To go out, or to not go out...

Lately, I just have no motivation to leave the house. I kinda worry about it, because I don't want to become a shut-in. I don't know if its because I'm tired and trying to recover from the expenditure of energy that is everyday life, if its just 'cause there ain't nowhere as nice as my house, or if I'm becoming anti-social. I don't think its the latter, but I give that equal consideration. For some reason, I have no motivation to actually go to any DMC events, even though when I hear about them, I think they sound like fun.... just when it gets to be time to go... I just can't do it. This happened last week with Flamenco and the gym too. I just couldn't push myself to get in the car and go.... Granted, last week was an energy SUCK and we had some surprise visitors (Martin's best friend Julia and her boyfriend Joost) on Tues who stayed later than I expected anyway.

So, I should be contemplating getting in the car in an hour and driving to a memorial day BBQ with the DMC to wash my car. I think I can do it.

later.

The Wireless-Phone-Carrier Management Philosophy

This is seriously a new form of management style/philosophy, that I am hereby claiming responsibility for coining/defining/describing.

This is what wireless phone carriers do... you know, Sprint, Verizon, Cingular, T-mobile...

Switch to us! We will give you this feature for free, we will give you boatloads of minutes, we will charge you nothing, etc. etc.

"Wow", you think, and make the switch... happily you enjoy your new service until you catch the new ad for your carrier
"switch to us! we'll give you SHIPloads of minutes, and a free phone every month"

So you call up customer service "excuse me, I already have this plan with boatloads, how do I take advantage of the SHIPloads... and free phone?"
"I'm sorry, that's for new customers only, not existing customers"

You have 3 options:
1. suck it up.
2. Wine, Yell, Moan, and Write a letter complaining saying that you're going to switch carriers
3. switch carriers

Here are the results:
1. nothing changes
2. "please don't leave us" and they offer you a way to take advantage of the new promotions
3. after a couple months... you switch back, and get all the new promotions.

I'm sure by now, you're wondering how this applies as a management philosophy.
Here goes:

you take a job with a company, at a good rate, with nice benefits
you happily work away doing all the things that are expected of you.

Along comes another worker, and they are offered a job doing the same thing as you...
for a higher pay rate, and with better benefits - they are the new customer !!

You have 3 options:
1. suck it up
2. write a letter to your boss, HR, and your bosses boss (you have now become a "squeaky wheel")
3. get a job somewhere else

Here are the results:
1. nothing changes
2. "please don't leave us" and they offer you a new promotion
3. after a couple months... you switch back, and get a new promotion

I hereby declare this to be "The Wireless-Phone-Carrier Management Philosophy"

Please note that the squeaky wheel and the one who switched are the two options that are rewareded, thereby perpetuating the system.

Also note that the person just doing their job, paying their phone bill and using their minutes, gets nothing.

Any questions?

ANYTHING to see outside!

so, in my next iteration to see outside (you can see the first efforts here) I thought that if I put up mirrors, they might reflect the sky from through my rectangle window on the opposite wall to where I face. I made DeAnn sit in my chair and tell me when I had the right angles, and then I propped the mirrors. The symmetry of my office is now all off; but who cares - at least I can tell when its dark!

...and I'm back

so.... I've been wondering lately about the realities of being a woman in business. When I was younger, I didn't want to believe that there were any differences in the way that people were treated - and I'm not talking about opportunities and pay rates; I'm talking about what people expect of you, and how they interpret your actions.

Let me back up.
When I was younger, I really didn't care what people thought of me. I didn't care if they liked me or if they didn't. I knew I was right, I knew I had the correct perspective, I knew that I knew best - and if people didn't want to come along on my train, then screw them.

As I have gained experience in the workforce, been "evaluated" by different managers and employees, and had discussions about ambition and future with collegues, I've begun to think that there are realities you have to accept in order to be effective in a business setting.

1. I think that women expect women to behave a certain way, and when you don't you get judged
2. I think that men are threatened by women in positions that are hierarchical above them (perhaps there is an exception if the woman is visibly old)
3. I think that men on your level have issues buying what you say
4. I think that your supervisor has issues buying what you say

Now, the topic dejour is as follows: is these observations about being a woman in business, or are these realities for be because of who I am?

so the not caring about what people think thing is still true in that I don't care emotionally, it doesn't affect how I feel about myself, however, I have begun to think that you do have to "act", "perform", "behave", "pretend", in a certain way in order to play the game of business.

The problem is that the majority of our role models are men - and you CANNOT behave the same as a man; it doesn't work! There IS a double standard.
Or our role models are women who's position is the result of specific circumstances.... so you cannot generalize to the whole, or general.

I'm reading this book right now that's billed basically as "how to be a boss without being a bitch" and I'm very disappointed. I assumed that it would give me insight into how you can be hard, demanding, direct, and to the point without it being construed as "bitch".... but instead it is about the reasons why you should delegate (duh!), don't worry, its ok not to be friends with all of your employees (duh!), and here is your pep talk on being pushy in a meeting (whatever!!).

