Well, guess I'd better get dressed.

[Genenco]

Sheesh, ice and snow hit us yesterday. Luckily for me, I made it home before I got delayed....

I have checked the "Employee Line" and so far, it looks like my employer has not been listening to the news as there's no mention of closure. Great, hope I don't wreck out, but mostly, I'd sure love to be able to sue the jerk if I do, but of course, they'll put it to a "Well, you should have thought about that, before you came in"

Yeah right, blow me...Uncaring morons....

Christmas gifts....Yep..Got some..Not all, couldn't spread the cash far enough. Oh well, not that this hasn't happened before.....

[StaciMM]

DH and I set spending limits for each other (me shopping for him and him shopping for me)... I'm not going to tell him that I didn't spend the max-I got good deals so he'll never know. For example, I got the 1st and 2nd year of West Wing on DVD for about $40 total, while they're normally $45 per season.

[Genenco]

Wellll..One thing has sort of bothered me for years,

I have always appreciated my Uncles, Aunts and cousins. But I NEVER expected anything from them, but their confirmation I was "Family"

However, one year I tried to "Cut off" the nieces and nephews as they were just inundated with toys, I got such a chill from everyone, I never made mention of such again....

Years later, it's hit and miss, but things being what they are, I'm not too concerned about how they feel. I almost wish I had been raised JW as then I wouldn't have to even bother with many of the holidays..But then again, from what I hear, they spend alot of their time spying on each other. :P

[Kam]

This is an awful thing to say but I sort of lost my appreciation for Christmas when I was 13. My dad had a heart attack on Christmas day and died 3 days later. It was not until I started having children of my own that I began to have an interest in Christmas, but now it's so damn commercialized that my apathy is back. I wish I had taken a different route with present-giving, and involved my children more in charity-type (giving) of activities, than receiving.

Money is tight this year. I have always set a $300.00 budget for Christmas gifts. It was easier when the children were little and gifts did not cost as much. Oldest daughter is getting a printer for her lap top, a couple of DVDs, and I am crocheting her a hat (done), scarf and mitten set. Youngest daughter is getting a computer game, a couple of DVDs and two crocheted hats. My oldest son is receiving a $100.00 check and a refurbished lap top because I hardly ever send him anything for Christmas or birthday. Oldest daughter is jealous of her older brother and constantly throws it in my face how Joel is my #1 child. In order to have peace in the family, I sort of let my oldest child fade into the distance. Now that oldest daughter is 18 I decided that I have *three* children and that I've been a stupid person for the past few years. Joel ever hardly asks for anything and I am sure he's been puzzled/hurt by the "distance" he has felt from me.

DH and I never exchange gifts, just a card, cuz well there's never been the money. This year I am going to crochet him a wool hat to wear at work.

I fill stockings with pistachios, oranges, Andes mints, soft wrapped candies and little assortments of inexpensive trinkets.

I tend to want to shop after Christmas so the money will stretch farther.

[Minnymouth]

Genenco,

"Weather is no Excuse" USED to be the motto at a place I worked years ago......

Course in Ky you have lots of snow, ice, slick hills, and undrivable road (they shut down the parkways and such)...

Course "weather was no Excuse" - UNTIL one cold snowy, slick morning two women TOOK A CHANCE and tried to get work..... Needless to say - they died that morning on a snowy, slick parkway on a snowed covered overpass bridge.... They hit a truck headon when they started sliding....

The company had a meeting later in the day after we all heard about it...

Staff talked about "how unforturnate" it was, etc..... but their policy was STILL - weather is no excuse!!!

You know me - OUT SPOKEN AS CAN BE - I stood up and said " YOU tell that to husbands that lost their wives, children that lost their mother, and mothers that lost their daughters. Both women left behine new babies... one a month old....

Both died trying to get to work because they might loose their job if they didn't show up because of the weather..... Their deaths should have never happened!!

I told the MEETING - you will NEVER MAKE THE DECISION FOR ME whether my life is in danger or not - I MAKE THAT DECISION. You can "write it up, stick it up, shove it up - whatever you want to do with it"..... BUT you will NEVER make that decision for me!!!!

Needless to say - the room got very quiet - and I made the "top of the HIT LIST" that day (everyone was SURE I would be fired) - but I continued to work there for 8 years.

Also from that day on their policy of "weather is no excuse" changed to "make it here if you can if you cannot you can make it up by staying over during good weather".....

From then on, I became a "spokesman" for the meek and mild of the company....

One person can't change the world - but they sure can change the "policies of a company" that only sees dollar signs. Without their employees, they can't make those dollars!!!!

[robivi3]

Min, it's all about ONE person with moral courage. Little acts are important. Weather is a damned good excuse! My wife is right I don't work in the real world, I couldn't imagine hearing that, where i work they would have said the absolute opposite. As a matter of fact after one incident (not life threatening) the Chief Supervisor told us that "if you are ever instructed to violate any safety rule call me at Home any shift". That after reaming the Supervisor right out on the floor.

It only takes ONE person to make changes just ask Lincoln, Von Braun, Kennedy, Reagan, GW Carver (a POOR black sharecroppers son had to convince white farmers to grow peanuts to replenish the soil and then had to find a way to make it profitable, GUTS AND GENIUS), Bill Gates and hordes of others.