Last week, word came down from the vice president's office that we could wear jeans to work - unless we had any meetings outside of our own unit - from the day of the Christmas party, December 16th, all the way through the Friday before MLK day, January 13th.
There was much rejoicing.
I'm a bit conflicted on this issue, though.
Graduating from college in 1981, I entered a professional workplace where it was more or less expected that women would wear suits and (gasp!) pantyhose. Low heeled pumps let you get from meeting to meeting without risking a sprained ankle.
As a member of a natural fiber fabric club at the time, I had a wide range of sumptuous fabrics from which to make suits. Yes, I made my own - jacket construction is truly just a bit of engineering; if you follow the blueprint (pattern), everything works out in the end. One particular suit - a lined collarless jacket and straight skirt in a buttery soft, black and white herringbone, Italian wool/silk blend - still hangs in my closet thirty years later (hope springs eternal that I may yet get back into it). Paired with a jewel tone silk shell, it was one of my favorite looks.
Even now, in a very "business casual" climate, I tend toward skirts and dresses rather than the slacks and tops favored by most of the rest of the office.
Simply put, I find I'm better able to focus, make decisions and get things done when I'm "dressed for the part".
For years, Flylady has been preaching something similar in an entirely different setting. She advocates "getting dressed to the shoes" before starting any housework. You act differently, she maintains, when you are fully dressed and ready to go. It serves as a signal that it is time to get things done.
Don't worry - I do have a couple of pairs of dressier pants that will see some wear, especially this week. The high temperature is headed downward over the next few days, with Thursday topping out at a frigid eight degrees.
For the most part, however, I'll stick to my usual skirts and dresses. I need the boost it gives to my productivity.
Showing posts with label Oddities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oddities. Show all posts
Monday, December 12, 2016
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Darwinian natural selection at it's finest.
A would-be burglar decided to emulate Santa and gain entry to his target home via the chimney. Unfortunately, he either had a few too many hamburgers before trying to slide down, or was unaware of basic chimney construction (which, because of the platform in the throat and the dampers, does not allow passage of anything much larger than an errant sparrow or bat).
He got stuck.
The homeowner, unaware, came home and lit a small fire.
The burglar yelled, the homeowner tried to put out the fire as smoke poured everywhere (the chimney being blocked by the burglar).
By the time the firemen took apart enough of the fireplace to reach him, he had died.
In Florida, a would-be burglar fled successfully from police, but not from an eleven foot alligator. The burglar hid in the wrong place, and the gator had him for lunch.
Moral of the stories: Don't become a burglar. The working conditions are horrendous, and the death benefits are nonexistent
A would-be burglar decided to emulate Santa and gain entry to his target home via the chimney. Unfortunately, he either had a few too many hamburgers before trying to slide down, or was unaware of basic chimney construction (which, because of the platform in the throat and the dampers, does not allow passage of anything much larger than an errant sparrow or bat).
He got stuck.
The homeowner, unaware, came home and lit a small fire.
The burglar yelled, the homeowner tried to put out the fire as smoke poured everywhere (the chimney being blocked by the burglar).
By the time the firemen took apart enough of the fireplace to reach him, he had died.
In Florida, a would-be burglar fled successfully from police, but not from an eleven foot alligator. The burglar hid in the wrong place, and the gator had him for lunch.
Moral of the stories: Don't become a burglar. The working conditions are horrendous, and the death benefits are nonexistent
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown*
Two years ago the remains of Richard III were discovered under a parking lot, of all places, in Leicester, England. The postmortem is finally done, revealing all sorts of fascinating information about his death in the Battle of Bosworth.
Go here to read the initial article, but be sure to click through to here, where you can view the actual bones. The picture of the skeleton as first uncovered, when you click to enlarge it, clearly shows severe scoliosis. Interestingly, a modern reconstruction of the spine indicates that it would not be terribly obvious, in spite of its twisty nature, and could easily be disguised by clothing.
Some would say it wasn't so with his twisty nature.
(No pro-Richard hate mail, please; I agree with you. History is written by the victors and it is naturally in their best interests to portray the vanquished as vile and disgusting as possible, to make clear to the conquered that they themselves are much better overlords. Richard got a bad rap. And no, he didn't have the princes murdered. So there.)
The description of the various wounds truly brings home the horror of warfare during Richard's time. His horse mired in mud, he dismounted and faced his attackers on foot. Somewhere along the line, he had apparently lost his helmet, and the wounds to his skull support that - his enemies saw the vulnerability and went for it with gusto.
