Yep. That's what I've been doing this morning. Well, for most of it. I've been cleaning out desk drawers, packing up my personal things..... (when did I get so many personal things here at the office??)... and getting them ready to take home. Why am I doing this?
No, I didn't get fired. Our Company is moving to a new location in two weeks. They've asked us to start purging - and like most people, I didn't think I had that much. However, as I packed my dishes I keep here to eat off of, my knives I keep here for when I need to cut something I've brought in, my little flag, my oatmeal, my bowl, my vase, my cup(s), my tennis shoes, ... well, I think you get the picture (yes, I had to take those off the wall too).... I have a bag full to take home - and another bag started!! And I've only cleaned out two drawers!!
I have three small drawers left to go - it won't be too bad to go through. And an overhead. I think I'm going to just shred those documents. I have them saved in the computer; no need to hang on to them as I don't think anyone cares.... will think about it a bit more before I trash tho. I'm hoping by the time I go home tonight that I can have most everything I have to remove for now in bags and ready to take home.
We aren't moving for a couple weeks yet (Friday the 13th, no less), but I have been lucky enough to be selected for possible jury duty the week of the 9th. Which means I won't find out until the 7th when I call in if I have to go or not. I don't mind serving, I really don't, but it is a really, really bad week for me to not be in the office. Why?
I have 3 meetings that week that I coordinate and take minutes at. Tuesday, Wednesday and a big one on Thursday. When I submitted my paperwork that yes, I didn't have an excuse big enough to warrant not doing it, but I did beg off for Thursday because of that big meeting. I told them it was my job to do this meeting, and to please let me do my job. I'm hoping that was a good enough beg. Unfortunately, I didn't remember we were moving on the next day, Friday. Of course if I told them that, they definitely wouldn't care and would make me at least come in on Monday. I'm hoping I don't have to even do that. That has happened only once - where I called in and was told not to come in. That always makes me nervous so I listen to it three or four times before I finally convince myself I won't get arrested by not going. I have a week to get my things out of here - but today is not a very productive day.
At least not yet. Although I have been productive in that I have been cleaning out my desk. My boss is working from home today so I can leave early. I won't leave THAT early, but maybe an hour early.
I was asked to bring shredded chicken in for nachos today. Now, I'm just a country gal, but to me nachos are nacho chips with lots of thick cheese on them with jalapenos on top of that. But here, people do things differently. Some put ground beef, and some put chicken, along with the cheese and jalapenos. So I was asked to shred chicken. I cooked the chicken breasts in my pressure cooker for 30 minutes. When I got home late last night, I put the chicken breasts in a bowl - and began the shredding process.
Now mind you, when I see something on Facebook I don't always believe it, but I had seen this one you-tube (and the recipes for two things I've made have been awesome) that showed shredding chicken with your mixer blades. I thought I would try it and see if it worked. IT DID! In less than one minute I had shredded 6 chicken breasts! I couldn't believe it - and neither does anyone else here when I tell them that. They also had seen the you-tube video of it - but didn't believe it. It's going to be a big time-saver for sure! So the chicken is in the crockpot heating up this morning.
We are also having a dessert contest - and I try to participate. I made my peanut butter cup and added gummy worms all over it. That keeps me from eating any!! Let's see if I win! :-)
Most everyone seems to have dressed up for today. We have a clown, one of my managers dressed like Abby from NCIS and looks just like her!!. We have 3-4 of the women who dressed in the black clothes with the lines around their red lips and wearing a veil.... I think it has something to do with 'day of the dead' that from what I understand, Mexicans celebrate. I don't understand it. I'd rather celebrate the day of the Living, than the day of the dead.
Anyway - Lots seem to be in the Halloween spirit and not working - and here I am typing this blog out. Taking a break from packing. But reckon I need to get at it again. At least I get to park in the garage for the next week. My boss is out today so I'm in her parking spot. Next week our medical director is on vacation so I have his badge to get in and out of the garage for next week. I won't have far to carry my bags!
