Everyone should read The Jill Carroll Story. She was held hostage in Iraq for 82 days ~ it's a powerful story.

people and their issues

I deal with email all day long and occasionally there is one or two that just make me shake my head. More often than not, these emails are from people with a stupid problem or they are complaining. Just so happens I have two that fit into each of those categories.

First, the stupid one.

A woman gives her email address to a, quote unquote, "very scary person who was asking me questions about where I was going to school and such".

Now she wants to change her email address.

What ever happened to giving out fake information? Or better yet, don't talk to "very scary" individuals!

*rolls eyes*

Now the complaint. This one is even better, I think.

We have to give out passwords for various things. I'd say 95% of the passwords are computer generated. They are made to make no sense so they are not easily guessable. A typical password might be something like: gih5aduyw. See, makes no sense. This is a form of security. Sometimes we get a computer generated password that is a little funny....some kind of play on words. Much like some license plates you see. The computer has no idea it's generated something funny...slang isn't in it's vocabulary and it has no sense of humor....trust me on this. So if we get one that seems off color and could be taken badly, we generate a new one.

Ok, so a password is given to a user some months ago. The user has been stewing about this password all this time and finally could not stand it anymore and had to write to us telling us how offended they are and that we are extremely unprofessional. The user will be unable to request any further assistance because they are aware they are not quick with computer issues as most other people are, but they will not stand for being harrassed in this fashion.

The password given was: mieswineir

I would have never noticed this had she not pointed it out.....mostly because I'm too busy and it isn't really one of those passwords that stands out like some of the others I've seen. But, this person asks a lot of questions and when they got this password, they thought it had been created specially for them. I guess they think we sit around laughing at them and take time to create "special" passwords for everyone.

What? Are we in high school?

*rolls eyes...again*

And that folks, concludes this enrty of people and their issues. Perhaps it will become a regular thing.

How Am I?

I've been asked that a lot since my posts on 8/13-14.

Things are okay. Not wonderful or splended or great, but also not horrible or deplorable. Obnoxious...at times, yes. But one day I sat down with myself and we had a talk. Yes, I had a talk with myself. I figured something out. It isn't always easy to see the bright side of things....you have to sort of force yourself to see that side of things. Mostly because being pissed off is easier than letting unwanted change into your life...my life. Staying pissed off really only ends up making things worse and I don't need that.

So one of the things I talked with myself about was being hurt that I wasn't given the advancement. I had to think of why they would do that to me. Did they think I'm not good enough? Did they think I could not learn it all quick enough? Do they think I'm slow and stupid? Why?? I had a chat with my boss because I needed her to know I was mad. This was part of my process of letting it all go....I was "giving" it to her. During our little meeting about it, I realized something important.

She thinks of no one but herself.

So my "why" question was answered. It had nothing to do with me really. She was totally confused at why I'd be mad about this. I told her over and over being passed over for the advancement was a slap in the face. She would wrinkle her brow at me in confusion. Then she'd start in on how this has nothing to do with my chances for advancement. They have every intention of reclassing me and all that crap....so what am I so mad about? See, she totally didn't get it. She never once sat down and thought about how I would feel when I saw an email saying someone had been hired to stand in for her and was hired in a class above me. She never considered how after 9 years of working here and working hard and putting up with all her shit (tho she thinks she does not dish out any shit) I would be mad that they just hired someone above me. I didn't even get the news in person....I read it in an email.....because she didn't think it was a big deal.

She never thinks of anyone else....just about what she wants. And she wanted a geek techy person who can roll right in knowing more advanced technical stuff. And so that's what she hired.

So it has nothing to do with me. All my questions about am I stupid, am I not smart enough....blah, blah, mean nothing. I AM smart enough and I AM very good at my job. The problem is, my boss is an ignoramus. Pure and simple.

