Niagara Wine Festival

We ventured up to Niagara-On-The-Lake in Canada this weekend for the Niagara Wine Festival. We purchased a discovery pass which allowed us to visit 6 different wineries and participate in special tastings and food pairings. It was awesome after a morning of work.

Bills Home Opener

Some pics from the first home game of the season for the Bills

The men folk at the Sev

A couple days a week I venture into the 7-Eleven down the block from me for some very tasty coffee. They have some of the best coffee, even better than Dunkin Donuts and that nasty crack filled water at Tim Hortons. I think I like it more since I make the coffee the way I want, which consists of obscene amounts of creamer. I only go there maybe two times a week now since we are trying this so called "budget" thing now that James has a new, less-paying job. With out fail every time I go into the 7-Eleven I am bombarded by the men folk patrons. I've been hit on, I've been told I look good today several hundred times, I've had my coffee bought for me, I've even had my lottery tickets bought for me. When this happens, I have no idea what to do or say so I just end up giggling. Although, I think the giggling encourages these gentlemen to continue using their pickup lines, I cannot stop myself. So I've decided to embrace it and when I need to feel pretty or I'm out of cash for my coffee I will go to the Sev the men folk there will take care of me.

* Today I was told "You are lookin' fine today" by a gentleman who was wearing a dew rag on his head along with a flannel shirt.

Today's Work Pet Peeve

This isn't just today's pet peeve, it's an everyday pet peeve. I have a basket at work in which my co-workers are supposed to put check requests, invoice, etc. for me to process. This basket is large enough to fit approximately 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper. I'm not sure who has had experience in an office before but I would think that it would be common sense on how to properly place papers into said basket. Most of us learned how to do this in the 12+ years we have attended school. But for some odd reason a couple of delinquents at my place of employment have yet to figure out this so-called basket. They have put the paper in the basket in the wrong direction and some, yes people, this has happened before, will put the papers next to the basket. It takes all of my patience to not pick up the basket and give them a tap on the head with it.

This is how the papers were placed in there today

I moved the papers to show this example of placing them in the wrong direction.

Greatest Website EVER!

http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

Twelve Hours In A City

I read about these fellas in the Buffalo News on Sunday and their adventure sounds pretty amazing. They took advantage of the Jet Blue jet-away deal that offered fliers the chance to fly anywhere and as many times as they like for $599 from Sept 8th to Oct 8th. These four dudes decided one night to take up the offer and fly to 28 cities in 31 days. Their average time in each city is 12 hours, hence the name of their "group" and website. So check it out! It's pretty cool to follow along. They've been featured in the Buffalo News and CNN. Here is their website, their article in the Buffalo News, and CNN.

Webster's New World Secretarial Handbook

Here is a little background of how I found this enlightening piece of work. For the past month our receptionist has been out "sick". She had, what I call, a psychotic episode. This woman is a nut job, certifiably crazy. The first Friday of August she found out her friend was sick and she had a nervous breakdown. Well, that's what Dr. Brooke has diagnosed her with. So while she's been enjoying the ENTIRE month of August off, me and my two co-workers have been taking turns every single day watching the devil's invention called the telephone. The person who coined the phrase "The customer is always right" was either high or stupid. Anyway, enough ranting. I found the book when I was organizing the reception area, or what you'd call "a disaster area". This woman is the most unorganized human being on the face of this planet. I think one day I will see her on the TV show "Hoarders".

While flipping through this masterpiece I found a few helpful tips for the New World Secretary. These tips will help him/her succeed in the high paced, fairly complicated world that is known as an office. Before I start off describing these secrets of a secretaries job (I think a monkey could do that job) let me say that this book was published in 1981. So here are a few excerpts I found that might be useful.

To begin the book describes a secretary as being responsible for carrying out the executive's wishes, or being one's bitch.

The tools of the profession

Keyboarding, shorthand, transcription, filing, office procedures, and knowledge of word processing systems and equipment are the skills for which the secretary was hired.

How the Secretary's day should be organized:

1- Prepare the afternoon before by making a list of the executives appointments for the next day.

2- Conclude the day by turning off equipment and clear your desk so that the maintenance staff will be able to work.

3- In the morning the office must be ready to function at whatever time it opens, and the secretary should be at work in the office, not returning from the washroom or talking in the next office.

4- The previous afternoon the secretary should have made a list of tasks for the following day by using techniques of time management. Tasks fall into three categories: those that must be done immediately, those that may be done, and those that may be put off.

