Where is HelitzerBlouseGIrl?

HelitzerBlouseGirl has been very busy the past few months, teaching her business law class, being a mom, and worrying about her beach house in Cape May, New Jersey (which was spared both house and city).

Just wanted to let you know that we'll be up and running again real soon.  There is so much to write about.

In the next few weeks, HeltizerBlouseGirl will be teaching bankruptcy law to her business students and hopes she can sort out some truth about Twinkies, the Teamsters, The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union, and the Hostess situation.

HelitzerBlouseGirl is thinking of all those who have lost their jobs.

She will miss Snowballs.  

The Unimaginable Job

After seeing so many facebook posts and pictures remembering 9/11, eleven years later, I still find myself unable to comprehend the horrors of that day.  The horrific loss of life, the fear, the panic, the chaos, the unbelievable.

The unwavering bravery of our first responders, our military personnel, and the ordinary citizens who helped someone in need that day.  

That crisp fall morning, people went to work, not knowing what would happen that day.  The NY firefighters, paramedics, and police officers reporting to duty that morning.  All those people going to work at their jobs in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  People flying to jobs across the country.  Just going to work, just doing your job, another day, another dollar.  And, then the unimaginable.  Terrorist attacks on our country.  

Here is my blogpost I wrote last year about my son's boy scout leader and his co-worker and what they faced that day.  And, what I did not write about in that post was a very dear friend of mine who worked behind the scenes helping to answer all the legal questions that arose from decisions that had to be made immediately; a job that took amazing composure, intelligence and the ability to offer answers without hesitation or wavering.      

So today, September 11, 2012, I am reposting my blog, The Unimaginable Job:

Today, I want to dedicate my blog to the men and women of our military and to the passengers on United Flight 93. on September 11, 2001– the people with the most “unimaginable” job. 

This morning, with my cup of coffee on hand, I checked my email and saw an email from a boy scout in my son’s troop.  The email was titled “A Scout(master) is Brave” -- echoing the words in the boy scout pledge.  The scout posted an article that appears in the Style section of today’s Washington Post (click below to see the article).

here

Police, firefighters, military members, and many other American workers wake up every day knowing that on that day they might put their lives at risk due to the requirements of their jobs.  When they woke up on the morning of September 11, 2001, Major Heather “Lucky” Penney and Colonel Marc Sasseville (Michael’s scout leader) probably had not have imagined their days mission – to fly their fighter jets and take down a domestic passenger plane full of innocent people, by using their fighter planes as a weapon. 

The chilling words I read in the Washington Post this morning – “’We don’t train to bring down airliners,’ said Sasseville.”

Certainly, the passengers on flight 93 did not train to bring down an airliner.

Yet, those were their jobs that awful day.  The jobs of our military members and the job of those brave people on flight 93.  Jobs done to save others. 

Thank you Major Heather “Lucky” Penney, Colonel Marc Sasseville, and all the workers whose jobs it is to protect our country each day.

To the passengers on flight 93, as we say in the Jewish religion, may your memory be a blessing.

Celebrate labor today

My thirteen year old son heard a food store commercial about buying food for your Labor Day celebration, and said, “Why would anyone want to celebrate Labor Day?”  I asked him what he meant and he said, “why would I want to celebrate having to go back to school?”

I’m sad that my son, who was always excited about the start of elementary school, doesn’t want to start school.  I think it is mostly because of the early start time and then the day to day annoyance of homework. 

I’m also sad that my son has no understanding of the importance and significance of Labor Day.  To him and I guess, to many people in this country, it is just the last day off before school starts, the end mark of summer, the last day to wear those white clothes.

My first year at Cornell – School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), a school focused on American workers, Cornell scheduled classes on Labor Day.  That schedule did not go over well with the ILR students and talk of a protest and skip day launched.  In the interest of not having first years miss their first day of classes, my recollection is that either teachers cancelled their classes or classes started the next day.  Now, Cornell’s academic calendar recognizes Labor Day as a holiday.

The United States Department of Labor explains the reason for the Labor Day holiday:

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

To learn more about Labor Day, check out DOL website at http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm.

In addition to making sure that Michael has a fun last weekend of summer, finishes his math packet, I hope I can get him to see that Labor Day is more than just the last day before school starts.

My son has given me continued inspiration to write this blog, to work on my proposal to teach a modern American labor class, and the hope that Labor Day 2013, won’t just be all about the sales, bbqs, and putting away those white shoes and pants (and for Harry, his Hawaiian shirts).

Labor Day Weekend

I hope you are enjoying the weekend.  Stayed tuned for my Labor Day post tomorrow!

Summer vacation

HelitzerBlouseGirl had a busy summer vacation.   In the upcoming months, the fruits of that summer vacation, will show up in my day in the life series.  I'm looking forward to blogging about some exciting modern American workers and business owners.  .

