So it's 11:15 at night. You suddenly realise that your period is about to start. Yes, calendars can help, but are not perfect, especially when you are in the throes of perimenopause. (My app, which analyses my periods as I put them in, says I start in six days, and it's usually pretty close). Do I have any feminine products in the house? I do a quick search and find three pads. Enough so I don't have to rush out to the store and buy them tonight. This is also why women squirrel tampons and pads in their purses, their work desks, etc. Whew!
Or we could be like Sheldon.
Friday, June 30, 2017
With much effort
after being in bed almost all day except for occasional foraging for food, I got up and showered, got on some comfortable yet clean clothes, and went over to YKWIA's for a small shopping list and went to the store so we'd both have food while we fight off this cold. He is not happy I brought a plague into the house. Also, we called Brenda and told her about the plague. She's having some sinus issues, but we're actually contagious, I think and feel crappy, so he called off the game. Brenda has a possible conflict next week so we won't play for two. We've generally been consistent, with just a few hiatuses. This week actually marks the 26th anniversary of the weekly Call of Cthulhu game that we've been playing continuously. It's an interactive story that just has kept going on. We've been raising kids, fighting Cthulhoid monsters, surviving attacks from warlocks and witch hunters, occasionally going mad, that sort of thing. The kids are actually the toughest part. I do love the game. I am, however, not going to do the game notes tonight. I'm going back to bed for awhile. I'm so tired.
That's weird
Although I was initially creeped out by the Windows 'Hello' face-recognition software on my new laptop, I've gotten used to the much quicker sign in. So I was surprised that it wasn't coming up after the last update, meaning I had to not just turn it on, but actually set it back up again, including training it to recognise me with and without glasses. I found that a little odd. But at least it only took a few moments, and it still recognised my PIN and password.
How is it
that I am 50 years old, spent 12 years in school from kindergarten through high school (yeah, I know, it should be 13, but I skipped first grade) in nine different schools and five different states, five years as an undergraduate in college--including matriculating through a 'Great Works' programme--and eleven years in graduate school studying library science and European history (albeit prior to 1789), and until yesterday I had no idea that Alexandre Dumas, the author of numerous beloved novels and other writings, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Christo, was the grandson of a Haitian African slave? Granted, I read The Three Musketeers, which I adored--and one day I should read the sequels--on my own, not as part of my schooling. When I was a kid I loved anything which involved swordplay. I was also a great fan of Zorro, and I also loved The Scarlet Pimpernel. But you would think that detail would have been gleaned sometime in all those years of education. Of course, our system, particularly when I was young, was biased towards European white authors, but still.... Anyway, I know it now, at least.
I'm home from work today due to a bad cold. I spent yesterday at work, using copious amounts of hand sanitizer, but I blew a lot of snot out of my nose constantly, coughed, sneezed, felt like my head was ten times its size, and just generally felt miserable, and when I woke up this morning, after a fitful night, I felt worse. I texted my boss to see if I could stay home and then went back to sleep. I woke up again at 8:30 am, called YKWIA to see if he wanted to go to the doctor if I could get an appointment for both of us, but he is trying to keep the medical bills down, so he declined. I then called our doctor's office to see if I could get in, but they are already usually closed by 1 pm on Fridays, and they were going to leave early due to the impending holiday, too, so I couldn't. I could go the Little Clinic at Kroger, but it usually takes forever, according to people who've gone, and frankly, I don't feel like sitting or walking around Kroger that long. So instead I went back to bed and slept for about two-and-a-half hours, and then woke up, took my medicine, and got some food in me. I feel a little better. I still have a headache and I am stuffy with a sore throat (those frozen fruit bars help with that) and earache, but the pressure in my head isn't quite so bad, and while I'm still blowing stuff out of my nose, it isn't quite as constant. On the other hand, I've only been up less than an hour and I'm already tired so I may go back to bed for awhile--I just wanted to that stuff and feed the fish. But despite the rest I've gotten, I'm still pretty pooped. But then, that is a defining symptom of a viral infection, that feeling of being hit by a truck and having no energy. I really couldn't have worked today, even though it was a lighter day. My brain feels like mush, and it's just too much mental juggling to do when you're not at your best. Plus, the woman I sit next to is five months' pregnant, and while it's possible that I've passed my cold to her already, I did at least try to keep away from her as much as possible, use lots of sanitizer, etc., and it wasn't as bad yesterday, to the point where at first I still thought it was allergies. I also made sure I didn't infect anything as far as anything I handed the families. Some of our kids are medically fragile and certainly don't need a cold. But all in all, for my sake and theirs, it seemed better to stay home today.
