Last Minute Preparation

Last minute preparation;
Things left undone.
Information untendendered;
Time becomes a gun.

Frantic dispositions
Become the moment's task
While thinking most acutely
Of what we failed to ask.

Have faith my child,
There's naught of fear
That makes a bit of difference
As the date draws near.

Your worry is no matter
In the greater scheme of things;
For it shall be what it becomes
When the fat gal finally sings.

Reboot

Don't you hate it when the world conspires against you?  OK, that might be a little bit strong.  It was only a minor glitch.  I just don't like to say, "stop."

I managed to volunteer (I use the term loosely) to set up a series of meetings across the state for educating cattlemen.  We did a few of these meetings last year and they went over well.  A group of private companies along with some industry organizations cooperating to bring programs for educating cattlemen on new technology isn't a new thing, but, we did it in a slightly different way than had ever been done before.  It worked.  The people involved were happy and the cattlemen felt like it was time well spent based on the feedback we received.

This year I drew the short straw.  I was put in charge.  It seems strange, because generally I like to be in charge, but, I didn't want to head up this project.  Scheduling 12 meetings in 12 different locations on 12 different days over a 2-month period and coordinating speakers for 6 different time slots -- oh, not always the same speakers -- is challenging to say the least.  Plus, the world doesn't stand still so, these had to fit into already packed schedules for all involved.  And, we got a late start.  Maybe that was my fault.  Maybe it was just circumstances.  I don't know.

Anyway, to make a long story short, one of the meetings for the first week is going to have to be re-scheduled.  Circumstances beyond my control -- or, for that matter, beyond the control of anyone involved -- for a change.  I'm more of a "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" type.  But, that strategy won't work this time.  Oh, well.  One out of 12 isn't too bad.....

Chris

Cell Phone Ettiquette

One of the most annoying things
Is for a speaker to be interrupted
By a cellphone going off
In the middle of a presentation.

No, annoying isn't the proper word.
Rude would be a better description.
Sometimes I want to just walk over,
Grab the phone and stomp it to pieces.

Almost every program nowdays
Begins with the admonition
"Please turn all cell phones
And pagers to off or to silent."

And yet, they ring anyway.
No, they don't ring. They blare out
"The Imperial March" from Star Wars,
Or some other personal ringtone.

It's never a quiet ring.
It's always turned as loud as possible --
That's for old folks like me
Who need it turned up to hear it.

It just drives me crazy.
The phone rings,
The speaker pauses,
People look around --

Oops. I guess I forgot to turn mine off.....