You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Off Topic Chat
>
Watcha Doin' - 2017.1 edition
Peggy wrote: "I finally got news about the grant I applied for. I'm not through to the next round. I feel a bit sad because it was so much work and the studies were nice and I would have liked to do them, and it..."Peggy. I'm sorry to hear that you didn't get it but I think these things come down to luck . Hope you will be lucky elsewhere ;-)
We have another 2 weeks here before the clocks go forward 1 hour. I never seem to struggle with the Spring change but I hate the one in Autumn. I was born just a few days before the time change in October and my mum has always said how badly I slept when the clocks changed and this is why I struggle with it still now. I'm guessing what actually happened was that my mum slept badly because I hadn't shifted an hour but she had. I was fine. When you have no concept of time, it doesn't affect you. lol. I think I "struggle" with it because I've told myself that for years but if I approached it as I do the Spring change, I think I'd have a different experience.
I'm usually quite tired the first week of the time change. I didn't really notice it yesterday because I didn't have to be on time to the quilt retreat. I could show up whenever I wanted. But today, it's back to the usual routine, but an hour earlier.
I never struggled with the time change, except to feel a bit tired sometimes. My youngest daughter used to get so cranky around the time changes. It would take her a few days to adjust every time. She seems to have outgrown it now. I worry about people that are at risk. Apparently, there is an increase in heart attacks and accidents following the time change and there is information suggesting it can be a trigger for those suffering depression.
I have never struggled with either of the time changes here in the UK.
Lisa wrote: "I have never struggled with either of the time changes here in the UK."Ditto
It doesn't normally bother me, but for some reason getting up an hour earlier this morning was such a struggle. I always think people make a bigger deal out of it than it should be. If you go to bed and get up at the same times, you are still getting the same amount of sleep, so it shouldn't be a major problem. In theory. That doesn't hold true for me today. Today is national take a nap day.... I really like that idea. Too bad I don't think my boss would agree. LOL.
In the spring, I have trouble getting to sleep an hour earlier than what my body is used to. I don't feel tired at 10:00 at night, but I do at 11:00. So the clock says 11:00 and my body says "to hell with that, it's only 10:00". It takes my body about a week to adjust.In the fall, I'm waking up when my body says 7:00 and the clock says 6:00.
So, I'm losing about an hour of restorative sleep until my body adjusts. It doesn't matter what the clock says.
It's the same principle as jet lag. Some people feel it more than others.
Janice wrote: "I'm usually quite tired the first week of the time change. I didn't really notice it yesterday because I didn't have to be on time to the quilt retreat. I could show up whenever I wanted. But today..."How was the quilt retreat, Janice. I thought about you quilting away some over the weekend : )
I struggle with keeping a regular schedule. My body sometimes wants to sleep 9 hours. Other times can't sleep more than 5 or 6. DST complicates this some. The fall change is harder for sure. Giving up daylight instead of gaining is easier.
Sorry to hear Peggy, but hopefully some interesting opportunities pop up for you!We have another 2 weeks of Daylight Savings Times. I do not want to give it up, as usual. I love it. Love, love, love it. Here we are so close to equator comparatively to you northern hemisphere guys (I used my super scientific method of measuring with fingers on google maps, and we're about the bottom most point of Texas), that hour makes the world of difference.
Being able to have sunset at the height of summer at 8.30pm instead of 7.30pm is worth the week of being a zombie in October, hands down.
But at least I have the good change coming up of gaining an hour's sleep. Yay! More sleep!
Lisa wrote: "I have never struggled with either of the time changes here in the UK."I hate it! It takes so long for dogs to adjust :(
I agree, Rusalka. A few days of adjusting to the new sleep patterns is beyond worth it for me to have that extra hour of sunshine in the evenings. @Margo, the dogs is one reason I hate the "fall back" time change. I'm wanting to sleep for another hour, and they think it is time to get up.
Tejas Janet wrote: "How was the quilt retreat, Janice. I thought about you quilting away some over the weekend : )."I haven't quilted in a year! I didn't even unpack my quilting bags from the last retreat, so I just grabbed everything as it was and headed over. I wanted to enjoy the retreat more than I did, but I don't think I was in the right frame of mind. I managed to finish the table topper that I had started last year, so I'm very pleased about that. I'm planning to go to another quilt retreat the end of May. It's a 5 day retreat. And I shall bring wine. :)
KimeyDiann wrote: "I agree, Rusalka. A few days of adjusting to the new sleep patterns is beyond worth it for me to have that extra hour of sunshine in the evenings. @Margo, the dogs is one reason I hate the "fall ..."