I hate to say it, but I'm going to have to go back to bed. I almost wrote 'good night', even though it's sunny outside (or was when I started this, as it now looks like it's clouding up). Have a good day, and stay healthy, because being sick, even a fairly icky cold, sucks. I know, it could be far worse, of course.
I'm home from work today due to a bad cold. I spent yesterday at work, using copious amounts of hand sanitizer, but I blew a lot of snot out of my nose constantly, coughed, sneezed, felt like my head was ten times its size, and just generally felt miserable, and when I woke up this morning, after a fitful night, I felt worse. I texted my boss to see if I could stay home and then went back to sleep. I woke up again at 8:30 am, called YKWIA to see if he wanted to go to the doctor if I could get an appointment for both of us, but he is trying to keep the medical bills down, so he declined. I then called our doctor's office to see if I could get in, but they are already usually closed by 1 pm on Fridays, and they were going to leave early due to the impending holiday, too, so I couldn't. I could go the Little Clinic at Kroger, but it usually takes forever, according to people who've gone, and frankly, I don't feel like sitting or walking around Kroger that long. So instead I went back to bed and slept for about two-and-a-half hours, and then woke up, took my medicine, and got some food in me. I feel a little better. I still have a headache and I am stuffy with a sore throat (those frozen fruit bars help with that) and earache, but the pressure in my head isn't quite so bad, and while I'm still blowing stuff out of my nose, it isn't quite as constant. On the other hand, I've only been up less than an hour and I'm already tired so I may go back to bed for awhile--I just wanted to that stuff and feed the fish. But despite the rest I've gotten, I'm still pretty pooped. But then, that is a defining symptom of a viral infection, that feeling of being hit by a truck and having no energy. I really couldn't have worked today, even though it was a lighter day. My brain feels like mush, and it's just too much mental juggling to do when you're not at your best. Plus, the woman I sit next to is five months' pregnant, and while it's possible that I've passed my cold to her already, I did at least try to keep away from her as much as possible, use lots of sanitizer, etc., and it wasn't as bad yesterday, to the point where at first I still thought it was allergies. I also made sure I didn't infect anything as far as anything I handed the families. Some of our kids are medically fragile and certainly don't need a cold. But all in all, for my sake and theirs, it seemed better to stay home today.
I hate to say it, but I'm going to have to go back to bed. I almost wrote 'good night', even though it's sunny outside (or was when I started this, as it now looks like it's clouding up). Have a good day, and stay healthy, because being sick, even a fairly icky cold, sucks. I know, it could be far worse, of course.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
I was quietly, slightly, just-a-little-bit miserable yesterday evening
because of what I had originally thought to be allergies which bloomed quickly into a full-blown crud, causing me to fall asleep within a half an hour after getting back from visiting with YKWIA and helping him with some things. I felt warm, my head had a lot of pressure, and my throat and ears ached. I was more tired than usual, too. But today it's been a raging cold, even with some Stahist, which is the only cold medicine I had (but I went to the store after work and got some 12-hour maximum strength Mucinex). I have been blowing my nose and consequently using hand sanitizer all day. The sheer amount of mucous coming out of my nose astounds me. It's a little yellow, so I'm pretty sure I have a sinus infection, too, and there's so much pressure built up in my sinuses that I feel like my head is about 10 times the size it should be. Unfortunately, YKWIA now has it as well--and he'd just about gotten over bronchitis that we each got right before I started working at the hospital again. Now that I'm working with the public again I am more likely to get sick and consequently spread it to him. I could go to the doctor, who would put me on steroids and give me some doxycycline, but most likely it's viral anyway, although the steroids could help. But it's not down in my chest, so I'm thinking the Stahist (an antihistamine) and the Mucinex (an expectorant) are enough with which to start, and save the steroids for helping with breathing should it travel down to my lungs.
