I Just Want to Celebrate!

My Techie Timeline

2016-01-26T17:25:00.000-06:00

In my career (of >32 years) in the information technology industry, I’ve had a front row seat witnessing the amazing evolution of computing technology. I've also had an opportunity the lead the transformation with computing technology on many occasions. Below are just a few reflections of my time from the 1980s to now (2016) - my techie timeline.

I've connected a telephone handset to a computer coupler to "dial in" to connect to the mainframe computer remotely to work.
At Texas A&M University, I had the opportunity to flip switches on a historical computer to perform a single arithmetic operation.
I have punched cards, waiting in line for the card reader and then the program code compile and execution.
I’ve stood in line at Texas A&M University computer centers during “happy hour” (or worked after midnight, a privilege for grad students) in order to use the computer for free.
I learned 14 computer programming languages to be surprised that I'd need 5 more in my job.
I taught high school math and FORTRAN programming to university undergrad engineers, but later managed training in my company's US data centers and helped define the job roles, skills requirements, and skill development activities for >60K managed operations personnel globally.
A big factor in my first job selection was the assignment of my "own" computer
I've supported software that ran in many operating systems (e.g., MVS, DOS, VTAM, TCAM, VSAM, CICS) and the early PCs (e.g., the IBM XT, the IBM AT).
I've helped develop and supported software products that shipped on floppy disks.
My Mom insists on keeping the PCJr that I bought for her, with the sidecars attached to provide 256K in memory.
I developed online computer-assisted instructional systems before anyone thought of Coursera.
I created early expert systems before anyone thought of Watson.
I supported paper-based employee opinion surveys, reading completed paper questionnaires through the Scantron, validating open-end comments manually entered on the computer, and maintaining JCL and code to print millions of pages of reports to deliver to managers.
I lead a project to move from paper-based surveys to online surveys in the US in my company, eventually supporting survey servers and questionnaires on 36 mainframe computers. This work led to my dissertation topic (nonresponse and response effects in online organizational surveys) and (eventually) to a face-to-face interview at corporate headquarters with the company's CIO to win my former job role as research manager for the Global Employee IT Satisfaction Survey (for 10 years).
As a research project manager, I've paid consultants hundreds of thousands of dollars to manually code and to analyze open-end survey comments over a decade. However, I won an internal innovation competition that came with funding to enable me to use text analytics software to eliminate manual coding, reducing the categorization from several weeks to less than an hour. I now regularly use the software to perform data mining, data cleaning, and identification of insights within multiple types of data (e.g., survey responses, employee social media posts, public social media posts, "jam" or crowdsourcing application posts, online search terms, chat transcripts).

It's been an amazing journey -- I'm looking forward to enjoying the next eras.

(Image credit: forrestercomputing.wikispaces.com)

Caution - A new adventure ahead, with many choices

2016-01-17T15:03:00.001-06:00

During our lives, we regularly make decisions around multiple priorities, having to choose among many competing priorities, from the demands of the work, the career, health, and family. It's very tough achieving the complex work-life balance. I'm at a crossroad in life -- where's the road is totally open and there are multiple paths for selection. I've done my time at work, achieving the point in my career that I can choose to walk away on my own terms. Although change can be scary, I'm really excited for the future. I think there are lots of opportunities within the field of analytics (e.g., text analytics, data mining), hopefully on short-term projects or those that can be done part-time. And, I hope to return to the classroom, where I began, to share my knowledge, experiences, and expertise in global survey research management, analytics, data mining, text analysis, social media analytics, etc. However, I look forward to making my health, family, friends, and service a higher priority in my life. As they say, the ball's in my court -- I get to choose the time to work and where I'll put my focus. A new adventure is ahead -- with lots of choices.

Women working in technology

2016-01-17T14:53:00.001-06:00

I've spent over 32 years working in the information technology field. I love this picture of the ENIAC, one of the earliest computers, because it features two women. Two women influential to my success really stand out when I see this picture. When I was at Texas A&M working on my Masters degree, I had the pleasure of studying and working with Dr Sallie Sheppard. She actually was in the first graduating class of women at Texas A&M University. It was great meeting her for lunch some 12 or so years later when I attended a university recruiting event there for my employer. She has been a great role model to me. I'm also proud to have worked under Dr Cathleen Norris at the University of North Texas. She was also amazing in helping me to successfully jump through all those challenging hoops in the completion of my dissertation to attain my PhD.

The paths for women working in technology have not always been smooth. Even in my own career, I can recall many instances that should not have occurred:

One interviewer should not have told me that he hesitated to hire me, fearing that I'd eventually "disappear" from work on maternity leave
Another interviewer should not have told me that the job would be very rough -- and wondered if I could handle it -- because the last thing all the men wanted back at the office was for him to hire a "the b-word" (yes, he said it)
I was fortunate to start my career at a company in a department with numerous, young, bright, professional women in technology. However, within 3 years I transferred to a department of more "seasoned" IT professionals. It seemed to be a constant battle initially to get challenging assignments that actually used my programming skills. One of the first assignments from my team leader was the entry of the entire team's timecards into the system, plus logging online their project data from paper forms each member was required to complete weekly.
In the early days of my career, there was a strict dress code (e.g., suits and ties for men, skirts and jackets for women). One manager kept extra ties in his office for the day that any staff member thought a tie would not be necessary (e.g., when packing boxes in preparation for a move). That manager also struggled with the thought of women wearing slacks / dress pants in the office (even a "pant suit" with a matching jacket). I recall a very long list of items - the criteria for approved business casual attire for the two women in the department. I don't recall every item on the list, but the slacks could not be cotton, could not have a cuff, the seams must be inside (not out), must be dry-clean only, etc. At first I was annoyed, but then amused when I looked around and none of my male peers met all the criteria. I simply asked the manager to walk us through the building and to show us examples of the proper attire so that we could comply. As we wandered down each hall, it became very obvious to him that none of his male employees could meet the criteria that he demanded of us. It eventually worked out.
We still hear that women make less than men who perform the same job. It would be hard to prove (or disprove) that in my job -- where the salaries are "secret" and no one discloses them. However, one day I was saddened on a day that I eagerly anticipated a nice raise for work well done -- to be told that the increase could only be given to either me or a male peer. The manager then told me that he chose to give the raise to the male peer, specifically because he was married with children. That was his only reason that I did not get an increase that year.