Hope that you have a safe Halloween. I wonder if any of the grandchildren will come by. We don't usually give out candy to the neighborhood as they seem to get bused in and dropped off. We may stay at home, but watch a movie in the back room. But in the past I had candy for the grandchildren. Last year none of the grandchildren came by..... but I still gave them candy. Maybe this is the year to stop it all. They are getting too old, I guess.
Blessings!
Friday, October 30, 2015
Friday, October 23, 2015
To be or not to be....
It's been a busy couple of weeks in my life. Especially this week! We had an outside company coming in to speak with our 100+ case managers - and the job of coordinating all the case managers and the two sessions became my responsibility. Lucky me. I "lost" literally 4 days of work this week. Sometimes I wonder about case managers..... I sent out an email that we have a webinar. They had a choice - come in at 10AM "in person" for it, or come in at 1PM "in person" for it, or stay at home and jump on their computer for the powerpoint presentation and call in to hear the discussion. How hard is that choice? Their director wrote the email explaining this, and I sent it out so that all the responses would come to me. (lucky me - filled my inbox time and again)
I began to get their responses and I recorded them on an excel spreadsheet. By Wednesday I was nearly done with the list when one case manager says..... I think I got confused; I am doing the 10AM webinar from home and am not coming in.
Now what the "voting" choices were: 1) 10AM session; 2) 1PM session; and 3) Webinar only. I guess that wasn't so clear.
So I send out another email to everyone to clear up the confusion. "I don't care what time you call in for the seminar - I only need to know if you are doing the webinar from home, or if you are coming in to the office. If you are coming in to the office, I need to know what time so that I can make sure we have enough space."
So all the emails come in again with their comments. Thursday morning I was still getting "I think I'm confused. I'm doing the 10AM webinar from my home." (I DON'T CARE!!) or, "I signed up for the 10AM Webinar from home, can I change that to the 1PM Webinar from home?" or "I signed up to come in to the office at 10AM - but I'm doing to do it from home" - which changed my lists over and over. By 10AM when the webinar was to start, I had mentally "quit" keeping notes.
Then the outside source could not get their computer to work with our system, so had to email to me their presentation, and I had to sign in the computer in the conference room so they could do the presentation. Bad part? Due to security reasons (they were "inside" our computer system through my signon) I had to stay in the room for both sessions. It was interesting, and I did get lunch out of it. But it was the fourth day I was unable to get my own work done.
Throw in we had a 'cutest pet' contest to get money for United Way. 10 Photos were sent in - and only 8 have paid. We have the prizes and none of the unpaid ones won, but I have contacted the two that I put their money in so please come in and pay me back. So that took a lot of time - I had to print the photos and post on the wall, then send all the photos out, and then get all the votes counted this morning.
I'm finally "done" to get my own work done today. It's Friday. I don't know where to start.
But with all that was done this week.... let's look at the positives.... we had a silent auction for United Way and I won a basket (which I donated to a grandson's silent auction for school). It also gave me an idea for Christmas. Last Thursday I got "honored" in an employee meeting. I couldn't go because other people had backed my work up and I was on a deadline to get binders put together for an early meeting the next morning. The company honored me with a "champion" certificate AND a nice visa gift card. I haven't spent it yet - but I'm thinking what would I possibly want to do with it. I may just use it to buy Christmas gifts, but then again..... I'm just not rushing out to spend it. See - two positives within a week! And I got to 'pay it forward' with the gift basket. (NO, I'm not paying it forward with this gift card - although I have in the past.)
I'm speaking at one of our RV park churches November 1st and I have a rough draft on the message. It's about getting to know Jesus. If you never told someone you were a Christian, would they know it by the way you live your life? Does your life shout "Jesus"?