The new geek techy person starts today. And geek techy person will have to learn a lot of things before any of her geek techy skills will be useful. Her geek techy skills will make her learning process easier, but she still needs to learn it all....and trust me, there is a lot to learn. There is also the question of the quality of training she will get. Let's just say training around here isn't the best. I had worked here for 7 years when I moved into the job I have now so I didn't need a lot of training. But the training I did get was a little on the weak side. Thankfully I'm smart and catch on fast....otherwise it would have been kinda hard to keep up with the work load. We'll see if that changes. Point I'm trying to make is, hiring someone with more advanced technical training does not guarantee prime results.

As always, I could be wrong ~ things could just all fall into place at an amazing and impressive rate, but I don't think so. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

my precious abby

my precious abby
Originally uploaded by photo kitten.

Stones

This is a sad song, but I love it.

Stones would play inside her head
And where she slept,
They made her bed
And she would ache
for love And get but stones

La la la la la la la la la

Lordy, child
A good day's comin'
And I'll be there to let the sun in
And bein' lost
Is worth the comin' home

La la la la la la la la la on stones

You and me, a time for planting
You and me, a harvest granting
The every prayer ever prayed
For just two wild flowers that grow

La la la la la la la la la on stones

Stones -Neil Diamond

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Isn't this a pretty wedding picture? It's very simple....I think it's nice.

For Those Born 1930-1979

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking. As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank koolade made with sugar.

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day.

And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them . . CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.

And while you are at it, tell your kids this so they will know how special (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it :)

It's been one of those weeks. Ugh. I'm doing better....things are not great, but I suppose I will work it out. Thanks to all who have left comments, emailed, and called :)

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I entered a contest on Flickr. It's in the "Dramatic Color - Bold, Bright, Intense!" group. You can read about it here and see my entry (the 18th photo) as well as all the other entries. I think they will be judging it tomorrow. We'll see what happens. There are a lot of good photos in there. I think #32 by Henry Roxas will win. It's my favorite.

The administrator for the group actually used one of my photos as an example of what kind of photos are appropriate for the group. You can scroll down the page below the "discuss" area and see it. The second photo on the top row is mine. There is a link to it below the pictures ~ "honey colored center". So that's cool.

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Now, for those girls with an iPod Nano, this is for you. It's the iGroove Panty! Lay around in your panties and listen to your tunes. But I think they made a mistake on this. It should have been a bathing suit. A bathing suit would sell like mad if it had a spot for your IPod. Anyway, that's just what I think.

Click here to see the iGroove Panty.


Ok, that's all for today!

Well, I was right.

I asked about the new person and their role and they will be taking over when my boss is not here.

When I asked if I was considered, this is exactlty what was said: "Did you apply for the position? I don't remember seeing your resume?"

No, of course I didn't appy for the job. I had no idea I had to apply for it! I didn't even know it was for a position higher than the one I have! I was never given the option....never informed. It's hard to make a move when you don't know what is going on.

Let's just say what is really going on here. No information was given. My boss didn't want me in the position.

Trying To Make Peace

For those of you who followed my old blog, you know in the last few months over there I was going through a rough time. I was trying hard to figure out where my life was headed. It seemed to be heading down. Way down. A lot of it had to do with work....I'd say about 85% of it. I was there more than I was any place else. Even when I wasn't physically there, my mind was still there. I could not sleep. I'd wake up and be thinking about some stupid shit going on at work....or in some cases, stuff that wasn't going on that should have been. I was miserable.

I started seeing a counselor. I didn't want to, but I did. I just thought if I went and talked about my problems, it would just bring it all to the surface and it would be like going over the same ole stuff that I was trying to forget. Why would I want to rehash it all? But I went and amazingly, it helped. I don't know why, but it did. Nothing has really been resolved...there have not been all kinds of wondrous things to come out and explain things, but something did happen and I started to feel better. I was sleeping better, tho I still did wake up at odd hours. I started getting back into life slowly....progress was being made. Things are not great....far from it, but I am dealing. Doing well enough.

Than yesterday happened. Saturday.

