What are you doing these days?

[Ellener]

6 minutes ago, Happy Lemming said:

My oleander is doing OK.  It isn't growing all that much, but it doesn't look sickly either.  It is just green and staying about the same size.

Unless it gets a growth spurt, I'll wait & trim/shape it in the spring. 

Wait until they bloom, then trim them https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/oleander/pruning-oleander-shrubs.htm

They grow like weeds here but during Harvey the older ones along the avenues in Galveston were killed by the prolonged sea-water flooding, after surviving numerous storms.

Wear gloves- the sap can irritate skin. And don't eat any- it's poisonous!

[Happy Lemming]

2 minutes ago, Ellener said:

Wait until they bloom, then trim them...

 

I have to trim them when they get above 5 feet.  My oleander is a hedge (on my property line) and my elderly neighbor (lady) gets very nervous if the oleander gets above 5 feet tall. 

Her husband told me his wife worries "the hooligans will hide in the oleander if it gets too tall".  Apparently the previous owner (of my home) would only cut it once a year and it got very tall and bushy.  The neighbor lady started having panic attacks.

The husband asked me (as a personal favor to him), could I keep it about 5 feet tall, which I agreed.  Every time I trim it, they bring me apples as a "Thank You".  I have no idea why, but I like apples.

[Ellener]

7 minutes ago, Happy Lemming said:

I have to trim them when they get above 5 feet.  My oleander is a hedge (on my property line) and my elderly neighbor (lady) gets very nervous if the oleander gets above 5 feet tall. 

Her husband told me his wife worries "the hooligans will hide in the oleander if it gets too tall".  Apparently the previous owner (of my home) would only cut it once a year and it got very tall and bushy.  The neighbor lady started having panic attacks.

The husband asked me (as a personal favor to him), could I keep it about 5 feet tall, which I agreed.  Every time I trim it, they bring me apples as a "Thank You".  I have no idea why, but I like apples.

That's odd, 'hooligans' can presumably crouch down if they are determined, but no sense in upsetting neighbours! And free apples are cool- do they grow them?

[Happy Lemming]

2 minutes ago, Ellener said:

 do they grow them?

Yes, they grow a special type of apple that is native to the Bahamas on their tree.  It is quite delicious. But if they have no apples on their tree, they will purchase some (for me) at the grocery store. 

It only takes me 3-4 hours to complete the job from start to finish, including clean up. 

I don't even want to attempt to figure out why this woman thinks "hooligans" can't crouch down below 5 feet, she is on the shorter side.  Who knows, maybe in her youth someone jumped out of hedge and scared her.  All in all, they are very nice people and I can easily do complete this task, which allows my neighbor to live a panic-free life.

[Ellener]

I developed anxiety disorder after Harvey @Happy Lemming and had numerous panic attacks, it can be very irrational! Rationally I knew I couldn't fall through the cracks in the bridge but it didn't matter...

Do you grow food too? That's one thing I was hoping to be able todo, a lttle bit of container gardening but it hasn't worked as yet.

[Happy Lemming]

1 minute ago, Ellener said:

Do you grow food too?

I have a grapefruit tree.  Unfortunately, this summer something happened to it and about 75% of the tree died.  I've cut out the dead wood and rot and have a small portion of this tree left.  It is still producing delicious fruit in limited quantities, but I am still enjoying fresh grapefruits. I'm hoping it survives.  Time will tell.  If it dies, I'll get a kumquat tree (after the pandemic).

I also have a rather large prickly pear cactus that produces fruit.  I haven't learned how to harvest this fruit or what to make with it.  Perhaps that should be a project for 2021.  I'll just have to pick the fruit before the Javelina stroll by and eat it all.  The Javelina do quite a job removing the ripe fruit from that cactus.

[Ellener]

9 minutes ago, Happy Lemming said:

I'll get a kumquat tree

The owners of one of the homes I shared had kumquat trees and fig trees, the fruit was delicious. The fig fruit came in the early summer and the kumquats in autumn. Figs and good cheese go well together- who knew?!

Had to look up Javelina; we do have wild pigs here, but I've never seen any this close to the city. Farmers compain about them though. Invasive species plants and animals are a big problem in Texas: https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/04/13/the-top-ten-invasive-species-in-texas/ 

Chinaberry trees which are so pretty have also taken over the city landscape- they propagate themselves too well.

[Happy Lemming]

@Ellener

Interesting article!!

[NuevoYorko]

2 hours ago, Happy Lemming said:

 

Her husband told me his wife worries "the hooligans will hide in the oleander if it gets too tall".  Apparently the previous owner (of my home) would only cut it once a year and it got very tall and bushy.  The neighbor lady started having panic attacks.

