I'm supposed to be updating my resume and submitting it on a job site.
I'm supposed to be doing my taxes.
I'm supposed to be riding.
Instead? I'm looking at furniture online and writing a blog post.
Help!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Backyard Nuclear Reactor
I just finished reading The Radioactive Boy Scout by Ken Silverstein. It's subtitled "the true story of a boy and his backyard nuclear reactor". Fascinating book - but frightening at the same time. Frightening because of how close the boy was to creating a model of a nuclear breeder reactor and how it was pure dumb luck that led to his being caught. Fascinating because it was a teenage boy who was able to get all of the radioactive chemicals he needed for his experiments. Frightening for me, even after the fact, because many of the events took place in the town where I was living.
Highly recommended even though it had been sitting on my shelf since 2005.
Highly recommended even though it had been sitting on my shelf since 2005.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Has It Really Been Two Weeks?
Yup.
I haven't wanted to think about fibromyalgia lately. My experience with the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Center ended in a strange way. Business model changes meant my doctor was no longer with the organization and the doctor taking over the patients in the practice was one I had seen years before with no real success. I felt stranded but since I was in a good place physically, I thought I'd get along with the support I've been getting from my primary care doctor. I had made significant changes in my diet. I started exercising. The medication and supplement regime I was on seemed to be working. The weather was doing it's part to cooperate. All good.
I fell off the food wagon beginning with Halloween. I stopped taking my supplements. Still, I was cruising along when little things started happening - my skin broke out, I noticed more morning stiffness and more IBS symptoms. Then work stress hit - layoffs, medical leaves and a resignation have left us with half the people we had at the end of the last year. A fibro flare hit.
I wonder how much of the flare would have been preventable. If I had been more diligent with self-care, would I be in less pain now? Why is it so hard to behave in ways that make me feel better? Sure, cookies and fast food are great but are they worth pain?
On a happier note, thanks to Crate and Barrel and my habit of saving all of the $5 bills I get during the course of the year, I am now the proud owner of the Kavari 57" media-storage console. It looks beautiful in my living room. It's great to get to the stage in life when you can buy and own grown-up furniture!
********************
Read the shelf project update:
I just finished Only Pack What You Can Carry by Janice Holly Booth. It wasn't at all what I expected, but an example of how the right book appears or, in this case, gets read, at the perfect time for the reader. Some travel but mostly thoughts on courage and commitment.
One down, 51 more to go.
I haven't wanted to think about fibromyalgia lately. My experience with the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Center ended in a strange way. Business model changes meant my doctor was no longer with the organization and the doctor taking over the patients in the practice was one I had seen years before with no real success. I felt stranded but since I was in a good place physically, I thought I'd get along with the support I've been getting from my primary care doctor. I had made significant changes in my diet. I started exercising. The medication and supplement regime I was on seemed to be working. The weather was doing it's part to cooperate. All good.
I fell off the food wagon beginning with Halloween. I stopped taking my supplements. Still, I was cruising along when little things started happening - my skin broke out, I noticed more morning stiffness and more IBS symptoms. Then work stress hit - layoffs, medical leaves and a resignation have left us with half the people we had at the end of the last year. A fibro flare hit.
I wonder how much of the flare would have been preventable. If I had been more diligent with self-care, would I be in less pain now? Why is it so hard to behave in ways that make me feel better? Sure, cookies and fast food are great but are they worth pain?
On a happier note, thanks to Crate and Barrel and my habit of saving all of the $5 bills I get during the course of the year, I am now the proud owner of the Kavari 57" media-storage console. It looks beautiful in my living room. It's great to get to the stage in life when you can buy and own grown-up furniture!
********************
Read the shelf project update:
I just finished Only Pack What You Can Carry by Janice Holly Booth. It wasn't at all what I expected, but an example of how the right book appears or, in this case, gets read, at the perfect time for the reader. Some travel but mostly thoughts on courage and commitment.
One down, 51 more to go.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Setting the Compass to True North
My step-sister, S, posted on Facebook that today would be a good day for no reason other than the fact that she was setting her compass. I love that analogy so I'm stealing it!
