thus the month long trips to Brazil, etc.

I told her I wanted to be a writer, and she's offered to help me so we exchanged e-mails.

Happy HAPPY dance!

It was a mixed bag, Saturday.

I'm used to getting up early and putzing around before going to weigh-in, but this Saturday I had to get Irish up, too.  He started teaching that class (which he enjoyed).

I went to weigh in, and I think I've mentioned this before but there is a Sonic being built right outside my meeting location.  Sonic is the major reason I need Weight Watchers in the first place, and the lack of Sonic is this area, while disheartening, has been helpful to me losing, well, anything at all.

The Sonic is getting pretty close to completion.  I think it opens in about a month.

So I get on the scale and the receptionist says "ok" and nothing else.  If you've ever done WW, you know that if the receptionist doesn't say anything, it usually means there is a gain.  I didn't want to ask.

She handed back my card and my pass and I stepped away before swallowing hard and peeking:  DOWN 0.2.  the lowest amount you can actually be down that will register on the scale, but what do I care?  I've been PMSing and drowning my sorrows in chocolate, so this is cause for celebration!

I got there early so I sat down in a different area than where I sit when I'm late.  I sit with a bunch of women that were there when I started and we all exchange tips and generally just chat until the meeting starts.  A few minutes later an older gentleman sits in the seats across from us, and he's eyeing me.

Now, I've seen him at the meetings before, and something niggles in my brain when I see him, like I know him but I'm not sure from where.  He doesn't wear a name tag and I forget by the end of the meeting to ask him if we know each other.

The thing about Florida is all of the old people.  The thing about old people is that unless these old people belong to you in some way, they all kind of look the same.

So he's eyeing me, right?  And it's obvious he thinks he knows me.  So I'm really actively trying to place him in my brain now, only it's not happening.

The meeting starts and it's about activity, and the conversation is lively and this guy continues to eye me throughout the meeting but I'm playing it cool.  About 10 minutes before the meeting ends, I've decided I'm going to go up and say to something to him after the meeting.  Then the leader asks a question, and he raises his hand to answer.

When he opens his mouth I instantly know who he is.

Stalker client.

A few months ago this man called with what sounded like a very viable opportunity in regard to his condominium association.  Since I take the new business calls I was the one who got him.

I was pretty green about condominium associations and the insurance availability, or lack thereof.  So I took his information, sent him an application, and then waited.

The next day I got a call from the property manager of said association informing me that this man was not on the board of directors and did not have authorization to be seeking alternative coverage for the association.  They had a quote, they had an agent and I needed to cease and desist pursuing coverage for them.

Yikes.

So I said ok, left a message for the "client" asking him to call, and then going on my merry way.  Lesson learned.

The day after, I'm about halfway through lunch when the receptionist comes into the kitchen and tells me the client is here to see me.  No appointment, no return phone call, he just shows up during lunch hour.  Mind you, this guy is retired.

So I take him and his wife into an interview room and he hands me a stack of papers, which I return to him and explain the situation.  Prior to receiving the phone call from the property manager. I had been looking at markets and wasn't having any luck anyway, so it was really just not going to happen.

He got very upset and promised he would get to the bottom of this.  He was going to get me a letter from someone on the board of directors authorizing him to make insurance decisions.  I figured it would never happen.

Well, he got the letter and the uproar that ensued was tremendous.  I told him that simply didn't help and that I was sorry but I couldn't help him.  He started calling every 10 minutes all day long and leaving long rambling messages.  If he called sometimes and I was on the phone, he would ring out to the receptionist and insist on holding until I was done.

I was calling the property manager and the board president begging for assistance.  Then the client started calling my boss and my boss's boss telling them I had lied to him and let him believe I could help them, that I could save the association a significant amount of money.  These were words that had never come out of my mouth.

It took over a month to get him to go away.

Now he goes to my WW meeting. 

As soon as I heard his voice I covered my name tag with my hair.  As soon as the meeting was over I scooted out of that storefront like I was on fire.

And then what does a PMSing, stressed out chick who was just confronted with her stalker client do next?  She goes to work.

Yup.  I put in four hours of OT.  I was the only one in the office and it was bliss.

Then I went home and took a nap.

Irish and I went to a birthday party last night that got busted up by the cops, and we got home at 1 a.m.

See?  Mixed bag.

I'm going to go whip up some breakfast.  Toodles.

As days go, Thursday was stressful.  An account I was working on required a finalization by today, Friday and I didn't get what I needed until late in the afternoon.  I e-mailed the client and then left for the day at almost 6 p.m.

