Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 30 2006 Entry

November 30. Thursday Night.

Hi Journey.

BizTap. Sometimes I just can’t wait to go but also there’s another part of me that just dreads it. Mere mingling makes me nervous at first, J.

Malcolm and Bridgette there, but no Jeremy. It’s just as well. We’ve phoned each other a few times over the past several weeks, but he’s always coming up with some excuse why he can’t make time for even a cup of coffee.

Malcolm was his cordial self, but he yammered on and on about a client he’d just landed. Wheat. North American Linear Analysis was analyzing the effect on changing the drilling dates on the wheat crop in six Midwest states. I was bored silly listening to him, but he was just so excited about it that his reddish-brown eyes darted about all the while he talked. He was actually gesturing with his hands, Journey. Malcolm!--can you believe it?

So I stayed and listened for five minutes. I felt a bit of a voyeur, sticking around just to catch glimpses of the light playing across those beautiful eyes. But he didn’t seem to mind. I think he was actually glad to see me.

Although when Bridgette arrived he took a cue from her attitude, wrapped up his monologue, and left the two of us alone.

She was a wreck. One of her reps lost his biggest client this week, and while she’s afraid for him, she’s way more afraid for what the loss will do to her numbers. I certainly can’t say that I blame her.

I think that’s one reason Dad always kept his own accounts and steered clear of being a sales manager--your income is too dependent on what so many reps under you do or don’t do. Dad always liked to be 100% responsible for his own sales destiny.

So I hung around after everybody else left and shared a couple of extra beers with Bridgette. I suppose we stayed too late, but she needed somebody to talk to and I sure owe her that after all she’s done to help me get into the business to business market.

She’ll bounce back. She’s tough.

Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 28 2006 Entry

November 28. Tuesday Night.

Hi Journey.

Of course Mom and I talked at Sisi’s place but Journey it didn’t seem like there is really much to report. She’s doing well, no pressure, although I swear I thought she was going to hug me to death when she first grabbed me.

But Journey the whole time I was in New York I got the feeling that a part of her was very faraway. I assume it’s Casey; but then my mind starts racing and I think that maybe it’s me or it’s something like cancer or possibly something is wrong with their finances….and before you know it I was all balled up inside and worried on the plane all the way home Sunday night.

Sid and Dakota and I hung out on Saturday. Again, nothing much to report. We did a bit of shopping--yes, the crowds were brutal but the weather was pleasant in the city. It was good just hanging out with the three of us.

And of course the twins and Cora and I had a marvelous time on Friday. Friday night all of us in the family piled together around the kitchen table and got on Carm’s speaker phone and ran up a half-hour long chat with Casey. Dad allowed he’d spring for it, but I’ve a feeling Percy will just charge it off on his expense account. He says his company has some connections in Egypt.

Casey doing fine--claims she hasn’t met any new men.

Yet.

Flight back on Sunday uneventful; ditto for work these past two days. Everybody is just coming down from three days of heavy grazing.

It was a good trip, though, J. Truly, I do feel quite blessed, and very grateful.

Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 26 2006 Entry

November 26. Sunday Night.

Hi Journey.

“Plains, just how many times must I completely say it, that you are crazy for worrying about Casey?”

Thanksgiving night, shooting the breeze with my people at Carm’s. Mom and Dad and the kids were out strolling about Rockefeller Plaza. Dad owned up he was a bit afraid to try skating, but maybe if one of the twins held his hand….

Carmen opened her mouth to rebut that, but Sid jumped in instead: “No, Dakota, you’re wrong. Both of these sisters are quite right to worry. Casey’s in terrible danger from her very own family. But it’s the sisters we have to worry about, not some radicals in Egypt or Polynesia chasing her about the place.”

“It’s Melanesia,” Carmen interjected, elbowing him in the rib. “And you very much know it, Sid. All you lawyers are the same.”

“Dearest, if that were true, then why didn’t you choose me all those years ago when I first met your little sister?” Sid deadpanned.

“You weren’t a lawyer then. Besides, I wasn’t quite ready for a sex change.”

Percy just couldn’t hold back any more. “Plus you were such a nerd back then, Sid.”

“At least my clothes matched.”

I roared. “Yeah, I’m sure they matched the mates they left back in the department store. They certainly didn’t match each other. Who dresses you nowadays?”

Dakota raised her hand.

“You’re kidding, right?” Carmen asked.

Dakota nodded sheepishly.

