Too bad I have to go to work later. Sigh.
Oh well, I'll enjoy a nice, peaceful morning. Hung out some laundry I'd thrown in the washer last night and heard the geese down at the creek. I tiptoed up to the fence for a look, and they have goslings! I think there were five of them. And last night, while walking Nipper over a bridge south of my house, I saw a mallard hen with about a dozen ducklings swimming along with her! I don't know if she was "our" duck, but I haven't seen many ducks along our part of the creek.
So now I'm doing another load of laundry and fixing some breakfast. I don't normally eat much for breakfast, but for some reason today scrambled eggs sounds good. Then a walk with Nipper is on the agenda later on, and then off to work after lunch.
I'm off Sunday, but back to work Monday, since we have a big meeing planned. I'm taking Thursday and Friday for my comp days off for today and last Saturday, when I was at the state press association convention, so at least I've got that to look forward too. Nothing big planned. Probably get a haircut for me, a nail trim for Nipper at the new "dog salon" here, and I probably should get him to the vet for his annual visit.
That's my exciting day.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Alone at last
It's just Nipper and me for awhile. Mom has taken off on her "maiden voyage" with her travel-trailer (which she has named Eggcarto, because it kind of looks like an egg). She's been working real hard to get everything ready and I know she was a bit nervous about setting out, but I know she'll do well. You can read about her adventures in her own blog here. There's also a permanent link on the right of this page. I have to say I'm real proud of her for taking on a new challenge like this. Go, Mom!
Just taking it easy tonight. There's severe weather farther east of here, so the Wichita TV stations (or at least the one I watch on Tuesdays) are giving a lot of time to that. Not a lot to watch, in other words. So maybe I'll just turn the volume down and read a book.
I've been doing a lot more reading lately. I'm kind of trying to have to force myself. Since a large part of my job involves reading, I usually just don't feel like after a day at work. But I miss reading for pleasure, so recently, I made a list of things I should be reading, based on what people on a bulletin board I frequent said they liked, and also from the flyers and stuff I get from a book club I can't seem to figure out how to quit. Then it was a trip to the library, and so far, I've liked what I've picked up.
First was The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman. Love these books, and this one seems to maybe be taking Leaphorn down a slightly different path than he's been on. It'll be interesting to see how the events in this book affect him later on.
Then I read Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It was the first of McCarthy's works I've read. Very bleak, but he's created a very realistic world. This will probably be one of those that much later, I'm still forming what effect it's had on me. I was really surprised I was able to pick it up without having to get on a waiting list, considering the all-powerful Oprah selected it for her book club.
The I started reading Mad Dogs by James Grady, but then left the book at work over a weekend and started reading another. I usually don't like to read two books at once, but it was kind of nice having one to read at my lunch break and then something totally different (see below) at home. Again, haven't read Grady's earlier work, but I might have to after this one. So far, at least, it's got a good balance of tension, action and goofiness.
The book I started reading while also reading the above-mentioned book was A Fool's Gold: A Story of Ancient Spanish Treasure, Two Pounds of Pot, and the Young Lawyer Almost Left Holding the Bag. I'm not sure how much of this I really believe. It's a pretty fantastic tale, enough that's believable, but also enough to make you wonder how much embellishment is there really? It was pretty entertaining, though.
That's it for now. I've still got a long list to get through, and I've even added a few since I started.
Time to spend some quality time with the dog. He's been wondering where mom is, and keeps running for the door whenever he thinks he hears her truck pulling into the drive.
Just taking it easy tonight. There's severe weather farther east of here, so the Wichita TV stations (or at least the one I watch on Tuesdays) are giving a lot of time to that. Not a lot to watch, in other words. So maybe I'll just turn the volume down and read a book.
I've been doing a lot more reading lately. I'm kind of trying to have to force myself. Since a large part of my job involves reading, I usually just don't feel like after a day at work. But I miss reading for pleasure, so recently, I made a list of things I should be reading, based on what people on a bulletin board I frequent said they liked, and also from the flyers and stuff I get from a book club I can't seem to figure out how to quit. Then it was a trip to the library, and so far, I've liked what I've picked up.
