Archive | Work-Life

COVID-19 By the Numbers: Part 1 – Fear

As we are all experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, we are bombarded with numbers. Working with data, i.e., numbers, is a way of life for Melissa and me. Because of that, I’ve been frustrated from day 1 that, while we are being given some numbers, we are not being given others. Further, some of the “numbers […]

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Interpreting statistical data is not for the faint hearted.  I should know; I have both taken and taught courses in statistics. I use statistics on a regular basis at work. (SPSS, anyone?)  For the most part, the average person cannot begin to understand statistics.  For many people, understanding mathematics is a challenge and, based on […]

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COVID Brain

As I write this, the world is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, this is my first post related to this universal experience. I have noticed a phenomenon soon after restrictions were placed on movement, gathering, socializing, etc., which seems to be a form of shell shock. As the gravity of the […]

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In times like these, mindless behavior is, unfortunately, the norm.  Many people are suffering from duress due to lost employment, inability to pay bills, and worry about their future.  Forced to stay at home, we are realizing that, maybe, going to work every day is something we used to take for granted.  Many of us […]

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Twilight Zone

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 16, 2020

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Mental Health, Psychology, Work-Life

“Help, I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone” go the lyrics of the 1982 song by Golden Earring. The twilight zone, where things are not as they seem, was envisioned, and brought to the small and big screen, by the imagination of Rod Serling. I hear this song in my head each time I enter the […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 16, 2020

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Mental Health, Psychology, Work-Life

Dementia is a strange disease that plays strange tricks on the minds of those who suffer from it, and sometimes, on the minds of those who interact with dementia patients.  Based on my education as a psychologist, as well as my experience with family members and friends who suffer from dementia and mental illness, I […]

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Morning Routine

Woke up, fell out of bed Dragged a comb across my head Found my way downstairs and drank a cup…and so it goes in the daily life of many people. (Hopefully, the readers of this blog know the source for these famous lyrics.) For Melissa and me, there is no downstairs and we don’t drink […]

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Even though I am certain everyone who reads David’s and my posts know the lyrics David quoted at the beginning of today’s post were written by Paul McCartney (and credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney) on the song titled, “A Day in the Life,” I am compelled to give credit where credit is due.  […]

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Herman’s Army

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 27, 2020

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

This is another post in the series of “growing old is not for sissies.” The twists and turns of aging require frequent adjustments. For Dad, the last 6-8 months have involved many. Hospital, then rehab, then relocation to a new assisted living community, adjustments to new people at the new place, adjustments to his new […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 27, 2020

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

David’s comments about all of the people involved in his parents’ care is another example of the phenomenon known as “it takes a village.”  In the case of frail, elderly parents, it is difficult for many families to assume a care giving role, particularly if family members live out of town, are employed, and/or have […]

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Neil Peart: Best of the Best

I’m writing this a week after the death of the rock and roll icon, drummer, lyricist, author, motorcyclist, and very private Neil Peart of RUSH. I’ve mentioned RUSH before in posts, and the fact that I’m a big fan, since about 1980. Neil’s impact on music is much more than his status as one of […]

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Because of David and his status as a die hard RUSH fan, I have been listening to RUSH music, at loud volumes, for over 30 years.  In addition, due to a rather bizarre set of circumstances, David and I have had the pleasure of meeting, on several occasions, one of the members of the band.  […]

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Linda Foley

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 4, 2020

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

I met Dr. Linda Anderson Foley in 1980, soon after I began graduate school. At the time I met Dr. Foley, she was dating my major professor. Their long distance romance did not continue, however, because, at the time I met her, Dr. Foley was the chairperson of the Psychology Department at the University of […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 4, 2020

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

Linda Foley was one of the first psychologists to whom Melissa introduced me because they were so close.  Though I don’t like talking about her in the past tense, I will say she was kind, smart, positive and committed to her work as a teacher, researcher, and administrator.  We had lots of fun together over […]

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The Mini – wacky experiences

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 28, 2020

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Work-Life

It happened again. Today, as I was filling my Mini Cooper S Roadster with petrol (after all, British cars use petrol, not gas!), a woman whom I do not know walked up to me and exclaimed, “That’s the cutest car I have ever seen!”. I thanked her and continued what I was doing. She began […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 28, 2020

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Work-Life

Melissa has always had fun, fast, cars since we met.  When we met, she drove a bright red Camaro – with a manual transmission that took me sometime to learn, though never master.  Next was a black Corvette which she drove for 25 years – keeping the Vette mechanic happy along the way.  Jumping to […]

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No one hires me for a happy event

Just as none of Magnus’ clients retain us for easy cases, none of our clients retain us for anything remotely happy. In order for Magnus to become involved with an attorney and his/her client, something terrible has happened. We have worked on cases involving tragic deaths, including murder and multiple fatalities in accidents; horrific burns; […]

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My mother once asked why I didn’t make a calendar of nice things instead of courthouses (which I did for 20 years).  She said she thinks only bad things happen in courthouses.  We then had a discussion about the good things that happen there such as weddings, and, most importantly, people seeking and getting justice.  […]

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The Joy of Photography, Part 2

Picking up where I left off about the joy of photography, there are at least 2 more, somewhat related, primary sources of joy in photography. The first is in taking the photos. As an aside, it is interesting to me that different terms are used for this part of photography – “taking a photograph” and […]

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Recently, David and I went on a “dream vacation” to Great Britain, the land of The Beatles, with two longtime friends.  All of us shared photos with each other, resulting in over 10,000 photos among us!  While David took professional quality photos with real (and real expensive) cameras, the rest of us busied ourselves taking […]

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