Another weekend nearly over. Feels like I just left the office.
With the holiday last Monday, it was only a four-day workweek but it got off to a bad start when I couldn't fall asleep Monday night, which was like a Sunday night. I have been terrible at Sunday night sleep for my whole life! I can remember laying in the lower bunk bed in a room I shared with my three brothers when I was a kid, wide awake on Sunday nights.
It sucked then and it really sucks now. The older I get, the harder it is to function in sleep-deprived zombie mode. I have to double- and triple-check everything I do at work, and sometimes I still miss mistakes I've made.
One morning last week, I made a pot of coffee in the common kitchen on my floor. While it was brewing, I left my X university mom mug on the counter near the coffee machine and went back to my cell, I mean "office." About five minutes later, I returned for the pour, but my mug wasn't there. Hmmm.... Thinking someone else had it, I conducted a search of nearby offices, but no luck. Baffled, I returned to my cell to find it on my desk, filled with coffee, which was even more baffling.
Did I fill that mug with coffee and not remember? Was I that tired and forgetful? Sometimes I do everyday things on autopilot that I can't remember doing (like checking that the garage door is closed when I drive away in the morning), but this would have a been a new level of unconsciousness.
My next-cell-neighbor stopped at my door to ask a question. I answered foggily and he went back to his cell.
I tasted the coffee. It did not have the pink-packaged fake sugar in it. If I had poured that cup of joe, it would have been sweetened. This was a clue! Then, my neighbor returned and confessed: he put the coffee on my desk. To be nice. A man being "nice," who would have thought of that? But, when he realized it had confused me, he didn't say anything at first.
Thanks for gaslighting me, Neighbor, even if you didn't intend to do it.
It was a big relief! I nearly had myself convinced that I would be moving in with my mom in the near future. Now, one last thing, did I close the garage door that morning?
Yesterday, I attended a lovely baby shower for a dear friend's daughter. Daughter looked great and I'm so happy she is becoming a mother, which in turn will make dear friend a grandmother. Of our small circle of first-job friends, she will be the first to obtain this status and she will rock it!
I look forward to being a grandmother, but I know it is not in Dan's and Carlene's plan for several years, as Carlene wants to complete her nurse practitioner schooling first. Carlene's mom is ready and hoping that a bundle of joy arrives sooner. As I would like to be retired before Baby Dan or Danielle is born, I admit that I am not ready.
340 days to go. That's 340 pots of coffee in zombie world.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Monday, January 20, 2020
Post Traumatic Dress Syndrome
The other day, I received a text from Carlene's mom. She joked that she is experiencing post traumatic stress syndrome because she is flashing back to this time last year when she was searching for a dress to wear to Dan's and Carlene's wedding. Oddly, I had been thinking about that myself as I spent a lot of time scouring the websites of major retailers looking for The Dress while I pedaled my recumbent bike and watched bad TV. That's how I found Dress B which is still hanging around, unworn.
It is hard to believe that Dan and Carlene have been married for over four months already! I commented to Carlene's mom that when I remind my mom that Dan does not have a girlfriend anymore because he has a wife, it is surreal.
The newlyweds seem to be doing well. As they generally work opposite shifts--days for her and nights for him--they often go several days a week without seeing each other. That could contribute to a happier marriage!
For five seemingly endless days last week, I looked forward to the three-day weekend that just flew by. Mr. W and I kept our appointment with the tile salesman on Saturday and selected an array of tile for our master bathroom. The next step is getting a bid from a tile installer from a list obtained from the tile salesman. He said they are all booked at least a month ahead with jobs, so it might take a while just to get an estimate.
Yesterday, I went through a couple of closets and packed three large bags with clothes that I had to be real about not wearing anymore. I went through some clothing that Dan left and packed another bag, but saved a few sentimental items--some baseball jerseys and a monogrammed jacket. Also, I packed two boxes of books and one box of miscellaneous stuff. Went out into the cold this afternoon to drop this shipment at the SVdP thrift shop in our area.
I have plenty of clothes left, but nothing to wear! After lounging around in sweats all weekend, I will experience post traumatic have-to-get-dressed syndrome tomorrow.......
It is hard to believe that Dan and Carlene have been married for over four months already! I commented to Carlene's mom that when I remind my mom that Dan does not have a girlfriend anymore because he has a wife, it is surreal.
The newlyweds seem to be doing well. As they generally work opposite shifts--days for her and nights for him--they often go several days a week without seeing each other. That could contribute to a happier marriage!
