Nancy King - Plinky Answers

Candor, Quirky love them

2009-06-05T04:10:43-06:00

candor
because it has the word can and dor. Plus it's being real.

quirky
We all are quirky so it's a big unifier

So not as creative as "Snap"

2009-05-03T21:11:35-06:00

Macaroni and Cheese from a box. (or happy hour food).

No, I don't eat it any more, but I have bought a Costco pack for the teenagers.

The tradition carries on... since we're 1 1/2 years away from a college Freshman we're beginning the indoctrination process (sans binge drinking).

My husband added chopped hot dogs to his mac and cheese back in the day.

Every Church Picnic at the LAPD Training Center wasn't as fun as you'd think

2009-05-01T14:32:22-06:00

Ever year Our Lady of Lourdes Northridge had a church picnic. When it was at the park where you could feed the ducks, I was cool. When they started using the LAPD training grounds, it sucked. Dusty, boring and only fun if you enjoyed running through caves and climbing hills and getting wet with water balloons.

Maybe it was me... yeah, I was no fun!

I can not "gang dance" on my own.

2009-05-01T00:32:52-06:00

I have chosen a group that I think represents and eclectic mix of individuals that could bring it.

Visualize it, and you'll see the power.

Savion Glover

Mikhail Baryshnikov

Hugh Jackman

Twyla Tharp

Gene Kelly

Sparkle Motion

Madonna

I might have been on fire

2009-04-29T21:41:52-06:00

I worked at a Bank. I sucked as a teller, was better as a customer service rep, and pretty damn good at loan collection.

I wasn't on fire until I took a course at the local community college on how to develop and conduct training seminars.

Every assignment, I aced. Every review from the teacher amazing, and the whole time I was thinking what's the big deal this is easy.

The teacher said in front of the class that I could be a Training SUPERSTAR.

Umm okay.... and then, when he found out I was driving to San Francisco by myself, he sort of hinted he might come along. (so not might type - Not okay).

I don't know what to think.... I'd like to believe I was on FIRE, and that I am a Training SUPERSTAR!

Melissa Rivers, what do you want to be when you grow up?

2009-04-28T13:44:42-06:00

Getting into the family business was a very big mistake.You limit the opportunities you have in the world should you ever decide it's not working (and it doesn't seem to be working).

Be successful on your own without your Mom. In fact, why use the last name Rivers. You'll be happier with your own identity.

You can forget getting a job for a while after your exit on "The Apprentice" on Sunday. I know, it's the editing, we didn't see what went down. But you know what, I don't care, knowing they're going to edit for drama should have given you pause before you lost it on camera.

Do you really think Donald Trump and Jim Cramer know what they're doing? What world do you live in?

Oh, I predict if Ivanka agrees to another season of "The Apprentice" she too will have made a poor decision to stay with the family business.

This can opener is just taking up space

2009-04-27T21:09:43-06:00

Can Opener

Oxo can opener. It takes three of us, cranking it around the sliced olive can at least three times. (that's nine times) How much is a new can opener? Why can't I remember to "pick one up" when I'm at Target?

It all started...

2009-04-27T21:06:59-06:00

I'm too old to answer this question.

If pot is legalized, I expect New Landscaping Material

2009-04-24T20:52:31-06:00

Imagine a hedge of Marijuana plants or, in growing your herb garden. That's a whole new looks to gardening, don't you think?

The Quality of Mercy is not Strained

2009-04-15T23:52:58-06:00

Why my eighth grade starring role is a great example of who I am.

I played Portia, in the Merchant of Venice when I was 13. I could memorize a poem, a soliloquy, and I could recite it in front of a crowd with no problem, no fear. I could also sing, in one particular key as well.

As Portia, I was expected to have an on stage kiss with Bassiano. My co-star was Billy Micus. Billy was good with it. Me not so much. Billy was expelled for having pot in his locker one week before opening night. Nuns didn't tolerate drugs. Frank Donner steps in. We were both not really feeling it. I'm not an actor at 13. I'm not in character. I can pretend this is good. I am the biggest awkwardiest geek. Frank is cute. My parents are out there. I have no confidence at all.

Portia, was one amazing woman. Wit and intelligence. If I can be known for that I'm good.

So for my next act, wit, intelligence and the confidence for the figurative "on stage kiss": doing something that challenges my comfort zone. I'm almost there. Just wait....

When I have finally made it

2009-04-08T21:54:58-06:00

Someone who knows

A Christmas gift for my son that'll come in handy

2009-03-26T22:45:28-06:00

The good news? I own a copy of Zombies for Dummies. I'm good.

It took 24 years...

2009-03-25T00:25:44-06:00

...for the right first kiss

This may seem like a really corny answer but for me it's true. I kissed others, but not one of them was memorable. Seriously not one.

Until I met my husband at a Grateful Dead concert, borrowed Jimi Hendrix albums and returned them to his house where he kissed me in his living room.

I remember that very well.... and I think that's why I can't remember a first....

Matt, Meredith, Al, as if you care, I'm an Executive Recruiter

2009-03-11T23:38:18-06:00

I find people to solve an organization's pressing need. I help grow businesses by making lots of phone calls, sending lots of emails and talking to lots of people. I then coordinate all their quirks into some kind of final agreement.

