Archive | Life Outside of Work

Altruism & Helping Behaviors

Helping is one component of altruism. Other components are an orientation toward other people, instead of to oneself, and a generally prosocial outlook (as opposed to an antisocial outlook). Most theories of altruism include the component of enhancing other people’s welfare at some cost to oneself (in terms of time, money, etc.). Altruistic people are […]

Continue Reading

I was, for a couple of years, a Boy Scout, as well as a Cub Scout prior to the Boy Scouts membership.  Though I didn’t stick with Boy Scouts too long because music, band – baritone horn, took over my free time.  But, I was a scout long enough to learn about helping others.  The […]

Continue Reading

This Nickel

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 8, 2022

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights

Last night I heard a blues song in which the songwriter wrote lines like “what if this wall could talk,” “what if this door knob could tell who turned it,” and “what if these shoes could talk.” All of the lines led me to wonder who/what saw something, illicit, of course. In the vein of […]

Continue Reading

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 8, 2022

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights

David and I have been writing our blog for over 9 years and I am fearful that his selection of this topic is akin to Fonzie “jumping the shark.”  Let’s hope not!  I don’t have much to say about the 1947 nickel  David found in the coin tray, but I do find it strange that […]

Continue Reading

Our “U.N.” of shopkeepers

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 29, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Travel, Work-Life

A cousin of mine recently asked me if I missed living in our hometown, Fort Myers, Florida. I answered that, although Fort Myers will always be my hometown, it has not been my home since I left for college in 1976. She seemed surprised, then she said, “Well, you lived in the same house for […]

Continue Reading

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 29, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Travel, Work-Life

Variety is the spice of life.  And, the melting pot of south Florida is full of spice.  There are fewer native Floridians in Florida than ever with residents from all over the country and world.  Who can blame them?  The snow birds from Canada and New York are one thing, and many are seasonal.  But, […]

Continue Reading

Having Anyone over for Dinner is an Event

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 22, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Work-Life

David and I have hosted lots of parties, including dinner parties. Most of our guests think we are excellent hosts and they compliment us on our menu choices, meal preparation, and presentation. Even when we have guest for a simple meal of hamburgers cooked on the grill, we try to make it a special occasion […]

Continue Reading

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 22, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Work-Life

As we are now catching up on years of missed television in the form of Downton Abbey, I will start by saying our dinners are not like theirs!  First of all, none of our parties require formal dress, butlers, footmen, or maids.  Despite our usual casual attire, Melissa typically has a razor sharp focus on […]

Continue Reading

The World is Round, I’ll Get There

For inexplicable reasons, I randomly remember various tag lines from television commercials and other types of advertising. Many times I can’t recall the product or service being advertised, but I remember the tag line or catch phrase. One of those I recall is “The world is round, I’ll get there.” The commercial involved a hippie […]

Continue Reading

I’ve heard David use the expression, “The world is round, I’ll get there” on many occasions, but I never knew, until reading his part of this post, its origin.  Before commenting on this quote, I will point out the amazing impact the TV commercials that aired in childhood had on us.  I can still recall […]

Continue Reading

Completion Satisfaction

I played hooky this morning for a couple of hours in order to complete some tasks on my to do list. These were things that had been lingering at home for some time and I finally had the parts in hand to do the repairs, thanks to a big trip to Home Depot and several […]

Continue Reading

Hooray for David in, as I like to say, “gittin’ er dun”!  It’s always nice to accomplish tasks on the “to do” list.  As David said, our professional lives do not offer the same sense of satisfaction that comes from other people’s jobs. Our work takes a long time to complete, and often, our clients […]

Continue Reading

Have Something to Live for

Have something to live for. It doesn’t matter what it is; having a goal or an event to look forward to is enough to keep most people moving ahead, even in times of strife. For some people, the anticipation of their next golf game among friends brings happy thoughts until game day happens. For other […]

Continue Reading

Having an interest in something or some things that challenge one, or are intrinsically rewarding, is not as difficult to do as perhaps, saving the world from polio or malaria (goals of the Gates Foundation).  But, having interests, an outlet for mind and body, is a positive thing.  I recently had someone, for whom English […]

Continue Reading

Things Easy for You Are Real Hard for Me

As anyone who knows me soon realizes, I am not a “normal person.” I never have been and I never will be. My mom used to marvel that, despite the many differences between people my age and me, I had the ability to make, and keep, friends. I have usually been accepted by people who […]

Continue Reading

I think sometimes about how the life Melissa and I share personally and professionally is built on trade offs of strengths and weaknesses.  Long ago, a client/friend remarked “David must be here to carry Melissa’s luggage.”  We were attending a conference where she was speaking, and this client/friend had invited her to speak.  He was […]

Continue Reading

Business as Usual

Business as usual is a phrase that typically means “everything is normal.” Except that, sometimes, it is not. And sometimes, it is normal in one place, not another. Because our work happens in the trial venue, we have to adapt to what is happening there. It might be normal there, and not here. An example, […]

Continue Reading

Although I have not lived full time in Fort Myers since soon after my high school graduation in 1976, it will always be “home” to me.  My family came to Fort Myers from Wakulla County, Florida in the 1920s, almost 100 years ago.  The images of many local landmarks and some of my favorite places […]

Continue Reading

Things Hard for You Are Easy for Me

Everyone is different from everyone else. Some people find it easy to do certain things, while other people have to work hard to accomplish a particular task, and others can’t do it at all. It just depends. I perform high level work, in a challenging occupation, that most people cannot do, while some people who […]

Continue Reading

I remember my mother quoting an elderly neighbor, who became a good friend of hers, saying “Mrs. Beach says, isn’t it good we are not all alike, life would be so boring.”  Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and it is the combination of peoples’ strengths that move society forward, if not as a whole, in […]

Continue Reading

Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes