How To Network Without Thinking About It

So, today is a symposium for local Pacific Northwest medical writers and editors. I'm taking my business cards and hoping to collect a few job ops while I'm there.

But I hate overt networking, you know walking up to someone and immediately jumping into "what can you do for me?" because that just really sucks.

I prefer social networking. Chatting over snacks or at lunch about issues we face in the medical writing/editing world and trying to help others find a solution. This has worked for me many times in the past, not only in getting work, but more importantly, in meeting and solidifying business relationships. The medical publishing world is quite small in actuality and it's good to know as many as you can. Again, not only for work, but for wise counsel and helpful resources.

Currently reading: symposium schedule
Currently listening to: Seth Godin audiobook

Friday Mayday Fiver

1. So it feels like spring, but is it spring? The jury is still out on that. I'm taking it as spring. Even though tomorrow is a day-long seminar in Seattle, afterward there is a Cinco de Mayo party at T&J's house.

2. The London trip prep is in full swing. Pants are hemmed, all the little bottles are purchased, and now the packing commences. Going to be a full trip and we can't wait!

3. Downloading books for the Kindle to take and delighted to get almost all of the Thomas Cahill Hinges of History series! Can't get Susan Wise Bauer's History of the Ancient World though. Boo.

4. Spent the J. Crew rewards card, because they had an additional 20% off the sale and I couldn't resist. Fun! Drooling over their summer dress book.

5. Knocked the new bottle of makeup into the sink, and it broke wide open, so on a waiting list at the local Macy's to get another (they were out and I don't want to drive to southcenter). I saved as much as I could, but you know how it goes with a glass bottle.

Michelle Rafter of WordCount is doing a blogathon for the month of May and I signed up (now that Blogger can postdate entries). Check out my co-bloggers! Quite a listing!

Have a great Friday all!

Currently reading: Kindle books
Currently listening to: Madonna

May Day

Whenever May 1 rolls around, I always start dreaming about going camping. There's a special spot our family goes up in the Oregon Cascades, but for this year, hubby and I are starting a new tradition. We're going camping in Central WA.

I'm not sure about this actually. No rocks, not many trees, and on the Gorge? Can I really do this?

Plus, I've roughed it camping (well, not carrying my stuff on my back on a backpacking camping trip), but my idea of camping includes no running water, electricity, showers, or flushing toilets in the Oregon Cascades. And we love it.

This camp on the Gorge has everything, bathrooms with showers and sinks, electricity, a marina for the boats, and the rumor is that we're sleeping in our car (an SUV with room for an air mattress).

I'm hoping I don't get there and freak out.

But it's good to try new things. And since it's May, I'm so ready.

Currently reading: RSS feed
Currently listening to: Flying Birds (Van Thijs mix)

How To Get Invites To Be An Insider

I have no idea, but out of the blue, Banana Republic is inviting people who have the Luxe card and probably spend a certain amount to join a group of "BR Insiders." Well, I'm delighted to help.

Next up, I want to be a J. Crew insider. I think I spend more at J. Crew, between the outlet, the sales, and the J. Crew rewards program. But enough of that. My balances at both stores are at zero, because in a fit of frugality, I decided not to spend my J. Crew 100-dollar reward certificate until after Londy. I am amazed at my self-control today.

My hairs are cut and today the pants will be hemmed and the suit dry cleaned. The suitcases are ready and I even got a handy space saver set for my suitcase. These gizmos are similar to that television infomercial, only you don't need the expensive air vacuum. You just roll and squeeze the air out of these bags. We'll see how well they work. I've gone from a checked large hard case down to a 17-inch carryon as we navigate through Heathrow's Terminal 5. Hey, if my buddy, L, can do this, I can do this, right?

The question this week is how to reduce my beauty products into 3-oz bottles that all fit in a quart ziploc bag. How do other gorgeous women do this? :)

In the news today, the whole attempt by Lifetime television to rebrand just doesn't sit well with me either.

And one link about Miley Cyrus. And I am not even going to post one thing about James Frey. He has had enough air time on this blog.

And off to the writing. One more writing group meeting before I leave and I intend to have something prepared. So, the essay work and novel work continue!

Currently reading: Uglies trilogy (Scott Westerfeld)
Currently listening to: Madonna Hard Candy album

Don't Let the Stress Catch Ya

It comes in threes. Stress, I mean.

One thing heats up, then another, and then the third shows up and I start to wonder if I've got a target on my back or something.

So, we're in full stress mode at the office here. The upcoming trip to London, the all-day AMWA class on Saturday, the presentation while in London, the workload before I can get to London (very high-profile stuff for my job), and in the midst of it comes my salvation.

MarioKart for the Wii.

Seriously, folks. This is the best treatment for stress I've EVER found. Well, that gym every day works well for me too, but for those who can't get to the gym every single day, try this game.

In writing news, have made it to the next stage. Figured out my family makeup (Electra) and now we can begin the pre-writing planning stage. That was tough work. It took a pile of about 20 novels, another 5 books on mother-daughter relationship theories, and another 5 books on psychology, but I did it. I actually didn't need to read all those books, because my lightbulb moment came in the midst of a novel, but it was good to read and take notes anyway. I have plenty of notes and so here we go. What does the pre-writing planning stage mean?

It means I have too much work to do and have to go to Europe before I can really get started because I'm not bringing a laptop with me and there is no way I'm going to get a hubby to sit in a hotel room during daylight hours so I can write 2,000 words. No way. So I'll just pre-write plan and start writing when we get back.

And that works. Lessens the pressure for me right now.

The first of my paid blog posts are going up this week. I am trying to work with the client to make it a monthly gig, so fingers crossed.

And with that, no news today, as I'm off to get a hair cut and my suit hemmed. My daily gym workouts have helped me fit into the suit! So good for me!

Have a great day!

Currently reading: Uglies series Scott Westerfeld
Currently listening to: Basshunter

And The Rain Is Back

But we had a toasty Friday/Saturday with sunshine that was wonderful, so I'm not complaining. I've got enough work to do today to stay indoors, so I will.

In today's news, people continue to move away from print to Web.

Miley Cyrus should be embarrassed. I am not yet a fan of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, but my niece sure is, and this doesn't help her case much.

I would have paid good money to see Craig Ferguson delight the crowd at this weekend's White House correspondents' dinner. He is hilarious!

And Twitter strikes again!

If you are not yet a Twitter user, you should consider it. 140 words to succinctly sum up what you are doing at that exact moment. It's hilarious to see who's jumping onboard and I'm having fun playing with it. Nice way to broadcast my point of view and business happenings to another 150 very cool people.

And the first of the paid writing blog posts goes off to the client for review. Fingers crossed! I had a great time and definitely want to continue this trend. I'd like to score this job for sure. The essay has been reworked, and the novel work continues.

And the packing for the London trip is going ahead full-steam. Today need to schedule the hair cut, get those pants hemmed, and start work on a possible PowerPoint presentation to go with my talk.

Too much to do!

Currently listening to: BassHunter
Currently reading: CNN.com