Classic Title Reused

As you can see, this comic strip has nothing to do with a dog and everything to do with a dude that yells. I want to name each CoV with a unique title and that one came to me as I thought about a person that yells. I do not think any copyright board will pursue me since this is clearly an appropriate usage of the same words

Whew! Kendall and Isabella stayed with us Saturday night. There is a reason God chose to give people babies when they were young because we were worn out by the time we got to church. Bella cried when we got there because she wanted to go with us again after church. We had a great time.

I have an interview at 10am today for a position in a different team. Now I am already in a different team by virtue of an appointment by my Director, so this is another opportunity. I do not know if there is a position there, nor if I fit it, but I wanted to have pursued all viable options as we complete the org restructure. This chance may not come along again. So just pray that I find the right job for me.

Dad continues to improve and is now beginning the hair growth stage of his recovery. Sure, many think that is not as important as getting over cancer, but I don't know. I mean, what if it comes back in all curly and looks like Kendall's hair, or mine when I had the afro? Or what if he only gets, like, seven hairs to grow back and he looks like Audrey or Homer Simpson? We will all just have to wait and see.

The Tintinnabulation of the Bells

When I thought about a post title, based on today's CoV, this line from an Edgar Allen Poe poem came to mind. I think the name of it is The Bells.

We ate pizza and played with grandgirls and computer games over at the folks' last night. It looked like Emily, Bella and Kendall got along famously and had a great time. A good time was had by all.

One of our project team decided she was tired of all the reorg-mania here and turned in her badge. She said she was ready to retire anyway, but that seems to take a lot of courage to actually step out like that. I wish her the best. I fear I cannot afford to make that decision for another 15 years or so.

I have to pack up my desk today in preparation for moving to another building closer to the main classroom campus here in PHX. Packing and moving are no fun, whether it is a desk or a house. True, I am dumping a lot of junk, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. In fact, the process may be spawning another CoV.

Speaking of CoV, I did write 3 more yesterday, so we have strips ready at least through next Wednesday. I also got an idea from a coworker about buying myself a week by running a Classics period where I republish the ones on which I received congratulatory emails. That could work. Another person suggested I write about not having anything to write about, since that obviously worked for Seinfeld. Stay tuned, same bat-time, same bat-channel.

Too Many Acronyms

Every job has its own set of acronyms. I imagine LPW's type of work has the most, but each of us deals with them all the time. Hence, today's cartoon...not at all inspired by the RIFs here at Apollo (see, there's a TLA for you).
I am getting a little nervous. Sure, I start with a different group next week, in a job that I do not even know what the expectations are, but that is not it. I want to tie up all the current projects very neatly for whomever picks them up so I look good and the work continues, but that is not why. No, I am down to a single CoV in my hopper (Oh yes, I do have a hopper).I have some ideas jotted down, but I have not fleshed them out into a humorous four-panel strip with a kicker at the end. I guess I will hope to do that on a day-to-day basis. Either that or, this coming Monday, you will not see my traditional morning post with your coffee. Your day will lose a little of its sunshine, a little of its luster. I pity each of us should that transpire. Sure, I could have written another comic in the time it took to tell you that I do not have time to write a strip, but that is not what this blog is about. Fine, just go write your own blog and/or comic strip. I've got a job to wind down for the next two days.

Creative Cartoonage

Today's comic was inspired when a coworker said that the new snacker-size burgers had too much bunnage. I immediately warned her that was too good of a word not to be ridiculed in CoV. She accepted her fate with grace.
Some more friends have been placed in the redeployment pool. These events are most traumatic for those caught in it, but at least depressing for those of us who will miss friends and coworkers. And it does not mean they are laid off yet. They did post a large number of jobs and the pool can apply for them first before they are posted outside the company. Still, I know how they feel, having been there twice in the last five years.

For the old-timers reading these words, 3 Dog Night sang a song called "Liar" back in the 70s. That is exactly what my wife is. A dirty stinking filthy liar. Leading her family astray for perhaps no other reason than her own amusement. OK, it is equally possible that she heard it wrong when she said that her school's curriculum night was last night. Or maybe I just heard it wrong. It is actually tonight.

I got a haircut last night from one of Kathie's coworkers. It ended up a little shorter than I expected. When I say a little shorter, I mean I am closer to Dad's hairstyle than my own. I think it is barely longer than future Navy dude ZKW. I put so much gel on it today that you cannot see my hair, only gel. And even then, some of the hair would not lay down. I may have to start wearing my hair like certain preacher brothers. Hey, I do have the urge to wear a plaid shirt with pockets and tell religious-themed homilies.

Crown Him! Crown Him!

Yes, I know that you immediately heard the hymn Crown Him Lord of All in your head when you saw today's post title. And that was my intent. Each of our hearts should be lifting Him up all the time. However, there is often a twist in my writing, just like there is in Clarity of Vision. I just got in to the office from the dentist, where he and his assistants were doing just what today's title implies. I had to have an old crown cut off and be fitted for a new one. He cut a bit into the gums, so I am in a little pain now that the Novocaine has worn off. This is not the subject of today's strip, however.

