list-a-palooza

My dear sister, Erin, made a list on her blog of random things. And it looked crazy fun. So I've decided to copy her. (Don't judge me, people. I have blogger's block.)

1. Erin, Kara, Adam and I went to the Grand America for Thanksgiving dinner this year. It was — how do you say? — grand. There were tables and tables of delicious food — both of the Thanksgiving-y and non-Thanksgiving-y variety. Oh, and there was eggnog. I adore eggnog.

Adam and I choosing our cheeses from a man
with a really tall chef's hat. So fancy!

2. We leave for Hong Kong three weeks from tomorrow. I can't wait.

3. We saw the movie "Australia" yesterday. Adam thought it was dorky. I giggled, smiled, gasped and cried all the way through it.

4. I've slept a consistent 11 hours every night of this Thanksgiving weekend. It's been so, so wonderful and so, so needed.

5. We finished the Bride magazine this past Wednesday, and it looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. (Which apparently, I do.)

6. I'm really terrible at answering my phone. No, really. I'm awful. Don't take it personally if it happens to you, my friends.

7. The minute I get home, I change into some sort of stretchy pant. I'm crazy fast at it, too. Adam often says to me, "When did you? ... How did you?" However, I've assured Adam that this in no way means I'll one day wear stretchy pants to the supermarket. You have my word on that, hon.

8. Adam's taping Christmas lights to our wall right now with great care.
He's cute.

9. If nothing good is on the radio, I sing show tunes in the car to keep myself entertained. (I make a great Annie.)

10. If I'm the only one at the office, I do lunges when I need to travel from room to room.

11. We had hot chocolate for breakfast this morning. Yum.

12. I'm thankful for more than I can possibly type.

girls will be girls

Below is an I-promise-this-is-real "Guide to Hiring Women" from the 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. It was a time when women were far more efficient with a fresh coat of lipstick and when "husky" girls were far more even-tempered than their skinny wee counterparts. (Hooray for husky girls!)

We're running this in our next issue of BusinessQ (it has a women in biz theme), and so I thought I'd share it with all of you now.

I know. You're welcome.
Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees

There’s no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage. Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject from western properties:

1. If you can get them, pick young married women. They have these advantages, according to the reports of western companies: they usually have more of a sense of responsibility than do their unmarried sisters; they’re less likely to be flirtatious; as a rule, they need the work or they wouldn’t be doing it — maybe a sick husband or one who’s in the army; they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Most transportation companies have found that older women who have never contacted the public, have a hard time adapting themselves, are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It’s always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.

3. While there are exceptions, of course, to this rule, general experience indicates that “husky” girls — those who are just a little on the heavy side — are likely to be more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination — one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit but also reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job. Transit companies that follow this practice report a surprising number of women turned down for nervous disorders.

5. In breaking in women who haven’t previously done outside work, stress at the outset the importance of time — the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.

6. Give the female employee in garage or office a definite day-long schedule of duties so that she’ll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.

7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be nervous and they’re happier with change.

8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. Companies that are already using large numbers of women stress the fact that you have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and consequently is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.

9. Be tactful in issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can’t shrug off harsh words the way that men do. Never ridicule a woman — it breaks her spirit and cuts her efficiency.

10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl’s husband or father may swear vociferously, she’ll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.

11. Get enough size variety in operator uniforms that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can’t be stressed too strongly as a means of keeping women happy, according to western properties.