The sugary sweet aroma of honeysuckle heavy in the air; late afternoon sunlight flickering through shifting leaves and branches; shimmering walls of heat rising from asphalt roadways; house cats sprawled lazily beneath blooming shrubs; these are the things that announce summer more surely than any calendar.
Couples strolling lazily hand in hand; chains of bicyclists pedaling along the shoulders of highways; sturdy shoes replaced by sandals and flip-flops; children licking streams of melting ice cream from tapering cones; these are sights that announce summer more surely than any weather report.
Welcome to the glorious days of summer.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Memorial Thanks
Memorial Day weekend - the unofficial start of summer when thousands of Americans hit the highways and bi-ways on their way to barbecues, beaches, mountains, and campgrounds.
If you are one of those on the go and find yourself swinging into a retail establishment be sure to thank the person who rings up your sale, serves your food, or otherwise keeps your holiday happy. They're missing out on the three day weekend you're enjoying, but an expression of gratitude will brighten their day.
And once you give your thanks there, take the time of offer up thanks to those who gave up far more than a three day weekend so that you can enjoy not only your weekend but your freedom.
Barbecues and family gatherings are an important part of of our lives, but let's not lose sight of the true reason for this holiday - remembering those who keep us safe. If you know or meet someone in the armed forces be sure to take the time to thank them. And if you know someone who has lost a part of their family to peace keeping, include them in your plans.
If you are one of those on the go and find yourself swinging into a retail establishment be sure to thank the person who rings up your sale, serves your food, or otherwise keeps your holiday happy. They're missing out on the three day weekend you're enjoying, but an expression of gratitude will brighten their day.
And once you give your thanks there, take the time of offer up thanks to those who gave up far more than a three day weekend so that you can enjoy not only your weekend but your freedom.
Barbecues and family gatherings are an important part of of our lives, but let's not lose sight of the true reason for this holiday - remembering those who keep us safe. If you know or meet someone in the armed forces be sure to take the time to thank them. And if you know someone who has lost a part of their family to peace keeping, include them in your plans.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Lyrical Sky
There weren't any tangerine trees and while the sky wasn't marmalade it certainly had a kaleidoscope appearance.
Come to think of it, this morning's sky looked like a cotton candy candy machine had exploded and all the fluff had been stained by Easter egg dye.
Couple the colorful dawn with my sitting on a patio next to the fountain and it's no surprise I was looking for cellophane flowers.
Wishing everyone many mornings of skies filled with diamonds.
Come to think of it, this morning's sky looked like a cotton candy candy machine had exploded and all the fluff had been stained by Easter egg dye.
Couple the colorful dawn with my sitting on a patio next to the fountain and it's no surprise I was looking for cellophane flowers.
Wishing everyone many mornings of skies filled with diamonds.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tracking the Miles
Distance measures have been on my mind today.
It started when I reset the odometer in my car to track the mileage to the new job and happened to notice that from my driveway to the first traffic light was exactly one-and-a-half miles. In a car it had taken virtually no time to cover the distance.
But then I thought back to being a kid when I and my friends would set off on summertime explorations. Back then the thought of covering a mile meant serious planning: getting Mom to pack a lunch, filling a canteen with water, and stuffing a half dozen pieces of Bazooka bubblegum into the pockets of my jeans. But then that mile usually included skipping stones over the wide part of the creek and catching water spiders and tadpoles.
After dinner this evening Motivated Mom and I resurrected our tradition of an evening walk. By my estimation we covered nearly three miles and made the round trip without so much as a bottle of water let alone a backpack and a tent. Of course we were freshly fed.
It started when I reset the odometer in my car to track the mileage to the new job and happened to notice that from my driveway to the first traffic light was exactly one-and-a-half miles. In a car it had taken virtually no time to cover the distance.
But then I thought back to being a kid when I and my friends would set off on summertime explorations. Back then the thought of covering a mile meant serious planning: getting Mom to pack a lunch, filling a canteen with water, and stuffing a half dozen pieces of Bazooka bubblegum into the pockets of my jeans. But then that mile usually included skipping stones over the wide part of the creek and catching water spiders and tadpoles.
After dinner this evening Motivated Mom and I resurrected our tradition of an evening walk. By my estimation we covered nearly three miles and made the round trip without so much as a bottle of water let alone a backpack and a tent. Of course we were freshly fed.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Strategy of Development
I started a new job today and some folks found it odd that I didn't immediately identify a sweeping plan of action.
