Happy New Year everyone!
PS: I love the graphics sugardoodle.net make!
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Updates and Dreams
First, I wanted to give a brief update on how things are going in my busy, busy life.
Winter Break has just begun, not just for the schools, but also for the school districts. I left Laird after 7 1/2 years to join the information technology team at our school district. I miss the kids and the staff, but I also have to say I love my new job. So many "why" questions I've had over the years about the software are finally getting answered. So much more of the training I've been wanting is also happening.
The reason I left Laird? This new position pays better, which in turn will make me better able to help my Mom. She is now priority number one in my life right now, which is why my life has gone from somewhat busy to almost non-stop at this point. But, all in all, I have to say I'm in a much better place financially, emotionally spiritually and physically now than I was this time last year.
I'm also someone who takes notice of the dreams I have at night. I record them. Some feel like they are plots from movies or books (which some have turned out to be), others are premonitions of something about to happen (they still freak me out when I see the event happen and realize it was the dream I had a while ago) and some I have no idea what they are. What foods I've eaten usually isn't an issue, my dreams are separate from my stomach, some are based on work.
This past week, though, I had a dream that I just didn't see coming.
I had a dream about Barry Manilow.
I haven't listened to his music, watched a video of him or really given much thought about him in quite a while (sorry, Barry). I have no idea what prompted the dream.
I won't go into details, but it was a good dream (no bad events happened in the dream) and Barry looked good. It just brought back so many fond memories of him.
It also made me think of this song:
Happy Hanukkah, Barry,
and Merry Christmas to all of my dear friends out there.
Winter Break has just begun, not just for the schools, but also for the school districts. I left Laird after 7 1/2 years to join the information technology team at our school district. I miss the kids and the staff, but I also have to say I love my new job. So many "why" questions I've had over the years about the software are finally getting answered. So much more of the training I've been wanting is also happening.
The reason I left Laird? This new position pays better, which in turn will make me better able to help my Mom. She is now priority number one in my life right now, which is why my life has gone from somewhat busy to almost non-stop at this point. But, all in all, I have to say I'm in a much better place financially, emotionally spiritually and physically now than I was this time last year.
I'm also someone who takes notice of the dreams I have at night. I record them. Some feel like they are plots from movies or books (which some have turned out to be), others are premonitions of something about to happen (they still freak me out when I see the event happen and realize it was the dream I had a while ago) and some I have no idea what they are. What foods I've eaten usually isn't an issue, my dreams are separate from my stomach, some are based on work.
This past week, though, I had a dream that I just didn't see coming.
I had a dream about Barry Manilow.
I haven't listened to his music, watched a video of him or really given much thought about him in quite a while (sorry, Barry). I have no idea what prompted the dream.
I won't go into details, but it was a good dream (no bad events happened in the dream) and Barry looked good. It just brought back so many fond memories of him.
It also made me think of this song:
Happy Hanukkah, Barry,
and Merry Christmas to all of my dear friends out there.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Reverently And Meekly Now
Today, during the Sacrament, I was inspired to pen an additional verse to the hymn "Reverently And Meekly Now", which is number 185 in the book of Hymns for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As thou has sought companionship with Me,
Go and seek others who now need thee.
Seek the poor of spirit and purse,
Seek the ill as well as the nurse.
Find the child whose hunger is sore,
Find the widow who this season grieves more.
Find your Ward family who secretly needs love,
Fulfill the mission I have for you, one from above.
I doubt this matches the meter for the music, but there you have it.
As thou has sought companionship with Me,
Go and seek others who now need thee.
Seek the poor of spirit and purse,
Seek the ill as well as the nurse.
Find the child whose hunger is sore,
Find the widow who this season grieves more.
Find your Ward family who secretly needs love,
Fulfill the mission I have for you, one from above.
I doubt this matches the meter for the music, but there you have it.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
I'm Definitely Not Buying That
I love how the interview ended on the scare tactic of raising prices at Walmart.
Why am I not buying it?
1. Did you know that low-wage workers make up a portion of the people living on Food Stamps? And who pays for that? Not Walmart.
2. I have a friend who used to work at the local Walmart.
The pay was not that great, and there was no room for this college graduated individual to move as far as a better paying position was concerned.
3. Have you ever wondered, on days like Saturdays, why all of the check out lanes are not running?
When I worked retail in college, part of planning the shifts involved making sure there would be enough coverage for days you know are peak days. I have a hard time believing Walmart doesn't understand it's peak times. It's been in business for too long.
Why am I not buying it?
