Friday, March 14, 2008

Encumbering What You Need

maxinework


I like her attitude ;-) It might save me from job stress, especially now, during fiscal year-end and budget planning for FY 2008-2009. It’s only mid-March and the year ends June 30! During the next two weeks, I’ll be consumed with countless budgetary decisions and tedious tasks of encumbering funds for my programs before the end of the month. As of March 31, all State and County available funds will be swept away into a mysterious black hole by the financial gods and goddesses if they aren’t set aside. There will be no warnings or questions asked. Poof! Gone.

I’m already frazzled and the real work hasn’t begun. The vocabulary of my daydreaming is crowded with the words encumbrance, deficit, budget transfer, salaries and benefits, budget, budget, budget, blah blah blah. I've transformed into a mumbling financial idiot. If you think this whole ordeal sounds dreadful, you’re right. It is, particularly if you are of the right-brained persuasion like me who could do without numbers and calculations. That’s why I got nothin’ going on tonight – no stories or funny dramas to share. Just some photos.

A simple coping strategy works for me. I encumber time for a few minutes outside several times every day at my campus office and at home.



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The campus wildlife habitat will keep me entertained. The Bluebird nesting boxes we added this week are being examined!

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He likes the previously-owned model.



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Chickadee likes the brand new look.



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He found the perfect home. Now he needs to find a honey to share it with.

Enjoy the weekend!

30 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Beautiful bug, blooms and birds.

Robin (Bumblebee) said...

I like the phrase encumbering time. Actually, I've been doing that with my exercise time. No conference calls from 10:30 to 12:30! So far, we have always been able to work out a convenient time otherwise.

Robin at Bumblebee

Carol Michel said...

Mary, you have some nice flowers, why don't you join us for the Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day this month with a post of flowers tomorrow? We would love to have you join in even though this isn't a garden blog.(see my blog for details)

I'm also getting ready to work on budgets in a few weeks. It makes me crabby. We shouldn't have to do budgeting and financial 'stuff' in the spring when we really just want to be watching birds return to our gardens, and be out in our gardens doing what we were intended to do, Garden!

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

beckie said...

Mary, What fabulous photos! Just keep thinking only a couple more weeks and I am done.

KGMom said...

Mary--we weren't in the same meeting, were we? Didn't think I saw you, but sure seemed like we were on parallel tracks. Must be budget time!

Naturegirl said...

Mary stunning images of Spring in your neck of the woods! Lovely!
sunkissed NG

Tera Rose said...

wow, this is a beautiful blog.....
all your budget language just echos my husband these days....you must be in the same job!

I will have to get my hummingbird feeders ready, didn't know they came through this early. I'm guessing that if in your area the end of March, then here in the first few weeks of April??

Anonymous said...

Your blog always makes me smile when I read it even when you "have nothing going on". I love the pictures of spring and be sure and post some pictures when those new bird houses are full of baby birds!!

Angie

TR Ryan said...

Ahh, but let us count the ways we love this " transformed bumbling financial idiot". The vocabulary of your daydreaming is delightful!!! I love this post Mary - you can write!

Sherry at the Zoo said...

I think your blog is one of my favorites because you always have such great pictures. I see the nature abounding around you and it's encouraging me to think about maybe doing something I've had in the back of my mind for several years....to work on our backyard and turn it into a certified wildlife habitat. I have the papers somewhere around here....

Cheryl said...

Hope your stress levels fade away at the weekend Mary, and Monday doesn't come too quickly.

Lovely photos as always, whils the flowers are a joy the birds are beautiful. I love your robins, they are so difference from ours.

Enjoy your weekend and keep smiling.

Chrissie said...

Stunning pics, Mary! Love the ladybird and the blossom :-) Oh spring and summer! Warm light evenings, sitting outside, bees and insects :-) bliss :-)

brucesc said...

On a smaller scale it's the same for everyone now at tax time too. I use the outdoors as an escape too, but I can't write about it as well as you can! Great and beautifully illustrated stuff, Mary.

Kathie Brown said...

Mary, I don't know how you do all those numbers with a right brain dominance. Oh my goodness! I say take the math paper and turn it into picture books! That's what I did in elementary school. Now I can't do math for anything but I can write pretty well! Love the daffodil photo and the ladybug!

Alyssa said...

I feel sorry for people who have to work with numbers etc. - especially when they aren't mathematically inclined. It just seems so incredibly dull, dull , dull. Years ago I somehow was only able to find accounts recievable jobs (do those exist anymore??) and just hated them. I got no satisfaction at all! Your job sounds mystifying to me and I am rather impressed. You must be like a financial wizard and I think they could use you to help this country with the recession we are in. You have so much more common sense then any of the rest of them! Your pictures are so pretty today and gave me a lift in our still partially snow-covered state. I like your previous post regarding your priorties - feed those birds first! Nothing wrong with a micro-wave dinner - I have them on and off and they do the trick! I hope you have the hummers soon - I can't wait to see the pictures. Have a great weekend, Mary!

Jayne said...

Yes indeed, a spring is coming escape is what we all need during crazy work days. Beautiful captures Mary!

sonia a. mascaro said...

What a lovely photos Mary!

Have a nice weekend as well!

PS: Did you know Sky Watch Friday! Would be great if you join us. It's fun. If you have the time, come to see my son's photos on my current post.

RuthieJ said...

Hi Mare,
Glad you got a chance to break away from budget crap and share your lovely photos with us. Wouldn't it be so cool if you actually got a chickadee to nest in one of your houses? There's nothing cuter in the world than chickadee babies!
XO,
RuthieJ

Q said...

Dear Mary,
I love your coping ways!
Birds, bugs and blooms makes every day a joy. Your photos look so bright and cheerful. They are beautiful!
Maybe now would be a great time to encourage "green office habits" and waste-not-want-not! I can see this program.....everyone that cares for the wildlife and planet gets a 20% raise. Plus all those that take care of birds have Mondays and Fridays off with pay, and Wednesdays are for pedicures.
Happy Spring!
Hugs,
Sherry

Stacey Olson said...

Breath deep, looks like you have a great place to unwind. and uncalculate.. just don't start counting the flowers and birds and you'll be ok..

Kerri Farley said...

OH Mary....sorry work is so hectic!!
Your shots are FAB as usual!
Hope Blue finds a Honey!!

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

I love Maxine. Your pictures though - WOW! The color, the sunshine, the cheer, SPRING!!!!!!!!! Your photos are simply beautiful, Mary. When the work gets to be too much, take time and get out to enjoy this lovely garden.

Unknown said...

Thank goodness for nature and escaping for a few minutes a day.
Mary your photos just keep getting better everyday.

NatureWoman said...

Ohhh, Mary, your photos are gorgeous! And look at the sunshine. Mmmm, I can feel the warmth!
And work does suck at times, doesn't it?

Cathy said...

My favorite pix: the sweet gentle Mourning Dove couple. You take such wonderful pictures, Mary.

I never come away without a smile. Now THAT is a great gift to us all.

Hope things are becoming a little less stressful.

Larry said...

Great photos-I actually like that hornet one.-It looks like you could reach out and touch it-although, I wouldn't want to.

Marvin said...

Looks like spring is breaking out all over at your place too. Great shots.

Sandpiper (Lin) said...
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Mel said...

How can you take georgeous pics over and over and over again???
Thank you for making me smile :)
(many times before, your posts and pics made me feel better after getting sad news or having a really bad day, and for that I'm very grateful!)
Kisses,
Mel

Robin's Nesting Place said...

These are such wonderful pictures. I'm so glad you have a bluebird checking out your nesting box. I just love those birds!