Since it's one of the most toxic plants on Earth, there could be an upside to hooligans hiding beneath it.  Evidently even the oils from leaves can cause skin reactions in some people.  If the hooligans decide to snack on a leaf or roast marshmellows on an oleander stick,  the hooligans might be toast.

Edited January 3, 2021 by NuevoYorko

[Happy Lemming]

1 minute ago, NuevoYorko said:

Since it's one of the most toxic plants on Earth...

Yes... you are correct! The clippings can't go into Green Waste Recycling and have to be treated as "trash".

[Ruby Slippers]

Today is the last day of my 11 days of vacation. BOO HOO. Even with a job I totally love, it's still a bummer 😛

Next paid day off: MLK Day, January 18. I'm thinking about possibly doing a little weekend trip, perhaps to a beach destination.

I am lucky that my employer is generous with paid time off. With the various types of paid time off they give, it's possible to accrue more than 3 weeks paid vacation, in addition to the 10 or so holidays, your first year. This means I can take about a week off for my birthday in summer, a week off at Christmas, and other days sprinkled throughout the year. 

Also, one of my goals/resolutions for 2021 is to work from home forever. I realize I only have so much control over this - but I'm a lot more productive and happy working from home, so I'll be very happy if it can become a permanent thing.

[poppyfields]

3 hours ago, Ruby Slippers said:

Today is the last day of my 11 days of vacation. BOO HOO. Even with a job I totally love, it's still a bummer 😛

Next paid day off: MLK Day, January 18. I'm thinking about possibly doing a little weekend trip, perhaps to a beach destination.

I am lucky that my employer is generous with paid time off. With the various types of paid time off they give, it's possible to accrue more than 3 weeks paid vacation, in addition to the 10 or so holidays, your first year. This means I can take about a week off for my birthday in summer, a week off at Christmas, and other days sprinkled throughout the year. 

Also, one of my goals/resolutions for 2021 is to work from home forever. I realize I only have so much control over this - but I'm a lot more productive and happy working from home, so I'll be very happy if it can become a permanent thing.

Got ya beat Ruby, I've got six weeks annual PTO!🤩  Three every six months.  It's still not enough as far as I'm concerned, with all the stress.  LS helps with that. Lol

I can and did work remotely but I prefer going in now, I walk to and from (a mile each way) and it gets me out of the house.  I'm by myself which is SO nice, everyone else works remotely. 

Today, I just made lemon chicken and potato salad for din.  I'm not the greatest cook lol but I'm safe with that.  

Gonna continue watching Suits, a sort off beat legal drama about a guy (naturally gifted high intellect) posing as a Harvard law grad working as a lawyer at a high powered NYC law firm.  He's just about to be found out!  

Oh and Mehgan Markle, pre Duchess of Sussex, plays a paralegal!  

 

[Ruby Slippers]

10 minutes ago, poppyfields said:

Got ya beat Ruby, I've got six weeks annual PTO!🤩 

Does that include national holidays? If I include the 10 or so national holidays, I have almost 6 weeks - 5 1/2. And it will keep increasing the longer I'm with this organization.

[poppyfields]

3 minutes ago, Ruby Slippers said:

Does that include national holidays? If I include the 10 or so national holidays, I have almost 6 weeks - 5 1/2. And it will keep increasing the longer I'm with this organization.

No it's six weeks PTO plus 13 national holidays.  The holidays are the same as the court's holidays, one boss thinks it's too many, the other doesn't.  So they went with the higher number.  

However the pay is not as high as other firms, so it balances out I suppose. 

It wasn't always like this, when I started this job 5 years ago, they only gave 5 days PTO per year!  

I fought for two weeks, now the industry is so competitive, with a high propensity for anxiety and depression (big article about it in local publication), they upped it to 3 weeks every six months, 6 weeks per year.  

We don't have an accrual system, too small so this is how it will be forever, as long as I stay. 

I may leave next year and become an independent contractor, then I'll have nothing, except the freedom to work when I like (commanding high hourly rate) which wouid be nice! 

[Ruby Slippers]

1 hour ago, poppyfields said:

No it's six weeks PTO plus 13 national holidays.  

However the pay is not as high as other firms, so it balances out I suppose. 

That's awesome!! I'm lucky that my salary is above average and while the job is demanding, it's for the most part pretty low-stress for me, especially working from home.

[Ellener]

@poppyfields @Ruby Slippers Glad you are enjoying work so much. Why do you think it's taken this long for employers to recognise the benefits of remote working?

