Anyone Working Thanksgiving Holiday?

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Author Message Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 115 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 06:53 pm:    Wanted to see anyone else is working this Thanksgiving holiday? I have a project where I got drawings 2 days ago and it is due the Monday after Thanksgiving. Soo...that means I get to furiously work to get the project specifications completed. argh. AND as you all guessed it, the design professional will be taking the holiday off. I guess I get to make some walls hot pink or purple in my painting section. LOL! I am staying the night at my office and passing out on the couch when my eyelids cannot stay open anymore. LOL! By the way I thought I would tell you all Happy Thanksgiving!!!! May you and yours have a safe one. (My birthday falls on Thanksgiving day this year, LOL) Can you tell that I am in need of conversation...I am going nuts over here. LOL Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 311 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 07:38 pm:    There's an old saying - "Lack of planning on your part does not necessitate a crisis on my part." Somehow that doesn't always work in our profession. I had a similar situation in my office this week, with the same deadline. Fortunately I was able to hand it off to someone else as I am going out of state next week. We nicely suggested next time they provide us with sufficient advance notice. You might try the same with the same with your client. Whatever you do - DON'T WORK ON THANKSGIVING, especially if it's your birthday!!! Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 07:47 pm:    That is true. I have had this project for more than two weeks now awaiting drawings. They are pushing to get it out before first of year...we all know why $$. Get the billing out before first of year or lose it type of situation. Anyway, I have been screaming at them everyday for the last two weeks or more to give me information because I saw it coming. It never fails that this firm does this every year for the last decade. yep. they do this every year. i have kept score. The nice thing is that the economy is so bad that I would do just about anything to get this job out myself to pay my company bills and have turkey on the table for the holidays. Plus, it would be nice to buy myself a German Choc BD cake. LOL I wished I did not have to work but I have to pay bills and that comes before my bd. I will have others, the next one on Thanksgiving will be in about another 7 or 8 years from now though. Gobble Gobble. LOL! Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 166 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 08:45 pm:    Melissa, I too have to work the holiday weekend; and have been working furiously on 3 projects the last week with the end coming right after Thanksgiving. Fortunately I have an understanding hubby who whisks me away from my desk for 2 hours for dinner out, and a wonderful friend who has invited us for Thanksgiving dinner. I'll take time out to make my bourbon potatos and join them for dinner that day, but after desert it's back home to the computer. From the sound of it you have an office, and don't work out of your home. Take some time for yourself. It will get done, and if it's a bit late, sounds like its their fault not yours, you kept after them to get started to avoid the collision. Take care and Happy Birthday! Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 117 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 09:10 pm:    Margaret, Nice to hear from you. I hope this year treated you well. Sorry to hear you will be at the computer as well this Thanksgiving. I know I will find a couple of hours to walk away to eat dinner with my family at home and then get back to work afterwards. The design professional issued a statement today to all of the team saying that he will not accept late work and he gave us a time to send it to him. Wasn't that wonderful of him? Maybe if i did that a couple of weeks ago and told him about my plight on getting the specifications out to them it would have made a difference. Probably not though. LOL Thats the biz though, huh. feast or famine. I am exhausted now. Take care and Happy Thanksgiving. Melissa Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 347 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 02:53 pm:    One possible answer is "No." It's interesting to see the affect it has on incompetent managers. "No, I'm sorry, but it will take me until the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, because you didn't provide the information in time for me to meet your deadline." Surprisingly, their response is often "Oh ... okay." And if you lose a low-functioning client who makes unreasonable time demands due to their mismanagement, it will give you time to look for another one who is actually able to manage their projects. They're out there. Specifiers are valuable team assets; we deserve to be treated with basic professional courtesy. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 617 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 04:53 pm:    One of the advantages of being self employed aa an independent specwriter is that I can take any time off that I want...I seldom do, but I can; in past years I have not taken turkey day off, not much to be thankful for, but this year my wife may be finally winning her battle over the big C, if not for just a while, so we have something to be thankful for, she might even be able to eat solid food on turkey day, it would be nice....she's off chemo for a while, so even though work is as busy as ever, clients are not paying, and as demanding as ever, and those bills are piled higher than ever, its time to be thankful for the days, weeks, and months ahead.... Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 227 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2008 - 03:28 pm:    Nope, not working T-day. or the day after. Or sat or sunday. It has taken me awhile, but I no longer have a problem telling clients "no". And, I haven't lost a client or a job yet. To be honest, I find it incredibly disrespectful of me as a person and as a co-professional if the client gets me info at the last minute and expects me to work over a holiday weekend. I made the decision a few years ago that I wasn't going to allow anyone to disrespect me, my time, or my profession, that way. Now, last year, one of my best clients had a crisis develop the week before t-day and I offered to work over the t-day weekend to help him out. He paid me quite well and was very thankful, but he certainly didn't "expect" me to do it. I am not trying to preach, but I often find that consultants are willing to do whatever it takes to keep a cient, and that is a horrible business model. Like Phil said, maybe loosing a client isn't the worst thing. 2 years ago I told a very high-volume, high profile and high-paying client I wouldn't work for him anymore because it was to stressful for me. I turned down proposals on over $150K in fees. A few months later, I was offered Echelon - a 5 Billion dollar project - by a wonderful firm. If I was still working for the stressful client, I wouldn't have been able to interview for Echelon. Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 297 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2008 - 08:51 pm:    Good for you Robin--perhaps the hardest lesson we as independent consultants can learn is how to say no. Ultimately what we offer is our reputation; clients will remember for far longer if we do a halfway job on a project than if we decline it because of an absurd schedule. Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 931 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 07:24 am:    Happy Thanksgiving to you all-- and all others reading this!!! This is a glorious holiday and so Ameican!! Indeed, take heart, even in our darkest days we still have a thing or two to be thankful for-- sometimes we just have to look a little deeper. And remember all those who also will be working to protect, help and keep us safe!!! Guess it's not so much the day, as the thoughts we give it! Our office policy is closed for the holiday AND the day after-- sure tough to learn these new ways!!!! Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 118 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 07:58 am:    Robin, I wish I could have the ability to work like you do. I however have experienced the slow down of the economy and my health bills are unbelievable. So when I got a job, I was beyond happy that I might be able to pay of a little of the 100k that is stacked up on my table. LOL! Sometimes you have to do things you dont like to in order to keep moving forward. I WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Doug Frank FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: doug_frank_ccs Post Number: 224 Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 08:09 am:    Like Ralph, my company is closed for the holiday weekend so I’m thankful for that. I’m lucky that my company is pretty generous with holidays, and adjacent days, off. Of course a big part of that is that the project managers don’t want to work over holidays any more that I do. I’ll say a special prayer for you and your wife Jerome. God Bless you Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 119 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 08:24 am:    Jerome, I am sorry I meant to say something to you and your family just a minute ago. I wish all the best for you and your family this holiday season. I know I forget sometimes just how lucky I am. I pray that your holiday is filled with love and laughter. I hope that you both have a peaceful and joyful season. God Bless the both of you. Happy Holidays. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 618 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 09:34 am:    Doug, Melissa, thanks for your words of support, I am thankful that I have such good friends on 4specs, in CSI and SCIP, most of whom I have never met; I am also thankful that preliminary results of cancer treatment for my wife has been very positive, unfortunately she is in some of the worse pain of her life right now, so bad that last night with loads of pain medication she still lied awake most of the night in pain primarily caused by neuropathy effecting her feet. She was nice to let me sleep for a while, and although I am a sound sleeper, her groans managed to wake me. The architect in me came to the rescue as I was able to fashion a tent out of cardboard so that nothing would touch her feet - they need to be kept warm, but even a blanket touching her feet sets off more excrutiating pain. Gave her even more sedation and she finally got some Z's. Its very frustrating to see her go through this, I am curious if anyone on this board has ever had to endure Neuropathy pain to the feet -goes to show you how desperate I am to seek out solutions, talking to a bunch of spec writers about such things....but at this point I'll take a witch doctor; actually I need to find an acupuncturist locally, I used one many years ago for migraine pain, its a bit odd having all those needles stuck in you, but at this point my wife will try anything to relieve the pain... Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 831 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 09:43 am:    Thanksgiving is a unique holiday. I don't know of many other cultures that take the time to look at what they have and express gratitude. We seem to find it easier to complain about what we don't have! So when we have the opportunity to reflect on what's good in our lives, it's important to do so. That we have work, and for the most part, work we enjoy; that we have friends - like all of you; that we know family and love; that we live where we can freely express our thoughts - for all this and more, I am grateful and blessed and give thanks. (Jerome, you are all still in my prayers.) Happy Thanksgiving. Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 120 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 09:44 am:    Jerome, I am sorry that your wife is going through this pain. I have had 12 surgeries in the last 11 years and the last one was double back surgery two years ago that made me bedridden for one year without the ability to walk. I have neuropathy from hips down to toes everyday. I am on a cocktail of meds daily as well to ease the pain. I know exactly what you are describing. The only thing I can do is ball up and pray for the pain to go away as well. I try not to talk to my hubby about it because I dont want to seem weak and whiny sometimes. I know the pain hurts unbelievable. I am truly sorry. The only thing I do from what my pain management doctors tell me to is to use the heating pad for 20 minutes and alternate with ice wrap on the area to numb the sensations. it works for a bit but it comes back. I usually have to up my pain meds to make it go away. I am so sorry about this and I will pray for you both to find your way through this safely. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 832 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 09:54 am:    Jerome, I Googled "foot tent for bed"; this is only one of the results: http://www.coverhover.com/?gclid=CNvVgOOHjpcCFQrUlAodKyQE9Q (my husband's a diabetic, so I've seen things like this) Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 619 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 09:59 am:    Melissa, wow I had no idea you have to endure such discomfort, you must be a very strong person to endure this and still work. My wife has shown a lot of endurance, three cancers in a year, radiation, more radiation, and now chemo, but it seems the neuropathy is finally bringing her down, have u ever tried acupuncture, I have my calls out, even called by brother (he is a Holistic Healer in Jerusalem)searching for a practitioner who is experienced in relieving this pain...I'll let you know what I find and if it works... Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 620 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:05 am:    Thanks Lynn, the problem is that we have a tempurpedic mattress in an unusual platform arrangement - very little to clip on to, I have to get a cabinet shop to fabricate something to accept the foot tent supports - more to do, I had a deadline for this morning, oh well, they will have to wait, wife comes first these days. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 833 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:05 am:    And Melissa? You're in our prayers, too... Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 621 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:07 am:    weak and whiny...tell hubby he is lucky to have you still around even with all the pain and suffering...you should give him credit, us hubbies can endure much, someday it may be his turn to be weak and whiny... Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 121 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:12 am:    My motto is to push through the pain. I have to be strong. I have a little girl that is 7. she counts on her mommy to be strong for her. I do have to admit that I cry when no one is looking. Remember that just talking and being with your wife on the hardest of days is the best med of all. I found on the days I was lying in med crying ready to let go of this world because of all the pain, my family always brought me back. Not to get you upset or anything but I do have to tell you a story if you will allow me to. Right after my double surgery I had a horrible infection in my spine that nearly killed me. I was about to have surgery again to remove infected tissue in the back. The antibotics did not work and I was well..dying. I hate to even utter that word. I have always been a fighter but the last surgery almost did me in mentally. I was in my room by myself crying and asked God to take me home. I wondered why he allowed me to go through so much pain and hurt. I am crying right now thinking of this, I am sorry. I asked him no, pleaded to leave to go Home. My little girl walked in with smiles bringing me a drink and saw I was crying. She grabbed my hand and kissed it. She said mommy I am sorry you are hurting, is there anything i can do? I love you so much mommy. I stopped right then and realized why I was alive. That next week I got up in my walker and forced myself to get better. I forced myself to be strong for her. Sorry I have not talked about that and it sorta came out. Sorry. My PM and Ortho Surgeron have put me through alot of stuff but acupuncture was not one of them. I have several friends that recommend it. I have a TENS unit as well for pain. It has electrodes that I put in pain spots and ramp the voltage up to confuse my body of the pain signals. it is great. I like that when I have bad pain days too. Would something like that help her? Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 141 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:22 am:    Margaret, Please share your recipe for bourbon potatoes. Send to wayne.yancey@callison.com Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving. Wayne Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 622 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:31 am:    Actually we have sort of have a tens unit that she uses for Nausea, it wraps the wrist and pulses the pressure points in the wrist, and I used a tens unit in the past for migraine pain, I'll have to dig thru the closet, think I still have it, worth a try...boy this is sounding like a pain support group thread - sorry Colin....oh yeah still haven't come up with a way to prepare specs for Dubai that will allow me to "easily" convert Amer Standards to British - any takers Colin, et.al. Melissa, a daughter's I love u's are the best medicine in the world...Our daughter, though much older, provides a great deal of comfort to us. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 834 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:31 am:    Margaret - include me in that request, too - in fact, why don't you just post it? Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 623 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:32 am:    oh yeah Melissa, in regards to daughters, enjoy her now, ours is 19 and sometimes she is not so enjoyable...take the good times with the not so good times. Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 122 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:34 am:    Did you get to go to the Dubai fireworks show last weekend since you do the architecture out there for the rich and famous?!! Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving Jerome! Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 624 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:35 am:    my apologies to the board, lack of sleep, too much babbling...but seriously has anyone successfully prepared specs for Dubai - any secrets you would share? Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 625 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:53 am:    Melissa, this jewboy is not going to Dubai anytime soon...besides i don't have the luxury of time for traveling these days and no one extended an invitation with benefits, so I guess I'll have to watch it on utube. Marc C Chavez Senior Member Username: mchavez Post Number: 330 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 11:04 am:    Comment on Lynn’s note on thanksgiving. Although certainly an American tradition, most (farming and hunter-gatather)cultures that are located in non-equatorial regions have very significant harvest festivals in the late fall celebrating a bountiful harvest in preparation for winter. Our’s is one of those – but with an added story line. Just the anthropologist in me squeaking out. On our other topic: Helping a relative or mate who is ill is hard and it takes great strength. I applaud all of you who are caring for someone, it’s frustrating, and you feel powerless to “fix it.” My mom passed on 4 years ago and I fear the day my dad or another loved one gets really ill. And Melissa – you go girl!! Such strength in the face of pain is to be praised! To all, I’ve killed all the worst of the deadlines and the menu is set. I’ll be “over the river and through the woods” at my Dad’s in Idaho for thanksgiving and will offer up a cup to all of you on T-day Happy thanksgiving Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 167 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 03:00 pm:    For all you Yankees out there with hearts in the South: Bourbon Yams 2 cans of Sweet taters or Yams (1 lb each) 2/3 c. sugar 1/3 c. Butter 1/4 c. Bourbon (Mom recommended VA Gentleman) 1 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Vanilla 1 1/2 c mini marshmellows (optional - it's sweet enough without) Place potatos in heavy sauce pan. cook down at least 10 minutes stirring over medium heat. Combine all ingredients, beat until smooth and place in a buttered cassarole dish. Cook 30 min at 350 degrees, (top with marshmellows) place under broiler until browned. A sweet dinner treat for all my Friends. Happy Thanksgiving all from the South! Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 123 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 03:18 pm:    YUMM-O! I especially will enjoy the burbon part of it. LOL! I watched Food Network this week and nearly ate my arm with all the delicious holiday receipes. I am definately going to try this one as well this year. Thanks so much Margaret! Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 228 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 07:35 pm:    Melissa: Sorry if I sounded "preachy", and sorry about the med bills. You had said this client has done this several times before - even when the economy was stronger... that is the reason I suggested we (as a profession) need to stand up for ourselves! I have heard alot of stories lately of consultants working for clients that don't pay, cause they are afraid of loosing the client, etc. etc. Sounds like you are getting ready to drink some bourbon... and maybe add some yams. Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 124 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 07:54 am:    Hey Robin, What was the saying the warthog and yellow prarie dog said in Lion King...um...Hakuna Matata...I think. I have only watched that thing a thousand times with my little one. LOL! No Worries. I hope you and yours have a happy holiday....mine started last night with the bourbon...and it was GOOD! LOL! Take care! Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 835 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 09:56 am:    Remember, there's nothing that says you can't celebrate and give thanks on another day! It's only the President of America who says it's the 4th Thursday of November. According to an Earth calendar, it's Thanksgiving today in Palau, on Sunday in Turkmenistan, they'll celebrate Harvest Holiday and on December 4th., the Marshall Islands will celebrate Kamolol Day (Thanksgiving). So pick your own day! J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 301 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 10:54 am:    Of course, when you celebrate Thanksgiving in Palau, you do it with fruit bat soup. Take one fruit bat, wash it off, and put it in the pot (head, wings, fur, and all). I think I will wait for turkey. Melissa J. Aguiar, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: melissaaguiar Post Number: 125 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 10:59 am:    i bet it taste just like chicken huh! LOL! You are all feeling frisky aren't you. Ready for that holiday, I can tell! Anonymous   Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 11:01 am:    So this is Christmas...and what have you done. Another year over...a new one just begun. And so Merry Christmas...and a happy New Year. Let's hope it's a good one...without any fear. RH (Hank) Sweers II RA CSI CCS Senior Member Username: rhsweers2 Post Number: 6 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 11:04 am:    This is great! I had to do sweet-potatoes (but fresh - not canned) today for dinner at my Mom's tomorrow - but I never figured on getting the recipe on THIS website! I might need to test several bourbon's though - isn't that covered in Division-62 or something . . . HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 836 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 11:24 am:    Just another example of the benefits of CSI membership. I wonder if "sharing recipes" will make it into the benefits literature? Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 287 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 01:43 pm:    One of the very early CSI members, the late Fred Tilp a Washington DC architect, use to "share recipes" in his specifications. He included his homemade chili recipe in the cold weather requirements for concrete. He also included a comment to the effect that anyone using the recipe, liked it, and called him to thanked him for the recipe would be treated to a homemade dinner. Unfortunately, he said, that one one ever called him. I never did find out if his recipe wasn't very good [which I doubt] or that no one ever read the spec [most likely]. Robert W. Johnson Senior Member Username: bob_johnson Post Number: 189 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 02:50 pm:    We did seem to have a little more fun inside the business in earlier years. I recall specifying gold rebar on a doctor's clinic project back in the 60's that was competively bid. The sucessful contractor (whom we knew well) was a little puzzled when we asked him where he was going to get his gold rebar for the project! Ronald L. Geren, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 713 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 03:07 pm:    Was it for work on the Bullion Depository at Fort Knox? If not, too bad. You might have gotten a LEED point for regional materials. Anonymous   Posted on Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 11:38 am:    Regarding inane clauses ("hidden") in specs, some day someone IS going to read that clause...and may not share the same sense of humor as you. I'm speaking from experience as a very young "drafter" that deliberately misspelled one word (suggestive, but not profane/obscene)...for which my boss was NOT amused. Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 288 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 11:59 am:    Anon: In Fred Tilp's case, he was the boss. But your point is well taken. Specifications, as legal/contractural documents, should not be a playground. And, as you stated, humor is only funny if both parties are amused. Robert: Did the Owner ever get a credit for the gold rebar? Do you have any recommendations as to how the specifications community can "have a little more fun in the business?" Robert W. Johnson Senior Member Username: bob_johnson Post Number: 190 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 02:40 pm:    In the "gold rebar" case, the "fun" was not initiated by an individual but by the firm; the principal was aware or even suggested it - can't remember where it started. This was done in a relatively small design/construction community (Boulder, CO) where everyone knew each other. In fact the successful bidder was a general contractor owned and run by two brothers - they were known as the "Brothers Grim" within our firm. They had built previous projects of the firm and continued to do so after this one. I believe it was an invited bidder list. I am quite sure we would not have played a similar trick on a bid open to the public in a bigger market where we did not know all the players. Everyone took it for what it was - having a little fun with each other. No, there was no credit it to the Owner and I don't think there was a change order to change the spec either. I don't have any specific recommendations of how to have little more fun today. I just know from my experience that project teams (that can include the contracting community on negotiated projects) are more productive and accomplish bigger goals when they enjoy working together and