The editor of my first book said, and I quote, “deadlines are the only reason anything ever gets published.” She was right, until I realized that deadlines are the only reason anything ever gets written (or painted, or sculpted, or built).
I like to describe myself as “project oriented”. As soon as I know when my deadline is, my brain subconsciously calculates how much time I need to get it done and then motivates me to start just in the nick of time. It’s amazing because I’m normally bad at math.
That’s how most of us actually work, and applies to both artists and engineers. It’s a habit we pick up in middle school.
In fact, when I started using a planner, I entered the due date, then calculated and entered a start-by date. It annoyed me to no end that computer-based planners didn’t have such a thing.
As a person who has helmed many a project, this is precisely how I work. I frankly don't understand any other way of doing it. Granted, I build in a couple of extra hours/days/weeks at the start depending on if I have a team-member/group/team as part of the project, but otherwise - what's the deadline, and work backwards. Hasn't failed me yet.
Apropos of the poll, we in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex are dealing with Snowpocalypse 2, the first having been in 2021. Wind power failed then, as the turbines froze, and power outages were rampant. They fixed that, and this time around the power has only gone out in spots where ice-crusted tree limbs fall on power lines. Meanwhile on Next Door, the poor man’s Facebook, the complaints are rising about the fact that DoorDash is not available because all the fast food joints are closed.
It always cracks me up that people are upset that businesses are closed during weather emergencies. “Impossible to drive outside? No problem, let’s order food.”
We didn't get snow; we got freezing rain. I don't mind snow. I used to make it for a living many years ago when I worked at a ski resort. I do hate freezing rain.
When I was a manager in the trenches of customer service I did the "crazy customer" break a time or two. Employees deserve that kind of support.
I sometimes had to stifle a smile/laugh when people pulled the "I'm taking my business elsewhere" tantrum, more often than not they were the same people who initiated the "crazy customer" break by being horrible to our people.
I relate too well to the premise that stores stop stocking stuff because they found out I like it. That has happened to me several times. I’m tall and apparently too big around to be believable because I’ll find some jeans stocked in my size and buy them. I’ll continue to buy them for a bit and then inevitably my size won’t be stocked anymore. Apparently stores believe people with my waist size are short and people as tall as me are slim. Why can’t tall people be fat too? Arrrrgggg.
Pretty sure my grocery store tracks what I buy then discontinues it. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. My theory is that it’s too annoying to stock the stuff that keeps leaving the shelves.
(Actually given that my favourite simple stuffed pasta was replaced by garbage with an ingredient list as long as my arm, there’s probably some truth in that though more because it had a short shelf life than sold too well.)
I think crazy customers have no idea how unifying they are.
Thanks for bringing Tabby into my morning! The snow is due to hit us this evening.
It’s easy for stores to brag about their wide variety of items. Actually ordering, obtaining, and stocking those items is a different story. From what I’ve seen, it’s usually not the fault of whoever is doing the ordering at that store.
It’s salespeople and contractors behind the scenes. I always imagine a smoky room where they’re all playing cards, wheeling and dealing.
“I’ll bet you Double Stuff Oreos that you’re holding nothin’!”
I can no longer distinguish between myself and the snow. I am the snow. If someone ran me over with a snow blower, would it feel like a tree branch dropped into a wood chipper? Or would it be like a person sitting in a massage chair? This is what snow thinks about when the sight of endless snow has shattered snow's brain.
It is fitting that I became one with the snow when an article featuring Tabby appeared. Tabby represents transcendence.
There's about 5 or 6 inches of snow out there, topped with a coat of sleet, but I don't mind one bit. We bought a condo five years ago, and now someone else has to shovel the white stuff. I'm done with it.
I put hate the snow, but honestly, I'm largely indifferent. I'm busy being grateful I don't have to tackle the Monday morning rush hour in this mess, AFTER shoveling out.
I love your whole crew, but especially Tabby. Hope you stay warm and dry.
The editor of my first book said, and I quote, “deadlines are the only reason anything ever gets published.” She was right, until I realized that deadlines are the only reason anything ever gets written (or painted, or sculpted, or built).
I like to describe myself as “project oriented”. As soon as I know when my deadline is, my brain subconsciously calculates how much time I need to get it done and then motivates me to start just in the nick of time. It’s amazing because I’m normally bad at math.