First was The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman. Love these books, and this one seems to maybe be taking Leaphorn down a slightly different path than he's been on. It'll be interesting to see how the events in this book affect him later on.
Then I read Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It was the first of McCarthy's works I've read. Very bleak, but he's created a very realistic world. This will probably be one of those that much later, I'm still forming what effect it's had on me. I was really surprised I was able to pick it up without having to get on a waiting list, considering the all-powerful Oprah selected it for her book club.
The I started reading Mad Dogs by James Grady, but then left the book at work over a weekend and started reading another. I usually don't like to read two books at once, but it was kind of nice having one to read at my lunch break and then something totally different (see below) at home. Again, haven't read Grady's earlier work, but I might have to after this one. So far, at least, it's got a good balance of tension, action and goofiness.
The book I started reading while also reading the above-mentioned book was A Fool's Gold: A Story of Ancient Spanish Treasure, Two Pounds of Pot, and the Young Lawyer Almost Left Holding the Bag. I'm not sure how much of this I really believe. It's a pretty fantastic tale, enough that's believable, but also enough to make you wonder how much embellishment is there really? It was pretty entertaining, though.
That's it for now. I've still got a long list to get through, and I've even added a few since I started.
Time to spend some quality time with the dog. He's been wondering where mom is, and keeps running for the door whenever he thinks he hears her truck pulling into the drive.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Hello again
Wow, didn't realize it'd been over a week since I last posted. Guess there's just not a lot to talk about. Awhile ago, I was sitting at the desk surfing when I looked out the window and saw the duck couple that comes to my birdfeeder had figured out how to get under the fence. The hen was starting to range out a ways from the fence when something startled them and they both flew off. This morning, as I was getting ready for work, I happened to see them fly up from the creek and land in one of the big cottonwoods behind my house. I didn't know ducks would even perch in trees! But there they were, just kind of waddling along the bigger branches.
The weather is nicer, now, and many of the flowers have rebounded. Many of the daffodils are upright and blooming, and even the tulips that got mashed to the ground are trying valiantly to point the bloooms upward. The tulips up front are standing tall and finally beginning to bloom. The hosta, which hadn't yet unfurled their leaves, aren't as dark green as they were before the snow, but I think they might be OK. The two mums I planted on the hillside last fall took a lot of freeze damage, but yesterday as I picked dead leaves off, I saw some new green poking through.
I've been working on my wildflower garden, too, hoeing away at the grass in there so it won't be so overgrown (maybe) this year. I'd like to expand it, too, and add another Russian sage or two along the fence, replace the purple coneflower that didn't survive the drought last year, add a shasta daisy again and maybe move the black-eyed Susan if it reappears.
Some bad news from one of my "sisters" in my breast cancer support group: A couple weeks ago, her mammogram showed a marble-sized lump that proved to be cancerous. Further tests showed tumors in her lungs and chest lymph nodes. She's having a mastectomy and they'll biopsy those tumors at the same time. She was diagnosed about the same time I was, but here treatment had to be a lot more aggressive. I'm hoping she comes through this well. She's got a teenage son and she's been making a lot of headway with an organization she's in, and she's real proud of getting out of her "comfort zone," as she told me. So if you're the type, say a prayer for G., OK? Thanks.
For the weekend, I'm heading to the state capital, where the state newspaper association will have it's annual convention. The publisher and managing editor will be there, too, for the sessions, and then a couple of others will join us for the awards banquet Saturday night. The good news is, it sounds like they don't expect us to all travel together.
The weather is nicer, now, and many of the flowers have rebounded. Many of the daffodils are upright and blooming, and even the tulips that got mashed to the ground are trying valiantly to point the bloooms upward. The tulips up front are standing tall and finally beginning to bloom. The hosta, which hadn't yet unfurled their leaves, aren't as dark green as they were before the snow, but I think they might be OK. The two mums I planted on the hillside last fall took a lot of freeze damage, but yesterday as I picked dead leaves off, I saw some new green poking through.
I've been working on my wildflower garden, too, hoeing away at the grass in there so it won't be so overgrown (maybe) this year. I'd like to expand it, too, and add another Russian sage or two along the fence, replace the purple coneflower that didn't survive the drought last year, add a shasta daisy again and maybe move the black-eyed Susan if it reappears.
