The time with my children went too fast. DD2 mentioned she had culture shock being back on campus she wasn't prepared for. DS had repeated delays and from my door to his door, he finally got home after 10 1/2 hours. DD1 had to battle ice on her steep driveway once home. All though are safe and good and resumed their individual lives. Today's also the college kid's 22 birthday. How did that happen? Here's my week in W's.
What's Top of Mind:
Work wants to keep kicking my butt. The do gooders without an ounce of common sense want to fix mega system problems by pouring tons of money into only one side of the problem and may end up exasperating both. But they'll gladly pat themselves on the back and point fingers at us that have to figure out the mess, implying that we're not working hard enough or aren't committed. I'm as jaded about my work, my career, as I was 8 years ago. I truly am just biding my time trying to count down the next 60 months.
Where I've been:
More airport runs, well an airport run. My other big outing was the sushi restaurant, Akita, but I had other yummy small plates and not sushi.
Where I’m going:
At some point, we need a few basics in the house plus a few loss leaders from the ad, so I'll go grocery shopping late this afternoon, before DH gets home. I don't think we're making plans for tonight but something could come up. I hope to resume trivia in Wednesday as we haven't played since December 14.
What I'm eating:
I made an egg bake and a pizza with odds and ends from the family week. The egg bake had my last four eggs ( dated January 11 so needed using), spinach, ham, mushrooms,and cheese. The pizza was just a flatbread crust with a sauce that was made with a big knob of cream cheese, garlic, onion, and bit of milk, topped with a few cut up stuffed peppers, spinach artichokes, mushrooms, pepperoni, bruschetta, and mozzarella cheese. The pizza was good and there's plenty left, likely as part of game day fuel. I love when creative cooking meets tasty. It's not always the case in my kitchen.
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| My insulated baking sheets have seen better days. |
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| This will be DH's breakfast and my brunch. |
What I’m watching:
Football playoffs start, so wish my Vikings luck. Earlier in the week we watched Elvis. Then, yesterday the sad news of his daughter, Lisa Marie passing away. What sad young lives cut short.
What I’m reading:
I ..... need to get back to you. I'm going to pick something, maybe an old favorite. My daughter's bookshelf is loaded with titles to explore as well.
What I’m listening to:
I'm listening to the coffee maker perk and pup just started barking at life. I had thrown a load of clothes in last night, and this morning they're tumbling in the dryer.
What I’m planning:
My sister next older to me turns 60 this month. We're planning a non surprise party for her. I'm trying to think of a special gift. She makes a very good salary and stands to get a huge windfall from a business she has shares in that has just sold. I said that as she doesn't need anything and takes care of her wants. I think I'll get her fresh flowers. I don't think she gets them often. My hesitation is she leaves for vacation the Friday after the 27th party date. I guess she'd enjoy for the week. Other suggestions for the woman who truly has everything?
Who needs a good slap:
Those do gooders from my first paragraph.
Who Deserves Knuck's (Fist Bump):
My boss for letting me speak honestly, and her boss, my former ( she had a major promotion) who apologized for the issues she created by not getting something reviewed timely that led to a communication nightmare. I respect when people can humble themselves and own, then try and support. I'm fortunate these two are my leadership chain.
What’s making me smile:
The dogs sure helped my sucky Friday. The grandpup truly is an empath.
I'm looking to have a quiet weekend, get the house to rights and tackle at least one area to purge. Happy Saturday.
Happy Saturday Sam!! I'm glad all of your people made it safely to their destinations. Sorry you're having so much stress from work. I truly don't understand how some people think. Times have definitely changed. It was so sad to hear about Lisa Marie. For a girl that many thought 'had it all' she had so much loss and sadness in her life. I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend myself. Enjoy yours!
ReplyDeleteShe truly had so much sadness. I think that's why she and Michael Jackson were drawn together, even if their pairing didn't last, they probably understood each other. RIP to her.
DeleteIt's not nice when your last work years are simply counting down the months/years until you can finish - sucks all the joy out of it and makes you frustrated and, possibly, ultimately resentful.
ReplyDeleteI need to take ownership of the frustration. Venting helps, then I get in with it. I need to remember why I work, why my job, and focus on the good. I'm just really tired though.
