Well, this has been an invigorating week, fighting gray weather, senior traffic, sales pitches, and the common cold. Several positive conversations, some discouragement, and a whole lot of homework to get done.

Homework comes from the first of what should be many meetings at the no-job agency, part of the separation agreement. Around the conference room table, several faces I knew, many that were new, with as many feelings as faces, as varied experiences as seats. Having been through this before with another agency, I was pleased that this time around the process seems more interactive, with clear expectations set that this is a full time job, and that there is a proven methodoly that improves chances for success.

Nevetheless, there were few attendees under the age of forty (my guess), and that seems indicative of the times. Some folks had been in their positions for 30 years or more, and the culture shock of having to create a positioning statement was evident as some had never had to describe their value before...let alone create a resume...

One another note, it's time to get the Christmas lights up!! My neighbors are putting me to shame with new displays (one has a really great electric penguin), which reminds me of the story of the cop on the beat who sees a man walking a penguin down a busy city street. Cop says "Hey mister, you better take that penguin to the zoo" and the man says "Ok officer, I guess you're right, I'll do that right away." The next day the cop sees the same guy walking down the street with the penguin, pokes him in the chest with his stick, and says " I thought I told you to take that penguin to the zoo!", to which the man replies, " Officer, I did, and he had such a good time, today we're going to the ball game!"