that usually means having a little fun along the way. Those of you that know Dennis Hall know that the MasterFormat Expansion Task Team had a little fun along the way - impossible to work with Dennis without some humor being a part of the process. In a team atmosphere, it keeps everyone from taking themselves too seriously! Having a little fun almost always also includes the dangers of being inappropriate with words or actions that can hurt the feelings of others. You have to be careful with humor and that usually means knowing the team members pretty well and how they will probably react. I would say that if you are not enjoying yourself in your work and having a little fun along the way, you are in the wrong business or profession or in the wrong situation. Who wants to spend their life involved totally in adversarial relationships - life is too short for that! Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 312 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 08:10 pm:    I had a PA in a firm I once worked with show me a clause in the Project Meetings section that specifically requested that the GC provide a dozen doughnuts for the meeting! Needless to say, I did not include that phrase in any of the specs I wrote for the firm as it was public bid work and someone may not have been amused. The project in question was a Sheriff's facility. Anonymous   Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 12:46 pm:    We have included a similar donut clause in our specs for publicly funded housing. For one project, the Owner's attorney got the joke, allowed the paragraph to remain and even asked to be added as a site meeting attendee when donuts are served, which was accomplished in an Addendum. Ironically, neither the lender (federal) nor this particular client has ever asked us to delete this paragraph on the numerous projects we've done for them. For other clients, but similar publicly funded projects, the Contractor (a negotiated bid) requested it be deleted. We certainly oblige the request but when this Contractor doesn't even provide bad trailer coffee during site meetings, I like to tease them that they could be serving good strong Starbucks coffee if they didn't request the paragraph to deleted. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 992 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 02:32 pm:    I once teasingly asked a contractor, at the first (morning) project meeting, where the bagels were. (His office was near a neighborhood known to have the best.) He realized it was a joke, but for the remainder of the 18 month project he brought muffins and bagels to every meeting. On another project, one architect carefully drew a mouse sitting on the lower chord of a bar joist on one of the building sections. It stayed... I have no idea whether any of the contractor's crews and subs ever noticed it. As to the original post.. I did not work this holiday weekend, but I have in the past. (I work for a firm, not independent.) I have the benefit that my family is all local, so there was not a conflict with travel. Rarely does one get any "credit" for this, but if a deadline is missed, I'm sure to hear about it. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 837 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 03:31 pm:    1. The Bourbon yams were yummy! 2. On a set of drawings for a competition, an architect I knew had drawn a figure sitting on a chair in the interior elevation. When he cut a section through the area, he cut through the chair and the figure, carefully drawing the chair with the blocking and a skeleton sitting on the chair. Ann Baker, CSI, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP, SCIP Aff. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 07:20 pm:    I may have to go back and do Thanksgiving all over again with Bourbon Yams. Thanks, Margaret! I didn't work Thanksgiving, or any of the holiday weekend. I worked one Thanksgiving when we lived in England, and swore I'd never do it again. I've learned over the years to say no sometimes. Not often enough, probably.... David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: davidcombs Post Number: 298 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 08:44 am:    LOL! Thanksgiving in England?? Do they celebrate the Fourth of July, too? Tracy Van Niel, FCSI, CCS Senior Member Username: tracy_van_niel Post Number: 268 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 03:33 pm:    I had to go back through all of the messages to find the recipe since everyone was raving about the sweet potatoes ... I have good friends from England who have been in the US for around 10 years, they've celebrated Thanksgiving every year they've been here. Don't know if they'll continue the tradition when they move back to England though. Although I will say, they said they couldn't stand pumpkin pie so they always have mincemeat instead. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 838 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 03:41 pm:    We celebrated Thanksgiving in London one year with Yorkshire pudding, beef Wellington, bangers and mash...quite good! And of course they celebrate the 4th of July - sort of spring cleaning day for them, wouldn't you think? The day they got rid of us! Ann Baker, CSI, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP, SCIP Aff. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 04:46 pm:    The first Thanksgiving that we lived in England I called a repair shop because our oven wasn't working, and told them that it was an emergency because Thanksgiving was the next day. They laughed and asked if I was referring to Practise Christmas Dinner.