a glance over my shoulder

Ok, it wasn’t the best thing since sliced bread. It had a very slow start. Something about it hooked me. The “it” is this blog.

Things add up after a few years. You don’t notice when the increments are slow and small like inches on my waist (actually I’m trying to think of another word than waist because my waist is wasted). So I thought I would pause, review, and share a few historical bits of my blog history. Ok you, falling asleep over there. You are free to click out of here. I’m not trying to compare this to anything. People on youtube, twitter and other blogs get bigger numbers in a week than I have in years.

Just a quick glance over my shoulder.

take a glance you might spy a butterfly

Now at the end of my 10th BLOG year (what you don’t keep track of things in blog years?) I’m a bit amazed I’m still posting. Looking behind me, I don’t see many butterflies but I do notice a few followers. My posting frequency now is much lower than during the peak blog years around 2011 and 2012.

The first post was just a gif that a co-worker found. She had the nickname of DreamweaverDiva. The gif she found inspired the name of the blog. Back in 2006 our small (relative to others in the industry) group of 150 or so were planning big. Maybe too big? Events unfavorable to our big plans hit us hard. Our whole endeavor would be shut down. (much of this is covered in my “short background” page)

I came up with the idea of a blog for common support to help each other get through this lay-off. A few used it and many of that select group would meet for lunch. Before a year had passed I believe those few had stopped visiting the blog. I started exploring blogland and couldn’t decide if I was on the yellow brick road or chasing a rabbit down a hole. I probably should have just stopped and asked Alice.






Over the years I’ve enjoyed comments left by readers from Malaysia, Honduras, Canada, UK, Australia, Namibia, South Africa and California (really it should be it’s own country). The comments keep me going. Besides the important laugh or two, I’ve actually learned a few things while blogging. New words, new places and how common we can be with others in far away places.

On the topic of new words, I small note to myself. Too late (at least I think so) but now after I learned this new word, I want to grow up and become a tribologist because they are smooth and slick.

Oh and feed your blog.

my my I need a 2015 post

Once upon a time, I worked in cubeland, forced to labor in the cubicle maze, the cube farm.  It's been a few years since I sat in one of those incomplete boxes (BTW, there is no good excuse for my failure to post a 2015 post yet)

Do you or someone you love spend days with their heads down wondering if working within less than three inch walls of cheap fiber is all there is to a corporate career?

There is hope. You can escape. I did.

But if you are confined during your working hours to a cubicle, please take notes. The cubicle stories make for great blog posts and even movies. 

It’s worst when you have experienced the better office life. Similar to flying a first class upgrade and having to return in economy just-keep-still-in-your-seat class. 

Having done time in a factory, the USAF and odd jobs, an office job appealed to me. My corporate world engineering job started with a shared office and then eventually my own small office. These offices came with a window and a door. I remember smoking in my office but fortunately I later dropped that awful habit completely. You don’t find cubicles with doors and a few of them masquerade with walls shorter than a track hurdle.  Back before the start of the new millennium I was sitting in a cubicle getting the creativity sucked from me daily.

Speaking of sucking - I once had a cube neighbor who would suck his soup during lunch. Oh, I like soup but hearing this guy slurp his soup was disgusting. 

Overhearing funny or interesting comments happen. But no one wants a gopher head to pop over the wall to offer you some advice regarding a topic you were just talking about on the phone. I suspect the popularity of texting and email is partly due to cubicle life.

My best engineering job came with a private office (real glass window, door). Even then, since the doors are almost always left open I could overhear Phil-the-Greek in the next office. He was fit for a role in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. He knew the movie well and would laugh when I brought up scenes. 

Phil's arguing and tenacity in seeking justice for any wrong he thought came his way would have won him the Nobel Prize for Pain-in-the-ass if such award existed. He once (no lie) called the postmaster of United States to complain about a damaged package or late delivery. I think he settled with a staff member's offer of a few sheets of stamps.

One afternoon I heard him arguing away and I decided to visit another co-worker or maybe harass an executive assistant. Anyway I popped in the break room on my return trip to find him there snacking leftovers from a conference meeting (once I thought of trying to live off of conference meeting leftovers). I asked about who he was arguing with earlier on the phone. He told me and then told me that he left the call on hold while he got a snack (the break room was down the hall and around a corner from his office). Seeing my dumbfounded look, he told me that the A--holes leave him on hold all the time so he was just getting even. I thought I should get him to call my home cable company for me next time. 

If you have been working on the cube farm, I would love to hear about it. 
Note: cubicle heads/figures are from The Cubes.

back up the truck

I have a load of thoughts to unload. 

What? I have to sort these recyclable thoughts? 

Ok then just bring your little Radio Flyer wagon over here.

Once upon a time, I worked in cubeland, forced to labor in the cubicle maze, the cube farm. 

You or someone you love may spend days with their heads down wondering if these less than three inch walls of cheap fiber will be all there is to a corporate career. 

There is hope. You can escape. I did.

But if you are confined during your working hours to a cubicle, please take notes. The cubicle stories make for great blog posts and even movies. 

Today I read two posts that relate to the cube farm office. 
“When Interns Attack” by Pearl. 
“The Day of Three Burritos” by Dawn

It’s worst when you have experienced the better office life. Similar to flying a first class upgrade and having to return in economy just-keep-still-in-your-seat class. 