It's incredible what light modern science can shed on events long past.
*Yup, a quote from Will's Henry IV to introduce a discussion of Richard III. Wanna make something of it?
Go here to read the initial article, but be sure to click through to here, where you can view the actual bones. The picture of the skeleton as first uncovered, when you click to enlarge it, clearly shows severe scoliosis. Interestingly, a modern reconstruction of the spine indicates that it would not be terribly obvious, in spite of its twisty nature, and could easily be disguised by clothing.
Some would say it wasn't so with his twisty nature.
(No pro-Richard hate mail, please; I agree with you. History is written by the victors and it is naturally in their best interests to portray the vanquished as vile and disgusting as possible, to make clear to the conquered that they themselves are much better overlords. Richard got a bad rap. And no, he didn't have the princes murdered. So there.)
The description of the various wounds truly brings home the horror of warfare during Richard's time. His horse mired in mud, he dismounted and faced his attackers on foot. Somewhere along the line, he had apparently lost his helmet, and the wounds to his skull support that - his enemies saw the vulnerability and went for it with gusto.
It's incredible what light modern science can shed on events long past.
*Yup, a quote from Will's Henry IV to introduce a discussion of Richard III. Wanna make something of it?
Monday, June 11, 2012
On the bookshelf...
Currently, their recommendations for me for books are about evenly split between cookbooks and survivalist handbooks.
I'm not quite sure what to think.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Natural selection at work
Heard on the news this morning: Down in Mississippi, a man tried to smuggle two live lobsters out of a grocery store.
By stuffing them in his underwear.
'Nuff said.
By stuffing them in his underwear.
'Nuff said.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
False alarm
Which makes more sense - having the fire alarms go off, with everyone exiting the building not knowing if it is a drill or the real thing, or letting everyone know that we "probably" would have a drill, but we need to make sure to follow protocol and go out? Isn't the point of a drill to mimic the real thing so we can judge preparedness?
I remembered to go back for my coat (didn't really need it) but left my car keys in the work bag under the desk. I've got to remember to put them in the purse when I come in, rather than tossing them in the bottom of the tote.
We stood around outside for less than a minute before we were given the all clear. The fire alarm was off, but a new alarm was sounding and the strobes were still flashing. It was a nice little walk out and back, but are we really more prepared because of it?
I remembered to go back for my coat (didn't really need it) but left my car keys in the work bag under the desk. I've got to remember to put them in the purse when I come in, rather than tossing them in the bottom of the tote.
We stood around outside for less than a minute before we were given the all clear. The fire alarm was off, but a new alarm was sounding and the strobes were still flashing. It was a nice little walk out and back, but are we really more prepared because of it?
Hits the funny bone
Actual quote from an e-mail this morning (emphasis mine):
Having phone issues?
The Office Communicator license has expired and an upgraded is in progress. If your phone has stopped working, call the IT help desk for the patch at 8-XXX.
That's what happens when you turn responsibility for the phone system over to the IT geeks.
Having phone issues?
The Office Communicator license has expired and an upgraded is in progress. If your phone has stopped working, call the IT help desk for the patch at 8-XXX.
That's what happens when you turn responsibility for the phone system over to the IT geeks.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Monday...stuff
...On again, off again - Last Tuesday, Time Warner needed to come out and fix the cable Internet, which simply disappeared around nine a.m. By the time the tech showed up for the appointment at 5 p.m., things were mysteriously working again, but she still checked "everything".
...On again, off again redux, with confusion - Saturday night I sat down in the living room to watch a broadcast program, only to find the cable t.v. was out. I set up a service appointment (first available time Monday, 5 to 8 p.m.), but on Sunday afternoon I cancelled it, as the cable was working again - until I turned on the set Monday afternoon and got nothing but snow. Fortunately, when I called TWC to set up another appointment, I found out they had not, indeed, cancelled the first. Ten minutes later the tech arrived, and fixed everything, and in the process, I lost about ten stations, which have been "bleeding through" for the last eight or nine years.
...Ghosts in the radio - Last Friday I turned on the radio to keep me company while doing a bit of cleaning. When done, I used the remote to turn it off, then went into the office to start sewing and watching a movie. A few minutes later, I realized the radio was still on; I must have forgotten to turn it off. It wasn't until after the third time this happened I realized the radio was turning itself back on after about ten seconds of silence. Pushing the console button turned it off for good, but still...
I think I'm going to stick with books for entertainment from now on.
