The Conference That Keeps on Giving

Nominees

As the days have waned on, last week's conference continues to have an impact. Prior to the conference, I was nominated for a board position with a national organization. The group requested my photo and bio, which I naively sent along, not realizing that it would be on a board for everyone to view as they entered the exhibit hall. My campaign manager, Dawne, posted on facebook and a slogan was created which I can not share even on my personal blog. Since one of the other nominees is a friend of mine, I feel the need to say, I had nothing to do with the facebook joke and was only clued-in on the slogan (which is a joke) during the fourth email exchange. I am honored to be nominated, especially given the circumstances of my nomination, but I am honestly just riding the roller coaster of others making.

In another nice moment, I was offered a contract job (just an extra gig), which I mulled over for the past week. Though once again I was honored to be asked, especially as my instructional experience was mentioned, surprise! I have decided to turn down the offer at this time. Multiple people mentioned certification to me, including Dawne who reviewed my travel writer's report, which was the first time I worked on someone else's research and wrote a complete narrative report, including my analysis of records and recommendations. I had fun with the experience, but can't commit the time required to become certified at the moment.

While attending conferences, I am conscious of my interactions with people and how they can be interpreted, This is thanks to Andrew, my professional guru and mentor. Yet with all my precautions I still wind up sitting in the wrong spot at the wrong time or having people create situations that never occurred. My boss asked about a rumored conversation when person X instructed me on improving my interpersonal relations. My boss listed the reasons he thought I did not deserve the lecture, which is kind of sweet, but I felt the need to stop him because this instruction never happened. My boss shared with me the rest of the rumor, which included my hero-worship of my boss. Now, I have the utmost respect for my boss, but I am not in awe of him. I shared with him some tidbits from a lunch, when person X claimed person Y hero-worshiped my boss, but it was stated in a negative way rather than as a compliment. So apparently, someone is imagining a conversation and sharing it with others. My boss was kind enough to note that I am a marked woman, which makes me think of my animals. Apparently, my name was bandied about in several meetings and discussions, which I will interpret as a good thing.

I am grateful that I did not provide much fodder during the week. Though I showed my ass a few times (damn short skirts and high stools, plus setting up the display) and I could have entered a wet-dress or drowned rat contest (damn torrential downpour while loading the van), I thankfully was not wandering around topless while in full view of the atrium area. Though the rumor mill may tell a different tale soon enough.