Until then, here is a link to a great article on salaries.  We've all been asked that dreaded and taboo question, "oh, how much are you being paid?"  There's a reason you feel uneasy about answering that question and why we are taught not to ask new workers that question.  The article features quotes from economic Professor Kevin Hallock, of Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), my beloved undergraduate school.  The article features the story of  new work force entrant,Yelana Sher, ILR graduate.

Enjoy:  http://www.marketplace.org/topics/wealth-poverty/pay-day/why-were-paid-what-were-paid

Blogging not logging

Blogging not logging.  I guess a blogging conference is hard to explain to some people.  When I told someone that I was going to a blogging conference, they looked at me with a funny expression on their face and said, a "logging conference?"  Can't you just picture a row of those rotating logs (from the old movies) with people walking across the logs.


While I learned a lot about blogging, social media, and animals and received tons of great swag, I have to say that I didn't have to balance on any logs.  The big balancing act for me was having a chance to learn more about blogging and also check out Salt Lake City, Utah (seriously, after flying more than halfway across the country -- how could I not do some site seeing!). 


Although the conference subject matter featured animals, the information provided applied to any type of blogging and social media.  I learned so much and I can't wait to incorporate what I learned into HelitzerBlouseGirl.  


The highlight of the conference -- seeing my 18 year old daughter, Rachel Shubin who writes Sandpiper Cat Blog treated as a serious cat blogger.  Rachel met so many wonderful people at the last BlogPaws conference and had the chance to see them again and meet more people.


The second highlight of the conference -- meeting all those people Rachel knew (ok, so I knew a few of them already, but I can't believe how many great people I met or got to place a face with a blog!).  Ingrid King of the Conscious Cat, Pamela Haines with Moo Kitty Finds a Home, Crystal and Moki of The Wobbly Cat, Deb Barnes of Zee and Zoey, Stephanie Harwin of Catsparella, Angie Bailey of Catladyland, Janea Kelley of Paws and Effect,Robin Olson of Covered in Cat Hair, Teri Thorsteinson of Curlz and Swirlz, Caroline Golon of the Happy Litter Box, Kate Benjamin of Modern Cat, Tamar Arslanian of I Have Cat, Amy Palmer of Seabass Cat, Peter Wolf of Vox Felina,  and Debbie Glovatsky of Glogirly and so many more.  


What could be better than the evening when Rachel and I spent about three hours outside chatting with Pam Haines, Crystal Fogg, and hanging with the awesome Moki the Wobbly Cat, realizing that it was 10:45 p.m. and we hadn't even had dinner yet!

Getting to hold Moki the Wobbly Cat

The third highlight -- exploring Salt Lake City -- from Temple Square and the Desert Book Company, to a great little coffee/tea/art gallery we happened upon, to the amazing farmers market around the corner of the hotel, to Retro Rose (http://www.saltlakecityutah.org/retrorose.htm), a beautiful antique store (store cat included and a lovely young college student who helped me check out all the vintage advertising pens and pencils) and to be lucky enough to be in Salt Lake City during the Utah Art Festival.  Of course, I must mention being able to walk out the hotel door and be surrounded by gorgeous mountains!  I love Salt Lake City!

Retro Rose antique store cat

sand sculpture at the Utah Art Festival

A look into the future of HeltizerBlouseGirl:  posts, pictures, and reflections about the Helitzer Blouse Company; more interviews in the day in the life series (featuring local Fairfax businesses, local Cape May companies, and interviews with the intesting people I met at BlogPaws.


Please let me know if you would like to participate in my day in the life series -- lostcatjulie@gmail.com

BlogPaws

Today, I'm travelling to Salt lake City, Utah, to attend a blogging conference called BlogPaws.  The conference focuses on pet blogs, but I'm sure I will learn a lot about blogging in general.  My daughter, Rachel, who inspired me to blog, just graduated from high school.  The trip is her graduation present.  You can check out her blog at -- http://www.sandpipercatblogspot.com/. 

So be on the lookout for new blog posts from me.  I plan to do some historical posts about the Helitzer blouse business and to continue my day in the life series with  posts featuring small businesses.
 

A day in the life of Ingrid King, author, blogger, cat expert and Reiki Master Practitioner

Ingrid King, self employed author, blogger, cat expert and Reiki Master Practitioner, wakes up happy to go to work.  She does what she loves and she is good at what she does.    

Ingrid wrote the award winning book, Buckley’s Story:  Lessons From a Feline Master Teacher, about her beloved tortoiseshell cat, Buckley. 

Ingrid’s award winning professional blog, http://consciouscat.net/, provides daily insight into the lives of cats – it is a go to blog for anyone seeking reliable, useful, and entertaining cat info.  Ingrid’s tortoiseshell cat, Amber, was the inspiration for The Concious Cat, which currently features Ingrid’s current torties, Allegra and Ruby. 

