Bosses who Boss too much

Now how could that be? They are the boss. Well, sometimes they overstep the line and boss about things that aren't even worth their time of day. I think some people need too much control and therefore pick every little thing they can control and force the issue.

Has it ever helped "Suzie Loo" the boss to have a more efficient and effective team if she demands to be called "Mrs. Loo" or "Miss Loo." What about the approach of being called "Mrs. Suzie"-- does that garner her more respect? This all in place of letting her employees call her Suzie, or if she prefers, Susan.

I feel that this type of management only belittles the employees and unless you have an egotistical maniac of an employee, it does no good. Even then, no good. All you do is alienate your employees and make them feel like they are children in your eyes.

So for all the mangers reading my blog (and why are you doing that when you should be working?), pick your battles. Ask your employees to call you Joseph if you don't like the nickname Joey. However, please don't ask that they call you Mr. Joseph. It's just lame.

Somebody's got a case of the Mondays

So when did Monday become such a dreaded day? I know we have all had such a fun weekend and now it is over. Who said that the week is not fun.

I think we worry too much about having the perfect job, that we overlook the jobs we would like to do. Think what the world would be if everyone enjoyed their job. Think that the waitress would smile and wish you a good day. The cashier may say hello first and strike up a cheerful conversation while checking your groceries. Maybe everyone would smile a bit more.

I do wonder, however, if everyone had a job they enjoyed, then who would do all of the jobs. I think in that question I am projecting my distaste for some jobs onto everyone. For instance, I have no desire to clean, but someone may. I also have no desire to cook, but someone loves to.

If we all loved our jobs, would we get cases of the Fridays?

Stop and Smell the Roses

Sometimes, I think I allow myself to get a little too stressed out over things that are not so serious. By those things, I mean practically anything. The report that is due, the numbers that don't quite match, the approaching deadline. My biggest is people who blow off what is important to me so I have to wait until it fits in their timeline, and in the meantime I can do nothing with it. So there the item sits. Waiting to be completed, decided on, or whatever, but I can do nothing.

I think at times like these, I do need to stop and smell the roses. It is springtime, and beautiful. My flowers are blooming-- all the flowers are blooming. Well, except my orchid. How do you keep those alive? Do they ever bloom again? I can't figure out what I need to do with it, the leaves are still green but there are no buds and no new growth that I can see...

I think I got off topic a bit. But I guess this blog is my thoughts. I never promised a clear consistant stream of thought.

The color of a car

Today, on my way into work, I got thinking about people and the color of their car. I routinely watch people when we are all stuck in traffic and I can look into their window and see what they are doing. Today, however, I got looking at the color of their cars. What does the color of your car say about you?

My guess is that we use our cars and more particularly the color of them to define who we are. Now what is that guy with a green car trying to say to everyone about himself? I don't know. I've never owned a green car. Well then, the grey, the black, the blue, the white or the dark red? I can say that I picked blue (or dark blue pearl to be specific) because the car I wanted came in that, light blue, or white unless I wanted to order one rather than buy off the lot. I thought the Dark Blue Pearl was the least grandmotherly of the colors.

My point today, and yes I am getting there quickly, is that everyone is making (or like me trying not to make) a statement about themselves in the color of car they pick. But today I passed a guy in a yellow car. Two days ago, I saw a guy in a lime (yes, brilliant vibrant lime) green car. Often I see metallic orange, pea green, and the list could go on. What statements are these people trying to make?

Harlequin Romance

Yes, that's really the topic-- I really thought about harlequin romance today. Now before you judge me, I can honestly say I have never read a harlequin romance novel. I thought of it today because the morning radio show that I listen to on my drive to work in the morning was having a contest. They had a bunch of guys come in and attempt to be the next "Fabio"/ cover of a harlequin romance novel with Kris (one of the morning D.J.'s).

This got me thinking (and after I voted on which guy I thought should win as the contest is judged by listeners and the photos taken are on-line at www.hot995.com). Who was the person that came up with harlequin romance novels in the first place? These bodice ripping, lust filled stories have to have a background of how they came to be. So I looked.

Harlequin is a book publisher with its head office in Toronto Canada. They are a division of Torstar Corporation a Canadian Media Corporation. Quoted from their site, "The series business, the foundation of Harlequin's success, offers women a range of romantic reads from traditional pure romance to suspense and inspirational romance."

Maybe I need to go and get one of these to read...

Today, I whine...

Everyone should be allowed to whine from time to time (I think I take extra liberties on my time to time but maybe that’s another discussion for someone else’s blog). Today, I want to express my views on a guy who hit my car today. Yes, hit my car. Now I wasn’t driving, Ryan was. Driving through a Home Depot parking lot when an elderly man backed out of his space without looking, backed into my car, and didn’t realize what was stopping him so he kept going backward while Ryan honked the horn to get the guy to stop backing up.

Not to sound ageist, racist, or generally mean to other people, but the man was elderly and didn’t speak very good English. He did not want to deal with insurance, but he did say he would pay for the damages. So he was nice, but not very good at driving. I believe that we should all be retested for our licenses every few years rather than pass once and just keep on renewing. I propose that every 4, 8, 10 years (just a reasonable amount of time), mandatory retaking of the test. I know this is an added cost. We should pay for it too. It is a privilege, not a right, to drive a car, and I think we all need to be more respectful of that as well as be more respectful of those around us.

Finally, if you back up in a parking lot and something stops you... just stop your car and find out what. Maybe next time it’ll be a person instead of my car.

America's Wang

Yes, that is what it is... The Washington Monument. A symbol of power for the United States, paying tribute to our first president, and standing erect as can be.

Today this monument reopens to the public with enhanced security measures in place since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Once again, we Americans -- all people as a matter of fact -- can come to Washington DC, get in line, get a ticket, then use that ticket to take a ride in an elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. They also have a museum and shop, in case the ride is so good you must have a souvineer to remind you forever of your experience.

So, in short, America's Wang is still erect, but now protected for all to enjoy again.