Public Relations Princess

The Rolling Red Bag -- A Life Lesson

I found my rolling red bag today. Long story....

When I was unceremoniously let go from my job a year ago, one thing was missing from the boxes collected from my desk and mailed to me. My rolling red bag. I called to inquire. They gave my bag to a homeless shelter because they assumed that I took the bag from a client event that we had done years before. Those were suitcases. Mine was a rolling carry-on briefcase. Big difference. I was pissed.

Four years ago, I bought a set of Delsey luggage at Younkers to use on overnight trips for my new job. I choose red so that it would be easier to spot on the luggage carousel. So it was annoying that I now had an incomplete set of luggage.

Fast forward to last October.

I saw a homeless woman walking down the street with a huge backpack, a Target bag and a small black toiletry bag. She was limping and struggling to drag all her stuff toward the downtown homeless shelter. She knew she had to get there in less than an hour to get a bed. I picked her up and gave her a ride. On the way we stopped at QuikTrip, where I saw my friend Josh on his way to taking his little ballerina to dance lessons. I asked her if she wanted anything. "Anything?" Sharon inquired. "Well," I said, the stupid white girl in me bubbling up to the surface. I listened in horror as I heard my mouth say, "Anything but alcohol or cigarettes." "Oh no," she said, ignoring my insult. "I was thinking of getting a USA Today."

I vowed to find Sharon a new bag. A few weeks later, my friend Denika donated a ton of sheets, blankets, and a nice green rolling bag that I intended to give to Sharon. I had it in the back of my car for months, and never saw her again. All last winter, I wondered how she was managing through our brutal winter. I put the bag in my basement.

Today, I was on the way to my husband's house (another long story, we're in the process of moving to the same house) and crossing the street near Dahl's on Ingersoll was my friend Sharon. I recognized the limp and her coat. She was sporting a new bag. It was my red Delsey carry-on! I recognized it immediately.

I stopped to offer her a ride, and had the opportunity to lift my old bag into the back seat of my car. We drove to Quik Trip again. I remembered her penchant for USA Today,I snagged one and an ice cream bar, which was the only thing that sounded good to Sharon.

Pouring rain was coming down. I asked if she minded if we stopped at my house to get something. She agreed, so I circled back to my place to get the rolling green duffel. She looked it up and down and thanked me. "Ever since I found this red bag, it's been easier to cart my stuff around because it is small and easy to roll. I don't think I need a new one. It would just encourage me to haul more stuff around." Then she accepted an offer of warm socks and a pair of sweats, but kindly refused my twice-worn Tommy Hilfiger cable knit sweater.

When I dropped her off at her destination, I unloaded the bag (it still had my business card stuffed into the front ID badge pocket, backwards, so you could only see the blank side), and bid her goodbye again. That bag is now a metaphor for me.

Thankfulness for what I have. A fruitful life. A booming business. Healthy children. An adoring husband. A roof over my head on a rainy day. Who knew all that could fit inside a rolling red bag?

What Des Moines Iowa Needs

(Photo credit: The Des Moines Register)

I've been thinking on this post a long time.

First off, let me say that Des Moines, Iowa is one of the most "together" cities in one of the most "together" states in our country. Iowa is doing a decent job of managing its fiscal house, and Des Moines is like the gigantic heart that keep the whole thing beating and moving forward.

Des Moines is my birthplace, my homeland, my North Star. I have a lot invested in the success of this city and state. I was raised here, got married (twice) here, raised my kids here, worked here, walked my dog here, drove the roads here and paid taxes here for 43 years now.

