Well that sure was a week. It's a good thing I "get by with a little help from my friends." If I don't say it enough, please know I really appreciate the comments, virtual hugs, and sharing by all of you via the comments. Once again we have reached Friday. I've been capturing all the little things that surround my life in questions each week and invite you to play along.
What's top of mind: Ugh-another ball got dropped back in June that is biting me in the work butt this morning. It's resolvable, but I just spent an extra two and 1/2 hours, from 7:30 until 10:00 resolving, or at least getting work around fix in place until it is fully resolved. The whole project has been a project from hell-someone's pet project, created on the fly, had to be executed in an incredibly short time period, and is not getting the intended results (which I could have said from the beginning it was not going to do due to the timing.) The funding my team received to carry it our has been helpful as my other budgets were tight, but then yesterday, a finance person was ready to grab the funds and divert them elsewhere. Umm-no! We need them to cover our costs, thank you very much.
The other thing weighing on my mind is also work-yet another leadership change as my boss is going back to her old job, and I have concerns as to who might be stepping into her role. Neither I or my colleague that took the duties for year prior do not want it, so I guess we get what we ask for. I do well with change, but not with change, and change again, and then yet more change, while in the middle of uncertainty.
Where I've been: I went to Trivia, and had fun even though I was not in happy spirits. It was a mellow night and one of my friends brought along someone who used to come to trivia nights when we first started playing a few years ago. It was nice to see her and get caught up on her life. I've already shared about Veg Fest, and Monday's movie. Other than those outings I've mostly just been on walks in the neighborhood.
Where I'm going: Some light grocery shopping. Even with DH's rogue shopping, I think I can meet my challenge. I want the control. I won't meet the H&B/Household goal, but stayed on budget. I have a stack of coupons that would make Sluggy proud to use on assorted toiletries and they expire tomorrow so I want to use them. Tomorrow is supposed to be quintessential fall-65 degrees and sunny. I'm planning to go to my nephews morning football game, and maybe I can talk DH into dinner outside, or a walk along the river, or maybe even to one of the regional or county parks.
What I'm reading: Nothing really other than the Sunday paper and a magazine. But, we have selected a book for the October 16th book club meeting, I think it's Where the Crawdad's Sing by Delia Owens. A few have read, but I have not, and those that have didn't mind revisiting.
What I'm listening to: After my daughter and I saw the movie on Tuesday, I've steamed some clips from some other musicals made into films as mood lifters.
What I've been watching: We had football on over the weekend of course. I watched a couple travel vlogs-just to get in the mood. Surprisingly, I find some of them calming, and a nod to normalcy.
What I'm eating: See below to what makes me smile this week-DH made supper. Other wise, I made comfort food-my favorite hot dish, chicken rice, broccoli and cheese, and a lot of leftovers and bits of stuff from the freezer. I have not had cooking mojo working for me this week.
Who I'm paying attention to: My son is a amateur stock market follower, light investor, but pretty savvy about these things. If he had some real money to invest, look out! He also is follows the market in relation to politics in the world. He sent me several texts and email links yesterday morning/or late his time Wednesday night. He has me paying attention to the Chinese real estate market and the potential collapse that looks a lot like 2008.
What I'm planning: Still thinking of fall get aways. I loved reading about Vix packing and getting ready for Greece. While no foreign travel is in my future, a weekend up on the North Shore or possibly tagging along with my daughters on a NYC trip might be in the cards. Somehow reading Vix post, while of course a bit of envy, I actually felt encouraged and hopeful that I too will be able to resume visiting some of the places I've dreamed about.
Who needs to be (figuratively) slapped: Well, in a mood like I have been, the better question might be who does not need to be slapped! Actually, no one has done anything egregious or head shaking directly. I will though give a figurative slap to thems on the road that tail gate on highways, and zip in and out of traffic, causing stress for the rest of us sharing the road with them. My daughter drive home Sunday and we experienced a few ass hats doing this, even though it wasn't even that busy and no one was impeding the flow of traffic.
What's Making Me Smile: Grocery challenge be damned (though I still might make it) DH wanted to cook supper last night and bought assorted ingredients, but wouldn't tell me what he was making. Later, he made probably his most favorite meal, Philly cheese steak sandwiches. He did well-the steak was nice and tender. I'm not a big steak eater, but as he was very proud of his achievement and I didn't have to think about making anything, those together made the sandwich especially delicious. Never mind that he didn't really get all the skin off the onions, lol.
Knowing it is Friday and I have two and 1/2 days to claim, if I knock off work mid-day is a good feeling. I've time to relax and time to work on things in the house that with little ticks next to a list of "to do's" I hope to feel a little less chaos. I've made a decision that I will do a good enough for now bathroom update-paint the vanity and mirror, and perhaps invest in a tall and narrow cupboard with doors. It's time for new shower curtains and a rug. I haven't even done a spiff up since before my daughters confirmation in 2016. I'll add that to my list of want to accomplish, though a full overhaul stays on the list as well. I'll hit publish and get back to work. What are W's of your week?
