newbuzz..."That is quite a fashion statement," exclaimed my boss. She was referring to the multicolored, granny square afghan that was draped around my shoulders and clipped together with a large paper clip. This is my favorite way to keep warm at work, whether I am cold from the winter wind, or the summer air conditioning. I keep my lap sized afghan slung over the back of my chair. I brought it with me from my last job of 14 years, and it is my favorite work accessory. I love it for the snugly, home-style warmth it brings when I am at work and away from the comforts of home. Just looking at the colors and the texture of the yarn sparks memories of grandmothers, old friends, and smiles. My own grandmother was a crafter. In addition to sewing, she made knitted and crocheted items. In her last years, she spent many hours making personalized afghans for each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When she died, she left a large bag of her extra yarn. Though they were just scraps, and not enough of each color to make a large item, I thought I could make slippers or mittens with the yarn, and I could not part with it. At that time, I had two young daughters and I was new in my position at a local company. I did not have the time or energy for knitting. A co-worker suggested I donate the yarn to the nursing home where his grandmother lived. He said the ladies there enjoyed making lap quilts for other residents and would gladly use the yarn for their projects. He explained that while the finished products were useful to the residents, the making of them was far more valuable to those who were able to crochet as it gave them a purpose and a mission. I gladly donated the yarn, and he delivered it to his grandmother's nursing home. Several months later, he presented me with the afghan I have today. Made with love for me, from my grandmother's own yarn, by another grandmother in her end days, I will always cherish this gift. It is a reminder of the connectedness of all human beings. I keep it at work to remember that while we work for our living, we live for our families and friends, and both can be found in the workplace as well as in our hearts and homes.

newbuzz...It is hot out there. The sun is shining and the humidity is high. I am inside in the air conditioning, and thankful for it. In addition to the heat and humidity, there are allergens out there that wreak havoc in my sinuses. The television news program is reporting expected record heat in New York for the next several days as well as many power blackouts due to the increased demand for cooling. Yet we continue to waste our resources. All of our homes are cooling while we are away at work, kids at daycare. Then when we are home, our workplaces are empty, still drawing energy for cooling. In order to reduce consumption, we will have to go back to the ways of yesterday when people lived and worked in or near their homes. Families and neighbors will need to come together to share public spaces for the common good and find ways to preserve our natural resources. We need to think outside the box for energy preservation and renewal. People must realize that every effort to create electricity to power our homes and workplaces includes aspects that are detrimental to our environment. Even wind turbines create pollution-they are made of metal, use oil and grease to turn and reduce habitat for migratory birds. Today I will be mindful of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle the precious resources at hand that make my life enjoyable.

newbuzz...My work group had a lunchtime barbecue yesterday. We had ribs, coleslaw, potato salad, watermelon, homemade desserts and party drinks with little umbrellas. The food was delicious and the opportunity to mingle and visit with our co-workers was delightful. Though I was in a downtown city setting, with an employer of more than two thousand workers, I was struck with how much this event felt like picnics with my former employer of two hundred workers in a small town of less than five thousand. People are the same everywhere. We like to eat, we like to visit, we like to feel we are a part of something. When these components are combined in the workplace, it is a win, win situation for employer and employee. Never underestimate the power of the simple pleasures. Good food and good conversation build good will and strengthen friendship bonds.