Do Rolling Briefcases Make Good Dance Partners?

The popularity of those rolling briefcases has really taken off, have you noticed? I see them all over now and I understand their popularity. I'm not crazy about carrying a heavy bag on my shoulder but I have to say that the vain side of me (and that is my much, much smaller side) would much rather carry a smart looking bag that I can fit everything into, throw over my shoulder, and run.

During my commute I see many people with these wheeled briefcases. They just plop them on the ground and go rolling these briefcases along behind them. So, I bet you can see my beef coming...why do those people that have these rolling briefcases feel the need to plop them down right in front of my feet when I am walking? Don't they have some obligation to be sure that they watch where they and their rolling briefcase is going? And, come on people, at the top or bottom of an escalator is especially dangerous to stop to plop your wheeled briefcase!

I cannot tell you how many times now I have almost landed on my head because someone has stopped abruptly in commute foot traffic to drop their rolling briefcase directly in my path. There is one person in particular that I run into plenty of times who seems to be especially oblivious. He feels compelled to not carry his wheeled briefcase any further than absolutely necessary even if it compromises my safety and the safety of those around me. And he is consistently the one who stops dead in his tracks at the top of the escalator to drop his briefcase, walk around it, like he's doing a samba, the proceed off pulling the little devil behind him.

If one day I quit posting to this blog, well, you will know what happened.

Stinky Gym Clothes, What!?!

A couple days ago I was dutifully enjoying my cardio work out on the Cybex Arc Trainer (if you don't know what that is it's kind of a cross between an elliptical machine and a stair stepper). My favorite Arc Trainer is directly in line with a window that is perpetually open with only one tread mill separating me from the fresh air. I watched but did not listen to the several televisions mounted around the gym per usual and then I began to smell an odd aroma. A couple of seconds passed and what I thought to be an aroma turned, well, disgusting. I peered around the gym and smack in front of that open window directly in my line of fire was a person who had just jumped onto the treadmill that stood between that open window and me. That person on that treadmill must not have washed their gym clothes for an entire year or maybe even more. The stench of urine, sweat, or whatever else made my stomach turn. It was completely and utterly vile! I cannot imagine how the person wearing those clothes could not know that they smelled. Don't get me wrong, I understand that the gym is typically not full of fresh and fruity smells, but come on! I wash my gym clothes between each use, it's not that difficult.

I got to thinking that maybe gyms should institute a clothing smell test and if you don't pass you cannot workout. Can you imagine the protests of the front desk workers?

Most Moms Would Like to Work Part Time, Surprised?

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to any of you moms that most moms would like to work part time. Though even a part time schedule can be a challenge. The issue is that most companies will not hire people into part time positions. I believe that this comes from the corporate mentality that if someone is not willing to spend all their waking hours at work then they are not loyal to the company. But, times, they are a changing.

As women have their children later in life, they are usually well established in their profession. Companies have invested time and money in training these women, also. After entrenching themselves in their profession, women have their first baby, then elect to stay home because their priorities change and they cannot find a suitable schedule. Because of this paradigm change, companies are beginning to feel the talent pinch. Some companies are starting to take notice and offer more flexible schedules for professional women. Staffing agencies, like 10 til 2, as well are picking up on the trend and specializing in placement of professional women in part time and flexible positions.



In fact, an Arizona newspaper reports, that a poll suggests that moms are more inclined now to want to work part time than ten years ago. It also lists the Top 10 part-time jobs for moms as:

• Administrative or executive assistant.
• Accounts payable/receivable.
• Appointment setters.
• Accountant or bookkeeper.
• Data entry.
• Legal secretaries.
• Marketing specialist.
• Sales.
• Office assistant or manager.
• Graphic or Web designers.

The task of balancing a full-time job with all of its demands and a family, because, let's face it, children need their mommy, is stressful. The stress is what forces women to leave the workforce if they cannot cut back the work schedule. Companies now are beginning to realize that they are missing out on a talent pool that they had available to them ten years ago. This realization is what is prompting companies to offer more flexible schedules for moms and dads alike.

My experience proves that most moms want to work. It gives them an outlet in other areas of life so they can feel successful on those days that being a mother makes us doubt our abilities. There are no rules for parenting (as we all know) and therefore the ability to work in an environment where there are boundaries and the possibility of positive feedback on the job that we perform is critical.

As the next few years pass, I hope that more opportunities arise for people who wish for the part time schedule become more abundant. I think it might just make as a more rounded society. Oh, how I am hoping that this really takes off.

Daylight Savings Time

Wow, I cannot believe that Halloween is almost here. I remember each year sometime around Halloween, we have to start thinking about setting our clocks back to Standard Time so this is the time of year I ask, "When do we set our clocks back?" of "When does daylight savings end, again?" Those thoughts made me check the Daylight Saving Time schedule for 2008.

I remember that we used to lose Daylight Savings Time in October but fairly recently the time for setting the clocks back in the fall moved to sometime after Halloween, I think the first Sunday in November. So, the time change for fall 2008 is next weekend. On Sunday morning at 2:00 all the clocks go back. Yes, we gain an hour next Sunday. That means that for the states that participate Daylight Savings Time, (Arizona, Hawaii and some of the US Territories stay on Standard Time all year long) those citizens will turn their clocks back one hour at 2:00 am on Sunday, November 2, 2008. That is when the official time will change from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time.

So, plan ahead because you will have an extra hour to entertain, get things done, or just relax. What are your plans?

Palin Wardrobe Malfunction?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't like to start talking politics but I'm thinking this does not really count.

I'm sure you've heard by now that the Republican National Committee spent somewhere around $150,000 for Sarah Palin's wardrobe for the campaign trail. Most of it being spent at Neiman Marcus with the rest being spent on hair consultation and make up.

Wow, you would think that she could have gotten by with Nordstrom and a bill a lot smaller than that! Is it really necessary to buy all the clothing at Neiman Marcus? Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Neiman's but if the republicans are behind in fundraising, which everyone agrees is true, then why don't they cut corners in places like this. Furthermore, I'd like to have a fraction of that for my wardrobe budget.

But, it gets better, when this story broke the official party line became that all the clothing items would be donated as soon as the campaign is over. Wha!?!

But reading about this raises a bunch of questions in my mind, like, what was she wearing before all these necessities were purchased? Why Neiman's? What will Ms. Palin wear after the campaign if she donates all her clothing? And, finally, who are they going to donate all those wardrobe pieces to when they are done? I only ask because I think my size and hers are about the same and I'd like to get in line, please...

Obama Tax Calculator

I try not to talk politics because I think too many people just want to speak their piece and not listen too others, me included, so it's generally not a good idea for me to get going down that path. But, I don't count this as really talking politics. I found this Obama Tax calculator and I also found this other Obama Tax Calculator. It appears that the first one is the "official" version and the second one, well I have to say that I like the numbers on that one much better. Maybe "Joe the plumber" can plug his numbers in here and see what his taxes will be under each scenario and we can all move on.

Morning Banana Diet

Have you heard about this? Apparently it's all the rage in Japan and my guess is it's just a matter of time before bananas are a scarcity throughout the world.

Apparently, you can lose weight if you have a banana, or two or, actually, as many as you want, and some water at room temperature for breakfast. Then you can eat anything you want for lunch, a snack (at 3:00), and dinner but, you must complete your eating by 8:00 pm and you may not have any desserts after your meals (it actually does not say anything about having them before...). The only other caveat is that you must go to bed by midnight. Sounds pretty simple, huh?

I'm thinking that some bananas may be on my next shopping list.