Unfortunately this Monday has to begin on a sad note. Susanne Spino's mother passed away on Friday. Susanne will not be attending tomorrow's executive committee meeting. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. As soon as we get her home address I'll post it on the blog.

Today is the Open House: if you were not aware of that until this moment, I personally thank you for coming out of hibernation for this exciting day!

Welcome back Sue! Hope you had a great vacation. We missed you!

A note from/to Rosanne: For those of us on the kitchen clean-up crew, the November kitchen schedule is in your mailbox. Incidentally, it appears that Rosanne valiantly fought a victorious battle against the refrigerator mutants on Friday. Today, let's all be sure to raise our glasses in honor of what will henceforth be known as the Battle of Bayard Fridge. Thanks Rosanne!

For those of us who do not drink coffee or tea: In an effort to cater to the diverse employee population here at Bayard New London, the lunch room now offers a third beverage option. If you look below the coffee pots there is now a large jar of powdered hot chocolate. Please feel free to consume. Unfortunately, in related news, my campaign to have the company install a Guinness tap down there was defeated.

Did everyone remember to set their clocks back to standard time?

Friday's Trivia Game: JUDY! was the first person to correctly e-mail me that the only two states that do not observe Daylight Savings Time are Arizona and Hawaii. Honorable Mentions go to Bethany who was the first to respond that Arizona doesn't observe DST, and to Jessica who not only got AZ and HI, but noted in her response that American territories (Puerto Rico, Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, etc.) also do NOT observe DST. Congratulations! See, we all learned something.

A note about the blog: I reluctantly accepted the reins of updating the blog on a permanent basis this morning. If you have info you think is blogworthy, please e-mail me and I'll let you know!

Thought for the Day: "The first law of dietetics seems to be: if it tastes good, it's bad for you." ~ Isaac Asimov

UPDATE: Rosanne Coffey has bravely volunteered to fight the refrigerator mutants at the close of business today. If there are any items you would like to rescue before Operation Clean House begins, please do so before 4:00. Godspeed Rosanne!

Good morning Bayard New London ... the clocks are working; time is now flying like an arrow!

Important: On occasion, people have experienced a problem with the door that leads to the lunch room. Sometimes, once the fob has been waved and the door lock clicked, the door still refuses to open. TO ALLEVIATE THIS: Wave the fob, when the lock clicks, push up on the small silver metal bar that covers the lock, then pull the door open. If this is unclear, I will be happy to demonstrate the procedure.

For the record: There have been a lot of questions regarding the clocks and I'd like to clear things up. Of the three that are positioned above the bathroom, the one on the left is our (Eastern) current time. The one in the middle is Paris, France. The one on the right is Pacific time.

Little news today. Ummm, it's Friday, how about that? Anyone have any exciting weekend plans? I'm going to the Stonington First Selectman debate tonight ... should be a barn burner.

Don't Forget to Fall Back: Saturday night at 2 a.m., we actually go back in time to relive the 1 a.m. hour as 47 states and most of Indiana return to standard time. That's right, turn those clocks back, enjoy the extra hour of sleep, and say 'Sayonara!' to daylight savings time. For added Friday fun, the first person to e-mail me with the two U.S. states that don't observe DST gets a mention on Monday's blog.

A Change: OK, at the beginning of last week when I started updating the blog for Sue (on vacation) I asked those of you with info for the blog to "visit me in my quiet cubicle desert." While I still encourage everyone to visit me - and yes, the typewriter is fixed - if you do have bloggable stuff, please e-mail it to me; it's much easier that way.

I'm telling you for the last time: Monday is the Open House. Everyone be on your best behavior or I will turn this car around!

Thought for the Day: "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." ~ Henny Youngman

It's 10:10, time for an update!
Norma Schipp from Abbey Press is in the office today.
From Kathleen: A little confusion has arisen based on mentions of the Executive Committee meeting in this blog. Managers are not required to attend this meeting (unless you're Bill or Kathleen). The Executive Committee is comprised of the following people: Bill, Kathleen, Pascal, Larry Neeb, Chris Strahan, Susanne Spino, and is chaired by David Baxendale. We mention the meeting in the blog so everyone is aware that these people will be present on November 1.

Did you know? On this day (October 27) in 1858 the 26th President of the United States, Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was born. Also born on this day, author Sylvia Plath in 1932.

A note regarding the clock contest: The contest is not limited to those people in cubicles. If you are unlucky enough to have one of those big office things, you too are welcomed and encouraged to decorate your small blue clocks. Unfortunately, offices are disqualified from the cubicle-decorating contest because, let's face it, offices are not cubicles.

A note from Andrea Carey: Andrea has an abbreviated schedule next week. She will only be in Tuesday afternoon, Thursday morning, and all day Friday. That means Andrea, you'll miss the Open House (Monday), and most of the Executive Committee meeting (Tuesday).