I have all of that!!! what I want to know is how to navigate the behavior line between people expecting you to be touchy-feely, emotional, couching everything in rose petals, and the hard, direct, bottom-line position.

Where are you ?!

I was beginning to take your absence personally!

How the Folbs coordinate travel

- ok, its just one compulsive Folb that needed to make this list

April 11 Tues:
10:41am PHX leave Phoenix on Delta 379 to Atlanta, arriving 5:15pm
11:28am AUS leave LA on AA2442 to Dallas, arriving 4:30pm

5:43pm AUS leave Dallas on AA2167 to SJO, arriving 8:41pm
6:23pm PHX leave Atlanta on Delta 865 to SJO, arriving 8:22pm

PHX and AUS spend night at the Courtyard Marriott

April 12 Wed:
8:20am PHX leaves SJO on Sansa 634 to Tambor
8:50am PHX arrives in Tambor

9:15am AUS leaves SJO on Nature Air 326 to Tambor
9:45am AUS arrives in Tambor


April 17 Mon:
2:10pm AUS leaves Tambor on Nature Air 341 bound for SJO

AUS spends night at the fancy Marriott

April 18 Tues:
9:00am AUS leaves SJO on AA 938 to Atlanta and back to AU through LA

10:40am PHX leaves Tambor on Sansa 637 to SJO, arriving 11:10am

2:00pm PHX leaves SJO on Delta 564 to Atlanta, arriving 8:00pm
9:34pm PHX leaves Atlanta on Delta 1296 to Phoenix, arriving 10:51pm

Sunday mornings

The weather is perfect today. Not too hot, not too cold. The spring flowers are getting ready to bloom. The birds are making a lot of noise. So I thought I'd try and be clever and see if I could record this and post it.

Here is a photo of the flowers on the patio....


now, let me see if I can add this sound file (I think you need Quicktime)

now I just need to be able to send you the smell of citrus blossoms, and you will be able to experience how perfect this morning is.

woo HOO!! was that fun? or WHAT?!

please tell me...

that is will NOT become socially acceptable to walk around with your bluetooth headpiece on your ear even though you are not actively using it.

 

this will be unacceptable for the following reasons:

 

1. it implies that if it "rings" you will give that call precedence over the person who is in front of you; or any person you might run into; it means that you are giving precedence to your cell phone - period

 

2. people will begin to look more like robots, which means that it will not be long before it is socially acceptable to BE a robot

 

If you do choose to walk around with the thing attached to your ear like the cops in 5th element; then it should be because you are using it as an accessory, like a fashion statement; in which case, your outfit should fit the statement; ie you should NOT be wearing white leggings with visible panty line and a lime green tank top with bra straps showing!!!! This does not accompany the fashion statement of the BT headset!

Its not a good idea

to do the Flamenco escobia in an elevator because it makes you loose touch with up and down.

 

Geez... thanks Aaron for forcing my hand!

My work has a project in Mozambique. They are overseeing 6 projects that involve the evaluation of water infrastructure in Northern Mozambique for the Millenium Challenge Corporation. Each project has to comply to local and MCC environmental guidelines and they wanted to task me with overseeing that these are all done consistently. This will involve going to Moz... not sure how long, and then doing all the work. Its kinda in a wait and see mode right now.

We have put down the downpayment on getting the kitchen remodeled. We still have to make some final decisions on the counter, backsplash, sink, fume hood, and accent lights. But we have time while the cabinets are being built.

Next weekend, we're off to LV for AMVIV ()
I'm going to take driving lessons, and Greg may volunteer at the racing.

I know, I know...

I haven't posted anything in a while... its just that I have nothing to say!
at least, nothing that I think would be interesting enough to be considered a Musing!

oooo, something else

I have an ongoing theory that is in the "proof" stages that every Folb is related to all the rest. I know, lots of families are that way... but so far, I have been able to trace all Folbs to these 5 brothers who left eastern Europe at the same time.

yesterday, my theory was tested again. and it stood up.

I was contacted through Skype by David Folb - and I thought, is this my uncle? but the guy is from England????
Yup - some Folb brothers in England, David and Michael.

Martin also joined in, and we had this big Folb Skype session with the 4 sibs.
They seem like pretty fun guys....

now I need to find my geneology stuff so I can add them too it.

Problem with this getting older thing, is I have NO idea where I put it.
I can't even start looking 'cause I have forgotten if it is electronic or paper!

God, I'm hopeless!!!!

...and then in the continuing effort

to be COMPLETELY voyeristic...

There is now a list of blogs I visit daily in order to stay on top of what is going on in these people's lives.
and the other day, I realized that I had reached a new level.