Having done time in a factory, the USAF and odd jobs, an office job appealed to me. My corporate world engineering job started with a shared office and then eventually my own small office. These offices came with a window and a door. I remember smoking in my office but fortunately I later dropped that awful habit completely. You don’t find cubicles with doors and a few of them masquerade with walls shorter than a track hurdle. But before the start of the new millennium I was sitting in a cubicle getting the creativity sucked from me daily.

Speaking of sucking - I once had a cube neighbor who would suck soup for lunch. Oh, I like soup but hearing this guy slurp his soup was disgusting. 

Overhearing funny or interesting comments happen. But no one wants a gopher head to pop over the wall to offer you some advice regarding a topic you were just talking about on the phone. I suspect the popularity of texting and email is partly due to cubicle life.

My best engineering job came with a private office (real window, door). Even then, since the doors are almost always left open I could overhear Phil-the-Greek in the next office. He was fit for a role in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. He would laugh when I brought up scenes from that movie. 

His arguing and tenacity in seeking justice for any wrong he thought came his way would have won him the Nobel Prize for Pain-in-the-ass if such award existed. He once (no lie) called the postmaster of United States to complain about a damaged package or late delivery. I think he settled with a staff person’s offer of sending him a few sheets of stamps.

One afternoon I heard him arguing away and I decided to visit another co-worker or maybe harass an executive assistant. Anyway I popped in the break room on my return trip to find him there snacking leftovers from a conference meeting. I asked about who he was arguing with on the phone. He told me and then told me that he left the call on hold while he got a snack (the break room was down the hall and around a corner from his office). Seeing my dumbfounded look, he told me that the A--holes leave him on hold all the time so he was just getting even. I thought I should get him to call my home cable company for me next time. 

If you have been working on the cube farm, I would love to hear about it. 
Note: cubicle heads/figures are from The Cubes.

who needs them

Dress up (Ladies I feel your pain), drag myself through sub-zero wind chill weather, just to spend time answering questions.

Press conference? No just a job interview.

I’ve been on both sides of the table for interviewing and not surprisingly I would rather be the interviewer. I assume it’s my age but who knows maybe certain interview questions were just a passing trend. I was NOT asked where I would see myself in five years. I wish I was asked. My answer would have included warm sand and drinks with little paper umbrellas.

I guess it went well. I talked to three different people. Having multiple interviewers is good idea because everyone has a slightly different approach.

Cut to the chase - Those words didn’t come out but the thought was hanging there in my brain. If I had a cartoon bubble over my head they could have read it. Cut to the chase and tell me if I’m even in the running for this job.

When I think about interviewing this true but very unusual story surfaces from my deep memory.

Many years ago our development was looking to expand. I was part of the interview team.  I felt a little excited to share my interview discovery with the others in the post interview discussion.

I remember telling the others that I was shocked by what I had learned. I don’t remember if any of the others heard the same information but I think at least one other did.

The shocking revelation from the interview - this guy lived with a wolf. This was Illinois and I don’t think we even had wolves in the wild at the time. It could have been that all the wolves had taken in by guys like this guy. One man, one apartment, one wolf.

It was a deciding factor for me. Reject this one.  This was an engineering group, not a zoo. I don’t know if PETA was even around back then but they would not have approved.

Strange thing happened at the end of the hiring discussion. Wolf man was hired.

He lasted a few months but surprise, surprise he didn’t seem to get along with others in the group. It wasn’t looking too good for wolf man as the year ending.

Then on Christmas Eve, I received the strangest call. Wolf man calls me (before cellphones) while I was at my mother’s house. He has tripped the security alarm at the office. Why was he even at the office on Christmas Eve? I don’t know maybe wolves don’t celebrate Christmas. I had to call my boss who being closer was able to go over and reset the alarm.

A few weeks later wolf man was fired. Bad wolf. Dumb choice.

Oh, they didn't ask if I lived with a wolf but I recommend adding that one to your list of questions.

grateful they take our calls

Back in July 2009, I found this customer revenge story. It’s very interesting and you might find yourself singing along to the song from it. (click over to my past post on it for more)

But that’s just the background for this post.  The song writer was Canadian musician Dave Carroll.  Joining his fan email list lead to today’s post.

Today I found this announcement about a new song from Dave in my inbox.

It’s titled “Everyday Heroes”.   I included the very moving music video below.  It really makes me grateful for all the first responders ready to help us.  Knowing that some are volunteers (Dave was a volunteer fireman in the past) reinforces my belief that the vast majority of people are good.  Check out his site 911song.com.

Thanks and God Bless to all the everyday heroes.

another circus         solar info link

   

bet you would like one

I like robots.

I suspect many people don't share the same amazement I do watching them.

Trying to control movement and understanding the movement of other objects is not an easy task.  Humans and many other animals have developed skills that are difficult for a chunk of machinery to perform.

After you watch this clip (no sound in it) I bet many of you would like to own this robot. I wish I had developed this.

solar info link

protesting style

Bras and panties fly - sounds interesting.

I think women protest better than men. They seem more creative.

The Chicago Tribune had this picture of protesters in the Philippines in their week in photos.

The hundreds of protesters walked out of their Manila factory after a deadlock in negotiations for better wages and other benefits.

Here's another picture from the Wall Street Journal site.