Why can't I ever spell brochure correctly?

Seriously. I never spell this word correctly on the first try. I always realize its wrong when I do it, and correct it, but its never correct the first time.

I've noticed this, but never really realized it until working on one for a client. That's right. Digital Ninjas Media, Inc. has another client (the first was Stateline Chimney Sweeps). Steve's Auto Repair requested that we make him a brochure. This was originally going to be a job for Ninja Partner Jim, but... well... Husband and I ended up having to cancel some plans to get it done last minute. We had to purchase software (the reason Jim was going to do it is because he had the software), and spent around 6 hours getting it done, but we were pretty happy with it. The client liked 1 of the 2 versions he was presented and got them printed right away. It may have been stressful, but it was fun working at home, with Husband, and growing our business.

This past weekend we met with a potential client who owns a hair salon. She's rated one of the top 5 colorists in the nation. We sent her a quote and will hopefully hear from her soon.

Still waiting for the go-ahead to prepare a website for the Souls Harbor Food Pantry, which will be done pro-bono, but will allow us another site for our portfolio. Since we've decided to offer discounts for agencies such as this, hopefully it will open up doors to other non-profits for the area.

On that note... its back to work.

Hogs on Ice

This weekend, Husband and I went to our first IceHogs (hockey) game. As they were warming up, I was noticing the angle from my head down to the ice, the fact that the protective plexiglass did not interrupt the path of that angle, and the fact that many of the pucks were going airborne as they all took their practice shots into the goal. I mentioned to Heath that I really did not want to get hit in the head with the puck, then we both blew it off as a very unlikely chance. However, not 10 minutes later, a puck slammed into the seat in front of me. My first hockey game led to my first souvenir. It was pretty great. There was a lot of fighting. Some of it right in front of us. Our team lost (the game and at least one of the fights), but it was still super fun. Thanks to our Digital Ninjas Media partner, Jim, for getting us the tickets. It was definitely something I could get into.

In other news, my attempt to raise ghost shrimp has once again failed. I returned home one evening to find she had dropped about half of her eggs. I quickly set up the other tank to put her in so I could try to save the rest of the eggs, but she never dropped them. Instead, two days later, she died. Perhaps raising ghost shrimp is not one of those things I'm good at.

Now its time for Ranting with Wanda.
Its Monday. I'm not a fan of Monday's. But I show up to work anyway. This particular morning I had a plan to stop at the gas station (I really need gas) and pick up a Pepsi (as receptionist is really bad about letting the guys know when we are low on pop - something she regularly gets in trouble for, yet still never does), but I got stuck in road construction on Route 2. (Been down route 2 lately? WOW, they've torn up the field and taken down trees south of Latham all the way to wear the road opens up to 4 lanes). By the time I get out of there, I realize that if I stop to get gas and a Pepsi I will be late, so I don't. I can always go on lunch, right? So I get to work at 8:28, a mere 2 minutes before I'm supposed to be there. I am, of course, the only one there. I know the receptionist is always late. Every day in fact, except for the once a month when she manages to get here 15 minutes early. No idea what is going on there, but I can't figure out how someone who only lives 7 minutes away can be late EVERY DAY. Today, she was exceptionally late. She had to stop at McDonald's for breakfast (which she does EVERY DAY, as well).
Its just frustrating to me that I can't bring myself to do that. I would have had a fairly viable reason for being late had I stopped, after all, I didn't know they were stopping traffic on Route 2 and I do need gas; I wouldn't have gotten into trouble. Yet, I couldn't. And every day, our receptionist is late, and she still stops at McDonald's. There's even a few times when she's only 5 minutes late and I know that if she wouldn't have stopped, she would have been here on time. (sigh)

Integrity, anyone?

This rant brought to you by the letters M and R and the number 3.

What, now?

I'm pretty sure I got in trouble this morning, but what I got in trouble for is so crazy, I'm not really sure...

One of our new tenants came in the office this morning looking for a phone book. One of the Powers That Be here stepped out of their office as I was telling said tenant that I didn't have one because I don't use them. The tenant simply replied "Yeah, but my internet is so intermittent down there, I can't get on right now to look it up." So, after a while of searching we sent him on his way. I was then asked by the aforementioned Power That IS if I really didn't have one. I replied no, I hadn't in the 3 years I had been there as I just look it up on the internet, its faster and has proven to be more up-to-date. I was then lectured on why I need a phone book (there could be information in there that isn't on the internet, apparently).

O_o

Puppies!

I have no puppies. I saw an ad for Golden Retriever puppies, though, (which are my all-time favorite dog that I would love to have) and couldn't help it.

The Blanket and Food Drive is moving slow. I ended up putting things aside while dealing with bronchitis and other bacteria-related issues, but it should be back in full swing pretty soon. I may even call my friend at the Rockford Public Library to see about putting up flyers and having a drop box there.

