Marching in March

It has been a busy first half of March so I haven't been able to sit down and post very much.  However, I realize there are lots of things that need posting!

Two weeks ago when I showed up at work on Tuesday morning, as I rode up to the building's back entrance, I noticed several people holding signs and blocking the driveway to the underground garage.  I was on my bicycle and therefore surprised when one of them walked right up to me, stuck his face in mine, and asked if I was a member of the BCGEU union.  I told him I was. He then proceeded to explain to me that I shouldn't go into work in support of their union (the teacher's union) and gave me a piece of paper explaining where I could go to 'register for strike pay'.  Yikes! My brain was racing - I'm not on strike, I'm paid to go to work, AND I'm lucky to have a job. I certainly hadn't expected this.  In fact, I have never been part of a union and had absolutely no experience with union 'activities,' so I had no idea if leaving was what I was supposed to do.  At 7:30 in the morning, there just aren't a lot of other employees to ask their opinion.  However, I decided to go with the flow, find out what I could and see what happens.  As I rode around the front of the building, I could see other small groups of people with signs who had our front entrance blocked, as well as the Ministry of Health building across the street.  Besides as I only had to go a couple of blocks to where we were to register for 'strike pay,' so I rode over there to see what was going on.  I hoped I would see someone with some 'strike' experience.  I registered and took a seat at a table where 2 people were sipping coffee and talking. In short order, I was chatting politics with them and picked up some 'strike' tips.  Soon enough the hall got very busy very fast, and the 3 of us realized we might as well help with the registration process, and picked up pens and blank forms.  That definitely made the time fly by and before I knew it, it was 10:30 and the lineups had disappeared. I met a lot of people but still had not seen anyone I knew.  Weird.  The crowds were slowly grabbing signs and disappearing out the front door.

Teachers and other union brothers/sisters gathering at Centenial Square

I usually eat breakfast at 8:30 or 9 (at my desk), so you can imagine I was a little hungry.  One volunteer had kindly offered and brought me a coffee at some point, and soon the caffeine was  running full tilt through my blood.  I was literally vibrating (I don't normally drink much caffeine these days, let alone on an empty stomach)!  The union announcements were sporadic and confusing, but indicated there would be a rally at the square across the street at 11 am and 'we' would march downtown to the Legislature.  I grabbed my helmet, basket (with my breakfast in it), unlocked my bicycle and walked across the street to see what was happening. I was still hoping to find someone from my branch, or floor, or anywhere in the building, that I could tag along with.  It was a cold, sunny day and there were hundreds of people in the square.  I remembered I had my cell phone with me so called the one office number I could remember and asked if people were at work, and were there any demonstrators still outside? He assured me some people (other than management) had shown up, and, that no protestors were left outside our building.

The teachers were there large numbers and were arriving by the bus load.  Apparently the ferrys from Vancouver that morning had been completely filled up with buses from all over the province! Other unions were there in full force too.  Lots of banners and protest signs, and most people happy.  The sunshine helped. By 11 am there was a new announcement that the march was to start at 11:30.   Well, by this time I felt I'd done my bit to support the teachers, and decided I was not a 'marcher.'  So, I got back on my trusty steed and rode to work uninhibited.  After I warmed up, I ate breakfast.

Short Work Weeks

I may have mentioned that I work a modified work week, or, flexible work week, which when shortened becomes I have a "flex day" every so often.  I am still relatively new to this schedule and feel I have been in the 'honeymoon phase' of my relationship with it.  That is, until recently.  I say that because while this past Monday was my 'flex' day, and I really enjoyed staying at home doing whatever I wanted, the rest of week seemed to go by with all the speed of a ... well, a slug.  Honestly, it was the longest short week I have ever worked (okay, maybe not ever)!  I was tired, and my muscles hurt just a little bit.  I couldn't seem to catch up enough on my sleep.  And, to top it all off, it was busy, busy, busy at work.  No rest for the wicked, as they say.  I just never considered myself one of the wicked.  Maybe I was fighting a bug.  Anyway, it's over!

Luckily, there were three things that kept me going, between them generating enough hope that I would make it to the end of the week and be able to enjoy another weekend.  One was the rain, or rather, the lack of it at while I ride my wonderful Dutch-style bike to and from work.  I feel so lucky when, on any day rain is forecast, that I don't get wet on my commute.  Three days a week that commute is 4 times a day as I ride home for lunch with my sweetie.  Riding that bicycle, even in the rain, still makes me smile.  I truly wish everyone could be so happy on a bicycle.  Maybe it's because I smile that the rain stops for my little commute.  I'd like to think so anyway.


Two, is the daylight.  Have you noticed how much earlier the sun rises in the morning now, and how much later it sets in the evening?  I still turn my bike lights on, but I now leave and come home in the daylight.  In fact, on Friday, I managed to run two errands on the way home and STILL arrived home in the daylight.  Love it.  Spring has sprung - at least in my mind.




The third is my handy, dandy Zippo Deluxe Hand Warmer (yet another wonderful gift from my sweetie).  I fill it up and light just before I go out the door in the morning, tuck into my pocket and take it with me almost everywhere I go.  All day.  You see, my workspace is quite lovely really, but the temperature is just a tad lower than is comfortable for me to sit and still be warm all the way to my extremities.  The hand warmer cures that pain.  It is a very comfortable, even warmth.  And that makes me smile.  My lower back has been bothering me a bit lately, so I just tuck the warmer inside my skirt and tights right over the spot where the muscles are in spasm, and it helps relax them. I don't take the warmer with me to yoga class, because most of time I get enough of a workout to keep me plenty warm.  And I certainly don't need it during my squash games.

August in a nutshell - Part 6

Back to work - Peter seemed amused by Judith riding her mountain bike with a long dress and fancy sandals!

Another lovely evening picnic at Willows Beach.

Aug 20 - it's the weekend! Is there any better way to start the weekend than a stop at Fol Epi for a latte and pain au chocolate?

New Workstations

What's wrong with these pictures?

Judith's new workstation ...
Peter's new workstation ...

Hard At Work As Usual

Look mom, I have a J.O.B.

Judith has assigned me to the new research and development arm of her empire. She feels I am best suited for a more creative position, after returning from trains, planes, and automobiles. She says it is a well deserved reward, and called it "putting in your time, and ^%$ kissing"!
So here I am on assignment researching better ways to work. This is an example of a control study we're preparing to do as part of our continual twelve hour work week study which is in its fourth year.
The hypothesis is by surrounding yourself with very expensive hand woven mohair blankets and listening to birds sing on sunny days in the shady garden you actually can accomplish more than someone stuck in traffic commuting to the city from suburbia talking on a cell phone and doing push emails.
My first test is to see how many repeat phone calls I get before people give up and just send payment without receiving goods or services in advance. I am taking this from a page in the "pay it forward" theory. You send us money and we will contact you during the twelve hours per week to find out what exactly you wanted from us. I like to think of this as a paradigm shift in B2C relationships.
I will of course publish my results later "when I find some time within the twelve hours" on the "change this" website, where all the cool kids go for smart answers!
So anyway, that is all the time I have for now, but stay tuned for the "tea study" results. "How tea at three o'clock after my nap and gourmet lunch changed my work habits forever" It is a real wing dinger.
FYI, Judith is also commissioning a new study this year if you're interested in being part of the focus group? It is called "running a champagne empire on a beer budget"!

Saturday in the sun!

Real "work"

We borrowed Parker's wood splitter for the big ones, and went to town over at Frank & Mary Jane's wood lot! Three truck loads later it was done before you could say ouch! Another great seventeen degree spring day on the rock...