The inspiration for this came from a news story about a fast food restaurant (in Ohio?) that would not serve a mother because her two-month-old had on no shoes and the sign said "No shoes, no service." That is ridiculous. Worse even was she put socks on the child and that was not good enough. They were not shoes. That led me to consider the dumbosity of doing the same type of service in an office setting.

Things are still unsettled here at the office. When I came in while ago, it looked as if 75% of the cubicles had people standing up and talking instead of heads down and working. They need to get the new positions posted and let us get in the future job and work. A list was published last night showing a few of the management positions, and how many boxes fall under each, but we don't know what skills are needed for the boxes, nor which of us can stay in our current jobs if we choose.

I sent a Director in another group a note about interest in one of his positions. I do not know exactly what it involves since I only know the title, but it sounds like it could be fun. I searched the internet for appropriate buzzwords and concepts to show him that I might fit the job. Worst case - they keep me in my current job, and as we can all imagine, a job is better than no job.

Alison was on the computer last night burning CDs for classroom use, so I did not get to play with photos. Maybe tonight. Kathie has a school function at 6:30pm, so it will just be Ali and me for dinner...I think. Maybe I will get home early enough that we can all eat together. After that, I hope to get on the computer.

Out With (a) Bang!

Bwa-ha-ha. New recruits to the Bang! world. Zachary, Brenda and Emily came down from Redding for the week. So yesterday, we had to indoctrinate them into the world of the card game Bang! (Hence, the bang part of the title) They were among the last 3 players, so I don't know if they played with dumb luck or exceptional skill. Does it matter? No, they got there. And Brenda, Leigh and I won! Whoo Hoo. We did not have time for other games.

We had some job downsizing on Friday and my boss was affected. (Hence, the out part of the title) A little later, I got an email from him with this comic strip. I took it almost verbatim from his idea. Anyway, pray for his job search and all those who were affected. They do have the opportunity to apply for other newly formed jobs, but as you all know, I have been through this exact situation...just one year ago.

Dad continues to improve now that his chemo has ended. Still no hair, but maybe he likes it that way? Now that I think of it, Zachary has no hair either. That is probably why Dad is letting them stay there this week, even with a 2-year-old. (Hence, the with part of the title)

I did catch some photos of the granddaughters this weekend, but have not reviewed them yet. I'll try to get some posted here soon. I wish Blogger made it as easy to upload albums as Facebook. (Hence, the (a) part of the title. Not really, but I could not leave this paragraph without the same little aside as the others. It felt alone, abandoned)

I Am Not Channeling Rambo

He just happens to offer opportunities for funny office-place antics. Here's what the idea of Rambo spawned for today.

The times, they are a-changing. My boss finds out where he will be placed in the org later today. The rest of us are supposed to start finding out next week. I hope it is Monday. I'd rather just know.

Earlier this week, in my post of the comic for work, I noted that there were only a few days left. Many here asked why I was leaving the company. It shows I need to be careful how I phrase things. I was only talking about Clarity of Vision going away, not me. I think that is cleared up now. Still, I am getting really thin on comic strips. Many here are asking why the current reorg-mania isn't giving me new ideas. Ideas, yes, but I have to find that tweak that makes them a good comic. I'm trying, folks, really.

ZKW and family are coming down starting this weekend. That will be fun. I have not seen Emily in....forever.

A Bit of Undigested Potato

He's baaack. The spirit of Rambo in all of us, right? OK, maybe not, but he has shown up in cartoons for today and tomorrow.
The title of the post is a line from Christmas Carol, in case you did not know.

Reorg fever continues at work. Can't we all just get along? That's a line from Rodney King, in case you did not know. I guess I find out Monday where I land. My boss is supposed to hear about his position tomorrow morning at 9am.

I've got to get a presentation to my new Director by 8am PHX time, so I will leave you for now. But I'll be back. That's a line from Terminator, in case you did not know.

Wednesday Scmednesday

I know it is only Wednesday, but this week has gone on too long. Do you ever have one of those weeks? Nothing that I can point at. It just feels long. Well, we don't want things to go on too long, so my Obama series ends today at the Grand Canyon. Hey, there is a good Christian song called Grand Canyon. Have you ever heard it? I have it on an album by Kennedy, Kirkpatrick, Madeira and Sprague called Coming From Somewhere Else (which is my favorite song on the album). Sorry. Let's go ahead with the comic.
The parental units took us out for our anniversary last night for Mexican food. Dad is feeling enough better that he had salsa for the first time in months. A good time was had by all.

I think I told you, but did you remember that Wednesday was originally called Woden's Day? That it why it is spelled weird.

Let's just try to get this week over with, OK?

Tomorrow in CoV: Rambo returns

Breaking and Entering

What? Obama again? This one was actually the last one I wrote, simply because I got started on the Prez and decided to see how many I could create. What do I really think about this issue? I didn't really follow it closely. From what I remember, the police might have been too aggressive, but the homeowner was too confrontational. If I saw someone I did not know crawl in through a window across the street, I would call it in, too. Still, comic strips need extremes to be funny. Am I implying my CoV is funny? Well, it is to me.
There are a series of informational sessions all day today to explain what yesterday's reorg really means at our level. I suppose I should attend all, even if they do not fully involve my position or type of work. We need to make sure our project processes support the new realities of information requirements.