Week - in - Review...

Hope everyone had a good week last week!

Monday - Feb 23

A coworker came into work sick today. I made sure I steered clear of them all day! Don't you hate when people come into work sickly. I mean I love my perfect attendance record so if I happen to feel slightly under the weather with a minor cold or sinus headache, I generally medicate myself prior to coming into work. I make sure to quarantine myself at my desk with all my tools - tissue, cough drops and medicine. However, I totally draw the line when someone comes into work with some sort of stomach virus, or stomach flu (I have a severe phobia of vomit) stay at home!! When I am sick, I mentioned that I stay put, but I have encountered those who wonder around the office like a social butterfly fly at a cocktail party spreading their germs like Johnny Appleseed. I just remembered that I need to take a can of Lysol to my desk!


Tuesday - Feb 24

Today I went into work a little late, as I had to take my cat to the vet. I found that he had a urinary tract infection. He's fine, no need to worry. But it made me think of the luxuries that parents have in the workplace. I recently read an article on msn.com that questioned the treatment of childless employees. As a childless worker I am expected to stay at work late, and take very limited personal time. I have no school functions to attend, there is no late fee to try to avoid because I am late picking up the little one from day care, can't stay home for little Billy who has an ear infection, and can't come in late because little Tiffany missed the school bus and I had to take her to school. I often joke with my childless friends, "we gotta get some kids!"

Wednesday - Feb 25

In order to remain sane among my hectic work schedule and rat race lifestyle, I try to get involved in community service efforts, read books (I am reading "Freakonomics" by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, stay tuned for my review and discussion), and meet up with friends. Hey are we living to work, or working to live?? Anyway, I went to a meeting to discuss my next community activity and also vowed to myself in front of my enabling coworkers to end all viewing of reality tv. Its taking over my life! How are they enabling you ask - watercooler chatter anyone??? Who wants to be the one to say, "what show is that?"

Thursday - Feb 26

Business lunches - to eat or to talk...that is the question? I had a business lunch this day and I tell ya - how hard is it to successfully eat and talk when you are at a meeting to accomplish an objective? Oh, the pressure - you have to make sure you order something that is not overly expensive (comparable to the buyer who is treating), also something that is not going to make you look foolish while eating and talking, etc. I always end up taking small bites in between conversation and having to get a carry out box and finishing my lunch back at the office. I know that there some business eating etiquette guidelines, wonder what they are technically - I am definitely gonna have to look that up!

Friday - Feb 27

As I ended my week, I had committed to finishing all the tasks on my to do list. I am a list writer - even with my access to streamlined computer programs like Microsoft Outlook - I still like to use the good old fashioned written list. I like to check my list, and check it twice and then actually check off that I completed all that was on it! This was a great way to end my week - having accomplished what I had set out to do! I didn't even lolly gag - as I am oh-so tempted to do on a Friday afternoon, but I stayed my course.

I'd have to say this was a good week! My fingers are crossed that I may have a repeat this upcoming week!

~ Week In Review ~

Hello everybody! Yes - another week under my belt!

Monday - 2/16

Taking my own advice, I hyped myself up on Sunday night instead of Monday morning, so that I might waltz into work the next day, bubbly and ready to take on the week. Not only did I vow that I would go into work with a positive attitude and demeanor, I also made sure that I completed two out of the three mandatory preparation tasks that I created for myself. I know, a little OCD, but it works. In order for me to be on time to work, looking like I have sense, because believe me, you can get places on time, but depending on your prep - you could arrive looking crazy, I must follow my rules. You know I am talking from experience! Anyway, back to the regimen - I've charged myself with completing 2 out 3 tasks each work night: 1) Make Lunch, 2) Take Shower 3) Pick Clothes and Bonus 4) Iron the clothes (As long as the clothes are picked out - which takes the most time, ironing can be done in the morning. I may iron at night, if nothing is on tv).

So - with the hype and the 2 out of 3 - I MADE a great Monday for myself!

Tuesday - 2/17

Meetings, meetings and more meetings! Today, I spent approximately 6 hours in meetings and 2 hours debriefing about them. Soooo..... when I am suppose to do my work - was the question of the day. I actually need to create a separate post to discuss the ongoings of meetings. Do we need them, ok, we do need meetings, but do we need them to last all day. How about we put a daily or even better, a weekly cap on the number of meetings allowed! We can only talk about something for so long, and I urge everyone to pay attention to exactly how much time is actually spent on the topic the meeting was called for? I can recall meetings beginning with talks of recent vacations, the darnedest things one's kid is doing to the mega sale Target is having. When you look up 15 minutes has passed...I tell ya!

Wednesday - 2/18

Conference calls, conference calls and more conference calls!!!!!!!! Same as the day before, only over the phone. Hey - I got a great idea, let's have text and IM meetings, at least I can stay at my desk and multi-task on other projects. Oh - you don't think that will work. Ok!

