Amy's Blog

Daily Photo

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!  I'm not in the office today, so I dug up this picture I took a year ago of a house in my neighborhood instead of my daily photo at Klipsch. 

Steven made me drive by this house very slowly every single day for over a month last year, and he even remembered to look for it again this season.  Sadly, the house is now up for sale, with not a single decoration in sight.  I think Steven is convinced the Grinch has been in the area...

Daily Photo:

If I don't receive a picture of Dwight and/or Dilbert very soon, I'll be sending this guy after them....

Daily Photo:  Apparently, our guys in IT need a constant reminder.

Daily Photo:  Post-holiday doldrums setting in....hardly anyone here today.  So, here's an exciting still-life photo of what I received in the gift-exchange last week.  I'll be putting it to good use over the next few days... (Thank you, George II!)

Daily Photo:  We took a few minutes out of our department holiday party because Katie had yet to see Charlie the Unicorn.  Her life is now complete.

Daily Photo:   These vintage Rudolph characters are on display in Michael Colter's cube, and I couldn't resist taking a quick snap of them.  I thought the picture came out looking like they wrapped up opening night and are now taking a bow.  I'd suggest we do an actual performance in the Cafe during lunch, but we're missing Clarice, Mrs Claus, and King Moonracer.  Donations welcome.

If they would've let me really take their picture, you would be able to see Katie (left) and Tamara.  Typical girls! 

Katie is one of the newest Marketing "acquisitions," joining us just before Halloween.  She is responsible for tracking our projects and keeping all of us on task, which must feel like herding cats to her most days.  I don't know a lot about her yet, but it's just a matter of time...I can tell she has a great sense of humor, and is fitting in with the group quite nicely.  Not an easy task with this bunch of loonies.  Me excluded, of course.

Tamara is the Marketing Manager for Jamo and the Klipsch Headphone line, and has been with us for about a year, but don't quote me on that.  Time certainly gets fuzzy after a while...  She's brought her adorably teeny dogs in on a couple of occasions, and even dyed one of them blue for the Super Bowl last year (don't call PETA!  It was a safe, non-toxic product, naturally).  Tamara is very outdoorsy, and is frequently using her vacation days for wild campouts or white-water rafting trips. 

I used to go camping....when I was younger and could sleep on dirt. I'm too fond of my Sealy Posturepedic® these days.

You can also see the New George rubber-necking in the background.  Get to work! 

Daily Photo

Keith is going to be mad at me for posting this, but I'M A REBEL!  Formerly our NE sales rep, Keith has been with Klipsch ...a heck of a long time.... and was hired as PR manager last year.  He remains in the NY area, since that's where all the action is, but he pays us a visit from time to time.  Most days Keith can be found on airplanes, jetting off to fight the good fight for all our brands. 

As a photographer on the side, Keith can also be found often with the camera in this picture strapped over his shoulder.  As the case with most photographers, he'd much rather be behind the camera instead of in front, which he was making clear to me as I snapped this photo against his will.  I'd like to take this opportunity to say -- Keith, you're the best PR guy, EVER!

This is first year Steven has been excited about Santa, and the first year he actually told him what he wanted for Christmas.  I couldn't hear the conversation that took place while I was taking this photo, but later I was informed he asked Santa for a yellow puzzle (nothing on it, just yellow), The Wiggles (in the flesh? Not real sure exactly), and The Polar Express (not the movie--the actual train). 

Santa has his work cut out for him this year.   

Upon entering the marketing department, we are greeted every morning by this friendly face--although he doesn't always appear this startled.  These windows are to the right of our entry way, and I'm always reminded of the drive up window at the bank, minus the vaccum tube.  

Phil began life at Klipsch at couple years ago as an intern, and after he was hired as a permanent employee, had a hard time shaking the nickname "Intern Phil," or "FNG."  I doubt he'll ever shake them completely.  He's a young-un, at least compared to the rest of us, so he gets a lot of abuse by default.  Which is why I suppose he gets to hide in this office while the rest of us are in cube-land.

Intern Phil is responsible for keeping track of all the creative stuff that comes from Matt and George, since artists are flakey by nature and need help keeping track of everything.  You can find Phil most days in his studio, either taking photos or editing them for mass consumption.

Sitting diagonal to my left, you can find this amiable face.  It belongs to Matt, and if you tune in to "The Office," you'll know who I'm referring to when I tell you he reminds us all of Jim.