For five seemingly endless days last week, I looked forward to the three-day weekend that just flew by. Mr. W and I kept our appointment with the tile salesman on Saturday and selected an array of tile for our master bathroom. The next step is getting a bid from a tile installer from a list obtained from the tile salesman. He said they are all booked at least a month ahead with jobs, so it might take a while just to get an estimate.
Yesterday, I went through a couple of closets and packed three large bags with clothes that I had to be real about not wearing anymore. I went through some clothing that Dan left and packed another bag, but saved a few sentimental items--some baseball jerseys and a monogrammed jacket. Also, I packed two boxes of books and one box of miscellaneous stuff. Went out into the cold this afternoon to drop this shipment at the SVdP thrift shop in our area.
I have plenty of clothes left, but nothing to wear! After lounging around in sweats all weekend, I will experience post traumatic have-to-get-dressed syndrome tomorrow.......
Sunday, January 12, 2020
On the Fence About Tile
Another week down and a new one begun. Profound.
Our master bathroom is in remodel suspension. Mr. W wanted it to be nearly complete by now, a DYI project for him, but I have failed to select the tile which has snowballed into other indecisions. What is known for certain is that an updated shower space is needed and an ugly old jetted tub was not needed. Mr. W did the demo on the tub and cut it into pieces using a very noisy saw. So, that area is down to a plywood floor and cement board on the wall. Very rustic.
The shower is still intact and he is anxious to demo it. He thought he had watched enough how-to- videos on how to install tile, however, Steph was consulted because he recently had his master bath remodeled. Steph suggested that an experienced tile installer would be worth the cost, because a DIY tile job generally looks like a DIY tile job. So, Mr. W is networking to find a genuine tile installer, not one with an on-line degree.
Then, there is me stuck in an indecisive funk. Mr. W says it is my responsibility to pick the tile. He is very aggravated that I haven't made any progress. There is a tile superstore in our area and I have wandered through it three times. I have the tile dust on my coat to prove it. So many choices! I have brought some samples home, but nothing seems right. Don't want to spend a fortune on the premise that we are not going to live here beyond a few more years. However, want to have something that we can enjoy--if that is the right word--and a look that will be attractive to potential buyers when the for-sale time comes.
We went to a different tile superstore yesterday and worked with a salesman who seemed know a thing or two about tile. We have an official appointment with him on Saturday, so another day of shopping for tile to enjoy, which is definitely not the right word...
BFF's last day on payroll was January 7th. She said, "everyone calls and says how great you are on your last day---I'm like 'hey, thanks for waiting 34 years to say something nice.'"
Very profound. She's in Florida now, sipping a giant margarita, not giving those former co-workers another thought. Freedom is great, she reports.
I hope to have the option to experience freedom someday. But first, the big tile decision and at least 354 more days of being under-appreciated. Baby steps.
Our master bathroom is in remodel suspension. Mr. W wanted it to be nearly complete by now, a DYI project for him, but I have failed to select the tile which has snowballed into other indecisions. What is known for certain is that an updated shower space is needed and an ugly old jetted tub was not needed. Mr. W did the demo on the tub and cut it into pieces using a very noisy saw. So, that area is down to a plywood floor and cement board on the wall. Very rustic.
The shower is still intact and he is anxious to demo it. He thought he had watched enough how-to- videos on how to install tile, however, Steph was consulted because he recently had his master bath remodeled. Steph suggested that an experienced tile installer would be worth the cost, because a DIY tile job generally looks like a DIY tile job. So, Mr. W is networking to find a genuine tile installer, not one with an on-line degree.
Then, there is me stuck in an indecisive funk. Mr. W says it is my responsibility to pick the tile. He is very aggravated that I haven't made any progress. There is a tile superstore in our area and I have wandered through it three times. I have the tile dust on my coat to prove it. So many choices! I have brought some samples home, but nothing seems right. Don't want to spend a fortune on the premise that we are not going to live here beyond a few more years. However, want to have something that we can enjoy--if that is the right word--and a look that will be attractive to potential buyers when the for-sale time comes.
We went to a different tile superstore yesterday and worked with a salesman who seemed know a thing or two about tile. We have an official appointment with him on Saturday, so another day of shopping for tile to enjoy, which is definitely not the right word...
BFF's last day on payroll was January 7th. She said, "everyone calls and says how great you are on your last day---I'm like 'hey, thanks for waiting 34 years to say something nice.'"
Very profound. She's in Florida now, sipping a giant margarita, not giving those former co-workers another thought. Freedom is great, she reports.
I hope to have the option to experience freedom someday. But first, the big tile decision and at least 354 more days of being under-appreciated. Baby steps.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Congrats BFF!