Just before work ended yesterday, my boss asked me to come into her office. She wanted to talk to me because the job I applied for, a full-time position, which has not been officially approved by corporate as of yet, was one in which she would prefer to have someone with years of scheduling experience instead of the months I have, who can do the breadth of what is needed for the department. However, there was a PRN position which basically is the same as what I'm doing, and she offered it to me although I'd originally been sceptical of that one. But it is fully approved, would pay about the same as the full-time position, and while she couldn't guarantee a certain number of hours, we are so busy and most likely will continue to be, especially during trauma season, so I'd probably be able to get about 30-35 hours in a week, with a minimum of maybe 24. That would work with my appointments and job search, and she realises that I would, indeed, leave for a full-time library position. I ran the numbers last night, based on the salary range for the other job, which I knew, and it would be very tight, but depending on how many hours, the rate, and the deductions, it was worth taking, and it would certainly be better than another four-and-half limited months of unemployment. The main drawback to it, versus the other position, was that I figured there would be no benefits, so I'd have to pay about $750 a month from savings for medical and dental.
However, today I asked about the salary range (it was pretty much the same as the other) and how it would affect COBRA. Turns out, I would be benefit eligible. I could get medical, dental, and vision at the somewhat higher part-time rate, but it would be much cheaper than COBRA. I would be a new employee again, so I'd have to start over as far as the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum goes, but the insurance at the hospital is very good. Our deductible is only $150 and our out-of-pocket max is only $1500. This is why some people work there for years part-time solely for the benefits. Given this information, I decided to accept the offer. The main hurdle is that they will have to write a justification for hiring me after laying me off, but they don't anticipate that being a problem since the job is desperately needed and I've been filling in as a contractor.
Anyway, she was going to notify human resources and start the ball rolling. It does mean less money, but might be a good bridge while I'm looking for full-time work as a librarian. Of course, that's what I thought of my old job to some degree, and it lasted 20 years. :)
I feel good about the decision. I think as long as I am very careful with my money, I can live on the wages. Also, I do have some of my severance left, enough to take care of those medical expenses and still have enough to supplement for awhile. So we'll see.
Just before work ended yesterday, my boss asked me to come into her office. She wanted to talk to me because the job I applied for, a full-time position, which has not been officially approved by corporate as of yet, was one in which she would prefer to have someone with years of scheduling experience instead of the months I have, who can do the breadth of what is needed for the department. However, there was a PRN position which basically is the same as what I'm doing, and she offered it to me although I'd originally been sceptical of that one. But it is fully approved, would pay about the same as the full-time position, and while she couldn't guarantee a certain number of hours, we are so busy and most likely will continue to be, especially during trauma season, so I'd probably be able to get about 30-35 hours in a week, with a minimum of maybe 24. That would work with my appointments and job search, and she realises that I would, indeed, leave for a full-time library position. I ran the numbers last night, based on the salary range for the other job, which I knew, and it would be very tight, but depending on how many hours, the rate, and the deductions, it was worth taking, and it would certainly be better than another four-and-half limited months of unemployment. The main drawback to it, versus the other position, was that I figured there would be no benefits, so I'd have to pay about $750 a month from savings for medical and dental.
However, today I asked about the salary range (it was pretty much the same as the other) and how it would affect COBRA. Turns out, I would be benefit eligible. I could get medical, dental, and vision at the somewhat higher part-time rate, but it would be much cheaper than COBRA. I would be a new employee again, so I'd have to start over as far as the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum goes, but the insurance at the hospital is very good. Our deductible is only $150 and our out-of-pocket max is only $1500. This is why some people work there for years part-time solely for the benefits. Given this information, I decided to accept the offer. The main hurdle is that they will have to write a justification for hiring me after laying me off, but they don't anticipate that being a problem since the job is desperately needed and I've been filling in as a contractor.