I've been floundering, trying to get back on track. Well, tracks go around in a circle. Forget getting on track! I'm hitting the trails instead. This year is all about exploration - exploring good mental, physical and financial health, career options, learning opportunities, creativity, relationships, and fun. One step forward at a time, checking the compass regularly so I don't get lost.
As a side note, I've always thought that if I were ever to get another horse and had the wherewithal to show again, his show name would be True North. Cool, huh?
I've been floundering, trying to get back on track. Well, tracks go around in a circle. Forget getting on track! I'm hitting the trails instead. This year is all about exploration - exploring good mental, physical and financial health, career options, learning opportunities, creativity, relationships, and fun. One step forward at a time, checking the compass regularly so I don't get lost.
As a side note, I've always thought that if I were ever to get another horse and had the wherewithal to show again, his show name would be True North. Cool, huh?
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Tough Week for Resolutions
It was a tough week for resolutions. The new year seems like it should be a fresh start but when you (meaning me) are already in a semi-burnout state, it feels like slogging through heavy mud for every small step forward instead of tiptoeing through the tulips in giant leaps and bounds.
I did track my eating all week which made a difference as a big chunk of holiday weight gain fell off. Hooray. Next week's Weight Watchers' weigh in should find me back near where I was pre-holiday season.
Not much time for reading so the book a week schedule is already off. I did read about half of the first book so catch up is possible.
I'm torn on saving this week. The media center I've wanted for four years is on sale. I have the cash to pay for it but ... There were big layoffs at work this week and while I knew things were not good, I didn't expect the degree of the cuts. I'm torn between adding the money directly to my savings account and getting the media center. Being grown up and responsible is very, very hard.
The layoffs also made me want to hunker down and hide at home. I emailed a couple of friends and reached out to one of my colleagues who was part of the cut but personal interaction? Not so much.
This is the first writing I've done all week unless you count the two work memos I wrote. I'm inclined to count them because I couldn't believe how hard it was to start them. Shifting this creative block is going to be tricky.
I've been thinking about my resolutions and how narrow they are compared to where I want to be with health, career, finances, relationships, creativity and living a big life. Small steps are OK, right?
I did track my eating all week which made a difference as a big chunk of holiday weight gain fell off. Hooray. Next week's Weight Watchers' weigh in should find me back near where I was pre-holiday season.
Not much time for reading so the book a week schedule is already off. I did read about half of the first book so catch up is possible.
I'm torn on saving this week. The media center I've wanted for four years is on sale. I have the cash to pay for it but ... There were big layoffs at work this week and while I knew things were not good, I didn't expect the degree of the cuts. I'm torn between adding the money directly to my savings account and getting the media center. Being grown up and responsible is very, very hard.
The layoffs also made me want to hunker down and hide at home. I emailed a couple of friends and reached out to one of my colleagues who was part of the cut but personal interaction? Not so much.
This is the first writing I've done all week unless you count the two work memos I wrote. I'm inclined to count them because I couldn't believe how hard it was to start them. Shifting this creative block is going to be tricky.
I've been thinking about my resolutions and how narrow they are compared to where I want to be with health, career, finances, relationships, creativity and living a big life. Small steps are OK, right?
Monday, January 2, 2012
Five for the Year
I've been reading about accomplishing goals and one of the keys, according to experts, is to get the goal out there. After all, if everyone knows that you're going to try to do something, you're more likely to do the hard work necessary to get it done.
I set these goals last year and while I made some progress, I didn't complete any of them. Here I go again, this time for 2012.
#1 - Read the shelf - read at least 52 of the books that I bought in the past but haven't yet read.
#2 - Emergency fund - have cash savings of at least six months worth of expenses
#3 - Hit my goal weight - lose enough weight to get out of the overweight category on the BMI chart
#4 - Write something every day - journal entry, blog post, character sketch, whatever.
#5 - Stay connected - reach out to friends, family regularly
Stay tuned for updates.
I set these goals last year and while I made some progress, I didn't complete any of them. Here I go again, this time for 2012.
#1 - Read the shelf - read at least 52 of the books that I bought in the past but haven't yet read.
