Day 21 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, Day on Beach

A Day on the Beach

I forgot to post yesterday so today is a double-post.

My sister sent this card to me. 

We love shopping for cards. 

She was shopping with her granddaughter one day when she found this. She started laughing so hard she was crying but her granddaughter (9yrs) didn't understand what was so funny. Every time I look at it I start laughing all over again. 

I cut the picture out and have it hanging up on my wall at work. 

Some days you just need a good laugh!

Day 20 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, Farmer in the Dell

Farmer in the Dell

The cartoon says it all!

A friend of mine sent this to me. 

We used to work together in technology.

Day 19 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, Attitude change

Today's Calendar Page

This was the page on today's desktop Mary Engelbreit calendar that my co-worker has. It was so appropriate for the way things have been going at work.  I am usually upbeat and as my husband puts it "a glass half-full kinda gal".

My sister-in-law sent this email to me earlier this week and it got me thinking about my attitude at work.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the
first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright
shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: "I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission
statement."

Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: "Wally's Mission Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and
cheapest way possible in a friendly environment."

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, "Would you like a cup of coffee? I
have a thermos of regular and one of decaf." My friend said jokingly, "No,
I'd prefer a soft drink." Wally smiled and said, "No problem I have a
cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice."

Almost stuttering, Harvey said, "I'll take a Diet Coke."

Handing him his drink, Wally said, "If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today."

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card.
"These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to
listen to the radio."

And as if that weren't enough, Wally told  Harvey that he had the air
conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him.
Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

"Tell me, Wally," my amazed friend asked the driver, "have you always served customers like this?"

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. "No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, "Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd."

"That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my
attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their
drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more."

"I take it that has paid off for you,"  Harvey said.

"It sure has," Wally replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action."

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was Suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

So what do you want to be, a duck or an Eagle? 

I think it's time for an attitude change for me.

Day 18 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, Office plants

My Office Plants

I mentioned in an earlier post that the only plants that have ever survived while in my care were plants I got from funerals. These plants were from an arrangement we got when Mom passed away February 2009. My youngest split and repotted the plants and gave me instructions on how to keep them alive. I think they are doing really well. I do have a great window at work, East light, so they get morning light. They make me smile and remind me of my Mom and my daughter when I look at them.

I don't know what the tall plants are called but the middle one is an ivy that has almost doubled in size. The cardinal is my favorite bird. It reminds me of my Great-Aunt Grace who passed away in 1997, she liked cardinals, too.

Day 17 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, cardinal

Cardinal

This isn't a great picture on screen but it was a great picture in person. 

Yesterday, I was driving home from work and perched on a neighbor's fence was this male cardinal enjoying the day. I only had my phone. 

I couldn't get very close so thanks to Photoshop Elements I put a spotlight on the beautiful bird.

Spring is early and beautiful!

Day 16 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, Joey

Happy Birthday, Joey!

Today is Joey's 6th birthday. Isn't he adorable? Joey is my oldest daughter's pug, my Grand-dog. She got Joey when she first moved to Chicago. I remember when she brought him home that 4th of July. We picked them up at the airport and our Black Lab/German Shepherd, Shadow, was so upset so see another dog with her. I'm not sure she even knew Joey was another dog, her was so tiny. Shadow tried to climb into the front seat with me just to get away. I had to stop the car and have my youngest switch seats with Shadow and sit in the back with her sister and Joey. 

Happy Birthday, Joey!

Day 15 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, painting

It's a Work in Progress

I started this project a month ago an knew it was going to take some time but it is taking a lot longer. Why? Because I just haven't been in the mood to paint. I have to prep damage to walls and trim and then paint. I started up again this weekend. This was a challenge, painting over the stairs. I should have taken a picture of how I did it, not used to taking pics for a blog yet. The best way that I have found to paint in areas like this is to tape the paint brush to the end of a rod - old broom handle, extension for paint roller, dowel rod. Just make sure it is sturdy so you have control. Also, take it slow. You won't be taping, if you tape, so know how to cut-in. I spent several hours today cutting-in around 7 door-ways in the hall. My eyes were starting to cross so I had to stop, I will finish cutting-in tomorrow and roll the walls. 

More pictures to come.

Day 14 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, parellel parking

Parallel Parking

I actually forgot to take a picture today so I pulled this one out of my photos. 

That's my truck parallel parked in front of Keys Cafe in St. Paul. 

That's my baby by the meter. She is grown up, but will always be my baby. 

We went out for breakfast one morning to the original Keys Cafe and there was a perfect parking spot right in the front. Normally, I would drive around and park blocks away before I would even attempt to parallel park, but I decided I could do it. Yes, I know it looks like a large parking spot. 

If you knew my history, you would understand why this picture makes me so happy. I have gotten my right wheels stuck up on the sidewalk more times than I want to admit to. And I am very thankful that I don't have pictures of those times. Those trips to Chicago with the Tahoe have really helped. If you don't now how to parallel park in Chicago, you don't park.

Day 13 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, farm girl & daddy

The Little Farm Girl and Her Daddy

 

This is our little niece again enjoying a day on the farm with her Daddy. He is our nephew and Godson. I guess that makes her our Great-Goddaughter. No matter the title I love them. I love that his Mom & Dad take these pics and send them up north so we can keep up with how the family is growing. 

Such a precious picture!

Day 12 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, little farm girl

The Little Farm Girl

This is my great-niece, she is 1 and enjoying an early spring out on the farm.

Don't you love those curls and chubby cheeks.

There is something so special about spring on the farm with new growth and the birth of baby animals. So much exploring to do for this little peanut. 

Wish we got to see her more often. Luckily, her Mom and both Grandmas post lots of pictures on FB so we get to watch her grow from afar.

Day 11 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, donating

Donating

I donated blood platelets today. 

I try to donate every 3-4 weeks. 

If you haven't donate and aren't sure if you are able, give your local Memorial Blood Center or Red Cross a call today. 

Donate! 

Like the sticker says, "I donate for the cookies!"

Day 10 - 30 Days of Photo Fun, ice is going

The Ice is Going

This is Our lake. 

OK, not really Our lake, it's the lake our cabin is on. 

I think this is going to be the earliest ice out since they started keeping track. 

The earliest date was April 6th. 

I entered the ice-out contest and my guess is March 31st.