“No way. Since college?”

She nodded again, but this time I sensed a bit of pride in it. “Sure. Crystal, he just looked so pathetic whenever he came up to visit us at Smith.”

Carmen couldn’t resist: “Wasn’t looking pathetic a requirement just to get in at Smith?”

I opened my mouth to counter-jibe, but Dakota beat me to it. “Typical Mt. Holyjoke humor. At least we only looked pathetic.”

“Enough banter,” Percy said. “Crystal, let’s us have a look at this book Carmen was telling us about.”

I shot a look at my sister. I thought that when I told her about the book it was just going to be our secret, but I guess I was wrong. That’s what I get for thinking.

I got up and fetched it from my overnight bag. No motel this time, Journey. I just bagged it on Sisi’s couch. SetCo is putting them up in temporary housing until the people renting their house on Long Island leave. Right now it looks like they’ll be out of Manhattan by the first of February. Still, this place isn’t bad. Three furnished bedrooms and a nice living room/family room. Too bad the decorator was drunk when she chose the drapes, but other than that not a bad flat.

I handed it to my brother-in-law. “Careful not to tear it. I’ve tried steam and a knife, but for the life of me I can’t pry apart those two sheets.”

“Back in a minute,” he said. Then he ducked into their bedroom before I could say a word.

The rest of us chatted; Dakota’s back on again with Wyatt Hyatt--although he couldn’t make it out for dinner. Sid’s not on with anybody, and Carmen pursed her mouth into a coy grin when we pressed if she and Percy had learned any Japanese derivatives of Kama Sutra positions during their extended stay.

Percy returned in just a few minutes, presenting me the book with the two sheets perfectly separated.

“But how…” I started to ask.

“Lawyer magic,” Sid finished. Percy nodded.

Carm cocked her head in Percy's direction. “Told you he was good between the sheets.”

We all talked until way past Midnight. Good things, J. Good memories built this Thanksgiving.

For an hour or so I didn’t even think about how much I wanted Casey there with us.

Goodnight, Journey.

PS. Yes, of course I’ll let you know what was on those pages. All in good time, my dearest J. All in good time.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 23 2006 Entry

November 23. Thursday Night.

Hi Journey.

We have just so many WriteBack postcards I really needed two flights to LaGuardia to finish them up.

But I sped through them. It’s the best way to keep my finger on the pulse of the company.

Joni indexed all the answers once again into a spreadsheet. This year she printed it out for me and highlighted different areas in color. It made it much easier to read on the plane; I didn’t have to pull my laptop out once on the flight to Chicago or the flight to New York.

Results almost mirrored last year’s: 76% married, 92% female, 77% employed outside the home. 89% have kids, 47% with at least one child still at home. 69% read some books or magazines or websites on home decorating. Top 3 magazines are still Cosmo, Better Homes and Gardens, and AARP The Magazine. Cooking tops the hobby list.

And we still have a high approval rating: 96% this year. But the referral rate is always my best indicator: 42%, up 7% from last year.

That referral rate, not that’s the real deal, Journey. They might lie on a little customer service satisfaction survey, but they aren’t going to lie to their friends when they recommend you. If they do, and we blow it for their friends, not only do they risk the friendship, but they risk their own reputation. And that’s something equally valuable for most of my clients.

Thanksgiving dinner was great, but I’m drop-dead tired. I’ll fill you in later.

Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 21 2006 Entry

November 21. Tuesday Night.

Hi Journey.

Well I am just so excited to fly out I can hardly contain myself. I leave on a late flight tomorrow to LaGuardia. I think I get in just before Midnight, but I don’t care. I’ll try and sleep most of the way there.

I still haven’t borrowed Joni’s vaporizer. I keep forgetting. I’m just going to throw the Red Book in my carry-on and see if a bit of altitude adjustment does anything to force those pages open.

And if nothing else, I’m sure Carm or Mom will have an idea.

Mellow at work this week, J. Everybody’s grinding through projects and mostly keeping to themselves. Joni is bigger than I ever thought she could be, but she certainly isn’t getting growly. That’s definitely a plus. Shelly suggested we just order in pizza tomorrow, which is fine with me. Everybody is so busy getting ready for the feast on Thursday that toting any extra food in from home would just be a real pain.

Just finished packing, J. Carry-on only. Glad Casey taught me to travel light!

Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 19 2006 Entry

November 19. Sunday Night.

Hi Journey.

