Monday, April 11, 2011.......
This past Saturday, hubby and I got to enjoy a great warm Spring day and definitely took advantage of it. I have to admit, it's been an extremely stressful time for me, so spending time outside with hubby on a wonderful Spring day was just what I needed.
We spent the time working our garden (YogaGirl would not find this fun, but what does she know). We also separated some of our seedlings (heirloom tomatoes) and planted lettuce, beets and sugar snap peas. We were also surprised that some of my herbs survived the winter, so I repositioned them. Now, I just have to be prepared for Mr. Woodchuck and his friends.....and I am. I have my cayenne pepper and dish soap and will get him before he has his first nibble on the parsley and think my garden is his version of Denny's all-you-can-eat buffet.
I love these days. It is these type of days when hubby and I slowly turn over our garden, clean the yard and stand in wonder of how crappy our front yard looks compared to our neighbor's that make me forget all that's going on with me right now.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
My Starbucks Barista.....
Friday, April 8, 2011.....
Last night I met a girlfriend at Starbucks. We usually meet every couple of weeks at Starbucks, but it had been awhile since we last got together.
The last time we got together, a small snafu happened. My order was placed, but the guy making the drink didn't hear the order. After about 10 minutes, I asked where my drink was and he looked at me as if I had 2 heads. I said I had ordered a grande mocha and he said he didn't know and please don't snap at him. I laughed. I asked him why would I snap and he said a lot of people would. I explained if not getting my coffee order was going to set me off on a tirade then I had some serious issues (I wish not getting a coffee order was my biggest problem). However, I understood what he meant.
I live in an area where people are always in a rush, expect too much, forget to say thank you and are often condescending. We chatted a bit and he was a really nice guy.
Fast forward 6 weeks later.... I go into Starbucks and before I even get a chance to say: "Hi. How are you?" (in honor of my April experiment) he blurted out: "Where have you been"? It made me laugh to think he remembered me, but I guess it's rare to meet polite customers.
We chatted a bit while I waited for my friend and asked him about a new drink a caramel mocha latte (I thought that is what my sister in NJ told me it was great and how it cut the bitterness of the mocha drink)and the 2 baristas behind the counter thought I was crazy. I mentioned my sister is from New Jersey, and that sparked a very fun conversation (sorry, New Jersey). By this point my friend arrived and the barista, well, he told me the secret to cutting the bitterness from a mocha latte -- ask for 2 pumps of vanilla.
It pays to be nice to your barista. What am I saying? You should always be nice to anyone you come along -- it may just make their day and yours.
Last night I met a girlfriend at Starbucks. We usually meet every couple of weeks at Starbucks, but it had been awhile since we last got together.
The last time we got together, a small snafu happened. My order was placed, but the guy making the drink didn't hear the order. After about 10 minutes, I asked where my drink was and he looked at me as if I had 2 heads. I said I had ordered a grande mocha and he said he didn't know and please don't snap at him. I laughed. I asked him why would I snap and he said a lot of people would. I explained if not getting my coffee order was going to set me off on a tirade then I had some serious issues (I wish not getting a coffee order was my biggest problem). However, I understood what he meant.
I live in an area where people are always in a rush, expect too much, forget to say thank you and are often condescending. We chatted a bit and he was a really nice guy.
Fast forward 6 weeks later.... I go into Starbucks and before I even get a chance to say: "Hi. How are you?" (in honor of my April experiment) he blurted out: "Where have you been"? It made me laugh to think he remembered me, but I guess it's rare to meet polite customers.
We chatted a bit while I waited for my friend and asked him about a new drink a caramel mocha latte (I thought that is what my sister in NJ told me it was great and how it cut the bitterness of the mocha drink)and the 2 baristas behind the counter thought I was crazy. I mentioned my sister is from New Jersey, and that sparked a very fun conversation (sorry, New Jersey). By this point my friend arrived and the barista, well, he told me the secret to cutting the bitterness from a mocha latte -- ask for 2 pumps of vanilla.
