When the economy turns downward… rev it up

It’s hard to shift from having a specific job within a company to having to do additional jobs without additional pay. It’s just the way it is. We’re hardwired to expect more for doing more. But in these tough economic times, we all have to roll up our sleeves and dig in, help out, and not expect anything extra in return besides job security.

Some people don’t understand that and still hold to the ‘that’s not my job’ mentality. Those are the people who will lose their jobs. Those are the people others look at as saboteurs. Those are not team players. And in these times – as in others, though the focus isn’t so heavily there when times aren’t so tough – team players are the ones in demand.

Daughter and I have to become team players, now, too. Not that we haven’t been but the game is up there in innings and the score is tied. It’s up to us to help turn this game into a winner as team players with hubby and his crew.

Fortunately, Daughter’s homeschooling is winding down. There are more hours available to us now. We’ll be picking up the slack in hubby’s office – getting orders out quicker, making those follow up calls, and learning who indeed is a team player and who is not. This is not the time for ‘it’s not my job’, it’s the time for ‘what else can I do to help?”

So, wherever you are, whatever work you do, swallow that false pride and find a way to make the work flow smoother. It’ll benefit the company which in turn will benefit you. And who knows? You just might turn that false pride into pride earned and well deserved.

Birthdays – Celebrating vs. Aging

Let’s face it, unless you’re 12 going on 13 you’re not into aging.  At least I know I’m not. Yet, it’s happening every minute of our lives, like it or not. That, I think, is the purpose of birthdays. To remind us that we’ve grown up over the last 365 days. That we’ve aged. And with age comes maturity. Or at least, it’s supposed to.

I celebrate my birthdays. I don’t think of them as a signal that I’ve grown ‘older’ but rather more comfortable. I am who I am and no longer apologize for it. I’ve learned to recognize my weaknesses and am in the process of learning to recognize my strengths – AND acknowledge them. That will take some time for someone like me, but hey, I’ve just reached what I think is the mid-way point so I’ve got a lot of years ahead of me to do just that.

Would I go back in time and be young again? I don’t think so. Maybe 30. I wouldn’t mind that but I don’t long for it. By 30 I’d gotten past a lot of stupid thinking that had me making equally stupid mistakes. Not that I didn’t make mistakes in my 30’s, but they were much less dramatic… or I handled them in a less dramatic way. “Maturity” and all that, ya know?

So now, in my 40’s, I’m comfortable. I realize what it takes to be me. I also realize how much harder it is to be me now than it was a decade ago – it takes more exercise, heavier weights, more concealer under the eyes and a separate towel for when I… ‘fix’ my hair.

I don’t mind getting older. I just don’t like looking the part. Whoever said “Youth is wasted on the young” had it right. And what’s worse is by the time we realize how right that is, our own young are at the stage where nothing we say has any value. Ah, if only we could pass these messages on to them in a language they understand… and hear.

It’s okay, really. I’m happy with who I am. I’ve learned which battles to fight and which to ignore. I’ve learned to gracefully side-step certain situations and I’ve learned how to stand up for the people I love. I’m not quite “there” yet, though. I’m not finished. I’m simply a work in progress. And, unlike the way I felt years ago, at this point in my life, I don’t mind one little bit.

Adam Lambert to join “Queen”?

QUEEN, for me, is a band fronted by the late, highly energetic, slightly shocking and ultra-talented Freddie Mercury.

  

Freddie’s presence filled arenas, stole the show from the other talented men in the band. Mention Freddie’s name and most people know his music – Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Somebody to Love and on and on. Mention the other band members by name and fewer people will recognize them, let alone know their compositions. Sad, but true.

QUEEN, as a whole, was a unique and amazing band. The four members worked together to make music that has stood the test of time… and will continue to do so. Unfortunately, Freddie’s been gone for nearly 17 years now. John Deacon, bass player, retired from music soon after, and Roger Taylor and Brian May have continued to tour with the QUEEN name and with another singer – Paul Rodgers of the bands Free and Bad Company.

Paul, in his own right, is a great talent. However, avid QUEEN fans resented him “taking Freddie’s place”, not that any one ever could. QUEEN + Paul Rodgers, as they called themselves, had a great run. They attracted the attention of old fans and new. They’ve brought the music of QUEEN out for live performances again. What QUEEN fan wouldn’t want that?

Of course, we want Freddie. But we can’t have him. Some fans have a hard time understanding that. Some fans feel Brian and Roger should simply give it up. Drop the band’s name and go on performing under a new name. Let QUEEN rest as Freddie rests.

Others, however, are thrilled to hear there might be a new QUEEN + in the works.

QUEEN + Adam Lambert.

copyright - Yahoo News

I’m an avid Freddie Mercury fan. Freddie’s flamboyant, over the top performances can never be outdone. However, truth be told, I wouldn’t mind hearing Adam sing some of Freddie’s songs. He could do it. He’s got the range and he’s got the guts. Adam with QUEEN just might work, in my opinion, because Adam is that kind of showman. He seems to enjoy prancing around on stage – much like Freddie, only not. He sings high and low notes with amazing ease. He can pump it up to a frenzy and take it down to almost lullaby bliss. He’s high-energy. Shocking. Non-apologetic. Young. Appealing. Controversial.

Sorry QUEEN purists, I think Freddie would be impressed. As would I.

Here’s hoping.

Apparently…

the answer to my last post is… “Kris”.

I found the entire show stunning. A little scary at times, I mean KISS all these years later, and Rod Stewart!? Well, I just didn’t know what to expect. They pulled it off, though, didn’t they? Carlos Santana… well, what can I say? THERE’s the man. But the stunner of all stunners for me was QUEEN! Yes. I’m an avid fan. In my opinion, Adam Lambert is the closest Brian and Roger will get to someone whose range is as impressive as the late, great Freddie Mercury.

