Unfortunate Timing

Sometimes it is all about timing. A co-worker of mine who sat next to me once sent an email to everyone on our team (including the Boss) that does by definition, break the companies acceptable use policy for Email, which includes not forwarding jokes emails etc... amoung other things.

So the contents of the email, was this (remember, he sent this to his boss)

 

 

A few minutes later, the boss called the co-worked in, and when they returned they told me they were fired.

Now, I knew they were going to be let go, but I have always wondered... did they think they were fired *because* of the email? The timing was shocking, and well, unfortunate. Poor guy is probably afraid to send any email now.

Dear Mia Part 1 – Beginnings

Dear Mia, you cannot believe how close you were to not being born. Your mom and I set a deadline of October 2007 for us to get news that the stork would be bringing you nine months later. After waiting for news for most of that year, the summer faded into fall and the deadline was approaching. I was prepared to wait for news that you were coming until January of 2008, but it is a conversation I don’t remember having with your mom.

The same month the deadline was approaching, I was training to run the Portland Marathon, so much of the time I was very tired. On my long runs around the Hillsboro airport I would think about you a lot. Since there was no word from the stork, we didn’t really know for certain whether you would be a boy or girl, but somehow I knew. I just knew. I think your mom wanted a girl too… with two boys already, but for awhile there… it didn’t look like you were coming at all.

Well before October of 2007 I sensed something life changing was on the horizon. I didn’t even know what… but looking back, I think it was you.

In April 2007 I wrote:

“When I started my marathon journey I thought something would be different by the time I ran my marathon. Something that I could put my finger on and say ‘that is it!’, but as of yet… I haven’t found what that would be. Is it something I will discover during the run itself, is it something I already have and don’t understand the significance of… or will the marathon be my sports car, not solving anything, but just acting as a blaring reminder that I am near midlife, and I still haven’t figured out what this is all about. I hold out for something a bit more optimistic than that, but I am not sure what it would be.”

I walked upstairs when your mom was in the bedroom bathroom calling the stork to see if you coming… and nervously paced away. Something deep down in me knew what the answer would be… and sure enough… the news from the stork was… you were on the way.

I surf poetry

I surf poetry
I taste it
I drown in it
until I’m left gasping for air with head spinning and wondering
and thinking and feeling
yes- feeling
like I’m more alive
like I’ve tapped into someone’s infinite wisdom
like I’m caught in their storm
and I don’t want a life raft
because the journey
the glorious journey
the taste of pain
the sinking under the pressure of it all
makes me feel so much more alive when my feet finally hit the ground

Guide to water cooler conversation pre-coffee

Brad’s guide to water cooler conversation before you have had coffee

Remember, pre-coffee your goal is only to survive until the caffeine can work its magic.

Rule #1 repeat back what anyone says to you with just a few works changed
Rule #2 Fire any questions right back at ‘em

Examples:

“Good morning”
“Morning”

“How are you?”
“Good, how are you?”

“How about that weather?”
“Yeah, how about that weather?”

“Did you see that game last night?
“Yes, did you see the game?”

Don’t get trapped into actually responding with anything meaningful!!! Remember, the last thing anyone really wants to hear in the morning with small talk is actual information, and trying to converse pre-coffee can be devastating!

Coffee is your goal, stay focused!!!