America's Transportation Future

This is a decent web article about President Obama's transportation legacy - a high speed rail network. Though the report does not delve deep into the issue, it is a good start, especially for the greater American public. Most Americans, while sitting in hours of commute traffic, have never thought how transportation policy touches almost every aspect of our lives - the environment, where houses are built, increased stress levels that lead to heart disease, time (or lack thereof) spent with family, etc.

I will openly admit that I am not a huge Obama fan, but his vision of liveable communities connected by a European-like rail system is commendable. America's transportation infrastructure is abysmal and embarrassing especially when compared to our European counterparts. I am heartened by the Obama Administration's vision and commitment to this legacy, and I wish Secretary LaHood success in carrying it out.

Phone Etiquette

If you say you are going to call someone, call them. Everyone's life is busy. So if someone makes time to have a conversation, don't cancel at the last minute, it's poor form.

Easter Basket Surprise

Look what turned up in my Easter basket yesterday:

I will have a full review soon.

Boarding Airplanes

In today's world, planes are boarded by "Zone." Typically I am assigned one of the last zones, and immediately start worrying if there will be enough room left for my carry on bags. About half of the time I end up having to check my bag due to lack of room. This pisses me off, and adds so much time to my trip. Inevitably, I stand at the baggage claim carousal, waiting and waiting and waiting for my bag to arrive. It always seems that it is the last to come off the plane. What happened to last on, first off???

Anyway, yesterday when I checked in I was assigned Zone 1. I was psyched. I actually get to the gate early, not wanting to miss my awesome boarding zone. Then the gate agent announces, "We will not be boarding by zone today. We will start boarding from the back of the plane, forward." Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I was Row 4.

I can't win.

WORK - The Concept of Contracts

When a consultant is brought onto a project by my place of employment, there must be a contract signed, no matter the fee. My boss has had difficulty grasping this complex concept for almost two years. Foolishly, I recently began to think that she had finally gotten consultant=contract.

Yesterday, a contractor's invoice was kicked back by the finance department - they had no record of a contract. So, I forward that e-mail to my boss asking if she had signed a contract with the consultant. The response I receive, "No. It was for such a small amount."

In the scheme of things, not a big deal. But if you have such a hard time understanding simple things, there is no way that you even come close to comprehending complex issues.

The one thing you should take away from this post - I work for a complete idiot. More on that to come. Her antics are priceless.

For Jeff

I dedicate my blog to Jeff, who is probably the only person who understands and appreciates my bitchiness and bitterness.