HBG comment:  I think many of us out there in blog world aspire to have a blog like The Conscious Cat! 

As of today, April 18, 2012, Ingrid’s blogpost about “tortitude” is closing in on 10,000 comments (9717 to be exact).  The tortitude post has led to some amazing friendships (and even romance) between people with the common bond of tortoiseshell cats.  If you don't know what tortitude is, then you probably haven't had a tortoiseshell cat in your life.  You can check out the tortitude blogpost and find out all about tortitude and the unique attitude of tortoiseshell cats.  Here’s the link: http://consciouscat.net/2009/08/17/tortitude-the-unique-personality-of-tortoiseshell-cats/.

HBG:  Can you give me a brief description of your typical day?

Ingrid King:  One of the beauties of being self-employed is that there is no typical day. I’m my own boss, so my schedule varies. My ideal day looks like this:

Get up at 6am, feed the cats, get my first cup of coffee, check e-mail, Facebook, read some of my favorite blogs. Play with the cats (this could be considered research for a future article!), have breakfast, then back to the computer for a full morning of writing blog posts for The Conscious Cat, articles for other publications, and working on my book.

On days when I have Reiki sessions scheduled, I either go visit the client’s home (I see pet clients in a very small geographical area in Northern Virginia), or, if it’s a human client, they’ll come to see me in my home office. I also do remote sessions.

Living in an area of the states known for horrible traffic, you can’t beat Ingrid’s commute, which she describes as going from her bedroom to her office across the hall.    And, some days, Ingrid gets to wear pajamas to work (sorry Ingrid, I couldn’t resist putting that into the blog).

HBG:  What is the best part of your workday/job?

Ingrid King:  Everything! I really love working from home. Writing is my true love, but I also enjoy my Reiki work with both pets and people.

Like most of the self employed workers I’ve featured, the downside of Ingrid’s job is book keeping and the other administrative tasks that come with being self-employed and running her  own business.  HBG comment:  I’m seeing a trend.

For the freelance writing portion of Ingrid’s work, she gets paid usually on a per-article basis. Some publications pay on a per-word basis. Her blog generates income from advertisements. Ingrid charges a set fee for Reiki sessions for both humans and animals.  For more information about Reiki, check out the Reiki tab on The Conscious Cat.

Ingrid doesn’t think of herself as a typical American worker.  HGB finds it really hard to sum up Ingrid’s work in a short day in the life vignette.  She’s a modern day renaissance woman, finding a way to fit all her passions into a small business. 

I love being self-employed and working from home. After working in corporate America for more than fifteen years, and working in a small business (a veterinary clinic) owned by someone else for another eight years, it was quite a change to work for myself. Not having a guaranteed regular income takes a leap of faith, but for me, the freedom I gained by being my own boss has far outweighed any downsides.

And, from what I can discern from Ingrid’s responses to my questions, her biggest job hazard:  cats on her desk!

Work: the 24 hour day.

As part of my day in the life of a modern American worker/small business series, I’ve been describing the typical day at various jobs in the modern American work force.

HBG:  If you saw an ad for this job, would you take it?

Hours:  6 a.m.  (may be called to work earlier) to 11 p.m. (may be required to work later); on call 24/7, no sick days, no vacation days, no holidays, no salary or wages.   Job requires lots of driving, negotiating, planning, balancing, juggling; may involve coaching a sports team; lunch break not guaranteed.

HBG:  Don’t think so.

We all know what job I’m describing – the job of a parent, a mom, dad or both.  A job that doesn’t have defined hours, defined time off, a job that never really has a typical day and a job that’s work description varies with the years; a job that never really ends.

So now that we’re in the 2000s, can’t we just get over the who works harder debate of working moms versus stay at home moms.  We all know that life isn’t fair, isn’t equal, not everybody gets to make choices.  Some of us are rich, some of us are poor, some of us are in-between, some of us have to work at a paying job, some can work at a paying job part time and some can choose to not work outside of the house at a paying job.  

Did you note that I had to put in the words – “paying job.”  If I didn’t, then I might offend someone.  Can we just get over it and call it work with the knowledge that not all work is paid for in money?  

A day in the life of Shawn Warner, owner of the restaurant, Choices By Shawn

The next time you are looking for a great place to eat, stop by Choices By Shawn, located in the historic Moore house in Fairfax City.  The restaurant’s name reflects Shawn’s belief that “people should have a choice of what they want to eat, some people like to eat healthy and some don’t, some have to eat gluten free, some dairy free and I just thought that Choices fit what I wanted to say.”

When asked if owning Choices is the best job she’s had, the owner, Shawn Warner, answers, “definitely.” 