I can see how that would be a plus for you and Rusalka. Where I live, it doesn't make a difference. In the height of summer, it doesn't get really dark at all. The sun goes down around 11:00 and back up around 4:00. Daylight savings time doesn't really add any extra light to waking hours.
An old Indian man once said, "‘Only a white man would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of a blanket and have a longer blanket.
I need some advice. A woman I work with, Anna, has been out of work dealing with a broken leg and a significant other that was battling cancer. Her SO passed away right before Christmas then in January she had to have a second surgery on her leg. She could have came back to work in January or February, but decided not to until she finished physical therapy. She was out of work for almost 6 months and just came back yesterday.
She works in accounts payable and while she was out, our second accounts payable clerk, Beth, who was also the receptionist, took on all of Anna's duties in addition to her own. And she did an amazing job at it. In fact, it made management realize how poor of a job Anna had been doing for the past several years. Management decided that when Anna came back to work, she would not go back into AP, they would put her in reception instead.
Anna is understandably a little upset and confused. Management didn't tell her that she wasn't doing a good job or anything like that, just that they were moving her. She's asked me about it a little bit and at first I was just telling her that I think mgt wanted to ease her back into working. Now I'm questioning if I should tell her the truth.
Part of my hesitation on just telling her is that I know it is going to make her upset and angry. There are 5 of us that work in very close proximity to each other and there is a lot of friction between some. One person that is fiercely loyal to Anna has a very strong dislike for Beth and I can see her stirring up more trouble. I don't want things to become miserable here like they have been at times in the past.
Opinions?
Janice wrote: "An old Indian man once said, "‘Only a white man would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of a blanket and have a longer blanket. "I was just thinking about this saying yesterday. It is so true.
Where I live, in the height of Summer, it never gets dark properly and in the height of winter it doesn't get light. The hour forwards / backwards just hastens in either state that much quicker. The evenings are suddenly darker / lighter so you're suddenly in hibernation / wide-awake mode. I'd much prefer the gradual change though.(I like your quote Janice!)
Tricky KimeyDiann. It's a bit out of order for the management not to explain the situation fully to her upon her return. I'm not sure they are even allowed to do what they've done. She applied for a job and got it, worked the job for some time, she had time off which was agreed on by the management, returned but she should return to her own job, not a different job that she didn't apply for. But I totally understand why they would want to put her in a different position if the replacement has proved better. Just it needed to be handled differently. Whilst I can tell that you want a peaceful work environment and feel that someone needs to tell her the real reasons for the change, it isn't your responsibility to tell her - it's the managements. Is there anyway to encourage them to do it? If it were me, I think I'd stay well away from the mess - it sounds complicated. Sorry I can't be much help.
Great quote Janice! and very apt considering you've been on a quilting retreat.
I was thinking the exact same thing as Sarah. She should get an explanation, but from the management. I also love that extra hour of daylight in the evenings! I'm already looking forward to the change.
That is the biggest problem with my company. The management doesn't tell anyone anything. When I got my promotion, there was no announcement, no one was told what I was going to be doing and it caused a lot of animosity towards me because I took someone's position who was more than just the division accountant, he was the office manager as well. I only took over the accounting duties. I'm not concerned about the legalities of the job change. I'm looking at it more like a demotion. Besides, she was off longer than FMLA covers before her accident, they didn't have to legally let her come back to work at all. But despite the backwards way they do some things, it is a very family focused company I work for and they have strong loyalty to and from their employees.
But, management isn't going to tell her any more than they have unless she goes and demands details. Plus, our boss is very rarely in the office lately due to problems at one of our out of state jobs, so I don't know when she would have an opportunity to speak to him.
Ugh, not a great situation to be in KimeyDiann. I personally think you telling her would cause more problems. I would tell management that she's asking questions and it's making it uncomfortable at work. However I would also tell your colleague that she needs to ask management about the situation.
