Autumn is in the Air

Thank goodness the long hot summer is over and Autumn is breathing it's cool crisp breezes on us at last. This is my favorite time of year. It's almost time for our trip to Oak Glen to pick apples and see the changing of the season in the colorful foliage. The days are shorter now, the street lights are still on while I'm driving to work. I don't mind...bring on the cool weather of the harvest season. I'm looking forward to all the season holds.

Happy Birthday Karo!

Happy Birthday to my little sister! I am so thankful for my sister. I don't know what I would do without her. She understands me like no one else and loves me in spite of it. Anytime I talk to her I can be assured of a good laugh, sage advice and a willing ear for all my troubles. I would go so far as to say she is my best friend in the whole wide world. I wish her all the happiness in the world today, on her birthday, and always.

Our Latest Project - So Proud

As everyone knows the city of Houston has been hit by Hurricane Ike and much of the city is destroyed. As well as everything else traffic signals were wiped out. My company maintains the traffic signals for the City of Houston so, of course, they turned to us for help. The Texas office is fairly new and the work load was tremendous, too much for them to handle. The call went out for volunteers to go to Houston for 3-4 weeks, camping out in uncertain conditions at a prevailing wage schedule much lower than California (by $10 per hour). Twelve men stepped forward and said "I'll go." Leaving the comforts of home and family is enough of a hardship, but the living conditions and needs of 12 different personalities is also in the mix. Never mind the wage change.

I am so proud of our men for their willingness to put personal comforts aside to help out in a time like this. My company will no doubt reimburse them for their efforts and they will also get the recognition they deserve, we're just that kind of people.

I would have loved to see the convoy that left here two days ago. Eight white Republic ITS utility trucks on the road to Texas...Breaker 1 9...we're headed for the Lone Star State...we'll catch you on the flip flop....we gone...bye bye.

Bunny Patrol

My kids are going away this weekend and I'm on bunny duty. Imagine...me...not big on animals of any kind and only partial to the ones in our family, namely my sister's little white mutt. But I am left in charge of two little lop-eared bunnies. I am to feed them and give them fresh water and make sure they stay alive while the "parents" are gone from Friday until Sunday. The pressure is great, but I think I can handle it. On second thought, I'll have to pick up Tim and have him go with me...he's good with the bunnies and if they happen to get away from us he can chase them! :)

Middle Age Is Not So Bad

This morning I pulled out of the driveway and heard a "flip, flip, flip" sound as I was pulling away from my house. Hmmmmm. Flat tire...or at least a very low one.

Now, a few years ago this would have been a major set back to the start of my day. A hassel. A tribulation. But not today. At this point in my life I have been a card carrying member of AAA for many years and have a very trustworthy mechanic available to me. Older and wiser, that's me.

Not only did I not panic, feel frustrated or upset about the whole flat tire scenario...I actually thought...well ok...I get to go into work late this morning. :) I turned around and went back home, called AAA and waited for the nice man to remove the flat and install the spare. Then I tooled on over to my mechanic and had the tire repaired in no time "flat" (pun intended) for free! I purchased the tires there so they have a policy of free flat fixing....fabulous! I am out of pocket no money for this entire deal.

I arrived at my job to find a nice orange traffic cone reserving my favorite parking spot! Can you feel the love? I saw a co-worker (demoted used-to-be manager)walking in from the street where he had parked and as I drove closer I rolled down the window and politely asked him to remove the cone for me. What a day! I'm still smiling about that one.

Moral of this story...There are a few perks to living long enough to have the sense to take care of the small things before they mess up your day.