Shawn’s work on any given day could encompass any part of restaurant work.  She’s done every job in the restaurant.  Here’s how Shawn describes a typical day in her life as the owner of Choices:

I arrive at work at 10:30 Monday through Friday, 8:30 on Saturday and 10:00 on Sunday. I get the restaurant ready for service for the day with the help of one of my servers and one kitchen staff, I do my daily financial report, generally make sure that the restaurant is running smoothly that the customers are happy, help the cook with lunch order if necessary. Order items for the restaurant whether it be food, paper supplies, equipment. Make sure all the equipment is running properly, etc.

Most days, Shawn wakes up happy to go to work.  Like most small business owners, she feels stressed when business is slow. 

Meeting new customers, seeing her regular customers, and hearing positive feedback about Choices comprise the best part of her job.  Paying bills and dealing with staffing issues are the downside of her work.

Just like many modern American workers, Shawn’s job isn’t always a piece of cake.  Shawn doesn’t take a salary because she puts all the money goes back into the business. 

 

HBG:  Do you feel that you are a typical American worker?

Shawn:   I think that anyone who owns a restaurant works a lot of hours, and has a lot of headaches.

But being the owner, gives Shawn a chance to contribute to making the world a better place when she uses the restaurant for charity work.  I know for certain that Shawn makes the lives of those with Celiac disease, gluten intolerance, dairy allergies or those preferring vegetarian fare, better, by offering foods to suit those needs. 

I can say from personal experience that you can’t help but feel good when you bite into a piece of Shawn’s fluffy white coconut cake or sip the butternut squash and apple soup or enjoy a delicious burger or salad – oh, the choices!


For more information about Choices By Shawn, here's the website:
http://choicesbyshawn.com/home/

A day in the life of Mindi -- adjunct professor at a large community college

Mindi teaches English as a Second Language (ESOL), as part of the adjunct faculty at a community college.  Mindi receives a salary, wears nice casual clothes, and wakes up happy to  teach her four classes.

Mindi enjoys talking to her students and colleagues.  She doesn’t like when her students don’t do well in class.

HBG:  Do you feel that you contribute to making our world a better place to live?

Mindi:   I feel like I am an ambassador to new immigrants.  I make them feel welcome and comfortable.

Mindi doesn’t feel that she is a typical American worker because she works part time, has a large break between her semesters, and has a lot of freedom.

HBG:  What is the best job you’ve had in your work career?   I hope it is your current job!

Mindi:  I think this job is a great job.  I think I am making a difference in many people's lives.

HBG:  How great is that!

A Day in the Life of Sheri -- senior writer and technical editor

Sheri, Senior Writer and Technical Editor, employed by Aquent LLC (working as a contractor for Aquent’s clients), says she doesn’t feel like the typical American worker because her work doesn’t feel like work (HBG comment:  can you get a better job than that!).

Sheri likes her contractor status because she gets to write and edit for different clients.  Her day varies depending if she is on-site at a client or if she is working at home through teleconferencing and Skype calls.  Her contractor status gives her the ability to do what she loves – write and edit and not get bogged down in management meetings.

Although Sheri has the pleasure of working from home, she doesn’t feel isolated in her job: 

My work as a technical editor is not as solitary as it may seem, because it involves interviewing Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), who may be computer programmers and modelers, scientists, hydrogeologists, government planners, water conservation experts, engineers, lawyers, etc. (This is true for all writing and editing I do. I’ve interviewed law firm partners, business owners and executives, doctors, the adult children of genocide survivors.) Sometimes materials already exist and need to be edited for voice, style, grammar. Many times I’m creating new content. Technical writing and editing is highly collaborative. It requires intellectual curiosity and better-than-average communication and people skills.

When Sheri works on-site at a client’s office, she follows their dress code.  At home, she gets to wear whatever she likes and the big perk is – no shoes!

Sheri’s biggest job hazard:  writer’s block.  HBG:  doesn’t sound like that happens too often.

HBG:  Do you feel that you contribute to making our world a better place to live?

S:  That question is certainly on my mind when I accept new projects. I cannot write or work for anyone or any organization that goes against my values. I do my best to use my writing to do good work. In the past I’ve worked pro bono for a women’s shelter, I’ve written letters for charitable causes, and I just offered my services to Obama’s reelection campaign people in NY. I’m also writing two books which I hope will be educational and valuable to readers.

Sheri is currently enjoying her work at a state water management agency, whose work is to protect the area’s water supply and environment.  How could you not like working for a entity with the tagline: “We do the coolest work on the planet!” 

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

March 25, 2012, marks the 101^st anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, a horrific fire that killed 146 workers, mostly young women, employed by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, New York City, New York.

