Hi! I’m Kate

I am Kate, a former Human Resources executive who is transitioning from a very hectic work life to something else. I am not sure what that “something else” looks like.  Some call it retirement, but I’m not sure about that yet.  I want more variety in my life and more fun. I have been doing some training and other HR consulting work. It’s amazing how much fun it is when it doesn’t consume your life. Freshens your perspective.

Writing has been on my bucket list for a long time.  There are views to share and mews (whining – isn’t that what a cat does when she mews? or perhaps a version of muse?) to be written. I thought about a blog as a place to showcase professional work. After years of writing policies, procedures and “thou shall not” memos, I love this new freedom to write what I please and what has real meaning to me. What is REALLY fun is that other folks like to read my stuff.

I have a very deep-rooted love of all animals but there are only cats residing inside my house. They have taught me some very valuable lessons in life. Visit Sassy Cats on Fridays to meet my friends.

Human Resources work is very near to my heart.  I plan to share some interesting, fun and – at times – bewildering experiences and observations.  No confidences will be violated……………

The rewards from writing this blog have been a lot more gratifying than I had ever imagined.  Bloggers are a caring, supportive community who provide tons of good coaching and ideas.   I have been inspired by some really great writers who are teaching me a lot.    I am learning more about the internet, computers, programs, downloading, uploading, Photoshop, etc., than I ever would have in any other way!   This is a wonderful way to transition into “the next stage” of my life – growing, learning, and feeling really good about it!

Welcome to my world!

107 thoughts on “Hi! I’m Kate”

  2. Hi Kate, I saw your comment on Kathy’s SMART site and I like how you said you said blogging started out as one thing and morphed into what it is now. Also how enjoyable blogging would be. I have subscribed to your fun, interesting site:) Erica

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  4. If I want to be able to breathe without 24/7 medication, I can only admire cats from afar (or online). I can only be around them for a short while, even medicated, so I’ve always been a Shih Tzu Mom (allergic to most breeds of dogs as well). Like most of the Moms of human babies, I wouldn’t have traded ANY of the dear little spirits who have graced my life for a million dollars, and would fight to the death to protect TinkerToy. Seriously.

    Nice to meet you. I have spent a great deal of my life in the helping profession myself – but, as *THE* ADD Poster Girl, I could NEVER handle all the admin required for human resources (or the hours – confirmed nite owl due to a bodacious sleep-disorder as well).

    I got here from Mollie’s feature interview on Bacon’s blog – Tink dragged me! 🙂
    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
    – ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
    “It takes a village to transform a world!”

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      • Well, we’re ALL allergic to work, it seems. 🙂

        I could probably find another dog breed that didn’t trigger an allergic reaction but, since I wouldn’t want to have to give away or rehome another dog EVER, I’m not taking the chance. I’ve been a confirmed Shih Tzu Mom for over 30 years now.

        I adore everything about Shih Tzus and have since I ran across my first puppy way back in grad school. (Amend that to everything but the grooming required – lol – not quite of the adoration list!)

        btw – a friend is a Main Coon home breeder and, oddly enough, with medication in my system, I can stay at her house for a couple of days before the wheezing begins. Especially remarkable because her guest sleeping loft is right over the area where momma & her babies live.

        I can’t touch them, however or it’s over – and her house is *spotless* (which mine would never be – especially hate the vacuum!)
        xx,
        mgh

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  5. It’s nice to meet you! I’m glad Jill introduced us. It’s easy to forget, but it’s true that we need to keep learning and seeking out those learning opportunities. I agree blogging can be a fun way to do that while meeting new people from all over the world.

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  7. Hi Kate, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I just left a comment on one of your posts but I found your blog through In My Cluttered Attic and wanted to stop by to check it out. I look forward to reading your posts. ~Steph

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  12. I recently discovered your blog and am so glad I did! It looks wonderful. Looking forward to following you and reading much more!

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  15. Thanks for the visit. I really did not expect a return from you. I don’t think that I left a comment on your blog when I hastily decided you were a good fit for one of my primary interests- cats.

    There are sizable numbers of posts about cats on my blog as well as dogs. So bloggers that have pets and who have interesting blogs are the ones where I’ll leave a comment.

    I will enjoy reading about and seeing photos of your cats. I really like your header. I have a brownish tabby. Don’t tend to see that many tabbies that have the coat that looks more brown than gray.

    Regards, Yvonne

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  16. I go back to the days of a Personnel Dept which, apart from the obvious hiring/firing, intervened when necessary by representing staff against management. Then came Human Resources which, in my minimal experience, represented management against staff. That’s one huge shift in philosophy! 🙂

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    • I always thought of my job as championing the employee. If you have happy employees, business is good. That doesn’t say they are always right. The sad part is that the employees who ended up in my office were typically people who were not happy in their jobs. They weren’t bad people, just a bad fit. At employee’s requests I negotiated separations that were beneficial for both. There are many days that I had to fight the uppers or at least remind them that they were being counterproductive. It’s a job that has a lot of conflict and not everyone is good at conflict.

