by Heather Plett | May 2, 2008 | travel
This week I had a whirlwind trip to Ottawa to participate in a big (and rather crazy) press conference. (Thanks to the federal government for giving us more money to support hungry people in the middle of this food crisis.)
I had just enough spare time for a quick jaunt around the parliament buildings for a little photo fun. (Okay – truthfully, I had time for TWO jaunts around the parliament buildings. The second time was to try to find the cell phone I’d lost. D’oh! I suppose I shouldn’t slip a cell phone in my pocket when I’m planning to lie around on the grass taking pictures of tulips.)
I’ve been to Ottawa about a dozen times, but I never seem to be there when the tulips bloom. Except this time. What a treat!
After spending a couple of days with government communicators again, I was reminded why I am no longer one of them. I never could get the “look” quite right – the well-coiffed hair, the well-pressed suit, the blackberry on the hip, the shiny high heeled shoes, a copy of the Globe and Mail tucked under the arm. I fit in alot better in a non-profit organization, where you’re expected to look like you just stepped off a plane from a developing country. I do “rumpled” really well!
by Heather Plett | Apr 29, 2008 | Uncategorized
Sometimes it’s the little things.
Whenever I leave for a business trip (like today), Marcel always calls a cab for me. I don’t know if I’ve ever told him how supportive and affirming that feels.
I guess this is my way of telling him.
by Heather Plett | Apr 29, 2008 | Uncategorized
Back in 2003, SARS, West Nile virus, mad cow disease, and bird flu all hit Canada within a 3 month period (more or less). And where was I at the time? Working in media relations at the only lab in the country that had live culture of all of those diseases and was doing research and diagnostics on them. I fielded 600 media calls in 3 months. Talk about trial by fire! CBC, BBC, 60 Minutes, NPR, Nipon TV (Japan) – they all had my number.
Fast forward five years… a global food crisis hits, and where am I? Doing media relations (among other things) at the only NGO in the country focused solely on global hunger issues. Reporters are putting me on speed dial once again. I haven’t gotten close to the 600 mark yet, but there’s still time.
Fortunately, I perform well under pressure. For awhile, anyway. There’s always a breaking point.
(For those of you in Winnipeg who might have caught the 2 page feature on hunger, featuring our organization – that was one of my photos on the second page. It’s the picture of a woman carrying a bag of rice.)
by Heather Plett | Apr 26, 2008 | parenting
Despite their many (loud and sometimes vicious) attempts to convince me they can’t stand each other…
every once in awhile there’s a little glimmer of hope when I find them curled up on the couch reading a book together…
or baking a cake together.
And when I remember how much I now like my sister compared to how I felt 30 years ago… well, I’m downright optimistic!
by Heather Plett | Apr 23, 2008 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zN0gKmP9w]
This week I had a whirlwind trip to Ottawa to participate in a big (and rather crazy) press conference. (Thanks to the federal government for giving us more money to support hungry people in the middle of this food crisis.)