Don't you just love people at work who have these "wonderful ideas" and then kick the ball on down the road for some poor bugger to make it work! We had a guy in Finances (who, I think, frankly just liked the sound of his own voice) who always used to pipe up that it "might be useful to compare statistics from ....". What he meant by that was "look out HR, I'm gonna create another time-wasting project for you". Funny how none of his ideas ever involved extra work for himself!
ReplyDeleteWith this project, it was a good idea, but, when we were asked when does a funding decision need to be made to make this viable, many of use were clear and said, by mid March at the very latest or it would be near impossible to get what was intended out of the project. We were notified mid May for a mid June start that it was a go.
DeleteMy grandmother used to say "some things you just have to endure". Maybe this is one of those things you are just going to have to go through so you can come out on the other side.
ReplyDeleteHopefully next week will find you in a less blue spot!
Your grandma was wise-and yes, I will come out of the blue spot. I'm trying; I get up each morning; I try and be a good contributor, and with time this will fade.
DeleteWell I remember my daughter saying to me when I left the University and they were determined to close my studio. For and 18 year old she was pretty savvy.She said, " Mom and great idea is just a great idea, until somebody moves the boxes." SHe was right you can have all the right ideas,but someone has to do the work and no one did the work but me or our family, so we succeeded and they ended up closing 4 grant funded programs, they had, had for years. They lost huge grants, and were shocked, but no one was there to move the boxes.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad that I took a sort of little jo when I heard about the multiple balls dropped and issues the first year I left my old job. Well, then eventually the things that were important were figured out, and they are thriving just fine without me. It's too bad in your example, but I'm guessing the things that were more important to those that were left survived.
DeleteUgh, I am empathizing with you on the work stuff - some Powers That Be decide we have to do X, but don't give any thought to how that's going to be communicated, and all the steps between now and getting to where they want things to be! It's so frustrating, and so many things cycle in my mind (what to do, what to do). I'm sending you good vibes, Sam!
ReplyDeleteI love that your DH made you dinner. The last time my husband did that was a couple of years ago - he made spaghetti, and it was just inedible (the sauce was SO salty!). Now I tell him if he wants to do something nice for me, I'd rather be taken out for dinner!
Wishing you a peaceful 2.5 days off, Sam!
Yep-this was a full on PR pet project, wit once it was finally decided on to go ahead the timeline was ridiculously fast and the results show. People are benefitting from it, but not the ones who the project was primarily intended to benefit. DH can cook if he puts his mind to it. He creates a mess, and nothing is done how I would do it, but he could be self sufficient if I was unable. I do remember him trying to bake a cake when we were first engaged-and from a mix. It did not go well.
DeleteKudos to hubby for cooking you dinner. I’m appreciative of anything that I didn’t have to make! I’ve been no where but work and home, except for a visit with my dad and the financial aid seminar the other night. Interestingly enough, only one parent didn’t wear a mask. Tomorrow we are touring my daughter’s top school one more time, then picking up her boyfriend on the way home. Tuesday was their two year anniversary and they are heading out to a fancy dinner then will hang out here for the rest of the night. I miss him, I can’t imagine how they feel. They are still two little smitten kittens with each other! I’m about to vacuum out my car, then pick up daughter from work and we’ll take a trip around Target. We’ll have a fire tomorrow night and a few beverages. I have nothing planned for Sunday and Monday but so many options. I’m trying to not think about the six day stretch after my three days off. In fact I’m not going to think about work at all. I buried my keys in the bottom of my purse and am going to ignore the group chat as well :) JoAnn
ReplyDeleteI hope your days off are wonderful-you deserve the R&R. The one thing about college, remember, there are loans, While not ideal, my kids needed them for post grad schooling, they just treat as another bill and move on. Will we ever know if it was worth it or not? Who knows because we don't know where their careers would be had they not got more schooling, but don't beat yourself up either way.
DeleteThank you. This is such a new experience for me and I appreciate the reassurance!
DeleteTomorrow, we will pick up our 40 lbs. of sweet potatoes from the farm. That is always a very pleasant trip. Those are the most important plans of the weekend. Tommy would never cook anything for me or himself! You are lucky. Enjoy your days off.
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice gesture and as I would rarely think to cook steak, nice that the got to be in control of the menu. I can't get over that many sweet potatoes at one time though. I like bulk buying, but could not manage to store that many without being annoyed. Maybe if I had a different house set up.
DeleteNick loves cheese steaks, and we've never made them before. Maybe I'll have to find an easy recipe. He's picky, so we try & accommodate recipes that will expand his palate a bit.
ReplyDeleteI don't think DH had much a recipe. He slow cooked the steaks and then sliced them up thin, while he also sauteed the veggies. Popped them on buns, covered in cheese, and put under the broiler! I'm sure Nick would knock the m out of the park.
DeleteSo sorry about the work issues. Work issues suck.
ReplyDeleteThat was so sweet that your dear husband made dinner. He must have known you were having a week.
I hope you are able to have a relaxing weekend!
It was nice of him. I have to comment that so many people have said how sweet it was that he made supper. Interesting that we all who make diner 99.9% of the time don't get the same response, including myself or I wouldn't have shared the story.
DeleteYou are sweet to add 'figuratively' to the slapping.
ReplyDelete