I learned about the fire when I took my first Industrial and Labor Relations history class as a high school summer student at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR).  If you’ve read my personal labor journal, you’ll recall that the ILR school at Cornell was really the only place I wanted to go to college.  Once I studied labor history that hot summer, I was hooked.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory located on the 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th floors of the Asch Building, had only one fire escape, which collapsed during the fire.    The factory owners locked doors so that the workers could not “steal” material.  Large tables and machinery trapped workers.  Panicked workers rushing to leave the building trampled other workers.  Minimal water was available to put out fires.  Fire ladders were too short to reach the workers on those high floors and safety netting was ineffective to safely catch workers.

The Triangle Factory fire intrigued me.  All the elements drew me in – very young immigrant workers in NYC, many of them Jewish, working long days, locked into the factory by untrusting and greedy owners; the developing union movement and how the Triangle fire impacted union growth and safety rules.   I’ve always felt a strong connection to this story, maybe because I remember hearing about my great aunt who worked in a sweat shop in NYC or because my grandfather and his brothers owned a blouse factory and business in NY. 

In memory of the 100^th anniversary of the fire, the ILR school created a fantastic website about the fire:  http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/.  Department of Labor’s OSHA website also has some great info:  http://www.osha.gov/oas/trianglefactoryfire.html.

Today, in looking at these websites to write my blog, I learned from OSHA’s website that the Triangle fire remained the most deadliest workplace tragedy in New York City’s history until the 9-11 World Trade Center attacks, 90 years later.   The early labor unions and organizations and the subsequent laws governing labor worked to protect the American labor force.  

A Day in the Life Series -- meet Elizabeth, Radiographer

Elizabeth, radiographer and member of The American Association of Radiologic Technologists and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, works part time for The Bone Densitometry Center. 

Elizabeth likes her “simple and stress free” job, seeing a minimum of 4 patients a day.  Elizabeth says that her boss is nice, but that she doesn’t see him when she is at work.

After she drives her daughter to school, Elizabeth heads into work.  When she gets to work, she warms up and calibrates the x-ray machines.  She pulls up her patients’ previous bone density scans.  Patients are scheduled in 30 minute blocks and the dexa scans take approximately 15-30 minutes.  Elizabeth job also includes determining the billing code for each patient and sending this code and information to the insurance company.

Hearing her patients’ stories, especially her older patients, makes up the best part of her day.  The down side – dealing with very sick patients.

Elizabeth wears a lab coat over business casual clothing.  Her office provides coffee, tea, and water and she does not eat lunch at work, unless maybe a pharmaceutical representative brings in lunch.

Elizabeth does not feel that she is a typical American worker, answering, “No. I am a Mother first.   This job is secondary. My family definitely comes before work. I feel very lucky that I do not have to work everyday. I only work per-diem.”

A Day in the Life of A Modern American Small Business -- Smak Parlour, Philadelphia, PA

Think fast—I say Philadelphia, you say:  cheese steak or Liberty Bell.  Or maybe pretzel or Eagles; Ben Franklin or Betsey Ross; US Mint or Franklin Institute. 

I hope that after you read today’s A Day in the Life post, you will add Smak Parlour to your Philly list.

Imagine working alongside your best friend in a chic pink boutique store – in your own small business partnership.  Katie Loftus and Abby Kessler have the best jobs ever, are happy to go to work every day, and get to dress in the clothes that they design and sell in their boutique store. 

Here’s how they describe a typical day in the life of a Smak Parlour owner:

Get to work @11am (most days), leave 7pm (most days).

The job greatly varies from day to day. There are a lot of hats to wear! Just to name a few: servicing customers, pricing, steaming and putting out new merchandise. Placing orders with vendors. designing the windows, merchandising the floor. Cleaning and organizing. Taking pictures of items for web and cleaning them up in a graphics program. Updating website, sending out orders, blogging, twittering, fbooking. Ordering new merch, office supplies (business cards, bags). Paying bills. Scheduling, mentoring and evaluating interns.

Katie and Abby describe the best part of their day -- working with their best friend.  Accounting and quickbooks fall into the least favorite category.

Here’s how Katie and Abby (SP for Smak Parlour) answered a few more of my questions (HBG for Helitzerblousegirl):

HBG:  Do you have a good boss?  Are you a good boss?

SP:  We like to think we’re good bosses. We treat our employees and interns very well (the way we’d like to be treated).

HBG:  Do you feel that you are a typical American worker?  (For instance, I’m a partner in a law firm and I do what most lawyers do – read, read, read).

SP:  We suppose we do similar tasks as other boutique owners

HBG:  Has your job required you to do something unusual (see my blogpost about climbing down into a manhole to see a steam pipe system).

SP:  Haha that’s crazyJ

HBG:  Do you feel that you contribute to making our world a better place to live?

SP:  Yes, we make fashion fun! 

HBG:  Thanks Smak Parlour for participating in the A Day in the Life series and providing my blog audience with a look at a vibrant and successful American small business.

http://www.smakparlour.com/

A day in the life of an American worker series continues -- working to define the modern American labor force

Today, please meet Elise, Operations Manager, Defense Contractor (located in Virginia).