I hate to say this, but women often don't make it easy for other women in their jobs. I suppose that it is not specific to the IT industry. I guess some are the original "mean girls" in school that grow up and go to work. Some seem to travel through their careers "as a clan" supporting each other's successes. However, I've witnessed some horrible behavior by women that should not have occurred, including claiming another woman's (remote and initially unaware) job when a new manager was assigned at the site, providing an informal "Thanks!" award to a peer for great work and then immediately telling the manager that she'd like the peer to be removed from the project due to performance, a woman exec trying to coerce (and later punish) a female employee for not falsely recommending her proposal to her manager that was clearly unsupported by research, stealing intellectual property and passing another woman's work as her own, and convincing her employee to give her the "free" speaker's conference ticket and then being a no-show and refusing to cover the employee's cost to attend, to name a few. Some probably still think that they "got away with it" without anyone noticing. Each situation presented an opportunity to rise above their demonstrated bad behavior and to grow...and to succeed despite their actions. There's a popular book on leadership (Lions Don't Need to Roar) -- personally, I'm glad to be leaving the lion's den after over 32 years.

The Future Ahead

2016-01-17T12:45:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that I'm saying this, but I plan to "retire" at the end of the month. I’m not sure I like that word “retiring” – it conjures thoughts of old folks playing bingo and late afternoon buffets. Although I feel way too young for an AARP crowd (because I quit high school to go to college early, finished in three years, and was the youngest teacher ever hired in the state of Texas), I’m glad to accept the IHOP “senior” discount on the 2x2x2 breakfast! I have loved all the various jobs I’ve had and the amazing people with whom I’ve worked. After 32 years and 7 months, though, I’m ready for my new challenge.

Thank you Jim Nabors - Singing one last time at the 2014 Indy 500

2014-05-25T12:41:00.000-05:00

The race is on at the Indy 500! Today I'm celebrating the Indy 500 and the amazing voice of Jim Nabors. Watching the race is an annual tradition in my household -- a family tradition. Before the race begins Jim Nabors sings "Back Home Again in Indiana" for the 36th year. However, the 2014 Indy 500 will be the last time we hear that familiar voice kick off this amazing race. Jim is retiring. He'll be 84 next month. Wow, what a voice. He'll be missed.

Photo: Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports

Have a roaring good time

2013-03-24T17:36:00.001-05:00

Today I'm celebrating The Bible series on the History Channel. It's so great to have this viewing option and I hope to buy the series for my video library. I just saw the segment where Daniel survived the lion's den. Plus, my pastor has been covering the book of Daniel in our Sunday services. You can bake this very simple Lion Cake for family night. Download the CakeShapes Designs cut up cake pattern to easily transform a 9" square cake into this fun Lion Cake. This shaped cake is also great for a kids birthday party, a safari party, a circus party, or a jungle party. It's a great cake to celebrate a trip to zoo or circus. Also, bake this cake for family movie night and watch great movies like We Bought a Zoo, Lion King, or Secondhand Lions.

Simply mad about March Madness and cake

2013-03-24T17:15:00.000-05:00

It comes once a year - March Madness. Whether you're celebrating March Madness or just have a basketball fan in your house, you can bake this fun cake using a downloadable cut up cake pattern from CakeShapes Design. Using the cake pattern, you can easily transform two 9" square cakes into a fun cake for March Madness. This Basketball Shirt Cake is a great cake for a basketball birthday party, for a basketball fan, for the basketball team, to celebrate the basketball team win, for a game watching party, for a kids birthday party, or for the Upward Basketball game. Score a win and celebrate with this easy cake.

Happy St Patrick's Day

2013-03-17T14:54:00.002-05:00

Happy St Patrick's Day!

What's a holiday without a cake? The cake of the day is a Shamrock Cake. It's a perfect cake to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Download the easy Shamrock Cake pattern from CakeShapes Designs.

Making memories

2012-11-29T00:13:00.000-06:00

In our family we often say that "we're making memories" during those cute, funny, wonderful times that we hope to never forget. And, then there are times that I wish we had a 'reset' button so that we could forget some things -- things that initially would seem best to wipe out of our memories. It's funny how our memory works. We often struggle to grasp an important detail that has slipped our mind. And later, when we least expect it, that memory will again appear. Maybe you, or a friend, has a memory of an elephant -- one who never forgets. It's also funny how sometimes our family members simply can't remember the simple things...those things that we tell them, and remind them, over and over again. No matter how many reminders at the breakfast table or on the drive from school, some things are simply not very memorable. Not even a sticky-note can help for some things. I've got an idea. The next time you really want to "make a memory" in your family, why not bake this simple little Elephant Cake? You can download the cake pattern today from CakeShapes Designs, then simply bake, cut, assemble and decorate. No special shaped cake pans are needed and no cake decorating tools either. It's a great cake after a trip to the zoo or the circus. Also, it's just the right size for your family on a family movie night. It would be a great dessert after watching "We Bought a Zoo" or "Operation Dumbo Drop" -- both of these movies are on my DVR right now! Remember to slow down, make some great memories with your family and friends this week. I bet that they won't easily forget the time you spend with them.

The race is on

2012-03-02T21:25:00.004-06:00

Race season is here! Everyone will race to the table to see this cute Racetrack Cake. A very simple cut-up cake pattern can be downloaded to create this cute cake. Bake it for the tailgate party at the racetrack. Or, bake it for a fun kid's birthday party.

Rudolph, lead the way to our house on Christmas Eve!

2011-12-18T22:50:00.003-06:00

The Christmas clock is ticking. Just a few more days until Santa begins his trip from the North Pole to our house. Of course, leading the way will be Rudolph the Reindeer. Today I'm celebrating Rudolph. Sure, we'll have some cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve. But, we'll also have a nice treat for Rudolph and his reindeer friends that work so hard to get Santa to all the homes before Christmas morning.

You can celebrate too by baking this very easy Rudolph the Reindeer cut up cake with the CakeShapesDesigns cake pattern.

O Christmas Tree Cake, how lovely!

2011-12-06T00:43:00.006-06:00

Christmas, the most wonderful time of year! My street is bright at night with the glow of the Christmas trees and decorations. I am running behind this year on decorating for the Christmas season. I plan to decorate the tree this weekend. I plan to decorate this fun, Christmas Tree shaped cake also this weekend. A nice dessert to celebrate the lovely Christmas Tree.

Celebrating the launch of CakeShapes Designs

2011-11-14T23:28:00.005-06:00

Today I'm celebrating the launch of CakeShapes Designs on my new Etsy shop. From this site you can download cut-up cake patterns to easily create fun, creative shaped cakes. No more expensive, shaped cake pans that fill up the cupboard or pantry. No cake decorating experience required. No expensive cake decorating classes required. Suggestions on how to decorate the cakes using materials that you commonly find in your local supermarket are given. You'll not see fancy cakework on the site -- no fondant, no fancy cake borders, or flowers formed from icing. Hopefully you'll get an idea of how basically anyone can take an ordinary cake layer and create an amazing, fun cake that will delight your family and friends. If you have experience in cake decorating, only your imagination will be the limit. Visit the shop today and share the good news.

