Ta-ta to the rich

Today was my last day at work.  After 7 years, 3 months and 14 days, I permanently left the office space I had grown to love since that glorious May day in 2004. 

For someone who had previously worked for big national and international corporations, my stay at that company had given me a bit of a culture shock.  First, the organization is owned and run by family members and the culture is laid back.  Then there's the presence of family pets.  On my first day, a black Standard Poodle named Kramer welcomed me to the fold.  He was the Chief Financial Officer's pet.  Kramer passed a few years ago, but I know that meeting that adorable dog on my first day at the office had given me a bundle of career luck. 

Besides the animal-friendly atmosphere, the organization was an exclusive "Boys' Club."  You see, the office demographic was 73% male when I started.  The good news:  There were not a lot of women to share the bathroom with!  The male-dominated employment environment was most likely the reason that the Golf Tournament and baseball game outing were part of our annual employee bonding activities.

Cell phone usage in the hallways was, and continues to be, the rule rather than the exception.  It had been a typical sight to see people walking down the hallway with cell phones on their ears.  The receptionist had a mobile phone and answered the calls ANYWHERE... even in the bathroom! It wasn't unusual for people to be on their cell phones having a conversation with someone in the next room!

Then there was the perpetual discussions about money... loads and loads of it!  One time I overheard a gentleman who was in the office for a meeting tell someone on his cell phone:  "I'm buying a 4 million shopping center."  That was my introduction to the world of the "rich but not famous."  

Although I had unknowingly schmoozed with millionaires in the course of my work, honestly, I'd rather be working with the ordinary folks.  People who share the same goals and aspirations that I have.  You see, dealing with those rich people only succeeded in convincing me that "they just don't get it."  As long as their pocket was lined with profits, they didn't really care about the ordinary man's struggles and hardship.  We ordinary mortals work so we can keep the roof over our head.  The rich go to work with a different agenda.  Loyalty and hard work don't mean much because all they care about are huge numbers on the bottom line.  It's all about the bottom line.  Can you blame me for nursing the belief that they're in business solely to enrich themselves, not to uplift the lives of their ordinary employees?  The reason that Oprah Winfrey is rich and powerful boils down to a simple code of conduct:  she takes good care of the people who take care of her.

Although losing gainful employment isn't what I expected at a time when I'm on the verge of going into my sixth decade, I remain grateful for the 7 years spent in that company.  I can't deny that my employer was kind enough to allow me many moments to shine.  Even if losing work now has messed up my retirement planning, the case is true of many others in many places.  All I can think of is that it's God's plan for me and only He knows what kind of future I deserve.

The animated picture below was sent to me a long time ago in an e-mailed joke.  I think it's appropriate to accompany this "farewell to the rich employer" piece.  A nice, relaxing back rub is what I need after 7 years of stress and madness.  Once I get worked over and rejuvenated, I'll be ready to venture into my next adventure.  I know that something better is out there.  I just have to find it.

Please wish me luck!

photo credit:  unknown

An education on numbers

My gratitude to the cyber contact who shared this piece a very long time ago... too long ago I can't accurately give credit to that thoughtful person.  Thank You!!!



Food for the soul

Forgive my amnesia as I can't remember who sent me this piece.  But I do recall feeling so pumped up with inspiration that I just had to store it for future sharing.

To that wonderful someone who cooked up this soul food... THANK YOU!  And to my cyber pal who passed it on... many endless thanks!



Jay Leno's food for thought

This piece reached my cyber mailbox many, many moons ago...

photo credit:  hark.com

This is so very worth reading. Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
     
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe.  It must be true given the source, right?
    
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president.  In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and wants change.

  
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?  Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?  Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?  Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
  
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
  
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
  
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
  
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This is all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents and in neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
  
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
    
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
  
I know, I know.  What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating?  Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11?  Or how about the President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?  Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
  
Think about it.....are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
  
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.  There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an   ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
   
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media.  If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?  The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
  
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
    
We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day or at least be thankful and appreciative.
     
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
  
  Jay Leno
  
  
Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people that need to read this and grasp the truth of it all.

Snap from good behavior

My modus operandi is to always try to live life with kindness and follow the Golden Rule.  Unfortunately, sometimes my humanness takes over and some days I have a feeling that only this picture can describe.

photo credit:  unknown

Many times, no matter how I paint life with all the colors of the rainbow and arm myself with all the positive energy I can muster, I end up feeling like this:

photo credit:  unknown

So if you're perpetually pumped and forever feeling the love, count yourself truly blessed!  The world needs more folks like you!



25 Beautiful Short Phrases

Aren't there certain moments in our life when we just have the urge for a pick-me-upper?  If you ever find the need to be comforted, enlightened, re-assured and revitalized, may you find the exact inspiration from one or all of the phrases below.

Keep your chin up!