Tuesday, June 21, 2011
What Once Was Lost, Now Is Found
Last month I wrote about my coworker who lost his wedding ring after being married for 3 days. Well, good news. He has it back. He said a couple of weeks ago someone found it in the parking lot. She asked the workers at the business if anyone had reported losing a ring. They told her that someone had. The finder would not leave the ring with them. Instead, she took my coworker's information and contacted him directly to make sure he received it. It has a few scrapes, but it looks pretty good.
Never Is A Long Time
Whenever you say that you'd never do something, you are saying a lot. You are stating that you have evaluated a nearly infinite range of scenarios and that there are no circumstances under which you would perform the action in question. It's likely then that we should be careful of such utterances. Let me give you two examples from coworkers, both regarding the state of matrimony.
Several years ago my coworker had reached the conclusion that her 2nd marriage was over. I can still take you to the exact spot where that day she exclaimed "I'm never getting married again!". I said something like "Are you sure?" knowing full well this was unlikely as she was only in her 40s. She unequivocally stated that she was never marrying again. Guess what she did within a couple years? Yep, got married for the 3rd time.
I had another coworker who also stated after his 2nd marriage ended that he would never marry again. At the time he was dating a coworker. Well, two weeks ago, after close to 7 years together he proposed to her and she accepted.
Never is a really long time. Be careful when making utterances that contain this phrase, lest you have to eat your words at a later date.
Several years ago my coworker had reached the conclusion that her 2nd marriage was over. I can still take you to the exact spot where that day she exclaimed "I'm never getting married again!". I said something like "Are you sure?" knowing full well this was unlikely as she was only in her 40s. She unequivocally stated that she was never marrying again. Guess what she did within a couple years? Yep, got married for the 3rd time.
I had another coworker who also stated after his 2nd marriage ended that he would never marry again. At the time he was dating a coworker. Well, two weeks ago, after close to 7 years together he proposed to her and she accepted.
Never is a really long time. Be careful when making utterances that contain this phrase, lest you have to eat your words at a later date.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Team Motto In Action
Last year my mom and I attended my professional group's national meeting in Baltimore. We stayed at one of the conference hotels for which my company would reimburse me. We wanted to stay an extra day though, and we were unwilling to pay that rate ourselves. Thus, we booked this night at a property farther out of town to save money. Out of curiosity, the night before we checked out we asked at the front desk what they would charge for us to stay an extra night. We were quoted a rate of about half what they charged the other nights. Obviously, we spent the extra night at the conference hotel.
This year the group is meeting in Chicago. I decided to try this strategy again. I booked at the conference headquarter hotel for the nights for which my company will reimburse me. The rate is $245/night (yes, that's a discount rate). I then made a "safety" reservation at another hotel for the extra nights we are staying. I called the hotel directly Sunday to see if they would give us a break on the days after the conference is over. The lady from reservations was very nice and said that while there was a rate of $166/night listed for my group those days, it was unavailable. I told her thank you and ended the call.
Next, I did web search for "hotel name sales" for this property. I make lodging arrangements for my company's visitors, and this has taught me some things. First, just because the computer says it's unavailable doesn't mean it can't be made available. Second, a guest extending a stay is much easier money than having to find a completely different guest to fill that room. Finally, the sales team is where to go. They have more power than you'll typically find in the people answering the normal reservations phone.
I ended up finding the blog for hotel. It had the social media manager's e-mail address (who knew hotels had people with this title?) I sent her a very nice message stating that we were already staying 3 nights, we'd love to stay 3 more, could she help with getting the reduced rate that I was told was unavailable. She wrote me back after I'd left work yesterday stating that someone from reservations would be contacting me.
When I got to work this morning, I had a voicemail from someone in reservations. I called him, briefly reviewing the situation. He said "I can extend your stay at the group rate". I stated "No, I want a reduced rate". He (not so nicely) replied "I can't do that. We're selling these rooms for $300 a night". I said thank you and that we would stay elsewhere.