...For most of today, Blogger has been reluctant to let anyone in. It seems electronics are simply not my thing this week.
...Angels among us - The Milwaukee Air and Water Show is next weekend, and in the Thunderbirds/Blue Angels rotation, the Blues are up. The promoters of the event got wise this year, and moved the Blue Angels practice up to 3:30 on Friday, so they can call it part of the "show". So we won't have the planes buzzing over the valley in the early afternoon as in previous years - always a thrill to see them speed along just above the chimneys in their run out area. The F-22 Raptor is also supposed to be here; according to the show's facebook page post by the leader of the Raptor team, they seem to think Milwaukee has good beer?
...Low tech - After all the electronics issues this week, it's probably a good thing that I use a battery-powered alarm clock - wouldn't want to be late to work first day after a vacation week.
Though, come to think of it, I'd better check the battery...
...On again, off again redux, with confusion - Saturday night I sat down in the living room to watch a broadcast program, only to find the cable t.v. was out. I set up a service appointment (first available time Monday, 5 to 8 p.m.), but on Sunday afternoon I cancelled it, as the cable was working again - until I turned on the set Monday afternoon and got nothing but snow. Fortunately, when I called TWC to set up another appointment, I found out they had not, indeed, cancelled the first. Ten minutes later the tech arrived, and fixed everything, and in the process, I lost about ten stations, which have been "bleeding through" for the last eight or nine years.
...Ghosts in the radio - Last Friday I turned on the radio to keep me company while doing a bit of cleaning. When done, I used the remote to turn it off, then went into the office to start sewing and watching a movie. A few minutes later, I realized the radio was still on; I must have forgotten to turn it off. It wasn't until after the third time this happened I realized the radio was turning itself back on after about ten seconds of silence. Pushing the console button turned it off for good, but still...
I think I'm going to stick with books for entertainment from now on.
...For most of today, Blogger has been reluctant to let anyone in. It seems electronics are simply not my thing this week.
...Angels among us - The Milwaukee Air and Water Show is next weekend, and in the Thunderbirds/Blue Angels rotation, the Blues are up. The promoters of the event got wise this year, and moved the Blue Angels practice up to 3:30 on Friday, so they can call it part of the "show". So we won't have the planes buzzing over the valley in the early afternoon as in previous years - always a thrill to see them speed along just above the chimneys in their run out area. The F-22 Raptor is also supposed to be here; according to the show's facebook page post by the leader of the Raptor team, they seem to think Milwaukee has good beer?
...Low tech - After all the electronics issues this week, it's probably a good thing that I use a battery-powered alarm clock - wouldn't want to be late to work first day after a vacation week.
Though, come to think of it, I'd better check the battery...
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Early morning oddities
At the bottom of the on-ramp to I-94 westbound yesterday morning, a perfect mound of ... horse apples.
This morning, on the picnic table tucked into a nook next to the office building door, a young man sitting on top of the table playing a ... ukulele.
Wonder what tomorrow will bring.
This morning, on the picnic table tucked into a nook next to the office building door, a young man sitting on top of the table playing a ... ukulele.
Wonder what tomorrow will bring.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
In my head
Do you ever spend time living in your head? It's hard to explain to folks who've never done it - it's not antisocial behavior, more a refusal to be drawn any further than necessary into events around you. Life goes on, and you function in it just fine, but the real business of living is going on inside your head, where all sorts of things are swirling around.
For a while, life inside your head is more interesting than life outside of it.
In spite of the dancing, darting thoughts and ponderings, it's a peaceful place. No demands on you save those you chose to impose yourself. Half-formed ideas can be dropped, only to reemerge a day or so later in full bloom, having knit themselves together in the back recesses of your mind, all on their own.
There doesn't seem to be any specific catalyst for a period of head-dwelling; it happens when it happens, and goes away when it wills.
If you need me, that's where I'll be.
For a while, life inside your head is more interesting than life outside of it.
In spite of the dancing, darting thoughts and ponderings, it's a peaceful place. No demands on you save those you chose to impose yourself. Half-formed ideas can be dropped, only to reemerge a day or so later in full bloom, having knit themselves together in the back recesses of your mind, all on their own.
There doesn't seem to be any specific catalyst for a period of head-dwelling; it happens when it happens, and goes away when it wills.
If you need me, that's where I'll be.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The strangeness continues
On July 2nd I received two of the three Blockbuster by mail movies I was expecting. The third should have arrived Friday or Saturday, and I have a vague memory of taking it in on Friday. I was out of town Saturday, so didn't collect the Saturday mail until Sunday afternoon.
