Observing Differences

http://www.city-data.com/city/Ashford-Alabama.html

We drove into Dothan, Alabama today around 4 pm, after a 2 day, 24 hour haul. It went ok, Dan did all the driving, we kept the bad road food to a minimum, and I was navigator thanks to my iPhone. Now we are here, enjoying our time, and observing the differences.

In some ways Dan and I have similar backgrounds but split by a generation. He was raised in the south, and my mom was raised in the south - oh but of course not all the south is the same. I learned tonight that GA and AL have a rivalry the way ME and MA have a rivalry.

The differences I observed most tonight was the way Dan and I eat every night versus the way his family eats, but then this is similar to how my mom was raised and I remember meals at my grandparents. A similarity is that sitting down at the table as a family is important. A time to share a meal, talk about the day, tell old stories, laugh and enjoy.

The difference is the food itself. Please note I have learned to "farm" from Dan who grew up on a farm that put a majority of their food on the table. Even today we pulled into the drive, there are wonderful greens growing in the garden and goats roaming around free range. But tonight's dinner was an interesting mish mash of of starch, fried, and canned veggies. We had fried pork tenderloin, corn pudding, fried corn bread (oh, it was really good) that was friend in bacon grease stored in a can by the stove as it is collected from frying bacon, coleslaw, canned peas, and as an afterthought, actual green beans. Granted, I have to say the meal was delicious. But is was SO much food, so much starch, and so little nutrients. This is what I will be facing for the next few days on my southern adventure, now here in AL, then in the rivalry state of GA.

I look forward to tomorrow's meals and learning more from my southern in-law/adopted family.

Road Trip

Today is the beginning of my holiday travels. Dan and I arose at 3:15 am, car bound by 4:04 am heading to Dothan, Alabama for the start of our trip. I was in good shape overall to get out of town. I guess the good thing about this time of year is that everyone has their thoughts on the holidays, traditions, family, travel, and what will be under the tree.

At LHT we had an unusually busy beginning of the month. We were getting a lot of requests for appointments with new potential customers. It was great. It almost threw me into the panic of "how will I leave town" but by the end of last week it calmed down and I even convinced A2 now was the time to take some days. So I am now officially off until Jan 4 and she closes up our shop Wednesday night for her holiday fun. The important news is we get great times with our families and loved ones for the holidays but client work is in good shape and can easily be picked up on the 4th for a fun new year. I look forward to 2010. Truly.

In the mean while I am on a road trip with my husband. Did I tell you I hate car trips? I do. Can't stand them. I pleaded to fly to meet him, but he wanted my company (aw... sweet, right? no torture). But actually, with technology (yes I am a geek) today wasn't too bad. First, I downloaded a book, well 2, to my iPhone. Dan was sure he wouldn't want to listen to it, but I picked one he would want to hear. A Clive Cussler. Truly entertaining. Plus... my iPhone was constant entertainment on the "are we there yet" train. See image above! By going to my contact record for Dan's parents, I could easily activate the Google Map, click a button, as for directions, including a real time pin point of where we were, and how long until we get there. Very cool! Even at dinner, once parked in Salem, VA, we checked again, knowing we have 10 hours and 50 minutes to go to Dothan.

So while I have left work behind for now (well not really, checking and replying to emails from the hotel and the iPhone), I am taking technology with me.

Look for travel updates tomorrow and maybe a new Google Map!

Happy Holidays from LHT

I just got an early Christmas present. A long awaited one. In working with clients on Blogs (thanks Rachael) I have come across "The Design Girl". She is kind of a "jill of all design" trades when it comes to blog design. She does amazing stuff and for me, allowed LHT to offer Blog designs to its customers that match their website.

At first I felt we as designers should be able to update the blogs to a design that we came up with. But I have always worked under the impression that it is best to put time and money where the talent is. Danielle. the design girl, clearly has a process that allows her to deliver well designed blogs to the client's choosing. I hope to work with her on many more client blogs as I am very happy with what she has done to date for me, my clients and LHT.

Freezing

This is our doorway at 8:00 am on a 9 degree day.  I have to say I am not sure I have ever seen ice crystallize on our door.   While you can see the reflection of the Farnsworth Art Museum across the street what you cannot see, and I did not know was there, is that the ice has brought out letters from a previous tenant’s window stencil. 

Stay warm everyone! 

Client Work and Blogs

I having been working with clients lately "longing to blog". The good news a Blog helps drive search engines to websites so Blog Away. Blogging is such an interesting forum. It allows you to be as formal or as informal as you like. You can share to the point of too much information (TMI) or you can blog professional advice. Either will draw followers if someone finds what you have to say pertinent or interesting.

I have struggled with blogs. When I first moved to Maine I started a blog as a way to share photos of my new life with Dan and Lola. I didn't want to clog up my friend's email boxes. Then came Facebook. The My Life in Maine blog was forgotten. Then my wise friend Emily turned me on to Tubmlr (sorry Blogger). It was cool, especially for sharing photos. I found a forum I enjoyed more than FB, it was pretty cool. But then inspiration came again from my client Rachael of Meandering Maine. I love her Blog. It is interesting and in complete support of her business. See www.meanderingmaine.blogspot.com you will love it, especially if you love Maine. This got me to thinking about our LHT website and blogging more professionally for it, so here is my LHT Blog. Now it is just thinking about the lines of personal versus business and what is appropriate. But this challenge and figuring this stuff out helps me with other clients. Allyson has set up her blog, please see www.flexiblefitnessme.blogspot.com and soon you will see one from Ed.

