Thursday, December 11, 2003
Holidays are such time wasters…
Holidays are such time wasters...So - today at work we had our "Holiday" party. Some people get to do exciting things like leave the office. Here we had food brought in, and placed around the floor. I think this was supposed to encourage people to talk to each other. It really doesn't work. There are two floors in my overall group and they really don't mix that well together. Not to mention the fact that over 50% of my floor is another group and contractors. Sometimes I feel bad for the contractors, they get treated like outsiders a lot. But I digress, we had a holiday party. So - we walked around the two floors and ate food for about an hour. Just when we were getting back to work they decided to hand out presents. Yippee! They put everyone's name into a stocking and drew for prizes. It was kind of lame. It was a nice thought, but really they could have just saved time by handing out gifts to everyone of equal value. Then no one would have felt left out. As it stood there were several "losers" and no one likes losers during the holidays.
I was not a loser. I got a spectacular gift. Not really. I got this lame little Hershey's sundae kit. It had 4 bowls with Hersheys printed on the side, an ice cream scooper and "genuine chocolate flavored syrup" Whoo hoo! Needless to say I wasn't thrilled. But okay - at least I wasn't a total loser, right? So - I have spent the entire afternoon goofing off. No real reason to do work when everyone is chatting and such. As I walked by these two ladies in the hall one of them was looking forlorn about being a "loser" So I gave her my prize. She has kids. They will love it
The other lady she was talking to was not a loser, but didn't want her gift (I guess there isn't a blockbuster on Mercer Island) so she gave it to me! Short story long, I traded for a better gift! Whoo Hoo!This morning when I got into work I noticed something on my chair. It was a gift from my department. It's a lunch box thing. One of those soft ones that is insulated. It is kind of nice. Kind of. But I don't think I will use it as everyone on my floor now has one. I may lose my lunch in the fridge if I decide to use it. Anyway - one of the things in the lunch thing was a movie ticket. ONE movie ticket. I though - okay - I can go alone. Or go halves with someone. Not the best deal, but I could handle it. Well, one of the ladies in my group (a different one) gave me her ticket! Now I get to rent movies and go see a movie!
So - today turned out to be pretty good! I did a minimum amount of work and I got pretty good prizes! Plus free breakfast - Scott bought me a bagel and coffee, free lunch and free coffee again this afternoon!
Sometimes I am really spoiled!
Things I’ve Noticed lately….
Things I've Noticed lately....I was driving to the train station this morning and when I pulled out of my complex I was amazed to see a man driving his electric wheelchair down the street. Not just any street, Canyon Rd., which happens to be a very busy street. What was really surprising was the fact that he was dressed in all black on a not so well lit street. Maybe he needs some help paying his bills...
I was driving down Canyon the other day and noticed a sign posted outside a church "Born to Die, a Christmas Story"
This got me thinking. Being that I live in the Northwest and this time of year there is little to no light, and holidays are even more depressing because they just are anymore... I find that a Church having this on a sign just makes me happier that I don't go to church. All that persecution crap, you know I just don't need it this time of year!
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Wow….
Wow....Time flies when you are sick and then incredibly busy. I know I had started to blog at some point, but I never saved the draft and completely lost my train of though - so I am back at the beginning!
I was pretty sick last week. At least it wasn't the horrible flu that people have been getting. It was just a head cold that still really sucked, but it could have been worse and I know this
So - most of my thoughts for the day have fled my mind - but I have been introduced or have come across a couple of very fun websites...
Snowflakes
You HAVE to see this one: Hippo (there is sound, so watch out, but you have to have the sound...)
hmmm.... trying to think what else has been going on. Working diligently on Christmas presents, am close to completion on Freeman's, but the other two.. it will be a challenge (well not really)
yeah I think my brain is somewhere on the street getting rained on...
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Jeans! I get to wear Jeans!