#2 - Emergency fund - have cash savings of at least six months worth of expenses
#3 - Hit my goal weight - lose enough weight to get out of the overweight category on the BMI chart
#4 - Write something every day - journal entry, blog post, character sketch, whatever.
#5 - Stay connected - reach out to friends, family regularly
Stay tuned for updates.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
I Ran Today and Lived to Tell
In an effort to not be a total bummer on this blog, here's an update that's slightly positive.
The only exercise I have been getting is my weekly 1/2 hour ride so I'm determined to do more. Last week I took 15 minutes out of my work day to walk around the block at lunch. It felt good to move around some. Since today is Saturday and I was up at the crack of dawn, I went out for a walk along one of my old routes.
I had no intention of running. Really. Running and me? We don't normally mix. I was striding along at my normal, "I'm exercising" walking pace when a bug decided that it was going to come along with me. It was flying in my hair, bumping into me, and generally being disgusting and annoying. Flapping my arms around like an idiot to shoo it away didn't discourage the bug. It kept with me. My only choice was to pick up the pace and run.
The good news is that I didn't burst a lung. I actually felt like I had the lung capacity to run albeit very slowly and for a very short distance.
The bad news is that my legs didn't agree with my lungs. They felt that the running idea was a very, very bad one. My brain convinced them to keep going for a while because bug infested hair was the alternative.
Bottom line? I ran a bit and lived to tell.
Oh, the bug (or one of its kin) caught up with me when I had to start walking again. I told myself that the arm flapping was the upper body equivalent of the run. So there. I did a bug-assisted total body workout. Who needs a personal trainer.
The only exercise I have been getting is my weekly 1/2 hour ride so I'm determined to do more. Last week I took 15 minutes out of my work day to walk around the block at lunch. It felt good to move around some. Since today is Saturday and I was up at the crack of dawn, I went out for a walk along one of my old routes.
I had no intention of running. Really. Running and me? We don't normally mix. I was striding along at my normal, "I'm exercising" walking pace when a bug decided that it was going to come along with me. It was flying in my hair, bumping into me, and generally being disgusting and annoying. Flapping my arms around like an idiot to shoo it away didn't discourage the bug. It kept with me. My only choice was to pick up the pace and run.
The good news is that I didn't burst a lung. I actually felt like I had the lung capacity to run albeit very slowly and for a very short distance.
The bad news is that my legs didn't agree with my lungs. They felt that the running idea was a very, very bad one. My brain convinced them to keep going for a while because bug infested hair was the alternative.
Bottom line? I ran a bit and lived to tell.
Oh, the bug (or one of its kin) caught up with me when I had to start walking again. I told myself that the arm flapping was the upper body equivalent of the run. So there. I did a bug-assisted total body workout. Who needs a personal trainer.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Six Months Later ...
The last six months have been pretty bad in my world.
T got seriously ill in late March and I had to make the decision to have him put down. I know it was the right thing to do. He was not going to get better and prolonging his life would have only drawn out the inevitable. I had the vet put him to sleep on April 1, his 28th birthday.
In early March, I had to go to the emergency room because I was having chest pain, numbness in my left arm, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. I thought I was going to pass out driving home from work. It totally freaked me out because I was going 70 miles an hour on the freeway at the time. Ultimately, it was a problem with my thyroid medication combined with too much stress rather than a heart attack which was a very good thing. I'm grateful for that, believe me, but still.
My job has been my own personal purgatory since I started it in February 2009 and I've had no luck finding a new one.
My life feels out of my control and I don't like it.
But really, I do have some control.
I can have some fun. To that end, I've started riding again.
I can limit my work days to ten hours a day.
I can watch my diet, limit caffeine and exercise to reduce stress.
I can start a Freedom Fund - saving six months worth of expenses so I never have to be held hostage at a lousy job.
I can really start looking at career options so I can do work that interesting, rewarding and makes a difference.
And I can write about all this on this blog.
T got seriously ill in late March and I had to make the decision to have him put down. I know it was the right thing to do. He was not going to get better and prolonging his life would have only drawn out the inevitable. I had the vet put him to sleep on April 1, his 28th birthday.