I would just once like to work in an office where there wasn't this lack of communication issue. I think some of this is just going to be what you feel comfortable doing KimeyDiann. I've never felt right in telling anyone the details of something like this, even if I know, which I often do because I'm friendly and nosy. I do offer advise about going to ask and who to talk to though. Usually this is to a Union rep because I work in that type of environment, but I'd have no qualms about commiserating, agreeing that it an unusual situation and advising that she get some straight up answers from so and so.
If she still can't get real answers then I'd have to weight the pros and cons of telling her the truth and how that would affect the office, myself and her. So far, I've never made the choice to tell but it could be a possibility in the right situation.
Thanks, I'm already getting a better feeling about just staying out of it from the three of you that have responded. I did tell her yesterday that she needs to talk to our boss and get a better understanding of what his expectations are. The little 3 minute talk they had last week wasn't enough. But telling her that, is part of what made me start thinking maybe I should just tell her the details.
I only know the details, not because I'm friendly and nosy like Dawn ;) lol , but because I was in the right place at the right time when the conversation came up between two of my bosses. I agree with their decision, but as is pretty normal, not their execution.
At least you get to agree with a decision, I'm often sitting there thinking that I neither agree with what they've done or how they've done it.
Great quote, Janice. It is so perfect. Kimey - I would also stay out of it. I think telling her yourself would cause more issues. I would suggest to her that she speak with management and ask them directly why she was moved. Also, I wouldn't suggest that they're easing her back into it or her expectation may me that she'll get the other position back eventually. Honestly, I'd just act like I know nothing and have her speak directly to the people that should have had the conversation with her in the first place. Good luck!
Dawn wrote: "At least you get to agree with a decision, I'm often sitting there thinking that I neither agree with what they've done or how they've done it."Oh, I have that problem quite often too. Much more often than I actually agree. But they don't ask me so I don't say anything. lol.
I agree with everyone else - refer her to management.Here, the legalities are that she is returned to her job after a leave of absence. If she is not performing according to the standards they expect, there is a process that they need to follow. They've essentially demoted her without due process.
Janice wrote: I haven't quilted in a year! I didn't even unpack my quilting bags from the las..."
I can relate to doing something like this, Janice. Did the year away from quilting give you trouble getting into the flow of quilting again, I wonder. Hopefully your next, longer retreat will be more enjoyable.
Catching up on some other posts...Congrats, Pragya. Have missed you around here!
Not to worry, Peggy. I have confidence you will find something even better. But sorry for the disappointment. Good not to be wondering tho.
I agree with consensus here, Kimey. Avoid offering details that should come from management. Would probably only bring you grief, sorry to say.
Lynn wrote: "Ugh, not a great situation to be in KimeyDiann. I personally think you telling her would cause more problems. I would tell management that she's asking questions and it's making it uncomfortable ..."
This.
Janice wrote: "I agree with everyone else - refer her to management.
Here, the legalities are that she is returned to her job after a leave of absence. If she is not performing according to the standards they ex..."
And this.
If you tell her you risk her being upset at you, when it's nothing to do with you, and the wrath of management for pointing out their incompetence and cowardice. I would also point out to your workmate though, that if management doesn't answer her questions, which are legitimate, she may want to get advice from the union. It's never a bad thing to know your rights. And if management have a point (which they sometimes do, as you mention) there should be performance management processes they need to follow, not just sticking people in a corner and hoping they go away.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm staying out of it. I knew that was the correct thing to do deep down, but my softy side was warring with that decision. @Rusalka, we aren't unionized here. And I don't really think they are putting her in this position with the hope that she'll quit, they are actually trying to help her by keeping her in a job. We don't need a receptionist, but, despite the way I'm sure it sounds in my post earlier, everyone here really does care about her, management included. This company has a strong loyalty to its long-term employees. She has the ultimate job security, as do most of the people that work in my office. Despite her poor work performance in the past, she would not have been let go because of it. They would have probably moved her to another position just like they did. It just happened in a poorly timed way and mgt didn't explain their reasoning the way they should have.
How is everyone faring with the winter storm? We even had a few flakes of snow fall here yesterday. You really had to strain to see them, but there was at least a few hundred flakes in this area! LOL.
No winter storm here, we've had lovely weather since Saturday! We even worked in the garden on Sunday and could sit outside with a beer afterwards. Tomorrow will be 18C (65 F) but after that there will be less sun and more clouds and rain again.