It pays to be nice to your barista. What am I saying? You should always be nice to anyone you come along -- it may just make their day and yours.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Hi. How are You?
Thursday, March 7, 2011......
While out running errands on Tuesday, I stopped at my local convenience store to pick up a Powerball lottery ticket. As I was getting out of my car, a older gentleman was getting into his truck. He had backed into his space making his car door next to mine. When I got out of the car, I said hi, how are you? I could tell he was a bit taken aback and responded with saying hi and began talking about the weather (skies very gray and opposite of what you envision a spring day would be). I commented the skies were gray, but it was warm out and better than snow.
As I made my way away, I told him to have a good day and he said the same. What struck me was how my simple interchange seemed to happily surprise this gentleman and I told my husband how I plan to say "Hi, How are you?" to every stranger I come across for the rest of this month.
I'm curious how people will respond. I wonder if they will. I also wonder if they will try to engage in further conversation or just walk away. I'll let you know at the end of the month.
While out running errands on Tuesday, I stopped at my local convenience store to pick up a Powerball lottery ticket. As I was getting out of my car, a older gentleman was getting into his truck. He had backed into his space making his car door next to mine. When I got out of the car, I said hi, how are you? I could tell he was a bit taken aback and responded with saying hi and began talking about the weather (skies very gray and opposite of what you envision a spring day would be). I commented the skies were gray, but it was warm out and better than snow.
As I made my way away, I told him to have a good day and he said the same. What struck me was how my simple interchange seemed to happily surprise this gentleman and I told my husband how I plan to say "Hi, How are you?" to every stranger I come across for the rest of this month.
I'm curious how people will respond. I wonder if they will. I also wonder if they will try to engage in further conversation or just walk away. I'll let you know at the end of the month.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Words I Never Wanted to Hear.......
Wednesday, April 6, 2011.....
Sunday evening, hubby and I were watching 60 Minutes and they did a segment on the unemployed. I always get a pit in my stomach watching these things, often turning the channel, but decided to watch it. They mentioned how employers are now requiring an applicant be employed to apply for the posting. There is nothing illegal about this, but in the back of my mind I always fear an employer may dismiss my application because I've been out of work far too long.
Monday I apply for a position through an agency and get a call about my resume. They were very interested in me until she saw the gap in my resume. She asked if I had been employed elsewhere since 2008 and when I said no, she told me I'm not the type of client her agency wants to represents.
Why?
I actually asked her this. Her response: "We don't make any money". Again, I asked why, but added it logically didn't make any sense. I explained my interviews, pulled positions, geographic limitations, what I've doing since 2008 and finished with: Why wouldn't you make money off me? After all this time, I'd be grateful for a job and there would be no worries about you getting a commission.
I think she realized how she came off. I have to tweak my resume, but have an interview with this agency on Friday. I know nothing will become of it, but know it's good practice to sharpen my interviewing skills with people who have a wall up.
Interviewing is like dating. Often it takes a lot of first dates to get into a meaningful relationship.
Sunday evening, hubby and I were watching 60 Minutes and they did a segment on the unemployed. I always get a pit in my stomach watching these things, often turning the channel, but decided to watch it. They mentioned how employers are now requiring an applicant be employed to apply for the posting. There is nothing illegal about this, but in the back of my mind I always fear an employer may dismiss my application because I've been out of work far too long.
Monday I apply for a position through an agency and get a call about my resume. They were very interested in me until she saw the gap in my resume. She asked if I had been employed elsewhere since 2008 and when I said no, she told me I'm not the type of client her agency wants to represents.
Why?
I actually asked her this. Her response: "We don't make any money". Again, I asked why, but added it logically didn't make any sense. I explained my interviews, pulled positions, geographic limitations, what I've doing since 2008 and finished with: Why wouldn't you make money off me? After all this time, I'd be grateful for a job and there would be no worries about you getting a commission.
I think she realized how she came off. I have to tweak my resume, but have an interview with this agency on Friday. I know nothing will become of it, but know it's good practice to sharpen my interviewing skills with people who have a wall up.
