FYL Blog Hop...I get to meet this lovely lady in 10 (or 11??) days!!

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This week my guest poster is none other than Leiah. She's a fellow Cajun that I met here on blogger. We hit it off and have been friends since then.

I will actually have the pleasure of meeting her in a couple of weeks when I go home to Louisiana to visit my family. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about that!!
After my surprise wore off when Dionne asked me to do this, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about. Since she is the Homesick Cajun after all, I wanted to put into words just what life in Louisiana is like. Unfortunately my words weren’t doing justice to the Bayou State.

Then I remembered Mr. Johnny Janot. Mr. Johnny was born in Eunice, Louisiana and was a recording artist before he became a successful deejay. One of his most famous songs was called ‘I’m Proud to be a Cajun’ and there is a line in there that says it better than I ever could – “Trying to explain it to someone who knows nothing of the Cajun culture would be difficult. So much of it is carried in one’s heart and mind, that it’s so hard to put into words but perhaps a few of these things might help to explain.” He then goes on to list why he’s proud to be a Cajun.

So with that in mind I decided if I couldn’t put into words just how special life in Louisiana is, then I would have to let my photographs do it for me.

One of my favorite things to do is get in the car with no particular destination in mind and let the roads take me where they want. I’ve come across things that seem to be frozen in time. I’ve discovered some of the most beautiful old homes you’ve ever seen. More importantly, I’ve come to realize that after taking one of these drives I’m completely relaxed and not at all hurried. That’s the thing about Louisiana – life seems to move at a slower pace down here.
With that said, on what is for most the worst day of the week - take some time, enjoy that cup of coffee, take a slow deep breath and relax. Even if only for a few minutes, enjoy a little glimpse of what living in Louisiana is like.



Thank you asking me to be a part of this and I hope you all enjoy this look into what we think is a little slice of Heaven on earth.

Leiah, thank you so much for agreeing to do a guest post for me! I've never heard the song in the video before, and now...I'm in love with it! See you in a couple of weeks girl!!

One of My Favorite People....

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Here you go! :) Tell me what you think and/or if you want it to be longer? Love ya.

Ahhh . . . Where to start?

I don't even remember when or how I came to meet this wonderful lady I am honored to call friend or as I affectionately call her, "Momma".

This is truly a special friendship. We've written back and forth so many times and I've confided some pretty heavy stuff, but I know she will never betray our bond and friendship. I thank you for that Momma!

When she asked me if I would guest post over here I was thrilled! I knew exactly which of my posts I wanted her to showcase. It is one of my "work in progress" posts because I'm always adding new things to it!

Workplace Solutions to Increase Productivity 

I'm constantly trying to think of ways or incentives that will increase employee productivity. Here are a couple of ideas I have mulled over in my head.

My first idea is to allow employees to drink on the job. Not get outright smashed at your desk or anything, but enjoy a drink or two in the morning and a drink or two in the afternoon at your desk. BYOB, by the way. Here's the catch . . . If you appear intoxicated or can't function, you get sacked. The idea is that everyone will be way more relaxed and not so stiff, creating a more friendly ambiance, thereby bringing up office morale. Additionally, everyone will be in fear of getting sacked for being intoxicated that everyone will work even harder.

Whenever the holidays or my birthday roll around everyone always asks, "What can I get you? What would you like?" I always say, "An emergency martini kit for my desk." No one has listened so far, except for my Momma Carol, but she made me promise to take it home.

My second idea is to let everyone take a mental health day once a month. It will not be counted against your vacation or sick time. It's a free day that you can use as you please. The idea is that employees will look look forward to having one day off a month and will be less prone to take a sick day to go have some fun when they know they'll have this free day at their disposal. The catch . . . No pending items on your desk. A free day once a month as long as all your crap is done? Productivity will go through the roof.

Third (and final) idea. Allow each employee to telecommute at least once a month. Who wouldn't love to work on an item while lounging at home in your pajamas? Here's the catch . . . You must readily be available on your mobile phone and have access to a computer during your normal work hours. Employees won't feel as stressed out having to get to the office in the morning and save money on gas. Those living in a cave without computers or cell phones . . . You miss out!

Yea, yea . . . I know . . . I'm a daydreamer . . .

Added July 28, 2009

I can't believe I hadn't thought of this before. A designated area for people to take naps (during their breaks and lunch times, of course) if they so choose. BYOPnB - Bring Your Own Pillow and Blanket. If we had one of those, I wouldn't have fallen asleep in my non-airconditioned car in the parking lot today, with the windows cracked (for fear of being in the ghetto), under the shade of a tree (in our otherwise barren parking lots where shady spots are a freakin' commodity), and woken up all sweaty and gross feeling. At least I felt rested. I felt even better after sitting in front of the fan and drinking a bottle of cold water.

Added August 12, 2009

Hour lunches all around! The office completely shuts down at 12:00 p.m. That way you can have lunch with whomever you would like to have lunch with without having to rearrange the entire office lunch schedule. That is all.

Added October 26, 2009

Monday work hours should be cut down from eight hours to six hours. Offices would simply open two hours later on Monday. That way no one would hate Mondays and no one would come in all freakin' groggy and hating life. Did I neglect to mention this would fall under 'Perks' so (in true Meeko Fabulous fashion) nobody's pay would be affected.

Added February 10, 2010

First off, NO CLOSED DOOR MEETINGS. This has been a recent development in my office. It's bad for morale. The people behind closed doors may be discussing their freakin' vacation plans for all I know, but the rest of us that are sitting out here are sitting wonder what the Hell it is that we did wrong each time that door closes. I believe in an open door policy. There is no need for secrets. It's bad for morale and doesn't make people feel like they are included as part of the staff. I know there are certain things that have to be discussed confidentially, but I'm sure it would be different if the door closed and people felt safe in this office and not as if they have to constantly be watching their backs.

Second, no one is allowed to talk to anyone until they've had at least one cup of coffee. What's that you say? You gave up caffeine? Don't give me that crap. Fine. Don't talk to ME until I've had at least one cup of coffee, k?

Meeko, thank you so much for agreeing to be my very first guest poster! Love you boo!