I've spent a good portion of the week looking for that movie, searching all the usual spots several times. I'm dead certain I didn't watch it and return it without remembering...
This morning I received notification from BB that they have just received...that movie. In a departure from their normal "We've received the following movie...and will be mailing out the next one in your queue..." this particular notification contained a line that said "If you haven't received this movie, there may have been a shipping error, and you may want to add it to your queue once more."
Huh?
I'm taking the position that they messed up, rather than I've lost my mind.
That's reasonable, isn't it?
I've spent a good portion of the week looking for that movie, searching all the usual spots several times. I'm dead certain I didn't watch it and return it without remembering...
This morning I received notification from BB that they have just received...that movie. In a departure from their normal "We've received the following movie...and will be mailing out the next one in your queue..." this particular notification contained a line that said "If you haven't received this movie, there may have been a shipping error, and you may want to add it to your queue once more."
Huh?
I'm taking the position that they messed up, rather than I've lost my mind.
That's reasonable, isn't it?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
I'm sensing a connection here
Bumper stickers on the car in front of me at the drive through today:
Left side:
"Do you have your (organ donor) dot yet?"
"Don't take your organs to heaven when they are so needed down here."
Right side:
"Motorcyclists share the road - SAVE A LIFE - LOOK TWICE!"
"Be aware - motorcycles are everywhere."
Really, I can't make this stuff up.
Left side:
"Do you have your (organ donor) dot yet?"
"Don't take your organs to heaven when they are so needed down here."
Right side:
"Motorcyclists share the road - SAVE A LIFE - LOOK TWICE!"
"Be aware - motorcycles are everywhere."
Really, I can't make this stuff up.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Things learned at a staff meeting
When you play two truths and a lie...
One woman kissed Elvis.
Another ran the on-site lab of an archeological dig.
A third recorded two albums with a gospel choir in the mid-1970's.
One woman kissed Elvis.
Another ran the on-site lab of an archeological dig.
A third recorded two albums with a gospel choir in the mid-1970's.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
May I please have a do-over on my snow day?
Snow days mean wet mittens, red noses, marathon shoveling sessions followed by monstrous cups of hot chocolate, naps and - maybe - fresh made chocolate chip cookies.
Between 5:38 a.m. and 11 a.m., I have read and in many cases responded to 15 separate e-mails from work related to the fund raising data conversion project. Nevermind that in the very first e-mail I sent, I told all and sundry that for some reason (most likely a recent Windows security update on my home machine) my access to the general ledger system was blocked, and I could not look anything up. The insane, I-must-prove-my-worth (and be away from home so his son has to clear the snow!) comptroller is at the office and has access, but doesn't really know what he is looking at. Between the two of us, though, I think (fingers crossed) that the consultants (heh - who live in Atlanta and are here this week for the conversion) now have what they need to continue the current process.
Meanwhile, I have shrimpy goodness bubbling away in the oven, and Monk Season Five, disc one to watch. While not up for mixing cookie dough, the quick chocolate cake may make an appearance after the next shoveling session. I do think, however, that I should get a do-over for the morning; what fun are snow days if you can't sleep late?
Between 5:38 a.m. and 11 a.m., I have read and in many cases responded to 15 separate e-mails from work related to the fund raising data conversion project. Nevermind that in the very first e-mail I sent, I told all and sundry that for some reason (most likely a recent Windows security update on my home machine) my access to the general ledger system was blocked, and I could not look anything up. The insane, I-must-prove-my-worth (and be away from home so his son has to clear the snow!) comptroller is at the office and has access, but doesn't really know what he is looking at. Between the two of us, though, I think (fingers crossed) that the consultants (heh - who live in Atlanta and are here this week for the conversion) now have what they need to continue the current process.
Meanwhile, I have shrimpy goodness bubbling away in the oven, and Monk Season Five, disc one to watch. While not up for mixing cookie dough, the quick chocolate cake may make an appearance after the next shoveling session. I do think, however, that I should get a do-over for the morning; what fun are snow days if you can't sleep late?
There's nothing like a beer run in the middle of a blizzard
At about seven or so this morning, the woman from the duplex down the block went out to brush off her station wagon (all this was observed from the comfort of my couch). Someone was with her, but his job was to stand in the center of the street "directing". A bit later, they drove away.