In early March, I had to go to the emergency room because I was having chest pain, numbness in my left arm, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. I thought I was going to pass out driving home from work. It totally freaked me out because I was going 70 miles an hour on the freeway at the time. Ultimately, it was a problem with my thyroid medication combined with too much stress rather than a heart attack which was a very good thing. I'm grateful for that, believe me, but still.
My job has been my own personal purgatory since I started it in February 2009 and I've had no luck finding a new one.
My life feels out of my control and I don't like it.
But really, I do have some control.
I can have some fun. To that end, I've started riding again.
I can limit my work days to ten hours a day.
I can watch my diet, limit caffeine and exercise to reduce stress.
I can start a Freedom Fund - saving six months worth of expenses so I never have to be held hostage at a lousy job.
I can really start looking at career options so I can do work that interesting, rewarding and makes a difference.
And I can write about all this on this blog.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
I Network and Live to Tell the Tale
I went to a networking event last night because 1) I need to get out more and 2) I need to get out more.
I dread networking events - can you say one of the circles of hell? - but because I respect the woman who held the event and because I need to get out more, I decided to go. Guess what? It was fun.
The invitiation said that there would be people there I know. I scoffed. I'm so disconnected from the local HR community that I thought there would be no way I'd know anyone. I walked in the door and almost immediately saw an old boss. While I was talking with her, another former colleague came up to me to say hi. I met people who worked for former employers at different times and a woman who works for my current employer now. I stayed over two hours and had a great time.
I'm very tired today because driving across town for an after work event made for an extra long day. It was worth the effort and today's fatigue and pain because guess what? It was fun.
I dread networking events - can you say one of the circles of hell? - but because I respect the woman who held the event and because I need to get out more, I decided to go. Guess what? It was fun.
The invitiation said that there would be people there I know. I scoffed. I'm so disconnected from the local HR community that I thought there would be no way I'd know anyone. I walked in the door and almost immediately saw an old boss. While I was talking with her, another former colleague came up to me to say hi. I met people who worked for former employers at different times and a woman who works for my current employer now. I stayed over two hours and had a great time.
I'm very tired today because driving across town for an after work event made for an extra long day. It was worth the effort and today's fatigue and pain because guess what? It was fun.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Next Steps
I've been thinking about why people don't do things they know they should do to live healthier, happier lives. Of course when I say this, I am really saying I've been thinking about why I don't do things I know I should do to live a healthier, happier life.
Like taking care of my health.
I do the big things to manage my fibromyalgia - the doctor's visits and medications and supplements - but I haven't been doing the everyday things like eating healthy food, exercising, getting enough rest, meditating, using pacing techniques, setting priorities, and having some fun. Frankly, even thinking about adding any of those things to my day is exhausting. But here is the plan for my brave new world - I'm going to do them.
Shifting my perspective from thinking that I won't be able to do it and then making these changes will be one of the most difficult things I have ever tried to do. Vital to my well being and totally necessary but extremely difficult. So I'm going to blog about it for fun and to keep myself on track.
I'm starting with exercise.
I've always had good luck working out at home but I need to get out more so I stopped by a local health club today to see about membership. It's nice. It's close to home. The ladies' locker room smells really good. The people exercising seemed normal. When I asked about the cost of memberships, I got sticker shock. Yikes. It costs a lot to join a nice, close to home fitness center with good smelling locker rooms where normal people exercise.
Of course, a lot is actually less than one month's board for T so I guess it's relative. Balking at the cost is also a first sign of resistance since my company has a fitness allowance that will pay for most of the membership.
I got a free pass for a week that starts on Thursday. I'll be working on all my "why I can't exercise" excuses between now and then.
Tomorrow night I'm going to a networking event for women in HR. I have nothing to wear and many other excuses for why I can't go, but I'm going anyway. See. Brave new world.
Like taking care of my health.
I do the big things to manage my fibromyalgia - the doctor's visits and medications and supplements - but I haven't been doing the everyday things like eating healthy food, exercising, getting enough rest, meditating, using pacing techniques, setting priorities, and having some fun. Frankly, even thinking about adding any of those things to my day is exhausting. But here is the plan for my brave new world - I'm going to do them.
