Looking Forward to the New Year

I'm not sure where the time went, but it certainly flew by. To be honest, I'm sort of glad to see 2010 leave. Although some wonderful milestones happened in my life and in the lives of those whom I love most, I'm hopeful that the economy will continue to pick up ever so slightly and that more people will find jobs. I'm also hoping (and praying) that those of us who are fortunate and blessed enough to have jobs will keep them. But is "keeping" your job enough? For me, I'm hoping this is a year of growth and change and continued development at work. I hope to bloom where I'm planted and maybe realize that what I'm looking for is what I already have.

I'll admit I'm a little late in looking for a calendar for 2011 but I always wait until the end of the year. I'm a little bit superstitious. Don't want to "jinx" myself. That is, I take nothing for granted and am too skeptical to presume that I will even live to see the New Year. But, as it looks like the odds might possibly be in my favor, I'm shopping for calendars.

Coincidentally (or not), the first calendar I ran into on the office supply store website was the Mead Looking Forward Calendar (R). The description reads, "Plan continuously by tearing away previous weeks to look forward!"

Those are words to chew on. Plan continuously. Tear away previous weeks. That might be interpreted to mean let go of past conflicts in the workplace, previous disappointments about promotions not received or performance reviews you may have found less than exciting. Look forward. What a novel concept, huh?

I'm not sure if I'm going to buy this particular calendar, but I do want to say "thanks" to Mead (TM) for giving me something to ponder.

Happy New Year!

More Neat Holiday Cheer!

"The Glass Rainbow" By James Lee Burke

Here's something for the mystery book lover on your list. James Lee Burke is brilliant (as usual) with the latest in his Dave Robicheaux mystery series.

"James Lee Burke’s eagerly awaited new novel finds Detective Dave Robicheaux back in New Iberia, Louisiana, and embroiled in the most harrowing and dangerous case of his career. Seven young women in neighboring Jefferson Davis Parish have been brutally murdered. While the crimes have all the telltale signs of a serial killer, the death of Bernadette Latiolais, a high school honor student, doesn’t fit: she is not the kind of hapless and marginalized victim psychopaths usually prey upon. Robicheaux and his best friend, Clete Purcel, confront Herman Stanga, a notorious pimp and crack dealer whom both men despise. When Stanga turns up dead shortly after a fierce beating by Purcel, in front of numerous witnesses, the case takes a nasty turn, and Clete’s career and life are hanging by threads over the abyss.

Adding to Robicheaux’s troubles is the matter of his daughter, Alafair, on leave from Stanford Law to put the finishing touches on her novel. Her literary pursuit has led her into the arms of Kermit Abelard, celebrated novelist and scion of a once prominent Louisiana family whose fortunes are slowly sinking into the corruption of Louisiana’s subculture. Abelard’s association with bestselling ex-convict author Robert Weingart, a man who uses and discards people like Kleenex, causes Robicheaux to fear that Alafair might be destroyed by the man she loves. As his daughter seems to drift away from him, he wonders if he has become a victim of his own paranoia. But as usual, Robicheaux’s instincts are proven correct and he finds himself dealing with a level of evil that is greater than any enemy he has confronted in the past.

Set against the backdrop of an Edenic paradise threatened by pernicious forces, James Lee Burke’s The Glass Rainbow is already being hailed as perhaps the best novel in the Robicheaux series." (from book jacket)


This is a real page-turner, non-stop action and mystery to the very last page.

(I feel like eating a po' boy for lunch)

www.jamesleeburke.com

My Favorite Holiday Card To Date!

By The Sea, By The Sea, By The Beautiful Sea

There comes a time in a woman's life, when she realizes that not just any old moisturizer will do. It's around the same time she notices that the woman in the mirror isn't the girl in the pictures from the disco. In fact, that's when she realizes they don't even call it "disco" these days! Oh, heck, you can't remember where "they" go or what "they" do there! But, you are still going to work every day. And so, maybe the "cookie jar' fund should be re-labeled "The Youth Jar." Meaning that it might be time to start investing in our skin.

A friend of mine who used to work at Neiman Marcus would always brag about the fact that she only used "La Mer." Oh, sure, I'd seen it in the cosmetic counter, but I didn't dare inquire about it. It's expensive and therefore somewhat intimidating for us 9-to-5 gals.

That said, Creme de la Mer is probably just short of a miracle. La Mer sent me a sample to try. It's been really cold lately and my skin was taking on a leather-like texture - not good.

I found myself handling my little sample jar like you would a magic potion or secret formula. I was so excited and nervous. I mean, little old me, using La Mer???

Within 7 days, I noticed the difference. Goodbye leather, hello sexy! Well, okay, maybe not sexy, but my skin looks great.

At $130 for an ounce, it's definitely an investment but think of it as an investment in your career. Because, after all, who wants to be the oldest looking gal in the office?

You can learn all about "the secret" of La Mer at:

www.lamer.com

Sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and select specialty stores.

Something for the bosses to think about when picking up those holiday gift cards (hint-hint)

Holiday Office Party Etiquette 101

It's that time of year again. Some of you may have already had your company party, but if you haven't, here are a few tips that might make for a jolly-olly time that won't come back to bite you in the . . .er. You know.

1. Keep your holiday conversations focused on the event as much as possible. You're there to celebrate the holidays, whichever holiday you celebrate. Save your personal and intimate conversations for your outside celebrations.

2. Please - no lampshades on the head or variations thereof. Yes, I went there. No matter how many times you've been told, some of you still tend to "over-indulge." You know your limits. When you start to feel that maybe another glass of wine will be the one that took the last secretary down, switch to sparkling water.

3. How low can you go? We don't want to know. Be festive but don't use the holiday party as an excuse to show the boss and everyone else your greatest assets. Moderation is the key. No one expects you to wear your oxford shirt and trousers, but not too short, not too low. You get my drift.

4. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Don't start telling stories to your co-workers' spouses and partners about things that happen at work. These people don't work with you and this is information which should be shared on a "need to know basis." In other words, zip it.

5. Be gracious and acknowledge what a nice effort (no matter how small) it was for your firm to put on a holiday party. The recession isn't over no matter what you've heard. Many people are out of work. Don't start yakking about how this year's party is "scaled down" from years before. At least you have a job.

6. Take a deep breath and suck it up. Remember, it's the most wonderful time of year!!