I am so very close to exhaustion. The times when I’ve been tired before I could just kick in an extra hour of sleep and it was no big deal.

But Journey, I slept clean through Sunday school this morning!

I only woke up when the phone ran, about half past ten.

“Crystal?”

“Mm-hmm,” I mumbled.

“Are you OK? The class is worried; especially Tisha Ellis”

I sat upright in bed, glanced at the clock. The time stung my eyes and I instantly knew I’d let the kids down.

“Mrs. Trepals?”

“Yes. Are you OK or just oversleep?”

“I’m fine,” I said as I fought back a yawn. “I am just sooo sorry. Tell the class, will you?”

“No problem. I’ve done it myself. Of course, when the choir director oversleeps, sometimes the congregation is a bit relieved.”

“Unless the preacher goes a bit over with his sermon,” I said.

She laughed. One thing I like about her; she does have a sense of humor. “You just make sure you take care. I don’t wonder you oversleep, the hours you keep running that store of yours. Bye.”

I woke up late afternoon; took a hot bath, and crawled back into bed, Journey. I think my body was telling me something my mind didn’t want to hear.

Better now than in Long Island with all the family.

Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 16 2006 Entry

November 16. Thursday Night.

Hi Journey.

Today my Shelly actually clenched her fist while telling me about how one of her clients had stood her up for lunch. Shelly had spent most of last weekend and then all of Tuesday rushing about to gather fabric swatches and paint chips and had poured over the numbers time and again all because her client simply had to have a presentation by Wednesday.

And then the woman bailed on the appointment. Shelly rang her up--and caught her in Los Angeles at a trade show. She’d completely spaced off telling Shelly she’d be on the road. Worse, she tried to weasel her way out of it, feigning she didn’t know the two of them had for-sure agreed on yesterday.

“Right, after I fired off two follow-up emails and a voice mail letting her know I’d be there,” she said, shaking her head back and forth. “She’s not the kind of client we need, Crystal. Not when I’m busting my tail on these bank branches.”

“I agree,” I answered. We were sitting in Tethered Helium, surrounded by little mounds of WriteBack cards Joni was sorting. Before I leave for Carm’s she’ll hand me several rubber-banded stacks for me to review. “None of us need customers like that.”

“Of course, she just had to live in Brentwood.”

I threw my arm up, pasted the back of my hand to my forehead, feigning fright: “Not Brentwood. Oh no, we’ll never be able to show our face there again if we lose her.”

“OK, OK, I’m worrying too much, right?”

“As usual.” I reached across and touched her arm lightly. “But it’s that same intent focus on pleasing them that keeps makes your customers love you.”

“I suppose,” she said half-heartedly.

“You can suppose all you want; I know. Now, I’ve an idea. Why don’t you call up Mrs. Dr. Ruice, and see if she even knows this lady. Maybe there’s something else going on we don’t know about.”

“Good idea,” she said as she nodded. “Maybe give me an excuse to drive out to her place for a cup of tea.”

“And an upsell.”

“You know, that’s my favorite flavor,” Shelly said. Then she gave me a sly wink.

I about fell out of my chair.

Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 14 2006 Entry

November 14. Tuesday Night.

Hi Journey.

Joni is great but I’ve an feeling that she’s holding back too much during our marketing strategy sessions.

We shoehorned in a Bloom Team meeting today. Everyone on staff is just so deadlined right now with new proposals and delivering current projects on time that none of them really wanted to noodle through new ideas on how to improve our marketing.

Yet we must. We must constantly strive to be better, or we will fall behind. That’s what the best companies do--they keep reinventing themselves.

I suppose you can overdo it. I know that since we were two weeks late getting out the WriteBack campaign I’m certainly feeling a bit jammed up. Actually, I’ve resigned myself to just going over all the cards on the plane en route to LaGuardia. I booked my ticket on United, so I’m sure I’ll end up trundling from B to C concourse when I transfer through O’Hare.

At least I bagged an aisle seat.

Joni started to mention something about how she thought we could improve the front entrance. But immediately Viv and Dana blew it off and went on about their ideas for some new content for our web page. Journey, I goofed up and just let them prattle on rather than steering the meeting back around to Joni’s point. I could tell Joni was hurt because she shut up right away. I think I just need to go back to her one on one later and see what was really on her mind.

Or, better yet, wait two weeks and flesh what the idea really was in front of the team. That way I can acknowledge her input publicly.