Just checking in to keep my New Years' resolution alive.
My BFF's last day of employment is Tuesday!! She has had an excellent career working for a utility company that is known for buying out its aging employees. She turned down several offers in the past, however, a tempting one was presented a couple of months ago and she said "yes." She was planning for retirement next year so this is one precious year of freedom sooner. I am happy for her in spite of my envy. Someone I know is escaping the tyranny of the office grind!! There's hope!!
Run and don't look back!!!! That is my advice. Other than that, two full five-day weeks before the next holiday, MLK Day, and 361 more days until my potential retirement. Give me strength...
My BFF's last day of employment is Tuesday!! She has had an excellent career working for a utility company that is known for buying out its aging employees. She turned down several offers in the past, however, a tempting one was presented a couple of months ago and she said "yes." She was planning for retirement next year so this is one precious year of freedom sooner. I am happy for her in spite of my envy. Someone I know is escaping the tyranny of the office grind!! There's hope!!
Run and don't look back!!!! That is my advice. Other than that, two full five-day weeks before the next holiday, MLK Day, and 361 more days until my potential retirement. Give me strength...
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
2020 - For Real?
Why it seems like it was just a few years ago we were celebrating that all the worlds' computers didn't crash when the New Year was 2000. How could 20 years have passed since Y2K? Doesn't seem possible.
My only 2020 New Years' resolution, so far, is to start blogging again. Many excuses why I barely wrote for the past year, and particularly for the most recent six months. Tired all the time. Elderly dog waking me up in the wee hours every morning to go outside. Weekends go so fast... I feel like I walk out the office door on Friday afternoon and five minutes later, I'm walking back in on Monday morning. I'm chained to a computer for a long five days at work, plus I keep up with office emails and text messages on my phone all days and hours, so I haven't wanted to do anything extra that is digital. So very tired......
I will confess that I took a personal leave of absence from the food pantry in mid-August and I haven't been back yet. I need those couple of hours on Saturday morning to sleep.
Today, I undecorated the Christmas tree (several hundred ornaments that seem to multiply asexually in storage) and the house (not much). Mr. W took the tree down and I just finished vacuuming and putting the family room back the way it was before everything was shoved over to accommodate a seven-by-five fake tree in one corner.
I've been off work since Christmas Eve and not looking forward to going back tomorrow. The eight days off went fast. At least there are only two more days until the weekend.
Christmas was OK; Dan and Carlene are doing great; my mom is doing about the same; and my dog's heart is failing so our time together will be coming to an end soon. He is not suffering yet, according to our vet, but when he starts to suffer, I will be sending him over the rainbow bridge. Boo-hoo!
Finally, it is not definite, but Mr. W says that it is very likely that I will be able to retire at the end of this year. I can't even wrap my brain around how joyful I will feel not to have to drag myself back into the office after the Christmas holidays in 365 days. Of course, it would have to be a leap year, so after counting today, I still have 365 left!
Happy 2020! This is one year that I hope flies by.
My only 2020 New Years' resolution, so far, is to start blogging again. Many excuses why I barely wrote for the past year, and particularly for the most recent six months. Tired all the time. Elderly dog waking me up in the wee hours every morning to go outside. Weekends go so fast... I feel like I walk out the office door on Friday afternoon and five minutes later, I'm walking back in on Monday morning. I'm chained to a computer for a long five days at work, plus I keep up with office emails and text messages on my phone all days and hours, so I haven't wanted to do anything extra that is digital. So very tired......
I will confess that I took a personal leave of absence from the food pantry in mid-August and I haven't been back yet. I need those couple of hours on Saturday morning to sleep.
Today, I undecorated the Christmas tree (several hundred ornaments that seem to multiply asexually in storage) and the house (not much). Mr. W took the tree down and I just finished vacuuming and putting the family room back the way it was before everything was shoved over to accommodate a seven-by-five fake tree in one corner.
I've been off work since Christmas Eve and not looking forward to going back tomorrow. The eight days off went fast. At least there are only two more days until the weekend.
Christmas was OK; Dan and Carlene are doing great; my mom is doing about the same; and my dog's heart is failing so our time together will be coming to an end soon. He is not suffering yet, according to our vet, but when he starts to suffer, I will be sending him over the rainbow bridge. Boo-hoo!
Finally, it is not definite, but Mr. W says that it is very likely that I will be able to retire at the end of this year. I can't even wrap my brain around how joyful I will feel not to have to drag myself back into the office after the Christmas holidays in 365 days. Of course, it would have to be a leap year, so after counting today, I still have 365 left!
Happy 2020! This is one year that I hope flies by.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)