Stuart Briscoe in his book Getting into God tells an interesting story of one night when he was putting his kids to bed. He liked to take time with his kids and have a prayer with them before he tucked them in. With one of his sons, when he went into his room, the kid was already in bed. He sat beside him, put his hand on him, and said, "do you have anything you want us to pray about tonight?" And his sons says "no". So Stuart Briscoe says, "no troubles going on?" and the boy says "no". And Stuart Briscoe says 'I know my son, I know he has troubles, he just isn't owning up to them.' So I started thinking about how hard it was to be a Christian and to live and go to school, how kids make fun of you for being a Christian, and he said, "don't the other kids at school make fun of you for being a Christian?" And his son said "no". Stuart Briscoe said he thought about it for a second and he said that can't be right, so he said, "I don't believe that, I'm sure the kids make fun of you when they find out you are a Christian." And my son replied, "no, all the more reason you don't let them know.".
His son just might have voiced what is the challenge for most of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. And he said that maybe, just maybe, we don't let people know who we are simply because we are so uncomfortable in talking about it.
Interesting, don't you think? So are you living your life as a Jesus follower so that others know you have Jesus living in you - or would they question it if you said you were a Christian..... think about that.
Blessings!
I began to get their responses and I recorded them on an excel spreadsheet. By Wednesday I was nearly done with the list when one case manager says..... I think I got confused; I am doing the 10AM webinar from home and am not coming in.
Now what the "voting" choices were: 1) 10AM session; 2) 1PM session; and 3) Webinar only. I guess that wasn't so clear.
So I send out another email to everyone to clear up the confusion. "I don't care what time you call in for the seminar - I only need to know if you are doing the webinar from home, or if you are coming in to the office. If you are coming in to the office, I need to know what time so that I can make sure we have enough space."
So all the emails come in again with their comments. Thursday morning I was still getting "I think I'm confused. I'm doing the 10AM webinar from my home." (I DON'T CARE!!) or, "I signed up for the 10AM Webinar from home, can I change that to the 1PM Webinar from home?" or "I signed up to come in to the office at 10AM - but I'm doing to do it from home" - which changed my lists over and over. By 10AM when the webinar was to start, I had mentally "quit" keeping notes.
Then the outside source could not get their computer to work with our system, so had to email to me their presentation, and I had to sign in the computer in the conference room so they could do the presentation. Bad part? Due to security reasons (they were "inside" our computer system through my signon) I had to stay in the room for both sessions. It was interesting, and I did get lunch out of it. But it was the fourth day I was unable to get my own work done.
Throw in we had a 'cutest pet' contest to get money for United Way. 10 Photos were sent in - and only 8 have paid. We have the prizes and none of the unpaid ones won, but I have contacted the two that I put their money in so please come in and pay me back. So that took a lot of time - I had to print the photos and post on the wall, then send all the photos out, and then get all the votes counted this morning.
I'm finally "done" to get my own work done today. It's Friday. I don't know where to start.
But with all that was done this week.... let's look at the positives.... we had a silent auction for United Way and I won a basket (which I donated to a grandson's silent auction for school). It also gave me an idea for Christmas. Last Thursday I got "honored" in an employee meeting. I couldn't go because other people had backed my work up and I was on a deadline to get binders put together for an early meeting the next morning. The company honored me with a "champion" certificate AND a nice visa gift card. I haven't spent it yet - but I'm thinking what would I possibly want to do with it. I may just use it to buy Christmas gifts, but then again..... I'm just not rushing out to spend it. See - two positives within a week! And I got to 'pay it forward' with the gift basket. (NO, I'm not paying it forward with this gift card - although I have in the past.)
I'm speaking at one of our RV park churches November 1st and I have a rough draft on the message. It's about getting to know Jesus. If you never told someone you were a Christian, would they know it by the way you live your life? Does your life shout "Jesus"?
Stuart Briscoe in his book Getting into God tells an interesting story of one night when he was putting his kids to bed. He liked to take time with his kids and have a prayer with them before he tucked them in. With one of his sons, when he went into his room, the kid was already in bed. He sat beside him, put his hand on him, and said, "do you have anything you want us to pray about tonight?" And his sons says "no". So Stuart Briscoe says, "no troubles going on?" and the boy says "no". And Stuart Briscoe says 'I know my son, I know he has troubles, he just isn't owning up to them.' So I started thinking about how hard it was to be a Christian and to live and go to school, how kids make fun of you for being a Christian, and he said, "don't the other kids at school make fun of you for being a Christian?" And his son said "no". Stuart Briscoe said he thought about it for a second and he said that can't be right, so he said, "I don't believe that, I'm sure the kids make fun of you when they find out you are a Christian." And my son replied, "no, all the more reason you don't let them know.".
