Thoughts on: Staying Classy

So, Carol Bartz, ex-CEO of Yahoo, was apparently unceremoniously fired earlier this week by Chairman Roy Bostock. Over the phone. In an interview with Fortune, Bartz says she told Bostock about his method for firing her, "I thought you were classier."

If you read that interview with Fortune, you'll note Bartz takes an almost belligerent tone, blames everyone but herself, and even drops the f-bomb.

I'm not sure Bartz's post-firing behavior puts her in a position to criticize someone else's class. Perhaps it doesn't mean what she thinks it means.

Thoughts on: Stupid Retailers

The Internet discovered that retailer JC Penney was selling a girls' shirt emblazoned with, "I'm too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me."

Really? REALLY?

My thoughts are pretty much the same as everyone else on the Internet. But I'm mostly wondering what was JC Penney thinking?!?

Thoughts on: Happy Extroverts

I'm an introvert. I'm a PROUD introvert. I embrace it; I own it.

I'm also, admittedly, not the happiest person on the planet. Don't get me wrong! I'm by no means depressed or sad, as a rule. Pessimistic, yes. Maybe that's a better way to put it.

In any event, the fact that I find happiness elusive and fleeting made me very interested in this post by Sophia Dembling to The Introvert's Corner, "Is Hyperbole Really Happiness?" Basically, new research and clinical observations show that when given choice based on scales, extroverts are more likely to select the extremes. For example, when asked to rate on a scale of 1 to 5, extroverts will select 1 or 5; when asked to choose between hot and sweltering, extroverts pick sweltering.

Is this because extroverts really feel in extremes? Or is this because extroverts--by nature--crave stimulation, which extremes may offer? I don't know. What I do know is that I never choose extremes when rating on scales. Between 1 and 10, my go-to responses are 3 and 7.

Thoughts on: Random Acts of Kindness

I just read Random act of kindness bonds two families and my first thought was, "AWWW!" As I read further, my next thought was, "Um. Stalker much?"

BUT! This isn't about my second thought. It's about my first thought. AWWW!

Random acts of kindness are so simple to do, yet the payoff is incredibly huge. Think about how you feel when you give one; how you feel when you get one.

It makes me wonder why they seem so rare.

Thoughts on: Hot What?

So, it's a new year and we all know what that means!


*crickets*


Another try at the whole "I'ma be fit" thing! Duh.

I'm using SparkPeople, again. I've tried Livestrong and actually preferred it to SparkPeople, but neither has an Android app and SparkPeople is giving away prizes, so...

But I'm not sure if I'll be able to consistently track my nutrition with SparkPeople if when I search for "hot chocolate," it responds with this:

Um...hot dog buns? Chocolate chip cookies? What?

Thoughts on: Parents and the Oil Spill

I love how we now have to teach the kids about things like this, because obviously the parents are clueless.

"With a similar message, Children also learned about beach safety and what to do in cases of seeing oiled debris or wildlife on the shore.."

From Look but Don't Touch

Thoughts on: Validation is Overrated

"Feedback is important, selling is important, getting the market to recognize your offering and make a sale--all important. But there's a difference between achieving your goals and realizing your work matters." from Seth's Blog: Validation is overrated

I admit, I suffer from this disorder of needing praise and recognition and approval and validation. I know I take pride in my work and I know that should be enough. I need to realize the work I do for my employer is also work I do for me. Changing my perspective will hopefully change my attitude and help me conquer the disorder. My approval of my work is more important than anyone else's.