That’s how most of us actually work, and applies to both artists and engineers. It’s a habit we pick up in middle school.
In fact, when I started using a planner, I entered the due date, then calculated and entered a start-by date. It annoyed me to no end that computer-based planners didn’t have such a thing.
As a person who has helmed many a project, this is precisely how I work. I frankly don't understand any other way of doing it. Granted, I build in a couple of extra hours/days/weeks at the start depending on if I have a team-member/group/team as part of the project, but otherwise - what's the deadline, and work backwards. Hasn't failed me yet.
Apropos of the poll, we in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex are dealing with Snowpocalypse 2, the first having been in 2021. Wind power failed then, as the turbines froze, and power outages were rampant. They fixed that, and this time around the power has only gone out in spots where ice-crusted tree limbs fall on power lines. Meanwhile on Next Door, the poor man’s Facebook, the complaints are rising about the fact that DoorDash is not available because all the fast food joints are closed.
It always cracks me up that people are upset that businesses are closed during weather emergencies. “Impossible to drive outside? No problem, let’s order food.”
That seems odd to me. I generally glance outside to decide if it's even safe for a delivery driver to come before I look at ordering.
I am on Team Tabby, riding shotgun
I love Tabby.
As to the poll.
We didn't get snow; we got freezing rain. I don't mind snow. I used to make it for a living many years ago when I worked at a ski resort. I do hate freezing rain.
I also need to thank you for this parallel world, so far but so real.
I live on a tropical island. 77°F is considered 'cold' here.
That sounds absolutely ideal right now.
I look forward to these every week! Love them all!
When I was a manager in the trenches of customer service I did the "crazy customer" break a time or two. Employees deserve that kind of support.
I sometimes had to stifle a smile/laugh when people pulled the "I'm taking my business elsewhere" tantrum, more often than not they were the same people who initiated the "crazy customer" break by being horrible to our people.
Tabby is the Dilbert of the retail world.
But better in pretty much every way, because she's not a smarmy asshat.
I didn’t want to say that, but thank you for saying that.
Haha, thank you 😁
With a smarter, kinder more intelligent creator. 🤔
I relate too well to the premise that stores stop stocking stuff because they found out I like it. That has happened to me several times. I’m tall and apparently too big around to be believable because I’ll find some jeans stocked in my size and buy them. I’ll continue to buy them for a bit and then inevitably my size won’t be stocked anymore. Apparently stores believe people with my waist size are short and people as tall as me are slim. Why can’t tall people be fat too? Arrrrgggg.
Pretty sure my grocery store tracks what I buy then discontinues it. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. My theory is that it’s too annoying to stock the stuff that keeps leaving the shelves.
(Actually given that my favourite simple stuffed pasta was replaced by garbage with an ingredient list as long as my arm, there’s probably some truth in that though more because it had a short shelf life than sold too well.)
I think crazy customers have no idea how unifying they are.
Thanks for bringing Tabby into my morning! The snow is due to hit us this evening.
It’s easy for stores to brag about their wide variety of items. Actually ordering, obtaining, and stocking those items is a different story. From what I’ve seen, it’s usually not the fault of whoever is doing the ordering at that store.
It’s salespeople and contractors behind the scenes. I always imagine a smoky room where they’re all playing cards, wheeling and dealing.
“I’ll bet you Double Stuff Oreos that you’re holding nothin’!”
“Read ‘em and weep! Full house!”
We lose our favorite cookies to these people.
I can no longer distinguish between myself and the snow. I am the snow. If someone ran me over with a snow blower, would it feel like a tree branch dropped into a wood chipper? Or would it be like a person sitting in a massage chair? This is what snow thinks about when the sight of endless snow has shattered snow's brain.
It is fitting that I became one with the snow when an article featuring Tabby appeared. Tabby represents transcendence.
This is one of my favorite comments. Be one with the snow. Meld with it, but don’t melt with it.
There's about 5 or 6 inches of snow out there, topped with a coat of sleet, but I don't mind one bit. We bought a condo five years ago, and now someone else has to shovel the white stuff. I'm done with it.
I put hate the snow, but honestly, I'm largely indifferent. I'm busy being grateful I don't have to tackle the Monday morning rush hour in this mess, AFTER shoveling out.
That is indeed something to be very grateful for.
I'm hoping beyond hope that our eccentrics will save us from the AI monster that's coming.