3 Days and Nothing to Write…

Going through a bit of a boring spell here.  Nothing to write about.

So I’ll pass the time with some random observations…

I have 2 places to hang shirts in my wardrobe.  How are they organized?  In the most obvious and natural way…  The hangers with shirts that were placed on hangers by right-handed people (i.e. the dry cleaners) go on the left and the hangers with shirts from left-handed people (i.e. me) go on the right.

It’s much easier that way.  Otherwise my wardrobe becomes a mess with shirts facing every which-way.

If you’re right handed that makes no sense to you.  If you’re left-handed you’re nodding your head right now wishing you had such a brilliant system.  Right?

In-N-Out burgers rock.  So why can’t they get the fries right?

And… if you’ve never tried them… you should try In-N-Out fries animal style.  Burgers are great animal style.  Fries are better.

I got keys to my new office yesterday.  Woohoo.  I haven’t had an office outside my home in years.  Maybe I’m growing up.  Probably not.  I’ll be surprised if I go in 1 day a week.  I’m not sure what I’m going to do with 3 offices and a reception area yet.

I’m cheering for the Colts in the Superbowl.  Call me un-American (in not rooting for the post-Katrina Saints)… but there’s something about repeated mastery that draws me to the Colts… even if they’re a bit on the boring side.  Peyton Manning is so frighteningly efficient and in control.  I love it.

Besides, probably the best thing I can do for the Saints is back the Colts.

It’s funny how much of my independence I’ve willfully given away over the years (it’s especially shocking if you know me and how much I value my independence).

I think the best example of this hit me on Sunday.

With our new schedule and my calling I’m up and out of the house long before anyone else even wakes up on Sundays.

And it stresses me out.

Why?

Because even though I have a great wardrobe that I picked out (Lauren doesn’t yet know what to look for in suits, ties, dress shirts, and dress shoes) I’ve discovered that I can no longer dress myself with any degree of confidence.

So I went to my Sunday morning meetings feeling overly self-conscious about my shoe selection.  And even texted Lauren halfway through asking her to please bring me a different pair of shoes.  And then changing my mind again.  And ultimately realizing that what I really needed was for Lauren and Holly to each give me their thumbs-up on my wardrobe.

(As an aside, it should tell you something about my shoe collection that when I asked Lauren to bring me my nice black shoes she didn’t know which nice black pair to bring.  I’m sure I have at least 30 pairs of shoes in my wardrobe.  Can you tell I live with only women?)

It’s silly, really.  I’m a grown man who knows how to dress himself in clothes that look good.  Especially when I’m “suiting up.”  And yet I’m not complete without the approval of my wife and daughter.

Apparently I’m whipped.

It’s good to be whipped.

Do You Remember…

…Mr. Holland’s Opus?

I just watched it again.

Awesome.  Better than I remembered.  More meaningful than it could have been when I first saw it.

Reminded me a lot of Dad.  And a little of myself.

And I cried.  A lot.

Great movie.

Watch it.

Words With Friends

I’ve never played Scrabble.

But I got a game on my iPhone on Christmas called Words With Friends that, apparently, is the same thing.

I started playing it against random people over the internet.

At one point I was playing as many as a dozen games simultaneously.

And you know what?  I’m really good.  I can’t vouch for the quality of my competition… but it’s not even close.

I haven’t lost yet.  And I’ve really only had 2 or 3 close calls.  Most games are absolute blowouts.

And, while I really like the game, I’m getting bored with competition that isn’t.

So now I want someone who might be able to challenge me.  If you’ve got an iPhone then get the Words With Friends app and challenge me (mharward@phatrock.com).  I’d love to see how I do against friends and family.

Why Does It Work This Way?

Holly turns 12 on April 19th.  That means this summer she gets to go to girls camp for the first time.

She’s been looking forward to this for a long, long time.  Especially since Andi’s been going for 3 years and I’ve run the zip line or been a chaperone for 4 years.  So Holly gets to hear all the stories and fun stuff.

This year will be almost like a family vacation.  I’ll be up there running the zip line and some of the other rope events.  Lauren will be up there as a stake leader (stake YW presidency).  Andi will be there.  And Holly will be there.

Poor little Sierra will be the only one left out  :-(

Now let’s jump to another part of Holly’s life…

2 years ago we pulled her from her dance studio and hired a private dance teacher to give Holly 1-on-1 lessons.

We did that because Holly wanted to try out for a bigger dance company and needed some additional disciplines to even try out (she had previously focused exclusively on hip hop and breaking).

So, after a year of private lessons to round out her skill set, Holly tried out for the dance company she wanted to join.  And she was accepted.

So now she’s spent months practicing and taking what essentially amounts to a part-time job’s worth of lessons each week to get ready for various competitions and recitals.

Last week her company went and bought their costumes.

Today we were to find out when her big recital is (at the Orpheum Theatre).

And of all the days it could be, the 3 days of the recital (1 dress rehearsal, 2 performances) are the exact days of girls camp.

So what do we do?  Holly is totally confused.  1 minute she wants to dance… the next she wants to go to girls camp.

I hate to see her miss her first year at camp.

And I would hate to see her miss her first company recital that she has put so much of her time (and my money) into.

Why do schedules always seem to work this way?

Other than a trip to Hawaii a few weeks later, her summer schedule is wide open.