In other news: My ghost shrimp has eggs! I knew that I had purchased male and female (as there is an incredible difference in size) but all of the reading I had done on them indicated that they would not mate unless they were in groups of 6 or more. I know, there are so many inappropriate comments that can be made about that. However, my two are apparently very happy with each other. So, tonight I prepare the other tank so I can separate her until she lays the eggs and I'll give raising ghost shrimp another shot. I'm such a nerd.

I'm also learning how to create a mobile website for a current client of Digital Ninjas Media (check out No comments:

Ideas

The problem is, I have a ton of ideas. The bigger problem is, I want to do them ALL.

My sister-in-law announced they are in need of more blankets for the homeless. I decided it would be a great idea to have a food and blanket drive to launch Digital Ninjas Media (the official launch date is October 1). I need to stop having ideas or I may never sleep again...

Tiny people

We're in Dubuque, Iowa this weekend for a wedding. On the river. The connected hotel is actually a resort with a full on, very popular, water park, of which we are on the sixth floor (hence the tiny people). I remember always wanting to go swimming when I was younger, often asking to go to someone's house who had a pool, but I never really got into the whole swimming thing. I took lessons as a child, and cried and cried the day I had to jump off the diving board. I never did it. The instructor came, and lowered me down as low as she (he?) could, then dropped me in the water. I have this thing about going under water. I'm fine as long as I don't have to put my head under.

Which leads me to wonder how I'll handle snorkeling when we go on the cruise. Hopefully, that will be different with the goggles and snorkel.

This ends the year of weddings. Albeit a bit premature. I've been unofficially uninvited to what was the final wedding of the year (i.e. defriended by the bride and defriended and blocked by the bride's mother on facebook). Yep. Blocked. Seriously. That's what I did to an ex-boyfriend whom I had almost gotten a restraining order against, and that is what my aunt has done to me. If we actually talked more than twice a year, it might matter, but since we never have, I guess its not too big of a a deal.

Well, off to explore Dubuque, this amazing wedding site on the river, which appears from a distance reminiscent of the opera house in Sydney, Australia.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bios

As promised, here are the bios for the other two Ninjas. Serious bios are currently up at www.digitalninjasmedia.com, full bio pages will include these bios as well as other fun facts, but its not up yet. Because this is taking a while.

"Jim Gade holds an Associates of Science degree in Graphic Design, as well as a Bachelors Degree in Science for Multimedia from Westwood College. A Harlem Graduate, he also hints vaguely about his time at Wizard College, but only during re-runs of "Mork & Mindy". Currently, he serves as Video Services Manager for the Rockford Ice Hogs, has earned top-honors in art competitions, has work on public display, and has had photographic works published. When not working, Jim enjoys asking strangers for candy and painting impressionistic interpretations of what he calls 'giraffes snuggling'. You'll have to take his word on that because, to most outside observers, it just looks like six crazed ferrets fighting over what might conceivably be a banjo."

"Dave Block is a graduate of Guilford High School, and Owner-Extraordinaire of independent film production company, 'Block Films'. His acting career began in 1987 when he was cast in 'Peter Pan' at Rock Valley College's Starlight Theater, and he continued to be cast in numerous other roles until he took some time off to get a real job. After a string of management positions, he returned to writing music, and movies, and is currently working on a book. He has also written, starred in, and directed the 'Insurance King' commercials, where he played the ever-so-popular "Insurance Geek" (fighting crime and high insurance rates!) and an entire stand-up routine on being the middle child, "Middle Child Syndrome". It is an epidemic that he feels more people need to acquaint themselves with - preferably by buying tickets to his show. His 3rd Feature film, "The Adventures Of Wyatt Trash: The Devil's Spittoon" is currently in the works. And if you call him David, you will be challenged to a marathon Connnect-Four session, or be faced with listening to a saxophone solo of Billy Joel's, "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me". So we really don't recommend that you do that."

More Fun Business Stuff

Work on the Digital Ninjas Media website is coming along. We have no graphics and no photos yet, but its up. Part of it anyway. I'm still working on it. Yeah, its not great, yet.

Once we get pictures and graphics, it will hopefully look great.

Last night, I designed our business cards, and I'm pretty happy with them, I must say. We're getting quotes on getting them printed and should have cards by the middle to end of next week.

Now.... since I never finished the bios... Here's mine:
Wanda K. Alberts is a graduate of Winnebago High School, and a certified paralegal. She has come from, "Thank you! Drive through!" to be a force for social change via her not-for-profit and community outreach project, 'Tailored To Hire'. She has been known to slip into Japanese or Spanish in casual conversation, and cannot make Rice Krispie Treats without coming away with battle scars. She is experienced with Web Design, Marketing, Business Management, and more software packages than a Nerf display. She currently divides her time between work and plotting to take over one of the lesser moons of Jupiter and... oh, we've said too much.

