EPR Minisode 17: Happy Holidays!

Transcript

All right, Merry Christmas already. Yeah, the holidays are here. Somehow, it's very dark. It's 5:00 p.m. It's very dark. It felt like The year just started. I know and summer came in a blip, and then here we are, yeah. And lots of big changes this year. I moved, you got a new job. Yeah, yes, I also moved. You know, For that. So yeah, it's been a wild year, but it's been a really good year and we've interviewed a lot of people. We've had a lot of really, really great interviews too. So, yeah, it's a full year of having our team, official team and all that. So it's been really cool. And speaking of which, Sam is going to lead us in our Christmas minisode!

Yes, yes, exactly. Yes. Are we ready for it? Are you guys ready for it? Not even close. Let's do it. I don't know. I mean, the Thanksgiving one was so it was cute. It was cute, but man, those were hard questions. I don't know if I'm ready for really scared about this. So we should also, I guess, shout out Marley for, for coming up with this concept. Yes, that we're about to embark on. But all right. In the spirit of the holidays, we're bringing you guys a short Christmas minisode featuring a fun seasonal segment, and we're calling the Environmental Professional Secret Santa, courtesy of Marley. So instead of gifts, Nick and Laura will be choosing someone in the environmental field, a role, not a person, and giving them something they really deserve this year. Are you guys ready for these prompts? They're, they're kind of challenging. No, this is terrifying. All right, so Marley was nice. She did provide examples. So if you need help, just say you need help. Oh, we can phone a friend. OK, we can. Yeah, no, that's perfect. That's perfect. OK. All right, so question number one. For our first question, pick a role in the environmental field. It could be a regulator, a field tech, consultant, GIS analyst, NEA writer. I think you get the gist and tell us what gift they really deserve this year. Mm. I mean, every, I will say every deputy project manager. That works in the environmental field deserves time off. That's what they deserve. That's what they should get all of their project managers. Give them time, space, and energy to be apart and recoup and recover. They are often unsung heroes in projects, so many times there's lots of things that are being delegated out and every project, every big project has at least one. 

All-Star, just absolute crushes any deadline that's thrown at a client. And that is such a hard thing to do. It is unforgiving sometimes, it is uncomfortable, um, and really challenging and can really wear people out. So, for every deputy project manager out there. Enjoy the time off. Take it and don't take no for an answer. PMs be nice to them. Let them take their time off. Um, that's what I would see, that's, that's what I would do. OK. I'm gonna go with, uh, this isn't really a role, so I don't know if this messes up the, if I'm cheating, but I think every Federal government, EPA employee. Who's been furloughed, laid off, whatever deserves a new job. So we're gonna go with the opposite. They're not getting any more time off. They're going back to work somewhere, so we're gonna sprinkle them with new jobs and, um, and yeah, put them back to, to better pastures. Oh man. So, we did, we both did great there. OK, so no more questions, right, Sam? That's it. It's over. No, there's, there's 2 more actually. There's 3 more, 3 more, 2 and a bonus, but that was good. That was good. All right, moving on to the next question. Number 2, what's gift environmental professionals definitely don't want under the tree? 00 gosh, you know, there's an age-old debate here. Laura. I'm actually really curious what you think. The tree itself. Is it a real tree? Or is it a plastic tree? How do the environmental professionals feel about that? Because that's, that's one right there that I struggle with. And for me, it's kind of like, well, if you're going to have a tree. In my mind, it's like, we'll get one plastic tree one time. And just never do that again. Don't bother every year cutting a tree down, putting it in the thing, letting it die slowly over time, causing fire hazards. 

But there are very many people, even including in the professional space that we're in, who are, who would feel very differently than me. Um, but yeah, I, I would say the tree. How about that? Yeah, that's a great question and or. It's not even the question. That is a great stipulation on the question, a great way to avoid answering the question, by the way. Oh darn it, tall tactics. Uh, I see what you're doing. So I think. Oh God, it's so tough. It's this to me is kind of similar to paper plates versus washing dishes every day. You're using resources either way, um, but that plastic tree is never going anywhere ever. And then the people in the tree farming industry will tell you it is somewhat of a renewable source, not actually renewable. So I have to go with, if you really want a tree, just get the tree. Don't bother killing yourself over what anybody might say or think. Um, I personally have gone with no tree anymore because I can't decide. I mean, I love a tree, but I don't like watching a tree die in my house. I like the needles following all over the place, um, do love the smell of it, but at the same time, I'm really not sure if it is sustainable, and, you know, at this point it's just me, so there's no point. Right. And, and now that I've had more time to think about the answer, I feel like this is also a tough question because every person's a little different, you know, like. Uh, uh, when you get to a certain age, you don't really care about stuff or the stuff you have, you just bought for yourself. 

Like that's kind of like what happens as you get older, and I don't know. I don't want, I don't want like a throwaway nonsense gift. Um, I won't name names, but there may be people who share my last name, uh, who tend to be. Here's a gift you'll never use, and I've never, I won't, like I say, I don't know who would do that. Uh, but every year, maybe, maybe those. Uh, those gifts aren't really, yeah, I think that's true. I think, um, environmental professionals might prefer something they might actually use, and on top of that, they might want something that at least was sustainably sourced. Yeah. Yeah, or just like, you know, hike with them, you know, go outside under the tree. Yeah, that's what we want. Done. We haven't decided on experience. Final answer. All right, I do wanna share Marley's examples. They're really funny. So example number one is a surprise request for just one more round of revisions on December 23rd. Oh Yep. Oh, no, I have a story for that. I mean, I remember, I remember working on the St. Elizabeth's, um, Uh, DHS relocation EIS. And December 20th, the, the, the Friday before the holiday, 22nd or something like that, we're boxing up 150 of these things to send out to stakeholders. And it's 5:00 p.m. We have 2 hours to get it all done. And every person leaving the office has the same joke. They're all going, oh yeah, yeah, wrapping up Christmas presents. And, and like, you know, by the 6th time, it's like, one more person says it. We're making them help us. Like this is unbelievable. Everybody's just walking by, like, oh, that, that looks bad for you. That stinks for you. That stinks for you, man, that's. So yeah, that's exactly what that made me think of, that's great. That's hilarious. Right. OK, the 2nd to last question. 

