I Wasn't In New Orleans... But I Still Had Fun

Parabeagle

Our third annual conference is over for another year and I feel like twenty days of muddy road. The icebreakers worked wonders (thanks, HRQ!) and everyone enjoyed the competition of the "Survivor" theme (except for the one manager who asked if he could be voted off so he could go home). One of the exercises that received the most comments in our critiques was The Discrimination Game. Originally developed by Motorola to train its executives, it gives each team 70 scenarios which might or might not be illegal discrimination and asks them to figure out how they would handle the problem if they were the HR Director. The team that spends the least amount of money fighting/settling discrimination suits is the winner. Our green team only spent $70,000 vs. 1.2 million for the yellow team, so I guess the yellow team needs a little work. I must admit, it was fun watching them sweat... x;-) Midway through the game, one of the managers piped up, "Is this what Eric goes through every day? Glad I don't have HIS job."

Only thing that would have made the 3-day conference more fun would be Margaret landing on the roof of the hotel, Ray giving us a trumpet solo, and Don D. riding his Harley into the pool.

Nice to know no one said mean things about me while I was gone. x:-)

ray a

Beagle, sounds like you had a good time. I always enjoy those kind of games. They bring me out of my meek and mild-mannered shell and my competitive persona takes over.

Me playing a "trumpet" solo would be hilarious since I play the bass trombone and a trumpet seems more like a toy. About like calling you AF dudes and dudettes boyscouts and girlscouts. And Don's bike a motorscooter.

It was actually very quiet while you were gone. Friday had to be the dullest day on the forum.

Parabeagle

Sorry, Ray. All those brass instruments look about the same to me. I stand corrected - a trombone solo it is. (I can just picture you standing there playing "Pennsylvania 6-5000"). x:-)

Don D

I thought it was a piccolo.

ray a

No, flute. Did you buy a harmonica in NO? Harmonicas and motorscooters go together.

sonny

Ahhh, the boys are back in town. .

Parabeagle

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 10-27-03 AT 03:50PM (CST)[/font][p]I never pictured Don as the motorscooter type - more like the moped type. Did you miss us, Sonny? x;-)

ray a

Moped, motorscooter. Either one and wearing a black leather jacket that says: "Born To Raise Heck", across the back.

Well, we woke up Sonny. Glad you could join us.

Leslie

Ah Ray, that's because I only worked a half day on Friday x;-). But yes, it has been slow.

Well Beagle, while not consuming the amount of alcoholic beverages and raw seafood tht Don D did, sounds as if your gig was a HUGE success.

Congratulatiuons xclap - and now you can stop stressin'!

Parabeagle

Right. Now I don't have anything to stress over except the newly-refiled discrimination claim in Alabama! xflash

I do have pictures, though... some of which I can probably use for blackmail purposes. x;-)

HRQ

"Nice to know no one said mean things about me while I was gone."

We were considerate enough to do that via private email so as not to hurt your feelings. x;-)

No really, we did miss you. Glad you are back! x:D

Parabeagle

Thanks, HRQ. I needed that ego-stroke after being browbeaten for the last few days. x:-)

mwild31

Oh, 8-| come on!!!

You know everyone loves you Parabeagle - even at your conference - I wish there was an emoticon that could groan...

Don D

People on the Forum are notorious, Beagle, for sending those private mails about people. I have gotten many of them about me. If you know what to click on at the right time, you can divert those about you to your inbox as well. But, that's part of the fun. You should see some of the ones about you. Ray and Ritaanz initiate most of them.

Parabeagle

Hmmmm.... why do I feel like I'm being shined on, here, Don? x;-) I may be gullible, but I ain't THAT gullible.

ray a

Well, it is good we are all back and all living up to our reputations. Beagle, what Don didn't say was anything I may have said about you was all good.

ritaanz

Not that gullible? Yohooooo Puss, if Don saved them, he could publish a really torrid expose depicting our Puss as a gigolo. Oh, by the way, Toots has a great imagination. x;-)

ray a

Ritaanz, I've learned from the best... Don.

Parabeagle

Gigolo????!! How so, ritaanz?

ray a

Beagle, Ritaanz is on a roll. Be glad she called you just a gigolo. On another thread she called me "dead meat".

ritaanz

x:7

Parabeagle

I guess all things considered, if I had to be either a gigolo or dead meat, I'd rather be a gigolo (but that conjures up such awful images of some dude with slicked back hair and a pencil thin moustache that looks really funny).

So just how does it feel to be dead meat, Ray? x:-)

ray a

Well, it is probably a good thing I won't be visiting Phoenix for a few months. The problem is, I'm dead meat for telling a true story. When I made stuff up, I was OK.

Parabeagle

So what have we learned from this? When dealing with Arizona women, it's always better to make up stuff than it is to be truthful... or at least that's the gist of it, anyway. x;-)

ray a

Beagle, old buddy, I was making you look good then you blew it. When Ritaanz reads your last post, you will worse than a gigglo. You got off quite easy with Leslie. Don is just lurking letting us step in it and enjoying the show.

The real question, exactly what is an "Arizona woman"? Ritaanz is really a NJ woman with the attitude (said with all due respect!). I'm waiting for HRQ to pipe up soon.

Parabeagle

Oh, that's right... Ritaanz is a hybrid - part Joisey and part 'Zona. Makes for an interesting character blend. x;-)

Besides, Ray, I just wanted to help. Kept seeing you getting nailed by incoming, so I thought I'd draw a little fire. x;-)

And I did notice that Leslie did not demean herself by getting into the fray - she's too classy for that. x:D

HRQ

1) The true "AZ Woman" doesn't exist. As an ice breaker at new hire orientation, everyone has to tell us their home town. Still waiting for someone who was born in AZ. They were all imported from the snow belt. I miss my family, but not the frozen tundra they live in.

2) The truth hurts - this is why you get in trouble for it. I am "required" to tell a girlfriend on a daily basis that I am stunned by her beauty, whether I am or not that particular day. Makes her day, and it makes mine when she returns the favor. Even when I know she's full of it.

3) Wasn't Richard Gere the American Gigolo a few decades back? Being compared to him can't be THAT bad.

I promise that if you tell me every day you are stunned by my beauty, I'll never pick on you. Until you forget to tell me one day. Then I'm sending the gator after you. x:D

Parabeagle

I am stunned by your beauty, HRQ. Your effervescent, scintillating wit doesn't hurt, either (am I scoring points here?) x;-)

HRQ

You bet! Just as I was becoming brave enough to harass the more elite forumites, you and ray a have softened me up. You are safe from the gator for the time being. Don D, I'll only harass when he's out of town and defenseless. x;-)

I really enjoy the banter with folks who understand the crap (and the joys) I go through every day. Takes a while for me to get comfortable, and I could easily have remained a "lurker". You folks have made me feel at home on the Forum. xhugs

Now if I can just get my hands on a bright blue t-shirt, I'll submit my photo. Then you can be stunned by my.... t-shirt.

ray a

OK HRQ, I'm stunned by your beauty. xhugs

I know one very beautiful young lady who was born in AZ - my lovely granddaughter. I have her picture on my computer as wallpaper. She was born in the Paradise Valley Hospital and now lives in Surprise with her parents.

HRQ

You are saved from the gator today. x:D Even more important, remember to tell that grandbaby that you are stunned by her beauty, every time you see her or listen to her breathe over the phone. They absorb that stuff somehow.

I'm sure that grandbaby is the brightest and most beautiful little girl in the world. Have her call me when she's 16 and we'll talk about a career in the childcare industry. Maybe by THEN we'll have some preschools in the Surprise area!