I got home and I was just not happy, you know?  Just. Not. Happy.

We went off to bed and I lay in bed half the night crying.  Just crying.  Tired and frustrated and overwhelmed and exhausted and unable to sleep.

I got up this morning and pulled out my day planner to get looked at the date and wow!  has it really been 28 days already?

So I went to work and there was a message on my voicemail from the client, and an e-mail from the client, all from around 7 p.m. last night.  She was hoping I had a Blackberry.  I am soooooo never getting a Blackberry.

I called their house as instructed and she put her husband on, where he proceeded to read me the riot act about what I sent them the night before.

Here's the tricky part.  I have, thus far, been very careful about revealing what I do for a living.  I was trying to remember why, and I realized it was because before, my job was very industry-specific, but now I'm just a general practitioner of sorts.  So do I continue to hide what I do?

I guess not.

I do what might be considered one of the most difficult jobs in the state of Florida these days:  I sell insurance.  For one of the top 10 insurance brokerage firms in the country.

My department is small business, and I handle all of the new business marketing for my region,  That means every new business phone call, every walk-in and just about every client referral comes to me.

I don't know if you've heard, but there is an insurance crisis in Florida right now, in regard to property.  The most highly affected, after homeowners, are small business owners.  Most insurance premiums are increasing 100%, 200%, even 300% because of lack of property insurance availability.  To top it off, you might pay 300% more than you paid last year and get about half of the coverage you got last year.

Anyway, so this company is looking for coverage and I start calling them about it in October of last year, because I'm told that they renew today, 1/26/07, but their insurance company is nonrenewing them.  So I leave a message about once a week or so until the owner calls me back TWO WEEKS AGO and gives me the go ahead to start working on the account and completes the applications.

So I warn them things are going to get ugly.  They say ok.  I give them a price range.  They say ok.  I get them quotes, and the quotes are within that price range.

They do not say ok.

They are not happy.  They want everything revised, today, because they need coverage today.

So I work my ass off, beg some underwriters, stress until I'm about to throw up.

Did I mention I'm PMS'ing???

Because I am.

I finally get the last revision at 4:00 and the quote is in her e-mail at 4:10.  She calls a few minutes later and asks about the liability portion, why is it so high?  So we go over that and I explain to her for the millionth time that because of claims she is lucky they even got quotes.  99% of my insurance carriers laughed in my face when I presented it to them.  The two that did quote did so only after much pleading and faulty reasoning.

I left work at 5:30 with...guess what... No order.

And I won't get one, either.

When someone pushes and pushes, and then bitches and bitches, then spends the weekend without insurance, it's because they are suddenly calling every other agency in town looking for a better deal.  They'll get one, too.  With an inferior company that is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and offers them a hell of a deal to keep the wolves from the door.

I'm closing the book on this one and it's frustrating because I spent the last two weeks fighting to get this done and I will get not a penny for my efforts.  Second large account this month that's slipped through my fingers.

Frustrating.

And PMS'ing.

So I vented at poor Irish on the way home.  When I got here we talked for a bit, then I sat down on the couch to read and ended up falling asleep for three hours.

I feel better now.

Off to find some chocolate.

Happy Friday.

It kicked my ass.  Irish's too.

So glad that's over.  I guess I'll have to try some other game show.

We're sitting here now trying to remember questions and find out what the answers are.

The Blogging for Choice website advised that if I signed up and committed to blogging for choice on this particular day, they would send me a reminder e-mail.  I am NOT blogging for choice because I did not receive a reminder e-mail as promised.

Plus, I decided I don't want to.

I thought I could, but I can't.

Maybe next year.

Things I do not like about Vox:

• No blogroll.
• No html editing.
• No Adsense, etc.
• No "subscribe" feature.
• People who are not Vox members cannot comment.

I like bullet updates.