For your third and final reminder: Paul and Kathleen are in Montreal today and tomorrow.

It's now 10:10.

Classic Thought for the Day: "My father told me all about the birds and the bees, the liar - I went steady with a woodpecker till I was twenty-one. " ~ Bob Hope

Much to discuss today, please fasten your seat belts, put your seatbacks and tray tables in their fully upright, and locked positions. You are about to read ... Wednesday's blog!

Another reminder that the Flu Shot Clinic is Tuesday, November 1st from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Cost is $10.00 per employee. Please see Kerry Moriarty for a consent form.

WARNING: Unfortunately, management can no longer guarantee the safety of employees in the lunch room. Some items once identified as "food" have mutated into larger creatures and are currently residing in the company refrigerators. Some have even taken to using egg rolls as weapons. See-through containers are no longer see-through because of the mutants that are growing inside them. The only way we can take back control is by removing our leftover foodstuffs from the kitchen if we are not going to consume them. If anyone has food, or something that could have been previously described as food, in the refrigerators, please go and rescue it before our own authority is fully usurped.

On a (slightly) less satiric note: The cubicle- and clock-decorating contests are on! Cubicles and clocks will be judged over the coming weekend and the winners will be announced at our Open House (Monday, October 31). And the answer to your question is No, piles of paper do not count as decoration.

A Clarification: The November 1 Executive Committee meeting mentioned yesterday is happening here in New London, NOT in New York. Tickets are sold out but word on the street is scalpers have good seats going for about $200 per.

Also: A reminder that Paul and Kathleen will be in Montreal on Thursday and Friday this week. Valerie will be in NY on Thursday.

The time is now 10:10. That is all.

Thought for the Day: "Anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung." ~ Voltaire

It's Tuesday, October 25, Anno Domini 2005. And, if you believe the clocks above the bathrooms, it's 10:10 ... perpetually.

A few notes from Kathleen:

If you have noticed any production irregularities, peculiarities, oddities, or anything just plain wrong in GWT, LWC, or CD, please let Paul Bourque know so he can bring the matter(s) to Transcontinental later this week.

A reminder that next Monday the 31st is our Open House, to be followed by an Executive Committee meeting on November 1, "so if your manager looks frazzled, that's why."

The company has decided to open up our lunch room to the employees of Chelsea Groton (the bank). When you see new faces there, please be kind, welcoming, and give them your best Bayard "Hello!"

A note from Brad:

The typewriter that sits in the cubicle next to mine is out of ink. A new ribbon has been ordered, it will be in tomorrow. With the typewriter out of commission, it's even more lonely here.

Thought for the Day: "Last week the candle factory burned down. Everyone just stood around and sang, 'Happy Birthday" ~ Steven Wright

This just in from Bayard NY ...

Meg Estevez had her baby on Friday!

Yestro Luciano was born October 21 and weighed in at 8 lbs. 14 oz., 22" long. Both Meg and Yestro are doing great. Congratulations Meg!

Today is Monday, October 24, 2005.

I hope everyone had a spectralescent weekend ... I know I did!

Important Update! If you are using a space heater under your desk, KEEP IT AS FAR AWAY FROM YOUR COMPUTER TOWER AS POSSIBLE! The heaters can easily damage the machines.

Alison is back in the office, looking sharp, and ready to edit edit edit! Welcome back Alison, we missed you!

Also, please welcome Catholic Digest's new editor, Kerry Weber, to the Bayard New London team. I've got the llamas, I hope someone remembered the mustard, her initiation begins at 1.

Bill Huebsch is in the office, Kathleen is in NY. That is the third time I've written that either Bill or Kathleen is in while the other is out. Is anyone else beginning to wonder if they've got a Superman/Clark Kent thing going on?

An important message: As a courtesy to your fellow employees, would everyone please wash your own dishes after using them. There's Dawn next to the sink; let's try to keep our new kitchen as clean as possible. Also, don't forget that in our open office space, sound is amplified and tends to travel to a greater distance than that with which we are familiar and can interrupt or otherwise impede the work of others. Just a reminder to keep the volume on low. Thanks!

Thought for the day: "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." ~Oscar Wilde

It's Friday everyone, and you know what that means ... only three more days 'til Monday!!

Oh yes, it is payday as well!

A report from Gwen:
Wonderful news about Alison; she is feeling much better and will be back in the office on Monday. Also, Pat Kluepfel had her first round of chemotherapy on Wednesday and said that things went well. Way to go Alison and Pat!

Kathleen will be in New York on Monday. Also, Paul Bourque and Kathleen will be in Montreal watching the presses fly as Transcontinental turns fresh pulp into the magic that is Catholic Digest from Thursday to Sunday next week.

A reminder to all customer service personnel that should they receive a call from a customer that speaks only Spanish, please forward to Brad at x. 114.