DeleteI sympathize with your troubles at work. I sit in the parking lot and stare at the building, wishing it would just evaporate. And to quote Guns n Roses, “welcome to the jungle, it gets worse here everyday.” Our new temporary DM seems like she’s going to hold our grifter of a store manager more accountable and actually earn the paycheck she’s making, but she’s also in charge of 22 stores currently. I don’t think I need to say much more. The other full time manager and I have decided that we need to not push ourselves so hard to compensate for what the store manager isn’t doing and if there are repercussions, then there are repercussions, but I’m tired of burning myself out make her look good. Whew! Can you tell I need this weekend off?! Haven’t been anywhere exciting, just tying up loose ends and hanging with DD. We have a free day with nothing planned so far. I’d like to go bowling or something but it’s probably going to be busy everywhere. We are getting dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then she back to campus early tomorrow. Dorms open at 10:00 and she’s ready to go back. DS made it safely to NYC and has been sending pictures. I’ll give him knucks for that. As you are well aware, travel is so important for young people. DH did not go on his fishing trip but I’m not surprised. He loves to make plans and then not do them. I finally get to contribute to the What I’m reading category. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. It’s a young adult sort of read, eagerly recommended to me by a work daughter, so how could I say no? :) We were talking about it last night at work and another girl said she wanted to read it when I was done so I think that was kinda neat. Our own little book club. This week is going to be a very quiet one, lots of tackling small projects and no spending. I do have a lunch date and dinner date planned with girlfriends before the end of the month. January is thankfully humming right along. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteLook at the building and wish it would evaporate had me laugh/ scowling. Work shouldn't be so ridiculous.can we all do the job as intended without having to play games for vanity projects? I will pick a book, any book, and read for a bit today and tomorrow.
DeleteI'm so glad you had your family all together and that they all arrived safely home. I am sorry to hear about the frustrations of work. I think you are living the same life at work, that you also have to live in real day to day life. The do gooders and their one sided, no compromise attitude is so maddening that it makes me want to scream sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI have had a difficult time facing my own to do list, that I made, just for everything that needs/should be done. I overwhelmed myself with my own list. I have managed to finally get a bit of a start and as a result, a great deal of our living space looks like a tornado went through. I guess, a human tornado, that would have been me. It's the way of the declutter process though. It almost always gets worse before it gets better. I'll get there, eventually. I am not fond of the month of January. Never have been. It just seems so long and I am well aware it has the same number of days as many other months but I think the early snow has really made it worse for me. Yes, grandpup can be your empath. Animals are so loving and sweet, as though they know what you are going through. I hope you have a good weekend. Ranee
The tornado inside feeling is so relatable. Daughter unpacked then pack for school in a whirlwind. I need to figure out the work mindset thing. Plan some time mentally each day to get my head on straight.
DeleteI feel you on work. We have a big cultural clash right now happening in our organization. Due to the need to cut costs, managers are being asked to perform miracles. Most of us are pretty level headed, and while we don't like the changes (or, often even support them), we are getting paid to roll them out. So, we do. The response is to continually complain to the managers & cause endless drama, even though folks know it's a decision being made much higher up. I understand both sides, but do not enjoy being caught in the middle.
ReplyDeleteI’m now retired but pick up shifts occasionally as a intermittent RN (where I retired from). Although my job is 100% different from what others here are writing about on my way out of work I’m like OMG I couldn’t do this everyday anymore. The good thing about nursing is it’s pretty much task oriented, walk off the shift and pretty much can leave it behind to the next nurse but of course some terrible moments stay with you. The thing there is in common is management (who are stuck in the middle with regulations…) and our real life frontline work, I’d love many days to just be able to take a drink (fluids are not allowed at the nursing station), or go to the bathroom. (I’m being snippy about those who are able to sit in their office, without a mask (still in 100%) and actually drink a cup of coffee or get a break ). Actually still like the job, kind of as it is rewarding but retirement is good!!!
DeleteI won't complain about my physical job - believe me I'm drinking a 1/2 pot of coffee each morning. I have several nieces in nursing and they work hard, mentally and physically. I just am wore out mentally. Three years of Covid practices/ policies, funding, now the big fixes, are doing my head in, spinning round round like the song.
