Boston Red Sox Phone Home (with Tin Cans and String)

Recently, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was ejected from a game and demonstrated his displeasure by battering (pun intended) the clubhouse phone that connects to the bullpen. Bad David, bad!

The next day he and others returned to the park to discover that instead of the destroyed telephone there were 2 tin cans with strings in the dugout and 2 more in the bullpen. Sweet.

For me this was immediate nostalgia because as a child that was how we imagined making telephone calls, i.e., via tin can and long string.

And to this day my dad explains that he doesn't use a cell phone because he prefers tin can and string.

So this whole incident might not be funny and warm to anyone but me, but I loved it and it is such a cool way of defusing a tough situation through a little fun in the workplace!

Bring a Wading Pool to Work :)

I found this lovely comic in my local paper and decided to share it for the spirit if not for the practicality of the advice it offers.

http://www.gocomics.com/roseisrose/2013/07/30

The truth is, however, that a little break during the day refreshes the body and reinvigorates the mind. I was thinking of this recently when I reflected on elementary school. We had a morning recess; lunch; and an afternoon recess. And all of those represented breaks from the active learning process and left us to go off to other places - real or not - rechannel our energy, and then return with a clearer mind and better focus.

This already happens. People in our organizations and on our teams find these moments on their own or with friends and colleagues. So why not make it an intentional part of your culture?

As for me, I'm thinking about investing in wading pool!

National Hot Dog Day is July 23

Summer evokes many images for me but a Chicago hot dog, on a steamed sesame bun, with mustard, onions, sweet peppers, relish and a crunchy dill pickle is right near top. Happily there is a place not too far where I live that serves a pretty good dog and that's where I'll go tomorrow to celebrate National Hot Dog Day. So whether you prefer brats to hot dogs or polish to Andouille, put aside your culinary difference tomorrow and treat your to one or the other or as many as you can. For the non-meat eaters, veggie and tofu dogs can be obtained.

Thanks again to my cousin David for teaching me about this important date!

Cheers :)