2011-11-14T22:17:00.001-06:00

Crossroads of Life

I've really enjoyed blogging, particularly sharing the celebrations of life. However, I see the resource actions (also known as layoffs) impact my peers and see work in my industry move offshore. Reality demands that the possibilities be considered and action plans be in place. I decided to take a break from my blogging to consider what might be next in the crossroads of life.

Over the years, I've had lots of ideas, some great and some not-so-great. Some of those innovative ideas just need some time to gel. ; ) I decided that I can continue to celebrate life and spend time reminiscing about it on my blogs. Or, I could explore an additional passion and try to find a way to celebrate it -- with the hopes that it might grow into opportunities of the future. My Dad and I frequently talked about the need to find something that would allow us to make money in our sleep. As we watched so many succeed on the great information highway, it became a challenge for me. So, I've finally followed through on a dream and have set up a little e-commerce site on the information highway. I've learned through my experience with blogging that people don't necessary "come" or "come right away." Like the brick and mortar business, building a business online will take time. It must be nurtured. Of course, I, like everyone else, want an instant success. For now, I'll celebrate knowing that "I finally did it" --- it took months of planning, very long hours of development after my "day job." Months of weekends, toiling away on a project that few believed in. Those had focus on the current day -- not the dream of the future. Only time will tell if it will be a success. Regardless, I'm working on something that I love -- that I've done all my life -- and have found a way to simplify it for others. Now, I'm sharing with others. I see the possibilities and dream big. Of course, my realistic side hopes to initially cover my expenses. I dreaming of the financial return for the future. For now, I feel a little better that I have taken further steps to plan for the day we all dread -- the day that the pink slip is virtually passed to my desk. I'd be so dearly blessed if this new venture becomes my backup plan to at least 'hold me over' or at least pay for the health benefits that will be needed as I downsize. : ) Of course, my little e-commerce site is directly related to the subject of this blog. It enables people to celebrate. Of course, I'll share the news and progress on this site too.

A dollar and a smack on the bottom for each year

2011-04-25T12:01:00.010-05:00

Today I'm celebrating my birthday. I'm not particularly fond of birthdays -- and it's just not because birthdays are a reminder of my aging. However, I like to make the best of it. I rarely work on my birthday. I generally take a vacation day and plan some fun things for the day. A great day for me includes some fried shrimp and some chocolate. It usually involves some shopping too. Add a movie, and it's a best day. Start the day off at the salon and it's perfect.

Birthdays at our house were days to celebrate, but with some uneasiness. Sure, there was the cake, with candles, and friends and family. After church on the closest Sunday, we'd also get to go to town and eat out -- a special treat. Of course, I always picked the shrimp. So what in the world might make someone a little uneasy on their birthday? Was it the embarassment of opening the annual gift of "granny panties" from your Grandma in front of your friends? My family is a little Scottish -- celebrating by giving a dollar (rather than a pound note), along with a smack on the bottom for each year. I remember that last smack -- it was in Mr Sawyer's Music Theory class by Mad Rad on my 18th birthday. However, it gets worse -- the annual tradition of my Grandpa was to snatch you up and then stick your head under his house! I really hated that -- dreading that moment! After all, I had seen all kinds of critters under that house over the years.

I'm not a big fan of surprises either. Now, I like a surprise phone call from an old friend. However, I'm not a fan of being ambushed! Have you ever missed your own birthday party? I have. Once my friends decided to celebrate my birthday by hosting a surprise dinner. However, it was planned after our choir rehearsal and at the place where we typically ate each week. It was not on my specific birth date. I had to work late and did not attend the rehearsal. Rather than stopping by the restaraunt to join the gang for dinner I just drove home. Everyone assumed that I would be there. Point of advice -- if you plan on throwing a party for someone, then assign someone to make sure they're going to attend. It was really funny looking at pictures of the empty chair with the balloon tied to its back and the nice cake with lit candles and no one to blow them out. An especially memorable birthday!

I browsed around to read about birthday traditions -- curious where Grandpa might have gotten his tradition. Although I did not see its origin, I found other traditions that I also would like to avoid. If I lived in Canada, I would have my nose greased with butter or margarine. In China, I'd be eating noodles for lunch. In Denmark, there would be a flag flying outside my window. In Italy and Hungary, people would be pulling at my ears (although that sounds much better than a smack on the bottom). In Latvia, as you sit in your chair, your friends lift it one time for each year -- naw, that's not going to happen! In Puerto Rico, family and friends would be tapping me on the arm -- that can be annoying. However, in Japan, I'd be wearing new clothes -- finally, a tradition that I would enjoy!

Happy Birthday Wiki!

2011-03-25T17:55:00.008-05:00

Today I'm celebrating the birthday of the world's first wiki. On this date in 1995, WikiWikiWeb, created by Ward Cunningham, was made public. A wiki is a user-editable website. Cunningham came up with the name when remembering a recommendation to take the Wiki Wiki Shuttle at the Honolulu International Airport. Wiki is a Hawaiian word for fast. His idea was to make the pages quickly editable by users. After initially thinking about naming it "QuickWeb" he settled on WikiWikiWeb. The software and website were developed in 1994 by Cunningham in order to make the exchange of ideas between programmers easier. Over time, the actual site has become to be known as WardsWiki.

Don't think this creation is just for geeks though. I've created many wikis on various topics. Even my Mom (a senior adult) manages her own wiki! There are thousands of wikis on the Web today. Who hasn't heard of Wikipedia? Also, WikiLeaks has certainly been in the news during the last year.

Maybe you've thought about hanging a shingle on the World Wide Web. Sure, practically everyone is on Facebook these days -- but often you need a place to publish information and files. Plus, many need a place where a group or team can share information or collaborate in developing content. A wiki may be the solution for you. Using a wiki farm (or wiki service), you can easily create web-based content. No technical expertise (e.g., no programming code, no special language) is required for many WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) wiki services. Wikis can help eliminate the e-mail threads among group members in communicating and obtaining information. With wikis, you can make real-time updates of web-based content, without waiting for the technical support team to update web server files. You can avoid transferring document attachments to a distribution list through e-mail. You can access current information real-time -- no longer referencing outdated documents or attachments that you previously received. You can build and manage communities using wikis!

