After our CIO left to climb the corporate ladder about a year ago, we finally have a replacement. (Yes, things move slowly at my place of employment.) Her replacement is about as unctuous and ingenuous as they come, full of false smiles, and glib platitudes about teamwork and our intrinsic value to the success of the company. Our department met with her last week and it was all I could do not to call her on her bullshit.
There were a problems even before this woman came on board. The region hasn’t been able to show a profit and employee dissatisfaction is at a whopping 70%. The current turnover rate is hovering at 60%, and instead of examining the root cause of these problems (a complete turnaround from where it was only a year ago), in typical Bushworld fashion, they’ve decided instead to blame the messenger. The regional CEO stood up at the last company-wide meeting and actually said it was because “they were hiring the wrong people.” Excuse me? Did you happen to notice that employee satisfaction started hitting the shit can about the same time you came on board? Talk about hiring the wrong people…
Anyway, because they’re all of a sudden so concerned about where the money’s going, last week I was thinking that the next thing to come down from on high would be the infamous time-tracking diaries. I’ve been in this situation before, and the moment that the clueless higher-ups want a written record of what you do every minute of the day, you know the end is near. Layoffs or complete outsourcing is soon to follow.
Well, I guess I am officially psychic, because that’s exactly what came down Friday—via phone conference, no less. Starting Monday we’re supposed to track what we do, how long it takes, and whom we speak to. Needless to say, nearly all of us are ready to tell them to shove their little diaries and walk out. (Which, I suppose, is exactly what they want.)
While I had originally planned on joining my fellow techs at one of their homes for a drink-n-bitch fest (even though I don’t drink) yesterday, when I woke up I decided what I needed more than anything was to simply get away for a while. I didn’t want to go to Tucson or Flagstaff; I needed new vistas, or at least places I hadn’t been dozens of times.
And let’s face it, when you’re at a loss of something to blog about, take a trip!
I looked at the map of Arizona and decided to visit Payson, Show Low, and—if I had time—Roosevelt Dam. I went online to look for restaurants in Payson, figuring I’d get there in time for lunch. Afterward, I threw my camera bag in the car and set off.
We’d gotten rain overnight and it was still overcast. I was fine with that. The temperature was in the low 80s when I left, and for the first time in several months I was able to drive with the windows down and the roof open. I’d forgotten what spunk Anderson had without the A/C running!
I headed east out of town, and was soon on the Beeline Highway heading north.
Before too long I was surrounded by green. Those of you who don’t live in the desert may not think this is such a big deal, but trust me—being away from the coast for as long as I have, I’ve really come to miss being surrounded by it. While this isn’t the same as Northern California green, it still definitely satisfies the need.
I reached Payson just in time for lunch. I ate at La Sierra. While it got good reviews on the internet, I was less than impressed. Granted, the chips, salsa and guacamole were very good, the meal itself wasn’t anything to write home about.
After lunch, I was back on the road and heading for Show Low. There really wasn’t anything there to see, but I was hoping to at least pull off to a campground somewhere and just enjoy the cool weather and relax.
About halfway to Show Low, I found one that looked promising and pulled in. I can’t tell you how nice it was to be surrounded by pines and actually be a bit chilly!
After laying back on a picnic table for about a half hour and just staring up into the sky, unwinding and watching the clouds blow past, Anderson and I got back on the road to see what further adventures lay ahead.
The view along the Mogollon Rim was amazing. While I’d been to Payson and Show Low separately once before, I’d never taken Highway 260 between them. I was blown away by the vistas.
Pretty, no?
At Show Low I turned off Highway 260 onto Route 60, that would take me south to Globe via the beautiful Salt River Canyon. Wild sunflowers were in abundance since I left Payson, but there were no spots where I could pull off and take pictures until I hit 60.
As I headed south the rich green of the White Mountains gave way to scrub oak and desert canyons.
When I stopped for the canyon pictures above, Anderson decided to start his modeling career. I was surprised at how good this photo came out. The full size version looks like it should be in a MINI brochure or something…
Later in the afternoon I finally reached the Salt River Canyon, sometimes called the mini-Grand Canyon, with its stark, sweeping vistas carved by millions of years of erosion.
There’s a recently-abandoned ghost town called Seneca about halfway between Salt River Canyon and Globe. I pulled off to give Anderson another photo op.
The green briefly returned for one last gasp before I started the slow downward trek to Globe.
The day was dragging on at this point, and by the time I reached Globe (the absolute, unwashed armpit of Arizona) I wanted nothing more than to get home. Roosevelt Dam would have to wait for another trip.
But I did make a few more quick stops on the way home when photographic opportunities presented themselves…
