The Lesson Learned

On the Blink-Blink

Maybe I’ll post this entry and maybe I won’t. I’m certainly writing this and if I’m not able to post it won’t be for lack of trying or because the subject matter is controversial in any way.

No, it would be because our cable modem is on its last leg. It’s definitely on the blink, as it is not unusual to watch it reset itself several consecutive times for no apparent reason. The thing lights up more than a Christmas tree with the constant flickering of lights--off and on. Off. And. On. The amber and green lights alternate between a fast and slow, but never ending, pace. In the past month or so we’ve noticed that we are offline more than we are online. You would think we had a dial-up connection.

Actually, we had a dialup connection for quite a while and it’s one thing to have difficulties connecting when you’re paying a significantly lower fee for the service. However, it’s entirely different when you pay twice as much for the Internet connection to find that you can never connect because your modem can’t stay powered on.

Not to mention the fact that one gets rather spoiled by having a fast connection. And it's all about the connection, baby!

So, we have a new modem on order and I’m writing with no assurance that I will be able to post this. But rest assured, my silence is not by choice.

Simple Solution

Earlier in the year, I mentioned my dilemma with my hair stylist. To sum it up, she has a habit of taking other customers before and during my appointment making what should be no more than a two-hour appointment last three to four hours. It was very frustrating and I debated speaking up or going elsewhere.

And then the solution occurred to me. It was crystal clear: scheduling the first appointment of the day should eliminate any problems. I’ve scheduled my last two appointments first thing in the morning and it has worked like a charm.

I don’t know whether I should feel smug for thinking of such an obvious ingenious solution or to feel like an idiot for not thinking of it sooner. It is, after all, a rather simple solution. Simple, but effective.

Five-Minute Rule

Have you heard of the five-minute rule? I’m not sure if I read this rule or if I heard it from a colleague or friend. The five-minute rule concerns meeting protocol.

The rule states that you should delay a meeting for five minutes, at most, to allow for other members to show up; however, if the meeting organizer or leader does not show up within five minutes the meeting will adjourn. So five minutes is the longest amount of time one should sit idle during a meeting.

A few days ago, I mentioned the five-minute rule after waiting 15 minutes for a meeting to commence and was met with blank stares. It was as if I had suddenly sprouted another neck and head. Or as if I had totally lost my mind. So, I ask you: have you heard of the five-minute rule? Did I dream it up?

Is it just common sense?

Work Overload

It's official. I am buried beneath a mountain of paperwork. Period.

In my distant past, I can recall a time when I left the office with a sense of accomplishment. My to-do list was shorter and I walked out of the building with the knowledge that I had performed my tasks and duties to the best of my abilities. I was proud of my accomplishments even.

I drove home with my mind on pressing issues concerning family and home life. I did not concern myself with office matters after hours.

However, in the last year my workload has increased exponentially and I have found that I must work harder and longer to keep my head above water. And the work no longer stays in the office. All too often I find work following me home. And when I’m not actually working, projects still loom over me like dark clouds. Work thoughts enter my mind at the most inopportune of times. (I won’t go in to how inopportune, but you can imagine!)

When five o’clock (or later) rolls around, instead of leaving the office with a sense of accomplishment, I leave feeling further behind than I started out for the day. My to-do list keeps getting longer and longer, without an end in sight.

Is this job security? The “old” me would have laughed at the work overload problem and deemed it job security. But the present me has no time to joke or laugh. Nor do I have time to eat lunch or take breaks. I avoid drinking water or pop because I don’t want to take the time to run to the restroom.

I’m not alone in my overwhelming workload, as other team members have expressed the same feelings. And the boss man is trying to get another position for our team, but it looks doubtful that he will succeed due to budget cuts.

Now, I don’t believe in cloning and have all kinds of issue with it, but I’ve wistfully toyed with the idea of cloning myself simply to help with the workload. Surely two of me could get the job done.

There has to be some kind of solution to the workload problem. But what it is, I don’t know.

Update: Sorry to be such a whiner, but venting here does make me feel a little better. For the moment, at least.

Game Over

I'm sad to see the weekend come to an end, as usual. I didn't even have time to write much here.

I'll be back tomorrow, kids. See you then.

Fun Fact

Why is it that I tend to have much to say when I have little time in which to say it? Happens every time.

Inspired

I don’t know if it’s all the focus on impressive people, or what, but I’m inspired. Damn inspired.

So, instead of the normal errand running and other lackadaisical weekend behavior, I have a long list of goal-achieving tasks scheduled on my Pocket PC. It is March, after all.

It’s difficult for me to believe, but the year is 1/6 of the way over and I’m disappointed to report that 1/6 of my goals have not been met. And while I’m making more progress working toward the very specific goals I set this year than all the combined progress I made on the vague goals of years past, I’m just not where I hoped I’d be at this stage in the year.

And I can’t say that I’ve given it my best effort. I can’t say that I’m impressed with the effort set forth toward completing those goals. But that’s fixing to change.

Entries may be scare around here for the rest of the weekend.

Enjoy your weekend.

And just because I’m ornery, you know, I have one question for you: Are you impressed or satisfied with yourself and your current effort in reaching your goals? If so, tell me your secret to success.

Speaking of Impressive

I’m not her biggest fan or anything, but I have to say that she definitely fits into my list of impressive people under the category of starting with little in life and working hard to build a lot. Love her or hate her, but I don’t think you can dispute her work ethics hard work or business mind.

America bought into her image and lifestyle hook, line, and sinker, but I have a feeling that the image isn’t going to be worth much in the very near future.

UPDATE: I updated the Martha link as the first one was no longer valid.

What Impresses You?

I’m not easily impressed. In fact, I’m surrounded daily by so many occurrences that fail to impress me that it provoked a good friend to ask me just what does impress me? As I paused to consider the question, I realized that there are quite a few people who do impress me. The things they do vastly differ, but the people do share a few qualities that I admire.

I’m impressed by hard work and initiative.

Those who start out with little in life and work hard to build their life into something special impress me.

Those who are highly successful in life impress me.

Those who touch the lives of others impress me.

Those who are experts in their field impress me—you know, the go-to person who everyone goes to because they’re eager and willing to help.

Those who exert every effort to excel even if they haven’t yet met their mark impress me. You just know they will reach their goal one day.

Those who have a vision and never quit until they reach it impress me.

Those who excel at reading other people and adapt to every situation impress me.

Those outgoing people who make friends in every situation impress me.

I’m actually impressed by quite a lot. And it feels good to acknowledge what’s impressive.

Spoiled Sport

I think I know what's going to happen on Survivor tonight. I accidentally read a spoiler on someone's blog.

Now, it was clearly labeled as a spoiler, but this person comments on each episode after the fact and I read her comments after I've already seen the show. Usually, that is. But this time the entry was about tonight's episode and stated who will get voted off.

So I know the ending. Or I think I know. I'll know if I know in about an hour. And I haven't ruined it for anyone else, but it's been difficult not to blab or let it slip. And it kind of sucks to think that I may know what will happen.

I'll watch the show anyway and hope that what I read was not correct. And I definitely stand behind my no-spoiler policy.

UPDATE: I knew.