Just thought it would be interesting to find out what my readers do for a living…student, nurse, sales, mom, etc?
I am the director of marketing & analytics at an amazing 80 person, 15 year old advertising/design agency in Seattle called HL2. Basically, I work with our clients to help them to establish customer insights, new opportunities to build their brands and measure their marketing effectiveness. Some of our clients include:
- Microsoft
- Cinnabon
- Seattle’s Best Coffee (owned by Starbucks)
- H&R Block
- Vail Resorts
- Pike Place Market
- Sage Fly-Fishing
Prior to HL2 I worked at Expedia in the Media Solutions department where I managed the marketing communications and analytics teams. I left Expedia for HL2 because a) my commute is now 15 minutes instead of an hour each way b) I love the creative environment and the flexibility of working on different accounts.
At HL2, we do amazing work. It’s wonderful to leave work everyday knowing that your job is to create ideas that people love. I couldn’t be more lucky!
I am a special education teacher in Georgia. I love it but you can tell that it is getting to be the end of the school year. Thank you for writing this blog. I find lots of good info without having to search…you are the best!!!! Good luck with your weightloss journey….I soon to will going done that road…May 12th can’t get here soon enough!!!!
I am the Ops Manager for a telephone answering service, and when things are not busy it leaves a lot of downtime to read cool blogs like yours (and work on my own, as well!)
However, if Seattle’s Best and Cinabon are giving away free samples to their ad agency, I may consider changing careers…
Hi Holly! Wow – what important work you do! I’m really honored to know you.
You are very welcome for the blog- what started out as something that I thought would be 1 or 2 posts before I “got bored” has turned into such a wonderful community of friends that I know will last a lifetime. Congrats on your surgery date – please keep me posted!
Jim – Oooh my gosh – thankfully folks normally send out an email to the company stating “free samples in the kitchen” which lets me know to steer clear of the kitchen for at least the next 15 minutes which is the maximum amount of time it takes for the food to be devoured!
But sometimes, it is very tempting…especially now that we just got a new client…and all I hear about all day is “breakfast pizza”?!?!?!
I’m sure that it is a challenge for you to have all of these available and still keep on track, but after reading your posts I’m sure you can do it.
However, as soon as I perfect the technology of emailing “free samples” you will be the first person I will notify!
@Lise, dang – I used Expedia like hell for trip planning and booking and have used many of the products you’ve worked on. Coolness.
@Holly, good luck with being banded! You’re less than a month away.
@Jimsmuse, howdy and LOLCat “Oh Noes” to email food technology. I’d be subscribing to a Reeses listserv.
As for work, I’m a web developer for the Uncle Sam developing my program’s web site, intranet, and other applications to manage grants and other data. Not trying to be mysterious, rather to segment my work googleability from my personal googleability.
Prior to that I was the Director of Information Technology for a satellite TV installation company. I wrote a web-based inventory and dispatch system which was adopted by several other companies. While I still do consulting from time to time, my free time needs to be occupied with my health and personal web projects that I have a passion for.
Lise, I think it’s wonderful that you’re blogging your progress. It’s something you can look back on to see what you’ve accomplished, what things work for you, where you’re messing up, and to act as a research tool. I regret dropping my personal blog because pre-op it kept me in the zone and when I wasn’t tracking, I went off course – so keep it up!
I love reading your blog! I got banded 3/26, so reading your trials and tribulations is kind of like getting “the scoop” on what is to come.
I am a nursing student (graduating in December), a wife and mom of one 3 year old. I have lost 14 pounds, but not one of those pounds has been in the last week.
I do struggle with following the prescribed diet. I am still supposed to be on liquids, but I usually eat some “real food” around dinner. Today I stuck to the plan, though. Oh wait…I did have 3 or 4 peanut M&M’s. You know, I am acting like I am in a confession…and I am not even Catholic!
Anyways, thanks for your blog. I try to read it everyday!
I am a police dispatcher. I forgot to ask earlier if you ever made it to the walmart and picked up some different flavors of crystal light? I tried that coconut chicken dish you posted, I just added yellow curry and garlic to the sauce. It was pretty good.
Hi there! I’m currently a graduate student in Library Science and (hopefully soon!) History. I want to do one of several things with this–archives and museum work, map librarianship or a librarian for a research service (preferably because of my background something like Congressional Research Service). The State Department hires librarians/information specialists to run libraries in embassies overseas and that’s been a life-long dream of mine so maybe that too!
Public and school librarianship are great options, too and I’m glad to be moving into a career that has that kind of flexibility.
I used to work in politics, which sounds general and yep it is
Everything from donation-processor extraordinare (10 hours/day of data entry) to Capitol Hill whipping girl, to campaigns in far-off states to lobbying support, to legislative work to to election data analysis, I’ve pretty much done it all in the 4 years since I moved to this jungle. And I’m tired. And I didn’t like who it was making me. So I’m going to be a librarian!
BigSean: So – my husband reads my blog…not sure if it’s because he’s as obsessed with it as I am or if it’s because I get very disappointed in him if he doesn’t! But – nevertheless, he reads it and last night at dinner he said, “I really like that Sean guy – he’s smart and has a great attitude”. Just thought I would pass it along.
Robin: I know what you mean about not losing in the past week – I’m there with you – the scale has not moved at all for me either. But – I keep hoping for “tomorrow” and I’m sure one of these tomorrows it will move. It better!
