Trae's Talks, Travels and Travails

Welcome Friends!

Welcome to my blog!  This is my very first entry.  I hope to write a couple of entries a month.  Of course that's predicated on my having that many interesting things to share with you.  I promise I won't be reduced to boring you with tales of my cat Finnegan's latest antics (although his great escape and adventure terrorizing the neighbor's dog a few weekends ago was pretty entertaining). 

In This Issue. . .

Featured Story: A Day (or Two) With Albert

Featured Video: Osmo Ikonen featuring Petteri Sariola--All By Myself

Featured Jobs: Media Associate, Administrative Assistant, Payroll Manager

Featured Recipe: Farro with Chanterelles, Green Beans and Mascarpone

Final Thoughts From Finnegan

This week's featured story:

A Day (or Two) With Albert

is better than a thousand spent elsewhere

Part One

So this past four day weekend was our French congregation's annual campaign in Sonoma County.  As I had a personal goal to increase my hours in the ministry this month, I had planned to go at least two days.  However as the weekend got closer, my enthusiasm waned a bit.  My erstwhile partner-in-crime Deb was going to be out of town, my Mountain View French congregation friend Jeremie had said he'd be there but at the last minute had a change of plans, and even my mom bailed out on me.  Fortunately, Lucie was still on board.  Ever cheerful, Lucie bounded through the door promptly at 8am Thursday morning.  Ever behind schedule, I was still in my towel.  "What? You're not ready to go? I could've slept longer had I known you weren't going to be on time. Ok what can I do to help?"  Clearly Lucie doesn't know me very well.  However, understanding friend that she is, she sprung into action--feeding Finnegan, filling my water bottle, loading our bags into the trunk, and moving cars.  After making the requisite stop at Peet's (it is *never* too late to stop for coffee), we put the pedal to the metal in The Lion Queen and raced up 580/101.  Lack of traffic and highway patrol allowed us to arrive in Santa Rosa with at least 15 minutes to spare.  I later learned that we had passed by quite a few friends also on their way up.  To quote Michael R, "Traunza was going so fast, I began to think the meeting must start at 9:00am!"  Which is really funny considering he was the one conducting the meeting.

Anyway, about 55 people showed up for service, many not from Mill Valley.  I've always considered the campaigns a good opportunity to get to know new people, so when it comes time to make the car groups, I get pretty strategic.  I hadn't clued Lucie in to the plan, though, so when a person from Mill Valley said they needed two more for their car group, Lucie started to raise her hand.  "No!"  I whispered, nudging her arm.  "We need to go with people we don't already know."  Lucie quickly dropped her hand.  I looked around for some likely suspects.  My eye lighted on an older couple across the room that looked slightly familiar.  I couldn't quite place them but something told me these were people I should get to know.  So when they said they needed two for their car group, I quickly shot my hand up.  Michael R looked at Lucie and me.  "No," he responded, "too many French speakers in one car."  We must have looked pretty disappointed because about a minute later, his gaze came back to us and he said, "Ok, you can work with them.  Go to the back of the hall."  We happily got up and moved to the back to meet Albert and Andrea.  Now if you have ever met Albert, I don't even need to say his last name for you to know exactly who I'm talking about.  As Lucie and I were about to discover, Albert is a Character with a capital "C".  Born in Paris to parents of Armenian descent, Albert's French accent is as thick as fromage and he oozes charm like an overly ripe brie.  "My name eeez Albear, and zees eez my vife, Ahndrea.  Vehre are you two seestairs from?"  "Mill Valley." "Ah yes, vee used to be zhere, long ago."  And then the next thing we knew, Albert was gone.  We chatted with Andrea for awhile and then Lucie asked if we had territory.  "I think that's where Albert went," I assumed.  "No," said Andrea, "I don't think so."  Andrea clearly knew her husband.  So after quite a bit of standing around chit chatting (in classic French congregation fashion), the four of us finally ended up in Albert's car.  Or should I say, Andrea's car.  Andrea was holding the maps (expertly designed by Mike P, I must say), looking at the list of addresses, driving the car, typing numbers into the GPS, and carrying on a conversation with Albert, all while navigating out of the parking lot.  It was immediately obvious that she was expert at this.  For his part, Albert was turned around in the passenger seat, busy trying to commit our names to memory and paying absolutely no attention to what was going on in the driver's seat.  Finally Andrea handed the maps to me and I was henceforth dubbed "Soeur GPS".  And so the campaign began. 

