Huh. I could set up the fax machine, get the Batcomputer up...

Were we in our own place, this would be a total possibility.

Aimee, your MIL was misguided, although I'm sure she meant well ... I hope she did. My mother insists on sending me dumb stuff that's been forwarded around the internets for years - "funny" pictures and stories - and they're always forwarded umpteen times. Only when she sends them they arrive as an attachment to an attachment to an attachment to an attachment ... so it involves opening at least five attachments. So ... mostly I delete them without even reading them - I'm telling her that our office system (which is the only e-mail address I've given her for me) deletes them after a certain number of levels. She's decided it's because I don't want to hear from her.

And my dentist has suggesed the deluxe - $950! - tooth whitening. My teeth are fairly healthy, but badly discolored. 40+ years of coffee, tea, cola ... I'm tempted, but damn that's expensive!

Which is total Catch-22 cause no place of our own unless you're working.

Suckin'.

Vortex is made of the most legendary awesome, we all knew this.

For reals. I just got a vmail from my friend so it looks like things are a go, but now I'm sort of sad that this means that I will not be seeing Vortex this weekend! Harumph.

I wouldn't even know how to begin getting work as a VA, though.

Social networking, baybee. Absolutely everyone you know...and millions you don't know yet, needs help with admin tasks, research, creative management (like web content upkeep...which is HUGE).

We've seen it right here!

If you are really intrigued by the idea, look at some of the VA training sites (but don't bother with accreditation if you really don't think you need it) and get their ideas for marketing. There is a TON of information out there in this topic.

Pick a field you enjoy or have experience in and start looking at trade mags, websites...and local events. Like the Board of Trade, or local law bars or chambers of commerce.

On the Hill, we have two papers that are dedicated to local issues and people. Find one of these and write an article about VAing (which you can find almost wholecloth by googling...then modify) and submit it for print. Contact podcasters and offer yourself for interviews on some pithy topic that can become your niche.

Figure out what problems you enjoy solving and then find people who have them...education is the very best marketing tool.

Ooof. Too much information! I'm just uber-passionate about people finding work they enjoy...and can sustain.

One of the primary benefits of exploring the VA thing is that you can do it in between other stuff until you attract a big enough client base.

Heh. MM, if you transcribe, I may have some work for you.

MM - another customer service stupidity - overheard in the office, no less.

Co-worker on the phone with her son's school (a pretty strict place, with high academic standards and high standards for behavior) - she spent days on the phone talking to various people in the administration insisting that her son should be excused from the dress code. In particular, she wanted him to be able to wear his shirt untucked because he was chubby ("portly" in her words) and tucking it in made him uncomfortable/self-conscious. Also she wanted them to excuse him from having to wear black dress shoes and allow him to wear black sneakers because they were better for when he went out to play at lunch.

Don't know how this was resolved.

My mom got our family AOL account suspended because she sent out this humongous email to everyone she knew, and they thought she was a spammer.

Toddson's anecdote reminds me that parenting is so much more responsible for producing entitled children than Mr. Rogers ever could have been.

but now I'm sort of sad that this means that I will not be seeing Vortex this weekend!

I'm still here . We could have a drink or something, if you'd like. I hope (and pray and sacrifice a goat or something) that I will be moving on Saturday, so maybe something Sunday?