There are a lot of fundraisers going on; don't forget to check out the fantastic products available downstairs in the lunch room.

The Stonington High School football team takes on Griswold tonight at 6:30 on the frozen tundra of Palmer Field in Pawcatuck ... Go Bears!

Have a great weekend everybody.

Thought for the day: "It's amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world everyday just exactly fits the newspaper." ~ Jerry Seinfeld

Things are pretty quiet in Bayardville today.

Bill Huebsch is out, but Kathleen is back in.

It's important to note that it is NOT necessary to RSVP to Katie for the Open House, just come to work as usual (I guess probably not in a Halloween costume). But this raises an interesting question: if we did have to RSVP, and we didn't, then we showed up for work, would we be turned away?

On top of the mailboxes are some beautiful flowers that Alison sent to us (!) in appreciation of our gifts, thoughts, and prayers; please check them out, and keep up the gifts, thoughts, and prayers for Alison's speedy recovery.

On a personal note, a lot of people have complimented me on my blog updates ... to you I offer the following word of wisdom: Thanks!
To those you haven't offered kind words, thank you for saving them up for the end of the week ... spread out the kindness so it doesn't come in all at once, I get it.

Thought for the day: "Cloud nine gets all the publicity, but cloud eight actually is cheaper, less crowded, and has a better view." ~ George Carlin

Today is October 19, 2005, or as I like to call it ... Wednesday.

Bill Huebsch is in and Kathleen is out.

Also, if you're out today, please come by and let me know so I can mention it.

(Yes, that was a joke.)

A note about our insurance: United Healthcare and Oxford have merged. Oxford is now handling the small group plans as they renew. Therefore, effective November 1, our medical insurance will be Oxford-Laurel C plan.
Oxford has been contacting doctors who contracted with UHC and claim 99 percent are also contracting with Oxford. We recommend however that you still contact your doctor to be sure they participate in Oxford plans. More details about the plan will be placed in your mailbox before November 1.

To the New London Team:
Below please find management’s responses to the questions you’ve placed in the Question/Suggestion box.

Thanks very much for your participation!

1) How is the air exchanged between our offices and the outdoors? Is it filtered and cleaned? I have noticed a lot of people coughing and sneezing. I would like to suggest also that we develop an office-wide policy in which people who are sick are expected to GO HOME. After we lap up the germs at work, we then go home and pass them around to people we love or people we have to live with whether we like them or not.

Air circulation inside the building is accomplished via a sophisticated exchange system that pulls air from the outside, cleans it while it circulates from office to office, and then expels the air. The filters are changed regularly, per manufacturer guidelines, and the system is so efficient that a person can smoke a cigar in one room and it cannot be smelled in another. But this does not mean you are allowed to smoke!

It certainly is a good idea for individuals to take time off when they are sick. Since we work more closely together now, it’s helpful to remember also the means of cold prevention: Washing hands, keeping hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth; in addition, using anti-bacterial soap can help prevent the spread of germs.

Finally, while it’s true that we undoubtedly carry germs from work to home, the reverse is true as well: Most of us freely share in both venues, interfacing with adults, delivery personnel, visitors, plants, couch potatoes of various types, teenagers, small boys, puppies, little girls, cats, and – possibly, even – a ferret or two. Some of these parties, particularly the children, have been known to carry around a couple of germs themselves.

2) The kitchen is too cold. Please make it comfortable.

We have asked the bank to raise the thermostat settings in both the café and the conference room.

3) We need a coat rack upstairs. I will not leave my winter coat here unprotected.

George will be installing a rack in the alcove by Sue Cameron’s cubicle (close to customer service) in the near future.

4) Can we install a wireless doorbell outside the door by the back stairwell? It might prevent accidental fire alarms.

Bert is looking into the cost of this option. It is a fine idea

5) Can we install a fan in the ladies room? Some of us have stage fright. (Three letters of this type were placed in the suggestion box.)

Bert is exploring this possibility with the bank.

6) I think coffee mugs should be removed from the cafeteria and instead replaced with either travel mugs with covers or Styrofoam mugs with covers. Every day I see coffee spills and drips in the stairwell. I have even seen coffee splattered on the copy machine by the stairwell door. People either need to be more careful or invest in travel mugs.

Thank you for encouraging us to better preserve our surroundings. Each of us is responsible for cleaning up after ourselves, and this friendly reminder is appreciated.

7) Can we have a cabinet in the women’s room with doors to keep Band-Aids, toilet paper, towels, personal items, etc.?

Yes, we can. We will begin looking for something suitable, and we’ll follow up with that as soon as possible.

Thanks to everyone for the great questions!


Thought for the day: "Buying the right computer and getting it to work properly is no more complicated than building a nuclear reactor from wristwatch parts in a darkened room using only your teeth." ~ Dave Barry

Good morning all. It appears that our old nemesis Dr. Low Pressure System has descended upon the region after being exiled for a mere two days. Curses!

