Labor Day on the Bay

Labor Day on the Bay
8 Sept 2015

To celebrate Labor Day
We went to play in the sun,
Splashing in the bay,
And building a sandcastle for fun.
Our castle was shapeless.
The sand resisted conforming.
Shaping battlements was hopeless.
Water and kids performing
Their best to undermine
Building efforts by adults.
Their joint forces did combine
To give suboptimal results.
Amid all the fun and recreation,
The sun's ever churning fusion
Emitted ultraviolet radiation,
Giving the kids a burning conclusion.
From a parental point of view
Perhaps nothing was accomplished.
But there was no emergency rescue
And for the time “work” vanished.

Sunshine Song II

Sunshine Song II

16 August 2013

First thing in the morning

When there’s nothing wrong,

I’m outside running

Singing my sunshine song

Later in the day,

When I’m feeling strong

And things are going my way,

I’ll hum my sunshine song.

Thru out the rest of the day

As I work and go along

I’ll be making my way

Singing my sunshine song.

Bedtime In Rhyme

Bedtime In Rhyme
25 April  2013

Shoot today in the head
And trundle off to bed.
Today was work and fun;
And what's done is done.
Tomorrow will be here soon enough
Bringing its own challenges and stuff.
Let's hope sleep comes on quick
And lying in bed will do the trick.
I just hate tossing and turning
When my brain keeps on churning.
With a yawn I said,
"Shoot today in the head.
It's time to hit the bed."

Separation Celebration

Separation Celebration
30 March 2013

The announcement on Facebook
Of celebrating retirements
Was the invitation's hook
To meet a party's requirements.
Annette and Earl get to ignore
That hated alarm clock chore,
Rolling over for one more snore
And don't report for work anymore.
Common folks, both young and old,
Gathered at Vicki's Ramona bungalow,
Socializing all over the threshold
Inside and out, going with the flow.
Eating before hunger could vanquish us,
Chicken was a stomach-filling contender.
The barbecue sauce was delicious;
With ham and short ribs being tender.
Mixing and mingling in knots,
While drinking soda and beer,
People were toasting with shots
Making for plenty of cheer.
A band was set up in the driveway
With dancing just because,
Live music was more organic that way.
What a fun party it was!

Real Bleak Workweek

Real Bleak Workweek
19 June 2012

Many days this seems if it's
Not the way life's supposed to be.
Ready to call it quits
Filled with some pain and tragedy.
You're like an automatic machine
Doing the grueling daily grind,
Going thru your routine
Driven out of your mind.
Experiencing a mix of fury and bored,
Wanting to call in sick or go on strike.
Eventually going out of your gourd,
The boss wants your head on a pike.

I Ought To Get Paid

A coworker asked me to write a poem for the people having birthdays in her unit. So I wrote one but she requested a re-write. The re-submittal was titled, "I Ought to Get Paid."

March second for Monica

And her family in India

Is an occasion to celebrate,

She was born on that date.

She’s spirited, talented, smart

And appreciates poetry and art.

To join the potluck

Don’t push your luck

By acting like a barbarian

And forgetting she’s a vegetarian.

March 23rd is a replica

For beautiful, active Erica.

Most days she’d rather be outside.

Health conscious choice keeps

Her on the slim side,

Just one benefit she reaps.

The combined food and cheer

Will be March 16th here

At 11:30, the time to appear.

Meats and Treats for Eats

Meats and Treats for Eats

30 December 2010

At work the whole bunch

Got together for lunch.

It was a potluck affair

With an international flair.

The copious dining options on the tables

Started with salmon and mixed vegetables.

Then came wraps, beef stew, tortillas and refried beans;

Also, curry chicken and pancit from the Philippines

Carbs came from rice, French bread and rolls.

Fruits included oranges, apples and nectarines

Cut into bite-size pieces and served in bowls.

You could tell the chefs were no rookies.

In spite of the singed homemade cookies

The dessert offering of pudding cake was tasty,

Even tho the eating at my desk was a bit hasty.

There was soda to wash it all down.

It was a first-rate potluck, hands down.

Hit or Miss at the Office

Hit or Miss at the Office

29 August 2010

Of the people at work,

Who has which quirk?

Let’s observe and call it tourism

The studying somebody’s mannerism.

None of us has the privilege

Of being normal or average.

We all bear the taint

Of being a bit quaint.

Here at the North Central FRC

Most workers speak two languages or three.

Those who speak only one are a minority.

I guess that makes minorities the majority.

Behind their backs we call them stupidvisors,

But we rely on them as program advisors.

We could use names and such

But we all know who talks too much.

Somebody’s limited social skills

Consist of reporting their aches and ills.

Although the topic and news varies

We all know the business of the voice that carries.

Then there are those who are seldom heard.

We consider ourselves lucky when they utter a word.

Somebody else considers himself a poet

And wants the whole office to know it.

Another’s actions make it clear

She’s the princess here.

Although they’re clueless as can be

Somebody comes across as a wannabe celebrity.

In their home country there would be jail or fines,

But in America they get to wear plunging necklines.

Everybody brings cheer,

This I do believe,

Some when they get here

And some when they leave.

End Of The Day Special Pay

My coworker is scheduled to leave before I do, but sometimes he is still at his desk when I leave. Since we may get comp time, but never money for overtime, we call it special pay. Written tongue in cheek.

End Of The Day Special Pay

3 June 2010

Busy doing same-day intakes

Working without pauses or breaks

Like customer service champs

Evaluating for Food Stamps,

At the end of the day

Ed enjoys that special pay.

Taking applications for CalWorks

Interacting with clients and jerks,

Making changes to Medi-Cal cases

Seems more like deuces than aces.

At the end of the day

Ed enjoys that special pay.

Do clients meet the requirement?

Slaving away until retirement

The unique feeling he gets

Means there are no regrets.

At the end of the day

Ed enjoys that special pay.