And the Arc Award Team Winners Are...

Reinventing the Spanish Experience ...

I attended the first bi-annual Idearc Awards Celebration Gala yesterday afternoon and last night at the Westin Galleria in Dallas, TX. This was a HUGE deal for the nominees because we were setting a precedent for the rest of Company...first year winners and all. The theme for the evening therefore symbolized many "firsts" which happened in America and around the world. The televised webcast featured stories and video clips of famous people who made amazing first impressions with their work, inventions, philosophies...examples cited were Neil Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, Madame Curie, the Beatles...just to mention a few of the many names highlighted.

Our team, "Reinventing the Spanish Experience", won the first level award, the Sparc Award, and were eligible for the second level award, the Arc Award. We were the last Arc Award winners announced during the telecast, so we were getting a little nervous thinking that maybe our project was not as great as we may have thought! But we did win...and along with the win comes cash and trophies. Yay! Just to give you an idea of the project...we launched a new Verizon Yellow Pages product...a directory...entirely in the Spanish language, targeted to the Hispanic populations in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. We hired bilingual sales reps, bilingual Division Sales Managers, and bilingual General Sales Managers. I assisted with three training classes (in addition to managing my Customer Care Call Center), and also became heavily involved in changing the Customer Call Center agent options to include bilingual Customer Service representatives. That meant I had to do some creative hiring to manage our call tree option, "para espanol, oprima numero dos". So, when the team award nomination was submitted, I was very happy to be on the team slate. A true honor and privilege.

After the Awards telecast, we had some free time before the "red carpet" cocktail reception and dinner, speaker and live music and dancing. My escort for the evening was a very wonderful man from Dallas, Michael B. (purposefully omitting last name on the blog) . Michael and I met about five weeks ago, and we dated four times prior to the Idearc event. I was delighted when he agreed to be my guest for the evening. I've posted a couple of photos....they didn't turn out very well; I think because of the spotlights and glitter in the room:

So much fun to dress up in "after five" apparel; yes, I'm a Diva!

This one didn't turn out so well, but I posted it anyway.

Our amazing guest speaker, Dr. Jerry M. Linenger, US Astronaut who was the first American astronaut to board the Russian Space Station Mir. His son, John, is pictured in the center.

Lookout Mountain, Tennessee

The Mother/Daughter reunion...

I love having adult children! While they always remain your son and daughters, they also become your friends in an entirely new light. And when they move halfway across the country, they give you this wonderful opportunity called....TRAVEL!!! And I'm lovin' it!

I'm in "the Nooga" enjoying 7 days with dearest Sarah. Upon arrival we did some quick grocery shopping and then came home long enough to change clothes and attend the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra's final season concert, and it was terrific. The musicians were really quite good, and of course, one violinist stood out above all others....ahem...ahem... One of my favorite piano solos, Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, was featured, and the pianist was magnificent. A light dinner afterwards at "The Meeting Place" with beautiful, handsome young people...I felt youthful again, and loved every minute of the lively chatter and laughter.

Can Lookout Mountain ever be more beautiful than in the spring? My walks on the charming country roads (Gnome Road, Peter Pan Way, Fairy Trail, Fleetwood Drive) were nothing short of exhilarating. The air was clean and cool, the streets were immaculate, the architecture of the homes and churches was indescribable (to me, anyway). I passed many walkers...sweet older retired couples walking hand-in-hand, obviously still very much in love after many years of marriage. Some had their adorable little dogs in tow, leashed and happily trotting along in front of their masters.

I spent 4 hours on Saturday afternoon listening to Sarah rehearse her faculty recital with her accompanist. I was mesmerized... It's hard to describe the joy I felt deep within just listening to her perform these amazing pieces of music with such passion and accomplishment. I was wiping tears from my cheeks...and this was just a rehearsal! I'm so excited for the actual recital on Tuesday night; I know it will be magnificent, and I wish all of us who know her talent and love her gift could be there to celebrate with her.

Well, it's now Thursday evening, April 26th, and I'm back home in Texas. I've unpacked my bags, downloaded my photos and prepared this short blog. To conclude my mini vacation blog...the recital was awesome! The next day, while Sarah was busy with students, I treated myself to a 90-minute deep tissue, full body massage. See Sarah's blog for a description of this amazing indulgence. Anyway, I felt like a new woman when I was done. Afterwards, Sarah took me to dinner, and we finished the evening watching "The Pursuit of Happyness" before we turned in for the evening.


A few more photos for you to enjoy, and then another blog in a few days. Tomorrow I attend the Idearc Media Corporation bi-annual awards celebration. I was nominated for a business award along with some colleagues, and I'll be honored tomorrow along with several other winners across the country. There are two more levels of awards which will be announced tomorrow; we are hopeful that our team will elevate at least one more level, if not all the way to the top. There are some prize dollars involved....which is always nice! Our event is at the Westin Galleria, and it starts at 1:00 p.m. with a Webcast announcing the winners. Then an evening reception, dinner and speaker, and dancing! Should be a great evening. I'll be escorted by a very nice gentleman that I've recently met, and we're both looking forward to the event. Stay tuned for future posts!

