Insurance Job???

Ok, due to overwhelming reponse (ok well, actually just 3 people) I will explain the whole Insurance broker thing....
On Monday morning while Norm and myself were on our way to the site to pick up drum sets (yes, drum sets from the entertainment stages) Norm asked me if I had any upcoming projects after this job, I said no not really....he then asked me if I would want to be an insurance broker, of course this came completely out of the blue. He thought I would be good at it and that he would speak to Peter.
So, a little background, Norm Blodgett who was the Chair of the IPM 2006, is also the person who founded and built Darling Insurance in Peterborough. He is now retired and his son Peter runs the business, hence the I will talk to Peter comment.

I told him I would think about it. I am not even sure if I would want to be an insurance broker, or what is involved in being one, but of course I need to give this some serious consideration.

So, that is the scoop for now....any thoughts or feelings would be appreciated

Recovering

So, the Plowing Match has now been over for 4 days now and I can feel my body is still tired from the preparation and early mornings. I find myself nodding off while trying to wtach television, I suppose I should just go to bed and get a good sleep. Just a brief wrap-up of the IPM, on Saturday (the last day) I got to take a helicopter ride (I had a free pass), which was pretty cool considering I had never been on a copter before. It was amazing to see Tented City from the air and the surrounding area, which is so beautiful with the rolling hills and Rice Lake nearby. Final attendance is around 80,000 people and we are very happy with how it all came off, without too many problems and most people seem to have enjoyed themselves.

There is also of course the ending of my job contract (this Friday is my last day), which will be very sad for me, I have really enjoyed my time at the IPM and in particular working with Norm, Ruth and Marina, my co-workers. I hope to stay in touch with Ruth and Marina afterwards, and something tells me their might be some tears on Friday.

On a final note, I have been offered a very interesting proposal of becoming an insurance broker....more on this later...

IPM 2006

OK, so I know I have been kind of out of touch it probably seems. Today is Day 4 of the IPM and things are going great. It is actually quite exciting to be down here where everything is happening.

A brief recap:
The weekend leading up to the IPM was actually the most hectic part, it seems. The office trailer was not busy on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but the Monday was just crazy with exhibitors coming in and setting up. On Monday, I met up with Michelle & Randy for lunch and it was very nice to see them. The Tuesday was good, as people settled into a routine.

Yesterday (Thursday) was by far the busiest day here at the IPM with 18,000 people coming in and the traffic was just backed up like crazy.

Today is Day four and it is hard to believe it will be all over tomorrow. Tonight is the Celebration of Excellence banquet (Plowmen's Banquet) in the Lounge tent, it should be fun to see a whole bunch of drunk farmers.

I have to say the whole experience has been fantastic, I will miss my co-workers a great deal when this is all done. But we still have one more day to go......

Volunteer Day

Yesterday I attended the IPM's Volunteer Orientation Day out at the site in Keene. About 1,000 people showed up to get acquainted with what they will be doing during the Plowing Match. We had a little BBQ for lunch and Tim Hortons coffee for them in the morning. The weather could have been a bit better, it rained in the morning but then tapered off, with a bit of a cool breeze, but it was alright since we were under the enormous Lounge/Hospitality tent (otherwise known as the beer tent).

Ruth, Marina (my office co-horts) and myself took a little wagon ride (pulled by horses) around the site, it was a great way to see everything. It is really coming along now with alot of the tents going up. One of the model homes that will be on display was going up and next to the County of Peterborough's tent the landscapers are building a waterfall display with a small pond, it should look quite nice when it is done.

So, the countdown is on, just 6 working days till it all starts.

Happy Birthday

A big Happy Birthday to Anna. Today is her birthday (I'll be honest, I can't remember how old you are turning) and Anna has been a friend since high school. Anna is a terrific person, who always seems to laugh at my jokes and who I think is a very non-judgemental person. She is also a complete chocolate junkie. Yes, thats right I said junkie! Honestly, she could eat chocolate until her little hearts content. I am shocked she has not developed diabetes yet or that her teeth haven't fallen out :) must be the good DNA.

I hope you had a great day and all of your wishes came true. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Its a Small World

So thurdsay I am in the office when someone from our marketing and promotions committee walks in with another person with him. They are dropping off some of those large presentation cheques. Well, the other guy says are you Margaret Manetta? I say yes of course. He goes on to say "you live in Pontypool, by the pond, across the road from the Dunsfords and the Van Dams", and I'm thinking who is this person. He says, I'm JC Gonder, we use to ride on the same school bus in public school. I'am pretending like I remember this person, but the truth is I don't. The name sounds vaguely familiar. Anyone from the Pontypool posse know of him?

So I am looking through an old year book I have from Grandview, I see a picture of his brother Wes (not to mention old pics of Mr. Chris Turner & Michelle Evans), but not him. I can't remember anyone from those days without the picture. Of course, he knew me, which always seems to be the case and I can never remember them. Either I am aging gracefully or I need a new hairdo or something.

As they say, its a small world afterall, I can just hear the little people singing it right now.