Stay tuned for bios of Jim Gade and Dave Block!

We Have A Logo!

We are pleased to announce the logo for Digital Ninjas Media!

Get to know Digital Ninjas Media! Today: Heath

Heath D. Alberts is a graduate of Boylan High School, and a college dropout. He has been employed in a vast number of interesting positions, including Unix Mainframe SysOp, web site designer, Corporate Operations Manager, and cartoon character. He is the author of a novel, has experienced house flipping, and has been known to shoot bottle rockets out of his teeth. He is experienced with HTML, too many software packages and OS's to name, Marketing, a Wand Of Fire with a 2xD12 damage roll, and Business Management. And now he's taken on the mantle of, 'Guy who makes sure that your advertising dollar is so well spent that you just might plotz.'

Heath fun fact #127:
Did you know that Heath once held a Realtor's license?
After saving box tops for nearly 3 years, he realized that prize was not a valid license, so he attended classes in Rockford and finally achieved his goal.

Heath Fun Fact #3
Heath is a certified NRA Sharpshooter. 'nuff said.

Heath Fun Fact #87
Even though he is afraid of heights, Heath once strapped a lazy-eyed Dutchman to his back and fell out of a plane.

Official Announcement

Heath and I, along with two friends, Dave Block and Jim Gade, would like to formally announce the formation of Digital Ninjas Media, Inc.

Below is Heath's "announcement"

It is now a matter of public record. We will be supplying the area with turn-key media production: Television commercials, radio spots, web page design, media space design, viral marketing strategy, and anything else we feel that we can assist our potential clients with.

Dave Block is the founder of Block Films, an independent filmmaker with several comedy gems under his belt in the Wyatt Trash series. Dave has done not only movie production, editing, and sound, but has also spent a good deal of his life as an actor.

Jim Gade is an old friend whom I look forward to re-connecting with more in the near-term. If any of you have ever been to a Rockford Ice Hogs game, you've seen Jim's work (we'll have a whole working archive of all of our works once the page for the company begins to form up and go live). He handles all of the media production for them - digital and otherwise - and is some kind of alien/wizard hybrid when it comes to digital graphic design.

If a Song Could Be President

"John Prine would run the FBI" - Over The Rhine

A few weeks ago, my boss was announced as the new Chairman of the Winnebago County Republican Central Committee.

You may, or may not, remember that in 2009 he briefly ran for State Representative of the 68th District. (I wrote his webpage and was working on the campaign). He ran due to the announcement that Dave Winters would not be running for the position again. When Winters changed his mind and announced his candidacy for reelection, my boss decided that, since he fully supported Winters, he would not run against him and dropped out. It was understandable, but disappointing for me as this was a wonderful opportunity and experience.

Two weeks ago, the Event Coordinator for the WCRCC announced she had found a new position. As this is an extremely part-time position (roughly 3 to 4 hours a week), when the announcement was made in our office, I semi-jokingly said I'd do it.

Friday, for the third time that week, my boss said that if I was interested he could change the hours that someone needed to be in the office (once a week for a few hours) so that I wouldn't lose much time at work, and could easily make up the hours.

After discussing with Husband, I will be submitting my Letter of Interest tomorrow and finalizing details to confirm this will, in fact, work with my schedule.

Worse than a 10-year-old with a fair prize...

My ghost shrimp died yesterday. First one, then the other. I think they got a little too warm, but I'm not really sure.

Our power went out a little after 6:00 Tuesday evening. Just after my migraine hit. By 9:00 I had spent a large amount of time trying to sleep through the neighbor girl play catch in our yard just below my bedroom window (because her big, fenced-in backyard wasn't good enough for her) and had finally asked Heath if there was anything he could do about whatever was beeping in the house every minute or so.

I decided that, since the air wasn't on, and the upper level was getting a bit warm, I should move the fish, snail and shrimp(s) to the lower level. So I piled them all into the 1 gallon bowl I use when cleaning the tank and brought them downstairs where it was cooler. Of course, just over an hour later, the power came back on.

I left them in the bowl overnight, thinking I'd get them settled back in the tank Wednesday evening. I was completely out of it (see "migraine" above), but I do know that they were swimming around happily in the bowl before I left for work in the morning. However, I returned home to 1 less shrimp than when I left (the dead one having been given a "flush funeral" by Husband...thank you!). The other appeared happy and healthy, but less than an hour later, she too was gone.

So this weekend, I plan on setting up the corner tank so that I can take another try at raising baby ghost shrimp, and then begin the hunt for a store that is not out of stock. Hopefully, I'll find one with eggs. We'll see how that goes.