As I was coming in from clearing off my car and moving it just now, they returned. I had to pass them to get home, and remarked (pleasantly, because huge snow dumps tend to bring people together) "Wow, look at this, and the worst is yet to come." This got me a surly smile from the grizzly-like man, who clutched a twelve pack of Miller High Life to his chest as if his (high) life depended on it.
They had been gone about an hour and a quarter - in these conditions, enough time to make it to the closer of the groceries with liquor departments, park, purchase and trek home. My only question - what liquor department was already open at eight in the morning?
As I was coming in from clearing off my car and moving it just now, they returned. I had to pass them to get home, and remarked (pleasantly, because huge snow dumps tend to bring people together) "Wow, look at this, and the worst is yet to come." This got me a surly smile from the grizzly-like man, who clutched a twelve pack of Miller High Life to his chest as if his (high) life depended on it.
They had been gone about an hour and a quarter - in these conditions, enough time to make it to the closer of the groceries with liquor departments, park, purchase and trek home. My only question - what liquor department was already open at eight in the morning?
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Such stuff as dreams are made on*
Over the past two nights, I've had some starry visitors to my dreams. I'm not going to share the context (such as it was) of the dreams, on the grounds they would incriminate (or embarrass) me. Here's the list:
Brad Pitt (though not in the way you would think)(and without Angelina)(or any of the kids)
Charlie Sheen (although he was blond and looked and acted more like his brother Emilio)
A french actor I've seen in a couple of miniseries and a soap
The Haitian guy from Heroes
A female blog-author who has just had a book published, and her 5 year old daughter
About the only time I remember any specifics of dreams is when I am either sick, or stressed. The stress is a given right now. Coworkers have also been kind enough to share some germs; my poor (pour is perhaps the better word) nose is running like mad. My lungs have shut down, thanks to the cold weather. I'd love to crawl back in bed and go to sleep, but now I'm a bit apprehensive about who will show up in my dreams next.
*Source of the quote, anyone?
Brad Pitt (though not in the way you would think)(and without Angelina)(or any of the kids)
Charlie Sheen (although he was blond and looked and acted more like his brother Emilio)
A french actor I've seen in a couple of miniseries and a soap
The Haitian guy from Heroes
A female blog-author who has just had a book published, and her 5 year old daughter
About the only time I remember any specifics of dreams is when I am either sick, or stressed. The stress is a given right now. Coworkers have also been kind enough to share some germs; my poor (pour is perhaps the better word) nose is running like mad. My lungs have shut down, thanks to the cold weather. I'd love to crawl back in bed and go to sleep, but now I'm a bit apprehensive about who will show up in my dreams next.
*Source of the quote, anyone?
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Welcome, Visitors!
I just checked sitemeter, for the first time in a couple of weeks. Within the last five to seven days, I've had visitors from, among others:
Manchester, York, Gloucester and Hitchin in the U.K.
London and Calgary in Canada
Bucharest
Krasnoyarsk (in the Russian Federation?)
Dubai
I can come up with a plausible explanation for the British, Canadian and Dubai visits (anyone visiting here from the WWQP BB?), but Bucharest and Krasnoyarsk?
Comments are open - feel free to leave a message and let everyone know who you are. That goes for new local visitors as well (like the return visitor from Thiensville) - say hello. I promise not to bite, snarl at or insult you, provided you extend me the same courtesy.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Confused?
Apparently, so is he.
Okay...
-Says he "identified as a woman since childhood"
-Was convicted of raping a woman
-While in prison, requested a transfer to the women's prison
-Sued a restaurant for sexual discrimination after not getting a "hostess" job
-Says of women: "I will talk with them. I will be an acquaintance with them, but I will not be an actual friend with them."
-Has now applied for a marriage license and intends to wed...a woman
The fact that the bride-to-be is less than half his age, an Australian who has been in this country less than 30 days actually sheds a great deal of light on the current situation, provided you can see past the transgender legal issue smoke bomb.
Okay...
-Says he "identified as a woman since childhood"
-Was convicted of raping a woman
-While in prison, requested a transfer to the women's prison
-Sued a restaurant for sexual discrimination after not getting a "hostess" job
-Says of women: "I will talk with them. I will be an acquaintance with them, but I will not be an actual friend with them."
-Has now applied for a marriage license and intends to wed...a woman
The fact that the bride-to-be is less than half his age, an Australian who has been in this country less than 30 days actually sheds a great deal of light on the current situation, provided you can see past the transgender legal issue smoke bomb.
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