Interviewing is like dating. Often it takes a lot of first dates to get into a meaningful relationship.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Can Anyone Explain This to Me?
Tuesday, April 5, 2011.......
Last week I heard on the news that Snooki from the reality show, Jersey Shore, was paid $25,000 to speak at Rutgers University on partying and tanning. What's more astonishing is that Nobel-Prize winner, Tonie Morrison, is getting less for making the commencement speech.
Initially I laughed, but then I started thinking, how much does it cost to have a celebrity speak at an engagement, so I did a little research. For under 10K I can hire the following:
Reality TV Personality - Jillian Harris
Model - Kim Alexis
Actress - Mackenzie Phillips
Music - Beatlemania
Granted there are a slew of other speakers within this price range, but I didn't have a clue who they were. So, I did a little more digging....
Lance Armstrong gets over $50,000, Jay Leno and Donald Trump over $100,000, but did I expect to pay anything less?
What I was surprised about, assuming info on the Internet is accurate, I was pleasantly surprised that Jacques Pepin's fee is under $20,000. I adore Jacques Pepin. My dream job would to be his assistant....wait, I'm getting sidetracked.
Point of my findings is that Snooki, gets $32,000? Am I missing something?
Last week I heard on the news that Snooki from the reality show, Jersey Shore, was paid $25,000 to speak at Rutgers University on partying and tanning. What's more astonishing is that Nobel-Prize winner, Tonie Morrison, is getting less for making the commencement speech.
Initially I laughed, but then I started thinking, how much does it cost to have a celebrity speak at an engagement, so I did a little research. For under 10K I can hire the following:
Reality TV Personality - Jillian Harris
Model - Kim Alexis
Actress - Mackenzie Phillips
Music - Beatlemania
Granted there are a slew of other speakers within this price range, but I didn't have a clue who they were. So, I did a little more digging....
Lance Armstrong gets over $50,000, Jay Leno and Donald Trump over $100,000, but did I expect to pay anything less?
What I was surprised about, assuming info on the Internet is accurate, I was pleasantly surprised that Jacques Pepin's fee is under $20,000. I adore Jacques Pepin. My dream job would to be his assistant....wait, I'm getting sidetracked.
Point of my findings is that Snooki, gets $32,000? Am I missing something?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Celebrating My Dad's 89th Birthday.....
Monday, April 4, 2011.......
This past Saturday was my dad's 89th birthday and my sister invited YogaGirl, dad, hubby and I over for lunch (Saturday is church day for my dad and although it starts at 4:00 pm, he leaves 1 hour in advance of service - we don't really know why and stopped asking).
My dad is an AMAZINGLY active man. He golfs, walks daily, president of his town's senior center, a member of a men's club, bridge group, but for the past 2 years, I've noticed how he hasn't been that happy about getting another year older. I guess I can't blame him.
He's outlived 2 sets of friends (this reminds me of Tom Hanks' character in the Green Mile) and starting to really slow down. He's finally acknowledging his hearing is going and wearing his hearing aid. Mind you, unless we told him to put them in, we'd have to scream at him in order for him to hear us. I can only imagine if a stranger saw this, I wonder if they thought we were guilty of elder abuse.
Anyway, the lunch was nice and then all talk turned to our Easter Egg Hunt. Yes. Easter Egg Hunt. My family takes it very seriously and it can turn into a blood sport (note: youngest member of egg hunt is 24). Winner gets to gloat for an entire year, and, when I say gloat, I mean GLOAT.
The one tricky element about the hunt is that my dad hides the eggs and as he ages, well, he hides them in unusual places. He recently started hiding the chocolate eggs under patches of grass he cuts up. Every year it gets weirder, and every year, he can't remember where he put them.
This should be interesting, but I do plan on taking down my contestants. Everyone is going down this year. Just saying.
{I'm glad potential employers know nothing of this blog because they might begin questioning how old I really am}
This past Saturday was my dad's 89th birthday and my sister invited YogaGirl, dad, hubby and I over for lunch (Saturday is church day for my dad and although it starts at 4:00 pm, he leaves 1 hour in advance of service - we don't really know why and stopped asking).
