Tuesday, September 6, 2011

In the grand tapestry of Labor Day weekends, I’d like to think mine was particularly productive, with time judiciously allocated to family, church, housecleaning, and getting my finances in order. Sounds like an Amish rave, doesn’t it? I suppose it wouldn’t help my case if I mentioned I worked a little bit as well. But work was the most exciting item on the docket, even taken on its own merits, and that’s because I’ve been grinding away at an all-company presentation.

I like presentations. Started back in college, I think, with debate class, when the entire process from prep to delivery had me hooked. It’s this idea of turning a pile of raw information into something slick and compelling. The audience is a large part of the thrill factor, too, because for every person rooting for you out there, you just know there are some who want to see you choke, and your charge is to prove them wrong, to know your shit so well that you can apply a generous coat of showmanship to it all. Then again, there’s always a chance you’ll still jam up, even with ample prep. That’s the gamble. That’s the exciting part.

There’s more work to do. A lot more, in fact, so it’s time to wrap here. I’m even rocking the pen and paper, which means it’s serious. You remember in Gladiator, how Maximus would reach for a handful of sand before every fight, or in An Unfortunate Series of Events, when Violet would bring out the hair ribbon for every conundrum? It’s kind of like that. That’s my ritual. I grab a pen, along with whatever scrap paper I can procure, and then I go fucking loco.