I'm a hand holder, therapist, parent, coach, tough lover and ultimately a CEO's best weapon and partner.

In a nut shell, I am an expert at managing people quirks.

Idiocracy is as quotastic as Lebowski

2009-03-10T09:38:21-06:00

This movie becomes less of a fantasy and more of a reality it seems day by day, what with octomom and the financial services meltdown and such.

"Everyone's shit is emotional right now"

When hiring.... things you won't here me say

2009-03-06T01:11:10-06:00

I am certainly tolerant of those that use these words when in the midst of hiring. Each has become part of the recruiting language. I on the other hand, am doing my best not to utter them.

Give me time.... there are a few more.

Rock Star
Only as it applies to employees. I don't recruit rock stars.

"A" player
Yeah, well, you know

Pass
As it applies to not hiring someone. You pass on dessert, or other things you shouldn't do. Not people.

New Economy Handywoman

2009-03-04T00:53:11-06:00

We used to call the Blind Lady when our big, huge front of the house blind would break. With two teenage boys who have no sense of the delicacy of the complex mechanism that is a modern blind, this has happened three times in five years.

The Blind Lady and her handyguy are good at what they do, but it's $50 every time. That's almost two bottles of Aviation Gin!

This time, it was a bad break, and with the economy and such, we are now doing everything that we are physically capable of doing (unless it eats into our money making time) before calling the professionals.

In the age of the internet, I have discovered my inner Handywoman.

www.fixmyblinds.com

All the parts I needed, and instructions.

With my husband's help, we took the 7 foot wide blind down, took it apart, found the missing string and replaced the little gizmo that held it all together.

The neighbors can no longer see us with our laptops.

Oracle of Dephi is old

2009-02-26T20:37:10-06:00

First, I like the fact that Google Maps believes that the Oracle of Dephi is right there in Redwood City. I like it so much, I'm not going to try to change it.

So we'd arrived in Greece just the night before after a hellacious night in the former Yugoslavia. Alcohol, disco, local men and fights over us women who really weren't all that interested in them anyway. Fun.

38 19 year old Americans. We were up at dawn in Delphi Greece, Green rolling hills, mist in the air. Hey, it's like Oregon!

Our tour guide met us at the bottom of the hill. Johnny was very proper, and dressed in a suit. "Follow Johnny!", and he turned and raised his umbrella heading to the next point of interest.

At each stop, his stories had our very tired,very hungover group paying close attention. He led you to believe that the gods were very real,and the oracle was their Twitter.

People camped out for nights on end, making their way up the same trail we were on to a place where the so called oracle would then answer their question. Now a days, we would just call the oracle "stoner".

That morning, you could easily suspend your Catholic beliefs and believe that Zeus was the puppet master.

I credit that ancient ruin with converting me to greek mythology.

The traits of my parents

2009-02-24T21:37:17-06:00

I have my father's reserve and my mother's goofiness. I am an introverted extrovert.

I have my mother's need to shop and my fathers laser focused methods.

I have my father and mother's sense of humor: dark, smart and off the wall.

I have my mother's love of a good vodka tonic and my father's love of reading history. (Although I choose martinis and the history of Vegas, not war)

You know, I never said I won't be like my parents and didn't assume I would be. Maybe that's why my kids seem to be doing well. I don't assume they'll be like me, just like my parents didn't make me feel I had to be like them.

Keep it simple: The handbag edition

2009-02-21T19:45:00-06:00

You will find nothing earth shattering or impractical about the contents of my bag.

Wallet
Need it

Combination Lock
There are times when I go to the gym.

iphone
See number 1

Sunglasses
Believe it or not, you need sunglasses in Portland. There are rare days in winter where the sun pops out and it is so foreign it's like spraying your eyeballs with alcohol.

Lip gloss and/or balm
Frequently miss placed and usually not there when I need it. I don't carry my whole makeup and hair grooming collection. Although, there are days when I should.

Keys
See number 1 (substitute them for it)

Small notebook and small pen
Because I forget things and I have ideas. It also holds my business cards

My first power play while crowning a statue of Mary

2009-02-18T12:40:44-06:00

The month of May is Mary's month in Catholicism. When I was in third grade, at Our Lady of Lourdes Northridge ,California, every Friday a different class was chosen to crown the statue of Mary with a crown of homemade flowers.

Out of the chosen classroom, one individual was chosen to make the crown and put it on Mary's head, leading a procession in front of the whole school. Guess who got that honor?

The class of 20 or so followed behind me in two straight lines singing some tribute to Mary loudly (you can sing your favorite Mary tune here). After the coronation, we were supposed to turn back around and walk out to a stopping point just in front of the statue for one more prayer.

Well, as leader of the pack, for whatever reason, I chose not to stop and a splinter group of 10 broke away with me and headed back to the classroom. The conversation in that group went something like this:

"You're supposed to stop"
Me: No we're not
"Stop"
Me: No
"No, really stop"
Me: Silence

Thus, my first success at convincing a group of people to follow me for no particular reason. Now, I use my power for good not stupid.

