Archive | Getting Through Life and Work

Con Mucho Gusto

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 16, 2022

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology, Travel

David and I have written in previous posts about one of our pet peeves, replying to “thank you” with “no problem.” We always get a little miffed when someone says “no problem” because we don’t think there is a need to mention any sort of problem when someone is being thanked for doing something. I […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 16, 2022

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology, Travel

I do not speak Spanish.  Living in south Florida all these years has not been enough for me to learn more than some basics and I depend on Melissa when we find ourselves in Spanish speaking countries, or places.  But, it didn’t take me long to catch on in Costa Rica that the locals, Ticos […]

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Vacations

At the time of this post, I am likely on vacation. After missing the opportunity to take a vacation for a couple of years, Melissa and I have been looking forward to it. The visit to this destination, Alaska, was delayed from our original plan and thus, we’ve been working on and revising the plans […]

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I will begin this post by saying I love to work!  One of my best friends, Bob, was my office mate (and co-conspirator) in graduate school.  He frequently referred to me as a “workaholic” because, invariably, when he called to find out what I was doing, I was working or studying.  I love my job […]

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Mutual Admiration Societies

There are relatively few people with whom I share a mutual admiration. Don’t get me wrong: I like a lot of people and there are some people who like me, but that is different than my definition of a mutual admiration society. The first person who comes to mind is the first person who used […]

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One thing that comes to my mind about Mutual Admiration Societies is realizing that one is in one.  What I mean is, we often get acquainted with people we admire, from afar or up close.  The part that is different about mutual admiration societies is the “mutual” part.  This may not be immediate.  It may […]

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Live Your Life Like Someone Left the Gate Open

I don’t remember where I saw this quote for the first time, but I instantly liked it: “Live your life like someone left the gate open.” I guess there are multiple interpretations of this sentence, however, my view of it is that, as David’s late mother used to say, we should try to “have fun” […]

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For reasons I won’t go into, the timing of my reading of Melissa’s post was, well, timely.  We sometimes have to remind ourselves, and each other, to have fun, find fun where we can, and to leave that gate open to get out and enjoy what there is to enjoy in life.  It might be […]

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Share The Positives

I observed Melissa do something today that is worth comment. She complimented our clients for the professional and supportive ways they have worked with us, and as a team, to prepare for a jury research project. The clients seemed taken aback to hear a compliment, and they were surprised their behavior was noteworthy. It is […]

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I believe in giving credit where and when credit is due.  When I notice something good, I usually say something about it.  In fact, I try, diligently, to compliment people and situations more than I complain.  I have found complaining rarely results in positive attitude or behavior change.  (If you don’t believe me, ask yourself […]

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The Confounded Bridge

The confounded bridge! This expression appears to have originated in the 1973 song, “The Crunge,” by Led Zeppelin (on the Houses of the Holy album). At the end of the song, either John Bonham or Robert Plant asks, (music historians disagree on whose voice is being heard) “Where’s the confounded bridge?”. This is a reference […]

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This post confounded me enough that it had to percolate in my brain before I could write it.  Melissa’s knowledge of things musical is vast.  With her piano and bass guitar training, as well as her lifelong enjoyment of listening to recorded and live music, she is much better versed in musical terminology.  At least […]

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Old School

In many ways, I, and people like me, are considered “old school” or “retro.” Someone recently complimented me on an Alice Cooper t-shirt I was wearing, saying he really liked its “old school” look. I still use expressions from “back in the day,” such as groovy, psychedelic, cool (instead of hot, meant to describe something […]

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I don’t know when a part of one’s life, bell bottom pants for example, take hold as the norm such that later they become old school.  And, while Melissa is more retro that I am in terms of fashion, etc., she’s newer school in keeping up with modern rock music than am I.  She does […]

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Big Family

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 14, 2022

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Psychology, Work-Life

I come from a big family. My dad, Park, was 1 of 17 children and my mom, Leola, was 1 of 8 children. As best as I can recall, I have 38 first cousins and an even larger number of first cousins, once removed, second cousins, and more. My dad was the proverbial middle child; […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 14, 2022

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Psychology, Work-Life

In contrast to Melissa, my family was about average.  Dad was an only child, Mom had 2 siblings.  There are some cousins, aunts, uncles, great aunts, etc., but when I learned about her parents’ families, I was blown away.  I mean 17 children!!!  From what I know, her grandmother was a tough woman who, in […]

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Fix it as Soon as it Breaks

I am an ardent fan of the maxim, “fix it as soon as it breaks.” I have never known anything that fixed itself, whether it is a leaky faucet, a flat tire (or tyre, on all the British cars I have owned), or a faulty electrical outlet. Admittedly, I am not good at fixing things. […]

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Homeownership seems to involve an endless “to do” list.  There is always something to do.  Sometimes, the to dos are small items, easy to resolve.  Sometimes, expertise is required, or at least more expertise than I possess.  Or strength – some fixes take more expertise and muscle than I have, or any one person has.  […]

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