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Janelle's Journal

janelle
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11/16/2009 11:50 #50319

Who got who?
I've been a supervisor of staff for almost 5 years now.

One of my favorite staff scenarios is the following.

Me: I need you to (fill in blank with reasonable request, i.e show up to work on time).

Staff: No because of (fill in with BS excuse).

Me: Sorry, but I still need you to do it.

Staff: I'm going to quit.

Me: Ok. Are you going to give me two weeks or quit on the spot?

Most of the time it's a bluff. During the rare occassion when they actually quit, so be it.

I had a variation on that theme recently. A staff person quit on short notice, actually no notice, without really identifying a reason other than not liking the job. And did not give notice really to me, but to the HR dept. According to my other staff their reasoning went as follows:

My supervisor made a request of me. It made me unhappy. I'm going to quit immediately regardless of if I have a new job lined up or not. That will show my supervisor.

Really? That will show me? The staff actually screwed over their co-workers because they had to pick up the slack. And me, well, I still have a job and benefits, so ya know...I'm really hurting in comparison.
jenks - 11/16/09 16:01
Gotta love that illogical thought process.
james - 11/16/09 12:28
I think it is unreasonable that you post a journal for us to comment on.

I am going to quit my job now. That will show you.

11/03/2009 10:48 #50208

The flu sucks
If you have it, go home.

If someone else at work has it, make them go home.

The flu is flying through my workplace at an unbelievable rate. Clients, staff, everyone is sick. I've never seen so many people get it so quickly.
janelle - 11/03/09 13:11
(e:jenks), I think you did the right thing. It's so contagious. I have to admit that I felt guilty for not going in to work when I was sick. But when I came back and saw how many of my clients were sick and it was probably because of me and another staff member toughing out the day, I feel super guilty.
vincent - 11/03/09 12:49
In a sick way I am kind of hoping to get the flu, as I could use the weight loss that is associated with it ;-)
jenks - 11/03/09 12:17
I stayed home today.
I got sick on the drive home sunday. Felt ok-ish yesterday, and went to work. This morning woke up feverish with chills and a sore throat and a cough and body aches. I decided that aside from my feeling crappy- it's irresponsible to go spread my germs at work. So I called in.
For the first time in... six years? And only the second time in my whole life.

And I feel horribly guilty about it.
And people are teasing me and calling me 'weak'.
Grr.
I did the right thing! Why do I feel so bad about it?

10/25/2009 19:30 #50115

Polenta Marinara
Slices of polenta layered in a pan
Layer of marinara
Layer of parmesan cheese
Layer of mozzarella cheese

Repeat layering until pan is full
Bake at 350

And you get...



image



image


tinypliny - 10/25/09 21:55
Wow - so this is basically a corn-based lasagna! Brilliant!
janelle - 10/25/09 21:49
Polenta is made from cornmeal cooked in water. I use some chicken broth in addition to water; vegetarians could use a veggie broth of course.

1lb of cornmeal or 3 and 1/3 cups.
Bring to boil 8 cups of water/veggie brother. Slowly pour in the cornmeal while whisking quickly until it's all mixed in. It will be thick. Let it simmer for 45 minutes.

Rinse out a 9x13 glass baking pan with cold water and pour polenta into the baking pan. Put in fridge for two hours to cool.

Now it's ready to use however you want. For the recipe I made, you slice the polenta into 1/2 inch slices.
tinypliny - 10/25/09 21:24
Wait, is that a thing without a nervous system... just checking.
tinypliny - 10/25/09 21:23
We want the recipé for polenta!
We want the recipé for polenta!
We want the recipé for polenta!
We want the recipé for polenta!
We want the recipé for polenta!
We want the recipé for polenta!
We want the recipé for polenta!
We want the recipé for polenta!
We want the recipé for polenta!
Drool Drool Drool Drool Drool!
mrmike - 10/25/09 21:20
Looks great
james - 10/25/09 21:13
Oh my god that looks delicious.
theecarey - 10/25/09 20:07
Oh, this looks so good, Janelle. I usually buy the tube stuff, which may still work just for a small serving, but I like the idea of making polenta to be able to make a larger batch. Yum!
janelle - 10/25/09 20:03
I made my own. I've never tried the store brand stuff. I guess it would be convenient to be able to slice off a small piece to fry or bake. But I think for this recipe you need a lot and it would be less expensive to make your own.
heidi - 10/25/09 19:40
Wow, that looks awesome. Did you make your own polenta or use the sausage-tube prepared kind? I saw two different flavors at the coop last week and was awfully tempted.

10/25/2009 14:11 #50106

Scharf's restaurant
I went with a group of people to Scharf's restaurant. It's a German restaurant on the east side in the Schiller Park area.




I don't know if others on estrip have been, but if you haven't been and would like to try some German food, it was fabulous. We went on a Saturday night for their Oktoberfest menu which largely offered variations on weiner schnitzel.

I had zeuegner schnitzel which was weiner schnitzel in a creamy sauce with strips of red and green peppers. And I shared a potato pancake with someone. Best potato pancake, ever!

They had a small selection of German beers in bottle and on tap. Not a large selection, but the ones they had were good.

I highly recommend and would be happy to go with anyone who wants to give it a taste!
tinypliny - 10/25/09 17:58
I love potato pancakes - even though I never make them at home (because I don't buy potatoes).
dcoffee - 10/25/09 15:58
mmm, we did Oktoberfest in Caz Park. It was fun, though the weather was a bit unpredictable. makes me want to get some Spaten. Hey Flying Bison has a great Oktoberfest beer, you should go to the brewery sometime.

10/19/2009 19:29 #50056

Babies!
After several hours of classes; background checks; fingerprints; and a few hair pulling moments....(e:drew) and I are about to become foster parents.

And we need babysitters!

Yes, I realize, we don't even have children yet, but we are already looking to find a way to pawn them off on other people....

But we would like to find a babysitter soon, because any babysitter for our foster children needs to fill out a background check form and do fingerprints. And all of the aforementioned needs processed before we can leave children alone with said babysitter.

We have one potential babysitter lined up, but I would like to find a second. So I am hoping to work my (e:strip) connections to find someone who is 21 or over; able to pass a background check and fingerprints; and willing to be a regular baby sitter for a little pocket money (i.e. twice a month or so)....

Any takers??
hodown - 10/21/09 16:00
You guys are amazing!
janelle - 10/21/09 13:53
@ (e:libertad) .... That's the fun of foster care... you don't know until they call!

We said we would be willing to consider children from infants up to 7 years old. Prefer one but will take up to two.
libertad - 10/21/09 13:46
Exactly how many babies are you getting?
dcoffee - 10/20/09 20:04
Congratulations!! I'm very happy for you guys for you guys. :)
heidi - 10/20/09 08:46
Wow!!! Congrats!!! Those will be very lucky kids!
drew - 10/20/09 00:04
Maybe an 80/20 split.
janelle - 10/19/09 22:13
Lol @ (e:Jim), well if you we refer you to our agency and you become approved foster parents, Drew and I will get $500 and will split it with you!
tinypliny - 10/19/09 21:52
Congrats! :) (I probably can't be a regular babysitter but you could definitely shoot me an email if there is an emergency.)
jim - 10/19/09 21:49
Congrats. I am jealous. James: my clock is ticking!
mrmike - 10/19/09 21:42
Congrats! and I must add my admiration on the advance planning
paul - 10/19/09 21:40
Congratulations!
james - 10/19/09 21:38
ZOMG ZOMG!

Congrats!
jbeatty - 10/19/09 21:07
Congratulations!