The Devil Made Me do It

Today at work my department won the 'Halloween theme' contest. We rocked!!!

Usually, our department never participates in these things. We are corporate, a non-income earning department, that the company obviously feels can accurately function, keep the auditors happy, send out wires (payoffs), balance all of the MANY accounts, & handle every/all other banking/accounting issues... with only 4 Indians & 2 Chiefs...

When the email came out about the Halloween contest, one person in my department said, "I want to do it. Let's dress-up as something scary" So I answered, "Well, if we're going to do it, let's do it to win, and we did! Our theme was "Accounting Hell".

Everyone in my department went 'Balls to the wall'. I work at a title company in the corporate accounting department...funny thing...all of the other departments were amazed at our creativity & attention to detail. We weren't. We work in the ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT ...ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS OUR MAIN CONCERN. When wiring funds, our hands hover over thousands & thousands of dollars...one wrong click & poof...money's gone!!

Anyhow, we won the contest. First time competing...and a win!! Then my 'Big' boss said, "Now I expect you to win every year."

I replied, "No, we already won. We don't have to prove anything. Haven't you ever heard of quitting while you're ahead?"

How could I get mad?

I know I have posted before about my daughter's homework; which means I have to do HOMEWORK! I hate having to do 5th grade homework. I already went to school & graduated. My parents NEVER helped me with my homework. They never even asked about it, because when I was growing up, it was a well known fact, that every day you do your homework without questions.

The subject my girl always asks for help on is Math. Now I am a math geek. It was always my best subject & even now I work in an accounting department. Even though math is my subject, I have found that the powers that be have decided to change the names of different mathematical components and calculating methods, though the calculations remain the same. Sometimes, it becomes such a challenge!

I have a friend who went to college to become a teacher. We met when our daughters went to the same pre-school. Last Wednesday afternoon, my friend spent 2 hours tutoring my girl focussing on Math. The over-all evaluation said that my girl was proficient in math & had a good grasp of mathematical concepts. So...

I was pissed. I told 'my girl' that I knew she was not being honest & that I wanted the truth about her homework!!. She admitted to me that she was pretending to need help with her math homework because she wanted to spend more time with me (ouch!)!!

How cute is that? And, now, after knowing the truth, how could I get mad?

IT'S NOT MY JOB

Creativity. That isn't a big word, but it has a big meaning. I have always thought of myself as creative, not crafty or artistic, but creative. This week was definitely an exception to my belief.

Every day at work we "huddle", which is a daily department gathering, that reinforces company policies, customer service and/or work ethics. The corporation sends out 'scripted' huddles every Thursday for the following week & we pick the one we want to lead. When I get my 'huddle', I start to 'Google' or 'Ask Jeeves' to get ideas on ways to spice up my meeting. I like to incorporate activities that are fun but will also reinforce the main subject. I always have found something, until this week.

Now the subjects of our huddles are repeated over and over & there are quite a few of them. This week my subject was about the do's & the don'ts of verbal & non-verbal communication. The no-no's of verbal for example, is saying, "It's not my department", "It's not my job"... the no-no's of body language, well, I think we all know what a huff, a puff & a storm away while stomping the feet means!!! I scoured & searched all over the net, but could not find anything that was interesting. Then I found this picture with the caption, "It's Not My Job"

Image courtesy Zilla the Younger

The picture is funny & great. The caption is right on the money. I think, how stupid is the person painting the white line on the road, move the damn branch, I would move the stupid branch. Everyone I work with thought the same thing. But in real life, people don't think that way. Most people would say, "It's not my job".

Where ever this picture came from, I guess they should be grateful that the white lines were painted on the roads at all, cause where I live, that branch would have caused the whole process to come to a screeching halt. The people painting would have to call their dispatcher, who would have to call the city, who would have to call the arborist department, who would have to go out there and move the tree limb... then, they would have to call back the people who paint the white line on the road...It would take a long time... AND IT'S NOT MY JOB

I am dramatic...

I can not draw. I actually flunked coloring within the lines in Kindergarden. My sis rocks at art. She can sketch, draw, outline, sculpt or mold. She is a great artist.

I rock performing art. I can dead-pan, to the max; ask anyone. I can cry on a whim. I can be demure or bubble with enthusiasm.

I am dramatic...

Destiny is destiny, right?

I know that things happen for a reason. I understand that... do I? Destiny is destiny, right? Pain & sorrow in this life is meant to be...right? What happens, happens, and what doesn't, doesn't...right?


In the middle of the night the phone rings...there's been a car accident...can't tell you the details...she's been bayflighted...come now. Everything happens for a reason. Yes, that's right!!

After the fog has lifted, there is a new beginning, a new day. A beautiful young girl with dark blonde hair and deep brown eyes. She will journey on a road that another has traveled before, walking with the same love & support as her big sister, Courtney. She embarks on a new adventure, she giggles as she skips along the sidewalk, she got the message, at least for now, thank the Lord....

Surfing The Net

I enjoy surfing the internet. I love to search & receive all of the info I ask for, and then some! It is amazing the amount of information you can attain on-line. Boy I love surfing the net!


"Google" is my life-line! I can Google anything, and get an awesome response. For instance, my company is having a contest for the best team Halloween costume/theme. So I Googled, 'Group Halloween Costume Themes". I found some really funny & creative ideas! I absolutely loved two of the ideas. I'm not sure if we will use them, but if not, the ideas I found are definitely inspiring & will help us create our own ideas for Halloween. Boy, I love surfing the net!

Maybe I'll try ASK.com

Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?

I really like that show, 'Are you Smarter Than A Fifth Grader'. I think Jeff Foxworthy is funny. When the show first aired I thought, "My God, this game is easy", until I watched it the 3rd night. Contestants were dropping like flies. All of the questions are familiar because, I once was in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th grade. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I actually remember every single thing I learned back then.

Now, my daughter is in 5th grade. Helping her with homework, other than math, usually requires me to scour her school books or search for the information on the internet.

It pains me to reveal...I am not always smarter than a fifth grader.