Down in the Honky Tonk

I’ve come to a mini-realization:  designing a Microsoft SharePoint environment is just like herding cats.  Not really talking about work or anyone in particular (superb job, splendiferous co-workers).  No, it’s more about the vagaries involved when you bring folks together for what’s supposed to be the common good. 

It becomes a lesson in human nature.  There’s the Self-Preservation Clan who just can’t stand cleaning out the cupboards.  There’s the Invaders from the Eighth Dimension who want to blast apart the old and start anew.  And in-between we have the Romantics, dreaming of what could be but without the day job to buy you that nice ring.  Lastly, I see the Blue Collar Guys who grab the pickaxe and get to moving files without caring about what the Spiral Architect, the system designer, envisions. 

At home we have cats, we all have some of those same personalities, eh?

And, speaking of my home, here we herd cats.  Kind of hilarious that our tones of home become those of my workplace . 

Cat people rule! 

Tucked away for another Day

They don’t need you, don’t want to hear a word you say

and they won’t take back those shots in the dark

those called-out words fading,

        falling and tumbling

                down to tears,

                        never felt by anyone.

So don’t you slide into their bitter gloom, listening

to those that lie-preach, those that hide in noise

spaced in the time between,

        along and among

                things they cannot change,

                        cannot slide to ‘OK.’

We’re finally complete with the truth around us,

when it comes down and comes out to a realization

that’s been pieced together,

        words never sent

anger never raged,

                        having found your way home.

A Touch of Madness

In 21^st century America, land of the free and the brave, why do have gym bathroom signs for things like, “Please do not put paper towels into the urinals”?  Just what kind of IQ have they put onto the payroll?  Are they serious?  If so, they ought to preface it with, “Hey You Big Stupid Dummy, how would you like it if I came to your house …”

While we’re being good gym rats, I figured out why I never feel like I’m in good shape.  It has something to do with the color-coordinated women in the gym who are sweat-impaired.  They act like they’re getting a good workout, I guess, but they rarely go outside where I’m at, and certainly cover up any perspiration somehow without us figuring out how we can do it too. 

OMG, women are smarter than guys!  Damn, now I finally figure this one out?  Ignorance was bliss.

Menopause—Time for a Change

Yes, dear reader, you're reading the title correctly and I can only imagine the quips I'll hear [sigh]...

Part of public service is helping out other over-worked public servants who strive to do the right thing but often with limited time and no funding/publicity.  In that vein, my friend RN Deb the public health nurse, occassionally develops outreach presentations on important health topics.  So here's some important info she encouraged me to share with mom's, sisters, friends, etc.

Deb says she believes that good nutrition, regular exercise, and daily relaxation can help a lot with the challenging symptoms, and the booklet “Menopause: Time for a Change” mentions similar strategies.  Here are two file she recommends:

Menopause: Time for a Change

http://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/menopause_time_for_a_change.pdf.

Women’s Mental Health (Deb's presentation slides are in this large 6Mb file)

http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//OWH09-CONSUMER/OWH09-CONSUMER.pdf