As it stands right now I think I’m going to be shuttling Holly back and forth between camp and home.  Hopefully she’ll be able to get the camp experience… while “commuting” back home for recitals each day.

It’s about a 2 hour drive each way.  So it’s not completely ridiculous.  But I wish she could have the time to just enjoy both moments.

Any better ideas?

Goodbye Las Vegas…

Last time I came to Vegas I splurged and rented a stretch Escalade limo to take the family out on the strip.  I thought that was pretty cool.

Last night, however, I experienced what doing Vegas right really looks like.

I went over to my friend’s (Amish Shah) place at the MGM Grand.

Whoa.

I get nice rooms in Vegas.  Typically 2 bedroom suites with marble floors and the works.

Ummm… yeah.

Amish was staying in the MGM Grand skylofts.  And it not even the same world over there.

I felt like I was going to see the president with all the security.

And the wait staff was constantly doing anything asked.  Anything.

The room itself had two master suites upstairs with gigantic walk in closets (apparently there’s also a 3 bedroom version that’s over 6,000 sf).

Downstairs is an entertainment room complete with a pool table, 2 living rooms, 2 sitting rooms, a casual dining room, a formal dining room, and several other smaller rooms.

It was cool.

Yes… I’m 40 years old.  And I still think big hotel rooms are cool.

Lucy would have flipped out.

I’m heading back home today.  I’m a little stressed because when I booked this trip I completely forgot that I’m an institute teacher.  And I teach on Tuesdays.  And today is Tuesday.

So I’m scrambling to get out of here earlier than I planned so I can make in back home with enough time to prepare my lesson and get to institute by 7:00pm.

At least I’m not losing an hour to DST.

Oh, wait.  I am?  Gotta go.

Good times.

Happy Birthday Amy!

Today is my sister’s birthday.

So, first off, congrats to me for remembering that ;-)

Of course, I couldn’t tell you how old she’ll be.  That I don’t know.  Somewhere in her 30’s, I suppose.

Growing up we despised each other.  Is it possible for a sister to be an arch enemy?  If yes, then she was my arch enemy.

And it took me a long time to see her as an adult.

And even longer to recognize her for what she is…

Funny (not everyone agrees… but I get her humor)

Inspiring

A Great Mom

Committed

Truthful

Direct (a.k.a. blunt.  also, rude)

Generous

Loving

Devoted

Strong

Insightful

Courageous

Righteous

Demanding

Willing

Creative

Deep

Intelligent

Old (jk)

Emotional

Caring

Concerned

Involved

Worthy

Beautiful (can I say that about a sister?  Oh well… I just did)

Active

Busy

Sweet (I threw that in there just to throw you off)

Protective

Searching

Dedicated

Clear

Passionate

Hopeful

Loving

And, thankfully, no longer my arch enemy.

Vegas Redux & Other Ramblings

I’m back in Las Vegas again.  This time I’m here for an industry conference (Affiliate Summit West 2010).

Technically I’m here to meet with several people regarding JV (joint venture) opportunities.  But I’m most excited to hear Dr. Robert Cialdini speak tomorrow.

If you don’t know him, he’s a professor and author of “Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion.”  Killer book.  Read it.  If you’re in business or work with people at any level then it’s on my “absolutely must read” list.

Yeah… I know… I’m a geek.

Whatever.  I’m mad stoked.

I’m supposed to meet my brother, Brett, here tomorrow.  I think I’m excited.  I’m in kind of a zone, work-wise.  Don’t want to mess with it too much.  For me it’s the equivalent of having a good hitting streak in baseball.  You get a little superstitious… even when you’re not superstitious.

I’m superstitious.

Randomly…

I saw Sherlock Holmes yesterday with Mom and Lauren.  What did I think?  Meh.

I just finished “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Daniel Pink.  Excellent.  And surprising (hey… just like the title says).  It really “lives” for me.  I get it.  I think I’m ideally cut out for the coming revolution he describes.  I’m giddy.  If you’re a business owner or manager you deserve to read it.

This is why I don’t gamble (among other reasons)… after going 3 for 4 last week on my NFL picks, I’m on the verge of going 0 for 4 this week.  That’s bad.  I’m glad all I lost was a little bit of pride… which is probably a good thing.

The last time I was in Vegas I had my family with me.  At one point I needed to get some cash out of an ATM inside the casino in New York, New York (where my kids had just burned through a surprising amount of money at the arcade).  As the cash came out my youngest daughter (Sierra) came over.  Excitedly she asked “How much money did you get?”  “$400,” I replied.  Her awed response?  “Cool… how much did you put in?”  Only in Vegas.

I’m excited to eat good food tonight.  I’m thinking sushi.  Or maybe Roy’s (spectacular).

Not so excited to do it alone.  (I know… weird, huh?  At least for me.)

I tweeted to see if anyone else here at ASW wants to go with.  No response.  Yet.

Yesterday Sierra’s friend fell while roller blading at my house.  She thought she broke her arm.  I’ve heard that before (you know, since I have kids… and they always think they broke something).  I told here to suck it up and it would be ok.  Lauren believed her.  I thought she was being an enabler.  I was wrong.  Thank goodness for mothers… dads would really screw some things up if it were left to us.

My next book is “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right” by Atul Gawande.  He’s a good author and I like his work.

I believe we should all have a manifesto.  I don’t, however, believe we should have a checklist.  Maybe he’ll change how I feel.  We’ll see.