Peculiar People Day

Today we celebrate all those quirky, odd, unique people that we know. If you are the peculiar person, well then, today is your day to shine! The spot light is on you!

To honor the day, get together with your friends and over a drink, or two, share with each other something that you might find peculiar in each other. Heck it is just a good day to get together with friends!

One of my peculiar friends always wears outlandish hats, and refused to have her face in the photo…

The Lady in the Outlandish Hat

I think this gal needs to get her eyes checked…

Another odd one!

And, did anyone let this fellow know that styles have changed and big glasses are out?

And yet another....

Well, I am off to work where I will celebrate the day with all the peculiar people that I work with!

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Interview with a Foothills Hermit

I decided to take a short hike in the forest which is just at the end of my street. The birds were happily singing, the ground squirrels were sniffling around for acorns, and occasionally a deer would scamper off. I was following what appeared to be a trail. You can imagine my surprise when I came upon a lean to in an area that had been cleared. There were a couple of fruit trees and a huge vegetable patch! A creek bed flowed nearby.

Something rustled off to my right and caught my eye! It was a man, who had been hunkered down by a small cook fire. Startled, I said hello and excused myself for invading his privacy. He told me not to worry about it and offered me a cup of hot tea. He seemed harmless, so I accepted his offer of tea. He poured me a cup and offered me a seat on a tree stump that looked like it was carved out to create a chair.

Here is a snippet of our conversation:

Me: How did you end up living here and how long have you been here?

Hermit: I came to be living here because I wanted to get away from the things of man. How long have I been here? Not long enough and years…ever since 2007.

Me: Why is that?

Hermit: Because back then corporate greed was all the rage, and I lost my job. Didn’t have any place to go. Lost my home, and tried to find jobs, but the government was too busy bailing out corporate America a year later. They could not bail out the individual who was suffering more. I had no other alternative but to find someplace to go where I could be alone, and away from it all.

Me: Why did you choose this place?

Hermit: It is public land and open to all for use. It’s away from everything and is away from the daily grind of the media that reports on items like the Kardashian’s instead of what’s really important. You know, the true issues of what life is in this country. And, it gets me away from people.

Me: Why do you want to be away from people?

Hermit: I got tired of being surrounded by those who wanted to take credit for things that I did. I volunteered my time quite a bit. I liked helping others out. And one day one of the folks that worked for where I was volunteering wanted to take credit for all of what I had done for them. This reminded me of jobs I had had in the past where I created new processes and procedures and had supervisor’s take all the credit for the work I had done. So whether a paid job or as a volunteer, someone always wanted to take credit for what I had done. I got tired of it. I also got tired of other people knowing everything, and not being able to back up any of it with factual information. And, if I did not follow their viewpoint, then I was deemed as a bad person in their eyes. And they spread around rumors about me that had not one ounce of truth, and pretty soon others shunned me for believing the rumors. What was really sad was seeing how other people could be swayed by what I consider to be the bullies in life. These are folks that haven’t left their bullying days on the playground behind. They huff and puff, throw tantrums just to get their way, and I was tired of it.

So, now here I am surrounded by nature. Nature that does not judge me, tell me what to do, or how to behave. It lets me live in peace.

We continued our conversation for a while. I had finished my tea and needed to get back home. I told the hermit what a pleasure it was to have met him and wished him well. He wrapped up our conversation with the following sentiment.

“The difference of working for man or working with nature, is that nature gives back.”

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Christmas Catalog Must Haves?

Yes–this is another commentary on those catalogs which, by the way, multiply like bunny rabbits the closer we get to Christmas. I had ten delivered yesterday. All the items below are from one catalog. What has me shaking my head on these items is this: What has happened to society that all of these items are something you would need to buy? Some think they are funny and cool; others think, I need this. What is funny and cool, or that one just needs, is a commentary on our society. All I ask is that you think about what these items say about society today.

Item #1 – “Pootin’ Tootin’ Obama Doll – Here is a doll that replicates the President of the United States, I believe I read recently, the most powerful person in the world, that if you pull the finger of the doll it recites, “Now that’s what I call a weapon of mass destruction!” Yours for only $27.96, not including tax.

Item #2 – “Tactical Gals 2012 Calendar” – Not a calendar that supports our troops, but one that features scantily clad women, mind you not in military garb, bearing arms. $19.95, not including tax.