The weather has been pretty nice here too. It's lovely and sunny today. There are some newspapers that are saying the remnants of the winter storm are heading our way so we could get blasted by snow and cold temperatures by the end of the week. Which probably means we will get one snowflake!I went to the first day of the Cheltenham Festival yesterday which was my 30th birthday present. What an experience! Amazing racecourse, great atmosphere and fantastic racing.
We did not have a winter storm here, just some rain. Where my daughter is, they got about 2 feet of snow! She took the day out of work yesterday, but is back at it today.
Happy birthday Lisa!! (or was it a belated present?)I had not even heard there was a winter storm going on, but just read about the snow in New York and Washington.
I need to review a paper so I'm going to sit outside in the sun to do it. Working on my laptop is not very handy with the sun reflecting on the screen, but reading a paper is doable!
Anyone else having issues with the website today? It takes a few seconds to load the pages, I only have it with GR, not other websites.
Peggy wrote: "Happy birthday Lisa!! (or was it a belated present?)I had not even heard there was a winter storm going on, but just read about the snow in New York and Washington.
I need to review a paper so ..."
It was a belated present. My birthday was in September so I found out about it then, but didn't actually go until yesterday.
Also, Goodreads has been quite slow for me today too.
Hopefully the winter storms are finished here, they lasted much longer than usual. We're back to rain, rain, rain and more rain, which is a typical winter. I haven't had any issues with the GRs site yet today.
It has been spring here for the last couple of weeks until winter decided to show back up uninvited these past several days. I'm sure a lot of the plants that were putting out were probably killed last night when the temps fell to the 20's f. I hope my hydrangea bush survived. It didn't bloom at all last year but I think it was because I cut it back too far and at the wrong time. I haven't done anything to it this time but I'm afraid the frost may gave got to it last night.
When I caught the train to work today there were loads of guys all dressed up in suits heading to Cheltenham races. it was packed. Glad you had a good time Lisa.Glorious sunshine here. Hard to believe it's going to turn cold at the end of the week. I guess we'll find out.
I don't think we get a cold spell. More clouds and some rain, but still temperatures of 12-15 degrees, which is warmer than the average mid March. 30 minutes until the first exit poll of our elections. I'm so curious, it was quite close between 4 very different parties in the last few days.
Sarah wrote: "When I caught the train to work today there were loads of guys all dressed up in suits heading to Cheltenham races. it was packed. Glad you had a good time Lisa.Glorious sunshine here. Hard to be..."
It was packed at the racecourse yesterday too. On the way there, once we hit the outskirts of Cheltenham, there was so much traffic that it took us an hour and 5 minutes to drive the remaining 3 miles to the racecourse.
Oh you know blowing drifting snow. Anywhere from a foot to drifts 4 foot deep. I think about 18" I average. Was the wind that was the monster. All of NYS except the 6 northern counties were under state of emergency. I was of course in one of the 6. I don't think we got it less just that we know what to do with it. Now I'm sure if Joan pops in it was horrendous in her part just no place to put all that snow.Got er all pushed out of the way for now just wind blowing it around a bit. Basically normal winter weather now.
I have to add that getting up at 330 am to plow snow a couple days after changing clocks wasn't fun. My body was like it's 230 go back to bed moron
Ugh! I don't want to think about snow. Ours is melting since we've had a couple of days of temperatures above freezing. Spring is on it's way.
My Mt. Hood daffodils have started blooming in my front yard, but they are all bent over, laying on their faces because of all the rain. The common yellow ones have a stiffer stem and are not as bothered, although some of them on the outsides of the clumps, are facing downward too. The ones in my back yard bloom a little later because they do not get the early morning sun. Hopefully, the rain will not beat them down. Glad you are making it through the storm, Travis, even though you have to get up so early to clear the road of all the snow. I think Roz was getting it too.
Roz. Should have been in the heart of the mess as well. I agree Cherie
We had 15 inches (37 cm) here, and two days of cancelled school. I SO ready for life to be back to "normal" today...
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Proof: The Science of Booze (other topics)The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (other topics)
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (other topics)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (other topics)
The Little Prince (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael J. Sullivan (other topics)Joe Hill (other topics)
Kazuo Ishiguro (other topics)
Kazuo Ishiguro (other topics)
Kazuo Ishiguro (other topics)
More...
We do daylight savings but not for another two weeks. I never have troubles with it, I don't think the 1 hour affects me much.