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  18. Hi, Kate! Thanks for making a stop at one of my comments. I am/have been a cat-lover for many years. But each of our cats lived 17+ years, with Priscilla going until 21. Six, all told. Now we house-cat-sit for family. That helps the holes left in our hearts when each cat left us for Rainbow Bridge. I like what you write; please look at my memoriesofatime. I have already written about cats: “ABOUT CATS: LIFE WITHOUT CATS?” You’ll enjoy. Thanks.

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  19. Hi Kate: Ray and I have just been advised that you are following our blog. Thank you! That is so nice however, I have to tell you that I do the writing. Ray is pretty hopeless with the keyboard due to both the size of his feet and the fact that he is a clutz! He does give me an ongoing supply of possible Post topics though. As for retirement???? Yes I’ve been there for quite a few years now and I honestly don’t know how I managed with a full time job as there is just so much stuff to do! 🙂 Colin.

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  20. Aha, another extrovert (like my husband who was also an HR person in his second career (EAP counselor). Me, I’m the classic introvert. Numbers are my thing, not people. I like blogging because its something introverts can do and while sounding like extroverts.

    I too wrote lots of techie stuff and mine were filled with statistics. Enjoyed your Ninja pond lady piece. I tried a little pond once with no luck.

    My SIL has a big pond he built with his tractor. The kids swim there and the frogs live there. You might say he built a swimming hole.

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    • I hope I don’t shock you but I’m an introvert too. I have no problem confronting people and I enjoy them but I like animals better than people and need a good dose of “me time.”

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  24. I’ve only read one of your posts so far on this blog, but I am quite familiar with your name on Nancy Hatch’s Spirit Lights the Way. However, today I was going over her list of Flyby’s and saw my fave grumpy lady cartoon. I decided to wing on over and was hooked by your post on retirement. Now, all I have to do is find the “Follow” button.

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  25. I am hooked. I love it here. You have written things I think all the time! I am not a writer. I will leave the beautiful, funny, poignant words to you. I am so happy to have found you. Made possible through Nancy’s sidebar Worth a Flyby.. 🙂 I will have to thank her.

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  27. I love your blog . I love to write and have started a blog but i am very new to this blogging this . I will start my career in HR after completing my studies . Hope to learn from the experiences and knowledge you share on this blog .

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  29. A new award, I am Part of the WordPress Family Award, has recently appeared on WordPress and I have nominated you for it. You can read about it on my blog today.

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    • Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am always humbled that anyone actually reads my blog. I also lurk on your blog. You have taught me a lot about Israel, the customs and the history there. All in a well-written interesting way.

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  33. My Mom (judy earth-rider.com) sent me the link to your blog. She thought I would like it since you sometimes post about your cats. I have 2 a tortie (black, orange and white) and an all black Hemingway.

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  34. Cats and Human Resources, my kind of stories I love to read or listen to, a common thread between us. Lucy and Maurice are my adorable companions. I do have an HR background and sometimes I jokingly say “inhumane resources”. Yikes. Glad to know all about you… getting to like you… la la la …

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  35. Hi! Found you through Mixedupmeme. Re your ‘retirement’ – I like what you said. Can I put in a bid for trying to change the world? 🙂 Sure needs it. You sound potentially like a boomer whose last interest is to lay around on a beach somewhere – you want to do something ‘meaningful’ and ‘relevant’ – right? I have a few “pet” causes myself – You can tell from my blog probably – mental health is one area I care passionately about – if you pick something you feel passion for, you’ll make a great contribution, I know…
    http://www.thinkinganddreaming.ca

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  37. Hi Kate – I just wanted to let you know I have given you The Reader Appreciation Award. That’s because I want you to you are truly appreciated for your great blog. Congratulations and Check out the basic rules on my new blog. 🙂

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  39. Pingback: So, maybe it is nepotism! | Good Old Girl

  42. I think ur blog writing is an addiction as well… Started following your blog. Hope to see you knock on my blog as well. I will be back for more of ur writing! 🙂

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  43. I found your FP post, very nice. I have cats, too, and often blog about them. We have 3 indoor cats and 11 (!) outdoor cats who have been dumped or who are feral. We have gotten them all fixed and provide as good a home as we can considering they live outdoors. They have beds, shelter, food, toys, not too bad of a life. I’ll check back again because I love cat posts.

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  48. Kate,
    Good luck finding your special “something else”! It’s always exciting to try something new. I worked in HR with a degree in labor relations but left at age 39 to go back to grad school to become a speech-language pathologist. I’ve been an SLP for 15 years now and love working with children & their families.
    Best wishes on your journey!
    Sarah

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    • Labor relations! Good grief! That is the most confrontational discipline under the HR umbrella. I don’t blame you for changing paths. When I worked for a large company, the labor folks would tend to fry out after a time.

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  51. Hi Kate,

    I nominated you for the Liebster Award, but I can make it the Versatile Blogger. They are exactly the same, only spelled differently.

    These are the rules:

    *Thank the blogger who bestowed the award.
    *Pass it on to five other bloggers, who must have fewer than 200 followers.
    *Notify the nominees.
    *Display the award on your blog.

    Looking forward to more of your posts.

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  53. Hi Kate, I am really enjoying getting to “know you” via the blog. We have a new puppy named Maggie. She wants our cat to like her. Our cat doesn’t even like us! I look forward to more of your posts. Mitzi

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