Blog on everyone. I want to know what you have to say, and so will others.

A New Client

So I recently wrote about “the worst client” and lo and hold it was me.  One of the projects I have been working on is called Crate to Plate.  This is a business developed with my husband, Dan, a Maine fisherman, to change the way he does business.  Lobster is a sought after commodity often under valued to the point of a fisherman not being able to afford to fish.  This season was slightly better than last but still not where the industry should be.

Taking cues from other leased trap models, incorporating my business experience, and utilizing talented designers we came up with Crate to Plate.  Crate to Plate allows  lobster lovers all over the US  to enjoy the freshest lobster they will ever have.  If you love lobster, pride yourself on being a locavore, not trusting the lobster in the grocery store tank, this program is for you.  You sign up for your own leased trap for a season, selecting your buoy location on Penobscot Bay via an interactive map, and watch as Dan catches lobsters and applies them to your lobster bank. 

We are off to a great start with a logo designed by Jessica Keteyian, a marketing piece and website designed by the other Amber, fact gathering and research by Lee Heffner, and overall lobster lore from Dan Cosby. 

Check out Crate to Plate today to see one of the many things LHT is up to. 

Web Design Hell

All work needs comedy! http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell

The Worst Client

Is it ironic that I am little harbor's worst client? I am sitting here, in front of my computer, looking for ways to improve/contribute to designs for a new endeavor of my husband. It is reminding me of the pain it took to get to the new LHT site. A2 came to me with design after design after design. I kept putting her and the process off because nothing was speaking to me. The delays worked though and we got to a place where I am quite happy with our new website.

Now, however, we are dealing with a very real deadline. A marketing piece will be hitting the mail on Monday, November 30th and the website must be up to support it. We have made it to a place that I am OK with but not loving. My husband is ok with it as well. But OK isn't love. So I sit here watching DVRed episodes of Glee playing with color and concept hoping to give better feedback to A2 but in reality it will probably all just irritate her.

I guess the good news is we are close. Additional good news is it will be good. And the better news is that nothing is permanent and can be updated at will when the timing is right.

Juice 2.0

Juice 2.0 is probably what most people are hearing me talk about these days. Not the great ads A2 has been creating for clients or websites recently posted. I promise to highlight those soon. But Juice is upon us, 2 days and counting.

I got involved with Midcoast Magnet (creator of Juice), a midcoast networking organization working to attrach, connect, and retain creative workers in the midcoast, about a year ago. I went to Juice 1.0 reluctantly, hearing about the creative economy and wondering how I, a technology centered person, was creative and fit it. Over time it has become abundantly clear that technology can be or is creative. Through my affiliation, even though reluctant at first, I become involved with Juice 2.0 and pulling the program together while working with our collaborators. With the help of the Departmetn of Economic and Community Development, the Maine Arts Commission, and Realize! Maine an amazing program of keynote speakers, dance performances, and breakout sessions has been created. It is a well rounded program for everyone: artists, entrepreneurs, technologists, futurists, state leaders, and more. Even A2, who asked me originally why she should go, has enthusiastically registered and signed up for sessions on Social Media and Pottery Making. How is that for diverse?!

I have spent a LOT of time on Juice 2.0, but so have others. And overall it has connected with leaders in the state, brought me closer to my Midcoast Magnet friends, and prepped me for taking over the Midcoast Magnet board. It has also shown that when I am truly focused on something else, not client related, A2 has stepped up a bit, reaching out to clients, meeting her (and my) deadlines, and getting a new site up for LHT.

Life before Juice has been fun, interesting, tough, time consuming. Life after Juice.... probably the same but I will be the better for it!

Site Debut

little habor technology was "born" in Rockland, Maine in October, 2006 after moving my Chicago based business to Maine. Things in Maine are different, very different from Chicago. I realized the type of client I wanted to have needed the same skill sets but a slightly different approach. As much as fortune 500 business opportunities helped mold and train me, I wanted to work with local folks, people that support and need one another.



My transition in Maine was significantly aided by the following: a decision to have office space in downtown Rockland; my early involvement with the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce; hiring a self starter that wanted and took an opportunity to learn; and being embraced by the midcoast community.

After 3 years of operating LHT we have grown and evolved in a way I couldn't have expected. My background, 20 years, is database driven. What we are mostly doing today are websites. What I have realized in this transition is that my background is more project management related, whether it is a custom database application or website overhaul. Doing either requires attention to detail, knowing how to pull the right resources together, listening intently to your client, and delivering to or in excess of their expectations.

When I started LHT (and remember was a database guru, not a web guru) I hired a talented team of women, Jessica and Hazel, to design and develop the website. It was perfect. I loved the way it worked, how it looked, and the message it delivered to potential visitors. 3 years later, our services are so different we had to take the time to update our website to reflect the business we are doing today. It is so different we decided to take the opportunity to redesign our website. This process was not easy. I was probably one of LHT's worst customers, not liking initial design options and not seeing where they could evolve to. We took a break, got more customers (ironically one because they loved our first site), and put it off. But we regrouped, realizing that if we couldn't redesign our own site, how could we sell with confidence the redesign of others.

We are happy to launch our new site. We understand design is subjective and know that many will like our old site better and many will like our new site better. I will always like / love both. the good news is our new site reflects what we are doing for business today and in an effective way.

Welcome to the new site for little harbor technology at www.littlehabortech.com.