Shifting my perspective from thinking that I won't be able to do it and then making these changes will be one of the most difficult things I have ever tried to do. Vital to my well being and totally necessary but extremely difficult. So I'm going to blog about it for fun and to keep myself on track.
I'm starting with exercise.
I've always had good luck working out at home but I need to get out more so I stopped by a local health club today to see about membership. It's nice. It's close to home. The ladies' locker room smells really good. The people exercising seemed normal. When I asked about the cost of memberships, I got sticker shock. Yikes. It costs a lot to join a nice, close to home fitness center with good smelling locker rooms where normal people exercise.
Of course, a lot is actually less than one month's board for T so I guess it's relative. Balking at the cost is also a first sign of resistance since my company has a fitness allowance that will pay for most of the membership.
I got a free pass for a week that starts on Thursday. I'll be working on all my "why I can't exercise" excuses between now and then.
Tomorrow night I'm going to a networking event for women in HR. I have nothing to wear and many other excuses for why I can't go, but I'm going anyway. See. Brave new world.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Lottery Talk as a Measure of Employee Engagement
My coworkers spend a lot of time talking about winning the lottery. Often. Like every day.
I may not remember correctly because I'm perimenopausal and I have fibro-fog but I don't think that there was the same level of lottery talk at my other jobs.
I hadn't bought a lottery ticket in years until I started this job. Now I buy at least once a week. I may be projecting because I hate my job but I think there must be correlation between the level of lottery talk and employee engagement.
Has anybody done a study?
I may not remember correctly because I'm perimenopausal and I have fibro-fog but I don't think that there was the same level of lottery talk at my other jobs.
I hadn't bought a lottery ticket in years until I started this job. Now I buy at least once a week. I may be projecting because I hate my job but I think there must be correlation between the level of lottery talk and employee engagement.
Has anybody done a study?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sneaking Back with a Big, Fat Whine-fest
I had some grand plans to relaunch my blog but since I haven't written anything in almost six months, it seems safer to sneak back and do a furtive post or two and see what happens.
I blame my job for my lack of creative energy. Working full time with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue is not easy. Working 50 to 60 hours a week at a job you don't like is not for any sane person. So here I am - an insane, exhausted lump of what used to be a human being.
There are a lot of reasons why my job isn't ideal but I'm saving that litany for another time. What matters is that my job isn't ideal. What scares me is that I have no idea what to do next.
I do know that I can't keep this up for much longer. I'm back in that horrible cycle where I drive to work, I work, I drive home from work, I eat, I sleep. That's literally it until I get to do it all again the next day. The other day I went to the library after work. It felt like a trip to Paris. I spend weekends on the couch trying to recover and gather energy for another work week. I've ridden six times in the last two months. What's worse, I haven't been able to concentrate enough to finish reading a book in even longer.
Plus I hate how whiny, bitter and miserable I've become.
At the beginning of the year, I chose three words as intentions for the new year: happy, healthy and connected. Living that way doesn't seem possible but not living that way will ruin me.
So I'm going to turn my life around. I'm not sure how I'll do that but it starts with a focus on my intentions. And maybe a new job.
Stay tuned. A post on my progress may be coming. In another six months.
I blame my job for my lack of creative energy. Working full time with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue is not easy. Working 50 to 60 hours a week at a job you don't like is not for any sane person. So here I am - an insane, exhausted lump of what used to be a human being.
There are a lot of reasons why my job isn't ideal but I'm saving that litany for another time. What matters is that my job isn't ideal. What scares me is that I have no idea what to do next.
I do know that I can't keep this up for much longer. I'm back in that horrible cycle where I drive to work, I work, I drive home from work, I eat, I sleep. That's literally it until I get to do it all again the next day. The other day I went to the library after work. It felt like a trip to Paris. I spend weekends on the couch trying to recover and gather energy for another work week. I've ridden six times in the last two months. What's worse, I haven't been able to concentrate enough to finish reading a book in even longer.
Plus I hate how whiny, bitter and miserable I've become.
At the beginning of the year, I chose three words as intentions for the new year: happy, healthy and connected. Living that way doesn't seem possible but not living that way will ruin me.