Alas…

Adam is not the American Idol.

Who can say why the votes went the other way. Kris, is absolutely adorable and he certainly held his own tonight, but push to shove, Adam’s voice soars miles above. There is no doubt. So, it can’t be his voice that didn’t sway the public. Could it be his supposed lifestyle? Are we STILL that backward? Or was it simply the opinion that he wasn’t as good as young, sweet-smiling Kris?

Though I find the last one hard to believe, I guess we’ll never know for sure. One thing we can guarantee, however, is Adam will not fade to black. Without being bound by American Idol contracts as Idol, he will produce his own music and continue to sing his heart out.

Well, I’m not all that upset. Kris, after all, is fun to watch. So all in all, tonight was in fact a win-win night.

Now if all that’s true… why don’t I feel happy?

Adam or Kris?

I have to say, I love both of these guys.

I think Kris is the most adorable guy I’ve seen on TV in a very long time. When he sings, I have to smile. He’s just so dang charismatic.

Adam, on the other hand, doesn’t make me smile as much as gasp. He’s stunning in his confidence and range.

Okay… so tonight’s the night. One of those two will be crowned the American Idol of 2009. They’re both deserving, in my opinion, but since only one can be crowned… my vote goes to…

Well… let’s break it down…

Kris is sweet. He’s charming and adorable. He’s got a killer smile and an attitude that brings out the mothering instinct in me. His arrangements are fantastic, taking the old and making it fresh while keeping it familiar and classic. That’s a knack not every artist has. So, kudos to him.

Adam is a force. He comes onto the stage and simply commands it. I. Am. Here. His voice is amazingly powerful and covers a range like few others. In fact, one other artist comes to mind when I hear Adam sing – the incomperable Freddie Mercury. Adam, like Freddie, has a way of making a song sound so easy and yet when you try to sing along, or when you hear another artist try to sing the same piece, and wind up gasping for air or having voice cracks and cringe-worthy pitchiness throughout – you realize the raw talent behind the master.

The Idol crown, in my opinion, will crush the delicate though talented Kris Allen. Adam, on the other hand, will stand yet taller than he is with it set upon his head. So, yes, my vote goes to Adam. However, I’m pretty certain both men, winner and runner-up, will have plenty of opportunites ahead and long careers in music well after the glow of American Idol has faded.

Well, here I am, back again with a Contest

I’ve taken the advice I received and decided to post when the timing works. And so, here I am.

I’ve been researching fundraising ideas for the shelter. A small group of the volunteers met a few weeks back, and discussed ways we thought we could improve conditions and chances for adoption at the shelter. We formed a Cleanup Day and decided to carry it out quarterly.

Our first cleanup day was about two weeks ago. It was a lot of work – 12 solid hours the first day and another 8 the next. We’re not finished but we did a bang-up job, if I may say so myself, and the cats were quite intrigued.

We thought they’d be afraid. After all, we certainly upset their normal, peaceful routine. We moved everything, scrubbed and powerwashed their cages, the floor, their toys and climbers. They weren’t fazed in the least. Instead, they watched intently. Eyeballing everything that went on, each clearly hoping to be the first to check out what we did when the opportunity arose.

The place smells better, looks better and, hopefully, by the time we’re finished with this first-in-a-long-time cleaning, we’ll be able to make potential adoptive families eager to adopt and to bring friends by to do the same.

So beyond the cleaning, we decided to work out ideas for fundraising and adoptions. We’ve yet to come up with a new and exciting adoption event idea, but we have a potentially profitable fundraising idea – magazines. Yup. Simple, plain ole magazines. A person renews their subscription or orders a new one and the shelter receives 40% of the sale. Sounds like a win-win plan to me!

As for adoption events – or even other fundraising ideas – I’m open to suggestion. And to make it interesting, I’ll make it into a contest.  Whoever comes up with the best and most usable adoption event idea, or fundraising campaign idea will get to pick a magazine of their choice from the above campaign and it will be my gift – to the winner and to the shelter. Another win-win. Now THAT’s what I call a successful campaign.

To blog or not to blog

That is the questions, isn’t it?

There just isn’t enough time. There’s so much to say but hardly time to say it. I don’t know how time imploded but, somehow, for me, it did. I find myself rising earlier and earlier each morning, feeding my cats – mine and my foster babies who will remain with me until Mother’s day when they go to their new adoptive home – and then the rush is on. Before I know it, I’m washing the dinner dishes and preparing for bed.

It’s good, I suppose. It means we’re doing a lot with our days. But there doesn’t seem to be time to do some of the more personal things I enjoy – like writing. Whether here or on my story. For some reason, everything writing-related has been pushed aside. I will get back to it, and I will wonder what happened that caused me to stop writing in the first place. But, for now, I must let this blog alone and focus on stretching the hours in my days.

I’ve had a wonderful time here. I’ve loved reading other blogs and commenting. I’ve enjoyed “knowing” my blogging friends. I hope you’re all still putting your heartfelt words out there for others to read and I so hope to join you in that endeavor again.

Until then, thank you for being my online buddies. Thanks for the encouragement when I needed it. And thanks for sharing your own lives here and on your personal blogs. You’ve been my online fun and I know once I close up shop here, I’ll want to come back again full steam.

Because goodbyes are so very difficult, I want to leave you with a smile. As an animal lover AND a Queen fan, this video made me laugh aloud. I hope it will do the same for you. Enjoy!

 

See you all soon.