Around an hour later, I got an e-mail from a different person in reservations. I'm pretty sure she was the manager. She said she had already extended my stay for 3 nights at the rate of $166. I just needed to e-mail her back to confirm I still wanted this. Of course, I e-mailed her right back and expressed my great appreciation for all her help! I called her later to give her my credit card info and again said how happy I was. She was extremely nice, and she didn't seem like it was any big deal to give me this rate. I also expressed my thanks to the social media manager for her assistance. I'm going to take them each a thank you note and some chocolate when I go.
The rate we ended up getting is what we would have paid to have stayed in the "safety" hotel. Where we are staying is a much higher prestige property, and we are saved the trouble of having to pack up all our stuff, check out, walk to the L, take the train, walk to the next hotel and check in there. This is a classic example of our team motto in action. I spent less than an hour doing all this, and it was very worth it.
This year the group is meeting in Chicago. I decided to try this strategy again. I booked at the conference headquarter hotel for the nights for which my company will reimburse me. The rate is $245/night (yes, that's a discount rate). I then made a "safety" reservation at another hotel for the extra nights we are staying. I called the hotel directly Sunday to see if they would give us a break on the days after the conference is over. The lady from reservations was very nice and said that while there was a rate of $166/night listed for my group those days, it was unavailable. I told her thank you and ended the call.
Next, I did web search for "hotel name sales" for this property. I make lodging arrangements for my company's visitors, and this has taught me some things. First, just because the computer says it's unavailable doesn't mean it can't be made available. Second, a guest extending a stay is much easier money than having to find a completely different guest to fill that room. Finally, the sales team is where to go. They have more power than you'll typically find in the people answering the normal reservations phone.
I ended up finding the blog for hotel. It had the social media manager's e-mail address (who knew hotels had people with this title?) I sent her a very nice message stating that we were already staying 3 nights, we'd love to stay 3 more, could she help with getting the reduced rate that I was told was unavailable. She wrote me back after I'd left work yesterday stating that someone from reservations would be contacting me.
When I got to work this morning, I had a voicemail from someone in reservations. I called him, briefly reviewing the situation. He said "I can extend your stay at the group rate". I stated "No, I want a reduced rate". He (not so nicely) replied "I can't do that. We're selling these rooms for $300 a night". I said thank you and that we would stay elsewhere.
Around an hour later, I got an e-mail from a different person in reservations. I'm pretty sure she was the manager. She said she had already extended my stay for 3 nights at the rate of $166. I just needed to e-mail her back to confirm I still wanted this. Of course, I e-mailed her right back and expressed my great appreciation for all her help! I called her later to give her my credit card info and again said how happy I was. She was extremely nice, and she didn't seem like it was any big deal to give me this rate. I also expressed my thanks to the social media manager for her assistance. I'm going to take them each a thank you note and some chocolate when I go.
The rate we ended up getting is what we would have paid to have stayed in the "safety" hotel. Where we are staying is a much higher prestige property, and we are saved the trouble of having to pack up all our stuff, check out, walk to the L, take the train, walk to the next hotel and check in there. This is a classic example of our team motto in action. I spent less than an hour doing all this, and it was very worth it.
Be Careful What You Wish For
You can probably complete this famous phrase "... because you just might get it". Sometimes we get what we ask for and find out it wasn't really what we wanted after all, or that perhaps we should have been a bit more specific in our request. I'd like to share a story that illustrates that.
Once upon a time we had a person who practically begged to be promoted to supervisor. Much to the consternation of others who outranked him in seniority, he was. He also got what he said was his minimum pay rate. What he neglected to do was some in depth math before he gave this number. As an hourly employee he worked a lot of overtime. When you added his overtime pay to his base, he now makes LESS as a supervisor. And yes, he still working as many hours as before if not more. He's never complained that I've heard. Perhaps he's just happy to have the title and responsibility. In my book though, that and $1.10 will get you a drink from the vending machine.
Moral of the story: Take the time to put some thought into what you want. It's better to spend the time on the front end than to get what you want and find out it's not as great as you thought it would be.
