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Greetings!
 I like to say I have a photographic memory. The $25 word for photographic in this context is 'eidetic' so the correct thing to say would be 'I have an eidetic memory'. However scientists disagree whether anyone truly has an eidetic memory and if they do, it is a rare phenomenon indeed.
Unfortunately, whatever eidetic-ness I might have is selective. You see, I can recall numbers with ease but names? Not so much. Parts lists from the late 1980's? Yep, I can recall all the major part numbers. Someone I met yesterday? What was their name again?
 It is totally embarrassing, this inability to recall names. I've read countless articles about name recall and why it is a problem. The consensus? If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't.
Ok, I'm all for the power of positive thought, but surely there is a physiological or neurological reason why names are so difficult to remember. Am I more left brained (analytical = numbers) than right brained (creative = names)? Am I failing to be attentive enough when I meet someone new? How is it I can remember your face, where we last met and what we were talking about, but your name eludes my grey matter? What the heck is going on?
 This problem is so bad, it nearly cost my daughter her job. I ran into her boss, a man I have talked with numerous times, at a social event. Out of his office, out from behind his desk, I couldn't place his name. Innately knowing he was someone important, but not why, I walked up to him, thrust out my hand and said 'Hi, I know I know you, but can't think from where'. He looked at me with a bemused face and said 'Your daughter USED to work for me'. YIKES!! Thank goodness he has a great sense of humor!
There is no easy answer. And trust me; I've tried all the tricks - saying your name back to you. Asking you to spell it for me. Asking about the origin of your name. Creating mnemonics. Nothing works except meeting someone several times and getting to  know them beyond the typically superficial networking interaction.
And email, by the way, makes this problem worse. I can exchange dozens of emails with someone, actually building a relationship with them, only to meet up with them later and have no idea who they are. It is mortifying.
 Despite my embarrassment, I've learned to openly admit my name recall failing and will ask you to tell me again...and again...and maybe even again. Please don't take it personally. Eventually I will get it - especially once we develop a face-to-face personal or professional relationship. In the meantime, I am working on name recall by chanting the following mantra:
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.
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At the end of this newsletter, we tell you why name recall is so important. In the meantime, if you can't remember our name, at least remember where to find us!
www.executive-errands.com we're here to help simplify your life! |
Our Favorite Things...
Baby Chapters
In honor of Mother's Day, we're offering you a new and unique tool to celebrate your new baby or new grandbaby.
We think you'll love Baby Chapters, a website that allows you to track your baby's progress in a journal, chart their growth, post pictures and create your family tree.
You can give access to family and friends who can sign the guest book and post notes for the child. This is especially helpful when your grandchildren live far away or you don't get to visit them as often as you'd like.
Then, when you're ready, you can have Baby Chapters print a professionally bound book to keep or to give as gifts.
 Baby Chapters allows you to update your child's progress easily from any computer terminal, maintains consistency in the way records are stored, allows you to share your child's progress with others, insures your records are safely backed up and allows you to print as many copies of your baby book as you'd like.
This website is free and the books are only $32 for 24 pages - take a virtual tour and see if Baby Chapters is right for your child or grandchild! Baby Chapters, one of our favorite things. www.babychapters.com
["Our Favorite Things" gives us an opportunity to share people, places, events and things that we truly love and that you might too. We have no business affiliation with any company or individual featured here. We just want to share good things with you and if our recommendations help build business for someone else or saves you time or money, GREAT!!!] |
V is for Victory (or Vegetable)
 All the way back in 1917, Charles Lathrop Pack (a wealthy timberman) organized the National War Garden Commission and launched the War Garden Campaign. Most often referred to as Victory Gardens, these were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences and in public parks to increase food production that had fallen dramatically as agricultural labor was drafted into war efforts. Despite the fact this campaign was launched well before the internet, instant television broadcasts or any sort of electronic networking media, Victory Gardens were created all across the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Canada.  Today there is a new movement called the Urban Garden Project. This initiative encourages people to learn from history, become more self-reliant, save a significant amount of money, and eat healthier, all as a result of planting their own urban garden. All food and nutritional reports indicate food engineering has reached the point where we are actually consuming more chemicals, antibiotics and preservatives than we are nutrients. The Urban Garden Project hopes to encourage people to take back control of the foods they eat and to have fun growing their own. For more information, please visit www.urbangardenproject.com |
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Say Cheese!!!