Thursday - 2/19

Perks Anyone! Don't you just love a job with perks. Well - I do. And...actually, I've only had 3 jobs with perks - including the job I have now. Outlet Clothing store as a teen - can you say 75% employee discount! As a recruiter we always got free trinkets from job fairs - hey some companies really know how to spend dollars to attract applicants and fellow job fair attendants who just want free stuff - like myself and my coworker at the time! However, in my job now vendors like to spoil their clients with fine dining, delivered candy and fruit baskets and my personal favorite invites to sporting events where we enjoy the luxury of the "suite life"! So, to my indulgence, today was the day my coworker and myself - hob nobbed, networked and rooted for our favorite basketball player!

Friday - 2/20

All I got to say: Hallelujah, thank you Jesus!

Valentine's Day Follow Up

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Whether you spent it with friends, significant others or family, at work or at home. Its all about love - so as long as you felt loved I would deem it a great one!

You probably didn’t think I would have a valentine’s entry – but I do! With Valentine's day having fell a on Saturday this year, I totally missed out on seeing women receive flowers at the office this year. Husbands and boyfriends showing them how much they care with red roses in pretty vases. Last year, the receptionist stayed busy signing for deliveries pretty much all day. I wonder however, why can't we continue on the same tradition as we did in elementary school in the office. Our grocery store bought cartoon character valentine cards and pink and red decorated cupcakes our parents either baked or bought for our classes. We would then exchange our cards at a designated time and partake in the goodies that we all brought in. That was sooo fun!! Could this simply be my way to add more time fraternizing and less time working. Nooo - couldn't be.

Remember the kids who only made cards for the other kids that they liked? If you were mean or weird, sorry for ya - no "Tiny Toons" or "My Little Pony" valentine's card for you! Just think about those annoying people in your department that you would want to pass on writing up a card for. Over the years I've had great coworkers and bosses and some not so great ones - and now that I think about it, maybe this is a reason why we shouldn't translate this childhood activity to the office - you don't want your boss to remember the time you didn't give them a valentines card when its review and raise time! Nahhh - let's leave this for the kids!

Week in Review

Monday - February 2, 2009

Here we go again – you know how Mondays are. Everyone has their game face on “Good Morning”, "How are you", "How was your weekend", etc. These questions come out of our mouths effortlessly. We are all hyping ourselves up, not to get through the week but the day. It appears that the weekends fly by, but workdays drag on. Maybe we should try hyping ourselves up on Sunday nights, I'm gonna try that and let you know how it works out next week.

Tuesday - February 3, 2009

Dude – its only Tuesday. There are actually people who wish it was Friday already. How about you humor yourself until at least Wednesday - jeez.

Wednesday - February 4, 2009

Today was my nephew's birthday. This had nothing to do with work, but I did feel bad that I wasn't in town to help him celebrate his 10th! Anyway, just like in my undergrad days, I always dreaded group work. I mean, I am a team player but there was always someone who never listened to or cooperated with the group, didn't pull their weight, or just was clueless altogether. Needless to say these feelings also exist in the corporate world. My day was filled with multiple debates, whining teammates and the start of another wrinkle in my forehead. Ok - now altogether "Is it Friday, yet??"

Thursday - February 5, 2009

Today was my co-worker's birthday! To be quite honest not much work got done today – starting the day celebrating my coworker’s birthday with breakfast bagels and donuts, random birthday questions - what are your plans, how old are you, did you get that sweater for your birthday?? A couple hours later taking them to lunch and 1 hour after returning from lunch was cake-time! What a great break within the week! Whose birthday is next??

Friday - February 6, 2009

Get me outta here. Got no plans, just don't want to be here 1 minute past 5 o'clock. Fridays are days when I start packing up my desk at ummm say 4pm. I am working at a spotless desk, no papers, no folders, as soon as 5 hit, I was gone.

As you can see the highlight of this week was a birthday - and I'm hoping for another next week!

The Next Chapter...

In all candor - I probably should not be up to my sarcastic antics during this time of lay-offs and economic recessions - we all should be happy we even have jobs - whether we like them or not, right?!

As I personally witness massive reorganizations and job-restructuring as those viewing from the top like to call it - my feelings are bittersweet. From those who can finally leave their unfulfilling jobs with severance packages and buy-outs allowing them to reconnect with their childhood dreams and goals of opening up that bakery or custom auto shop or finally being able to release all that pent up literary frustration and becoming that romance novelist that you've always wanted to do, or simply just traveling the world or spending time with the grand kids - I cheer them on with excitement eagerly awaiting the roll out of their life's ACT 2 or even 3 or 4 - who knows.

Then there are those who lived to work, giving numerous years or maybe numerous months or hours, manual or mental labor, ideas and loyalty to a company all to find themselves without warning being asked to leave, with only a couple minutes to pack up their belongings and no time to inquire about COBRA benefits or unemployment.

I can remember being laid off from my first job out of graduate school - I was a victim of last one in - first one out. I was disappointed and caught off guard, but I can remember my mother telling me, as I was then a very green workforce novice, "this is what happens in the real world. You are experiencing this sooner than most in their working careers, you'll be fine." Fine - I thought, I just graduated grad school, I didn't defer my student loans, I don't have any income - Hel-lo!! I'm broke!

Just like a book is filled with many chapters - so are our experiences. So although hard to hear, embrace and try turning the page to the next chapter with optimism that these next pages will hold even bigger and brighter contents than the chapters before.