This home is amazing; I walked by it frequently during my stay on Lookout Mountain.

I participated in an amazing experience today...and I'll do it again...many times over!

I did the "Walk for the Cure"... a 3.2 mile walk in support of Breast Cancer Research. My Curves Club banded together with other clubs across Tarrant County and we walked the race route together. There were more than 18,000 entrants...I was number 15,322! We had our Vendor Tent at the event; we had a HUGE team photo taken; and we probably got some great press as well! I'm looking forward to watching the news later tonight.

We met at 6:30 a.m. at our Curves location. We then car-pooled to Fort Worth, Sundance Square where the race began. It was so festive! Balloon banners at the starting line and at the finish line. Many different businesses and organizations sponsored their employees, and so there were T-shirts of varied colors everywhere representing the Komen Foundation and the specific business support groups who raised money for the foundation. For example, my T-shirt says "Curves Walks for the Cure". I'll post photos as soon as I get them; unfortunately I did not take my own camera so I'm waiting upon my friends to send me theirs.

Curves has been my best monthly investment of time and money. Not only has the exercise program benefitted me in terms of weight loss, weight control and body fat loss, it has also given me a new circle of women friends! I reached out to a very nice gal...my age...who had been coming for a few months. I asked her to walk the race as my partner. So, we met...she drove...and we spent 3 hours getting acquainted while we walked the route. She's a great lady! Her name is Gaye, she's a born-again Christian, has had some similar life experiences as me, and I really, really enjoyed her company! I'm so thankful for this new friend.

After the race, Curves hosted a Mimosa Brunch at the club! So much fun! Great food, lots of laughter, some tears as we toasted our Curves Breast cancer survivors...really a wonderfully rewarding morning.

Well, the most humorous part of the day was the weather! It was freezing...literally!! Low 30's in temperature...and it actually snowed the last leg of the race. I'm just now thawing out, and it's 7:00 p.m. The race was at 8:00 a.m.! But...I'd do it again!

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, and to all of my readers...family and friends...I wish you a most blessed day of worship and remembrance...He has Risen! He has risen, indeed!

Mini Palm Trees in my front and back yards????




Actually, these are weeds, but they look like mini palm trees, or very anemic heads of lettuce!






I return from Florida after a week of business meetings to an unbelievable downpour of rain...gushing water flooding my front and back yards. Oh good, I say to myself as I'm circling the airport hoping to land safely...maybe all this rain will help my grass to grow.

My dearest best friend, Debra, had informed me that organic gardening is the best thing I can do for the earth, for myself, and for my health. And so...I had purchased 40 pounds of corn gluten meal, borrowed back the spreader I gave to Dave and Karen, and spent a few hours sprinkling these stinky pellets all over my front and back yard a week ago before I left for Florida. Potential results....retard additional weed growth....key word here is "additional".

So, I left for a week of business headed for the beautiful blue skies, sunny temperate climate of St. Petersburg, Florida, with the hope that when I return to Texas, my grass will be sprouting and weeds will be "retarded". Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha hee hee hee.....I'm so overwhelmed....frown....

Instead of the "hay" trailers that I hoped would yield St. Augustine grass, I find 6-10" "palm tree" weeds everywhere. Debra....we need to talk!

So, plan B. I commit to 3 hours on Saturday and 3 hours on Sunday (as in today) pulling "palm trees" from what might someday yeild....grass/lawn...whatever! And here is a sample of what it looks like after 6 hours of pulling weeds...(I have tons more to pull, trust me...)



Oops, looks like I missed a couple. And this poor lawn looks like a man's head who is slowly but surely losing his hair... oh groan....again!





Okay...photos above are the backyard. Now for the front yard. I had some irrigation/drainage work done by an engineer shortly after I moved in. The contractors had dug some gulleys in my front yard to place some drainage pipe. Of course there was no guarantee that the "grass" (ha ha ha ha ha) would grow back. BUT...the palm trees had no problems surfacing!!! I've pulled several of them...three hours worth of "several"...but my optimism is waning to say the least...


You can see the "gulleys" that the engineers trenched to install additional drainage lines. The green that you see is part lawn, part crab grass, weeds, etc. I have some serious decisions to male. The neighbors yards look great; my yards appear to have been neglected something terrible. That's the chance one takes when purchasing a home in the middle of winter.




The photo to the left shows a section of the backyard that is adjacent to my master bedroom window. I love looking out the windows and seeing the shrubs and the huge tree. It does need some pruning...I certainly can't do that, but will find someone who can.

So...out of necessity, I'm learning to do some gardening. Maybe I'll even grow to like it. As Walt can tell you, I've never been one to get dirt underneath my fingernails. I did buy some gardening gloves, and I have a few little spades and trowels, and I'm doing okay so far. Debra is laughing her heart out at me...but girlfriend laughter is a gift, and I'm enjoying it immensely.


Before I close this little "green blog"...let me wish each of my readers a blessed Ressurection Celebration. Jesus is the reason for the season...not eggs, not flowers, not lilies, not bunny rabbits...but our Savior whose blood was shed for our sins and for our salvation, and whose resurrection is why we have eternal life in Him. Praise HIS name!