Life in perspective when your Beagle is carrying around a burned shoe

It’s good to be back home.  Life definitely was put back into perspective again a moment ago when Jake was carrying around something black and rubbery looking in his mouth when we were outside.  I was sweeping leaves away from the garage door just off of the kitchen and there are still remnants of the fire there…where the firemen blew out the kitchen window and started throwing stuff out.  Now most of it is cleaned up but I find pieces of broken glass occasionally, scraps of burned things….and Jake found half of a Mary Jane Nike/Cole Hahn shoe that was one of my favorites.  I had forgotten about it until he brought it to me.  They must have been in the kitchen, no doubt where I kicked them off when I came home the night before.  I loved those shoes.  Now I know they burned, baby burned.   I’m sure there are many things that I will completely forget about that are ashes. 

But it’s so good to be back home even with stacks of unopened boxes and missing furniture. 

The DIY bug & Bridezillas

Every so often the DIY bug bites and I start on a path of "what will I do with the house now?". This time it's the living room. I have several pieces of furniture that will be recovered professionally by Dan and a few pieces of furniture that will be passed along to family members.
I've decided in the living room that less is more, so the big sofa will be given away and the two love seats will take center stage by the fireplace.
Because the bug hit I had the TV in the den on most of the weekend to the DIY, HGTV, and one other "do it yourself" type channel. They make it seem so easy. Plus I was assembling a new Italian cabinet and needed a distraction from the instructions and the extra hardware pieces that didn't fit.
I like the show where the contractor tells you you can put your own kitchen cabinets in and save $10,000. I guess you can if there are two or more of you and a camera crew and the contractor there to make sure it goes smoothly.
I will attempt to redo the living room by painting first and recovering furniture, we'll see about anything much more adventurous.
Now on to Bridezillas...what is up with these women? This show may be the ultimate showcase of evil, spoiled, manipulative bitches. Surely it is scripted because no one can be that mean to their friends, family, and fiance without being beaten senseless by one or all of the above. When you spend the 30 minutes muttering to yourself "what a bitch!" then it really isn't the type of show to be watching at all.

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10 Great Ideas from 5 great bosses

1. Become a small picture kind of boss - the best leaders will bring overall goals and objectives down to the smallest details of individual jobs. Learn to help everyone, at every level.

2. Nuke the Blackberry when at home - Many execs say their organization can't run without them. You might be surprised to learn the percentage of bosses who never check messages or emails after hours.

3. Stop treating vacations as an option - top execs use the vacations to re-charge and clear their minds. These ones say that their breaks make them more effective and creative.

4. Improve the preparation for hiring new players - Most organizations do really crappy interviewing. Now more than ever anyone joining your organization is well screened and the best firt for the job.

5. Develop your memory - The best leaders remember names, job roles, hobbies, partner's names, and more.

6. Exercise your body as well as your mind - enough said

7. Learn these words: "I made a mistake" and then say them as required.

8. Track how your spend your time - the finest managers spend their time where the best payoff is likely to come.

9. Don't demi-task - Top execs know that nobody can multitask effectively over the long haul. They've figured out how to focus with laser-like precision.

10. Celebrate success

If life reflected the Food Network

If life reflected the Food Network...by Kate Hopkins

All pantries would be fully stocked.
All stores and markets would stock even the most rarest of ingredients and products.
A cook would never burn themselves while cooking.
Every dish would come out right the first time.
No one would have to exercise, nor watch their weight, ever.
Every dish would taste amazing.
Cooking would never be interrupted by a phone call, a knock on the door, or a screaming child.
Every knife would be appropriately sharpened.
Everyone would own the best of equipment.
Every kitchen would have equipment for even the most obscure of cooking techniques.
All ovens would be precise in their temperature.
No one would have to clean the kitchen, as the interns would do it.
All music played in the kitchen would be light jazz.
Wine would be the world's most popular beverage.
Everyone would have the time and energy to cook happily every day.
Restaurants would always be packed.
Restaurants would never have health issues.
Restaurant owners would never skimp on costs.
Fish can be bought with impunity, as there's an endless supply.
Vegetarians would be statistically insignificant.
No one would ever hear of any cuisine that didn't come from America, Western or Southern Europe, or Japan.
All meals could be made between 30 to 60 minutes.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to my nephew. This is a bit premature as your day isn't until July 1 when you will turn the big 30. Welcome to it. Just remember, "Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened." I believe all the great life lessons you learn after you turn 30, or at least you start to really understand what you might have been told before.
The night you were born I wasn't there. I had been "volunteered" to stay with an elderly friend of a great aunt. Only your grandmother (my mother) could do that to me. The next morning I was told you had been born. I went up to the hospital that afternoon.
I wish for you this weekend a great gathering of friends and family who love you. Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age. I know you won't turn into vinegar.
As Thoreau said: "If you want to be happy, be"

A very happy 30th birthday weekend extravaganza.

TC

The lure of the blackberry

ok, while at lunch or during an interview DO NOT answer your email via Blackberry...it's just so rude and quite honestly, it is awkward. You're not THAT important that you cannot conduct an interview for a professional position without sending out emails.