The longest period of time I spent alone with my sister in all of my 44 years

2009-02-15T23:10:50-06:00

What's funny about this? That map is not the route we took. Oh I know, Google Maps thinks it's the way to go, but we went the via Bakersfield.

Just me and my older sister

The purpose of the trip: delivering a car to my niece Katie in Las Vegas. My sister ask if I'd take a few days and help drive.

What the heck!

Let's set the stage: Mary Jane is the oldest in my family and I'm the youngest. The difference in our ages is 15 years. There are four brothers in between us. Ours is that special sister bond. It all started when we shared a bedroom. She was 18, I was 3.

And now we're going to test it by driving to Vegas. This could have destroyed our relationship, but nope it didn't. We covered decades of family issues, opinions on world politics, career discussions and kid parenting. All the while seeing sites, I hadn't seen before.... Bakersfield for example.

Nellie, Lizzie or Sport

2009-02-08T14:37:55-06:00

I've never had a nickname stick. One thing though, my father rarely ever called me Nancy.

Let's start with the nickname foundation: My full name is Nancy Elizabeth Lynn King (nelking, get it?) If I was in trouble it was Nancy Elizabeth Lynn.

My father instead frequently called me:

Nell, or Nellie (my initials NEL)

This was usual accompanied by a his rendition of "Hang on the Bell, Nellie" by the Chad Mitchell Trio. As the story goes, Nellie must prevent the town bell from ringing at midnight to save her father from being put to death for a crime he didn't commit. She hangs her torso from the clapper, so the bell won't ring. (I am not making this up)

Lizzie: Using my middle name, Lizzie was the more popular of the two. Here, my father would recite the rhyme:

Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

Not familiar with Lizzie? She is the spinster daughter who was accused of chopping her parents to death in the late 1800's.

My father also rocked us to sleep as small children singing sea shanties like:

"Many brave hearts are asleep in the deep so beware!"

Or

"What do you do with a drunken sailor"

And then there was Sport: All six of us were called Sport. Not sure why... the dog was even called Sport.

As I aged, I became Nan most of the time, but every once in a while he'd still call me Lizzie.

Is it odd that I fondly think of my father's nickname for me? After an Ax Murderess?

Come on in, enjoy nature, cook a meal, have a martini and watch stupid TV

2009-02-06T10:33:57-06:00

The ability to significantly redo our home in 2004 gave us the perfect room.

We have this one big room that is part living room, part kitchen part cocktail bar with a stuffed bass on the wall. Every part of it has windows and glass doors. You don't miss anything inside, or outside.

On the other hand, our across the street neighbors also don't missing anything.

Things that confirm that I am old or experienced, you choose..

2009-02-05T17:11:55-06:00

I had a prodigy and a compuserve email. They had many numbers in them. (probably 1990)

I thought AOL was the coolest thing I had ever seen. (1993)

Our teenage babysitter caused our AOL to become suspended because she said the "f" word while using IM in a chat room. My kids are now teenagers probably using the "f" word in a chat room and not getting in trouble for it.

I now wish I had taken more programming classes than just Fortran.

What I fear if my dreams are to be believed

2009-02-04T14:52:12-06:00

I can't think of any one thing that I fear so greatly that it consumes me. According to my subconscious, there seem to be a few things of concern to me

Not able to find a bathroom to use
Not making my plane on time
Not prepared for a final exam
Not having clothes on in public
Going over a waterfall (on my way to the airport, double whammy!)
Not able to find a bathroom to use while being naked in public

Oh, and please don't tell me what this means. I really don't want to know.

If you pay me enough and provide two Aviation Gin Martinis, I'll sing these songs at a karaoke bar

2009-02-02T11:00:41-06:00

I've been to Memphis by Lyle Lovett

I have the vocal range of Lyle Lovett. Yes, I am an Alto. Couldn't hit a high note if my life depended on it.

Can't let go by Lucinda Williams

First, I would love to sing like Lucinda Williams, second it's a good tune, third just stretches my vocal range slightly beyond Lyle that I might embarrass myself or improve my chops.

No Diggity by Blackstreet

I always feel like singing this out loud when I'm working out. I don't, but I feel like it.

My ideal Super Bowl halftime show a: Mini Modern Rock Opera

2009-01-29T15:10:43-06:00

Mini Modern Opera
Just thought of this while in the car. If I had the money to commission this I would but missing that, maybe someone can take this and run with it.

My Super Bowl halftime show would be a mini sociopolitical rock opera based on Sarah Palin and Rod Blagojevich. I leave to all of you to craft the plot that would bring them together. I don't think it's that much of a stretch. First bipartisan Presidential ticket 2012?

The Joys of Self Employment and a Windfall $1000

2009-01-28T12:41:11-06:00

Groceries.

The Clarifier - What's Really the Problem

2009-01-27T21:09:33-06:00

As The Clarifier, I would enter a room of a dysfunctional team and blend into the woodwork, and then right at the right moment, Bam Pow Zap! level them with a few key questions unmasking the true identity of the real problem. Then, I'd show them how they too, can be super heroes by fixing it themselves.

They all would live happily ever after until the next time they need....."The Clarifier"