In earlier days I would have felt it important to make a statement right from the beginning - which I guess is what folks were expecting from me today. But I've come to realize that starting a new job is like starting a new game of chess - strategy is everything.
Workplace strategy goes far beyond randomly setting goals. Personalities, resources, and objectives need to be analyzed and weighed. Departmental success comes from nurturing a unified front rather than dragging along a ragtag unit.
My responsibility lies in matching the right team members to the critical tasks and providing the right tools. If I do my job well, everyone in our department will be well on their way to a common outcome long before I make any pronouncements.
In earlier days I would have felt it important to make a statement right from the beginning - which I guess is what folks were expecting from me today. But I've come to realize that starting a new job is like starting a new game of chess - strategy is everything.
Workplace strategy goes far beyond randomly setting goals. Personalities, resources, and objectives need to be analyzed and weighed. Departmental success comes from nurturing a unified front rather than dragging along a ragtag unit.
My responsibility lies in matching the right team members to the critical tasks and providing the right tools. If I do my job well, everyone in our department will be well on their way to a common outcome long before I make any pronouncements.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Contemplating Movement
Sitting with front paws resting on the piece of aluminum trim where carpet meets linoleum, the cat was as immobile as the Sphinx - except for its eyes which were following the progress of a small insect creeping across the carpet.
Watching the cat's eyeballs shift from one side of almond slits to the other, I wondered if the cat really thought the tiny bug would notice if the cat turned its head.
From the bug's standpoint, it would be like you or I walking through the Museum of Natural History, passing the skeletal feet of Tyrannosaurus Rex and noticing the skull move high overhead. Unless we happened to be looking up at exactly the right moment, we'd never know.
Just when I thought the insect would reach the safety of a narrow space under the baseboard, the cat pounced and the bug disappeared. The next thing I knew the cat was licking its chops.
I think I'll keep my gaze elevated the next time I visit a museum.
Watching the cat's eyeballs shift from one side of almond slits to the other, I wondered if the cat really thought the tiny bug would notice if the cat turned its head.
From the bug's standpoint, it would be like you or I walking through the Museum of Natural History, passing the skeletal feet of Tyrannosaurus Rex and noticing the skull move high overhead. Unless we happened to be looking up at exactly the right moment, we'd never know.
Just when I thought the insect would reach the safety of a narrow space under the baseboard, the cat pounced and the bug disappeared. The next thing I knew the cat was licking its chops.
I think I'll keep my gaze elevated the next time I visit a museum.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Oh, THAT Elopement
My job responsibilities sometimes take me into hospitals. I was in just such a facility the other day and while waiting for a meeting to start was reviewing the postings on the bulletin board.
Like bulletin boards everywhere, this one had it's share of memos that were outdated by several years, pages with curled corners, and an evacuation plan obscured by an announcement of an upcoming luncheon. What drew my attention was a color coded placard explaining "codes" that might be transmitted over the intercom system. I was familiar with Code Blue from television shows and movies I've seen; but Code Orange was a new one for me.
The poster explained that Code Orange signified Elopement. Well, okay, it was a long term care facility so I figured it was conceivable that a couple of patients could develop a special interest in each other and run off to get married - but did that happen often enough that a special Code was required?
Catching the eye of the receptionist I asked about the whole marriage scenario. Giving me a look that parents and teachers reserve for kids who just don't get the obvious, the receptionist explained. Sir, we are a mental health facility. Patients sometimes wander off - usually without realizing they have. We refer to those unexpected disappearances as elopements.
Oh. No wonder foreigners have so much trouble learning the English language. After fifty-two years I'm still trying to figure it out.
Like bulletin boards everywhere, this one had it's share of memos that were outdated by several years, pages with curled corners, and an evacuation plan obscured by an announcement of an upcoming luncheon. What drew my attention was a color coded placard explaining "codes" that might be transmitted over the intercom system. I was familiar with Code Blue from television shows and movies I've seen; but Code Orange was a new one for me.
The poster explained that Code Orange signified Elopement. Well, okay, it was a long term care facility so I figured it was conceivable that a couple of patients could develop a special interest in each other and run off to get married - but did that happen often enough that a special Code was required?
Catching the eye of the receptionist I asked about the whole marriage scenario. Giving me a look that parents and teachers reserve for kids who just don't get the obvious, the receptionist explained. Sir, we are a mental health facility. Patients sometimes wander off - usually without realizing they have. We refer to those unexpected disappearances as elopements.
Oh. No wonder foreigners have so much trouble learning the English language. After fifty-two years I'm still trying to figure it out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)