little boys and old men

I played "rent-a-gran" this past weekend ... not something I do very often as 5 year old and 2.75 year old energy is WAY too much energy for a relaxing weekend! However, the munchkins are fun (in their own LOUD and energetic way). The main goal of the weekend ... besides a break from munchkins for Mommy S. ... was to bake Halloween cookies. I'm the official cookie-baking rent-a-gran.Usually we make Ranger cookies (above) cuz the munchkins can put whatever combination of optional goodies they want in them ... choc chips, nuts, seeds, marshmallows, etc. However, this past weekend, we made plain sugar cookies and added licorice stick legs and raisin eyes to make SPIDERS (their choice).

Sorry, no pix. It was all I could manage to supervise munchkins without trying to take pix too!

Anyway, 'Baby Brother B.' has finally developed enough hand-eye coordination to roll out and flatten and decorate his own cookie dough creations. He was doing quite a decent job of it, but forgot the licorice stick legs part. His cookies were roundish blobs with raisin eyes. Consequently, his bossy big sister, 'Little Madam C.' ... with hands on hips and much eye-rolling attitude ... told him "you're so stupid! you can't do anything right! you FORGOT the legs!"

'Baby Brother B' continued placidly rolling out and flattening and decorating his own dough creations his own way and replied "my remember head is TWO!"

I don't think we ever need worry about this intelligent little guy being dominated by his domineering bossy big sister!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On my way to work yesterday morning, I was greeted by three of the local downtown "characters" ... all aboriginal, a bit rough around the edges, sometimes somewhat less than sober, but always entertaining. Says the middle-aged fella: "you shoulda worn your trousers today, not that pretty dress, it's gonna rain real hard today."

The temperature was about minus one and it didn't look much like rain to me, so I asked him how he knew that. "Old Indian wisdom," he said, and then pointing to his elderly buddy, "he told me!"

I chuckled all day. That was a great start to a busy week!

I'll leave y'all with this cartoon that I received via email this morning ...

ELEVEN TIPS ON GETTING MORE EFFICIENCY OUT OF WOMEN EMPLOYEES

One of my fellow non-profit managers shared this article with me, and I just had to pass it on to y'all . . .

According to this article from the July 1943 edition of Mass Transportation magazine:

"There's no longer any question whether companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The military draft and the manpower shortage have settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and to know how to use them to the best advantage. Here are 11 helpful tips on the subject from Western Properties:

1. If you can get them, pick young married woman. They have these advantages: they usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters; they're less likely to be flirtatious; as a rule, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it -- maybe a sick husband or one who's in the army; they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Most companies have found that older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.

3. While there are exceptions to this rule, general experience indicates that "husky" girls -- those who are just a little on the heavy side -- are likely to be more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination -- one covering female conditions. This step not only protects against the possibilities of lawsuit but also reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job. Companies that follow this practice report a surprising number of women turned down for nervous disorders.

5. In breaking in women who haven't previously worked outside the home, stress the importance of time -- the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slow.

6. Give the female employee a definite schedule of duties so that she'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous companies say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.

7. Whenever possible, let the employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be nervous and they're happier with change.

8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. Companies that are already using large numbers of women stress the fact that you have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick, and wash her hands several times a day.

9. Be tactful in issuing instructions or in makiung criticisms. Women are sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way that men do. Never ridicule a woman -- it cuts her efficiency.

10. Be considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.

11. Get enough size variety in uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stress too strongly as a means of keeping women happy.

* * * * *

Considering this was published nearly a decade before I was born, I'm somewhat impressed that any employer even contemplated "rest periods" and the importance of hand washing. However ... GIVE ME A BREAK! "Husky" girls are more even-tempered and efficient??? Females lack initiative??? All it takes is a proper fitting uniform to make females happy??? What do you think, ladies?

holiday humor

I'm really dragging today ... too much to do, deadlines fast approaching, exhausting work days. So I thought we ALL needed a little holiday humor:

Just something to think about when you dig into those mincemeat pies ... or whatever kind of pies y'all enjoy!