Elise desribes her typical day: 

I get to work at 7:30 and leave at 4.  I mainly work on any issues or problems the different functional groups are having with scheduled work that week.  Since I have been here a while I know a lot of the goings on behind the scenes than others, so I do get asked for guidance on different things.  I do reports for my boss and the VP of our group on what current actions/problems we have.  The most interesting and varied thing I do is Incident and Problem Management so anything that does not follow processes or goes wrong I get to investigate.  Occasionally, I go to our main contractor’s office, not too far away.

Elise enjoys her co-workers, has a good boss, and works in an office with a Keurig machine and three lunch rooms, but eats lunch at her desk.  When asked if she wakes up happy to go to work, she responds, “indifferent.”  The worst part of her day is commuting and meetings. 

Elise receives a salary and is not a member of a union.  She wears suits or dress pants with blouses or sweaters to work.

In my series of questions, I asked, “does your work make the world a better place?”  Elise believes that she contributes to the world through her volunteer work – teaching English as a second language, being a Pen Pal to a child in order to encourage reading, and volunteering with a local soccer league.    

Elise feels that she is a typical American worker, “even though my kids can never explain [my work] exactly.”

More about Paige, Homeless Shelter Intern

Paige eats lunch at the shelter and eats the donated food that the homeless eat.   Since the shelter relies upon donations, the food varies from day to day:

day old pastries from a local cafe, homemade casseroles dropped off by a church group, chocolate covered strawberries leftover from the mayor’s ball, canned goods way past their expiration dates, and lots of mashed potatoes, enchiladas, and sandwiches of questionable hygiene.

Interns at the shelter work 40 hours a week, starting wage $6 an hour.  The interns also receive room, board, and health insurance.  Paige is not a member of a union.

Paige describes her boss as amazing, trusting, and accommodating, a boss that gives her responsibility and autonomy.  Paige also has high praise for her clients, the homeless, stating,
“the homeless are the most inspiring, loving, hilarious, and frankly amazing people I’ve ever met.  They are like my family and I’m so in love with them.”

Paige says that the hardest part of her job at the homeless shelter is that about 20 homeless people die each year and that the average life expectancy of a homeless person is around age 48..  Recently, one of Paige’s favorite clients, who was camping in a low lying area, drowned in a flash flood. 

In response to the question, are you a typical American worker, Paige responds:

I do feel that I’m a typical American worker in that I am working my butt off to earn money and make a living for myself.  And since I earn maybe $15,000 a year I join in solidarity with other low income wage earners! 

But I don’t feel like a typical American worker in that I really, really, really enjoy what I do and I have little to complain about.  I am fulfilled by what I do, challenged mentally and physically, still have lots to learn, and I have enough money to lead a simple but quality lifestyle!

Paige is a modern American worker who has worked in a variety of jobs and clearly finds satisfaction in her work. Her resume includes backstage hospitality for the performers at Wolf Trap; professional dog poop scooper for DoodyCalls; manning the overnight shift phone lines for a suicide and crisis hotline, environmental organizer for The Wilderness Society, and work at a holistic retreat center and at an oil change shop. 

Why does Paige seem so happy about work – her words sum it up:

I generally only engage in employment that I’d be willing to do for free.  This doesn’t mean that my jobs aren’t challenging and stressful at times, but really, life is too short to spend the majority of it doing something that is unfulfilling!... But I think that working with the homeless is my calling.  It just makes me feel so alive!!! 

A Day in the Life of A Modern American Worker series starts today!

A day in the Life of a Modern AmericanWorker

Paige, Homeless Shelter Intern/Shift Supervisor

Paige works at the St. Elizabeth Shelter, a 28 bed homeless shelter for men, women and children in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Paige is the type of worker we all hope to hire  – she does the job that needs to be done and says that a written job description could never encompass everything she does. 

When asked whether she feels happy to get up and go to work in the morning, Paige answers:

Absolutely.  It is a super fun job, and at least during my shift, the shelter is filled with lots of laughter and shenanigans.  This is because I lucky enough to have the ability to enforce rules and policies while keeping it fun for the guests! 

Here’s how Paige describes her typical day at the homeless shelter:

I work eight hour shifts, usually 7am to 3pm or 3pm to 11pm.  As a benefit of my intern status, I live in a semi-secret apartment above the shelter making my commute roughly 30 seconds.  The day shift mostly involves the restocking and cleaning of the shelter, supervising community service workers and volunteers, and handling the needs of homeless folks that drop in looking for services. 

The evening shift involves checking the guests in for the night (breathalyzing them, searching their belongings, etc.), doing new intakes, making sure dinner gets served on time and chores are completed, and generally handling any issues that inevitably arise (a fight, the power going out, a drunk and rowdy person showing up at the door, someone having stinky feet, etc.).  

