Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

   My sweet Raindrop
It was a lazy Sunday.

I was tired from a week in LA.
Spent Thursday and Friday digging out.
Yesterday road-tripping to see in-laws.

Today was my day.

I slept in late.
Spent the morning chatting on the porch.
Made a scrumptious brunch with Chez James.

By afternoon I was ready for a nap.

James was running an errand.
The room was cool.
The couch [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

   From one smart cookie.
It’s a political frenzy in Ann Arbor.

Primaries are tomorrow.
Many winners will be determined.
November elections for local races are often a formality.

Gobs of campaign literature in the mailbox.

For the last week or so.
All sort of bland.
And looking the same.

Except for one…

The candidate added a handwritten greeting.
To me and James
And Raindrop!

Alice met Raindrop a few [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Board challenges | No Comments »

   Raindrop here.
I think I’ve got Mom and Dad almost trained.

It took long enough.
They were slow to catch on.
And sometimes ignored me.

They expect me to come when called.

I expect to get what I want.
I flash them a grin with all my teeth.
And wait with great hopes.

Dad is more sensitive.

He picks up on my manipulative attempts.
And [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Savvy Leadership | 1 Comment »

   I won!
Last night I was comfy in my chair.

Good book in hand.
Adoring dog snoring near by.
All was well.

Until I heard the scuffling noise…

Scratch, scratch, shuffle, scratch.
Some critter was invading my house.
No way was he going to stay.

I knew exactly what to do.

I ran for the kitchen.
Grabbed the oil of peppermint.
And doused a few pieces [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

   Or bad dog?
James and I were upstairs in the office.

Raindrop came up.
A STRONG peppermint smell followed her.
What did she do?

Raindrop got creative this afternoon.

Decided to help freshen up the house.
Cracked open a bottle of peppermint oil.
And dumped it on my favorite chair in the family room.

At least that’s her story.

I use the oil to [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Board challenges | No Comments »

   Just ask her.
Raindrop is a talented dog.

She knows how to tell time.
Is a dynamic mascot for the Chapter Leaders Playground.
And she’s honest.

There are days so intense we forget if we fed Raindrop.

James and I may ask each other.
And be clueless.
There’s much going on…

So we ask Raindrop.

“Have you had lunch?”
If she hasn’t, ears perk and [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Keeping members | No Comments »

   Raindrop here.
Yesterday I went to my favorite bank.

We gave them money.
I expected my payment.
Two or three treats.

The bank clerks have been paying me for years for bringing Dad to them.

It’s part of the deal.
They keep me happy.
They see my dad - and our money!

The new guy yesterday didn’t know me.

He tossed me a single [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Keeping members | No Comments »

   Chop-licking good!
Raindrop has a new toy.

It is challenging.
Tasty.
And impossible to resist.

Last week Raindrop was making me nuts.

I had a ton to do.
Including calls.
I needed her to be quiet.

Raindrop was bored.

Wanted attention.
Barked her demands.
Nothing worked.

I had inspiration due to desperation.

Grabbed a boring old bone.
Went to kitchen.
Wedged one of her very smelly favorite treats in the center of [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Getting More Members Involved | No Comments »