Ever have one of those days … you know, the toast burned, the gas light went on when you started the car, you forgot to pack a lunch.

Sometimes it takes a really incredible story to make you STOP and appreciate all that you have.

This is one of those stories from the Australian X Factor show.

Please take time to watch.

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For something we spend half our life doing, a lot of us are pretty awful at sleeping. A few tips for falling asleep faster, getting quality rest, and waking up easier in the morning …

✓ Invest in a comfortable bed and bedding.
✓ Avoid eating spicy or junk foods at night, and lay off the booze.
✓ Exercise in the morning or afternoon – not at night – can help deepen your sleep.
✓ Cool off. Lowering body temperature makes a huge difference in how easy it is to fall asleep.
✓ Get the right amount of sleep. Everyone’s different. Find out what you need … and get it.
✓ Learn to power nap, then calculate the best time to nap and crank one out regularly.
✓ Develop a bedtime routine. It’ll help you wind yourself down to get the best sleep possible.

– Condensed from LifeHacker.com

We’ve also found that if you stare at tropical fish for a few seconds, you’ll doze right off.

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Have you ever got away in the middle of winter to somewhere hot?
Prior to 2004, I never had but thanks to our incredible partners at Sandals / Beaches resorts this will be my 10th trip to the Caribbean.

Imagine the worst headache you’ve ever had ….and as you step off the plane in Montego Bay…the headache simply melts away like a snowman on a sun-soaked Jamaica beach.

Even though it’s just a week, the time away can be just what the doctor ordered with the sun rising at 5 am and setting at 5 pm. 12 solid hours of sunshine everyday really helps lift your spirits.

Rich and I will be broadcasting live from the Sandals Grande Riviera next Monday to Friday and on the final day we’ll draw the name of someone who could spend a week in Jamaica.

EZ Rock Platinum VIP’s can enter Bonus codes or spend some of their points for extra chances to qualifiy …so why not become a VIP right now.

Good Luck from Gary & Rich

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BAD PARROT

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.

Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to ‘clean up’ the bird’s vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot.
The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even more rude. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.

Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arms and said “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”

John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude.

As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke-up, very softly, “May I ask what the turkey did?”

Happy Christmas from Rich and Gary

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Can’t we get past this?
Just to be clear, I’ve always called it Christmas.
At our house, you give Christmas gifts, you put up Christmas lights, you decorate a Christmas tree, you wish people a Merry Christmas. However, it seems there are still loud voices that need to wish everyone ‘Happy Holidays’, or call that tree a ‘Holiday Tree’…silly, right? And there’s no end to what’s being attacked/adjusted/made politically correct.
Did you see this? (Yes, it’s a joke, but it makes the point:)
Some Special interest group somewhere, probably thinks this was a good idea:

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You ever notice that Muppets sometimes look like real – life folks.

Here’s some examples ….
Pepe The Prawn and Actor Steve Buscemi

CTV’s Craig Oliver and Sam The Eagle

Dr Bunson Honeydew & Al Roker

Big Bird And The Queen

Miss Pigggy & Tori Spelling

And finally Janice and Fashion designer Donatella Versace

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You don’t wanna turn into this guy at work. Yikes!

To stay physically and emotionally healthy, here are some tips:
1. Ask For What You Need – if something’s getting in the way of your doing your job, don’t bottle up the frustration.
2. Don’t Get Stuck In The Middle – If you end up caught between 2 immediate supervisors arguing over what’s most important, time to pay a visit to HR.
3. Avoid Office Politics – avoid potentially explosive situations.
4. Prioritize Your Work – take on the big stuff (the important stuff!) first.
5. Seek Clarity – have a clear job description of your responsibilities and the expected outcomes.
…now, let’s watch the guy freak out on the copier again, and be glad we don’t work with him!

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Check out these creative pumpkins. Some amazing faces here.
And be ready to be scared. Remember, we warned you!

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When Jim Szilva started the St Charles food drive 26-years ago …he probably had no idea that he’s still be involved with it.
This week, the former Cardinal spent the week on a Sudbury Transit bus and helped collect an INCREDIBLE 121, 428 cans for the Sudbury Food Bank.

After the rally at the school, EZ Rock’s Angela Gemmill spoke to Jim.