Matt is a master of keeping to himself, which he has done successfully here at Klipsch for over 4 years now.  He maintains such a low profile that I just now had to ask him where he's from (which happens to be Muncie).  Don't get me wrong, he's about the friendliest, most good-natured person I know... he simply isn't "one of those" who talks about himself incessantly.  You know who I mean.  

As a new father of a 5-week-old baby girl, Matt hasn't been getting a whole lot of good sleep lately.  But you'd never know it because he remains his even-keeled self.  To get Matt talking, simply bring up a movie you watched recently, or let him know there's cake in Accounting.

Daily Photo

Just in case you ever wanted to know what movies are in rotation at my house (and why) from Thanksgiving until New Years: 

1.  A Christmas Story  Although the rest of my list was a challenge to sort out, this one is hands-down easily my all-time favorite Christmas movie.  Not only because I could empathize with Ralphie on so many levels, but the nostalgia of the entire film rings true.  It creates a holiday mood like no other.  Plus he's a Hoosier.  I remember seeing this for the first time in the theater when I was 13 years old, and I've been hooked ever since. 

Most memorable line from that first viewing:  "The line to see Santa stretched all the way back to Terre Haute."  It was fun to hear mentioned a nearby town that I knew.  It was like I was being let in on a private joke.

Favorite line today:  "You used up all the glue....ON PURPOSE!"   

2.  It’s a Wonderful Life  There's no better movie to help us remember what's really important in life.

3.  Christmas Vacation  Is it just me, or does every family have a Cousin Eddie?

4.  A Charlie Brown Christmas  "Of all the Charlie Brown's in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest."  Me too, Charlie.

5.  Miracle on 34^th St (1947)  Cute as a button Natalie Wood, paired with the best Santa-actor ever.

6.  A Year Without A Santa Claus  Heat and Snow Miser ruled my childhood, but the best part now (because I'm old) is the little girl singing "Blue Christmas" to Santa.  Brings a tear every time.

7.  A Muppet Christmas Carol  Jim Henson + Charles Dickens?  Hard to beat.

8.  Scrooged  Bill Murray at his comic best.  "Have you tried staples?"

9.  Bad Santa  Not a movie to watch with Grandma....unless Grandma cusses like a sailor and likes fart jokes.  Rude, crude holiday fun, but, amazingly, with a heart.

10.  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  Watching this movie without fail every year since I can remember taught me that being a misfit doesn't make you a nitwit.  In fact, misfits just might be more important than anyone thought.

11.  Home Alone   Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.  And a classic older brother.

12.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) Such a goolish character, they had to get Boris Karloff to voice. 

13.  Polar Express  Ok, so the animation is creepy, but the story is great.  And when Santa takes off, I get goose bumps every time.

14.  Elf  A bit hokey, but Will Ferrell's interpretation of a wide-eyed innocent raised as an elf is great fun.

15.  Edward Scissorhands  Johnny Depp at his sweetest and Winona Ryder at her blondest, but it's the great Alan Arkin as the clueless dad that keeps me coming back for more.  And a wonderful last appearance by Vincent Price.

16.  The Nightmare Before Christmas  Love the catchy songs...  "What's this, what's this?"

17.  Black Christmas (1974) Did you think Halloween kicked off the slasher genre?  Think again.  And this one is better.  Hard to believe this is the same director as my #1, the late Bob Clark.

18.  Love Actually  A montage of love stories, some happy some sad, but each feels like a little Christmas special all by itself.

19.  About a Boy  Sweet story about the transformation of a gloomy loner by the dogged persitence of an annoying kid.  Just try not to enjoy the rendition of "Killing Me Softly."

20.  Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey  A little known Rankin/Bass classic about the donkey who was to take Mary to the manger.  Good luck fighting the tears within the first 10 minutes.

"No, no, no, I want an official Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle!" 

Looks kinda crazed, doesn't he?  Well, you know what they say about writers.  George is the newest member of our Klipsch Marketing family, having only been here a few weeks.  He has acclimated nicely, however, probably because he's been friends with George #1 since I was a baby.   

"Writer George" hails from Northeastern Ohio, but I get the feeling he's been to many places since then.  I'll get the scoop eventually.  He's a big fan of live music, and if not at his desk, can be found in the kitchenette brewing coffee at any given hour.  Which is bad for me because if the coffee is made, I'll be drinking it.  As if I need to type 100 words per minute on my wireless keyboard while running laps around the building in 2 feet of snow.