Item #3 – Poop Soap – Yeah, this one has been around for years. I think they used this in a film…wasn’t it Caddy Shack?…Well anyway, you have your choice, yes a choice, of either “plain” or “corn.” Hmm…Price? $14.96 for one bar not including sales tax.

Item #4 – “Santa Takes a Dump Down the Chimney” Yes, here is Santa, bare-ass on a chimney, and he can be yours for $22.98.

Item #5 – “Fast Finish Techniques From World Famous Street Fighters.” For a mere $69.98, plus shipping and handling of $11.50, not including tax, this is the DVD for you. This items cost does not include attorney’s fees, jail time and court costs when you have “finished” someone off. $33.98.

Item #6 – This one goes with the one above. “Steel Shot Knuckle Gloves.” Price? $33.96 not including tax, attorney fees, jail time and court costs.

Item #7 – “Doody Head” – Yes, here is a game, for you and your kids to play, where you throw an artificial piece of “doody” at each others heads! $19.98 not including the costs for committing assault and battery.

Item #8 – “Booby Bongos!” Play with your own set of bongos! No specific size, so I guess one size fits all on this one. Cost: $53.96 not including sales tax.

Item #9 – The “Ass Tray.” Guess where you put your butt? $12.96 before tax.

Item #10 – “Kill Moves DVD.” $81.48 not including court costs, jail time and attorney fees.

Item #11 – “Bad to the Bone Santa.” Santa’s hat is where? He sways his hips to the music of “Bad to the Bone.” Grown women will “blush and squeal with laughter.” Cost: $34.94, before tax. Maybe that is something to squeal at!

What do these items say to you?

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How Did They Get to be the Boss?

We have all found ourselves in the position of working for someone who either knows squat or diddly squat. We have all been there, and done that. They are out there and this issue was epitomized in the movie “Office Space.” I thought that I would devote a segment to those we have all encountered. What I want to know is how did they get to be the boss? I still ask myself that, and some of the answers are right there in front of your face, others, I am still scratching my head.

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CHART MAN
This supervisor leaves you charts every morning on your desk that have no meaning and when asked why it was given to you will come up with some reason that leaves you walking away shaking your head. You have to ask yourself, what did this person say that got them the job? Did they answer an interview question by showing someone a chart? The long and the short of it is, you realize that you know more than your boss.

B.J.
You have to ask what this boss did to get the job….ergo the name.

MARRIED TO THE OWNER
Same answer as above.

MICRO MANAGER
The focus here is on the small stuff. It is never about the big picture, which they can never seem to grasp.

TYPE A PERSONALITY
We all know what the “A” stands for, you just need to add the additional six letters.

THE EGOTISTICAL DEAF MUTE
The business is all about them in one way or another, whether or not they started the business, inherited it, or married into it. It’s all about their ego and forget anyone else. They ask for your opinion, advice, whatever, and no matter what you say, they do what their little pea brain thinks they should do. Why do they bother to ask? It’s a matter of ego!

THE BULLY
They never got along with anyone on the playground as a kid, and they never grew up either. They use what they learned at six years old and bring this into the office.

THE CLOCK WATCHER
Did you hear about the supervisor whose company was sued in court due to the supervisor having the company’s employees punch in and out for a bathroom break? He and his company lost a LOT of MONEY! Shhhh…I think that person is sitting in the cubicle next to mine! For some reason this person needs to tell me when to go to lunch, and when my day is over!

THE SCHMOOZER
This supervisor knows nothing, but has what is known in any industry a talent called, “The Golden Throated BS’er.” This one generally has something to do with sales. Not always, but more than likely does. They love to spend money as long as it is not their own. Wine and dine? Wasn’t that in the job description?

HATES WOMEN
This supervisor feels that women belong in one place and one place alone. It is not in their office!

LOOKS DO MATTER
For this supervisor looks do matter. We all know it is better to have a young, cute “thing” representing the company that one who might be older and not eye candy but someone who has any knowledge about the industry. Glitzy photos matter to this person…but just make sure you get the photo of them from their best side! Ugh! How do we get them to bend over?

OSTRICH WITH THE HEAD IN THE SAND
You can picture this already, can’t you? This is the supervisor who hates confrontation, yet they in some way have created it and want someone else to deal with it.

WISHY WASHY
One day the decision is to go forward with a project, and the next it is “Well, I don’t know…” Business stagnates and nothing gets done, except the staff has neck aches from going from one side to the next….