 When it comes to commemorating special events, there is nothing better than photographs. Whether it is a wedding, an anniversary, a graduation ceremony, the prom, a baby's milestone or professionally done head shots, Executive Errands has an award winning photographer and videographer ready to capture your memories.
Our favorite Mother's day gift is a group photograph of our children and grandchildren and these can be done in the studio, at your home or in a casual outdoor setting.
Are you a realtor who needs beautiful real estate and architectural photography? Our photographer shoots pictures that create desire and mood for future client sales.
Actual photo from our provider | When it comes to corporate photography, we offer everything from macro photography to time lapse animations, from head shots to annual reports; our photographer delivers images that make you and your business look great!
Make your next event a 'wow' event. How excited will your attendees be when they view giant screen photo presentations of images taken just 3 seconds ago at your event then sent wirelessly from a 21 megapixel digital camera?
Actual photo from our provider | Or how about wedding day photos shared with guests during your wedding reception on a 9 foot Screen? All video is broadcast quality, High Definition with instant access.
With over 700 weddings and 500 conventions in our photographer's 22 years experience, we're sure you'll find a look and feel to set your pictures apart.
If you already have photographs let us convert them to a CD or DVD montage. As we get older, we look at our stacks or albums full of photographic milestones and wonder - how can we share these with new generations? A CD catalog or DVD montage is a great way to do so.
And don't forget we can convert photos from your hard drive, mini-DVD, mini-DV, 8mm, VHS-C, VHS or Beta.
We say "SAY CHEESE" and capture your memories in photographs and videos!
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For Landlords and New Home Buyers ....TLC For Your Home
 Are you a landlord with a suddenly empty rental and you want to quickly ready the home for re-rental?
Are you buying a shortsale or foreclosed home and find it needs a little TLC?
Executive Errands can help. We'll walk through the property with you, get all the quotes for repair or update, send you a proposal and coordinate the work for you. Simple, easy, quick!
If you live out of town, no worries! We will walk the home for you, photograph everything that needs to be done and give you a cosmetic inspection report. You select which items you want addressed, we'll get the quotes and your approvals and the home will be ready for re-rental or for move-in in the blink of an eye!
 No matter what it takes - paint, carpets cleaned or replaced, windows cleaned, plumbing work, blind repair or replacement, lightbulbs, handyman, tile cleaning or repair, screen repair, AC service, junk haul-away, pool repair, landscaping, deep cleaning - we can put your home back in shape!
We've turned properties in as little as a week and up to a month, depending on the work needed.
Executive Errands - we treat your home like it was our own, doing our best to keep it serviceable, liveable and beautiful.
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 We had a little excitement over Easter weekend when the 7.2 earthquake just over the border in Mexico shook many of our homes here in the Desert.
A few issues ago, we did a full newsletter about earthquakes and emergency preparedness and how we can secure your heavy items and valuables. Rather than go into all that again, you can visit our newsletter archive to read 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' to find out more about the need to be prepared.
 There are other emergency situations to consider, especially when you don't live here full time. For example, if you or someone you know has ever experienced water flooding in your home, you know how devastating and costly it can be.
In fact, while earthquakes can cause sizeable damage, flooding is almost worse because it can be a progressive problem. Not only do you have the initial water damage to contend with, but also the real danger of mold and the health impact it can have.
 Executive Errands has two ways to help you with water damage: First, we offer a simple product that virtually can prevent flooding from inside your home. Second, if you do have a flood, we have the services for both water and mold remediation.
The water flooding prevention product is a simple shut off switch that is installed inside your home. When you leave, you turn the water off. When we do absentee home checks, we turn it on for water cycling then back off when we leave. This switch has a 90 second opening/closing cycle which prevents damage from excessive water pressure to fittings and fixtures.
 Water (and the potential for flooding) is one of the primary reasons absentee home checks are essential. The last thing you need is to come back to the Desert after a long absence to find your home destroyed. If we find water flooding or damage during our weekly check, not only will we notify you, but we can act on your behalf to get it resolved utilizing our flood and mold remediation service provider.
 If you are a Community Association Manager or on the Homeowners Board of Directors and would like to offer the water safety switches to your entire community, we can offer cost effective bulk rates. You can access our newsletter archive from our website homepage at www.executive-errands.com and clicking on 'newsletter archive' or if you are interested in the absentee home checks or the water flooding prevention switch please contact us through our Customer Service at 760.898.9604.
