We've Been doing THAT for Quite Some Time Now

Ever strike you as funny that when referring to the right to vote, the definitive word is suffrage?

Closely resembles the word suffer doesn't it.....

Million Mentor March

For the last few weeks I've been listening to the Michael Baisden show on our local radio station. His current drive is finding mentors for young children and I am totally on board with it. They received a call today that seemed to irk everyone in the studio as well as listeners, myself included. A woman called in with the nerve to say that a white man could not raise a black child or visa versa due to their lack of knowledge in the other races history.

Being of mixed race (black, white and native american) I can tell you that yes, there is a lot of history out there, and some may know more than others. But the real counterpoint is that when someone is calling out for mentors, they're not asking for parents. There is a difference between raising a child and mentoring a child. Asking someone to mentor a child is asking for them to assist in the upbringing of the child by trying to instill their morals and values into that child. Asking someone to raise a child is asking them to parent the child, to be with them 24/7, and among other things, to make the decisions for that child.

Why not allow someone who is willing to aid in the child's upbringing (in a good way) do so? If a parent is not willing to be there as a role model why not let some one else step in? Someone who is willing and emotionally driven to make a difference. Despite the color of a persons skin, their heart still beats the same. If there is someone out there willing to love and teach a child even if only for a few hours a week, why hold the child back from that. At the very least they'd learn what it's like to care for another person, to want the best for someone else. They would learn the meaning of selflessness.

Sorry if this sounded like a big ramble. In between coming home, cooking dinner and typing this I may have strayed a little from the ideal "easy read." All in all what I'm trying to say is this: No matter the race, if they are willing care, give them a chance to.

ATM Robberies....

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-atm-crime-20100217,0,6760738,full.story  

So this was an interesting article. The rate of ATM Robberies is increasing and there is really nothing being done to stop, slow down or deter the crimes. The guy in the article had a pretty good idea on implementing a police warning by entering a pin number backwards when being robbed at the machine. This would allow the police to be notified of the attack while still allowing the transaction to go through so you there is less chance of you being killed and more chance of the suspect being caught. But you're still giving away your money!

My suggestion? 

What happened to all those phone booths? We should turn those into bullet proof ATM units. Think of it this way, you enter the ATM Booth and close the door, which has a lock, you now feel secure in making your transaction without looking over your shoulder. Not only that, but the glass encasing you, and said ATM, is completely bulletproof. Meaning that any potential robber with a gun looking to kill you for your money has minimal chance of doing so. They can't shoot at you cause the glass is bullet proof, and they sure as hell can't blow it up cause that defeats the purpose doesn't it. 

If in fact the booth was shot at or damaged in any way, it would signal an internal alarm sending the nearest police unit to come check out the problem. Also, if you were in said bulletproof booth and someone was attempting to rob you once you made your exit, you would be able to use your cell phone, provided that you have one, to call the police while you were safely locked inside your 'glass case of emotion.'

Not that this is an answer to all the worlds problems, or by putting it in effect makes the world a safer place, but it's an idea. A sensible idea in my opinion. Then again, it is my opinion.

 

PLUS

Think about it.

Update!

Finally found the tile for the backsplash!

Pics of the kitchen to follow once its installed! You're not going to believe the before and after. Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing at this desk...

I should be out designing.

I love my valentine THIS much

So this Valentine's day had to be the sweetest yet. It started out with me having to guess what I was getting. Well not really having to, as I wanted to cause I like to, it's what I do. Anyway I guessed it and it's awesome. Last December we went to Art Basel in Miami and there was ONE peice that I drooled over for hours, days and even months later (yes, still drooling). But there is no way I was going to pay $20K for it. I figured that it would have to stay a fond memory of fine art. That is until I guessed what my Vday gift was! No, not the actual painting, but a print is just as special and much less costly!

 

So after weeks and weeks of asking what he wanted for Vday I was getting the usual "nothing" response leading me to have to use my brain. Well I thought I was doomed until what felt like the last minute when I figured out the perfect gift. So in 24 hours I built this: 

   

Yes, I BUILT IT.

Here's to being crafty and in love!

Office Politics

I was recently published again in the weekly! But before I reveal my little snip it, let me fill you in on my reason for writing it.

After being Laid off for 5 months and then finding a new job (and only loosing a dollar I might add), I am still quite bitter about being let go from a job that I loved. Well hold on, I take that back. I really liked the job I did. The person I worked with caused heavy stress, but it balanced out when I got free coffees, or lunches. True I did take some of that stress home and it wasn't very healthy, but the actual job was a good fit for me and after two years, I was learning how to not let the stress affect me so much. 

I decided last March to get my hair cut, which just so happened to be the same time the Executive Assistant decided to do the same thing. In the beginning we were very excited for each other. I found the curl whisperer in St. Pete and told her it would take three weeks to get an appointment, but I was doing it and she should too. Well she didn't. She went the week before me to some fluke in town. Needless to say her haircut came out horribe, making her head look like a mushroom top. We both cut off a lot of length but one cut was way better than the other, mine. She even said the very words "I like your hair cut better" to me. I kept trying to get her to go to St. Pete, but she never did. 

