Fell asleep early last night, so my Unconscious Mutterings are a little more conscious.
I say, and you think:
Dancer :: My nieces, especially Hannah
Intellectual :: Being an intellectual is fine, as long as you retain your heart. (Can you tell I have issues with this one?)
Direct :: Deposit
Tolerate :: Some things are hard to accept, but I've learned to tolerate them
Post :: Blog!
Instinctive :: Reaction
Brink :: of despair, the edge
Regain :: Control
Repulsed :: Turned off
Distressed :: Wood
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Toxic Co-Worker Defined
What characteristics does the toxic or manipulative individual possess, and how do you recognize the species? Manipulators, or those who tend to make our lives miserable, in this case in the work milieu, tend to possess certain personal features that make them act as they do.1 These individuals have an overwhelming need to improve their own positions or purposes and to further their own personal gain at any price to others.2 they have stalwart needs to obtain power and dominance in relationships with others,3 and these individuals have the unavoidable need or wish to feel in control.4 These are people who want others either around or under their “command” to have the same feelings and judgments that they have in a certain contained milieu. The recipients of these “command” emotions or thoughts generally feel minimized because they do not adopt (at least outwardly) the party line, and tension in the group grows. Unfortunately manipulators may or may not even realize or be conscious of their tendencies to fall into one or more of these categories.
Many who manipulate or pressure those around them feel that those they cannot manipulate or control are not “team players,” and thus the group tension can escalate and/or those “not on the train” may find their career path derailed. It also is important to note that these individuals may not act this way 100 percent of the time, making it even more difficult for the rest of the group to “read” when and if their guard should be up and how to respond to interactions with such people. Additionally the manipulator also is an individual who may have been or is a “mark” for other manipulators, thus causing a truly unhappy person who may threaten or try to hurt others in inappropriate ways.
http://www.asahq.org/Newsletters/2003/12-03/whatsNew12_03.html
Many who manipulate or pressure those around them feel that those they cannot manipulate or control are not “team players,” and thus the group tension can escalate and/or those “not on the train” may find their career path derailed. It also is important to note that these individuals may not act this way 100 percent of the time, making it even more difficult for the rest of the group to “read” when and if their guard should be up and how to respond to interactions with such people. Additionally the manipulator also is an individual who may have been or is a “mark” for other manipulators, thus causing a truly unhappy person who may threaten or try to hurt others in inappropriate ways.
http://www.asahq.org/Newsletters/2003/12-03/whatsNew12_03.html
Friday, May 25, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Year of Living Gorgeously
The lovely Paola and Helen have the delightful Year of Living Gorgeously. It's a wonderful design blog, chockful of interesting tidbits. Each month they also sponsor a photo contest on flickr. I was lucky to win the March contest, and received some fantastic french-milled soap that smells dreamy! (Thanks,Paola and Helen!) Anyway, I know that most of you are photographers, so I think you should go sign up for their May contest here.
Monthly Flickr Favorites
Once a month I like to share photographs from photographers around the world that I've favorited on flickr. As always, click through to get the links.
And I thought MICHIGAN weather was bad.
Bryn had a May snowstorm. Wow. DID she!!!!
Gas prices are rising. We're up to $3.65. Just in time for tourism season. Yikes!
Gas prices are rising. We're up to $3.65. Just in time for tourism season. Yikes!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Things Could Get Ugly Around Here!
Just saw a skunk cut across the backyard. I hope that's not what plays under the back porch. Ewwww! Stay tuned!
Reminder to self: Google page on skunk remedies is here.
Reminder to self: Google page on skunk remedies is here.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Peas, peas, eating all those peas
We've had a lot of laughs at work about my "pea patch". It's a very tiny patch. Last year it looked as if maybe a couple of moles had dug it. This year it has expanded, and looks as if a family of moles has been working on it.
One of the joke gifts I got from the office was a pea pitcher, with a recipe for pea salad on it. Today I had the office out for supper, and dadgum if that recipe wasn't mighty good.
10 oz bag frozen peas, thawed or 2 cups fresh shelled peas, cooked for about 4 minutes
1 c. cubed cheddar cheese
2 hard cooked eggs, chopped
1/4 c. celery, chopped
3 green onions, chopped
2 T. pimento, chopped
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp saltI
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce
2 med tomatoes, chopped
1/4 lb bacon, chopped and crumbled.