5- The memo pad is very important. The secretary must keep track of the employer's appointments and maintain a filing system.

6- Keep an appointment book. The appointment should be entered under the day and the hour agreed upon by the person requesting it and the secretary. If the appointment is canceled, arrangements for a new appointment should be made immediately.

7- Develop a familiarity with sources of information. The secretary would do well to become familiar with the area's Yellow Pages and with various sources of information listed in the section on reference materials.

Office Equipment and Supplies: Photocopiers

The photocopier is perhaps the most commonly used office machine for reproducing documents. After a document is printed, additional copies are generally photocopied unless multiple originals are needed. This frees the printer for additional jobs.

Communication Techniques: Telegrams

A telegram is a message sent via a Telex network to someone without a Telex-receiving piece of equipment. The intermediary connection is Western Union, which receives the message by telephone or Telex. After the message is received, Western Union calls the recipient, reads the text, and sends a printed copy if requested.

The Telephone

Despite the vast number of devices, methods, and alternatives for communicating information, the telephone remains the most popular means of communication. Since the telephone is such an important communication device, it is essential that the secretary use it to maximum effectiveness and be familiar with its peripheral equipment.

Taking Messages

In recording the call, the secretary should indicate the the time the call was received; the name, business affiliation, and telephone number of the caller; and the message. If the message is from an out of town caller, the area code or the telephone operator's number should also be recorded, so that the executive can return the call in a short time and without confusion. Be patient and pleasant but persistent. Ask the caller to spell out both first and last names if necessary. If numbers are involved, repeat the sequence for verification. When a call is taken, the "phone message" slip should be placed on the executives desk immediately. At the completion of the call, indicate readiness to terminate the conversation by summing up the details. Use the caller's name when saying a pleasant "Goodbye". It is courteous to wait for the caller to terminate the call first; the secretary who is too hasty in hanging up the receiver may cost the firm money. The receiver should be placed gently in it's cradle, for the pleasantest "goodbye" can be spoiled by jarring the sound of the receiver dropped into position. It is like slamming the door after a visitor. Do not hang up until your caller has done so first.

Keys To Time Management:

1- Analyze the way you use time now

2- Live with a schedule

3- Work with a "to do list"

4- Hesitate to take on other's responsibilities

5- Handle the mail efficiently

6- Learn to use the phone efficiently

7- Avoid costly interruptions

8- Keep your desk neat and clean

9- Your filing system should be a help, not a hindrance

Office of the Future (The Secretary in 2020)

1- Every secretarial desk will have a personal computer or terminal

2- Personal computer networks will allow worldwide communication

3- The most important function of the secretary will be managing information systems.

4- Computerized filed will have created the paperless office

5- Technical skills will be more important than personal skills

This book also has a list of foreign currencies, dialing codes, distances - air and road, calendar time, US holidays, foreign travel tips, a list of dictionaries, astronomy signs, zodiac signs, biology signs, roman numerals, and weather signs.

After reading this 691 page doozie I feel that the person who wrote it is a complete buffoon.

If you've ever worked in an office...

then you know how important it is to have a full pot of coffee at all times. And how angry some people can get when they go to get their morning fix and all is left is a few drops of the good stuff. Lately at work people have been disregarding the unspoken rule that you make a new pot if you take the last of the coffee. Some of my co-workers bring their foul moods from home into work and think they can just spew filth out of their mouth on to a sign telling others to make more coffee. These so called "signs" are not polite what-so-ever. My friend Kelly and I decided we were done with the passive-aggressive sign-makers. I had read about this website called Stripgenerator where you can make your own comic strip. We, or mostly Kelly, came up with a knock knock joke to lighten the mood and maybe remind or co-workers that everyone enjoys a full pot of coffee. (Note: knock knock jokes are supposed to be bad, we aren't frickin' geniuses) (If you are blind like me and need the strip to be a little bit bigger, go here)

MJ Tribute by the C

My good friend Jimmy C has become obsessed with Michael Jackson's music since he died. He bought the 20th Anniversary CD that was released and he keeps it in his car so he can bring it anywhere. On top of that, any place we go with a jukebox he will request all Michael Jackson songs. Last night at the Deuce I gave him $5 to play music and guess what, he played all MJ songs. It was a fun filled night that consisted of every MJ song available being played, accompanied by some outrageous dance moves and a hula hoop performance.

Mark & Mo

A couple weeks ago we had the pleasure of attending our friend's Mark and Maureen's wedding. The ceremony was at the Rose Garden in Delaware Park and it all started off with this...

It only got better from here!