Without further ado, here is my Top Ten Recommendations for what Des Moines needs to make it an even better place to live:

1. Earthpark: Yes, that Earthpark. Ted Townsend had a bold vision for the future. Many towns in Iowa went through the initial vetting process to be the chosen place. Des Moines was too chicken to support the vision. Too bad. It would have been awesome tourist attraction, research facility and educational institution for years to come.
2. A LARGE downtown hotel adjacent to Wells Fargo Arena and Vets. If you've ever been to a "big city" for a conference, you know that a large hotel, connected to conference facilities, is absolutely essential to attracting convention business to the city. We'll never be the "showcase city" we want to be without this feature. I'm not saying we should try to be Vegas or Chicago. Just be able to attract mid-sized conventions. That's all.
3. Better public transportation: The bus system we have now should be expanded to include two or three hubs so that people don't have to go all the way downtown to switch routes. We could use smaller buses for inter-route transfers and such. If the suburbs don't pay their share, then let them figure out their own public transportation. That brings me to my next point:
4. We need a county-wide government. Des Moines should not be competing with its own suburbs for new companies. We're all in this together. Plus, we have a ton of common interests that tie us together, for example: transportation, water use, the landfill, economic development and suburban sprawl just to name a few. This was a real movement here a couple years ago, and its an idea that bears looking into again, especially because of the recession.
5. Higher student achievement standards: In some schools, more than 50% of kids who start as freshmen do not graduate on time. Who do you think is paying for that down the road?
6. Fewer chain restaurants. We have so many great local places, why eat a Mc-anything???
7. A tollbooth on each end of I-235. Yes, I am suggesting that visitors to our fair city help us pay for all the non-profit organizations we support.
8. A public policy "Think-Tank." I would prefer a liberal one, of course. Due to our Iowa Caucus "First in the Nation" status, it could be a very prominent one. We have several excellent public policy shops in the area, but a major think-tank could attract academics, news-types, and a whole host of smart people to Des Moines.
9. A Social Media Club. We have "CIB," (Central Iowa Bloggers) but I'm feeling the need for something a little more formal and educational. If you're interested in helping get the club off the ground, let me know.
10. Something for the teenage crowd to do. Think Des Moines Social Club, only for those under 18. And without the bar. My daughter tells me only nerds would do something like that, but I say, great. I like nerds. I've always told my daughters to be very nice to nerds, because one day they will be your boss.

What do you think Des Moines needs? Or are we perfect the way we are? :~)

Top Ten Tips For Controlling Expenses (and Claire's Awesome Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe)

Did you know that Forbes has a new section of its Web site completely dedicated to women? Yeah, pretty cool. I am enough of a feminist to think that this seems unnecessary, however, after reading through it and joining the Facebook group, I've decided that its a good thing. Forbes Woman is looking for female bloggers to participate in a discussion about how you handle your personal finances. That's where the inspiration for this post came from.

After losing my full time job in April, I re-evaluated my finances to determine where I could save money. But the truth is, three years before that I had already taken decisive steps to turn my financial ship around.

Here are my Top Ten tips for aligning your financial life for greater stability and peace of mind:

1. Get out of credit card debt. Three years ago, I had two credit cards that were basically maxed out. A couple of times I had paid late by a day, and since credit card companies are basically vultures that would just as soon peck your eyes out of your head than help you, I consulted with a local consumer credit counseling service. They helped me renegotiate my debt and lower my interest rate. I just finished my program, which took about 32 months to complete.
2. Save as much as you can in your company 401k, or contribute the max to an IRA every year. I subscribe to the Suze Orman rule of "paying yourself" before you pay other bills.
3. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR RETIREMENT MONEY. I made the mistake of loaning myself money from my 401k to pay for a car for my daughter. When I lost my job, that loan needed to be payed back before the end of the year so that I did not suffer tax consequences.
4. Save a six-month cushion (emergency fund) in a savings account in case you lose your job. It will take real discipline to do this. I suggest using an online service like SmartyPig.
5. Refinance your mortgage. Rates are at historic lows. Try to use a local bank or credit union so your business stays local. Big banks are busy right now due to all the mortgages being processed for the real estate tax credit.
6. Stretch your grocery budget by using coupons and not going to the store as often. When supplies run low and you would normally go to the store, try going a few more days and preparing meals with what you have left. Go to discount grocery stores to stock up on staples once every three months. Utilize a pantry space to store extra non-perishables. Mine is just a wire baker's rack that I bought at Costco.
7. Switch brands of personal care products. Try replacing half of your personal care products with less expensive items.
8. Lengthen times between personal grooming services such as hair cuts, manicures, pedicures and waxing. If you normally go once a month, go every 6 weeks instead. Use home-based touch up products if you need to. Don't forget Fido. Dogs can wait another two weeks for grooming too.
9. Skip the $5.00 latte. Make coffee at home and buy a nice travel mug.
10. Eat at home and make extra to freeze. A gigantic pot of chicken noodle soup (recipe below) costs about $23 dollars to make and can make more than 25 individual servings. Bring your lunch and carry a couple granola bars and a bottle of water where ever you go, so you're not tempted to buy expensive convenience store items.