Combine first six items in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the next five ingredients. Add to the large bowl and toss to cover. Chill several hours or overnight.
Before serving, sprinkle bacon and tomatoes over top.
It turned out ask for more good!
One of the joke gifts I got from the office was a pea pitcher, with a recipe for pea salad on it. Today I had the office out for supper, and dadgum if that recipe wasn't mighty good.
10 oz bag frozen peas, thawed or 2 cups fresh shelled peas, cooked for about 4 minutes
1 c. cubed cheddar cheese
2 hard cooked eggs, chopped
1/4 c. celery, chopped
3 green onions, chopped
2 T. pimento, chopped
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp saltI
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce
2 med tomatoes, chopped
1/4 lb bacon, chopped and crumbled.
Combine first six items in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the next five ingredients. Add to the large bowl and toss to cover. Chill several hours or overnight.
Before serving, sprinkle bacon and tomatoes over top.
It turned out ask for more good!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
When I Was a Little Girl
I lived in a house that had a "horse tree" in the side yard. It was really more bush than tree, and little kids could get into it and play. There was a doorway, with a little cubby above it where you could hide berries and leaves. There was an arm that you could sit on and ride, hence the "horse" tree. There was a branch going straight up in the middle, like a fireman's pole.
Now I am an old girl, and at the south end of the corn crib is a huge trumpet vine that is tree-like. It has branches and swirls, and a perfect place to tuck a pot of geraniums. As I secured the pot I was drawn to remembrances of that earlier tree. What we see and feel as little ones has such an impact.
It's Amazing!
What an updated computer can do! It even connects faster to the internet, even though I am still on dumb old dial-up. Everything works. I should have done this a year ago!!!!
Catching up!
Even though I had planned a busy vacation, I had saved some time for internetting. Alas, 'twas not to be. Friday morning my computer died. So, Friday afternoon I purchased a laptop, something I've been wanting to do for a long time. Today I picked it up . . . no wait, that would be yesterday, as we are already on Sunday. I'm breaking it in now. (Or maybe it is me that is breaking . . . bear with the typos, please!)
I've been working with my flower beds. There is the wall garden bed, the tractor tire bed, the glad bed, the pea patch, and the lilac bed. This doesn't include the beds Great-Grandma Alty started oh so many years ago. It was Alty and Oscar who built this farm back in '08.
It is typical for farm gardens to have gladiola. I knew I had to have them when I found two varieties, one named MY LOVE and one named OSCAR. Seemed perfect for the founding parents of the farm. (Also, they are red/white and red, Alty's favorite color.)
The tractor tire bed is made out of an old tractor tire with dirt and a flag pole in the middle of it. (Those of you of a certain age and heritage will know what I'm talking about.) That bed is the Cana bed.
The Wall garden has been a toughie. Carol and Mom and my sister have all contributed to it. Some of the plants were a little shocked on their transplant. I'm anxious to see how that works out.
The lilac bed is under the old lilac in the back yard, and includes tulips, iris, and some bulbs I just planted that my sister calls peacock orchids. We'll see.
The pea patch is . . . peas! Looks like the bunnies have found it, so I put up the chicken wire this week.
Like the ditz I am, I invited 8 people from work and their spouses, friends, enemies or whatever for sancwiches and shuffleboard Monday night. No rest for the wicked, I guess.
And how is your weekend going?
I've been working with my flower beds. There is the wall garden bed, the tractor tire bed, the glad bed, the pea patch, and the lilac bed. This doesn't include the beds Great-Grandma Alty started oh so many years ago. It was Alty and Oscar who built this farm back in '08.
It is typical for farm gardens to have gladiola. I knew I had to have them when I found two varieties, one named MY LOVE and one named OSCAR. Seemed perfect for the founding parents of the farm. (Also, they are red/white and red, Alty's favorite color.)
The tractor tire bed is made out of an old tractor tire with dirt and a flag pole in the middle of it. (Those of you of a certain age and heritage will know what I'm talking about.) That bed is the Cana bed.
The Wall garden has been a toughie. Carol and Mom and my sister have all contributed to it. Some of the plants were a little shocked on their transplant. I'm anxious to see how that works out.
