What To Do If You Are Bullied

Being bullied is like going through that intersection you always go through on the way to work only this time youre almost t-boned by another driver who has ran a red light. You survive, but you never look at that intersection quite the same way again. Someone for that moment took control over you, imposed their will, stolen a little security, for that moment, maybe longer. For all that has been written about who and why bullies are, it bears emphasis to state simply: bullying is about POWER. Social scientists have done fascinating research on the makings of a bully. But for the kid who dreads the school bus or the gym class, the child who feels self loathing because someone else has enough power to make him relinquish control, it's about POWER. Power may be defined as the ability to act or produce an effect. One young child was tormented by 2 bullies at school. He tried to resolve the internal and external conflict on his own, even though he had wonderful parents at home. When the parents were able to get him to talk about the bullies, he referred to them as his bullies This was telling, as it seemed to indicate that he was either claiming ownership of the problem, he was responsible for their being bullies, or he was resigning himself to this relationship as now being a part of his life that he was powerless to change. Voices in a kid's head can convince him of things that makes the bully's job easier.

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What You Learn By Sitting By Brett...

Working in a common office with several cubicles is a rich pasture ground for any companies greatest resource: people. I sit next to Brett. Y'all may know Brett, but I'm the only one who sits next to his least favored left. Larry is down the hall to his right, and it's a very appropriate yelling distance. Anyway, sitting next to Brett these last 10 years, uh months, has provided opportunity for:
1) Introspection
2) Reevaluation
3) An occasional funny smell
Among other life shaping things learned:
a) Each and every phone conversation must start with "Hey" (This is southern posturing)
b) It's OK to tell your computer "I hate you" but only several times a day.
c) Xactimate has only 2 syllables (who knew?)
d) It's best if Larry locks his office door before going on vacation
e) If Itel samples are kept long enough, eventually another job will have the same floor covering
f) If he asks you if you've seen the pictures from one of his basement sewage mitigations...you might want to decline
g) All on call schedules are written in stone until the next revision
h) Never go an entire day without at least 1 "Dumb and Dumber" reference

All of this notwithstanding...he may have the most demanding job in this company-responding to emergency 24/7, and doing so in such a way homeowners still want us to do the reconstruction work. I get to follow up Brett and his crew and see the positive results when they help people out of a distressful situation. Maybe his personality makes him perfect for his job.

Actually I wondered how many acronyms on could get from the word B R E T T. Then I remembered I have to blog next month...let me get back to you with that.

Keith Barnhart - Estimator

Safety Is No Game!

Here at Champion, at the end of the work day we always get a safety tip and a bingo number. The bingo winner gets however much money has accumulated during consecutive accident free work days. Of course the employees who have access to these safety tips via e-mail are those who are exposed to such inner-office dangers as: being near an open doorway at or around 5pm. I once saw 3 employees all enter the time clock room at once, becoming lodged in the doorway. This is known as the 3 stooges effect. Very dangerous, and threatening to accumulated bingo stipends. The biscuit lunge, especially seen at crowded business meetings has accounted for fully one-third of all injuries in the boardroom. (Year end reviews account for the other two-thirds). Staring out the window for long periods of time has been linked to a certain eye condition often times associated with slumber, (which has been linked to unemployment). Leaving popcorn in the microwave unattended has always been a pet peave of mine, and it really compromises the air quality standards as established by Ga Air Safety Protocal (GASP). With all these hazards, maybe we should re-think Safety Bingo, because safety, my friend is no game.

Keith Barnhart - Estimator

A Jewish Proverb: The Fox and the Vineyard

An old Jewish proverb tells this interesting story:

A sly fox passed a lovely vineyard. A tall fence surrounded the vineyard on all sides. As the fox circled the fence, he found a small hole in the fence, barely large enough for him to push his head through. The fox could see the luscious grapes in the vineyard and his mouth began to water. But the hole in the wall was to small for him. So what did the sly fox do? He fasted for three days until he became so thin that he managed to slip through the hole.

Inside the vineyard the fox began to eat to his heart's content. He grew bigger and fatter gorging on the sweet grapes. Then he became very thirsty. Going back to the hole to make his exit, he discovered he was now to fat to get out! What to do now? He fasted for three more days just to become small enough to squeeze out, nearly dying of thirst.

Turning back to the vineyard as he headed to find water he said "What value are you to me? Just as I entered so I leave.

Solomon said something similar, just as a man comes into the world, so he leaves it. It's what we do in between that counts.

Keith Barnhart - Estimator

SOONERS CHILI

Sooners Chili

2 teaspoons oil
2 onions chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb beef sirloin cubed
1 14 1/2 ounce can of diced tomatoes
1 can dark beer (not optional)
1 cup strong coffee
2- 6 ounce cans of tomato paste
1 can beef broth
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons of chili sauce
1 tablespoon of cumin
1 tablespoon of cocoa
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 teaspoon of cayenne
1 teaspoon of salt
4 15 ounce cans of kidney beans
4 chili peppers chopped

Heat oil ,cook onions, garlic and meat until brown, add tomatoes, beer, coffee, tomato paste and beef broth
Add spices stir in beans reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hrs. Enjoy in moderation...or not!

Keith Barnhart - Estimator