1. Did you know that low-wage workers make up a portion of the people living on Food Stamps? And who pays for that? Not Walmart.
2. I have a friend who used to work at the local Walmart.
The pay was not that great, and there was no room for this college graduated individual to move as far as a better paying position was concerned.
3. Have you ever wondered, on days like Saturdays, why all of the check out lanes are not running?
When I worked retail in college, part of planning the shifts involved making sure there would be enough coverage for days you know are peak days. I have a hard time believing Walmart doesn't understand it's peak times. It's been in business for too long.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Are All Grocery Stores The Same?
Lately I've been doing my own little social experiment.
The grocery store where I shop is part of a chain of stores located in various parts of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
There is, however, a number of differences between these grocery stores, dependent upon which neighborhood it resides in.
When I go to my local grocery store, I take the plastic bags from previous trips and try to locate the recycle bins for these bags. The larger bins that used to be there for this purpose has since been replaced by a single large trash bin instead, with no markings on it to indicate why it's there. You have to ask about the recycle bin in order to find it.
The person I am asking? The store's security detail. As I walk into the store, I am greeted by a sign indicating I will need to show proof of my purchase with the receipt upon leaving the store.
While going through the store, I notice that the cranapple juice is always out, unless you want to get the generic brand. They also never have the 16 pack of unfrosted strawberry Pop Tarts. They used to carry the filled french toast breakfast pastries from iHop but those have since been long gone.
The candy aisle is located in the front of the store.
Some weeks, though, I will be in Gilbert or East Mesa running errands and will do my grocery shopping at a different store in a different neighborhood. Same grocery chain, but in a different area.
When I walk into the store, there is no sign regarding showing my receipt, nor is there a store security person at the entrance. Those nice, large bins for recycling the bags are there.
They have a large number of bottles of cranapple juice, the 16 pack of Pop Tarts in my favorite flavor are also found there, as well as the iHop breakfast pastries.
The candy aisle is located in the back of the store.
Why the difference?
If you look at the five mile radius of my neighborhood store, you will find areas of low income housing.
The other store has a radius of middle to upper class neighborhoods. No low income housing within five miles.
This is actually more typical than most people may realize, unless they've watched the scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts' character is trying to buy a cocktail dress on Rodeo Drive.
The grocery store where I shop is part of a chain of stores located in various parts of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
There is, however, a number of differences between these grocery stores, dependent upon which neighborhood it resides in.
When I go to my local grocery store, I take the plastic bags from previous trips and try to locate the recycle bins for these bags. The larger bins that used to be there for this purpose has since been replaced by a single large trash bin instead, with no markings on it to indicate why it's there. You have to ask about the recycle bin in order to find it.
The person I am asking? The store's security detail. As I walk into the store, I am greeted by a sign indicating I will need to show proof of my purchase with the receipt upon leaving the store.
While going through the store, I notice that the cranapple juice is always out, unless you want to get the generic brand. They also never have the 16 pack of unfrosted strawberry Pop Tarts. They used to carry the filled french toast breakfast pastries from iHop but those have since been long gone.
The candy aisle is located in the front of the store.
Some weeks, though, I will be in Gilbert or East Mesa running errands and will do my grocery shopping at a different store in a different neighborhood. Same grocery chain, but in a different area.
When I walk into the store, there is no sign regarding showing my receipt, nor is there a store security person at the entrance. Those nice, large bins for recycling the bags are there.
They have a large number of bottles of cranapple juice, the 16 pack of Pop Tarts in my favorite flavor are also found there, as well as the iHop breakfast pastries.
The candy aisle is located in the back of the store.
Why the difference?
If you look at the five mile radius of my neighborhood store, you will find areas of low income housing.
The other store has a radius of middle to upper class neighborhoods. No low income housing within five miles.
This is actually more typical than most people may realize, unless they've watched the scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts' character is trying to buy a cocktail dress on Rodeo Drive.
Health Care Law Impacts School Districts
Apparently another casualty of Obamacare is how it brings to light which employers are willing to provide health care plans for employees. Among those employers are school districts.
There are some in the United States who believe everyone in public education makes $50,000 per year with benefits. That isn't the case. The support staff, also known as Classified staff, at the schools make substantially less.
Here is the article:
Health Care Law's Impact On School Districts
There are some in the United States who believe everyone in public education makes $50,000 per year with benefits. That isn't the case. The support staff, also known as Classified staff, at the schools make substantially less.
Here is the article:
Health Care Law's Impact On School Districts
Monday, September 2, 2013
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