The lilac bed is under the old lilac in the back yard, and includes tulips, iris, and some bulbs I just planted that my sister calls peacock orchids. We'll see.
The pea patch is . . . peas! Looks like the bunnies have found it, so I put up the chicken wire this week.
Like the ditz I am, I invited 8 people from work and their spouses, friends, enemies or whatever for sancwiches and shuffleboard Monday night. No rest for the wicked, I guess.
And how is your weekend going?
Unconscious Mutterings
I say ... and you think ... ?
Coastguard :: Great Lakes
Buddies :: Pals
Nap :: Lovely! I missed mine today
Groan :: Moan
Sitcom :: Lucille Ball
Reader :: Writer
Heroes :: are made, not born
Amazing :: Race, Grace
Woman :: May
Don’t! :: Stop
Coastguard :: Great Lakes
Buddies :: Pals
Nap :: Lovely! I missed mine today
Groan :: Moan
Sitcom :: Lucille Ball
Reader :: Writer
Heroes :: are made, not born
Amazing :: Race, Grace
Woman :: May
Don’t! :: Stop
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Vacation!
I'm off work until next Tuesday!! Yay!
Only, this is a working vacation. Lots of chores to do around here to get ready for the summer season. But that's cool, 'cause living out here on the farm seems like a vacation every day!
Only, this is a working vacation. Lots of chores to do around here to get ready for the summer season. But that's cool, 'cause living out here on the farm seems like a vacation every day!
Mind Games
Saw this at Julie's. You can snag it here. I'd be interested to read how yours came out.
Shirl, your hemispheric dominance is equally divided between left and right brain, while you show a moderate preference for auditory versus visual learning, signs of a balanced and flexible person.
Your balance gives you the enviable capacity to be verbal and literate while retaining a certain "flair" and individuality. You are logical and compliant but only to a degree. You are organized without being compulsive, goal-directed without being driven, and a "thinking" individual without being excessively so.
The one problem you might have is that your learning might not be as efficient as you would like. At times you will work from the specific to the general, while at other times you'll work from the general to the specific. Sometimes you will be logical in your approach while at other times random. Since you cannot always control the choice, you may experience frustrations not normally felt by persons with a more defined and directed learning style.
You may also minimally experience conflicts associated with auditory processing. You will be systematic and sequential in your processing of information, you will most often focus on a single dimension of the problem or material, and you will be more reflective, i.e., "taking the data in" as opposed to "devouring" it.
Overall, you should feel content with your life and yourself. You are, perhaps, a little too critical of yourself - and of others - while maintaining an "openness" which is redeeming. Indecisiveness is a problem and your creativity is not in keeping with your potential. Being a pragmatist, you downplay this aspect of yourself and focus on the more immediate, the more obvious and the more functional.
Shirl, your hemispheric dominance is equally divided between left and right brain, while you show a moderate preference for auditory versus visual learning, signs of a balanced and flexible person.
Your balance gives you the enviable capacity to be verbal and literate while retaining a certain "flair" and individuality. You are logical and compliant but only to a degree. You are organized without being compulsive, goal-directed without being driven, and a "thinking" individual without being excessively so.
The one problem you might have is that your learning might not be as efficient as you would like. At times you will work from the specific to the general, while at other times you'll work from the general to the specific. Sometimes you will be logical in your approach while at other times random. Since you cannot always control the choice, you may experience frustrations not normally felt by persons with a more defined and directed learning style.
You may also minimally experience conflicts associated with auditory processing. You will be systematic and sequential in your processing of information, you will most often focus on a single dimension of the problem or material, and you will be more reflective, i.e., "taking the data in" as opposed to "devouring" it.
Overall, you should feel content with your life and yourself. You are, perhaps, a little too critical of yourself - and of others - while maintaining an "openness" which is redeeming. Indecisiveness is a problem and your creativity is not in keeping with your potential. Being a pragmatist, you downplay this aspect of yourself and focus on the more immediate, the more obvious and the more functional.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
The Last of the Crabapples
Early spring is so fleeting. The tree blossoms are gone now, the lilacs fading fast behind them. I'm glad we've had some sunny warm days to appreciate the beauty. Here is the last crabapple shot.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)