I've been doing online learning the past few months, I notice edX is offering a course 'Human-Centered Design for Work at a Distance: Toolbox Essentials'. My son's new job is largely work from home, he was saying yesterday that work is being redefined not in terms of hours and 'controlling tactics' but by task completion and overall effectiveness.

( I'm interested to see dinosaurs get their heads around that! )

My favourite work needs the human touch and in-person contact, especially with cognitive impairment and memory loss clients, but I may be able to do performance and writing online.

Feels like I pulled up my roots in 2020 and 2021 is the re-planting process!

🥀

[Ruby Slippers]

2 hours ago, Ellener said:

Why do you think it's taken this long for employers to recognise the benefits of remote working?

I think it basically comes down to "this is the way we've always done it." Also, I think some higher-ups like to have their position reinforced with the physical hierarchy. 

I'm not sure how it will play out at my office, and I'll make the best of it no matter what, but I'll be so much happier if I can work from home forever🤞

[Weezy1973]

The company I work for has moved to a “work from anywhere” policy for those that have the technology to do so. We have our operations in Asia and some of those folks don’t have the necessary tech. 
 

I think there are advantages to working in the office and advantages to working from home. I’ve been WFH now for about a year, and really don’t notice a difference, but you can’t just turn around and ask people questions or problem solve immediately. There’s a bit of a lag in getting people to answer questions. 

[sothereiwas]

3 hours ago, Weezy1973 said:

I’ve been WFH now for about a year, and really don’t notice a difference

I've been WFH for years, and there is a difference now that the WFH people are no longer the exception. The meetings are better facilitated, the VPN works better, all the little speedbumps are finally being ironed out. It's better but as far as getting work done it's about a wash because now everyone is online and can bother me online. 🙅‍♂️

[Happy Lemming]

I got bored today, so I changed the oil in my car.  It wasn't quite due yet, but I did it anyway.

[FMW]

You sound like a very handy guy @Happy Lemming, I'm impressed with the various projects about which you've posted.  My ex-husband was very handy with cars and home repairs too (when he was around).  I learned a few very basic things from him, but I usually wimp out and pay someone else.  But it's nice to be self-sufficient.  

[Happy Lemming]

29 minutes ago, FMW said:

You sound like a very handy guy...

I credit my father for teaching me some basic skills and that "can do" attitude.  As a small boy, I can remember wrenching on cars/trucks with him and assisting with various home repairs/improvements.

This pandemic has kind of "clipped my wings" a bit.  I really wanted to start working on the guest bathroom this winter, but I'm not comfortable going to all the stores I need to, in order to secure the necessary supplies.  I'd also like to find an old piece of furniture to make the vanity out of.  I did that trick in the master bathroom, I took an old entertainment center (that I found at a donation center) and modified it into a beautiful vanity with a marble top. 

Hopefully, I'll get my vaccination soon and I can resume my home makeover.

[FMW]

On 1/3/2021 at 1:38 PM, Ruby Slippers said:

one of my goals/resolutions for 2021 is to work from home forever

I think my preference would be a mix.  I would like to work in the office a few days a week (once COVID is under control, not right now!) and then from home the rest of the time.  I like to have at least some direct contact with others, I really HATE Zoom meetings.  

Our company has sent out surveys asking what our preference would be so I think that once COVID is not a major issue anymore we might have more options than we used to have.  Prior to March of last year they were ok with us working remotely one day a week, but wanted us in the office most of the time.  

[Ruby Slippers]

That's awesome that your company surveyed you to find out your preference. I'm hoping that most companies will offer a lot more flexibility. My organization hasn't sent out a formal survey, but I've definitely let my supervisor and others know that I strongly prefer to work from home as much as possible.

I just had a meeting with a colleague who manages a large team, and she said some of her people clearly get a LOT more done at home than in office - same for me. There are a few minor benefits of going to the office, but nothing that justifies the long, stressful commute, all the distractions, and the many more negatives for me. What it comes down to is that I'm much more productive working from home - and also a lot happier. If I have to go back to the office, I'll definitely see about upgrading to a house closer to downtown, but would rather not mess with it.

[sothereiwas]

Pre-plague the company wasn't really in favor of 100% remote work but they hired me knowing I was remote anyway. Now almost everyone is 100% remote and I think everyone is mostly remote. We have grown so much last year that we literally couldn't fit into the present offices even if we wanted to, so it's been made plain that the future of the company is predicted to include a decent mix of remote and on site people. We just had to get past inertia and prove it could work. 

Tough way to learn but it's done now.