His son just might have voiced what is the challenge for most of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. And he said that maybe, just maybe, we don't let people know who we are simply because we are so uncomfortable in talking about it.
Interesting, don't you think? So are you living your life as a Jesus follower so that others know you have Jesus living in you - or would they question it if you said you were a Christian..... think about that.
Blessings!
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Seriously?
My first email here at work kind of set me off this morning. It's one of those - "Seriously? You think the world revolves around you?" Another company is wanting to do a webinar in our conference room later on this month. I have reserved the conference room. I sent them an email yesterday to inquire exactly what times are the webinars (there are two) to ensure I reserved enough time. The email this morning stated "Sue B (my boss) has already reserved the room for us for this time and that time. If you would order us snacks and drinks for the meetings, and then lunch for a small group, it would be appreciated." REALLY? At this moment, we don't expect anyone to come to the webinar - after all, it IS a webinar, and they can "attend" it from their laptops at home. It is NOT a mandatory meeting for them to come into the office for an hour and a half. I started three times to respond back - things like: "My boss did NOT schedule the conference room, I did. No one wants to come to your meeting in person so it is just you so I'm not ordering you snacks nor lunch." But I erased it. Very unprofessional. Does she think my boss (who is very capable of reserving rooms and setting up meetings), as a Vice President - is at their beck and call for scheduling? Of course my boss asked me, as her admin, to schedule the room. Geez.
And I messed up this week. Big time. I had a pizza at college with my granddaughter and daughter last night. There was a short time before that my daughter and I were alone - and she mentioned I forgot her birthday. I looked at her and said, "no, I didn't. I gave you money." She just responded "oh you did? I must have forgotten." Then she reminded me I forgot this month's birthday. And I had. Totally. October 5th is her 14th BMT birthday. I have always remembered with a small gift and even taking cake and/or ice cream over to her to celebrate. Mom is usually the only one who remembered all these years. And this year, mom forgot. She forgave me though and took me out for Cold Stone ice cream before taking me home. I made sure it is in my phone and on my calendar so I don't forget again. Geez - I felt terrible!
I got my flu shot yesterday. I didn't even feel the needle go in - which is a big change from last year when the pharmacist stabbed us versus inserting the needle. This year it was so easy - but by mid-afternoon my arm was hurting. It obviously bothered me most of the night too for I did not sleep well at all. Hubby said that I kept tossing and turning, trying to stay off my left arm. Bet I sleep good tonight - providing my arm quits hurting. I debated on even getting a flu shot this year, but knew I'd be in a battle with my doctor. I just get tired of having all kinds of 'stuff' pumped into my body - even preventative - I think I'd rather get the flu - or take a chance on it.
One thing I am glad about. Regardless of how my day has started here at work, my day at home started out with spending time with my Heavenly Father. I'm glad I do that for I could really have 'gone off' on that email, but because I spent time first, I am able to step back and let it go. I'm also glad that when I mess up and forget a special event, my Heavenly Father doesn't forget me. It doesn't matter what I've got going on, He will walk me through it, around it, and up and over it. And He also is my Healer and will touch my arm and will relieve it of any discomfort.
I love and serve a Great God, One who cares about crazy emails, missed dates, and not feeling well. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Him to lead me.
Blessings!
And I messed up this week. Big time. I had a pizza at college with my granddaughter and daughter last night. There was a short time before that my daughter and I were alone - and she mentioned I forgot her birthday. I looked at her and said, "no, I didn't. I gave you money." She just responded "oh you did? I must have forgotten." Then she reminded me I forgot this month's birthday. And I had. Totally. October 5th is her 14th BMT birthday. I have always remembered with a small gift and even taking cake and/or ice cream over to her to celebrate. Mom is usually the only one who remembered all these years. And this year, mom forgot. She forgave me though and took me out for Cold Stone ice cream before taking me home. I made sure it is in my phone and on my calendar so I don't forget again. Geez - I felt terrible!
