Deb Smouse

I haven’t talked much about work or really even personal stuff lately, have i?
Work first.  Busy and I love it.
I have made no bones about loving what I do, and I still believe that the sign of being a  success in my business is not about the balance in my bank account or the number [...]

I went to dinner with The Marine Boy tonight. This month is kind of our three-year anniversary . Yep, three years ago we met and have been friends ever since. At times, there has been a teeny more than friendship, but it has always boiled down to friends. Being with him is [...]

Last year, I spent a fair amount of my time simply trying to survive. The travel was constant, but part of my lifestyle, the work rewarding in many ways, but I also discovered that when stressed emotionally, it is very exhausting. Mentally. Physically. Oh. and Emotionally as well. I [...]

The work with my newest client will be (mostly) out of the DC area and my next trip in will involve staying 12 nights in a row. In one way, I am really looking forward to it….because the thing that stresses me on the travel is all the back and forth part. Once [...]

I spend a larger portion of my time communicating with clients, colleagues and friends via electronic means.  I keep appointments and reminders on my Outlook calendar.  But.  Sometimes.  There is nothing like paper.
Looking inwards and evaluating myself  is worthless if I don’t take advantage of what I discover about myself….then what is the point?
One and [...]

I have until tomorrow on this trip….and I am thinking that tonight, I need to visit this man….or at least his Memorial.
I really enjoyed my visit to the Jefferson Memorial earlier this month, but it isn’t in my heart like The Lincoln Memorial is.  I think, tonight, after work, I will make a visit to [...]

Well, this is no longer a writing week.  I had one day where I was able to spend more than a few stolen moments writing, so I can’t exactly call that dedicated writing time.
I agreed to a new consulting contract yesterday.  The rates are inline with what I wanted for PM type work, so I [...]

I had planned on spending this weekend getting caught up on work.  Three meetings last week means three sets of minutes as well as the need to work on  a matrix.
But.  I didn’t.  I spent time with kiddos…and decided work wasn’t really…..in the forefront of my mind as much as it had been on Thursday [...]

Born:  December 2006.
Not quite dead.  But fatally injured.
Subject:  my Gateway Laptop
yep.  Poor little laptop.  All the traveling - the in and out of xray - the opening and closing everytime it’s moved or packed.
The CD Driver stopped working about a month ago.  And Friday night, the left hinge cracked and exposed it’s little wires.
I was [...]

My creative spell from the weekend is suddenly gone.
Sometimes, I think that the logical and creative sides of the brain are separate. As I’ve gotten older, the separation seems to be broader.  See, when I go through long hours of my logic side, my creative side shuts down….and then, it’s hard to get it kick [...]

My clothes are basically laid out but they aren’t seeming to hop into my suitcase on their own. I guess I should be packing.
I think I may have actually worked too much this weekend. Though the dog has loved me being home and pretty much in one place, I’ve spent the majority of time [...]

Today was one of those days that just fell into place. I think it’s because it started well in that I got the best sleep I’ve had in ages. Yes, I am traveling. No, I haven’t suddenly started sleeping well in hotels. My main client - who is building [...]

Pour Your Heart into It : How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time by Howard Schultz
I’ve been a Starbucks fan since the first Starbucks in my area opened up….which was about ten years ago. It was during a time I was in full-force “have it all” mommy mode. Katie had [...]

My office is carpeted, but I do have one of those plastic floor mat things on the floor. It seems, however, that it drifts. I honestly thought all those little plastic spikes in the bottom were supposed to keep it in place…but I realized it was off when i scooted over and the [...]