I used to work with a very nice and very religious fellow who gave God credit for every good thing that happened to him, including his job, his wife, his kids and the garage he built himself.
So, what about those of us who don’t have good jobs or the skills to build our own garages? Does that mean that God hates us because God hasn’t made these things possible for us?
The country is in better shape than I thought it would be on January 1, and I guess so are we.
Yesterday I attended part of the Falmouth Green anti-Trump standout, bought some lavender treats at Green Goddess for Cindy and left them on her door, made a bunch of charitable contributions, some of which were being doubled or tripled, including $25 to a Girl Scout troop in El Paso.
The latter was motivated by the leader’s story about how little girls aged 9 and 11 were harassed by grown men while the girls were raising money for summer camp.
We had a typical Sunday: transfer station, laundry, changed sheets. In lieu of a trip to the beach, I made squash soup.
Got my last free December bagel and a blueberry scone for Ron at Panera.
Robert left work early, they were without heat again.
Peter’s shoulder has been bad this week.
We had about a 1/2 inch of snow last night. I shoveled everything and cleaned off the vehicles.
No resolutions this year. I know what I have to do.
I touch your pants and all at once the sparks go flying
Those devil pants that know so well the art of lying
And though I see the danger, still the flame grows higher
I know I must surrender to your pants of fire
Just like a torch, you set the soul within me burning
I must go on, I’m on this road of no returning
And though it burns me and it turns me into ashes
My whole world crashes without your pants of fire
I can’t resist them, what good is there in trying
What good is there denying they’re all that I desire
Since first I saw them my heart was theirs completely
If I’m a slave, then it’s a slave I want to be
Don’t pity me, don’t pity me
Give me your pants, the pants you only let me borrow
Love me tonight and let the devil take tomorrow
I know that I must have your pants although they doom me
Though they consume me, your pants of fire
Ron put gutter guards on at Edgewater yesterday.
I did some land stewardship yesterday at the Pine Barrens and today at the Santuit Pond Preserve.
Unloaded blow-downs at the transfer station and recycling from us and Edgewater.
Dropped by Emma’s for bread. We are her first customers!
Made egg salad for lunch and roasted squash, which Ron peeled and cubed, for soup tomorrow. Made a tomato pie and roasted whole cauliflower for supper. Ron put a gorgeous salad together.
Watched the end of Punisher and laughed my head off at Union Station.
Very cold: 7 degrees this morning.
ASK GENUINELY TOUGH QUESTIONS
As someone who oversees hiring for his firm, Harvey says he appreciates when candidates ask truly difficult questions about their culture and values. Rather than asking questions that allow the interviewer to regurgitate information from their recruiting materials, however, Harvey wants to see candidates that ask for specific examples that demonstrate how the organization truly lives those values everyday. Some of those tough questions include:
How much of your business is concentrated in a few major accounts or clients?
Can you describe the last time you pursued a bold new idea as an organization?
When was the last time something detrimental happened–like losing a major client or a round of layoffs–and how did management handle it?
Is mental health an open topic at this company?
Where will I have the final say in my work and what needs approval from a superior?
How has your approach evolved in recent years, and how did you go about implementing those changes?
Harvey adds that candidates should also ask specific questions about the company’s workflow process to get a sense of where there is room for experimentation and innovation, and what processes are bound by rigid guidelines or bureaucracy.
CONSIDER DIFFERENT THINGS DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE COMPANY
According to research recently conducted by Great Place to Work, a consulting firm that focuses on culture and values, employees are more likely to succeed for different reasons based on the size of the company.
“A friendly atmosphere is extremely important at a small company, and as it gets larger being friendly is still a factor but even more important is the ability [for the individual] to make a difference,” says Kim Peters, the executive vice president for certification and partnerships at Great Place to Work.
As a result Peters recommends that candidates for positions at smaller companies ask questions specific to workplace atmosphere and friendliness. “What you’re listening for in their answer is things that describe how employees care about each other, how managers care about their staff, how communicative the CEO or owner is, generally a positive ‘family type’ atmosphere; those types of adjectives are a good sign,” she says.
Candidates applying for positions at larger organizations, on the other hand, should ask interviewers questions about the impact individual employees are able to make on the overall direction of the company, and where they would have a chance to make a difference.
“You’re trying to hear about the work you’d actually be doing and ways you have a chance to make a difference,” she said. “Maybe they’ll tell you about conversations that senior leadership has with all employees; maybe there’s community service opportunities you want to participate in.”
I do get tired of “trying to make the best of it” when I feel like HE-double L.
And let’s hear an AMEN for this:
Ron finished deicing and cleaning the back gutter at Edgewater!
He also drove Robert to and from work and had an appointment with his MD.
I dropped off the last Christmas gift at the Transfer Station and did some cleanup in the back at Edgewater.
Did laundry and made tofu and vegetable stir fry for supper.
Very cold.
We gave the kids their kids and stopped at CVS on the way home for a few items. Happy they were open.
Made egg/spinach/cheese sandwiches for brunch and corn chowder for supper.
Continued work on “Roving”. Sent some images to Jim this morning.
We started gutter cleaning at Edgewater. Ron got the front done almost immediately. The back was so frozen that we bought a hot gun to thaw it, and that worked beautifully. Ron cleared the downspouts and put mesh traps on the tops. Going back tomorrow to finish and to install gutter guards.
“Dr Sue Armstrong Brown, chief executive of Adoption UK, said that children with experiences of neglect or abuse can find that the Christmas themes of belonging, generosity and togetherness trigger their past trauma all over again.
“Also, the all-pervasive mantra of being nice rather than naughty as a guarantee of good things just erodes the already shattered self-esteem of children, who believe they are unworthy of love because they didn’t receive wholesome love in their early years.”
Had brunch and exchanged gifts with Cindy and Cathy on Saturday at Crabapple’s. Stopped at the Beanstalk for cider donuts for Ron.
Spotted slippers on sale for half price at Pottery Barn yesterday. Wanted to get some for Ron – his are falling apart – and wasn’t sure of the size, so got two pair. I asked him to try them on so I could return the second pair today, before the post-Christmas rush.
Brought 5 Asiago bagels and cream cheese to Edgewater this morning. Loaded up the truck with Peter’s help, went to the transfer station and realized that I’d forgotten the Christmas gifts for the workers, so did a second trip.
Saw Joe at Stop & Shop, got caught up on his news.
Connie brought over some baked goods.
On Christmas Eve, watched the new season of Peaky Blinders and scarfed down brie en croute.
We are still dragging. This cold/flu has slammed a lot of people, especially in northeastern and southeastern Mass.
Cleaned the back gutter today at Dixon.
Late Christmas gift to Edgewater, partial payment of their Eversource bill.
Ron’s friend Jeanne called.
Watered, fed and pruned the house plants.
Made a squash/tomato/pepper/egg dish for supper; used up a few leftovers.
Did laundry.