DeleteThat I do understand as in nursing while it is so much physical the mental stress is worse and being stretched tighter and tighter till there is no way to be able to do the best, safest job anymore due to acuity and short staffing! A reason for the nursing walk offs and protests from coast to coast. I’m so glad I’m semi retired and my kids want me to be done, they worry. I turned 69, the area I work can get violent. Have you thought at all about looking for another job if you currently aren’t staying for a pension etc.?
DeleteThere are three things I'm staying for, pension, health insurance, and salary. I make ok money in my field- education/ social/ Hunan services, so I'd likely take a large paycut to find a less demanding job. I left an executive level nonprofit job 8 years ago to take on less stress. I was actually bored my first two years! I have too health care coverage with low employee portion. My old job I heard has employee insurance cost 3X what mine are. Last, is the pension. I got a late start, but I'll have 13 years of accrual if I stay until my post turning 62 anniversary. Each year I stay working adds $2000 to my pension when I decide to draw at age 66 ( 4 years letting it sit until full eligibility). It's up to me to take care of my own mental resilience.
DeleteI understand the work frustration. I was on a call with a product manager, and the SME (who is retiring in June) was a bit negative about her capacity to help because the ask is pretty significant. I also am tapped to train a new employee and determining work items for her to own. And also, tag-teamed with another project manager to get a development back down on their demands. What a way to start the new year. So, you can see where my slaps will land.
ReplyDeleteOn a health front, I am enjoying having my energy levels return, working on healthier meal options.
So, you're a Vikings fan! Cool! I'm a Seahawks fan (don't judge). I foresee my Hawks get eliminated the by the 49ers. Oh well. Next year, right?
We all have a similar situation it seems. Lifelong Vikings fan, Minnesota gal, and just once in my lifetime I'd love a Superbowl win. I don't think it'll be this year but holding on to the dream. I'm glad your energy is better.
DeleteI fall under the hard to buy for, because I have everything I want, and most of what I need. If she burns candles, maybe find her a 100% beeswax candle. (I make mine, but love when my kids buy me one, so I don't have to), and if they add a new, long lighter, well, oh, my) I also love receiving perennials for my flower garden, and bird feeders and bird seed.
ReplyDeleteShe's been burning the same 3 wick for the past 30 Christmas's, but might like a small beeswax for ambiance. Good idea.
DeleteFor my sisters, who need nothing, I'd make a large batch of our grandmother's recipe dumplings, freeze them in little containers, and deliver them for Christmas. They could pull one out of the freezer for dinner whenever wanted. Perhaps there's something special like that in your family that you could make for your sister? Sorry about your work stress. I'd suggest trying to find more positives in it, as 60 months is a long time to feel jaded. Just something to ponder, what could you do differently, personally, to relieve some of this stress?
ReplyDeleteGood idea but doesn't really work for me/ us. I need to figure out my reaction to the work issues. They're not going away and five years is a long time to be frustrated.
DeleteI think my comment just submitted as anonymous. It's from Celie.
ReplyDeleteThe dumplings?
DeleteHope things at work improve for you. We spend so much time at work, it's hard when it's stressful on an ongoing basis.
ReplyDeleteThat pizza looks so lush!!
I might have overdone the pizza toppings, but seriously, it tasted better reheated in the air fryer for lunch Saturday. I need to figure out frustration management.
DeleteWhen I hear of attempts to improve education by throwing money at it, I can predict more personnel and not educators. That is not always the answer. A second secretary is not the answer. It makes me crazy and I want to scream.
ReplyDeleteI am going to read Spare.
Flowers to enjoy for a week would be nice. Would the survivors make it in the refrigerator?
Money is needed for what's trying to be resolved, but it needs a balance and approach from different angles. It's too much too soon and will sit unused for lack of time to plan and rollout.
DeleteI liked the egg bake. Here eggs are too $$ now to use for a while.
ReplyDeleteI hoarded eggs, but that's why there were 4 a day past their best date. I bought a new carton, and managed to break one. Sad moment.
DeleteI am sorry work is frustrating you. Often the ones with the power to make broad decisions do not listen to those in the trenches who know what remedies would be the most effective.
ReplyDeleteToo often. It's not the what that's trying to be done, but the how, the timing, the tracking, the integrity and on and on. It's managing by sound bites. Lazy and reactive.
Delete