Ok, you may be wondering how a wiki could be used by you. Here is just a short list of examples:

Make a travel scrapbook
Organize the carpool to school, rehearsals, or sports practices
Create a website about your hobby
Create a website for your small business
Log your favorite recipes on a site -- and just logon from the ski cabin next winter
Create an emergency contact site for your family members to connect during times of crisis
Create a home inventory (using a private wiki that only your family can edit and view)
Create a site for your book club
Create a site for your group to write a book
Make a site to plan your next party
Make a site to plan the school trip
A reunion site for your class or family
Create the site for your child's sport team (e.g., with practice and game schedules, listing who's responsible for team snacks, to post team photos, to post game statistics)

You can learn everything about wikis from Everything Wiki -- it's a wiki about wikis! If you want to share a wiki with the world, post a comment on the Wiki'd Places blog.

Image credit: www.thecontentwrangler.com

We've come a long way, darling!

2011-03-08T21:54:00.010-06:00

Today I'm celebrating International Women's Day. A lot of progress for women's rights has been recorded over the last century. I, myself, have seen a lot of change.

I grew up in the rural South. Maybe life was different in the South than other parts of the great USA. Life has not always been easy for the women of the South. I know women of my lifetime who did not have the opportunity to learn to drive... that is, with the exception of a plow or a tractor. I recall when all the women set the table for the men and the children's table, eating only after all others had finished. I'm a proud voter, but I can remember when my Dad gently notified me how the "family" would be voting. When I inquired, I learned that there was a family meeting prior to the election to discuss the issues and the candidates. It was decided then where to place the block of family votes. Of course, my Dad (anticipating my disappointment on my first voting year in this process) also told me that his suggestions were only recommendations based on what he had learned from the candidate speeches at the political rallies and hearing the opinions of his family members. Plus, he suggested that we as a group would have more influence than individually. Interesting, I had attended those same political rallies -- our high school band would often play at them. Funny, I don't remember being invited to that family meeting. It was definitely a guy thing.

Although by the time I completed my masters degree in computer science, many women had already led the way to establish opportunities for women. However, there still were not many women working in the technology field. That was somewhat nice because demand was high and I had 14 job offers when completing my graduate work. However, there were unexpected challenges along the way. During one campus interview, a manager explained how they never had hired a woman in their company to perform the computer programming work. He explained how the guys were guys He explained that he was not opposed to hiring a woman, but he did not want to hire a b----- and then asked if I was one. On one site interview for another company, I was excited to hear the job opportunities-- after all, my major professor had once worked for that company, but in Houston. I was surprised to learn after arriving in Austin that I really only had a single, brief, introductory interview. The hiring manager reported to me that he had decided not to hire a woman -- he assumed that I would take the job, get married, get pregnant and then not be available to report to work when needed, which often was around 4am when their programs would run and break. My major professor and department chair were extremely upset by that situation and called the company to complain. The company insisted that I return for additional interviews -- however, I already knew that I would not work for that company.

You expect that there will be a few bad apples in every bunch. I picked a great company that has led by example in many areas. However, it was surprising what also occurred in such a large, great company. I really enjoyed working for one manager and his team. They were real go-getters and work was often a lot more fun than work. However, I was disappointed to learn from a female peer (as she was crying in her beer one happy hour) that she thought that she really did deserve the promotion -- and she did not get the promotion just because she was sleeping with our manager while away on business trips. I was shocked that such behavior would occur in our workplace. I was upset about that situation -- and although I felt like tossing a cupcake in her face, I'm glad that women are no longer stoned for committing adultery. Later, I joined another team that was quite different. I was the first woman hired in that department but was shortly joined by another. We were both disappointed to learn that after our years of experience, our only assigned tasks from the team leader involved entering their timecard data and completing data entry for their personal reports for the department. It took awhile to get meaningful work. Shortly afterward, I learned that some of those good ol' guys really could not pull their weight -- technically speaking. I often was assigned their projects when they failed. It was frustrating being called in to clean up their mess and get a project completed successfully for staff who earned significantly more than me. It was then even more frustrating to hear my manager say that I would not be given a raise -- specifically because the guys in the department were married, had kids, and needed the money more than me. Because I was still single and a woman, he decided to give all the raises to the men in the department. I could not believe my ears. During my time working for that manager, the dress codes were relaxed and women were no longer required to wear dress suites (e.g., skirts and business jackets). However, we quickly learned that our manager had 9 criteria that the women's attire had to meet in order to be acceptable for our work location. Some of the requirements were ridiculous and almost impossible to meet. I decided that it was best handled by asking the manager to walk through his department and demonstrate to us (by the men's attire) the specifics of the requirements. Of course, it was obvious that none of the men met the rules that he had personally constructed for his two female staff. Basically their pants (excuse me, slacks) had two legs, were full-length, and not denim. It was not long before the 9 criteria were relaxed somewhat.

I've worked with and for a lot of amazing people. However, I have been sometimes amazed and embarassed by the behavior of a few women in the workplace. I've had my intellectual property basically stolen by some women peers -- and not just one. I would attend meetings and be surprised to see my presentation delivered -- but I'd chuckle to myself hearing the ladies struggle to find the explanations for the data reported. I also actually had one female team member claim my entire project when a new manager was assigned to our department. The peer had only been with the team shortly and I had assigned to her a significant task over six weeks. I spent a lot of time helping to introduce her to our team and my project. The new manager was located at the same site as my peer. It was days before I met the new manager -- but by then, I was no longer working on that project and, according to the manager, had never led that project, based on information from my peer, even though I had led it for over 8 months, leading numerous subteams. It took weeks to get on my manager's calendar about the project. It even took months longer to sort out the mess with the project managers of my subteams, who were totally confused. I think that it is hilarious that the peer, years later after moving to a new position, contacted me on LinkedIn and even asked me to write a recommendation. I ignored the request -- I am sure that she would not be happy with my recommendation to others to avoid (like the plague) working with her. I guess people like that are very insecure in their abilities and feel that they must steal the work of others to help validate themselves. I also had a female manager who once insisted that reverse my position on some research results -- to support another outcome that she supported. I was strongly encouraged not to report my findings. I was actually told that I must go to a meeting with another colleague (who had already told me that he was willing to support whatever opinion was requested by the manager) and could not come out of it until I had completed the recommendation -- and the recommendation must agree with my colleague's. I respectfully reported to her that I could not falsify my research results to support her hypothesis. I tell you that I truly paid for that stand that I took. I also worked on a project with stellar results -- and the manager of the department I supported gave me an informal award for the work performed. However, shortly afterwards, that same female manager reported to my manager that she was not happy with my performance -- and was even considering asking that I be removed from the project. I was shocked. However, I soon learned that a layoff was occurring -- and I suspect that she was positioning her staff member for my position. I never told that manager that my manager had reported to me her feedback -- I respectfully continued work with her, concentrating on my job and continuing to be an outstanding performer on the project. Those were dark days among a long career. Most of those darks days were at the hand of women, not men. Those women should have been mentors --- they were leaders in the field, but demonstrated bad behavior (trying to get ahead) that no one should emulate.