Some bad news from one of my "sisters" in my breast cancer support group: A couple weeks ago, her mammogram showed a marble-sized lump that proved to be cancerous. Further tests showed tumors in her lungs and chest lymph nodes. She's having a mastectomy and they'll biopsy those tumors at the same time. She was diagnosed about the same time I was, but here treatment had to be a lot more aggressive. I'm hoping she comes through this well. She's got a teenage son and she's been making a lot of headway with an organization she's in, and she's real proud of getting out of her "comfort zone," as she told me. So if you're the type, say a prayer for G., OK? Thanks.
For the weekend, I'm heading to the state capital, where the state newspaper association will have it's annual convention. The publisher and managing editor will be there, too, for the sessions, and then a couple of others will join us for the awards banquet Saturday night. The good news is, it sounds like they don't expect us to all travel together.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
More garden talk
So long to the spring weather ... and the spring flowers.
After the beautiful weather the last couple weeks, this week turned cold. We even got a couple inches of snow, although it melted pretty quickly. It's still cold today, though. Most of my flowers that I pictured and talked about are just wilted, mushy caricatures now. The tulips are flattened. The ones up front didn't even get the chance to bloom. The daffodils are all hanging their shriveled blooms, and the daylillies and hyacinths aren't perky. Most of the muscari look OK, though.
There are good things continuing, though. The iris all look OK, and so do the lamb's ears. The hosta are coming up good under the pecan tree. Probably a good thing they haven't unfurled their leaves yet, so there's not much that can be damaged.
I've been working on the computer most of the morning, and see the geese have made their second appearance at my birdfeeder. And earlier, I saw the goldfinches have donned their namesake color for the spring and summer.
I should take a break and take Nipper for a walk, but he's sleeping pretty soundly (and cutely) on his bed in the living room. He's been cooped up a lot this week, though, so we should get at least a short walk in. Then later, Dad wants to take us to Easter dinner ... at the local bar & grill that recently expanded. Is a BLT considered appropriate for Easter?
Well, I'm off for a couple days, but I have a project I need to get done, and then maybe another one for later in the week as well, so I should sign off.
After the beautiful weather the last couple weeks, this week turned cold. We even got a couple inches of snow, although it melted pretty quickly. It's still cold today, though. Most of my flowers that I pictured and talked about are just wilted, mushy caricatures now. The tulips are flattened. The ones up front didn't even get the chance to bloom. The daffodils are all hanging their shriveled blooms, and the daylillies and hyacinths aren't perky. Most of the muscari look OK, though.
There are good things continuing, though. The iris all look OK, and so do the lamb's ears. The hosta are coming up good under the pecan tree. Probably a good thing they haven't unfurled their leaves yet, so there's not much that can be damaged.
I've been working on the computer most of the morning, and see the geese have made their second appearance at my birdfeeder. And earlier, I saw the goldfinches have donned their namesake color for the spring and summer.
I should take a break and take Nipper for a walk, but he's sleeping pretty soundly (and cutely) on his bed in the living room. He's been cooped up a lot this week, though, so we should get at least a short walk in. Then later, Dad wants to take us to Easter dinner ... at the local bar & grill that recently expanded. Is a BLT considered appropriate for Easter?
Well, I'm off for a couple days, but I have a project I need to get done, and then maybe another one for later in the week as well, so I should sign off.
Power play
Last night, I worked the desk at the paper, preparing the Sunday edition. It didn't start out well -- I had to finish up SIX PAGES of stuff that should have been done on Friday, but our new editors just don't seem to get how much of a burden that is for the one person who puts together the news section.
Anyway, I didn't get started on the Sunday news section until about 5 p.m., about three hours after I got in to the office. I was really worried I wouldn't make deadline. About 8:30 p.m., the jerk who runs the mailroom, where they stuff all the advertising flyers and such into the paper, comes up front and asks us (me and the sports editor) when we think we'll be done. The sports editor knew he'd be done early, since the winter-like weather canceled all the local sports events. I wasn't sure when I'd be done, so I said I didn't know. He pressed for a time. I said "probably the usual time," which would be between 11:30 p.m. and the midnight deadline. Didn't think much more of it, and just pressed on with getting work done.
