dealing with monster clients

Tomorrow, I meet with a very difficult client.  "The" difficult client where I work.  I don't have to see or meet said client (let's call her "C") on a regular basis, thank God.  But those who do, they cower at the very thought of the regular meetings with C.  These unfortunate ones have different ways of dealing with C and the variety of symptoms they acquired from frequent exposure to C, and these range from breaking out in hives, difficulty breathing, stomach disorders, sudden new twitches, and even hysteria!  Imagined or not, they suffer from it, right about 24 hours before and another 24 after the meetings.  Naturally, they put all the blame on the said client.


No one was spared, apparently, because even our own resident temperamental and stern b*tc*y top gun got the treatment and suffered for it. She has taken the most hits, I believe, judging from her 'symptoms' that come once a week, on the dot.  Hard to believe, but she has reached a point of addiction to these hits and seems to crave for them.  And her curious love-hate for C lingers.

what's her takeaway this year?

Our youngest -- a precocious, charming, witty, little girl with a head of tight curls -- turned seven recently.  She's now in first grade and since school opened, has attended a 7th birthday party almost every weekend.  All of these celebrations were theme parties, meant to thrill today's seven year old grown-ups (Fancy Nancy's) with booths for face painting, salons for funky hairstyles, red carpet-style photos, glam accessories, and little girl games.  Those are apart from chef-designed girly-girl party food and loot bags.

These milestone celebrations have fanned the party and event business frenzy like anything, with themes, concepts, gimmicks, and party favors that would make any kid go crazy about turning a year older. Yet some parents just don't stop there.