I got my flu shot yesterday. I didn't even feel the needle go in - which is a big change from last year when the pharmacist stabbed us versus inserting the needle. This year it was so easy - but by mid-afternoon my arm was hurting. It obviously bothered me most of the night too for I did not sleep well at all. Hubby said that I kept tossing and turning, trying to stay off my left arm. Bet I sleep good tonight - providing my arm quits hurting. I debated on even getting a flu shot this year, but knew I'd be in a battle with my doctor. I just get tired of having all kinds of 'stuff' pumped into my body - even preventative - I think I'd rather get the flu - or take a chance on it.
One thing I am glad about. Regardless of how my day has started here at work, my day at home started out with spending time with my Heavenly Father. I'm glad I do that for I could really have 'gone off' on that email, but because I spent time first, I am able to step back and let it go. I'm also glad that when I mess up and forget a special event, my Heavenly Father doesn't forget me. It doesn't matter what I've got going on, He will walk me through it, around it, and up and over it. And He also is my Healer and will touch my arm and will relieve it of any discomfort.
I love and serve a Great God, One who cares about crazy emails, missed dates, and not feeling well. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Him to lead me.
Blessings!
Monday, October 5, 2015
Monday, Monday.....
Name of a song by the Mamas and Papas, isn't it? I'm sitting here thinking of what in the world could I write about today - after all, I haven't written for a couple weeks. I'm sure I have had some wonderful things to write about, but alas, just didn't get them written.
My boss has an outside meeting today so I have a little bit of time to myself before needing to get on my work. That is the plus of coming in to work earlier than I need to. If I want to start working, I can (and often do), but if I want to do something else, I can do that too. I remembered on the way in that my boss had the outside meeting and would be starting from home - which means I get to park in her parking spot in the covered garage - and a block closer to the building! Good thing for today as it is to rain. Yes, the forecast is rain today. In Phoenix. Can you even imagine? We had some nice rain yesterday morning. I love the sound of rain - time for naps, reading, baking, and just relaxing. Not yesterday tho - had to get ready for church - but the rain stopped before we left. I got a few sprinkles on the way in to work this morning, but that was it. Supposedly we are to get a lot of rain today. We shall see......
I became obsessed last week. I know that is hard to believe. Life went on as usual, but I had a couple challenges thrown at me from people who also have a Fitbit. I really enjoy my Fitbit and am glad it pushes me to walk more. But last week, my little sister challenged me for five days (to see who gets the most steps in - I won) and a friend included me with six other friends for the five day challenge as well. I accepted that one too. (I won that one too.) But in doing that, I became obsessed with getting my steps in. Which isn't always a good thing. It is difficult to work at my desk when I'm trying to get steps in. I was walking up and down stairs to get steps in. I was walking the halls. I was standing in place and walking. ANYTHING to get steps in! I ended up with 80,179 steps for the five days. I mean, I put some miles in last week! But, with that obsession to win, I didn't get as much done here at work as I should have - and got nothing done on my quilting.
So when I received another challenge for this week from my sister, I waited a couple days to think it over before responding. And then I declined. But I did send her an explanation as to why I was declining. And she understood. I need to get a lot done this week (preparation for big meeting this week and next week), and I really want to get these quilts completed soon so that I can focus on my baking for Christmas. Some things I can bake now and put in freezer and they will be just fine.
My sister said she understood what I was saying. The fact that I work 50+ hours a week AND still beat 8 people - I think that is pretty darn good!! But my discouragement rises from the fact there has been no weight loss with all this walking I've been doing! I think I'm going to have to step it up with high-intensity workouts in order to lose weight. My lil' sister says she has lost an enormous amount of weight - to where she weighs less than me now.... it is what it is I guess!!