Well, things went well, and the press ran at 11:35. Mailroom jerk comes back shortly after and says to me "If you'd given me a more accurate time when I asked, I wouldn't have to wait a half hour for my guys to come in in. Thanks a lot."
I just looked at the sports editor and kind of threw up my hands. He just shook his head. The mailroom guy is one of those people who has to find something to complain about. And if I'd been able to give him an exact time, to the minute, he probably still would have found something negative to say.
Thing is, if I say something to my bosses about this, they'll just tell me to shake it off, don't let it bother me, etc, etc. But why should I be the one who has ignore him? Why should I have to be the one who shakes it off? Does anyone bother to tell him to just forget about it and go on with his job? Just shut up and deal, because this business is never a sure thing? Probably not. So just because he's an asshole, the rest of us have to adjust our attitudes? That's not right. By not dealing with him, telling him to tone down, the bosses are reinforcing his behavior, giving him the idea that he's in the right and the rest of us have to adjust to him. It's giving him power, and making the rest of us step down in status in his eyes.
I know this kind of thing happens all over the place, but why? It doesn't make for the best work environment. It isn't productive in the least. Sure, you can't fire someone for being a jerk, but why verify their behavior by ignoring or tolerating it? We don't want kids bullied in our schools, but in the workplace it's OK? We encourage kids to stand up to bullies, because, we tell them, bullies just pick on those they think are weak, and if you show you're not weak, they'll leave you alone. But what if stand up to a bully at work. Guess who's probably going to get the lecture.
Bosses need to stand up and be bosses. Just don't dismiss an employee who complains about the office jerk. 'Cause if the boss doesn't even stand up the jerk, then the jerk just thinks he's even more powerful than the boss. And he's probably right.
Anyway, I didn't get started on the Sunday news section until about 5 p.m., about three hours after I got in to the office. I was really worried I wouldn't make deadline. About 8:30 p.m., the jerk who runs the mailroom, where they stuff all the advertising flyers and such into the paper, comes up front and asks us (me and the sports editor) when we think we'll be done. The sports editor knew he'd be done early, since the winter-like weather canceled all the local sports events. I wasn't sure when I'd be done, so I said I didn't know. He pressed for a time. I said "probably the usual time," which would be between 11:30 p.m. and the midnight deadline. Didn't think much more of it, and just pressed on with getting work done.
Well, things went well, and the press ran at 11:35. Mailroom jerk comes back shortly after and says to me "If you'd given me a more accurate time when I asked, I wouldn't have to wait a half hour for my guys to come in in. Thanks a lot."
I just looked at the sports editor and kind of threw up my hands. He just shook his head. The mailroom guy is one of those people who has to find something to complain about. And if I'd been able to give him an exact time, to the minute, he probably still would have found something negative to say.
Thing is, if I say something to my bosses about this, they'll just tell me to shake it off, don't let it bother me, etc, etc. But why should I be the one who has ignore him? Why should I have to be the one who shakes it off? Does anyone bother to tell him to just forget about it and go on with his job? Just shut up and deal, because this business is never a sure thing? Probably not. So just because he's an asshole, the rest of us have to adjust our attitudes? That's not right. By not dealing with him, telling him to tone down, the bosses are reinforcing his behavior, giving him the idea that he's in the right and the rest of us have to adjust to him. It's giving him power, and making the rest of us step down in status in his eyes.
I know this kind of thing happens all over the place, but why? It doesn't make for the best work environment. It isn't productive in the least. Sure, you can't fire someone for being a jerk, but why verify their behavior by ignoring or tolerating it? We don't want kids bullied in our schools, but in the workplace it's OK? We encourage kids to stand up to bullies, because, we tell them, bullies just pick on those they think are weak, and if you show you're not weak, they'll leave you alone. But what if stand up to a bully at work. Guess who's probably going to get the lecture.
Bosses need to stand up and be bosses. Just don't dismiss an employee who complains about the office jerk. 'Cause if the boss doesn't even stand up the jerk, then the jerk just thinks he's even more powerful than the boss. And he's probably right.
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