Requests for bulk discounts should be directed to me at 760.469.2487. |
 Our yearly House of Hope Shower was a huge success! The stories shared by the current residents were sad yet truly inspirational. These brave women are working hard to find sobriety in a life wrought with challenges.
Spending time with these wonderful women put a very real face on the charity and renewed our commitment to give hope to the House of Hope. Ladies - it is an honor to be a part of your lives!
We're currently working on two Spring Fundraisers - one is a Partylight Candle campaign where 50% of all sales goes directly into the Soroptimist club coffers for charitible giving.
 The second is a Chico's clothing sales event - 20% of all shopping sales goes back to the club as well. The candle campaign runs now through the end of May. The Chico's event date is TBD.
The Partylight candle products are affordably priced at just $10 to $22.
To view the products, please visit www.partylite.biz/sites/pamelaamy, click on 'Fundraisers' and then on 'Products'.
And remember - you don't need to wait until an actual event to give back. If you have household goods, toiletries or women's clothing in gently used or new condition, please contact us and we'll help you donate it to House of Hope.
Executive Errands - giving back to our community www.executive-errands.com 760.898.9604 |
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Announcements, News, Updates...
 You can now follow Executive Errands on Facebook! Stay up to date between newsletter publications, enjoy new service offerings and event status information!
From your Facebook account, search for "Executive Errands" and click 'Be A Fan' to join us!
If you don't currently have a Facebook account, consider joining as it is a great way to stay in touch with family and friends and is especially handy for locating long lost friends.
Facebook accounts are Free
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 The number of compromised credit cards we've seen in the last six months is ten-fold over what it has been in the previous three years. If we are holding a credit card for you, please add us to your notification list so if your card is compromised, you can let us know as soon as possible. Keeping your account information current helps keep your billing process smooth. Thank you!
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Update on the 'just say no to caffeine' campaign: Still no caffeine here - 10 weeks and counting!! Thank you to everyone who sent kind words of encouragement after last month's newsletter.
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Executive Errands just participated in (and acted as moderator for) a Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness event at
K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons in Palm Springs. It was a fun and informative event for the homeowners.
 In addition to Executive Errands, the other speakers were two of our safety/emergency Service Providers, a PS police officer, Citizens on Patrol and K. Hovnanian's onsite emergency preparedness committee chairs.
The K. Hovnanian community and their Association Management team take an extremely proactive approach to emergency preparedness much to the appreciation of their community.
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 In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, he wrote 'a rose by any other name would smell as sweet'. The meaning behind that is: what matters is what something is, not what it is called. While I agree with that in principle, I disagree when it comes to people. People like to be acknowledged. It is simple human nature. We like to hear our names because it validates us as a person. This knowledge makes me painfully aware of how important it is to improve my name recall ability.
Thankfully, public events and service positions generally include nametags so I consciously make a point to call people by their names whenever possible. Especially those who are in invisible positions, like wait staff, grocery clerks, or bank tellers. These folks provide valuable and needed services but we don't generally acknowledge them. Try it sometime and see the reaction you get - when you call your waiter or waitress by their name, they light up.
 And while we're talking about it, rethink your terms of endearment. Sure it's cute to use pet names like 'honey', 'sweetie', 'punkin' or 'dear' but if you pay attention, it could be days, weeks or even months since you last called your beloved by his or her given name. Try it every once in awhile. It creates an intimate connection that is hard to beat!
Make it a point to honor the people in your life by using their name. It is a little gesture that brings a wealth of riches in return.
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 Mother's Day is Sunday the 9th. Make sure you let her know how much you appreciate her.
Also on the horizon is the eagerly anticipated first long weekend of summer - Memorial Day! I can't wait! Don't know what I'm doing yet, but excited just the same.
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Note the new International Concierge and Lifestyle Management Association logo below. We are proud members of this exciting organization and are dedicated to making your life easier.
As always, it is an honor to serve you and our community. If you know of a company who might fit with Executive Errands or of a new unique service we might offer, please email your suggestions to us at admin@executive-errands.com and we'll check into it.
It is our commitment to bring you the widest variety of services, the highest quality services and the best customer service in town.
Until next month,
Leslie Spoor
760.469.2487
We value our clients' privacy. Therefore we do not, nor will we ever, distribute your email address to anyone. Ever.
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