Once upon a time we had a person who practically begged to be promoted to supervisor. Much to the consternation of others who outranked him in seniority, he was. He also got what he said was his minimum pay rate. What he neglected to do was some in depth math before he gave this number. As an hourly employee he worked a lot of overtime. When you added his overtime pay to his base, he now makes LESS as a supervisor. And yes, he still working as many hours as before if not more. He's never complained that I've heard. Perhaps he's just happy to have the title and responsibility. In my book though, that and $1.10 will get you a drink from the vending machine.
Moral of the story: Take the time to put some thought into what you want. It's better to spend the time on the front end than to get what you want and find out it's not as great as you thought it would be.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
From Mistakes Can Come Masterpieces
Today I decided to make some scones for lunch. I loved them when I visited London last year, so when I got home I actually cracked open a cookbook and learned how to make them (Thanks Mom and Dad for buying me the "Joy of Cooking" for Christmas in 2001!). It's actually pretty easy, and they are so yummy.
As I was putting the ingredients together, I found I didn't have enough cream. No problem, I used milk instead. However, once I combined the wet and dry ingredients, I knew something was wrong. When mixed together, they should be barely moist. This was more like cake batter. Oops. I looked, and sure enough I'd put in 1/4 cup too much liquid. I thought ok, I'll just add some more flour. Nope still goopy. I repeated this several times. I admit that throwing the whole thing in the trash crossed my mind. However, I'd thrown something else out a while back, and I was determined to have this at least make it to the oven. Finally, after several rounds of flour addition and remixing, the batter looked about right. I put it in the oven and set the timer.
I had my doubts about how it would turn out. I've substituted milk for some of the cream before, and sometimes the scones stick to the pan since there's not enough fat (skim milk has a touch less fat than cream does). Also, I wondered if there would be enough baking powder to make them rise, would they taste ok, etc.
Well, the timer went off. I opened the oven, and they were starting to turn a golden brown. I let them cool a bit, then sampled one. These are the best scones I've ever made! I don't know if it was the addition of craisins (first time I've tried that) or some weird food chemistry from the way I combined the ingredients, but they are AWESOME. Here's a pic along with the homemade apricot jam I ate with them. Yes, I was very chef-y today.
I think these scones are a lot like life. Sometimes from what seems like (or actually are) big mistakes, masterpieces can be made. If we allow Him to, God can use all the circumstances in which we find ourselves, whether of our own making or not. The control freak in me would prefer not to have made an error in making this recipe, but I worked with it and was rewarded with something fantastic. I think there's a lesson in there for us all.
As I was putting the ingredients together, I found I didn't have enough cream. No problem, I used milk instead. However, once I combined the wet and dry ingredients, I knew something was wrong. When mixed together, they should be barely moist. This was more like cake batter. Oops. I looked, and sure enough I'd put in 1/4 cup too much liquid. I thought ok, I'll just add some more flour. Nope still goopy. I repeated this several times. I admit that throwing the whole thing in the trash crossed my mind. However, I'd thrown something else out a while back, and I was determined to have this at least make it to the oven. Finally, after several rounds of flour addition and remixing, the batter looked about right. I put it in the oven and set the timer.
I had my doubts about how it would turn out. I've substituted milk for some of the cream before, and sometimes the scones stick to the pan since there's not enough fat (skim milk has a touch less fat than cream does). Also, I wondered if there would be enough baking powder to make them rise, would they taste ok, etc.
Well, the timer went off. I opened the oven, and they were starting to turn a golden brown. I let them cool a bit, then sampled one. These are the best scones I've ever made! I don't know if it was the addition of craisins (first time I've tried that) or some weird food chemistry from the way I combined the ingredients, but they are AWESOME. Here's a pic along with the homemade apricot jam I ate with them. Yes, I was very chef-y today.
I think these scones are a lot like life. Sometimes from what seems like (or actually are) big mistakes, masterpieces can be made. If we allow Him to, God can use all the circumstances in which we find ourselves, whether of our own making or not. The control freak in me would prefer not to have made an error in making this recipe, but I worked with it and was rewarded with something fantastic. I think there's a lesson in there for us all.
Some People Should Not Reproduce
I saw the headline below in the newspaper this week.