So I'm going to turn my life around. I'm not sure how I'll do that but it starts with a focus on my intentions. And maybe a new job.
Stay tuned. A post on my progress may be coming. In another six months.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
How Did This Happen?
Last time I wrote it was April and I was complaining. Now it's already mid-June and I'm complaining again. Still.
My Kindle/iPhone/Sony Bravia 26" TV fund has been tapped yet again. This time because of a vet bill. T, the wonder horse, stepped on a huge nail which went in the bottom of his foot, though the wall of the foot, and out the back. And while it's incredibly lucky that there wasn't significant damage - the nail missed anything vital - it would have been much, much luckier if my horse didn't get a 5" spike through his foot. If you know what I mean.
I should explain that I'm not a horrible horse owner who lets her horse run around on ground strewn with nails except that it seems that I am. New drains were being installed at the boarding stable where T lives. Unfortunately, while the work crew was digging for the drains, they dug up some old nails that had been buried on the property long before it became home to T and his fellow equines. No one noticed the nails on the ground until one ended up in T's foot. The chance of this happening was incredibly remote. Except that happen it did.
The next time something this unlikely happens I hope it's that I have just won the lottery.
Work is still not good - thus the desire to win the lottery. However, I have passed the point of wanting to throw up every morning.
Ain't life grand?
My Kindle/iPhone/Sony Bravia 26" TV fund has been tapped yet again. This time because of a vet bill. T, the wonder horse, stepped on a huge nail which went in the bottom of his foot, though the wall of the foot, and out the back. And while it's incredibly lucky that there wasn't significant damage - the nail missed anything vital - it would have been much, much luckier if my horse didn't get a 5" spike through his foot. If you know what I mean.
I should explain that I'm not a horrible horse owner who lets her horse run around on ground strewn with nails except that it seems that I am. New drains were being installed at the boarding stable where T lives. Unfortunately, while the work crew was digging for the drains, they dug up some old nails that had been buried on the property long before it became home to T and his fellow equines. No one noticed the nails on the ground until one ended up in T's foot. The chance of this happening was incredibly remote. Except that happen it did.
The next time something this unlikely happens I hope it's that I have just won the lottery.
Work is still not good - thus the desire to win the lottery. However, I have passed the point of wanting to throw up every morning.
Ain't life grand?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Rats! Encore
When I was in the process of buying my condo in 2007, the home inspection guy told me I would have to replace the water heater soon as it was past its normal life cycle. I took soon to mean sometime in the next twenty years or so.
I got a visit from my downstairs neighbor on Sunday night. He told me three water heaters have failed in my complex over the last month. As my condo is on top of his, he wanted to make sure that I knew. He feels strongly that he does not want water flowing from my condo into his should my water heater fail. I feel strongly that I do not want to have to pay for his repairs should my water heater fail.
The iPhone/Kindle/26" Sony Bravia TV fund is now depleted. My new water heater will be installed on Monday.
Why did I think it was a good idea to buy instead of rent?
I got a visit from my downstairs neighbor on Sunday night. He told me three water heaters have failed in my complex over the last month. As my condo is on top of his, he wanted to make sure that I knew. He feels strongly that he does not want water flowing from my condo into his should my water heater fail. I feel strongly that I do not want to have to pay for his repairs should my water heater fail.
The iPhone/Kindle/26" Sony Bravia TV fund is now depleted. My new water heater will be installed on Monday.
Why did I think it was a good idea to buy instead of rent?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Rats!
I made the mistake of watching Religion & Ethics Newsweekly over the weekend. I've been avoiding the news. I do know what's going on with the economy but I don't want to know. You know? I'm grateful that I have job I hate. That's as much economic reality as I want to face.
Instead, I have been happily focused on my need for an iPhone. I wasn't planning on rushing into the purchase either. Nope. I was going to wait for my tax refund and spend only a small part of it on my new technological marvel. Since I didn't have the little wonder yet, on Sunday afternoon I decided to watch TV and turned on PBS. Dummy. Why couldn't I have watched an infomercial for the Total Gym instead?
