No longer here, but there – FGHart.com

I’ve rolled up three blogs into one: FGHart.com. In the beginning, there was YouGottaWonder at Our Own Oasis, created for sharing updates with my extended family. The focus was generally on random things like landscaping, interior decorating, exercising, etc. Then came A Mother’s Angst, created for sharing foibles and lessons learned about life and parenting. Especially [...]

Bookends

November 2009 and November 2010 sit like bookends on opposite ends of a year, bounding another transitional period of my life. Most of the world lives a cycle that starts in January and ends in December but I, perhaps because it is the month of my birth, seem to define my years starting and ending [...]

Hi, my name is Fran and I’m a workaholic

There are two types of addictions in this world. Some addictions, like cigarettes and alcohol, when you quit, you quit. I believe* that social smokers and social drinkers are not really addicted. Other addictions, like food and work, are far harder to control. You can’t quit work or quit eating the same way you quit [...]

Work can be an idol

Have you ever said something out loud (or hit “publish” on a post) then realized the implications of what you articulated? Last week I lost sight of my priorities. More accurately, this weekend I realized I’d lost sight of my priorities. The dimming of my vision happened gradually over time; it wasn’t an event that [...]

My piece of the pie

I am faced with a dilemma this week: a conundrum of sorts. It seems that my little organization in Texas will be graced with a “pay adjustment”. The budget is a small percent of our total salary base. That’s the pie. Adjustments are expected to be performance-based. I was a manager at MFE for years [...]

Separation Anxiety

These days it’s a common sight to spy 2 engineers with their heads together, like a pair of conspirators. It’s would be surprising because designing notebooks isn’t a particularly covert operation. I know it when I see it, though. It’s the rumors of layoffs bringing people together this way, with furtive looks cast over shoulders. [...]

Sometimes it’s okay to be a quitter

I’m transitioning into my new role. I can’t possibly manage to do three jobs at once and be effective. I’ve hired an Office Manager (Alleluia!) who seems to be adjusting to her new role. I don’t have a lot of time to train her so I must graciously allow for the inevitable mistakes. I’d rather [...]

“Hey! It’s good to see you.”

There are so many ways we greet each other when passing in the office hallway. A simple “hi” or maybe “how are you?” Or “Good morning” or “afternoon” if appropriate. But in the wake of a layoff (or “Reduction In Force” – RIF), “it’s good to see you” takes on a whole new meaning. Wednesday [...]

What not to say in an interview

One of my top priorities in my new role is to hire an Office Manager/Administrator for the organization. My goal is to find someone who will partner with me in running the business. Primary duties require strong Communication and Organizational skills, Accounting skills, Project Management Skills, Administrative skills and prior experience with My Former Employer [...]

No time to get a blog-post in edgewise

Every blogger has an internal line drawn around the boundaries of what they will or will not share. When boundaries change, sometimes a new blog is required. A Mother’s Angst was initially intended to be a place where I poured my heart out, sharing tales of woe and lessons learned during the raising of my [...]