Dad would be proud of that tactic.

Can’t wait to see him in a week.

Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 12 2006 Entry

November 12. Sunday Night.

Hi Journey.

Carm sure has a great companion in Percy. Did she rescue him from his overbearing parents all those years ago when they met at that TAP party? Of course.

But it’s a two-way street. He’s just a fantastically devoted husband and father. If he has any flaw, it’s that chronic lack of self-confidence. I’ve seen it time and again in the children on over-pressuring parents.

Maybe that’s part of Dana’s problem; why she is typically so willing to follow Dana’s lead.

Hey, enough work thoughts. It’s the weekend, after all. And I just had to ring up Percy on the eve of his 31st birthday.

“Happy Birthday, big guy. How is it being back in the states?”

“Great; except to tell you the truth I actually got used to not-driving when I was in Japan.”

“Want to go back?” I asked.

He laughed. “Sure--as a tourist. Although as busy as it’s been at work lately, I might as well be in Japan for as much as I get to see the family.”

“I don’t know why you don’t just leave SetCo.”

This time he didn’t laugh. He roared. “Crystal, I didn’t just pull a six month stint over there--with your sister and the kids, no less--to come back here and quit. I’ve got a 20% raise and a bigger office.”

“OK, OK, my bad. Look, I just know how frustrated you get sometimes. Maybe there’s some other line of work you can get into.”

“I hear there’s going to be a big demand for defending designers who drive their bank clients insane.”

“No kidding, oh serious one? Maybe I’ll just ring up Sid and see if he’s got any room in his firm for ex ex-pats.”

“Sid. Now there’s a real lawyer. I haven’t been inside a courtroom in over a year. By the way, I hear he’s coming to Turkey Day. True?”

“He emailed me a confirmation back yesterday,” I said.

“Great. I’ll look forward to seeing him. Hey, thanks for the call, Crystal, but we’re just scooting out the door. Cora’s Brownie troop is going ice-skating, and I’m the DD.”

“Daredevil?”

“Dad-driver.”

“Got it. OK, have a good b-day tomorrow.”

“Yes. And hey, you can still trust me, even though I’ll be over thirty.”

It was my turn to laugh. “Percy, I never trust lawyers. Sid taught me that, way back when we were in high school. Goodnight.”

Goodnight, Journey.

P.S. I’m trying to steam open that stuck page on the red book. I put it on the kitchen counter next to a teakettle earlier, hoping that would work. No luck, yet. Next I’m going to see if I can borrow Joni’s vaporizer for a night and see if that works. See ya!

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 9 2006 Entry

November 9. Thursday Night.

Hi Journey.

That Dakota is really a fun girl, but just the minute I start to think I’ve figured out her romance life, she pulls a 180 on me.

“I’m going to trade in the Ford Focus,” she said.

“Trading up from a Hyatt to a Hilton?”

She just laughed. “No, I’m thinking of selling my apartment and vagabonding around the US for a year. Probably just find a nice comfortable Holiday Inn to snuggle up in.”

“Try finding a rhyme for that.”

“Tough, I know,” she admitted.

“Hey, did you know you’re coming out to my sister’s for Thanksgiving?”

“I guess I do now.”

“Absolutely. Bring Wyatt Hyatt along. Or will he be full-on traded by then?”

“We’ll see,” she laughed. “He does have a shot or two at redemption.”

Don’t we all, J. Don’t we all.


Goodnight, Journey.

P.S. Remind me to shoot an email to Sid tomorrow and invite him over to Sisi’s, too. Plus, I still need to book my ticket.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 7 2006 Entry

November 7. Tuesday Night.

Hi Journey.

Elections! I am glad that’s over. I was going to puke if I saw any more mud oozing out from the TV. Of course, the morning show kids at KAAZ have invited every candidate from Auditor to Weed Control Authority on their show to air their views.

I listened a few mornings last week, but only when I was really sick of top-pop on the FM.

WriteBack is two weeks behind. Joni being pregnant doesn’t help. We just finally sent out all the cards last week. Answers already starting to trickle in. Probably need to sit down that weekend before Thanksgiving and go through them all. Journey, I feel way over-busy just now; I can almost taste that turkey and the long weekend already.

Phoned Carmen a few minutes ago; a real phone, not a computer. Skype is great--hard to beat anything free--but it’s much more enjoyable to talk to her on my cell while standing out on my matchbook-sized balcony, watching the cold November stars come alive.