The segment on food banks broke my heart. It reminded me that I have an obligation to others - something that I had been trying hard to forget. So I'm putting the iPhone on hold. I figure the service would cost about $25 more a month than my current cell phone. For the next six months, I'm going to donate that money to local charities including Gleaners Food Bank, the Michigan Humane Society, Detroit Institute of Arts, and Detroit Public TV. This may not be as cool as an iPhone but I'll bet that in the long run I'll be happier about my spending.
Instead, I have been happily focused on my need for an iPhone. I wasn't planning on rushing into the purchase either. Nope. I was going to wait for my tax refund and spend only a small part of it on my new technological marvel. Since I didn't have the little wonder yet, on Sunday afternoon I decided to watch TV and turned on PBS. Dummy. Why couldn't I have watched an infomercial for the Total Gym instead?
The segment on food banks broke my heart. It reminded me that I have an obligation to others - something that I had been trying hard to forget. So I'm putting the iPhone on hold. I figure the service would cost about $25 more a month than my current cell phone. For the next six months, I'm going to donate that money to local charities including Gleaners Food Bank, the Michigan Humane Society, Detroit Institute of Arts, and Detroit Public TV. This may not be as cool as an iPhone but I'll bet that in the long run I'll be happier about my spending.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Technology Lust, Part 2
It's crazy how fast time goes by now that I am working full time.
Here's my day. I drive to work, work, drive from work, eat and sleep. I spend what feels like half an hour taking medications and supplements. For the sake of my general fitness and mental well being, I should add exercise to this mix but that would mean giving up some of the time reserved for eating. Like that could happen.
I figure I have two hours from the time I get home from work to the time I have to be in bed so I can be awake enough to go through the cycle again the next day.
I could exercise in those precious two hours thereby increasing my general fitness and mental well being. I could write more. But when would I find the time to read?
The technology thugs at work limit web access to things they think are appropriate. Apparently, this means you can track your brackets during March Madness but not read blogs. Seriously. Even trying to click on Compensation Force - a blog featured on the HR site Workforce Management - gets me a warning. And while I'm happy to be able to follow sports (Go Blue!), I miss following author blogs, fibro blogs and, yeah, even HR blogs at work. (All blog following would take place in my limited downtime. Like during the 15 minutes I take to eat my sandwich every day. Really.)
So, I'm lusting after an iPhone. Just thinking about music, web, camera, notes, and electronic planner all in one small device that would be accessible at work makes my heart race. Now Amazon has announced an app to connect the iPhone with the Kindle. Oh my. (Side note...the Kindle seems magical...books falling from the sky in less than 60 seconds...like manna from heaven...must have...)
Here's my day. I drive to work, work, drive from work, eat and sleep. I spend what feels like half an hour taking medications and supplements. For the sake of my general fitness and mental well being, I should add exercise to this mix but that would mean giving up some of the time reserved for eating. Like that could happen.
I figure I have two hours from the time I get home from work to the time I have to be in bed so I can be awake enough to go through the cycle again the next day.
I could exercise in those precious two hours thereby increasing my general fitness and mental well being. I could write more. But when would I find the time to read?
The technology thugs at work limit web access to things they think are appropriate. Apparently, this means you can track your brackets during March Madness but not read blogs. Seriously. Even trying to click on Compensation Force - a blog featured on the HR site Workforce Management - gets me a warning. And while I'm happy to be able to follow sports (Go Blue!), I miss following author blogs, fibro blogs and, yeah, even HR blogs at work. (All blog following would take place in my limited downtime. Like during the 15 minutes I take to eat my sandwich every day. Really.)
So, I'm lusting after an iPhone. Just thinking about music, web, camera, notes, and electronic planner all in one small device that would be accessible at work makes my heart race. Now Amazon has announced an app to connect the iPhone with the Kindle. Oh my. (Side note...the Kindle seems magical...books falling from the sky in less than 60 seconds...like manna from heaven...must have...)
So there you have it. Technology Lust, Part 2. Part 2 (a) Kindle...books falling from the sky...magic...and Part 2 (b) iPhone.