  Now, Lucie and I have both been in the truth for quite some time, and Lucie's even been to pioneer school.  But after a couple of hours with Albert, we realized that what we've been doing out in service isn't in the same ballpark, same country, or even the same universe as what Albert does.  Albert *is* Romans 12:11--"Do not loiter at your business. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah."   Like Peter, Albert couldn't stop telling others about Jehovah even if he wanted to!  He talked to people on the list.  He talked to people not on the list.  He talked to people next door to people on the list.   He talked to people next door to people who weren't on the list.  He rolled down his window to talk to people that were outside the car.  He talked to waitstaff.  He talked to Spanish speakers.  He talked to tourists.  He talked to police officers.  And by "talk", I don't mean "Hi, Bye".  I mean *real conversation*.  And even more amazing, he placed literature with EVERY SINGLE PERSON HE TALKED TO.  Absolutely nobody turned him down.  In one memorable occasion, we had parked in front of a house where the homeowner was standing out front on his deck.  Albert and I went across the street to the house that was on our list, while Andrea told the man we would only be there for a short while.  The man stayed outside as he was waiting for guests to arrive.  As I got into the car, Albert started talking to the man.  A few minutes later, he opened the trunk and said, "Does anyone have any English literature?"  Lucie produced some magazines, and Albert gave them to the man.  About 5 minutes after that, "Does anyone have an English bible?"  None of us did but Albert rooted around in the trunk and found one.  About 5 minutes after that, Albert was back in the trunk, this time pulling out a Bible Teach book.  By the time we left, the man had magazines, a bible, and a Bible Teach book, and Albert had his name, phone number, and a request from the man for someone to come back and visit him. 

Friends, this is just the beginning.  Next week the adventure continues!

Receptionist, Wealth Management, Palo Alto

To apply contact Marybeth Byers at mb@keenanbyers.com.

Responsibilities:

• Answer main telephone line and back-up individual lines
• Meet and greet visitors
• Offer refreshments
• Stock and maintain organization of kitchen
• Manage vendors for office and kitchen supplies
• Maintain office Reception area
• Organize mailings
• Sort and deliver mail
• Filing, faxing and copying as needed
• Special projects as assigned
  

Requirements:

• Some office experience (2+ years preferred)
• Strong MSOffice skills / computer savvy
• Professional appearance and confidence to interact with senior executives
• Poise and hospitality
• 
  

Salary: $35k, full benefits

Hours:  8-5

Executive Assistant, Venture Capital, 4-6 month temporary position, Menlo Park

To apply contact Marybeth Byers at mb@keenanbyers.com.

This is a highly respected, successful and stable Venture Capital firm. The position supports two senior level Executives.  This is an opportunity to be exposed to visible executives in the Venture Capital industry which could lead to valuable introductions.  Ideal candidate will be able to commit to 4-6 months on a contract basis.

 Must have experience in complicated international travel arrangements.

 Responsibilities include:
-Organize complicated domestic and international travel arrangements
-Field calls from entrepreneurs and respond/follow-up accordingly
-Manage events and meetings (internal and external)

-Independently compose correspondence for Executives
-Perform investment research on potential investments and other companies as requested
-Monitor and log incoming business plans
-Review incoming mail and email; respond independently when appropriate
-Develop materials for meetings
-Some personal support projects
-Database maintenance
-Interact with CEOs and high level executives of portfolio companies

Requirements:

-4-year degree required
-Financial or professional (consulting) services background preferred
-Stable work history
-Excellent communication skills -- written and verbal
-4+ years of experience supporting a high level executive
-Outstanding organizational and time management skills
-Flexibility to work overtime
-A positive, approachable and upbeat personality; team player
-Familiarity with Venture Capital industry a huge plus

Generous hourly rate.

Featured Recipe of the Week:

Farro with Chanterelles, Green Beans and Mascarpone

From Food and Wine Magazine, July 2008

6 servings

Farro, an ancient variety of wheat commonly eaten in Italy, has a lovely sweetness and pleasant chew.  It's also one of the healthier grains.  I have found it at Whole Foods, Berkeley Bowl and El Cerrito Natural Grocery.  Chanterelle mushrooms can be found at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market and the Berkeley Farmer's Market on Saturdays, and the Montclair Farmer's Market on Sundays.  I'm sure they have them at Whole Foods too.  I have made this dish many times and always like it.  However the farro is very hearty so you can't eat a whole lot at one sitting.  I have to admit, it's a little health food-y.  Next time I'll publish something full fat and not healthy at all!

Wine recommendation: This dish pairs nicely with the spicy 2005 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico.

1 pound farro

Salt

3/4 pound green beans

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 pound chanterelle mushrooms, thickly sliced

Freshly ground pepper

1 cup mascarpone (8 ounces)

1/4 cup snipped chives

1.       In a medium saucepan, cover the farro with 2 inches of water, season with salt and bring to a boil.  Cover and cook over moderately low heat until the grains are al dente; drain and return to the pot.

2.       Meanwhile, in another medium saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the beans until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.  Drain and pat dry.  Cut the beans into 1 inch pieces.

3.       In a large skillet, melt the butter.  Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are lightly browned, about 8 minutes.  Add the beans, season with salt and pepper and cook until just heated through.

4.       Stir the mascarpone and chives into the farro and season lightly with salt and pepper.  Spoon the farro into bowls, top with the mushrooms and beans and serve.  Yummy!