RE: Christmas Lunch Program
It's true, there is no holiday program* for today's employee lunch. So fear not, you may eat your lunch in "peace". You will not be forced into any ritualistic merriment or obligatory socialization. However, I must tell you that I am disappointed...I had prepared a silly game of all “NEW words learned in 2009” and had put together a town version of the “Night before Christmas…and all through the parks, not a person was stirring, not even Don Clark…”
Even with the “singing ban" of '08, I thought I would press on – singing would surely make a comeback? Unfortunately, all hope was lost when I heard “there isn’t going to be any of that fun stuff this year, is there?”.
No. No, sadly, no fun stuff.
I don’t want to inconvenience anyone…once a year…for 15 minutes…to have some fun…especially this time of year. *(However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, if we are so lucky, there is a rumor that the TM might play a musical ditty from his banjo – but it wasn’t finalized – so I guess you will just have to show up to find out :)
As for those who like to walk on the wild side of fun, you are invited to have lunch with me tomorrow (or anyday for that matter) - TBD. Stay "tuned" - ha ha ha!~
RE: NEW! Sign in Restrooms:
It's so funny when you see a sign that points out something obvious, like "slippery when wet", or "do not pick up hitchhikers", or my favorite "Danger: high voltage, do not touch". You had me at "Danger".
Somethimes you even think to yourself - "do they even need a sign?". That is what I thought when I saw the newly installed signs in the restrooms: Employees must wash hands before returning to work. Then someone placed a handwritten post-it next to the one in the women's restroom that said "But we're not food handlers".
Hmmmm, I guess they do need a sign after all. I wish that person would wear one, so we know who to avoid!
RE: Capitol Christmas Tree Event
I heard a rumor that it was a HUGE sucess? Granted I started it and, I would be correct! It was a wonderfully unique and historic event that we were lucky to be invited to partake in. Yes, it was done at no cost - for my financially fiscal friends - you may put your mind at ease that the band was donated by Jim May Productions and Target sponsored the events refreshments. So except for Cassies' and my time - which let’s face it, is priceless! That said, I also owe a HUGE thank you to Judy Becker, Steve Sikorski and Terri Larson, who went above and beyond to assist with this project. Having happily agreed to have the tree stopping here, I was blissfully unaware of the impact on the other departments – streets, code, engineering, etc. So thank you for the bottom of my tree!
I hope this event was the start of an economic turnaround in town! Go shopping!!
The best part was getting the tree (a 70 foot "wide-load" trailer)out of the Target parking lot, I heard they had to tip the tree upright to get it out of here, ha ha ha.
Leave No Child Inside
Just another beautiful day!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Everyone Mind Their Own Budget, Please
Vicious rumors are swarming my office (like Killer Bees, stinging the closest victims) , mostly about budgets – Who is spending what, what are they spending it on? Did they overspend? Did they have to spend that much? They probably didn’t go through all the proper procedures in purchasing. Did they “shop around”? They probably didn’t get three quotes, which means they just went out and bought the most expensive one! Don’t they know were on a budget?!?
But some of the rumors are targeting people's work and getting kind of personal; do they have enough work to do, did they leave early, did they get back from lunch late, did they get to work late, did they make a personal erand, are they on the internet, are they goofing off, did I hear someone laugh? (Godforbid someone have fun at work or enjoy themselves) Thanks, I have a mother and a supervisor and a department director!
Let the rant begin!
Titled: The Parks Department Spent All The Money?
APRIL FOOLS!
That's what I thought yesterday when someone told me that was a RUMOR going around after yesterdays director/budget meeting. I said "Seriously? No one is silly (stupid) enough to believe that? You have to be joking?" - Considering the spending Gestapo and MUNIS make it nearly impossible to spend anything - yet alone for "parks to overspend their budget". I have news for you, for those of fueling rumors - NOT HELPING MORAL! Remember all budgeted items are approved, by coordinators, by supervisors, by directors, by accounting, by council, by town manager… there is no need for any more budget police – I doubt you are uncovering something that nobody knew about. And, there is no reason for anyone to be “upset” at another departments costs of operating. Because ultimately – “operating”, means serving the public to the best of our abilities and resources.