Work is not so different from the outside world either. I can remember asking to talk with a supervisor at a well-known automotive center after the technician noted that he had fixed the problem identified with my car -- but fixed it on another's car by mistake. After he quickly changed his story, I insisted that the problem be corrected -- and then the supervisor noted that he did not think that I was an ordinary dumb blonde. I recall a lender telling me that it would be very difficult to purchase a house -- I found another lender who offered me an application and I easily met the requirements. Often service personnel will ask that I call my spouse about the details of repairs needed at the house. Once after a hail storm in our area, several homeowners teamed to get a good group discount on a roof replacement. One roofing contractor on the list would not talk with me -- ignoring my questions, assuming that my husband would eventually come across the street to talk with him. Eventually, when I got his attention, I explained that I am the home owner and that I would not be interested in his proposal -- I would only review the those submitted by the other contractors. I also often experienced difficulty getting assistance in the computer department of a large, popular electronics company. Their personnel would practically walk around me, ignoring me -- or tell me to wait a moment -- as they assisted every male that walked into the general area. A male friend of mine once saw me in the store and chatted with me while waiting one day. A sales associate soon walked up and asked how he could assist him -- my friend quickly noted that I had waited for 20 minutes and he could start by helping me. I have noticed many improvements there -- apparently it was well-known by the company executives that they were not meeting the needs of female consumers (and we spend money on electronics too). I guess things are getting better, but I still take a male friend with me when car shopping.

I see the progress, but I'm afraid that we've gone backwards also. I sense a loss of chivalry and general politeness -- some men claim that it is due to the women's revolution. After al, some say that you can't have it both ways. I always thank a guy when he opens and holds the door for me -- that happens less frequently these days. I was once on a rental bus at an airport in Chicago -- and watched a busload of men sit after a pregnant lady with a toddler boarded the bus. I waited patiently for someone -- anyone -- to stand to allow that lady to sit. I was the only other woman on the bus. In my "steel magnolia" way, I stood to my feet -- and exclaimed to the captive crowd of men how I could not believe their behavior -- how could they sit as a pregnat woman with a toddler struggled to hang on as the bus moved through the airport to the rental cars? I gladly gave up my seat for her. They did not blink an eye -- no one jumped to his feet to correct the situation. No one apologized. I don't know if it was general male insensitivity due to the women's revolution -- or if I just expected too much of the Yankee males, having lived my entire life in the South. I was especially proud one day later on another rental bus by that same company to have a driver insist on carrying my luggage off the bus to my car -- I told him that it was not necessary. However, he then explained how his daughters and wife traveled frequently on business -- and he knew (from observing the general behavior of men on his bus) that they were not likely well treated when traveling. He wanted to extend the courtesies to all women on his bus that he could only hope would be extended to his loved ones when traveling --- and the guys on the bus could just wait! Wow, there's still hope for humanity today.

Well, despite these sad stories, there is much to celebrate. I've been blessed and appreciate it. Improvements are definitely needed in many areas -- and I will be delighted to continue to see the progress -- and the hope of improved quality of life for women worldwide.

The best of times, the worst of times

2011-02-25T02:29:00.012-06:00

It's always a pleasant surprise when you experience one of those "red letter" days. I've often heard that phrase, but never really investigated what it meant. I understand now that it's a day of special significance. Appropriate for yesterday: a day when it seemed everything was going perfectly well. I could not have written a better script. Some might say that all the stars were aligned. Others might say that angels were in my corner. However, what's interesting about life, is that you really never know the course that a day will take. Yesterday was also one of those days.

There are often mixed feelings about a project close-out meeting with management teams. For this project whose review was scheduled yesterday, they took a big chance on it. There were many others who requested the funding, but were not chosen. However, just enough saw the potential and were instrumental in supporting the effort, especially as roadblocks were encountered. The project had lots of challenges, but all were overcome. A delayed start caused it to be simultaneously scheduled during the busiest and most demanding time of the year for the project that basically defines my job. However, it was a great success -- it's almost unbelievable what was achieved and how promising the results indicate. The time arrives when the project review occurs and the great news was shared. There seemed to be an overwhelming awe of what was achieved by the team and the possibilities ahead. Such great feedback from everyone and additional support was identified to explore how the innovative work can continue. On the same day, important data for my "real job" is needed for a colleague to meet an upcoming deadline. No time to celebrate -- just rush back and dive into the data to find just the morsel of data that might make a difference as plans are drafted to hopefully positively impact so many. Working late to deliver that data...just as it's needed. The celebration can wait. After all, I look forward to tomorrow -- the start of the weekend.

However, there's a little sting to the day. It's always sad to learn that a colleague is being laid off from the company, but it's especially worse when it happens to a friend. So surprising. There's also that nagging little concern about the greater unknown: who else might be affected by this unfortunate circumstance? Only time will tell. Unfortunately, some slip away and leave before you really know what happened to them. Then, the phone rings. Another dear person has received alarming news of medical test results. Although more investigation is planned, there's the possibility of an oncoming battle with the Big C -- something you don't even dare to mention aloud and you are really never prepared to hear. So, here I am...at 2:18 in the morning...with a nagging stomach ache. Is it because I worked feverishly today, skipping both breakfast and lunch for that project review and then eating very late after delivering that important data to my colleague (who has already kindly expressed gratitude)? Or, is it because I feel that my dear friend and loved one might also be up at this hour...wondering about their futures...and what is ahead for them. So much uncertainty.

Who really knows the right thing to say to someone at such a time? You struggle for the right words, but then you remember that most times it's just best to listen...and then tell them that you care, you want to help, and you'll be there for them. Although some think it's not the politically-correct thing to say at the office, you know that you'll add your friend to your prayer list.... because you know that they have been there to celebrate the best of times and to support you during your worst of times.

During the worst of times, I don't always know what to do, but I know what I should not do: worry. I know where to place my trust and regardless of my circumstance "it is well...with my soul"
Here's a YouTube video of Faith Hill singing a favorite:

image credit: fensepost.com

Hey, what's up?