Parents charged after infant left alone in car outside Louisville strip club
Of course I had to read it (you know they put the strip club part in as a hook). Here are some of my thoughts.
Thought #1
Some people should not reproduce. They didn't forgot the child was in the car. They did it on purpose. Kids DIE from being left in hot cars. In fact, a child has already died in Louisville this year from it.
Thought #2
Isn't it pretty rare for a 48 year old woman to be able to have a child?
Thought #3
A 21 year old age difference between the mom and dad is a LOT. And yes, I'd say the same thing if the dad were the older one.
Thought #4
I can't believe the dad had the gall to complain that the back of the police car was hot. Someone at work said the cops probably did that on purpose. Does he not get that he could have KILLED his kid by leaving it in a hot car?
Thought #5
Obviously the dad doesn't get that home incarceration means you stay at HOME, not go to a strip club across county and state lines.
I hope this poor little kid ends up being cared for by someone who actually cares for him or her.
Parents charged after infant left alone in car outside Louisville strip club
Of course I had to read it (you know they put the strip club part in as a hook). Here are some of my thoughts.
Thought #1
Some people should not reproduce. They didn't forgot the child was in the car. They did it on purpose. Kids DIE from being left in hot cars. In fact, a child has already died in Louisville this year from it.
Thought #2
Isn't it pretty rare for a 48 year old woman to be able to have a child?
Thought #3
A 21 year old age difference between the mom and dad is a LOT. And yes, I'd say the same thing if the dad were the older one.
Thought #4
I can't believe the dad had the gall to complain that the back of the police car was hot. Someone at work said the cops probably did that on purpose. Does he not get that he could have KILLED his kid by leaving it in a hot car?
Thought #5
Obviously the dad doesn't get that home incarceration means you stay at HOME, not go to a strip club across county and state lines.
I hope this poor little kid ends up being cared for by someone who actually cares for him or her.
Seeing Can Be A Good Thing
If you wear corrective lenses (either contacts or glasses) and love the water like I do, you know the mixture of these two creates challenges. I have known people to handle it in a variety of ways. We had a family friend who always swam with his glasses on. I have a co-worker who swaps her normal glasses for disposable contacts and goggles. I'd bet though, that most people do what I do- simply go without. I can see well enough without them to know that the blob in front of me is a person, though recognition of which person can be dicey. I've used this approach exclusively for years.
Last year though, I swam more than I had since I was a kid. I bought a pass to the pool that's just a couple of miles from where I work, and many days after work I went. I decided to look into prescription goggles. My search led me to Aquagoggles. I read their information, found the price reasonable, and decided it was worth a shot. I got copy of my glasses prescription and placed an order. Very quickly they arrived. MONEY COMPLETELY WELL SPENT. I haven't been able to see this well under water in over 20 years. I had forgotten that this is what it is supposed to look like. As an added bonus, I can see much better above water if I have them on. (The only time this is negative is certain people are not good at choosing appropriate swim attire for their body shape).
If you or someone you know is impacted by the corrective lenses/water sports issue, I highly recommend giving Aquagoggles a try. I'm very pleased with this gift I bought myself. No, they are not paying me to write this. However, if someone from the company sees this post, I'd happily accept another pair in the exact same prescription as last year. :)
Last year though, I swam more than I had since I was a kid. I bought a pass to the pool that's just a couple of miles from where I work, and many days after work I went. I decided to look into prescription goggles. My search led me to Aquagoggles. I read their information, found the price reasonable, and decided it was worth a shot. I got copy of my glasses prescription and placed an order. Very quickly they arrived. MONEY COMPLETELY WELL SPENT. I haven't been able to see this well under water in over 20 years. I had forgotten that this is what it is supposed to look like. As an added bonus, I can see much better above water if I have them on. (The only time this is negative is certain people are not good at choosing appropriate swim attire for their body shape).
If you or someone you know is impacted by the corrective lenses/water sports issue, I highly recommend giving Aquagoggles a try. I'm very pleased with this gift I bought myself. No, they are not paying me to write this. However, if someone from the company sees this post, I'd happily accept another pair in the exact same prescription as last year. :)
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