Friday, November 03, 2006
Smalltalk
What do you think employees talk about on the elevator ride at the National Weather Service?
Total Cost of Ownership
In the past few years, I have evolved in a new approach to buying clothes. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Maybe this is coming from my years of software development and evaluating every design decision on how it will affect maintenance cost of the software. Now, when making fashion design choices, instead of just looking at the price tag, I look at the "care" tag.
If it has a "Dry Clean Only", I think "I have to add $8 a month onto my total cost of ownership. Now, this wool suit that is on sale for $60 doesn't look like such a great deal if it will cost me $156 in the first year. If a sweater says "Hand Wash Only", I think about the opportunity cost of owning these clothes. That is 1 hour a month that I can't spend with my kids just to own this piece of clothing. Since 1 hour with my kids is priceless, I guess it makes this sweater more than I have in the bank. Okay, I am taking this to the extreme here.
My favorite solution to these TCO woes is the wash and wear suit. These have popped up all over the place lately. You can get a perfectly good suit with lining and all that you can just throw in the washer and dryer. It is the best! I've found them at JC Penney's, Kohls, and some catalogues. I will have to see how fast they depreciate. That could affect my whole TCO calculation!
This whole TCO perspective does making shopping a little more complicated. Maybe that's a good thing because one thing I'm sure I don't need is any incentives to go shopping.
If it has a "Dry Clean Only", I think "I have to add $8 a month onto my total cost of ownership. Now, this wool suit that is on sale for $60 doesn't look like such a great deal if it will cost me $156 in the first year. If a sweater says "Hand Wash Only", I think about the opportunity cost of owning these clothes. That is 1 hour a month that I can't spend with my kids just to own this piece of clothing. Since 1 hour with my kids is priceless, I guess it makes this sweater more than I have in the bank. Okay, I am taking this to the extreme here.
My favorite solution to these TCO woes is the wash and wear suit. These have popped up all over the place lately. You can get a perfectly good suit with lining and all that you can just throw in the washer and dryer. It is the best! I've found them at JC Penney's, Kohls, and some catalogues. I will have to see how fast they depreciate. That could affect my whole TCO calculation!
This whole TCO perspective does making shopping a little more complicated. Maybe that's a good thing because one thing I'm sure I don't need is any incentives to go shopping.
Bloggers Block
I know I have been completely inactive lately. The truth is that I've had bloggers block. (And I had only just gotten started!)
I dwell on "Is what I am saying worthwhile?" "Will it be held against me later in my life?" "Am I going to offend?"
Which is wierd because maybe only one or two people are actually reading this.
Anyway, I'm going to try again and see how it goes.
I dwell on "Is what I am saying worthwhile?" "Will it be held against me later in my life?" "Am I going to offend?"
Which is wierd because maybe only one or two people are actually reading this.
Anyway, I'm going to try again and see how it goes.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
"I'd Shoot Myself" and Other Truths We Don't Need to Hear
So, today I am sitting at McDonald's with my three wonderful children enjoying a nice healthy meal when in walk three seemingly nice old ladies. The conversation goes as usual.
-"Are they triplets?"
"No, twins and a 3-year-old."
-"This one has brown eyes and this one has blue eyes."
"Yep"
-"They must be a handful."
"Yep."
Then, as they were walking away, one of the ladies says "I'd shoot myself!" Now, is this supposed to be some kind of a dig or some kind of a compliment? Why does this person feel that it is acceptable to say in not so many words: "I'd hate to have your life." In front of my three little angels no less.
This appears to be the same flavor of person that walks into my office and tells me "You look tired today." Thanks. What in God's name makes you think that I want to hear this first thing in the morning? Especially if I am tired! There are some truths that don't need to be pointed out.
What ever happened to the little white lie? Or better yet - if you don't have something nice to say, say nothing at all. I don't know about you, but I don't need to hear an unsolicited "What happened to your hair?" I wish these self-appointed truth-tellers would show a little restraint and keep their thoughts to themselves.
-"Are they triplets?"
"No, twins and a 3-year-old."
-"This one has brown eyes and this one has blue eyes."
"Yep"
-"They must be a handful."
"Yep."
Then, as they were walking away, one of the ladies says "I'd shoot myself!" Now, is this supposed to be some kind of a dig or some kind of a compliment? Why does this person feel that it is acceptable to say in not so many words: "I'd hate to have your life." In front of my three little angels no less.
This appears to be the same flavor of person that walks into my office and tells me "You look tired today." Thanks. What in God's name makes you think that I want to hear this first thing in the morning? Especially if I am tired! There are some truths that don't need to be pointed out.
What ever happened to the little white lie? Or better yet - if you don't have something nice to say, say nothing at all. I don't know about you, but I don't need to hear an unsolicited "What happened to your hair?" I wish these self-appointed truth-tellers would show a little restraint and keep their thoughts to themselves.
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