Furthermore, we are all working for the same mission – essentially we are all on the same team. We need to be more considerate of each other, to stay human. Some of the “medaling” that is going on, is downright disturbing work. I personally can’t believe how cruel we’ve become. Nit picky and nosey. For instance, consider that if someone comes in a little late or leaves a little early – that since they worked over the weekend; worked the last 14 days in a row; stayed late and worked through lunch this week; or attended the last 15 council and commission meetings; that they might have to cut out early to tend to their neglected families, pets or homes… or grab a card for a loved one… pick up medicine… I don’t know, life happens. Don’t miss it and don’t stop other from living it. Take a message and move on. Everyone feels abused occasionally, hourly or salary—we’ve ALL has to put in the OT: and oh yeah - no one is getting raises (going on year three).
1) If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!
2) If you change your perspective, your perspective changes. And...
3) You can only make happy people, happy.
There is work to be done, if not there are others to help. So I hope we can all remain focused on doing our OWN jobs to the best of abilities and not about the lives of others. Worry about yourself, my mom use to say - it may reduce the stress your life.
But some of the rumors are targeting people's work and getting kind of personal; do they have enough work to do, did they leave early, did they get back from lunch late, did they get to work late, did they make a personal erand, are they on the internet, are they goofing off, did I hear someone laugh? (Godforbid someone have fun at work or enjoy themselves) Thanks, I have a mother and a supervisor and a department director!
Let the rant begin!
Titled: The Parks Department Spent All The Money?
APRIL FOOLS!
That's what I thought yesterday when someone told me that was a RUMOR going around after yesterdays director/budget meeting. I said "Seriously? No one is silly (stupid) enough to believe that? You have to be joking?" - Considering the spending Gestapo and MUNIS make it nearly impossible to spend anything - yet alone for "parks to overspend their budget". I have news for you, for those of fueling rumors - NOT HELPING MORAL! Remember all budgeted items are approved, by coordinators, by supervisors, by directors, by accounting, by council, by town manager… there is no need for any more budget police – I doubt you are uncovering something that nobody knew about. And, there is no reason for anyone to be “upset” at another departments costs of operating. Because ultimately – “operating”, means serving the public to the best of our abilities and resources.
Furthermore, we are all working for the same mission – essentially we are all on the same team. We need to be more considerate of each other, to stay human. Some of the “medaling” that is going on, is downright disturbing work. I personally can’t believe how cruel we’ve become. Nit picky and nosey. For instance, consider that if someone comes in a little late or leaves a little early – that since they worked over the weekend; worked the last 14 days in a row; stayed late and worked through lunch this week; or attended the last 15 council and commission meetings; that they might have to cut out early to tend to their neglected families, pets or homes… or grab a card for a loved one… pick up medicine… I don’t know, life happens. Don’t miss it and don’t stop other from living it. Take a message and move on. Everyone feels abused occasionally, hourly or salary—we’ve ALL has to put in the OT: and oh yeah - no one is getting raises (going on year three).
1) If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!
2) If you change your perspective, your perspective changes. And...
3) You can only make happy people, happy.
There is work to be done, if not there are others to help. So I hope we can all remain focused on doing our OWN jobs to the best of abilities and not about the lives of others. Worry about yourself, my mom use to say - it may reduce the stress your life.
Monday, March 22, 2010
A Brides REVENGE on her Bridesmaids?
WARNING: This dress will self destruct in T-minus 30 seconds!
google images "wasabi"
NOTE: Don't "Lady-Hate" and NEVER make your "friends" wear this color! This is a crime against women; wait it's so ugly, it's a crime against weddings! It should be out lawed! Why is that fabric color even made? How do you order this color anyway?
Yes, I am thinking of a Sushi theme and the dresses are going to be "wasabi"
google images "wasabi"The "Hot Seat" - risky business donations
Today someone bought and donated park benches to our department, to be used as “memorial benches”. Benches people buy in memory of someone. We have a memorial tree and bench program. They are placed in one of our parks and a small plaque commemorates the person(s). But our risk management does not allow us to accept them without proper authorization. Because they are placed in our parks, they have to meet strict structural standards. Such as meeting a certain weight tolerance, being made of only certain materials, they must be able to connect to the foundation in a certain way, and they must be fire resistant and retardant – Thus, brings me to the conversation I overheard in my cubical, quote “well, we don't know what they are made of, we do not know if they are just going to catch on fire”. I guess that gives NEW meaning to “being in the hot seat”.
When I heard that, I have not laughed that hard in a long time, and it was hard to get serious again. It's a shame that wasn't caught on tape!
When I heard that, I have not laughed that hard in a long time, and it was hard to get serious again. It's a shame that wasn't caught on tape!
I HATE getting political, but...
AZ PROP 100-
YES or NO?
YES says - YES we NEED money for our schools, our schools are in crisis and the outlook is grim if we don't pass this tax, we'll have nothing. We can't do anything with any less.