Claire's Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe:

Ingredients:

4 32 oz. cartons of Swanson chicken stock
5 lb. bone-in chicken thighs (skin on for flavor)
4 large baking potatoes (Yukon Gold is not a good choice for this recipe)
8 large carrots
2 large white or yellow onions
4 large celery stalks
2 12 oz bags of frozen Reemes egg noodles
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn
3 bay leaves
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons chicken stock base (yellow paste-like stuff in a small jar)

In a large soup pot (extra big) or two smaller pots, place chicken thighs in pot and cover with water until submerged at least three inches under the surface. Add some salt and pepper. Bring liquid to a very gentle boil and then simmer for 40 minutes. Be sure the liquid does not violently boil. I use chicken thighs because they're cheaper and more flavorful. Breasts can be substituted, but make sure the chicken has bones. Bones are what cause the soup to be full-bodied and have the right texture.

After cooking the chicken, remove from the liquid and place flat on a baking sheet to cool. Add the stock to the soup pots and bring to a gentle boil. While the chicken is cooling, chop the vegetables in this order, and add to the pot once prepared. Onions (medium dice), carrots (I cut into coins or on a diagonal into slices about 1/4 inch think), potatoes into 1/4 inch cubes (or whatever you consider bite-sized), celery. Add salt and pepper to taste and the bay leaves. Add the chicken stock base and give it a good stir. Taste the broth again and make sure it has good flavor. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste. If it's too salty, add water. You can also add water to add more broth to the soup at any time.

Pull the chicken off the bones. Discard all the bones, skin and fat. Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add back to the pot. Break up the Reemes egg noodles into smaller pieces and add them into the pot while frozen or semi-frozen. Bring the pot(s) back to a simmer, and then add the peas and carrots. By this time, your pot should be very full. Sample the vegetables and noodles to make sure they're almost done. Simmer for another 10 minutes before serving.

Allow the soup to cool significantly, and then ladle into serving-size plastic freezer containers or even freezer bags. Try to remove most of the air before freezing. Place a piece of masking tape on each container and write the date. To thaw, defrost in the microwave or place into a warm water bath and then heat to boiling. Enjoy!

How You Can Help the Homeless in Des Moines

The Des Moines Catholic Worker House, located just North of downtown Des Moines, is in need of quite a few things to help its homeless and underserved population. The unusually cold and rainy fall whether have depleted its supplies of blankets, socks, hats and gloves, candles and personal hygiene items.

I invite everyone in the Des Moines social media community to participate and respond to this urgent need in their own way. Here are my suggestions for the most needed items, according to the staff of the Worker:

1. Blankets
2. Socks/hats/gloves
3. Hoodies/Sweatshirts
4. Tylenol/Ibuprofen
5. Disposable razors
6. Feminine hygiene items
7. Coffee/Creamer/sugar packets/artificial sweetener packets
8. Soap
9. Candles
10. Deodorant/shampoo/conditioner/toothbrushes/toothpaste

I'll have a date soon that we can prepare and serve a meal for the Worker, but until then donated items will be a big help. The donations can be dropped off at my house anytime (just leave stuff on the front porch) and I will deliver it to the shelter. Please call me if you cannot drop stuff off and need it to be picked up.

The Catholic Worker serves all people regardless of religious affiliation. The selfless people who volunteer there often give up months or years of their lives in service to the poor.

Thanks,

Claire

What To Get Your Unemployed Friends

When I first became unemployed in April, there were several people who asked me what they could do. I was too blindsided to even think straight at first. So now, after several months of office-less-ness under my belt, I have some suggestions on what to give your unemployed friends to ease your guilt of still having a cushy job.