My dad is an AMAZINGLY active man. He golfs, walks daily, president of his town's senior center, a member of a men's club, bridge group, but for the past 2 years, I've noticed how he hasn't been that happy about getting another year older. I guess I can't blame him.
He's outlived 2 sets of friends (this reminds me of Tom Hanks' character in the Green Mile) and starting to really slow down. He's finally acknowledging his hearing is going and wearing his hearing aid. Mind you, unless we told him to put them in, we'd have to scream at him in order for him to hear us. I can only imagine if a stranger saw this, I wonder if they thought we were guilty of elder abuse.
Anyway, the lunch was nice and then all talk turned to our Easter Egg Hunt. Yes. Easter Egg Hunt. My family takes it very seriously and it can turn into a blood sport (note: youngest member of egg hunt is 24). Winner gets to gloat for an entire year, and, when I say gloat, I mean GLOAT.
The one tricky element about the hunt is that my dad hides the eggs and as he ages, well, he hides them in unusual places. He recently started hiding the chocolate eggs under patches of grass he cuts up. Every year it gets weirder, and every year, he can't remember where he put them.
This should be interesting, but I do plan on taking down my contestants. Everyone is going down this year. Just saying.
{I'm glad potential employers know nothing of this blog because they might begin questioning how old I really am}
Friday, April 1, 2011
Serious Doubts About Volunteering.....
Friday, April 1, 2011......
Wednesday night I went to the 2011 kickoff meeting for my park's annual plant sale. This is the 3rd year I've been on the committee and the 3rd year the park has had it's sale.
The first year was a wonderful success, but last year, the dynamics changed. The chair people weren't strong enough to hold their own to the President of the park group (who claimed she didn't want to be in charge of anything on the plant sale committee, but got into everyone's business.
Needless to say, the President of the park group micro-managed everyone and this didn't sit well with me. She was quick to point out others' flaws, but didn't take ownership for hers.
A year passed and I really wanted to help, but in the light of day after the meeting I think I may bow out because of PERCEPTION.
Let me back up....I volunteer for the good of the cause. I focus on the event and cause, and do it to the best of my ability. When I was in my late 20's I did some heavy duty volunteering that involved boards with influential people in business. The more I got involved, the more I noticed the President of that board was useless and her reason for being on the board was to have another board member nominate her and her husband to the membership committee of a local country club. Oh. My. God. Other issues pursued, but it made it incredibly difficult to work with a woman who really didn't understand the real reason she should be volunteering.
Flash forward to 2009....I sign up to volunteer for the park's 1st plant sale. The President of the park (it's a 'friends of X park' group) wasn't really involved, the chair people were likable, delegated well and trusted their volunteers to come through. Sure, there were some issues because life got in the way for some volunteers, but it happens. However, even with the issues, the plant sale was a hit.
I survived year one and realized these people had their hearts in the right place and volunteered for the 2nd one. This time I signed up for more responsibilities. Unfortunately, the President who removed herself from year one because she didn't want to have her name tied to the event, until the end (when she saw we were successful), decided to take hold of the 2nd annual sale, BUT, she didn't want to be a chairperson.
As I worked with this group for year 2, I began pulling away more and more. The unnecessary bullshit and aggravation were too much. I swore at the end I wouldn't do more than the day prior and day of for 2011.
Wednesday night comes, I receive an email from another member telling me she couldn't come to the meeting and probably didn't have the time to give for this year's sale. I go to the meeting and tell the host (the President of the park committee) this and she sounds put off because the woman emailed me and not her. It becomes apparent that she was put off as she later asks me again why this woman emailed me and not her with this news. She was shocked when I told her that we've exchanged emails throughout the years. I consider this woman a nice person and we've chatted about other things having nothing to do with this plant sale. Is she my bestie - no, but would I have coffee with her - yes.
After a 3rd time of the President questioning why this woman emailed me (I think she finally believed that the woman emailed me and told me she wasn't coming because we were an hour into the meeting and she wasn't there).