As I was doing my quiet time this morning and thinking about what I was reading, the obsession of walking last week came to mind. I love to walk. But, just like in anything, moderation is a good thing. My doctor has told me for years - 3x week, 1/2 hour is good. I think it's my food that's keeping the weight on. :-) I do love to eat!! Guess I need to re-evaluate portions and eat more fruit and veggies. Guess it's time to go grocery shopping.
I want my obsession to be more like Jesus. When He called me to Him, and said 'Follow Me', He meant more than just going to church. He meant more than just being nice to people. He meant I should be like Him. My obsession should be in walking as Jesus walked. I can give you all kinds of excuses why that is so hard.... and yet I can give you all kinds of reasons why it is so easy. The choice is mine. And the choice is yours.
I want to be so close to Jesus that the dust from His sandals gets on me. To do that, He has to be my all in all.
What about you? What is your obsession? What is your greatest desire? Hopefully, like mine, it is to draw nearer to the One who loves me more than anyone else.
Blessings!
My boss has an outside meeting today so I have a little bit of time to myself before needing to get on my work. That is the plus of coming in to work earlier than I need to. If I want to start working, I can (and often do), but if I want to do something else, I can do that too. I remembered on the way in that my boss had the outside meeting and would be starting from home - which means I get to park in her parking spot in the covered garage - and a block closer to the building! Good thing for today as it is to rain. Yes, the forecast is rain today. In Phoenix. Can you even imagine? We had some nice rain yesterday morning. I love the sound of rain - time for naps, reading, baking, and just relaxing. Not yesterday tho - had to get ready for church - but the rain stopped before we left. I got a few sprinkles on the way in to work this morning, but that was it. Supposedly we are to get a lot of rain today. We shall see......
I became obsessed last week. I know that is hard to believe. Life went on as usual, but I had a couple challenges thrown at me from people who also have a Fitbit. I really enjoy my Fitbit and am glad it pushes me to walk more. But last week, my little sister challenged me for five days (to see who gets the most steps in - I won) and a friend included me with six other friends for the five day challenge as well. I accepted that one too. (I won that one too.) But in doing that, I became obsessed with getting my steps in. Which isn't always a good thing. It is difficult to work at my desk when I'm trying to get steps in. I was walking up and down stairs to get steps in. I was walking the halls. I was standing in place and walking. ANYTHING to get steps in! I ended up with 80,179 steps for the five days. I mean, I put some miles in last week! But, with that obsession to win, I didn't get as much done here at work as I should have - and got nothing done on my quilting.
So when I received another challenge for this week from my sister, I waited a couple days to think it over before responding. And then I declined. But I did send her an explanation as to why I was declining. And she understood. I need to get a lot done this week (preparation for big meeting this week and next week), and I really want to get these quilts completed soon so that I can focus on my baking for Christmas. Some things I can bake now and put in freezer and they will be just fine.
My sister said she understood what I was saying. The fact that I work 50+ hours a week AND still beat 8 people - I think that is pretty darn good!! But my discouragement rises from the fact there has been no weight loss with all this walking I've been doing! I think I'm going to have to step it up with high-intensity workouts in order to lose weight. My lil' sister says she has lost an enormous amount of weight - to where she weighs less than me now.... it is what it is I guess!!
As I was doing my quiet time this morning and thinking about what I was reading, the obsession of walking last week came to mind. I love to walk. But, just like in anything, moderation is a good thing. My doctor has told me for years - 3x week, 1/2 hour is good. I think it's my food that's keeping the weight on. :-) I do love to eat!! Guess I need to re-evaluate portions and eat more fruit and veggies. Guess it's time to go grocery shopping.
I want my obsession to be more like Jesus. When He called me to Him, and said 'Follow Me', He meant more than just going to church. He meant more than just being nice to people. He meant I should be like Him. My obsession should be in walking as Jesus walked. I can give you all kinds of excuses why that is so hard.... and yet I can give you all kinds of reasons why it is so easy. The choice is mine. And the choice is yours.
I want to be so close to Jesus that the dust from His sandals gets on me. To do that, He has to be my all in all.
What about you? What is your obsession? What is your greatest desire? Hopefully, like mine, it is to draw nearer to the One who loves me more than anyone else.
Blessings!
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