1. Gift cards: A $25 (or more) gift card to the grocery store or a big box store is something everyone can use. (side note: The Dahl's Web site needs to be completely redone!)
2. Stamps: I got so used to mailing stuff at the office that the last set I had here was $.37 cents. Comes in handy for interview thank yous, bills, suicide notes, etc.
3. Books: Buy or re-gift your favorite summer book to your like-minded friend.
4. Movie tickets: Everyone is cutting back on entertainment these days, so it's nice to have someone treat you to a night out.
5. Chocolate: Yes, it's a food group in my household. Who couldn't use some extra serotonin?
6. Gas cards: I've noticed that Quik Trip does not take food stamps for gas.
7. An iTunes gift card. Take This Job and Shove It is available for only $.99. I'm just sayin'....
8. Treat them to a meal. Add drinks, shake, and be sure to offer transportation.
9. A card, phone call, or email: Yes, they'll notice that you haven't called. Yes, it makes you look bad.
10. Money: It's the universal gift that can be used in any way the recipient chooses.

Please note, I am NOT asking for any of these things. I just wanted to use my recent experience to educate others on what to do when you have a good friend or relative who's lost their job. Feel free to pass on.

Memories From My Address Book

Today, I spent a good part of the day setting up my new iPod Touch. I can already tell how much this little device will improve my communications and organize my life.

What I didn't expect were the emotions I encountered when deleting people who have passed away since I last cleaned out my address book.

It made me very upset and in some cases very teary to hit the delete button, knowing that I would never be entering digits for those people ever again.

My dear friend Rob Borsellino, who passed away in May, 2006 of ALS, now has a Rob Borsellino Facebook page dedicated to his memory. I deleted him from my phone two years ago, but for some reason, it was still comforting to see his name as I scrolled by him in my address book. I took the plunge today, and it was not at all fun. I think he would tell me to get over it and stop being such a baby, so I will. But I still miss him.

My friend and mentor Merle Fleming also passed away in 2006. I wrote a tribute to her on my personal blog shortly afterwards. Merle went to law school at age 50, and was equally fearless in all aspects of her life. I was her frequent guest at University of Iowa football games, where we sat in the cold, windy north end zone and cheered her favorite team to victory. I'll never forget the look of fear in her eyes when she began to lose her purse on a regular basis. One time, she admitted that her kids had talked to her about driving around town and forgetting where her car was parked.

Merle taught me more in in the eight short years of our friendship than I learned in a lifetime from my contemporaries. Among these nuggets of wisdom: Knowledge overcomes hatred. Don't judge. Revenge is a waste of time. There will be assholes in your life...deal with it. I have her walking cane in my front closet, because she left it in my car the last time we went to Iowa City. I never returned it, but now I'm glad I have it because it reminds me of her.

My pal Ralph Gross died in early 2008. This picture, which he took in Japan, hangs in my dining room. It's a long story how he came to give it to me. But he gave me this beautiful framed photo, worth more than $2,000, just because he was a nice guy. He was known in Des Moines as the biggest critic of the Des Moines Register. His ramblings to that end outlive him, proving the theory of "The Long Tail!" I'm sure he's up in heaven, putting together an editorial board. Ralph was a very talented photographer and a one-of-a-kind fellow. He was way too young to die.

And last but not least, my democratic buddy Mike Tonini passed away after a long battle with cancer a few years back. He was such a unique individual. An undertaker by vocation, he also delighted in "campaigning"...his way.

He used to take his hearse out on Des Moines' southside in the middle of the night and fill it full with yard signs of anyone who dared to oppose his candidate. What he did with all those signs, I'll never know. I also have no idea how he functioned on such a lack of sleep.

One time during the Gore campaign in late 1999, we were desperately looking for someone with a large, official-looking vehicle to drive Hillary Clinton around to a couple of Iowa surrogate stops. Mike's "other" car was a Ford Expedition, so he volunteered. He kept the unusual key chain he used intact: a  swinging miniature wooden coffin that made a thunking noise on the dash at every stop sign.

So now I have a clean address book. But it was great to look at each name, remembering how we met and how many great friends I have.