I had begun to get to know the "friend" circle.

and I realized:
a) there is this WHOLE world of people who have created a COMMUNITY in personal Blogs!!
b) you really are voyeristic when you need to know who came over for dinner on Sat!
c) you are now cruising the family photo albums on Flickr, and you think of these people as FRIENDS!

and when you pass on to your friends that you are getting worried about yourself... you get this for a response:

"I know, what the hell is wrong with me that I am so freaking keyed into these peoples lives.... like, "I wonder when Heather and John get back from Amsterdam?
I wonder if Leta is really talking a lot now? What is Chuck up to? etc... Am I just a lame-o? Oh wait, you are engrossed in it too... "


... so I gave up and created a personalized Google homepage with only one "content"
Bookmarks...
to all these blogs...

I'm also very good at adding things into the Yahoo RSS feed function so that I can see the updates in my inbox.

so either I'm bored, boring, sick, or not into my job and life !

I wasn't gonna, but I will put in some....

master b.

Deetour

dooce

Big news for now, at least in my little world

We are going to remodel the kitchen. Our kitchen is on the west side of the house and there is a LARGE screen porch sticking out from its windows, so it gets no light. It also has a dropped ceiling, OLD oak cabinets, and gross tile on the counters and backsplash. Last summer we had to replace the fridge and dishwasher, so we have 50% new appliances. The contractor got the deposit this week, and so the cabinets will have 8-10 weeks to be built. We need to decide on counter tops, backsplash, fume hood, and sink before the date of demo/install. We are also installing 2 skylights, can lights, and pendants over the island. I think it will be SMASHING!!!

Other than that, live goes on... March is the month of Scottsdale Center for the Arts shows... we are in the middle of 3 in 2 weeks - whew! Considering we do this season ticket thing to have entertainment all year, we didn't do a good job of planning for this season.. oh well...

Office Views

Our new office building has this creative design where all of the "worker bees" have cubes around the perimeter which gives them windows with views, and the managers have offices on the inside with really stupid high windows that do nothing. Even though I approve of the philosophy that says that the workers spend more time at their desks while managers are in meetings, it sucks not to have a view. So here is my response: view 1 is the view out of the conf room window, view 2 is the winter view from Baker's Pittsburgh HQ office (was up for about a week!), view 3 is from the house we stayed at in Costa Rica, and I think this one is not going anywhere!

Busy Weekend

The Maloney's arrived on Thurs night around 10 and stayed with us. Greg had to work in the am on Fri, so I went with them to Wildflower...

Rachel and I visited aka Green on Fri afternoon 'cause they are thinking about their storefront and she wanted to see what they carry. We went to a dinner with Beth on Fri - which was good 'cause then the 3 of us could just catch up.

On Sat, we really just hung out.... Went shopping for food, errands, etc, We watched a lot of Olympics and just sat outside, which was good 'cause the weather was nice. Sat night went to 98 South with Beth and Jen. It’s a winebar in Chandler.... They told us they had no space (even though the restaurant was empty) and said we could order food at the bar. So, we were joking with the bartender, ordering lots of wine samples, and just having fun... The Beth asked the manager what the deal was about the empty tables.... And he told us that one of the band members was having a bday party and had reserved 50 spots (!)... Then the (jazz) band arrived to set up, and the people started arriving, and the band was VERY good! And the people were having a great time, and we were already "happy" from all the wine sampling, so it was a really good time. Then we went back to our place, Rachel and I had bought some decadent desserts from AJ's which we munched while drinking another bottle of wine, and then had a quick soak in the hottub.... All in all... It was a super fun evening. We met up with Kathryn at The Farm on Sun for breakfast, and then all broke up for other different activities (Rachel went for a S. Mntn hike with Jen and Jax) until the boys returned home at 3pm. We had a chili dinner at our house, the boys had a soak, and that was that. It was very fun...

Burning Man revisited

OK - I am by no means an expert; but I guess I know enough to be competitive. Burning Man is a community of artists that gather once a year to share their expression. How's that? I haven't read the book, or attended, but that's what I understand it to be. The community is created and uncreated every year the week of Labor Day; and culminates in a large burning man into which you can sacrifice your expression from that year. Burning man is in a dusty region of Nevada that noone else wants!

My brother, his girlfriend, and their gang of friends have been going for the last three years. I guess you can call them "burners" now.

Why go? because you are surrounded by incredible creativity with art installations that can blow your mind. Looking at the photos of these creations just makes you want to see them in person.

I think that's the gist - the rest is self experience.... and we have decided to take it on!

I finally got through the mess of cyber traffic and was able to purchase the tickets!!

burning man ticket update 2

now we get this:

"Due to an electrical circuit problem, we've been forced to pause ticket sales temporarily. We're getting it fixed, and as soon as we're able, we'll commence sales again. Please be patient, and watch this page for the latest information as it becomes available."

burning man tickets update 1

this site is driving me NUTS!!!

I got through to a purchase page, said I wanted 2 tickets, it takes it as if its processing, and then it goes blank!!!!!!!

how do I checkout!??