Ode to Erin

Our heart aches for the one that got away.

No Rascal Flatts or Little John suffice

To bring to life our phantom limb. We say

That we’re, like, over thee. The sacrifice—

The sting of truth too sharp to take—she’s gone.

Is it fair? Brooklyn’s gain must be our pain?

It blows. Szorady won’t stop crying. Chris

Pretends that she’s moved on.

While Jason claims you drove a man insane,

Young proofreaders wish they’d stolen just one . . .This

Attempt to bring you back is just the point

That memory’s brought us to. The painful speed

At which you ate, when at the lobster joint,

Concavity, yoga, and auto-fear; they lead

This pen to page, enraged that fate could rip

Our precious E-Ring from her proofs. Since your good bye

The Luscious Verde soul’s grown meek. It craves

You like a bacon strip.

You’re right. The length that makes our tears run dry—

The distance that stretches from us to Erin Graves.

-- Keatz, 2007

Baby One More Time

OK, you knew that we had to do this eventually. Every Friday, we have a company-wide meeting called "Fun Friday," where we talk about the company, compare developments in departments, and generally waste time with quizzes and various activities.

This last Friday, Toni came up with a quiz regarding baby pictures many of us brought in from home. The assignment: Match up baby and infant pictures with who we think those people currently are. What follows is a choice selection of Luscious Verde baby pictures. Yes, we have absolutely no shame. (That's print production's own Lisa above, at five weeks.)



Here is our operations manager Liz as a toddler. What a smart little outfit!





This is a picture of Kelly from when she started at Luscious Verde. They grow up so fast!




Our own Toni, lounging in the backyard after a grueling game of "Candy Land."



And congratulations to Genevieve (below), who guessed every single person's baby picture correctly. (Everyone who took the test knew that this was Genevieve -- she still makes this face every day.)




-- Rob @ L.V.

Hot Card of the Day (Move It)

Here's a card from our new correspondence catalog moving update. Dandelions not included.

Hot Cards of the Day (Bookmark Edition)

OK, they're not actually cards, but these nifty bookmarks are sent out free with each order. They utilize our duplex papers and feature a quote from our very own Megan (pricing) on each one. Collect them all!

On the Job: Proof Positive

If Kelly is Luscious Verde’s younger sister, then 18-year-old Anthony (a.k.a. Tony), our newest graphic designer, is our younger brother. For someone so young, he keeps a remarkable calm under pressure, not the least of which is Lindsay’s propensity for giving him nicknames that reference his age. But, as Tony says, “It doesn’t bother me. Everyone who works here acts my age anyway.”

Tony was born and raised on the mean streets of South Euclid, Ohio, and attended Brush High School in Lyndhurst. He was in the chess club, but he is quick to point out that he only joined because they offered free pizza in exchange for membership. When asked for any memories of high school, he says, “I avoided doing as much work as possible. I’d actually rather not think about it – it was just a year ago.”

He attended Kent State University for a semester, but he “didn’t like it. I really wanted to work for a couple years,” he says. Despite his youth, he has ample design training, due to a two-year high school program in interactive media design.

His favorite part of his job is “when proofs are done. Seriously, I really enjoy talking to customers about design.” Outside of work, Tony is an avid record collector and was once in a short-lived rock band with his brother. “One time, 50 people came to one of our shows,” he says. “But they were our friends, and it was free.”

ALL ABOUT TONY

Favorite Non-Carbonated Beverage: Sunny Delight

Favorite Billy Joel Song: “We Didn’t Start the Fire”

Favorite Vegan Specialty: “Anything Middle Eastern”

Favorite Member of the 1997 Indians: Charles Nagy

Good Luck Charms: “My wallet was stolen a month ago. After that, I don’t have any.”

-- Rob @ L.V.