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10 Things Your Boss Won’t Tell You
(From Woman’s Day)
—These can go a long way to help you, day-in day-out —

1. What you do outside of work matters.
Your boss doesn’t watch your every move — unless you give her reason to — but she is keeping tabs on you. Ask yourself, “Would I want my boss to read this?” every time you post something on Facebook or any another social media site, suggests Edith Onderick-Harvey, president of Factor In Talent, an Andover, Massachusetts-based corporate consulting firm. “Be careful about how much you share about your weekend or what a jerk [you think] your coworker is,” she urges. Otherwise, your boss may start seeing you in a less-than-professional light, and that could carry over to how she values you as an employee.

2. Your attitude is as important as your assignments.
Like ‘em or not, office politics matter — both day to day, and in the long run. “What your manager won’t tell you is that what may be even more important than completing tasks and following directions is your ability to work with her and your coworkers,” says Onderick-Harvey. Even if you’re getting the job done, if your coworkers find you to be abrasive, rude or just unpleasant, it will be hard for your boss to promote you.

3. Speak up!
Don’t be afraid to make yourself heard. The most valuable employees take initiative, says Patty Briguglio, president of MMI Public Relations in Raleigh, North Carolina. “I like having an employee who isn’t afraid to show her personality,” she says. “I don’t want someone to just fill a spot at a desk.” If you want a promotion, ask for it, says Briguglio. Also, let your boss know what you need to succeed, urges workplace consultant Steve Langerud, director of professional opportunities at DePauw University, whether it’s training, time or money.

4. Follow our lead.
If you’re not sure whether your boss prefers to communicate in a meeting or via email or phone, ask, suggests career and executive coach Lauren Mackler. Also ask what she wants to be consulted on and what she prefers you handle on your own. And take cues from her personality, says Mackler: If your boss is introverted, don’t keep pushing for face-to-face time.

5. Toot your own horn.
Your boss can’t possibly keep tabs on what every employee is doing every day — it’s up to you to let him know! “When you wrap up a project, send a congratulatory email to your team and CC your boss,” suggests Mackler. You might also send him a monthly overview of the projects you’ve completed and other accomplishments, and have these month-to-month emails on hand at your annual performance review. And speaking of performance reviews…

6. We don’t like performance reviews, either!
“They’re just as painful for your boss as they are for you,” says Daniel Debow, co-CEO of Rypple, a web-based feedback tool. “But you can help make them easier.” Rather than trying to recall the details of a project from 10 months ago on the day of your review, keep track of your successes as they happen, suggests Debow. You should also try to connect with your boss regularly throughout the year — not just on review day.

7. Dress like you mean business.
“Dress every day as though it’s possible you’ll be called into the company president’s office for a meeting,” urges former business manager Sue Thompson, a consultant and speaker with Set Free Life Seminars. Even though your manager has more important things to focus on than your clothes and your business etiquette, if you fall short in either category you’re just asking not to be promoted — and you may be on the verge of a very uncomfortable conversation.

8. We appreciate positive feedback, too.
If you make your boss look and feel good, you’ll reap the rewards, promises Stefanie Smith, head of executive consulting and coaching firm Stratex. Generally your boss is the one doing the encouraging and nurturing, but you can turn the tables to your advantage. Compliment your boss in front of other people, suggests Smith. Just be sure to keep your kind words sincere — and brief.

9. Be a problem solver.
“Most employees bring up problems and expect the boss to solve them,” laments Jennifer Prosek, CEO of consulting firm CJP Communications. “The employees who stand out are a part of the solution.” If you’re struggling with a project or a client and aren’t sure what to do next, present your boss with three possible options. Even if she instructs you to do something entirely different, she’ll appreciate that you’re thinking ahead.

10. Take responsibility for your actions.
Whether you’re running late (“The traffic was terrible!”) or botched a big time project (“Well, she sent the email late!”), don’t try to push the blame elsewhere. Instead, acknowledge your mistake and take care not to repeat it. “Even if you’re a nice person with decent skills, I can’t promote you if you refuse to accept the blame when you mess up,” says Deborah Becker, the owner of a State Farm Insurance agency in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. And when you make a mistake, keep your apology concise. “The phrase ‘I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,’ goes a long way.”

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