Four months later we were finally being hit by the "economic downturn" and needed to let go of someone at work. After a few months of making suggestions to my boss on saving money and cutting hours instead of completely removing someone from the picture, I was called down to HR. I was and I wasn't surprised, as at the time if anyone should've been let go, it should've been the girl that sat in the corner and never talked to anyone or offered help when it was needed. But hey, if they dont see you they forget you exist right! I was laid off and my boss was more upset than I was. Why? Because I wasn't laid off due to my performance or the fact that I had seniority, because I wasn't the longest running assistant. I was laid off because of politics. The EA, didn't like the fact that I was the spitting image or her 10 years, 2 kids and a better hair cut ago. She convinced the person I assisted for two years to get rid of me. It didn't take much after that, as the people downstairs never ask questions. 

Now if she would've just gotten to know me, the EA never would've had a thing to worry about. You see in my position, my boss would've had to move up to the EA's position for me to even be able to advance within the company. Not only that, but I have what I like to think of as much higher standards than the EA. Meaning I never would've gotten to where she was by doing the things she did and is currently still doing. I had no intentions of "running her out," and personally if I would've known ahead of time, I would've argued the point.

I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy my time away from the workforce or do not like the job I have now. I do wish I had a bit more to do here, as you can tell by this entry, I have quite a bit of time on my hands. However, I am saying that I was completely wronged in that situation and have every right to be upset by it. I sometimes wonder what I'd say if I ran into any of them in public, I also wonder why I shouldn't march in there and demand my job back knowing the things that I do. Mostly though, as in a lot of lifes situations, I wish I knew then what I know now, because I would've had all the power to fight them on it. 

So that's that and this is what made it to the paper:

"I'm ticked off because I was laid off — not because of performance or seniority, but because the executive assistant was jealous that my haircut was better. Office politics are a slap in the face to those who actually abide by the rules!"

It's the PG version as I originally submitted the explanation of how she made her way to that position. At least people read it and hopefully, there are more eyes open to what actually goes on between the walls of an office. Without even knowing the facts, and just knowing it was wrong, I'd like to thank all of the people at the office who voiced their opinions on the decision. I'd also like to thank my ex boss who didn't leave me in the dark on what happened, although it didn't take much.

Oh week days, how I loathe thee.

The picture above expresses my emotions from 830 this morning until about 530 tonight. 

On days like this, or weeks for that matter, all I can think of is how much more productive I could be at home. I like being employed and I like receiving a paycheck, but when I'm twiddling my thumbs and blogging on the clock, there are some issues at hand.  Has anyone else ever wondered why more companies don't move toward virtual employment. It would save so much more time, space, energy, the list goes on and on. Not only for the employee but the employer as well. Think of how much lower that energy bill would be. Or how about this, what if we worked in office 3 days a week and out of office 2 days a week. Your employees would be less likely to waste company time, property, or jump off a bridge for that matter. I'm fishing here, but really, think about how much sense it really makes.

Summer Friday Fun @ Work

Below is an email about a mock article I sent to a co-worker after he commented on shooting at turtles during his youth. This is the kind of stuff that makes my job fun...enjoy:


Suspect in Hunter’s Creek Turtle Slayings on the Loose
George P. Nonsense Staff Writer
11:17 AM EDT, June 12, 2009

In the small town of Hunter’s Creek, just outside of Orlando, there are questions without answers. Detectives are looking for a white male who is suspected in what appears to be a turtle massacre. Home owners are baffled as to why someone would be on the hunt for these harmless creatures, and want to know who is responsible for the empty shells popping up all over the community.

It appears that the alleged killer is shooting the turtles for amusement or just to see what bullets will do to them.

“What has a turtle ever done to anyone?” asks Jimmy Bowman, 19, of Hunter’s Creek. The suspect is described as 40-45 years old, has salt and peppered spiky hair with glasses and drives a red Toyota Tacoma. He has also been seen on a Harley Davidson motorcycle sporting saddlebags.

If you have seen this person or have any details leading to the capture of the suspected turtle killer, please call the local Hunter’s Creek police hotline by dialing 407-91-TURTLE.

That's quite a jump!

Florida dropped from number 26 to number 9 in states with the worst drivers, in the last YEAR! I think that should say enough about what we are dealing with out there. When I say we, I am speaking for all drivers in this state who actually obey traffic laws, yield when we are supposed to, don’t go out of our way to speed up when someone needs to cut in, or cut someone off for driving too slowly. What happened to common courtesy? Oh and by the way, for those who don’t know : When you are faced with a green light, need to turn, and there is on coming traffic, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY! This is happening a lot lately and is the newest in dumb driving.

Cell Phoes and Driving

It seems that no one can drive while talking on their cell phone, but everyone insists on doing it anyway. So I have come up with a solution. From this day forth let’s include it in the driving test. When it’s time to get behind the wheel, someone from the DMV will call you and talk to you during the entire duration of your road exam. And hopefully a few years from now the roads will be a little less dangerous as more and more drivers will know how to do two things at once without impending upon an attempted murder charge around every corner.