• Beginning this coming-up Saturday, my darling (and older!) hubby is going to be teaching a class at the local community college on Saturday mornings.
• The Bears are going to the Super Bowl.  w00t!
• I "restarted" Weight Watchers 2 weeks ago and have lost 4 lbs.
• I'm experimenting with recipes and having a great time.
• I made a roast tonight that was truly to-die-for.
• I have a lemony chicken recipe I've named "Cheryl's Super Yummy Lemony Chicken Thing".
• It's even better than it sounds.
• The bees are back at our apartment.
• A ton of them got into the lanai and died in a big pile.
• Probably over 1,000.
• When we reported it (again!) to the apartments, I think someone sprayed, and that's it.
• Hell, they were dying anyway.
• We also reported air conditioner issues again.
• Hey, it's South Florida.  We need our AC.
• Yes, even in January-almost-February.
• I went swimming yesterday.
• Outside.
• Jealous?
• We're locked into our lease until September.
• I was looking at rentals in the online classifieds.
• I found two HOUSES.
• Two bedrooms.
• $150+ less per month than we pay now.
• One can only hope something better will be available in the fall.
• I'll miss this apartment.
• But not a whole lot.
• I could use another closet.
• We only have one now.
• In the whole apartment.
• Not counting the laundry room.
• And I could use more cabinet space.
• And less bees.
• Work is going well.
• Commission is a lovely thing.
• We passed our 6 month anniversary with no hiccups.
• In fact, we kinda forgot about it until the next morning.
• I joined a writing group this month which is awesome.
• Can't wait until we meet again.
• I have to write something "romantic".
• That's the assignment.
• I also joined a professional group.
• I was sweating the money aspect of it (dues, dinner, etc) until my boss informed me they would pay.
• My boss rocks.
• My company rocks.
• I start taking certification classes in August for a professional designation.
• I'm a geek.
• Life is good.
• Getting better.
• Wish you were here.
• XOXO

I will be participating.

You can, too.

Big_button_2007

No one tagged me for this, but I've enjoyed reading them on other blogs, so I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring:

1.  I recreate favorite restaurant recipes at home.  If I eat something I really like at a restaurant, I'll try to deconstruct the recipe and make it at home.  Generally, the result are pretty good, and it's probably healthier for me, and much cheaper than restaurant food.  My personal favorite is Chicken Saltimbocca from Buca di Beppo (my version is called Cheryl's Super Yummy Lemony Chicken Dish).  I make it without the prosciutto, only because I always forget to buy it, and often I put in toasted pine nuts, or I serve it over couscous with parmesan and toasted pine nuts.  My next project is Penne Arrabbiata from Buca di Beppo, if I can only find that divine fennel sausage someplace.  The even weirder thing about this is I never liked to cook as a kid.

2.  When my husband kisses me, it must be more than once, but an odd number of kisses.  My rule, not his.  I don't know why, but it feels incomplete to have an even number of kisses.  He sometimes tries to trick me, but I can always tell because for whatever reason I must be mentally counting out the kisses.

3.  I like tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, marinara sauce and some sundried tomato-flavored things, but I cannot stomach raw or cooked tomato chunks or pieces.  I shudder just thinking about it.  There is something so wrong-tasting about raw tomatoes and cooked ones get all slimy.  Plus, raw tomatoes are slimy, don't you think?  I heard a comedian say once that the inside of the tomato looks like it isn't done doing whatever it was supposed to be doing.  I agree.

4.  I don't necessarily like country music, but I've been to more country concerts than all other types of music combined (excepting school band concerts).  I've been to a lot of country concerts and seen a lot of country acts perform.  This comes from living in Oklahoma, where country is king.  So while I enjoy my Fiona Apple, and my Debussy, I also have a thing for Garth Brooks and Vince Gill (both Oklahomans, by the way).  Carrie Underwood is fast becoming a favorite, too.

5.  Despite English always being my best subject in school, and math my worst, I am a numbers person.  I count things in my head.  I can do all sorts of summation without the help of pen and paper.  I understand the application of Algebra to everyday life.  I can look at a series of numbers and memorize them in just a few seconds.  To wit: my login for my bank account is my Oklahoma library card number plus my birthdate, and the pin is the house number for an apartment I lived in three states ago.  I still remember my very first phone number.  I also have my library card number here in Florida memorized.  My job is in the financial field, working with numbers daily.

6.  This is the hardest number to come up with something for.  I feel like the list should have stopped at number 5.  Plus, the highlighted portion of this number is a dangling participle.  I would reword it, but it will look clunky and everyone will know I just couldn't stand to see it that way so I worded it all weird.

pink.

Seems I have pink eye.  How do I know?  Well, I woke up this morning and had an epiphany, so I consulted with my physician, also known as WebMD,com*.  I've got all the symptoms, only better-described than I could come up with.

Good thing I've already been treating it like pink eye.  I mentioned to someone at work about having something in my eye once, or my eyes being dry or something and she recommended Similasan Pink Eye Relief drops.  It's coming in handy.

* I do have a regular doctor, but she's not available at 5:30 on Sunday morning.