NO says - NO, NO new taxes! Stop taxing the poor to give to the rich. There has never been a "temporary tax" in AZ, despite them starting out that way - they become long term and still the government finds a way to spend that money too!
What do I say? I agree that our state is in crisis, and I agree we need more money to go to parks, recreation, school age programs, schools, education, ect. Heck, I work in government, so this is the sort of thing I should support. But, I am also a tax payer. The problem is the people who write these taxes and proposals. They will find a way to write in, or they are forced to write in these "loop holes" for unrepresented circumstances. That allow politicians to take from the that "ear marked" money, and you guessed it, put it in the general fund. Or put it wherever the self propelling politician decides he needs it! NO MORE TAXES!!! Enough is enough! Balance what you have and stop overspending, and STOP pulling funds from important programs. I want to say NO on prop 100 - becuase I want them to start spending a different way and be held responsible! BUT, I also know a few teachers who will could be laid off and even more programs cut if it doesn't pass... so I will voting YES... this time.
http://yeson100.com/blog/post/they-get-it--they-really-get-it?action=comment
YES or NO?
YES says - YES we NEED money for our schools, our schools are in crisis and the outlook is grim if we don't pass this tax, we'll have nothing. We can't do anything with any less.
NO says - NO, NO new taxes! Stop taxing the poor to give to the rich. There has never been a "temporary tax" in AZ, despite them starting out that way - they become long term and still the government finds a way to spend that money too!
What do I say? I agree that our state is in crisis, and I agree we need more money to go to parks, recreation, school age programs, schools, education, ect. Heck, I work in government, so this is the sort of thing I should support. But, I am also a tax payer. The problem is the people who write these taxes and proposals. They will find a way to write in, or they are forced to write in these "loop holes" for unrepresented circumstances. That allow politicians to take from the that "ear marked" money, and you guessed it, put it in the general fund. Or put it wherever the self propelling politician decides he needs it! NO MORE TAXES!!! Enough is enough! Balance what you have and stop overspending, and STOP pulling funds from important programs. I want to say NO on prop 100 - becuase I want them to start spending a different way and be held responsible! BUT, I also know a few teachers who will could be laid off and even more programs cut if it doesn't pass... so I will voting YES... this time.
http://yeson100.com/blog/post/they-get-it--they-really-get-it?action=comment
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A Soda Tax?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-florez/a-day-of-judgment-for-big_b_482324.html
Well as a Parks and Recreational professional myself, and an active adult person, I have both participated and planned programs that promote health, exercise, outdoor activity and fight obesity. I too, plan or try to plan programs that could potentially fight childhood obesity - however that funding is going away. After school "open gyms" are rare, if not obsolete in some community in AZ, and those help with youth crime rates too. After school programs, pools, parks, facilities for recreation are ALL cutting programs, staff, hours and/or worse closing! So, yes, if a soda tax supported parks and recreation, I could support a small tax. HOWEVER, don't be fooled, I work in government, I see where taxes go and where they don't go! I fear politicians will see this tax as another pay day - they will be so crafty as to write in their own self sustaining loop holes that allow them to pull the funding from parks and recreation whenever they feel like it. Much like they have with State Parks Funding, Heritage Funds, Arts and Cultural Funds, etc. So I proceed with caution!! They may use this "front" of helping childhood obesity and long term health care programs to successfully doop the public into funding their financial problems...again.
Well as a Parks and Recreational professional myself, and an active adult person, I have both participated and planned programs that promote health, exercise, outdoor activity and fight obesity. I too, plan or try to plan programs that could potentially fight childhood obesity - however that funding is going away. After school "open gyms" are rare, if not obsolete in some community in AZ, and those help with youth crime rates too. After school programs, pools, parks, facilities for recreation are ALL cutting programs, staff, hours and/or worse closing! So, yes, if a soda tax supported parks and recreation, I could support a small tax. HOWEVER, don't be fooled, I work in government, I see where taxes go and where they don't go! I fear politicians will see this tax as another pay day - they will be so crafty as to write in their own self sustaining loop holes that allow them to pull the funding from parks and recreation whenever they feel like it. Much like they have with State Parks Funding, Heritage Funds, Arts and Cultural Funds, etc. So I proceed with caution!! They may use this "front" of helping childhood obesity and long term health care programs to successfully doop the public into funding their financial problems...again.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Groovy Baby
I love technology. I made this at ImageChef.com, a web page that lets you design and customize your own photos, collages or photo templates! Some designs are kinda cheesy, but some are great for fun photos like this.
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