Quick Takes Vol. 5

For those of you who forget what "Quick Takes" are, it's a web phenomenon started in the blogosphere to quickly and succinctly tell your readers seven things you did this week. Except that I'm rarely quick...or succinct!

Details, details!

1.) You know how some people work for the weekends? Well, I do, too. But it's not for the reasons you probably think. I still work most weekends (that's when the real work is done!) but what I truly love is the ability to sleep in past 6 a.m. and watch NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL. Tomorrow, we're taking on Michigan and even though we will not be in SB for the big day, we will be tailgating in Chicagoland. Because that's what ND fans do.

2.) Since I'm now officially back in grad school, homework must again be fit into my waking hours. I think I will revert back into my former grad school study habits...every Saturday morning from 9-12p.m. is automatically dedicated to study time. Homework may span into the afternoon times if not completed by the noon hour. What's even more funny is that I received my first assignment, eleven essay questions about the Ethical and Religious Directives (due Monday), before I even received my formal acceptance letter. That's a good sign...right? Cue the Diet Mountain Dew! With the ND game tomorrow, this starts next weekend. :)

3.) I survived budget season! I helped my managers prepare their individual department budgets, twelve in total, because several departments span between two hospital campuses. As the Director, I had to play both sides of the table when it was time to defend the budgets against Senior Leadership's attacks. They were vehement on several, demanding to see true contribution margins for the service lines. I can run this on a high level, but had to engage the services of my friendly neighborhood cost accountant to supply the nitty-gritty details.

4.) 1800 Contacts (we deliver...you save) is a wonderful company. In a total air-head maneuver, I re-ordered my contacts online and forgot to update my address. So they shipped to my old house. Remembering this when the contacts didn't show up at my new house, I ripped off a quick email to 1800 Contacts asking them what they could do about it. I received a seemingly heartfelt email in return, explaining that they were reshipping my order and including return labels just in case my original order turns up. And if I wouldn't mind, would I consider returning the extra box? It was so refreshing. After having to call AT&T and converse with an Indian gentleman who knew about eight English words apart from the customer service script and having an awful time trying to secure our Bon Jovi tickets from Stubhub, 1800 Contacts has my business forever. In fact, tell everyone you know. They rival Southwest Airlines for best service (in my book).

5.) Speaking of Southwest airlines, I have a strange ethical dilemma going on in my head. The Muppet system is sending me for my ethics degree. I realize this is a substantial cost savings for me, as my tuition was paid for by one of the head-honcho Sisters. I'm so very grateful for this; I've been wanting to resume work on this degree for ages. Yet, I have to fly to Philly and Phoenix for intensive case studies...do I have to pay for that? Or since Corporate is sending me, does that mean they pay for it? See, being an ethicist means you over think anything involving a choice that may include any hint of gray area.

6.) I love the fact that it's 70 outside with the nightime temps falling to 50. But the sinus headaches that come from air-conditioned-sinuses-that-are-no-longer-air-conditioned really stink.

7.) I have to help the Director of Education at St. Fozzie's buy twenty Mr. Potato Head dolls (toys?) for a Lean simulation. As we plan the two-day intensive Lean training at St. Fozzie's, we keep talking about Potato Heads. I haven't been through the training yet, but apparently, Potato Heads have quite the power in Motorola/Toyota circles! Anyway, you can buy Notre Dame Potato Heads. One of my colleagues from St. Piggy's, a devout Purdue fan, bet me that Notre Dame would lose in last weekend's football game. He said that if Purdue won, I'd have to keep a Purdue Potato Head in my office all year. I matched that, saying he'd have to keep a ND Potato Head in HIS office if ND won. We spoke twice today and instead of referring to the victory trophy as a "Notre Dame Potato Head," he started calling it the "Irish Potato Head." But that just conjures up images from the Irish Potato Famine and no one likes to celebrate that. My plan is to decorate a stock Potato Head with a bunch of ND paraphernalia and ship it to St. Piggy's while he's facilitating the class at St. Fozzie's!

8.) Jack just brought home a beverage called ChocoVino. It appears that my weekend is starting NOW.

Peace out. Have a good weekend and GO IRISH.