Tornado Alley

Well here we go again. In less than 10 days, central Oklahoma is "high risk" for tornados. The people at work are very excited and have cleared the building in order to chase for fun. Hopefully they all remember my rules that they are on their own and not officially at work. I know they will be close because the hotel reservation for the big experiment is nearby. Not a good sign for us I'm afraid.

Just say NO!

I really don't like it when people don't take my no as an answer. I had a young lady in my office today not once, but twice, insisting that I convert her position to something that she couldn't be. She obviously did not take my no as an answer that she liked. Listen honey, you applied for one type of position. If you didn't want that, don't apply for the job. Solves that problem.

Moral of the story...don't get on my bad side and don't make me say no more than once. I hate that.

Stress and Sanity

Ever have one of those days that you think stress is going to kill you? One of those weeks? How about a month or year's worth? I think I'm living in the stress world and I can't make the ride stop. I took a "sanity" day off from work and thought it helped. Then I return to work and immediately stress takes over. How have I let this happen? I once had a boss who said that no decision I'm making is life or death so stop worrying about it. A wise man.

The Importance of Sleep

Sleep is overrated. Really. Afterall, we spend all day trying to stay awake and then at night we try to fall asleep and we end up staying awake too much. So the next day sleep tries to take over and you have to fight it. Billions of dollars are wasted on sleep medicine, sleep aides, nose strips, adjustable beds. I think what we all need is a clear conscience, no stress, and a sense of peace.

Which is why I'm awake two hours past when I should be asleep. No peace, too much stress and a conscience that feels like its missing something.

Twas the Night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, it was quiet. I mean I'm the only one up enjoying the quiet. Amazing to look at the tree with all the presents and know that in 12 hours it will all be gone. I've been cooking all day and staying warm while it has been snowing, yes snowing, outside. We set a record for snow in one day in Oklahoma and will definitely have a white Christmas. I haven't had one of those in 30+ years. The drifts are huge, we can't get out of the house, let alone the neighborhood. ALL of the interstates in the state were closed down. I don't think that has ever happened even in the ice storms we've had. It looks pretty but the house has been shaking with the wind blowing 50 mph. You know that Oklahoma's weather has it all and we certainly prove that point all the time.

Thanksgiving Turkey

The local newspaper had a story about the inmates in the county jail would not be receiving turkey dinners on Thanksgiving due to budget cuts. It seemed to state that people would be outraged at this. I for one applaud the sheriff for not giving them the dinner that would cost about $2,000. They have already laid off 20 employees. And since when did being incarcerated mean that you get to enjoy turkey dinner. I thought the point of jail was to deprive people of things so they wouldn't commit crimes. Did I miss something in civics class?

United Way Day of Caring

Tomorrow is the Day of Caring here in Norman where businesses donate their staff's time to go to work at non-profit organizations. I've done this now seven years. Some years have been easy and we've been done by noon. I don't like those years. One year I packaged boxes of donations for Hurricane Katrina at the Salvation Army and got very proficient at shrinkwrapping pallets. This year we are winterizing Health for Friends which is a local organization that provides free and reduced health care to people without insurance. We've had rain now for a week and there is a chance for it tomorrow so this could become a very muddy event.