SueWorks

No Royalties for Me

I didn't finish my great American novel. 

Perhaps

Perhaps this is why I'm not completing NaNoWriMo this time around, again ...

98%ALCOHOLIC

Care of the Counter.

The Magic Kingdom

The Pkin and I are celebrating our anniversary a bit early this year.  It's lucky number 6.  I guess the itch starts now, or so I've heard.  We're at the Disneyland Hotel tonight and back into the parks tomorrow.  This is for Pkin, primarily, though I do enjoy it.  For example, at the Magic Kingdom and ancillary in Anaheim, you can visit a gigantic Sephora store.  I got bright eyes today and was separated from some of my hard earned cash while Pkin was enjoying NASCAR on the Disney entertainment network.  Fun was had by all.

Bordeaux

Long story short is my friend's brother "found" a case of wine.  My friend got the wine, it was taking up space in her trunk.  She gave a bottle to me.  It's a Grand Vin du Bordeaux and I'm a wine idiot.  I like the wine we had on your honeymoon, it was a Gewurztraminer.  Pkin likes the sweet ones, like a Muscat.  (Yes, sometimes he's a girl.)

What should we do with the bottle?

By the way, the Boys are doing just dandy.  Laser surgery really is cool and guys just have it easier than girls.  My first kitties were miserable after their uteruses were cut out.

Laser Surgery

While I'm not a super pet advocate, I know many who spare no expense in the animal care department.  I consider expense.  When it came time for kitties to get their de-balling I decided to step it up a bit. 

They were sitting noisily in their carriers as we checked in a the vet.  We were second in line.  As our turn comes, Shoni (the vet tech) is looking for our file which she swears she pulled the night before.  Our name is on the appointment point so we're set but we need the file.  It has our life history as kitties.  Apparently it was back in the cabinet. 

So then the questions start, when did they last eat?  Do they need FIV #whatever?  (Of course, I follow their directions, I almost always do.)  Do I want a pre-anesthesia blood panel?  What the heck is that?  There's a special form for young cats and that panel.  I thought, I asked how much.  I decided against.  And then I worried if I made the wrong decision.  What if there was a kitty coronary on the table?  Well, Pkin would have gotten the call.  His cell number was on point for the experience.

Anyway, the next question is, Do you want laser surgery?  This time I ask what are the benefits, less pain?  faster recovery?  The thing I remember from the list Shoni recited was "less blood."  I figured that less blood was a good choice.

So, the kitties had their male parts lasered just like my eyes, well sort of.  My kitties are so high-tech.  What is next?  Kitty liposuction for those little kitty saddle bags.  The possibilities are endless!

Management In America

It would be hilarious if it weren't so true!

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile. The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing. So American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.

They advised that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.

To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder.

It was called the "Rowing Team Quality First Program", with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment.

The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was outsourced to India.

Reward Yourself with a Special Gift

I technically took a long lunch, just prior to the "Lunch Hour."  Now I'm hungry; it's 12:10 PM.  I smelled the cafeteria and it was scary so I came to my office.  After looking around a bit, answering an email or two and getting situated, I found a fortune cookie with a nice message. 

Could the special gift be:

1. a new pair of shoes?  New, not previously purchased but infrequently worn (in case Pkin is reading I need to be clear.)
2. the car wash that cut in my early lunch hour?
3. a massage with hot stones?
4. an hour of therapy?
5. letting myself tell someone what I really think about their behaviors in a particular situation and how they would be better off all around by changing those behaviors?
6. a few minutes of quiet in a busy day?
7. a few minutes of close hotness (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) before a busy day?
8. a diamond bracelet with square stones?
9. a smile when I see Pkin at the gun range?
10. a partridge in a pear tree?
11. a trip to Disneyland?
12. (fill in the blank)

The world is my oyster or pear tree!

My Novel

I wrote in long-hand yesterday.  Will type it up soon.  My progress is progressing, slowly.

Millenials

What do you think about the last comment by the Millenial who wants his boss to send a "Star" note to his mother?

On CBS News Video:  http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3486473n

The Yard Sale

It was long anticipated.  It was hoped for.  It was planned and then re-planned and then the plans became irrelevant. 

And today it finally happened.

We had a yard sale!

The most significant observation is that junk is junk, and someone else wants the stuff you no longer want.  We observed 4 types of customers:

1. Those who truly needed the necessities of life.  We sold two horse-type blankets for $4, and the guy paid with two dollar bills and an assortment of change mostly nickels and dimes.
2. Aliens, and not friends of Mulder.  We sold some very nice purses and shoes for very small amounts and I'm think the tax deduction may have netted more.  I really should do the IRS-math.
3. Yuppies, or whatever they are called these days.  We had very few sales to this group.
4. The professionals.  Perhaps we undersold a handful of items but there were a few people very upset that Pkin was not giving away Murano glass.  The professionals come on nonchalant but they have a distince style.  They come in, scan quickly then hone in.  They ask the price and offer pennies.  A few of these folks went home sad today.

I had a good day, Mom and Boo did too, I think.  Now just another 20 years or so before the next one!