Homeless folks knock on our door 24/7, so a large chunk of time is spent helping them (giving out blankets, mail, toiletries, etc.).

I generally work my shifts alone, sometimes with the aid of a volunteer.  This means that I am often the only employee in the building, and the lives and safety of all of our guests rests in my hands! 

Our guests are in crisis, and usually suffer from mental illness, histories of violence, and have various health problems and substance abuse histories, so this is a very exciting group to manage and you never know what could happen. 

Every now and then I do need back up, so I keep the police and paramedics on speed dial. 

In my next post about Paige, you’ll find out what she eats for lunch at the homeless shelter (hint:  from homemade church casseroles to chocolate covered strawberries!) and why she feels in solidarity with some American workers.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

What would Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. say about today's work force?  I think he would see that we have made progress, but he would be disapointed that we still have not achieved racial equality and an end to discrimination. 

To honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I hope that we will all continue to work for racial equality and an end to discrimination and job discrimation.

Do you have diversity at your place of work?  Have you experienced job discrimination? 

Diversity:
When I look back upon my career as a lawyer, I have worked at places with diverse work forces and non diverse work forces.   Law firms, not so diverse.  United States Department of Justice, not so diverse.  The very small Fairfax Civil Service Commission office, very diverse.  Adjunct professor at a local university, not so diverse among the group of profs that taught similar classes to my class (can't speak for the diversity among professors at the entire university), but a very diverse student body on campus.  So Dr. King, we still have a long way to go.

Discrimination:
As a female attorney, I personally experienced sexual harassment.  I also saw that women in the legal field were not always treated the same as men.  Perhaps not legal discrimination, but a feeling of being treated differently. 

In my role as a hearing officer, I heard many cases claiming discrimination based upon race and gender.  Sometimes the grievants prevailed.  Sometimes they did not.  Sometimes there was provable discrimination.  Sometimes there was "discrimination," but not at a provable legal level.  Dr. King, we still have a long way to go.

So almost 50 years after Dr. King's I Have a Dream Speech, we still have work to do, but I hope that if you look around you at work, you will see a diverse or more diverse work place.  Please remember the causes to which Dr. King devoted his much too short life.

special guest post

Today, I'm featuring two special guests on my blog --  my daughter, Rachel, an aspiring journalist, blogging about her interview with Jackson Galaxy of Animal Planet's show, My Cat From Hell.   So here is a day in the life of a young cat blogger telling about a day in the life of an awesome and very famous cat behaviorist.   Please be sure to tune into Animal Planet's My Cat From Hell airing on Saturday January 7 at 8 p.m. est.  

Posted with permission from Rachel Shubin of Sandpipercat.blogspot.com:

Sometimes I forget that I’m only eighteen. I do some pretty overzealous things for an eighteen-year-old. I started my own personal blog, wrote two articles for a newspaper in Cape May, NJ, attended BlogPaws by myself, started a blog for the Fairfax Patch online newspaper, and traveled to New York alone to attend the CWA conference. But that’s not what I’m here to tell you about.

 

Image from Jackson Galaxy.

 

 Today’s post I am here to share an intriguing man’s story. This man is the humbleJackson Galaxy of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell. I never dreamed that I would be waiting at the kitchen table, laptop ready to go and cup of water near-by, to interview a Hollywood television star.  As soon as the phone rang, I was eager to answer and begin the interview. Of course, the moment I answered, the phone died.

About ten minutes later…I was on the phone with Jackson Galaxy.

Rachel: What’s the best piece you ever got about your job?

Jackson:” It is funny because I didn’t have any role models really, it’s not like we have a community, you know what I mean? I was kind of working in a vacuum.”

He paused here to chuckle and tells me that this was an interesting question.

 “You know what’s interesting is the best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten about being a cat behaviorist I got about acting from an acting teacher. He said, ‘Don’t even think that you know people. Remember to be a student of the given conditions.’”

Jackson continues to tell me that thinking we know cats, is a trap we can fall into.

“To think that we know them all and that all cats will do this when this happens, that falls under the categories that you don’t know cats. They will surprise you, humble you and shock you,” Jackson said.

This part of our conversation struck me. It really is true, we assume all cats will act a certain way in a situation and they might do a complete 180 degree opposite.

Rachel: You worked at the Humane Society of Bolder Valley, Colorado for years before starting your business. What kind of behavior did you see in the shelter animals that motivated you to start your own business?

Jackson: “[With] a cat in the shelter environment, you’re stripping them of everything that makes them a cat. Territory - they mark a little chunk of the world and that’s gone the next morning. There is no environmental enrichment in cages. You are trying to keep them from going crazy. And get them adopted.

Sully went from cowering in his litter box, to out on his new cat perch. Image from Valerie Allen.