Jeans! I get to wear Jeans!So - instead of offering real incentives, like better pay or benefits, the management in my office has decided that every time they would like us to participate in something, they will offer the reward of "jeans." Which, by the way, happens to be a great motivator for a person like me. I love wearing jeans to work. So much so, that I would sacrifice hours of possible work time to cut out snowflakes, hang lights and ornaments and go shopping for the supplies to do it all! I think I spent approximately 12 hours on this project altogether! And with smashing results! My cube area now has blue and silver metallic snowflakes plastered all over the cube walls, ornaments and lights hanging from various places and a water feature (my boss was very pleased to be able to add this to the decorating. I think he was feeling left out.) And now I can wear jeans until the new year! Whoo hoo! Plus, as an added benefit, I was able to avoid hours of productive work! Way to Go!
So - as I was running around decorating and getting other various things done (it is my job to make sure that birthday cards and gifts are purchased for my group and this week happens to be a very heavy week for that kind of stuff) so I wasn't at my desk much yesterday. And when I was at my desk I was busily trying to get the important stuff done that I couldn't put off... Anyway - I got back from a particularly intense meeting and there was a stack of papers on my desk. This stack happened to be about an inch think. And there was a note! It said "please make 5 copies" and was signed by a particular office person who happens to generally piss me off. Mostly because she always complains about having too much work to do and is always on-line typing her internet boyfriend. So - I glanced at the pile, picked it up, weighed it in my hands, set it to the side of my desk and promptly dismissed its existence. Really, I know that I am a project coordinator, but I prefer not to be treated as various people's personal assistant. Plus, I am not an Admin. I know there aren't any on this floor, or in this department, but I don't need to pick up the slack. And she could have just put the D@mn thing on the copy machine and walked back to her desk and continued to email her internet boyfriend. It doesn't take much to work the new copy machines they have here...
Needless to say, she came looking for the copies this morning. Which hadn't been made. I was on my way to a meeting when she came to get them. I just looked at her blankly (really if she had said anything I would have said she didn't put a time/date when she needed them, so I honestly didn't think they were a priority and I have been working on the budget all morning) No one can argue with me when I am working on the budget, cause no one else wants to do the budget. And I really was working on the budget this morning, in between meetings and other various things I had to get done, such as making more snowflakes.... She huffed off and made the copies herself. Which she should have done in the first place. Even my boss rarely asks me to make copies, so why should my peer?
Ack... so I am off to another meeting regarding, you guessed it, the budget! Since we are getting close to the end of the year everyone wants to know what it is I have been doing for the last 8 months
It kind of cracks me up!!!
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Rush Rush Rush….
Rush Rush Rush....I decided that I have to blog early today. I have the distinct feeling that today will be busy and I am going to get slammed with stuff to do. Which doesn't really surprise me... after all I spent the majority of yesterday cutting out snowflakes and hanging Christmas ornaments. I still have a ton of snowflakes to cut out and a few ornaments to hang. But that will have to wait until I finish updating the budget.
Urgh. The budget. I spent a very happy week thinking nothing of it, and then I return to find it still here, still having issues and still needing work. And then I find out that we have to set up accruals for December billing. Ack. I am so glad we were able to find an accountant to help out. There are some things I shouldn't be responsible for!
So - the trip back from Buena Vista, CO was pretty uneventful. We were able to get all the "work" done and get everything packed in the Xterra. I love my Xterra. She did so well on the trip! Thanksgiving was good as well. There were lots of people around to chat with and listen to... and there were no family feuds this time. At least none that I was around to witness. We took lots of pictures and I got lots of hugs. It was nice
Mom and I were both glad to get back. It is really hard to be away from home for so long, especially when you know you have to DRIVE to get back. It all worked out though. We got home about 3 on Saturday. Plenty of time to allow us to unpack and relax before coming back to work on Monday. Mom leaves again on Saturday morning - she is going to my uncle's wedding. It should be a fun time for her - though I know she would rather just stay home and relax a bit. Things have been rough on her...
So - avoiding work for the next 7 hours isn't very feasible - so I had better get on it!
As you wake in the morning
What do you feel?
Does a rush of happiness
wash over you when,
Suddenly, you realize you are alive?