“Crystal, it’s no surprise he’s not calling you,” Sisi said. “He’s probably scared to death you’ll botch the makeover on one of the branches and that he’ll get blackballed if he’s seen getting too frisky with some demonic designer.”

I felt like slapping her. Instead I said: “I can be discrete.”

Sisi just laughed. “Here in New York you can be discrete. But in that hometown of ours? You’ll be about as discrete as I was schlepping my three kiddos about on Hanzomon subway line in Tokyo. Somebody will spy the two of you together before the end of your second date. And besides….” Her voice faded.

After 28 years, I know when my sister’s hiding something.

“Give.”

“Nothing, really.”

“C’mon, Sisi. Give. Either you give now, or the truth will ouch when I get to Manhattan and twist up your arm.”

She laughed. “Maybe I studied some judo in Japan--better watch out what you wish for. But OK, here’s what I started to blurt out before my common sense barometer kicked in--and remember, you asked for it. There’ll be a direct link between his bank co-workers and your staff.”

“Shelly?”

“You can’t help but tell her.”

I felt the hair on the back of my neck perk up. “I certainly can…not,” I finished sheepishly.

“Of course not. Neither can Mom or me. Casey’s the only one of us four that can keep a secret.”

“Speaking of, when she was helping you pack a couple weeks ago did you have a chance to snoop out the real reason behind the exodus to Egypt?”

“Mum’s the word. Translate, study modern and ancient Egyptian, traipse through the pyramids, see the sights. Maybe that’s what really is behind her trip.”

I shook my head. “Nope. Something else is going on. Something we can’t see.”

“Crystal, I need to go tuck in Cora and the boys. Make sure you invite Dakota and Sid over when you talk to them, OK?”

“Thanks, Carmen. I know they’ll appreciate that.”

“Hey, what’s Thanskgiving, without family?” she said.

Indeed.

Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 5 2006 Entry

November 5. Sunday Night.

Hi Journey.

Guess what? I just now remembered the last Thursday came and went and I never even gave a wisp of a thought to the BizTap meeting.

I could spend an hour trying to analyze that. I remember just a few months ago; I was so hungry to break into the B-B world that I couldn’t wait to get to Korova’s and start handing out business cards. Now here I am spacing it off. Smart, Crystal--stop doing what works just when you’re starting to fire on all cylinders.

Or maybe I’m just trying to avoid men. Not that they’re exactly beating down my door to get here--no Jeremy again this weekend. Not even a call. Probably better that way, anyway. No use mixing the personal with the professional.

It’s not like I don’t have enough lined up at the shop to keep me busy right up until I board the plane and head to NYC for Thanksgiving. Viv and Dana each hauled in a new prospect on Friday; so they both met me at the shop for donuts and coffee first thing yesterday morning. We brainstormed on layouts and lighting. Probably good we load up the first three weeks of this month with as many projects as we can, because come Thanksgiving and the holidays business will really drop off.

Sunday school uneventful. Our raking job is just a memory; new leaves cover the whole of the churchyard. And it’s getting chillier; not even Jack Heckstrom volunteered to grab a rake.

Need to phone up Carm and start co-coordinating Turkey Day travel plans. I didn’t want to bother her until now; let her get settled into being back stateside. But hey, she’s been here a week; that’s time enough for any mom worth her salt to settle in.


Goodnight, Journey.

Crystal Trino's Journal Nov 2 2006 Entry

November 2. Thursday Night.

Hi Journey.

It’s always false with fear, but no matter. See Mom just phoned and said Casey is tucked in safely in Cairo.

And five minutes later Casey texted me. She’ll be bunking down in Cairo for a month; she’s enrolled in a language immersion school. Looks like some of her Japanese divers from the New Caledonia stint have referred another group her. This group is touring Egypt in December. She lets on that she knows enough Egyptian to get by, but that her accent is a bit rough.

Right. For her picking up languages is like playing multiple sports: the more she learns, the easier it is. I bet she’s really out rubbing stelae and boning up on her glyphs.

I just want her to get that computer hooked up so we can talk for free again. It’s been over two weeks.

Nothing more from Sid on the painter. Nothing more from Casey about him, either. Better just let that sleeping dog lie for right now.

I’m going out for a long run. Still not a peep from Jeremy. Maybe I’ll just spend the weekend working at the shop.

And figuring out a way to steam ledger pages apart.

Goodnight, Journey.