A Quiet Sunday Afternoon

Posted on October 23, 2011 | 1 comment

When Marc’s alarm clock when off this morning, it dawned on me that I forgot to set my alarm.  The next thought in my head was “I don’t want to go to work today.”  After a few minutes I realized that it was Sunday and I did not have to go to work.  With Marc working it was one of those days that I have all to myself. I like to have a day ever so often like that because I can pretty much do whatever I want, eat whatever I want, and watch whatever I want on the television.

I spent some time this afternoon updating my iTunes, iPhone and iTouch.  I think I am going to like Icloud.  I have always had a hard time getting all my devices synced with the same data.

Then I spent some time cleaning off my roll top desk.  This is the desk that I have my laptop.  I use this mainly in the morning when Marc is still asleep.

Here is the before picture of the mess that I needed to clean up.And here is the after clean up session.


These pictures were taken with my iPhone and I was able to upload them using the iCloud program.

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Vulnerability

Posted on October 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

I came across this Brene Brown discussing the “Power of Vulnerability”.  The talk is about 20 minutes but I thought well worth the time to listen to.  Here is the link.  http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

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Marc’s Retirement/Leaving Missouri City Party

Posted on October 22, 2011 | 1 comment

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 Marc’s coworkers celebrated the time he worked with them by presenting him with this white leather fire helmet, his badge and ribbons.  We had a great time talking about old times and changes that have taken place since he made his move to Pearland.

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Do I Really Work Hard?

Posted on October 22, 2011 | 1 comment

An article in the Houston Chronicle titled “Few Americans take immigrant’s jobs in Alabama” by Jay Reeves and Alicia Caldwell has been on my mind for the last couple of days. Here are a couple of quotes that have stayed on my mind for the last couple of days.

“They (Americans) show up late, work slower than seasoned farm hands and are ready to call it a day after lunch.  Some quit after a single day.”

“Politicians who support the law (the new immigration laws in Alabama) say over time Americans will fill these jobs.”

“….. has heard just about every reason unemployed Americans don’t want to work on her blueberry farm.  It’s hot, the hours are long, the pay isn’t enough and it’s just plain hard.”

“At his farm (tomato farm), field workers get $2 for every 25-pound box of tomatoes they fill.  Skilled workers can pick anywhere from $200 – $300 a day, he said.  Unskilled workers make much less…………..A crew of 25 Americans recently picked 200 boxes – giving them $24 a day…. It may make sense for some to sit on a couch.  Unemployment benefits provide about $265 a week while a minimum wage job, at $7.25 an hour for 40 hours brings in $290.”

I am not quoting all this because of immigration laws or that farmer workers should be paid more.  But that Americans find this work too hard.  It dawned on me that I have a bad case of “entitlement.” I have thought of myself as a hard worker but that fact of the matter is – I am probably not.

This last tax season I complained a whole lot to my friends and family about the long hours.  Secretly, in my heart I thought I was not being paid enough even though I agreed to work at the pay rate I am getting.  I also thought I was doing more work than the boss and surely I should be treated better than this.  It was unjust and unfair – but every payday I received a paycheck to help support my family.  It dawned on me – what do I have to complain about – well absolutely nothing.  I know that if I had to work on a farm that I would be one of those that quit – probably after an hour.

I owe my friends and family a huge apology for all the belly aching about my job.  So I am now working on a new perspective – one of thankfulness for the fact that I have a good paying job in an office – and my boss has every right to boss me around.

 

 

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I Survived Another Tax Season – Now to Get Back on Track

Posted on October 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

Yea – I survived another tax season. Monday this past week sure was a hectic day. I am still trying to get back on track. On Monday I was at the office by 7:00am and worked until 9:30pm. Talk about a long day.

I read in an article somewhere that what you do on Monday sets the tone for the entire week. I think that is so true. Because of the deadline to get all those tax returns done,  I did not do my regular morning exercise program. ( I am usually exercising by 5:30 am on most mornings. )  Anyway, all this week I have had a hard time with wanting to exercise – and mentally coming up with excuses to cut my exercise time short. At work, I look at my desk and I seem to be in a fog on what to do next. I am having a hard time prioritizing. The same is happening at home. I look around at all the things that I need to do after weeks of neglect and I can not seem to focus on what needs to be done first.

The question is – How do I get back on track? Should I make a list of things to do? Sometimes lists frustrate me because I find things to do that are not on my list and do them instead of what is listed.  Then I am mad at myself for not marking anything off my list.  I know the key is to focus on one task at a time. So here I am it is nearly 8:00am and I still need to get ready for work. So here is my list for right now.

1. Get ready for work.
2. Go to work.
3. Sit at my desk and finish the financial statement I was working on yesterday but did not finish.
4. Start on those payroll tax returns that have an end of month deadline. (I hate deadlines.)

Evening list – after supper.
1. Help my son move into his apartment. My ulterior motive is to check out the apartment.
2. Make grocery list and maybe do the shopping – if it is not too late.
3. Fall into bed exhausted.

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Last Day of Tax Season 2011

Posted on October 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Today is the last day of tax season.  I am not at work yet but I am sure that it is going to be a very hectic day. The plan is to skip my usual exercising and be at the office by 7:00 am. Skipping the exercise may not be the wisest move in the long wrong because I read in one of my magazines that exercising on Monday will set the tone for the entire week.  Oh well — got to get the remainder of those tax returns out.  (Personally, I feel very abused when clients drop off their work on the last day for me to complete. )

I know that I probably should have gone into the office to work some this weekend but after increasing my hours for the past 8 weeks I just needed some downtime.  I spent Saturday morning at the gun show with my dear husband and son.  I have never attended a gun show before.  There were guns and more guns and more guns.   We did have a nice time eating at “Kim Son” afterwards.  Later in the afternoon we attended a fiftieth wedding anniversary party.  It is always fun celebrating these milestones with friends, especially seeing people I have not seen in a while.