2011-02-12T14:44:00.004-06:00

A relaxing Saturday afternoon...enjoying this fun video to Santana's Oye Como Va today:

Man vs. Machine

2011-02-10T18:02:00.016-06:00

On this date in 1996, IBM's Deep Blue became the first machine to win a chess game against a reigning world champion, Garry Kasparov. You can view a short documentary about the 1996 and 1997 matches between Deep Blue and Kasparov on YouTube. Next week, another round of man vs. machine is scheduled. IBM's Watson, a computer that rivals a human's ability to answer questions posed in natural language, will challenge two Jeopardy! champions, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. The challenge begins on February 14. You can see an introduction of IBM's Watson on NOVA Smartest Machine on Earth on the PBS site. To find out when Jeopardy! The IBM Grand Challenge can be viewed in your area, visit the gameshow's site.

I'm a technologist -- otherwise fondly called a geek. I love gadgets. Where would we be without the great technology? I often wonder what my dearly departed grandparents would think about the gadgets of today.

My iron automatically shuts itself off
My phones show me who is calling -- there is no longer that surprise when answering
If I'm on the phone, I can send a text message to the waiting caller without interrupting my discussion
I can schedule multiple automatic wakeup calls at my home and also pre-record reminder messages for automatic delivery to me
A gadget tells me how many steps I've taken and a gadget tracks my heartrate and total calories burned during exercise
I can see a report of the current weather and future projections for basically anyplace from my computer -- my Grandpa could have used that for planting his fields
I often can view the street, neighborhood, and house from my computer for addresses that I plan to visit -- excellent when househunting
My car tells me how many miles that I have traveled on a tank of gas and how much farther I can go
I can view missed episodes of many TV shows when I choose, either on my TV, my computer, or phone
I have several little gadgets that easily fit in my purse or on my keychain and hold hundreds of documents and files that I may need to reference or to share
I have a tiny little gadget that stores hundreds of songs that I frequently like to hear -- no more narrowing down the list of CDs to pack with my CD player on trips
I have a tiny little gadget stored in my camera that allows me to take and store hundreds of photos. I can view them immediately and delete what I don't want -- no more waiting for film to be processed to find out that the Kodak moment was not really captured.
A single item on my desk rotates digital copies of photos throughout the day.
A navigator tells me what restaurants or shops are in the area and then gives me turn-by-turn instructions to the location.
I can logon and see thousands of recipes online wherever I am cooking
I can view my grocery store sales paper online, select the items I want to purchase, and then print the shopping list from my computer.
My printers warn me when the ink is low and let me see the levels.
A tiny gadget attaches to my music stand to give me feedback on my tuning as I play and will keep the beat for me too. Those functions are now even phone apps.
I receive text messages when billing statements arrive to my e-mail and when bills are automatically paid.
I get notices of email received by text message on my phone to view and to even respond
I can login to securely see the results of all medical tests ordered by my physician
My exterior lights are programmed to come on at dusk, off at dawn, and vary while I'm on vacation.
I have controllers in most rooms to control the lights in that room (or in any other room)
A controller easily programs the times to water my lawn and is smart enough to not start after it has rained or a freeze
My refrigerator signals when the water filter needs to be changed
My crockpot can automatically switch from high to low temp, saving me a trip to the kitchen
A small gadget will warn me in advance if there is a leak from my air conditioner before water gets near the new flooring in the hall
I receive a notification if anyone updates a webpage on my wiki website and I can easily remove vandalism to restore content with a single button
I have a new gadget to set up automatic file backup for all the computers on my home network
I have a new gadget that uses speech recognition for my shopping lists -- and it even automatically sorts and prints the items in similar groups for the grocery store
I have a new gadget that will weigh my food and even show me its nutritional value

I'm always on the lookout for new gadgets. My family thinks that it's difficult to buy for me at Christmas, although they know my love for gadgets. There are some gadgets that I would like:

I'd like a timer on the shower for my nephews when they come to visit
I need the gadgets to put on opened containers in my refrigerator to track expiration dates, based on my prior blog post.
I'd love a refrigerator that would order supplies when out, or at least make a list.
I need the gadget that scans and helps to organize paper items to help me tame the paper tiger in my life
I'd love for my car to automatically parallel park for me -- I totally avoid that
I would love for my clothes washer to store and automatically dispense the right amount of the detergent, bleach, and softener needed
I would like a compactor feature for my shredder to automatically compress the paper
I would like a sensor in my mailbox to notify me when mail was picked up or delivered
I would like the 'getback' feature that was previously on a mainframe-based email system to automatically return to me email that I mistakenly sent or sent too early
I would like a text message to warn me that the garbage truck is in my area so that I can get the trash out to the street in time (since a critter has torn into the bags at night).

As great as my gadgets are, there are times when there are woman vs. machine challenges at my house. At times the smart machines seem rather dumb (or at least stubborn) or get the best of me.

I can't successfully enter decimal weight when defrosting items by weight on my microwave
My dishwasher program often freezes if I open the door prematurely to quickly toss in one more item after it starts
My sprinkler system does not automatically detect daylight savings time schedule changes
My phone is on the old daylight savings time schedule
I still have at least 5 gadgets whose time must be manually reset after a power outage -- those flashing lights annoy me
My visiting family does not understand (and has expressed annoyance) with the light controllers -- I usually disconnect them on long family visits
The gadget my Mom bought me for Christmas to easily turn off the bedroom lamp across the room (an advanced version of the Clapper), annoyingly turns on the lights during the night if you cough in your sleep. That was quite a surprise.

Today I hope that you're winning in the man vs. machine challenge. I've also just set an automatic reminder to watch Jeopardy! The IBM Grand Challenge next week.

Seal it with a kiss and a smile

2011-02-09T17:11:00.018-06:00

Today I'm celebrating Hershey's chocolate.

Although Godiva and Ghiradelli are wonderful, in many ways I'm a country girl who enjoys many of the simple things in life, including Hershey's Great American Chocolate Bar. I also especially like Hershey's Kisses. You likely are familiar with their slogans: There's a smile in each Hershey's Bar and Say it with a kiss. Reportedly on this day in 1864, Hershey's Chocolate was founded.

I've been a loyal Hershey's customer for most of my life. I basically love most things chocolate. I prefer milk chocolate over the more healthy dark chocolate that has even won Bob Greene's Best Life seal for its healthy antioxidants. Although I been have accused of acting like a nut, I prefer Mounds and the Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar, over a Mr. Goodbar, Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds Bar, or Almond Joy. I know it seems odd, but I don't want chocolate on my glazed doughnut.