However, this is not what has pushed me over the edge. What has pushed me over the edge is that the President (once again not wanting to be the chairperson, but acting like it) feels as though we may fail because we don't have enough volunteers. She may be true, but when discussed about not doing the sale this year, but picking it up again for next year; her response was priceless. She actually said: "What will people think?" Think about what? For god sakes, plants are always needed. Who cares what people think from other towns. Isn't it more important to focus on an event? We're not a huge park, and it is one of those things that people happen upon. It's a nice thing to come upon, but it isn't the Oscars or Golden globe Awards.
In my mind, people who care far too much about perception often forget the real reason they are volunteering. The event at hand is lost and, for me, the event at hand is what is important when it comes to volunteering.
Wednesday night I went to the 2011 kickoff meeting for my park's annual plant sale. This is the 3rd year I've been on the committee and the 3rd year the park has had it's sale.
The first year was a wonderful success, but last year, the dynamics changed. The chair people weren't strong enough to hold their own to the President of the park group (who claimed she didn't want to be in charge of anything on the plant sale committee, but got into everyone's business.
Needless to say, the President of the park group micro-managed everyone and this didn't sit well with me. She was quick to point out others' flaws, but didn't take ownership for hers.
A year passed and I really wanted to help, but in the light of day after the meeting I think I may bow out because of PERCEPTION.
Let me back up....I volunteer for the good of the cause. I focus on the event and cause, and do it to the best of my ability. When I was in my late 20's I did some heavy duty volunteering that involved boards with influential people in business. The more I got involved, the more I noticed the President of that board was useless and her reason for being on the board was to have another board member nominate her and her husband to the membership committee of a local country club. Oh. My. God. Other issues pursued, but it made it incredibly difficult to work with a woman who really didn't understand the real reason she should be volunteering.
Flash forward to 2009....I sign up to volunteer for the park's 1st plant sale. The President of the park (it's a 'friends of X park' group) wasn't really involved, the chair people were likable, delegated well and trusted their volunteers to come through. Sure, there were some issues because life got in the way for some volunteers, but it happens. However, even with the issues, the plant sale was a hit.
I survived year one and realized these people had their hearts in the right place and volunteered for the 2nd one. This time I signed up for more responsibilities. Unfortunately, the President who removed herself from year one because she didn't want to have her name tied to the event, until the end (when she saw we were successful), decided to take hold of the 2nd annual sale, BUT, she didn't want to be a chairperson.
As I worked with this group for year 2, I began pulling away more and more. The unnecessary bullshit and aggravation were too much. I swore at the end I wouldn't do more than the day prior and day of for 2011.
Wednesday night comes, I receive an email from another member telling me she couldn't come to the meeting and probably didn't have the time to give for this year's sale. I go to the meeting and tell the host (the President of the park committee) this and she sounds put off because the woman emailed me and not her. It becomes apparent that she was put off as she later asks me again why this woman emailed me and not her with this news. She was shocked when I told her that we've exchanged emails throughout the years. I consider this woman a nice person and we've chatted about other things having nothing to do with this plant sale. Is she my bestie - no, but would I have coffee with her - yes.
After a 3rd time of the President questioning why this woman emailed me (I think she finally believed that the woman emailed me and told me she wasn't coming because we were an hour into the meeting and she wasn't there).
However, this is not what has pushed me over the edge. What has pushed me over the edge is that the President (once again not wanting to be the chairperson, but acting like it) feels as though we may fail because we don't have enough volunteers. She may be true, but when discussed about not doing the sale this year, but picking it up again for next year; her response was priceless. She actually said: "What will people think?" Think about what? For god sakes, plants are always needed. Who cares what people think from other towns. Isn't it more important to focus on an event? We're not a huge park, and it is one of those things that people happen upon. It's a nice thing to come upon, but it isn't the Oscars or Golden globe Awards.
In my mind, people who care far too much about perception often forget the real reason they are volunteering. The event at hand is lost and, for me, the event at hand is what is important when it comes to volunteering.
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