What Secret Santa gift has every environmental professional probably gotten before? Mm. It has something, yeah, I mean. I just wanted to tell you the worst, uh, was it Yankee swap? Is that the one, white elephant? What's the one where you switch? I think it's white elephant, I think. So I, I, a Yankee actually that does not, that sounds racist. It doesn't sound great now that you say it. Yeah, but yeah, white elephant, white elephant, and um, I, I show up to this and it's my best friend, and he's like, oh, you know, um, my wife's friends are having a white elephant thing. Just buy something $20 or less, right? And we go through this whole thing and somebody. Decides like they have a bag and it's just a brown paper bag. This woman picks up the bag and pulls out a beta fish. And screams hysterically because she's terrified of fish. Doesn't drop it, which I am still to this day, like incredible, but screaming, screaming, screaming, puts it down on the table. And now there's just a fish. That someone has to take home. I'm the environmental person, so guess who gets the fish. And then a $100 tank later and unbelievable amount of supplies later. I had a beta fish for 4 years. So, um. I don't, I feel like that happens a lot, uh, or you know, trying to buy a car, someone's like, oh, you'll, you'll want the Prius or the electric model, right? That's what you want. You don't want anything else because That's what your job is. Environmentally, yeah, of course. And so there's that, there's those kinds of things, those biases, you know, for sure. Uh, and if you work with an animal, guess what you're getting a lot of. That animal, that animal, yeah. No more turtle socks. I think environmental professionals probably get mugs, like Nalgene type things. Yeah, that would be if I'm, if I'm doing prices right. Yeah, it's right, it's not Price is Right. What's the one where you guess like what's on the list? I have the Family Feud. Yeah, Family Feud. Oh, Family Feud, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, mugs, mugs and cups. That's my number one. You were, you were close to Marley's example, which I will share after. Yeah, go for it, ugly sweaters, yeah, maybe something like that. So her first example was a reusable bottle from a conference, which I thought was hilarious. 

That is funny. Yeah, that's 100%, yes, yep, yep. Every time I go to a TBAP thing or an FAP thing, they give me another TBAP mug. Yes, that's what I'm saying I have 3, yeah, swag bags for sure. And then her second example is a plant they accidentally killed because they're never home. Those are great. Oh my gosh, yeah, yeah. Oh, Riley did a good job with these. Yep. All right. And the last one, yep, last one. This one is very easy and open-ended. So last one, what's one thing you're looking forward to over the holiday break? Mm. That second word Yeah, the break, yeah. Oh, the break. Yes, yeah, it is, it is the time that you're supposed to take time to relax and Reflect on the year, you know, do, do less, you know, and sometimes we end up doing more because we go to see family and all that. But yeah, that break is a great word. See family, clean the house. Make cookies. That's OK. Let's put make cookies at the top. Yes, make cookies. It's great. That's great. I love that. Hot cocoa, you know, whatever it is, you know. As part of the break, you gotta have the, the hot chocolate and cookies. Yeah, that's perfect. I did actually I have some, uh, organic hot chocolate and vegan peppermint marshmallows just came yesterday, so I'm ready. You know, it's funny, I don't know why this made me think of this, but I remember. Getting, like, you know, 10,000 villages, have you heard of that story where it's like everything's sustainable, it's all done by local and so I, I got the hot chocolate for the holidays. I was like, oh, you know, sustainable hot chocolate, and I made it, and I can't remember who it was. Somebody asked me like what it tasted like, and I was like, it tasted like it came from 10,000 villages, and it's like it was just like dirt. Almost. It was like earthy, very earthy chocolate, and I was like, I don't know if I like this. Is that OK? Did you add sugar? 

You know, you're supposed to add sugar to brocco. I probably didn't. I probably didn't. Now that you say that, I'm almost certain I didn't, um, but all you do is you pour in the powder and then you pour in the milk or whatever, and then it's done. I don't follow the directions. I'm sure I didn't do that. So yeah, that's probably why, but it, it did not, it did not come out the way I had hoped. Which reminds me of a Christmas present from, uh, back in the day when I was a teenager and I have 3 siblings that are younger than me, all teenagers at the same time, um. Someone, uh, Santa brought us a cappuccino maker, and I wish I could go back and watch us trying to make cappuccino and trying it going, this is gross, this is gross, this is so gross. And as an adult now I know that cappuccino is gross if you don't put sugar in it. Yep. And, um. Yeah. That's great. So we're, we're both looking forward to a break, so I think that's the answer to your question. So there we go. And that's the end, right? That's what we have. And so, well, that was fun. Thanks, Marley, for another fun minisode. And where do we go from here? I mean, it's, you know, I think it's our message, right? Our closing statement on the holidays to just try to be with family, enjoy it, rest and relax. Tell good stories. Listen to good stories if you don't like talking. You know, I mean, that's the whole joy of the holiday, you know, just Try to, try to enjoy it. Yeah, put some sugar in your hot cocoa in it. Put a lot of sugar, like a lot. I needed a lot, so. All right. 

Happy holidays. Happy holidays. Happy holidays!