Lisa: Yes – I did make it…errr – my husband made it for me and picked up about 5 flavors – have not tried them yet because I’m stuck on peach tea right now…a bit of an obsession but i’ll let you know what happens when i do! glad to know you tried out the recipe!
Catherine: Politics to a librarian! What a change. I was actually a political science major which is what made me decide I did NOT want to go into politics.
I am the Executive Director of a film arts non-profit called Three Dollar Bill Cinema. We produce the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, The Seattle Transgender Film Festival, and many other film events and screenings throughout the year. I love my job and film is in my blood.
By the way, Lise, I saw the Crystal Light peach tea powder packets (that you add to bottled water) on clearance at Target (the one in Northgate). They were near the cash registers (like where the gum and mints are)….you might want to stock up!
Hi Rach! NO way – you are somewhat of a local celebrity! How cool is that!!! I love the local arts here in Seattle and you must tell me of the next event you are producing as the husband and I will definitely attend.
Also, we will have to hook up and do sushi one of these days once you’re into the solids stage. And thanks for the tip on the crystal light. I know that target will be on my list of stops today!!!
I am a 7th grade math teacher on the north end. Love, love, love my job. Most people cringe when I tell them what I do for a living.
The kids are great. I have been gone for a couple weeks, and several students have checked in on me by email or telephone. These little darlings can put me in the best mood! Seeing them again after this long absence has made me anxious for tomorrow…
Lisa – we definitely need more folks like you around! And I will be the last person to cringe – I was a stats minor so I am a data junkie!!! When I returned to work I expected people to look at me with a funny glare and confuse the surgery with lipo – but nobody did – everyone was and still is fantastic and supportive. I’m sure you’ll experience the same. Going back to work definitely helped to get things moving – get the gas going, etc and take my mind off of the band (which was all i could think about morning, noon and night)!
Hi Everyone,
My name is Carole. I get banded tomorrow and I can’t wait! I teach college undergrad and counseling graduate courses, own a private counseling practice, and am a student in a PhD. Psychology program. I have 3 kiddos, a husband, and 3 poodles.
Thanks for this great website!
Carole
Hi Carole! Tomorrow – wow! I’ll be thinking of you. It sounds like you are a very busy lady…how much time are you taking off after banding? By the way – I love poodles – had a toy poodle growing up!
Man, just reading about everyone’s jobs is making me really miss my old job. I quit work a year ago to stay home with my baby girl, Sadie. I know I made the right decision, because I get to be with her all the time and see her through all her “firsts”, but boy, do I miss adult interaction. I worked at UPS for 15 years – since I was 18 years old. I used to be a Senior Editor for UPS Airlines in the Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering division. I loved my job and I loved my co-workers. I miss it sooooo much. Of course, I’m glad my husband and I are in a position where I am able to be a stay-at-home mom, but sometimes I wonder how things would be if I was still at UPS. Lise, your job seems so exciting, and you speak so highly of it – you make me want to move to Seattle and join your firm!
@Lise,
Please thank your husband for the kudos. And wow – I’m going to have to catch up on the gold mine of info you posted today and the comments. 
Hi again,
I will do some computer work (currently teaching an online course) and return calls when I can from home during this week. My return physically (in my office) will be Friday night. I then see more clients in my office on Saturday.
What I love about my schedule is that it can be so flexible. I can change client apointments, take a quick nap in my office between clients, etc.
I am thinking this will be a pretty minor surgery compared to others I have had in the past (hysterectomy landed me on my ass and I returned just 2 weeks after surgery; too soon!). I have had laparoscopic procedures and they have been pretty smooth sailing for me (knock on wood).
Minor in pain; major in daily eating impact. I hope my energy level from the low amount of food intake goes well.
Carole
Hi Jenny – I think it’s great that you are staying home with your baby. That is a fantastic decision! My mom made the same decision with me and look at how wonderful I turned out.
And – you can always go back to work when she grows up!
Carole: I worked from home after the banding, as well. I love that about my schedule, as well! Wow – what a list of surgeries you’ve had. Yes – this will be cake compared to the rest.
Hi Lise,
So glad you have a blog and you’re so nearby! I was banded on 1/3/08, so I was so glad to see your notes on smartbandsters about your worrying that the band doesn’t work. I’m really feeling exactly the same way!!!!
I have a blog on banding too:
http://rhm-thedecision.blogspot.com/
I also have a regular blog, but many people there don’t know that I’ve been banded, and my name there is never mentioned, only my alias redheadmomma:
http://redheadmomma.blogspot.com/
please come visit!
I’m over in Redmond, I’m a graphic/web designer who has worked for various seattle book design firms & ad agencies.
Currently, I do freelance design work for Microsoft internal sharepoint sites, as well as am mother to my two kiddos, one of which is on the autistic spectrum, so I couldn’t work full-time even if I wanted to – just too many therapy appts to get him to. Busy, happy time!
Waving at you from across Lake Washington
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca! Love your blogs – your designs, your family…the picture of cupcakes!!!
That’s fantastic that you are working with MS – about half of the projects I work on at HL2 are for Microsoft. I was just out there yesterday! The next time I’m out there we should do lunch! Would you mind if I posted a link to your lapband blog on my site?
Lise
Hi Lise,
I love your comments to everyone, you can see your sparkling personality coming out of your blog
Of course you can post a link to the my banding blog, I’d be honored! And we’ll have to do lunch 
Rebecca
Rebecca – why thank you!!!! And yes -lunch is a must!