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Our Backyard, Frozen
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Daily Photo:
This picture was taken out the back window of the marketing department. As you can see, it's completely devoid of anything interesting this time of year, unless you like looking at things such as boxes of toothpicks.
I'll be taking pictures out this window periodically, so you can see how the seasons change here in the midwest in case you happen to be from somewhere that doesn't get to experience nature's mood swings. In the summer, we might be able to catch a glimpse of Trey hunting for crawdads in the winding creek below.
We're expecting buckets of snow tonight and tomorrow morning, so I'll either be posting a really pretty winter scene, or you won't hear from me at all because I'll be stranded at home...under a big blanket...playing Candyland for the millionth time.
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Meet Creshan, Administrative Assistant for Marketing
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Daily Photo:
If I stand up on my desk and do an awkward side-bend, I can get a peek at the back of Creshan's head just a few short yards away. Not that I would do that because I would undoubtedly hurt myself. Like all our wonderful assistants who work for Klipsch, I shudder to think how dysfunctional we would be in her absence.
Creshan is a true midwesterner, having lived in Kentucky, Ohio, and landing finally in Indiana, and a bona fide super-mom. I can say that because she is a mother of two and stepmom of four, ranging in ages 2-23. Yowsa. When I have a kid-question, she's the first I turn to. Like what do you do when your kid wants only cookies for dinner and he looks you right in the eye and says very calmly, "Don't tell me NO mommy, that's not very nice."
Even if she can't actually help me, it's comforting to hear her laugh, and see the look on her face that says "yep, I know exactly what you're talking about."
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Wash, Rinse, Spin
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Daily Photo:
To me, this looks like an industrial size washing machine...one that perhaps would knock out the laundry of an entire frat house in just under an hour...but I've been told otherwise. If you look closely in the window, you can see some speakers--perhaps a RoomGroove or an SXT-- being tested in the elements... rain, snow, sleet, salt, wind, sun. I wonder if I could take my virtual vacation in there. Get a tan. Go skiing.
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Boys And Their Toys
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Steven loves to open and close drawers, constantly taking things out, putting them back in, rearranging, alphabetizing, grouping according to size, shape, color, texture...
I think if he were to be hired by Klipsch as an engineer, he'd fit in marvelously.
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One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other
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Daily Photo:
I hum this Sesame Street tune every time I open this picture. Weird, I know.
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I'll Take "Items You Might Find On The Desk Of An Acoustic Engineer" for 1,000 Please, Alex
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Daily Photo:
I guarantee you, this photo was not in the least bit staged.
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Meet Kevin, Online Marketing Manager
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If I twist my neck slightly to the right, I can see this grumpy looking fellow (although he's rarely actually grumpy). Kevin joined Klipsch a couple years ago, with his first ginormous task being the redesign our website. Considering our vast database of products, tremendous amount of content, and the fact that he only had a handful of people to help, I think he did a pretty decent job. And I better say that because he's my boss. Actually, "decent" is the wrong word. I meant STUPENDOUS!
Kevin hails from the northern boondocks of Indiana, specifically Syracuse, which is home to Indiana's largest natural lake. After spending some time in Utah, he found he couldn't resist Indiana's charms. Who couldn't? Or maybe it had something more to do with the location of his then-fiancee.
If you want to get on Kevin's good side, just bring him a box of cereal. And if you want to make him laugh uncontrollably, tell a stupid joke. Like "What time do you go to the dentist?" "Tooth-hurty," or "What do you call cheese that isn't yours?" "Nacho cheese." He loves 'em.
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People Bring The Most Ridiculous Things To Work...
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Daily Photo:
...probably because their spouses won't allow them in the house.
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Let's Face It, I Was A History Major
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Daily Photo:
Although I've asked a few times what exactly this contraption is for, I have absolutely zero capactiy for the retention of the answer....it's just that far over my head. I'm pretty sure it measures something. The logical part of my brain came up with that all by itself.
This is bolted to the wall down in the Engineering and Technology Center, right next to the anechoic chamber (you can see the spinning wood door to the left). I'm sure one of our fine engineer-types will chime in on this blog to let everyone know how they can't believe I've been here 7 1/2 years, and still have no idea what this thing is for. And maybe they'll be so kind as to let us know, after they are through pointing and laughing.
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Meet Jim, Product Manager, and Chris, Acoustic Engineer
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If I walk down two flights of stairs from my cube, I can find these two characters.
Jim (left) has been with Klipsch for eight...long...years, and to everyone who knows him has clearly lost his mind. An Indy native and Colts fan, Jim will tell anyone who listens that he is the best drummer ever (cue Drummer Jokes). His band has been known to pack the house...which house, I'm not sure, but I do know they have performed at Birdy's on occassion. As is the case with most our employees, Jim is a great fan of music--especially when it's being reproduced by a Klipsch.
And Jim, if you're reading, slow down in the parking lot, would ya?
Chris is a mystery. I know he's from Great Britain. I know he can engineer a badass speaker. I know he's been here for a couple years now. That's about it. Since he's so tight-lipped, I'm going to have to assume he's a covert operative for the British Secret Intelligence Service, sent here on a clandestine mission to design a speaker that will take over the industry. Double-O Chris.
I hope I didn't just blow his cover.
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Embarrassing Toddler Moments
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Yes, we've all had these: times when we wish we had the ability to disappear, or at least melt to the floor so we can glide out of the room unseen.
A few recent favorites:
We came across a traditional Mennonite family during this past Christmas season, the patriarch donning the common white beard and suspenders. Steven's eyes lit up, and I saw this coming a mile away...but it happened so quickly I was paralyzed to stop it: he ran right up to the gentlemen, pointing about 12 inches from his face, looking back at me screaming "Santa Claus, Santa Claus!" I'm relatively certain the traditional Mennonite religion frowns upon the teaching of fables. I'm assuming this because he was frowning at me. Or maybe it was because the four small grandsons he had with him would never commit such a brazen and disrespectful act. I can't be sure.
Steven is at the age of "I don't have to listen to you because I can do everything mySELF and you are just an annoyance to me, so move." In order to get him to do as I ask, I frequently must present the chore as a game. Since he inherited my uber-competitive gene, the most effective game is a race..."I'm going to beat you to the stairs!"...."I'm going to beat you to the car!"...etc. Note to self: Do not use this tactic in a grocery store ever again. You wouldn't believe the looks you get from strangers when your toddler is running from you screaming "Don't beat me mommy!!"
I'm not exactly sure where he picked this up, but his latest catch phrase is "Holy Crap!" He flings this around freely, such as "Holy Crap, that's a big cookie!" or "Look at THAT kid, Holy Crap!" It's been suggested to me to calmly say the phrase is not appropriate and move on, but it's hard to stay calm through gales of laughter.
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Effective Advertising
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Daily Photo:
Strangley, the sight of this cup makes me giggle without fail. I think it might have something to do with this wonderfully odd bit of randomness.
