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Monday, 15 December 2008

How do you deal with telemarketers?

Ok... Directv kept calling my house at least once every two weeks to get me to order HBO/Cinemax (skinamax) and the other premium channels. I informed them politely that there was nothing good on those channels after 10 PM and I wasn't interested. He proceeded to tell me that I would get them free for a month and went on and on trying to convince me. I then said " The pastor at my church gave us a sermon on Sunday about not having those types of channels because of the pornographic shows they show late at night and that it was bad for marriages to have that sort of temptation and lust for someone/thing other than your spouse." Silence... then an "Ok, thank you m'am, have a nice day"... Funny thing is, they haven't called since... :0) Other than that... I ask them to hold and continue watching Funniest Videos or something... lol

I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!

Friday, 12 December 2008

Micro Management

Micro managers and corporate america...
You must submit an estimate for toilet paper now? Situation explained to me by a friend while trying really hard to help me lighten up and laugh it off:
Joe employee goes into the bathroom to handle his business and to their surprise, no toilet paper! "Somebody!!" Joe screams, "please bring me some toilet paper!!" Corporate manager approaches the door outside... "I am going to need an estimate on how much you plan to use as we are trying to cut costs so I can get my bonus." Joe: "Ummm... I don't know, just bring me some toilet paper!" Manager: "Well, if you can't come up with an estimate, how about a not to exceed limit? Shall we say 2 squares? " Joe: "2 squares! Are you kidding me? Can I please just have some toilet paper?" Manager: "Well Joe, you know that this office isn't doing well despite what your financials say... We have to cut back costs. Send me an estimate and I will ignore you and give you the run around for the next three weeks." Joe eventually dies on the pot......
OK... they didn't quite put it like that, but you get the point. I do however owe the above to my friend, and in no way take any credit for the concept! It is however TRUE of what is going on in my life, well, exaggerated, but sort of true, I cant order toilet paper without an estimated cost! I guess it's not in the budget.
I have become, as in Jim Carey's movie 'Fun with Dick and Jane' a corporate puppet and am waiting for my indictment... unfortuanately, it will be because of my mouth and bad attitude toward him alone... I have to swallow my pride, morals, values, SENSE! and just live day to day like a little bobble head doll, 'yes sir'... until the day I get my walking papers, which I'm sure are being drawn up now or if I am smart, I leave. Common sense is no match for the micro manager who sits behind a blackberry all day long evading the needs of their people.
I do not understand how people with an actual BRAIN think that doing everything to make your employees work day as difficult as possible makes good business sense. Wouldn't it be easier to involve them in the decision making and planning? Help them to understand what the TRUTH is and what we need to do to better the company as a whole? Instead, we continually move the target... Hmmm... I guess I missed that class!

Monday, 24 November 2008

Mid Life Crisis???

Ok... I'm in my mid 30's and lately I have been very unhappy with everything in my life. Work sucks, home sucks... Ever had the feeling that you just wanted to jump in the car, take off and go live in the desert in New Mexico somewhere and not tell anyone where you're going? I sooo feel that way...
Is this a mid life crisis? Am I looking back on what I have accomplished and feel that it is nothing? Or is this something deeper? Are things really that bad or am I just so friggin selfish that I have to have it my way? Lately nothing makes me happy but me, mostly when I am alone... strange how that is because not to long ago in my life everything made me happy but me, especially when I was alone. I grew out of that, thank GOD, but will I grow out of this?
I feel so frustrated with everything around me, except for my children, which is actually the only thing that keeps me grounded and mindful of the consequences of my monsterous thoughts of just quitting and running away. I am an adult with responsibilities and two beautiful teenagers who depend on me to provide strength and security. What would happen to them if I just up and went off the edge into that old famous line "once in a while, you just gotta say... what the f*#@". What if I did?? Where would they be? I could never!! But there is that little voice in my head yelling... seems as if there is always that little voice telling me to do something I will regret. It used to be with drinking, I deserved to get hammered, get sick, create drama, ruin mine and everyones life around me because I worked my a## off and it was owed to me. So much for that crap... I grew up..... Now, a new little voice!!
I think my friend may be right... a mid life crisis??? I have been playing my life over and over in my head, regretting some of the decisions I have made, and thinking... what if I wouldn't or would have done.... this.... Would things be different? Would I be happy in my home, with my job, with my life? Maybe I am just tired... I have been really stressed lately with no real pinpoint of a reason, and everything is pissing me off. Am I getting older and more headstrong? Or am I just still a child?
Something has to give, and I am absolutely affraid that it will be me... that I will just break and go off the edge. I am looking forward to a trip with my mom this weekend. We are going to a place were my ancestors are from. Maybe it will give me some time to think and reflect on what is important to ME... what do I want to do with my life and where do I want to go from here. And better yet, how can I help to quiet the voice?
I am listening to "The Story" by Brandi Carlile... seems this is my theme song... me talking to GOD. Basically, all of these things I go through make me who I am ... It helps me come down to earth, reminding me that nothing is ever that bad, things could be far worse. Maybe it is just a bad day... things will get better, they always do... for now... it's just me and GOD, sitting here alone together at my computer, listening to my song, discussing the path of peace and tranquility and which road is the right road for me... For now, I will be quiet and keep reminding myself... HE leads....................

Sunday, 19 October 2008

10-19-08 Posts ~ The Meaning

I have been reading a lot of 18th century poetry today. I am excited that I came upon the love letter from Juliette Drouet I have posted below. Juliette was a french actress who became the mistress of Victor Hugo. Interesting story, I will let you read that one yourself as did I.
This has inpired me to do more searching on 18th century poetry and am only chipping away at the surface right now. I have many more interesting reads that caught me so to speak, but this one is my favorite so far. Maybe I will share more later, but for now... the search continues.
The other post today, Night Dreams, was something that I started writing in 1994. I have never finished it and still have a lot of work to do on it, not fully happy with the way it flows or how I truly want to express how she is feeling or what she sees. I sat down this morning at 7 AM to do some revisions, but my best work is at night. I wrote the original draft one night on my patio in about 10 minutes, so as you can see, not much work was put into it in the first place. I hope to one day finish it... maybe now that it is out and in my head again I will.
For now.....
Love letter from Juliette Drouet ~ 1835

If only I were a clever woman, I could describe to you my gorgeous bird, how you unite in yourself the beauties of form, plumage, and song!

I would tell you that you are the greatest marvel of all ages, and I should only be speaking the simple truth. But to put all this into suitable words, my superb one, I should require a voice far more harmonious than that which is bestowed upon my species - for I am the humble owl that you mocked at only lately, therefore, it cannot be.

I will not tell you to what degree you are dazzling and to the birds of sweet song who, as you know, are none the less beautiful and appreciative.

I am content to delegate to them the duty of watching, listening and admiring, while to myself I reserve the right of loving; this may be less attractive to the ear, but it is sweeter far to the heart.

I recognise you in all the beauty that surrounds me in form, in colour, in perfume, in harmonious sound: all of these mean you to me. You are superior to all. I see and admire - you are all!

You are not only the solar spectrum with the seven luminous colours, but the sun himself, that illumines, warms, and revivifies! This is what you are, and I am the lowly woman that adores you.