I generally can't keep chocolate in the house because of the temptation, with the exception of the Hershey's chocolate syrup for my nephews and the Hershey's Cocoa for baking my Mom's best chocolate pie recipe, my brownie recipe and a nice cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter night. My chocolate cake with homemade chocolate buttercream frosting is to die for! I typically will bake the cake when my nephews come to visit, eat a piece with them, and then send the remaining cake home with them. During the recent snow and ice storm we baked a delicious chocolate cake.

I believe that February is Chocolate Lover's Month. In 2009 Nielsen projected that consumers would buy more than 58 million pounds of chocolate candy, ringing up $345 million in sales and accounting for 5.1% of total annual sales during Valentine's week. Chocolate is popular at my house in February, but we also enjoy it all year. Hershey's chocolate products are featured in the Easter baskets I fill each year. There's generally a bag of Kisses in the car on our annual summer trip to the farm. Many of the snacks in my annual movie gift box at Christmas are Hershey's products. Also, Santa always leaves a bag of Hershey's Kisses under the tree just for me. Sometimes I often walk down the Target candy aisle, dreaming of taking the Hershey's bars or Kisses home, but I generally have the willpower to walk away. However, there are times when chocolate is absolutely necessary. I know that chocolate cannot solve every problem, but it definitely makes all things better.

As much as I love Hershey's chocolate, I'm concerned about two things. One is the reformulation of several Hershey's chocolate products to replace cocoa butter with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil as an emulsifier to reduce production costs. Those new versions no longer meet the Food and Drug Administration's official definition of "milk chocolate" or "made with chocolate" and are relabeled to "chocolate candy" or "chocolaty." Secondly, as a sometimes obsessive shopper of products Made in USA, I'm always saddened to learn when American manufacturing plants are closed and American jobs are lost in the global transformation programs implemented by so many companies. Although the Hershey, PA plant is the largest chocolate factory in the world and 80% of Hershey's manufacturing takes place in the USA and Canada, approximately 1500 (or 11%) of Hershey's jobs were lost over 3 years due to the global transformation program. Who would have thought that outsourcing would be an issue for such a great American company? Hershey outsources production of low value-added items in addition to building a plant in Monterrey, Mexico to meet growing demand there. I love the Hershey's great American chocolate bar, and I hope to never see "Made in Mexico" on that great American product's label. You can hear that chocolate bar's theme song at TelevisionTunes.com and can see a neat video where the world's largest Hershey's Kisses is built.

A lot of people have much to say about chocolate. Here are some quotes that might amuse you:

There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate -- Linda Grayson
All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt -- Lucy Van Pelt in Peanuts by Charles M Schulz
Anything is good if it's made of chocolate -- Jo Brand
I never met a chocolate I didn't like. -- Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation
And above all... Think Chocolate! -- Betty Crocker
Chemically speaking, chocolate really is the world's perfect food -- Michael Levine
My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already. -- Dave Barry
You know an odd feeling? Sitting on the toilet eating a chocolate candy bar -- George Carlin
Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies. -- John Q Tullius
Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put "eat chocolate." Now, you'll get at least one thing done today. -- Gina Hayes
It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let's face it, far more reliable than a man. -- Miranda Ingram
Any sane person loves chocolate -- Bob Greene
The 12-step chocoholics program: Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate -- Terry Moore
Chocolate: Here today ... Gone today! -- Anon
Life is like a box of chocolates ... You never know what you're gonna get -- Forrest Gump
There's more to life than chocolate, but not right now. -- Anon
Nothing is more romantic than chocolate -- Ted Allen

A shortcut to my heart -- say it with a smile and seal it with a kiss, plus a bag of Hershey's Kisses

Image credit: World Travel Attractions

It's no ordinary minor score

2010-07-25T14:11:00.008-05:00

Today I'm celebrating Wolfgang Mozart's completion of his Symphony No. 40 (K550) in G minor. This symphony is often called the Great G Minor Symphony, distinguishing it from his Little G Minor Symphony, No. 25. The symphony exists in two versions; in the second, the flute and oboe parts were revised for the addition of two clarinets. It notably excludes trumpets and timpani. It is one of my favorite symphonies. The opening theme of the first movement has been unforgettable to me, described by some as a nervous, urgent theme. I can almost still see in my mind the graphical image of the music that I drew during those music lit sessions to better remember the music and to decipher its form. If you listen closely in the fourth movement, you will hear some technical surprises as well.

Some say that this symphony, one of only two written in a minor key, perhaps reflects the grim circumstances of Mozart's life at the time, his growing poverty, fading popularity, cancelled concerts, and his daughter's death. Mozart had written in a letter begging for a loan, "Black thoughts...often come to me...thoughts that I push away with a tremendous effort." Albert Einstein called the first and last movements "plunges into the abyss of the soul" and Charles Rosen described this work as one of Mozart's "supreme expressions of suffering and terror." Classical Notes describes "its darker tone was hailed as a rare advance from the presumed superficiality of Mozart's other work....an astounding balance and blending of seeming opposites: polished precision and spontaneous utterance, stringent formalism and heartfelt emotion, personal expression and universal humanism...". At the beginning of the development section of the finale, Mozart launches into a very surprising, unexpected chromatic segment in unison and syncopation "structured with rigorous mathematical logic" described as "rude octaves and frozen silences" by the critic Michael Steinberg. Barbara Heninger notes that "Mozart has taken us on an unusual voyage, but in the end his musical language still achieves a balance, order, and resolution." I love Classical Notes' description that "the remaining half of the movement seems ever so brighter and its burdens lighter, as Mozart's glance into the future adds just a glimmer of hope, as if to say that although life itself is basically sorrowful, steadfast dignity and faith in the future hold a crucial promise of uplift and redemption." I choose to believe that as well.

Today I celebrate Mozart's expression through music, with a tad of mathematical influence, the glimmer of hope and the promise of the future.

All four movements can be heard from YouTube, but you can hear the first movement from a YouTube video of a concert by The New Philharmonic Tokyo Chamber here:

Let us pray

2010-05-06T00:05:00.001-05:00

Today I'm celebrating the National Day of Prayer

From my childhood I was taught the importance of prayer in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I recall the memorable prayer time before bedtime on bended knee with a parent. Also, no one would ever consider picking up a fork at our house prior to the asking for a blessing of the meal. My seat at the table was nearest the phone (the single wall phone in our home, which was connected to a party line). One evening during the blessing the phone rang. I'll never forget grabbing the phone immediately after the prayer and saying "A-Men!" rather than "Hello" --- an explanation was definitely required as everyone at the table laughed hysterically.

