Leaves

Leaves clog the street in front of my home and they clog the rain gutters all around the house. If I were able and willing to take a day off work, I'd clean out the gutters before rain and cold weather turn dry leaves into muck that will take hours to dislodge. If I were able and willing to take a day off work, I'd sweep the street and tidy up my lawn.

I've been unwilling to take time off. If I do, I'd miss that one time I am absolutely required. My clients would be upset. I'd have a revolt on my hands. Or not.

I do not know why I feel 'guilty' about coming home early or staying home on occasion. It's my company. I should get the perks from time to time. So should my wife. We spoke tonight about whether the close the office on the Friday before Christmas; the decision was NO, we don't want to give people the idea that they are entitled to more time than they earn. That's too bad. I'd like to do it, but she's right. Some people, including current staff, have a sense of entitlement about time off. I'm one with mixed feelings. I pay them to do a job and that pay is based on working a certain time-frame and accomplishing a certain set of performance criteria. But wouldn't it be nice to throw in a 'goodie' from time to time? It would, but having been a 'boss' for a lot of years, I know how many people take advantage of the little things. I'm a Democrat who has been Republicanized in some ways by little bastards who Republicans loathe and who Democrats seem to think don't exist.

My employee who had the brain tumor surgically removed...may have gone home today. If not, soon. Not sure about what the prognosis is...not sure she'll tell me.

I'm trying to introduce to my wife the idea that a trip to Italy and Croatia next year might be a good use of vacation time. I have to be subtle and I have to suggest a short window of time that does not interfere with a client's monthly meeting. Maybe we need to get rid of that client, or at least give someone else the responsibility for dealing with it so we can widen our window.

My periodic readers from Seattle haven't been by for awhile, nor have my periodic readers from California. That's OK. Just feeling a little unread. There have been plenty of posts of late that should have been unread. Maybe even this one. I'm feeling the leaves clogging up my brain.