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Don't worry, MacBook. You'll always be number one in my heart on the technology lust list.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tell Me Again Why I Have To Work
I hit my one month anniversary at my new job yesterday and, as of today, I'm offically over it.
I'm counting the months (only 11 to go) until I can quit without having to pay back my sign-on bonus. Yup, I'm a physical mess but that's the least of it. I'm used to being rewarded for trying to change processes, having open discussions with managers, and working as a team. Today I was told "I don't know why we do it this way but that's the way it's done and we shouldn't try to change", and "we don't have conversations like that in front of managers" and, when I asked for help, "I'll send you an article". My day ended with one of the HR business partners who has been with the company over a year and a half asking me, the person with a month's experience, to explain why people hired in March 2008 won't be getting a pay increase this year. (The company lost over $100 million last year - nobody is getting a pay increase this year.)
That's right. All this and eleven hours at the office. Plus a two hour commute.
One of my new co-workers said something the other day about becoming a Stepford employee. Maybe he's got the right idea. I wonder if I can find a clinic that performs weekend lobotomies.
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By the way, I'm totally grateful that I found a job in this economy. Really.
I'm counting the months (only 11 to go) until I can quit without having to pay back my sign-on bonus. Yup, I'm a physical mess but that's the least of it. I'm used to being rewarded for trying to change processes, having open discussions with managers, and working as a team. Today I was told "I don't know why we do it this way but that's the way it's done and we shouldn't try to change", and "we don't have conversations like that in front of managers" and, when I asked for help, "I'll send you an article". My day ended with one of the HR business partners who has been with the company over a year and a half asking me, the person with a month's experience, to explain why people hired in March 2008 won't be getting a pay increase this year. (The company lost over $100 million last year - nobody is getting a pay increase this year.)
That's right. All this and eleven hours at the office. Plus a two hour commute.
One of my new co-workers said something the other day about becoming a Stepford employee. Maybe he's got the right idea. I wonder if I can find a clinic that performs weekend lobotomies.
********************************************
By the way, I'm totally grateful that I found a job in this economy. Really.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Fibro Update
Stupid fibromyalgia.
I'm feeling the effects of added work hours (how do people work full time???) and the damp (Michigan weather - ugh!!!) and non-restorative sleep and the stress of starting a new job and wanting to be super-employee (dummy me!!!).
I had been doing OK pain-wise. In fact, I was surprised that I wasn't in more pain until yesterday when the burning pain started.
Instead of spending the weekend resting on the couch, I did stuff. After two days of riding, running errands, doing laundry and trying to catch up at home, I'm about done in and facing another full week of work. Great.
But here's the thing. I've decided that no matter how bad it gets - within reason - I'm not spending any more weekends on the couch. That's too much life wasted and I feel so much happier when I see something of my bit of the world that's not work related. I'm not sure how long I'll survive like this but that's the plan.
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The one good thing about my new commute is that I have more hours to listen to audio books. I just finished a good one - Christopher Moore's Fool - a retelling (mostly) of King Lear with Pocket the Fool as hero. The first lines warn that it's bawdy (it is) but it's also funny and swashbuckling and has some twists. Good stuff.
I'm feeling the effects of added work hours (how do people work full time???) and the damp (Michigan weather - ugh!!!) and non-restorative sleep and the stress of starting a new job and wanting to be super-employee (dummy me!!!).
I had been doing OK pain-wise. In fact, I was surprised that I wasn't in more pain until yesterday when the burning pain started.
Instead of spending the weekend resting on the couch, I did stuff. After two days of riding, running errands, doing laundry and trying to catch up at home, I'm about done in and facing another full week of work. Great.
But here's the thing. I've decided that no matter how bad it gets - within reason - I'm not spending any more weekends on the couch. That's too much life wasted and I feel so much happier when I see something of my bit of the world that's not work related. I'm not sure how long I'll survive like this but that's the plan.
*********************************************
The one good thing about my new commute is that I have more hours to listen to audio books. I just finished a good one - Christopher Moore's Fool - a retelling (mostly) of King Lear with Pocket the Fool as hero. The first lines warn that it's bawdy (it is) but it's also funny and swashbuckling and has some twists. Good stuff.
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