A soggy start to February

It is February 1st and an extremely wet one, I might add! It started out as freezing rain early this morning but the temps have risen so now it is just plain rain – pouring down, soggy, drenching rain! While it isn’t my favorite type of weather, it is necessary.

We received a notice from our water company just yesterday explaining the dire situation the reservoir is in despite the fact it is in the middle of winter and no one is thinking about water conservation. Apparently, we need 28 inches of water though to fill the reservoir back up and there is not much hope that will occur before summer rolls around. I do believe today’s waterfall though will bring that number down just a tad… or more.

Anyway, so onto the national news of the day – Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo, huh?!? Guess they decided to beat Google to it and provide some leverage in the playing field. Yahoo rejected their first offer a while back but I guess given Yahoo’s recent performance, they are giving this 2nd offer more than a cursory glance. It will be interesting to see what happens.

On a personal bummer note, I had bought some stock a few years back based on a guru’s analysis that I read in a money magazine. I bought it twice for an average price of $6 a share. Earlier this year, I had to sell it to meet some financial obligations. I made a profit; however, I have been getting Yahoo notices for the past two weeks that it has skyrocketed well beyond what I sold it for! The guru was right but unfortunately, my needs required me to sell it before it reached its full potential. So, while I didn’t totally lose out, it’s still a bummer! It’s been exciting to see that my first endeavor in the stock market was successful though.

So, I am out of the cubicle farm today but back on Monday… lots of applications to sort through for a project we support. Should be fun!

Until then, stay soggy!

The Cubicle Farm Police

Did you know that if you thumbtack all of your important documents and information onto your cubicle walls that it could potentially damage the “insulation” that supposedly soundproofs your cubicle? Baloney! As mentioned in a previous entry, I have heard so many conversations swirling around my cube, I could write a book on em. Today, one of the conversations had me laughing – they had no idea I could hear them! So, obviously, my cubicle (and theirs) is not soundproof.

A month or so ago, a memo went out that we were to remove all documents and papers from our cube walls because the holes were ruining the soundproof insulation they were made with. I ignored the memo because I felt it to be somewhat high-schoolish and Big Brotherish. The nature of a cubicle farm is that nothing is very secret. Walls are what provide privacy - cubicle walls do not count! So, to think that my 10 thumbtacks are going to damage the ozone layer of my cubicle walls is just ridiculous! Hence, my snubbing of the memo.

Well, snubbers of memos are apparently checked up on by the Cubicle Farm Police. A few days later, I arrived at work to find all of the things that had been so neatly hung on the cubicle walls with my colorful thumbtacks the night before, were stacked on my desk. I was infuriated! How dare someone come into my personal space just to see if I had “toed the line.” We are NOT in high school – we are adults and I am sure we all understand that Cubicle Creators cannot possibly manufacture a true soundproof cube with 3/4 walls. I can still hear everything even though the thumbtacks are out and the “wounds” they made in the soundproof walls are “healed” (so, technically, I shouldn’t be able to hear anything, right?) 

Think about it – soundwaves in an open space carry… so my conclusion is that it is actually scientifically impossible to create a soundproof cube.  Guess it’s time to send my scientific findings to the Cube Farm Police so they can give up their catty cause.

I am writing from my Cube!

This is the first time in a loooooong time that I have actually written in my blog from my Cube. I just finished my bowl of Cheerios and have put out a few fires today.

My boss is away on an executive staff retreat that she doesn’t want to be at. We had a few laughs on the phone about how negative the meeting was going to be. That is just how our organization operates. The rest of the world may be able to accomplish something but for some reason, we just can’t. It’s impossible. Apparently, everyone else who can do whatever it is we can’t is just living an anomaly. It definitely cannot be done!

Anyway, our conversation reminded me of this awesome website which sells merchandise parodying the Successories motivational merchandise company.  It is called Despair Inc. Check out the one on Tradition – that describes our organization to a ‘T’. This is the first time I’ve worked at a place where some of Despair’s products could actually be displayed proudly in the halls. Sad, but true.

I was laughing so hard as I perused their site this morning. I am in no way affiliated with them – just want to pass the laughter on.

Well, I have some work to do. Invoices to submit for payment, emails to write, questions to get answered – all in the pursuit of a paycheck.

Take care – don’t despair!

Short Work Weeks… just like I like em’

I have now completed my work week in my lovely cubicle thanks to a part-time schedule and the fact that New Years landed on Tuesday and I had off on New Years Eve as well. So… let’s see, I think I was in my cubicle a grand total of 10.5 hours. Hhhmmm… just like I like it!

Nothing much happened – as you can imagine. I feel like I have been glued to my computer though as I have been blogging and working on some sites. I am ready for a break!

I read an article from the October 2007 issue of Incentive that telecommuting is on the rise. Oh, to be in that number… according to the article, it may only be a few years down the road before that is a viable option. A recent survey indicated that 50% of the respondents feel that telecommuting will be the norm in 5 years. It is beneficial for both employees and employers because of cost reductions in rent and equipment costs and less absenteeism with more productivity. It would seem that the opposite would happen but companies already implementing the telecommuting option are proving otherwise.

Check out the article – it has some great news for us Cubicle Dwellers… We may have to change the blog to Armchair Dweller before long…

Enjoy – and dream!

From Prison to a Cubicle

Apparently, prisoners have access to typewriters in Texas. I have never been in a prison but I have heard they have quite the amenities now. I am sure it depends on the security level as well. Anyway, I landed back in my cubicle farm this morning after a wonderful vacation. I sorted through the pile of mail and sifted through the gazillion emails I had waiting for me. Okay, only 100+…

Once I returned my focus to the mail to actually do something with it, I noticed that one of the envelopes was typed. I removed the page and began reading an interesting note. The writer was requesting an information kit on our organization and how could his family donate to us since we sounded like a worthwhile endeavor? Hhhmmm… it all seemed a bit odd. Especially that someone had used a typewriter in this accelerated age of technology. Being the dutiful admin that I am though, I gathered the information packet together and was prepared to send it out. Something wasn’t right though and I decided to do a search on the address to see what I could see. Part of the address seemed like a radio station as it had ”1400 FM” included. I stared in amazement when I saw an entire page or more of elements of the address included. It all started sinking in when I clicked on one of the links and the Texas Dept of Criminal Justice came up! Whoa! I quickly took the brochures and information out of the envelope I had prepared and threw it along with the grateful letter I had composed into the trash can. 

Lesson learned: always follow your gut instinct. I KNEW something wasn’t right about receiving a hand-typed letter in 2008.

 Knowing the organization I work for, I can only imagine what this guy is doing time for and that makes me sick… I felt I needed to wash my hands afterwards.

 So, on that note, have a lovely day and be wary of hand-typed notes in the mailbox near you…