As a child I remember wondering how would it possible to "Pray without ceasing" as encouraged in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. However, throughout my life experiences, I can easily recall many examples, including

On my walk home after abandoning my Dad's new Datsun truck alongside the road, after seeing a spider on the ceiling above me
The entire day of my college piano recitals (until Mr Sawyer reminded me to get out there and do it! after answering his two questions: have you practiced? have you prayed?)
While stranded in my Maverick (filled with practically everything I owned) with my little brother, behind my parents' car on a flooded bridge on an highway heading to south Texas during a hurricane
While pacing in the hallway every morning (with a pocketful of Pepto Bismol tablets) during the week of my PhD written exams
While huddled in the bathtub during a tornado warning, clutching my laptop and backup dissertation files
On the airplane in the rush to get home to be with a sick loved one
After awakening during the night, burdened about a situation of a family member
Sitting in the intensive care unit waiting room, knowing that someone had just crashed but no one yet knew who
Sitting at the bedside of my Dad during his last days
While lying on the bed in the pitch dark, with mud streaked down my leg from crawling over a tree after being stranded at the farm following my Dad's funeral and Hurricane Katrina, wondering how Mom and I would survive for the next 10-14 days on the 5 cans of food, one package of peanut butter and crackers, and a box of ding-dongs in the pantry (It seemed at the time as insurmountable as the feeding of the five thousand with the five loaves and two fishes, but the outcome was similar for us)
While playing the piano or organ during family members' funerals (then resorting to counting quarter notes, half notes, etc on the pages to fight the tears)
While listening to great friends courageously trying to sing or speak at our best friend's memorial service last summer
I can assure you that God hears (and answers) the prayers of His people.

A lot of important people have said a lot about prayer, including:

Many people pray as if God were a big aspirin pill; they come only when they hurt (B Graham Dienert)
A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing (unknown)
Prayer has comforted us in sorrow and will help strengthen us for the journey ahead (George W Bush)
Prayer is the key to Heaven, but faith unlocks the door (unknown)
Prayers go up and blessings come down (Yiddish proverb)
Grant that I may not pray with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart (Martin Luther)

However, none of the above are as important as:

For, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13, NKJV)
Delight yourself in the Lord; and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4, NIV)
And all things, whatsover you shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (Matthew 21:22, KJV)
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father (John 14:13, NIV)
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. (Psalm 91:15, NIV)
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16, KJV)

Here's a favorite song "Let Us Pray" by Steven Curtis Chapman that I hope you'll enjoy on this National Day of Prayer!

Image credit: Gospel Hill Posts

A penny for your thoughts

2010-04-26T17:32:00.015-05:00

Today I am celebrating World Intellectual Property Day! Back in 2000, April 26 was set aside to celebrate the contributions made by innovators and artists around the world and to raise awareness of the role of intellectual property in our daily lives. I celebrate those with the big ideas in life today and especially when watching such fun shows as the Shark Tank.

For those who, like me, work for a technology company, you may be very aware of the emphasis on intellectual property and its role in our lives. Many of us were required to sign our intellectual property away to the corporate giant before walking into the office on Day 1. Our every creative thought, no longer our own, became the property of the company, to use in its current or future business areas or to keep from its competitors. With the emphasis on innovation today and continuing the tradition of being a world leader in patent awards, you may have even heard a direct challenge to achieve a patent before even dreaming of a raise or promotion in the competitive workplace of the day. This practice gives a unique perspective to "a penny for your thoughts."

I recently began thinking that maybe it is not so difficult achieving a patent. I found some interesting lists of big ideas that received patents. Here are some of my favorites:

For our bird watching friends, a head bird feeder, comprised of a hat with a support and one or more mounted feeders was patented. (Patent number 5996127)
The human sound muffler was designed to permit someone to 'sound off' or 'let off a bit of steam' safely, without others hearing (Patent number 4834212). Maxwell Smart (Agent 86 in the Get Smart movie) could definitely have used that device for his little rant during a meeting with his coworkers when the Cone of Silence again failed. Perhaps you have even double-checked the mute button on your phone during a teleconference before abruptly reacting to comments of your co-workers, manager, or customer service.
For the summer season, there is even a patent for a maternity beach chair, allowing a mother-to-be to easily tan her back (Patent number 6295668)
For those who cannot afford or are afraid of the drastic gastric bypass and lapband operations, an anti-eating face mask may be the answer. (Patent number 4344424)
For the cook in the kitchen who can never find the dish towel, the hands-free towel carrying system (otherwise known as a towel with a neck loop) may be handy (Patent number 6718554)
For those celebrating Earth Day last week or those annoyed while walking through the cloud of smoke by smokers who can no longer smoke inside a building, the smoker's hat may be the solution (Patent number 4858627). It is a hat that covers the head of the smoker, while intaking the smoke, filtering the air, and expelling filtered, purified, and optionally scented air from the hat.
For those of you who feel it necessary to tweet your every thought but are frustrated at so many who do not use Twitter, you might like the mountable printable head placard (Patent number 6049912). This head accessory may be useful to get your message quickly to everyone you meet, even those who are technology-challenged.

Well, maybe not all big ideas are bright ideas. Maybe some should just be left on paper, for our amusement. Hey, if you've got a bright idea that you would like to proclaim to the world, check out the United States Patent and Trademark Office to see if someone else also had the same thought.

The secret to staying young

2010-04-25T00:36:00.008-05:00

It's that time of year again. The older I get the faster time seems to fly. It just seems like yesterday as my brother cautioned my young nephew, "Don't talk to an adult that way" that I heard him exclaim, "Aunt Tonya is not an ADULT!"

In celebration of this day, I found some interesting thoughts about aging.

Age is a matter of feeling, not of years. (George William Curtis)
Every one desires to live long, but no one would be old (Jonathan Swift)
Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life (Daniel Francois Esprit Auber)
Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, age don't matter. (Leroy Paige)
You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old. (George Burns)
I will never be an old man. To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am. (Bernard M Baruch)
I'd like to grow very old as slowly as possible (Irene Mayer Sleznick)
Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed (Charles M Schulz)
If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older (Abraham Sutzkever)
Don't just count your years, make your years count. (Ernest Meyers)
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. (Abraham Lincoln)
Forty is the old age of youth, fifty is the youth of old age. (Victor Hugo)
At twenty years of age the will reigns; at thirty, the wit, and at forty, the judgment. (Benjamin Franklin) Like wise Ben, I stopped counting then too!
When your friends begin to flatter you on how young you look, it's a sure sign you're getting old (Mark Twain)
I am also a fan of Robert Browning and encourage you all to Grow old with me! The best is yet to come. (Robert Browning)
Live your life and forget your age. (Norman Vincent Peale)
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream (Les Brown)
And my favorite, The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. (Lucille Ball)

Image credit: seattle traveler