The behavior I was fighting was fear, shut down and sort of being. The thing is that it was a terrible irony, people wanting to see them act like cats and in this environment no one was getting to see them act like cats.”

I completely agree with Jackson on this point. Being a volunteer for a rescue, if a cat is cowering in their litter box at the back of the cage, they’re completely less likely to get adopted than a cute kitten playing with a toy. I mentioned this to Jackson and he said that it was exactly his point.

“My work in the trenches was very much about the necessity being the mother of the invention. That informs the work I do today. I bristle at the thought of getting a cat to pee in the toilet; I want to keep to their nature,” he said.

Rachel: On your show, you seem to deal with people’s interactions with cats, and retrain the people more than the cats. Have you ever dealt with situations where the people weren’t the problem but it was cat versus cat?

Jackson: “I use positive association and reintroduce them together to get the cats back on the same page, if they ever were in the first place. And then it’s about getting them to recognize each other’s play language, communication language.”

My point in asking this question was to help me better understand the issue my cats Brooke and Sabrina have getting along.

“Cats don’t necessarily own the same communications skills. Dogs for the most part have the very set part of their nature are to have the playtime and bear teeth. But cats because they have such a small window of socialization by the time they’re 9 weeks old they have learned all their cues. It’s basically teaching two beings from another county to teach each other their language and do it peacefully.

Rachel: What is your typical work day? How do you prepare for filming?

Jackson: “There is not a lot of preparing I do. I don’t like to go in with a set game plan. I go in with a general knowledge of the people and personalities of the cat I’m dealing with.  I like thinking on my feet [because] I get to think of new techniques and keep it really fresh and not do something out of habit.

Once I’m on set or in the house I couldn’t even tell you what happens for the next 10-11 hours. I am just moving. I try not to get too buried in the process, but also get cats to come out and demonstrate something in the presence in front of people, which is not easy! It is less preparation and more thinking on your feet.

When Jackson is not filming he does one to two private consults a day – one in person and one by Skype.

“Over the past year and a half if I’m not doing [consults], I’m working on the book which finally is pretty much done and other than that I try to find time to spend time with my own cats and dog.”

Rachel: That’s right! You have a book coming out May 10, Cat Daddy: My Life with the Original cat from Hell (pre-order on Amazon here). What was the motivating factor to write this book?

Jackson: “Basically the cat in the book, Benny was dying and our time together was ending. I was just struck by how his presence in my life guided my knowledge about cats and the work I do with them and the techniques I have worked on and the theories that I have used.

And in our time together he also was there to witness and help turn me around. I just told him at that point that I just wanted to honor him and would write about him. It’s our story about our life together and how the techniques became shaped by my life with him. It’s a memoir but there are a bunch of tips and how to’s with things inspired by him.”

For those who have not seen My Cat From Hell, Jackson carries all of his cat consult equipment in his guitar case, in lieu of a guitar (though he is a musician!)

 

Image from Animal Planet.

 

Rachel: Besides cats, your other hobby is music. Tell me about that.

Jackson: “Well I have been a songwriter, singer guitar player since I was ten or eleven and it is funny because until animals became a dominant form in my life, it was the only thing I was really good at. You either get me talking about music or animals for pretty much six or seven hours straight, I won’t stop. As time has gone on, because of my love of art and animals it has expanded my ability as more of a spiritual being and experience life in a much deeper way.

When you learn how to do something at a young age you learn how to express yourself in one way, it becomes a part of your fabric.  It’s definitely my other passion and I’m excited to get back to it, the show has put my music on hold for a bit. “

I told Jackson that I completely agree, writing is my passion and it truly is the best way for me to express myself.

Our interview nearing the close, I asked one of my last questions about the Spirit Essences that Jackson promotes using. We personally use Bully Remedy, Obsessionand Peace Maker.

Rachel:  You are the owner and president of Spirit Essences; can you explain how they work?

Jackson: “No!” he told me. We both chuckled for a few minutes before he finished his answer.

 

Image from Jackson Galaxy.

 

“Flower essences are a 100 year old modality. Basically the woo-wooey version is from the box rescue remedy and remedies like that.  There are 38 different types of flowers that have an energetic figure. It’s a gentle modality. [It’s the] opposite of western meds which are the remedial of a sledge-hammer.

[Spirit Essences] are part of every consult I do. It gets people thinking in a different way. Everything is not solved with a pill or a shot. You have to work for results.”

Voila! The end! Jackson and I talked for a few minutes before saying good bye. His answers had blown me away. Jackson is so down to Earth and easy to talk to. I could tell how passionate he is about his work with cats.

If this interview isn’t indicative of Jackson’s amazing talents, tune in to My Cat From Hell on Animal Planet at 8 pm EST January 7, 2012!

 Visit Jackson Galaxy Cat Behaviorist Facebook Page here.