I woke up at some ungodly hour and I felt the need to log into work. There was email from my boss. They have hired someone. This someone will be the person who is taking over and will be the contact for my boss when she goes on maternity leave at the end of the year. Now, I knew they were in the process of hiring someone. We need help. Things pretty much get piled up on one person day after day....me. So I knew help was being hired. However, what I didn't know was that this person was going to be coming in and taking the spot I thought I was going to take. I assumed I'd be the one to step in and take care of things while my boss was out. I figured the new person was there take over some of the tasks I do so I could move into "bigger" things. Get trained on new things and even get a reclass and more $$.

This is what I thought. I was clearly mistaken.

There is always the chance they do have bigger plans for me. But I just have a feeling things will just move along like they have been. Status quo. No changes for me. New person will swoop in and go on a learning spree and everyone will just be so amazed at her talents. She will thrive. And I will not.

I think I see my world taking another turn. Not a good one. I will go in tomorrow and ask if I'm right about all this or if I have missed the mark. Maybe they will give me good news. But I don't think so. If there were big plans for me, I think I'd have heard given the fact this new person has come in at a level above me. There is always the chance I'm totally wrong, but I don't think I am. I'd be really surprised if I am wrong about this.

No one likes to feel like they are not good enough. We all like to feel valued, needed, and worthy.

If tomorrow I find out that after nine years of work comes down to be passed over with no second thought, I don't know where I will be. I don't know what I will do. It will hurt. And I'm tired. I don't know what I will do.

Amusing.

I saw this online. The whole "if you want to bring your own fish" thing cracks me up.

GYOTAKU WORKSHOP

The ancient Japanese fish printing process was used to record the catch
of the day. Learn traditional and modern techniques of this printing
process. Paper, paint and fish will be supplied. You may want to bring
your own 100% cotton fabric or T-shirt to print on. If you wish to bring
your own fish, please call in advance.

Recipe File

Whole-Grain Pancakes with Blueberry Maple Syrup

From 101cookbooks.com

1 (6-ounce) basket blueberries, rinsed
1/4 cup natural granulated sugar (evaporated cane sugar)
1/4 cup real-deal, PURE, maple syrup
2 tablespoons water
2 cups white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup natural granulated sugar (evaporated cane sugar)
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
2 1/4 cups organic buttermilk
2 large organic eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted (melt in the pan skillet you are going to use)
butter, to serve (and for pan)

To make the blueberry maple syrup put 1/2 of the blueberries, the sugar, maple syrup, and water in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat and stir until the sugar dissolves and simmer for 5 or 6 minutes or until the blueberries begin to split. Remove from heat and press the blueberry mixture through a fine strainer into a bowl. Mash the fruit to get all the juiciness extracted. Throw out the solids. Stir the remaining blueberries into the warm syrup and set aside.

To make the pancakes combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter. Stir all the ingredients until they are just combined. Don’t worry if the batter is a bit lumpy, you don't want to over mix.

Heat your skillet, pan, or griddle to medium-hot and brush it with a bit of butter. Test for the right temperature. If a drop of water dropped onto the pan starts to dance, you are in the ballpark. Pour about 1/3 of a cup of batter into the skillet. Wait until the pancake bottom is deep golden in color, then flip with a spatula and cook the other side until golden and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve with a golden pat of butter and plenty of blueberries and syrup.

Makes about 12 large pancakes, or dozens of silver-dollars - enough to feed a small crowd.

Plush

Need a sushi pillow?

Or would you rather have a pizza pillow?

How about a hamburger purse?

Hot dog glasses case?

Toaster cell phone holder?

Bean bag banana?

Don't need any of this stuff? Well, maybe for those hard to buy for people in your life? I bet they don't have a sushi pillow or a hamburger purse. And, imagine how "toasty" their ear would be if they had that cell phone holder! I tell you....this is must have stuff.

various

You Are A Maple Tree

There's not anyone in this world quite like you. You are full of imagination, ambition, and originality. Shy but confident, you hunger for new experiences. You have a good memory and learn easily. You are sometimes nervous and always complex (especially in love).