THE IDIOT
Everyone knows more than him, even the janitor. Enough said.

BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL
Their favorite saying, “If you don’t like it here, you can always go to where they have the Blue Light Special.”

MONEY SPENDERS
If we don’t have enough cash, why don’t we just print some more? No one will know the difference!

THE TYRANT
This supervisor’s favorite saying is “Death to all tyrants!” Except their own, of course!

“NOT MY FAULT!”
Everyone else is to blame for the way things have gone… This supervisor will not take the blame for any decision they have made that went south.

THE RULER OF THE WORLD
You will do what I say, when I say and how I say! This is their motto, until their demise and then they say, “It’s not my fault!”

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These are just a few of what I and others have seen with their supervisors. What they seem to forget is that it is the little guy, like you and me, that keep their business going. Which ones have your worked for?

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Thought that I had seen it all….

In order to get to Mosquito, an area 10 miles north of Placerville, one must take a road that twists and turns. And, this road boasts the oldest one lane wood suspension bridge in the State of CA. I am on my way home ready to start a three day weekend. Due to hot temperatures that are due to come, I went to store to get things so that I did not have to go to town over the next three days.

One particular corner on the road has a curve that is roughly 72 degrees. There was a Jeep in front of me ready to follow the curve when he slams on his brakes. I stop too and try to see why this fellow has stopped. Then I see it: It was a Semi-Truck! No way is this truck going to make this corner, I think and then I wonder, how did he get down here in the first place?

The fellow in the Jeep then went around this bend in the road. I am still stopped on the road. A man comes running around the corner and up the hill towards me indicating that I needed to back up, which I do. There is a white van approximately ten feet behind me as I start to back up while looking back over my shoulder. He starts honking at me as if I am going to hit him! I turn back to the scene and sit there in disbelief and watched.

The semi started up the hill, the look in the driver’s eyes: Crazed! Slowly he inched his way around the corner as the cars started backing up behind me. Then the semi started jerking, and not only the cab but the entire trailer. The driver is inches away from the upper hillside in the cab. The trailer is now tilting towards the opposite hill looking as if it is going to fall over.

The driver stopped the vehicle and got out. Some of the brainiac’s behind me had gotten out of their cars and had to come and take a look. Yup, there they were now standing on the hill looking at the partially tipped semi, which if it fell would squish them. Where was common sense?

Then I see another truck coming up around behind the semi. It was Extreme Towing to the rescue! The tow truck driver was hooking a chain to semi’s undercarriage. There were now about 20 cars behind me and this fellow in his white Toyota truck pulls up and squeezes in front of me as if he is going to go anywhere except be the first car through when this is cleared.

This guy was just one of those many busy bodies that live on the hill. And of course he had to walk around the truck and tow truck like he was helping out but really only getting in the way. From one side to the other this guy wandered. Meanwhile the Extreme Towing fellow had successfully hitched the chain and was starting to pull the semi trailer to a more appropriate angle. Mr. Toyota is standing there in the front, arms crossed and nodding his head trying to look as if he is involved to those behind waiting in their cars.

Next the driver of the semi got back into the cab, turned over the engine, and again tries to move up the hill and around the bend. The semi is jerking and the trailer is hitching, and the brainiac’s are standing there still under the shadow of the trailer with their hands covering their mouths and pointing. The driver stops again and is running his hands from his hair, down his face and back. I hear him shout, “Madre de Dios!”

Again the driver turns off the vehicle and gets out. Extreme Towing is now wedged between the semi and the upper hillside, moving the chain to another area underneath the semi. And here comes Mr. Toyota again, walking around like the Big Man on Campus! The driver of the semi passes by him giving him the evil eye. Do ya think Mr. Toyota noticed? No.

I look back at the cab of the semi and notice that the engine is starting to smoke. The driver gets in, turns it over and tries to move it again. The entire rig is jerking again, and I see the tire on the right just behind the cab section spinning, throwing off smoke and shredding throwing pieces of tire everywhere. The semi jerks and then moves about a foot forward. I can now see the back end of the semi!

Hoorah! I will be moving on shortly! To make a long story short, they finally pulled the semi through the curve, and Mr. Toyota got into his truck and took off ahead of me as if he were escaping from a fire. There were at least 30 cars waiting to come up the hill behind the semi, some of them trying to pull out as if to pass the car in front on this narrow two lane road. Where do they think they are going to go with me coming down the hill? But then drivers like that are another story for another time!

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