Of important note this morning: Bill Huebsch is in today (10/18) and tomorrow (10/19). After this week, he should be around for a good two weeks straight.

Also, Kathleen will be in the NY office tomorrow.

Sue Cameron is on vacation this week so I will be updating the blog. If there is anything you need mentioned, please don't hesitate to visit me in my quiet, cubicle desert.

Brad

Thought for the day: "All I ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work." ~ Steve Martin

Good news about Alison. She was released from the hospital on Sunday. There was no blockage and very little damage. She will probably be back to work next week. What fantastic news to start off the week!

Ronald Albert, Steve Mueller, and Michael O'Hearn are here today for a LWC meeting. Bill will be in Tues and Wed only this week.
--Sue

I called Alison's father Saturday morning. She had some tests Friday but they couldn't find any blockage. This is probably good news. She will be in L&M for a few more days, and on Saturday she was still in CCU. We sent flowers from the company. I'll do my best to keep you posted. If you'd like to send her a card at home or the hospital, here's the addresses:

Alison Berger
c/o L&M Hospital
365 Montauk Avenue
New London CT 06320

Alison Berger
198 Benham Road
Groton CT 06340

Update on Alison from Dan Connors:

Deb just got back from L&M. She talked with Alison for a while. Alison is alert and says she is feeling better and is resting comfortably. When Deb left, Alison was on her way to the cardiac catheterization department for some tests. Alison said if any procedures are needed they might move her to Yale-New Haven.--Dan

I'll wait until Monday before sending flowers in case she is moved.--Sue

Alison Berger's father, Jim, just called with some sad news. Alison had a serious heart attack last night and was taken by ambulance to L&M Hospital. She will need further tests to determine the amount of damage etc. I have Jim's phone number so Gwen and I can keep in touch with him. Please keep him and Alison in your prayers.
--Sue

"Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear."
--Anonymous


Our former coworker and friend, Jean Barrett, will be visiting Barbara for lunch tomorrow. Hopefully she will take a tour of the building and give us an opportunity to say hi to her.

There is a coat rack in the kitchen near the soda machine. Please feel free to use it if convenient. More hangers will be purchased soon.

The Flu Shot Clinic is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1st from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

The cost to all Bayard employees is $10.00. If you pay by check, please make the check payable
to Bayard as they are covering the additional $10.00 fee for everyone as well as the hourly nurse
fees.

Please see me for consent forms (which need to be handed in prior to your flu shot) and an
information sheet.
--Kerry

I'll be out Friday. Have a wonderful long weekend everyone!
--Sue

Nick Wagner, editor of RTJ & TP, will be in New London Oct. 31-Nov 3.

A suggestion box/canister has been placed in the receptionist area. Please feel free to submit your suggestions or comments. They will be reviewed regularly by Bill and Kathleen.

We just received an update on Pat Kluepfel. Her cancer wasn't contained in the uterus but has spread to the lymph nodes. She will need 6 treatments of chemotherapy which should begin in about three weeks. She and Neil have a positive outlook but of course are concerned. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Andrea is on a video shoot today so won't be in the office. She is shooting a new video by Kathy Chesto on the Beatitudes for sale this winter.

More flu shot information:
I have consent forms for L&M's flu shot clinic to be done here at our offices. Please let me know if you plan to have a flu shot. Bayard has generously offered to pay the fees for the nurse and will also pay half the cost for the flu shots. Thank you! So our (employee) cost is $10.00 each. The date of the clinic is TBD.
--Kerry


In honor of Customer Service Week (Oct 3-7), there is a small token of appreciation from Bayard in your mailbox.

I have contact L&M about a flu shot clinic. Right now they are not open to the public but Occupational Health has contacted me about having one here. They will not have a full supply of vaccines until after October 9th. I will set up a day some time in late October or early November because it is recommended that people receive flu shots late in the season so that they last longer. I will also refrain from scheduling this on a Friday as many people take Fridays off. There will be a cost for the flu shot. More details to follow.
--Kerry

Kathleen will be in St. Louis from Oct 2 – 4 for NCDC. We will be having an official Open House for Bayard on 31 October. Pascal will be here, and a tribute will be paid to Neil and Pat Kluepfel.

Everyone in the magazine division survived the budget meetings.

Jean-Pierre asks that we thank everyone in the New London office for their kind hospitality during his stay for GWT planning.



Welcome Kathie (Silva). Nice seeing you again!


Good morning! Hope everyone had a good weekend. There seems to be a lot of colds or allergies going around. Please wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer to keep from spreading to others. An extra glass of OJ wouldn't hurt either.


Sorry for the delay in blogging. I tried to write something Friday but the blog website was down all afternoon for maintenance.