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

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This is a Mashed Potato & Meat Loaf Cake grooms cake. Pretty funny.

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20 years ago I had a HUGE crush on Bobby C. He was just a dream.....reallllly cute. The total cats pajamas in my opinion.

As for me....well I didn't exist as far as he was concerned.

This is a picture of Bobby (and his wife) at our 20th high school reunion:



Now I'm not sayin' he's ugly or anything like that.....well, I might be sayin' that a tiny bit, but mostly he isn't horrible or anything....mostly. I'm just sayin' that maybe I've aged a little better than Bobby and perhaps if he'd been smart, he could have dated me. But he wasn't and he didn't. And for that, time has not been very nice to him. He did manage to land an OK looking wife....but you know.....she's no cats pajamas like I am ;->

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I'll end with this. No matter how bad your day seems, your problems could be worse....check out the photo archives on this site.

monkey patrol

Friday humor story.

From MSNBC News Services

NEW DELHI, India - They say it takes a thief to catch a thief, but India’s Delhi Metro has hired a monkey to frighten off other monkeys from boarding trains and upsetting passengers.

In an effort to keep monkeys out of the New Delhi subways, authorities have called in one of the few animals known to scare the creatures — a fierce-looking primate called the langur, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported Wednesday.

The decision to hire a langurwallah — a man who trains and controls the langurs — came after a monkey got into a metro car June 9, the newspaper reported.

In that incident, a monkey boarded a train at the underground Chawri Bazaar station and reportedly scared passengers by scowling at them for three stops. It then disembarked at Civil Lines station.

Passengers had to be moved to another car while staff chased the dexterous creature, causing delays.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation says it hopes the new hire will avert a repeat of that episode.

“It started working about a month ago and since then we’ve not had a single incident,” said Anuj Dayal, a metro spokesman.

The langur handler is being paid a retainer of India rupees 6,900 ($160) a month, and “he will be called whenever there is a monkey problem,” Dayal was quoted as saying.

“There are too many monkeys,” Dayal was quoted as saying.

Langur monkeys are similarly employed around the grounds of parliament and some government buildings in New Delhi.

Please be seated, this court is now in session

I've been on Jury duty since Friday. I'm not actually on a jury, but I am in the pool of perspective jurors. So that means every time they excuse someone for whatever reason, they call a random perspective juror into the jury box and you are questioned about every little thing you do. It's like sitting on pins and needles just watching and waiting...you can just tell when someone is going to be excused and you know your name could be up next. I had said I would be happy to be out of work on a 1-2 week case....it would be a nice break. But this trial is 5 weeks! Ugh. That is too long. I don't want to be called.

Yesterday was horrible. I went to the trolly station at 8am. I had to be at the court house at 9am. Plenty of time. So I'm waiting.....and waiting.....and more waiting.....and the trolly to downtown never comes. It's getting late now. Crap! I run to my car and drive down to another main trolly station, but there is no way I will be there by 9am. I called the court room number they gave us and told them what was going on and told the woman to tell the judge "I'm soooo sorry!". On Friday he went on and on about how we had to be there on time and if we were late they had to all sit and wait for us.....so don't be late, blah, blah, blah. Goodness, I was so stressed out about this. I actually cried in my car on the way to the second trolly station. I was just sure the judge would yell at me. I got there at 9:12am and walked up and they were all outside the court room, which was good. I had visions of having to walk into the room and have everyone looking at me. So I slinked up trying to be casual like I had been there the whole time. The the woman came out and called a few names....mine being one of them, so I had to say "here" and the kitten was out of the big on who the late ones were. Thank goodness I wasn't the only one. The rest of the day went okay, but that trolly business really sucked. I am going to lave an hour and a half early today....if I'm late twice, they might fine me!

I will post more when I get time. Gotta get ready to head to the trolly!