Sunday was the Volunteer Fire Department Open House.  Actually, that was my excuse for not working – I was volunteering at the Open House.  My job was to help with keep the fire pole line in order.  The kids just loved sliding down the pole.

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Posted in Interesting Tidbits, Reflections

Am I Rude? I Certainly Hope Not.

Posted on October 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

Today is the first day of what I am going to call “hell” week.  October 17 is a big day for tax accountants.  We are  or at least our office is working desperately to get out all the individual tax returns that are on final extension.  As the pressure builds to beat the deadline, tempers flare.  To make matters worse our fearless leader has been out of the office since the first of October and now not only our our tempers short but also our clients are not happy.  Not a good situation at all.  It makes for a horrible Monday.

Anyway, as I was reading the paper this morning I came across this article written by the “You Docs” called “Incivility at Work?”  As I read the article I decided that I needed to apply these tips especially this week when it will be so easy to be rude and nasty.

1.  Respect others. Look for the best in people. Speak kindly. Bite my tongue when I am about to gossip or make a witty-cruel comment.  Listen to my coworkers.

2.  Avoid the verbal toxin at the office.  If it happens, then think upbeat thoughts afterwards.

3. Don’t make excuses for my own rude behavior.

4.  Try to find meaning in what I do.

Here are the reasons why I need to put this in place.

1.  It infects my home life.  Rudeness has a ripple affect and I will then treat the ones I love with unkindness.

2.  It is a health threat.  Negativity and chronic stress boost my blood pressure.  Being polite and positive does the opposite.

3.  This is definitely true – I do not work as hard and I resentment grows within me.

 

 

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September 11, 2011

Posted on September 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

Last night I went to the annual fire department banquet. This is the second year that the Fallen Firefighter Ceremony has been conducted. I find this ceremony to be very touching. Here is a picture of the table that is set.

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The white tablecloth symbolizes the purity of the fallen firefighters intention to respond to their department’s every call.

The red rose is for those who made the ultimate sacrifice – they gave their life so others could live.

The white carnation is for those who witnessed and experienced tragedy and destruction firsthand, and are still with us today.

A slice of lemon on the place is to remind us of their bitter fate.

There is salt on the table to symbolize the tears shed by family and friends.

The glass is inverted — they cannot toast with us today.

The chair is empty—they are not here, and we do not want to forget them.

 

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What’s for Breakfast

Posted on June 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

Today I am trying out Lavish. It is old fashion instant oatmeal flavored with dark chocolate. One serving has 160 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 4 grams of protein and 12 grams of sugar. This product caught my eye at the grocery store because one of the things I like to eat is old fashion oatmeal sprinkled with dark chocolate chips and a little bit of sweetener.

When I compare the ingredients of one serving of old fashion oatmeal with chocolate chips, I come up with 220 calories, 7.5 grams of fat, 6 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein, and 6 grams of sugar.

Even though the old fashion oatmeal has more calories and fat, it has more fiber and protein and less sugar. Which one do you think is healthier? I would say the old fashion oatmeal.

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Well, in my opinion the Lavish old meal is not as good as old fashion oatmeal with dark chocolate chips!

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I Think I Need to Give Up Reading the Paper

Posted on June 26, 2011 | 2 comments

Have you ever wondered if you are an optimist or a pessimist?  Well, I have.  I would like to think that I am an optimist and think that everything is going to turn out fine.  I decided this morning that I am really a pessimist.

When I was younger – a lot younger I used to wake up and sing the  song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”.  Here are the words to the song.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Mister Bluebird’s on my shoulder
It’s the truth, it’s actual
Ev’rything is satisfactual
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day, yes sir!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Mister Bluebird’s on my shoulder
It’s the truth, it’s actual
Ev’rything is satisfactual
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, feeling this way

Mister Bluebird’s on my shoulder
It is the truth, it’s actual… huh?
Where is that bluebird? Mm-hm!
Ev’rything is satisfactual
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!

So, I began to wonder what changed.  Why do I not wake up every morning and want to sing this song.  Instead my head is full of worry – what will happen at work,  will I still have a job, what if I lose my job, what if…. what if…. I hate being in the land of “what if.”  The only thing I can figure is that when I was younger – a whole lot younger I did not wake up every morning and read the paper.  Somehow,  I decided that waking up early – drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper before anyone else in the house reads the paper was enjoyable and of course would fill my head full of knowledge about the world.  Instead I think it has created a person who sees negative things.  It is a scary thought  – to give up reading the paper with a cup of coffee.

Here are some positives if I were to give up the paper –

To be truthful my family gives my a very hard time about reading the paper first thing. They know that I get irritated – not just a little bit but quite a bit if I have not touched the paper first. (I know I have sharing issues and honestly I am trying to work on it.)  I now let them read the classifieds and auto/house buying section while I am reading the rest of the paper.  If I gave up the paper it would improve family relations.

It would save money.  The paper costs roughly $180 a year.

I could sleep later – No, I can’t sleep later.  I could find something inspiring to read. But not too interesting because then that is all I would want to do.

My outlook on life might improve. I would once again be able to wake up and sing “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” instead of worrying about the bills, job, ect.

Here is the downside maybe – Am I more knowledgeable today for reading the paper that I was the day before?  Well, that is a big question to ponder and I suppose I will spend some time today thinking about whether I am more knowledge today than yesterday.

I do think that I am just going to print out these words, visually these words, and see if my outlook on life improves.  But wait this morning I just read and article about titled “Why imagining success doesn’t get you there”…….

 

 

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Posted in Reflections