A New Way to Recession Proof Your Biz?

I parked in one of those multi-ethnic strip malls I love so much yesterday and noticed a little storefront with lots of signs and neon. Nothing out of the ordinary, but when I took a closer look at each of the signs, my eyes widened a little bit more with each one.

At first I thought it must be a mistake to have a lunch buffet inside a sweet and spice shop. What were they serving, all-you-can-eat tarragon and Goobers? But then I noticed they also offered notary service, income tax preparation, groceries, video rentals, mailbox rentals and Indian food - along with the sweets and spices. I thought, well, if one aspect of the business doesn't work out, he has many, many, many more he can fall back on. All within a tiny storefront in a Tustin strip mall.

I think I might use other areas of my life to expand my services. I could always offer childcare, taxi service, personal shopper and bartending.

Stuff Journalists Like

My friend Jim sent me a link I thought I'd share. When it comes down to it, journalists are a fairly simple group to figure out, much like the rest of us. I was just shocked that press releases ranked so high. I would have put it much lower on my list of Stuff I Like.
If you go to the site, there's some funny stuff about each ranking, although I'm still trying to figure out what #1 & #2 are.

Enjoy.

List of Stuff Journalists Like
#3 free food
#5 the good old days
#7 election day
#9 coffee
#10 drinking
#11.5% statistics
#12 inverted pyramids

#13 awards
#14 bylines
#15 reporter's notebooks
#17 breaking news
#18 hometown heroes
#19 readers’ feedback
#20 nut grafs
#21 All the President's Men
#22 interns
#23 ap stylebooks
#24 trends
#25 pandemics
#26 writing a book
#29 exclusives
#30 press releases

#31 professional organizations
#32 press passes
#33 shorthand
#38 NPR
#41 scandals
#43 anonymous sources
#44 Barack Obama
#50 Google
#51 jargon
#55 outsmarting spell check
#56 dressing differently
#57 vending machines
#61 cursing
#63 procrastinating
#69 dating other journalists
#72 swag
#73 citizen journalism
#75 low pay
#84 writing standing up
#85 abbrvtns
#86 working holidays
#99 year in reviews
#101 weather stories
#112 press areas
#119 Twitter
#121 furloughs
#159 throwing shoes
#181 Firefox
#312 The Wire
#356 holograms
#666 layoffs

Finding Your Happy Place

There is no denying this economy is taking its toll on everybody. Whether you or someone you know has been laid off, you've lost money in your 401K, the value of your home has nosedived or you just can't afford that Spring Break vacation anymore - there's no doubt things are tough all over.

I was listening to an interview with Depak Chopra the other day, and his advice was to take some time every day to be quiet. While I think this is good advice, what's worked for me is to find some time to find your happy place, and for me, that's something that makes me laugh.

A perfect example came from a coworker the other day. He told me he was out to breakfast with his young and very adorable little boy. The place was way crowded and the manager started yelling at the bus boy to clean a table. It was so noisy, the manager had to repeat the bus boy's name just to get his attention. "Juan. Juan. JUAN!" said manager. My friend's little boy responded with "Two, three, four." We laughed so hard at the time, and it's become a running joke. All we have to say is "JUAN!" and we start cracking up.

Yesterday, my husband and I tricked the kids into thinking a leprechaun had visited the house, left four leaf clover glitter everywhere, got into the Lucky Charms and then peed in our toilet. The kids were shocked, amazed and cracking up at the green pee. They totally believed.

I think I've found my new Happy Place.

A Week In The Life

Overheard during my travels this week:

One skinny girl to an even skinnier girl in the gym: "You're not fat, that's just your skin."

A portly man talking to his dieting wife at Bravo Burger: "Just think, in a couple weeks you'll be able to touch the floor. The only time you touch the floor now is when you're falling."

The neighbor kid to my son when talking about school: "You'll love the third grade. Third grade is a good year."

How true...
How true...

Only In Orange County

Best line of the week - overheard at the Spa: "So after the wedding, I didn't know if I'd gotten married or sold my soul to the devil."