Anyway, she was going to notify human resources and start the ball rolling. It does mean less money, but might be a good bridge while I'm looking for full-time work as a librarian. Of course, that's what I thought of my old job to some degree, and it lasted 20 years. :)
I feel good about the decision. I think as long as I am very careful with my money, I can live on the wages. Also, I do have some of my severance left, enough to take care of those medical expenses and still have enough to supplement for awhile. So we'll see.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
I have been pretty busy lately
as I'm sure you can tell from my lack of posting. I've been staying up later but my evenings and the weekend have been pretty full of various errands, being with friends, or just trying to get some things accomplished, but I never got around to actually talking about them, I'm afraid. I actually missed a deadline for a job application with the Lexington Public Library the other day for a children's librarian at Northside yesterday because I was really tired late Sunday night when I got home, and I couldn't get myself out of bed early enough to work on it before work. So tonight, I got off work a little early (well, the original time I was supposed to work till, 4:30 pm), went to an appointment, and got out pretty quickly, by 5:35 (it was a 5:15 appointment, and I barely got to the car and there with just about three minutes to spare, so it worked out well). I was over in Beaumont for the appointment, and I needed to go to the credit union, and then I realised there is one in the area, so I didn't have to drive over to the university. Instead, I deposited a pay cheque at the credit union and then headed over to the Beaumont Branch of the Lexington Public Library to see what they may have. But I am a bit confused, as I see no new books at all, and I'm not sure where they keep them. I've found the regular books, the CDs, the 'Top Shelf' books, and the Holds, but no new books. I'll have to ask before I go. I'm sure it's glaringly obvious and I'm just not seeing it.
I am resisting the urge to go to another place down the street--Masala, the Indian restaurant I like very much. It's evening so I could order Peshwari naan (my favourite) and vegetable korma, which goes very well with it. But I have to admit, I do need to eat soon, and I am in the neighbourhood...perhaps I will at least check their dinner hours.
I think I'll download the recording from the game and maybe start on the notes--there was a lot of investigation this time, as we started a new adventure, this time a series of murders in Glasgow, Scotland. So I thought I should get an early start on the game notes.
Okay, I'll try to write later, but just in case, have a great evening.
I am resisting the urge to go to another place down the street--Masala, the Indian restaurant I like very much. It's evening so I could order Peshwari naan (my favourite) and vegetable korma, which goes very well with it. But I have to admit, I do need to eat soon, and I am in the neighbourhood...perhaps I will at least check their dinner hours.
I think I'll download the recording from the game and maybe start on the notes--there was a lot of investigation this time, as we started a new adventure, this time a series of murders in Glasgow, Scotland. So I thought I should get an early start on the game notes.
Okay, I'll try to write later, but just in case, have a great evening.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
:)
One of my favourite medical books from my former library...
(YKWIA showed me several of the University of Chicago's medical students' parodies tonight.) Check them out. And Netter's is a beautifully drawn (old school illustration) text. Netter was extremely knowledgeable and talented, being both a surgeon and illustrator. If you have an interest in anatomy, you simply must take a look at his work, which has been a standard in medical education for years.
(YKWIA showed me several of the University of Chicago's medical students' parodies tonight.) Check them out. And Netter's is a beautifully drawn (old school illustration) text. Netter was extremely knowledgeable and talented, being both a surgeon and illustrator. If you have an interest in anatomy, you simply must take a look at his work, which has been a standard in medical education for years.
Monday, June 19, 2017
I
came out from visiting a friend and was about to take him to the grocery only to find my rear driver's side tyre had picked up a screw and had gone flat. I waited 2 hours for roadside assistance to come change it (I can change a tyre, but it takes me about an hour and I do better with a cross-shaped lug wrench, which I didn't have). Thank goodness I wasn't actually out on the highway; I was safe in a driveway. Then it turned out that the 16-year-old doughnut tyre was almost flat. We carefully proceeded up the road to Thornton's to use their air machine, as I apparently neglected to put my compressor into this car. It was so flat my brake and anti-lock brake lights came on before I put the air in. Then we went to the grocery, I dropped him off, and came carefully home. We started the whole process at 7:30 pm and I got home at 11:30 or so. Whew! Who knew going to the grocery to get dog food could be such an adventure? My road warranty is over (the tyre is 4 1/2 years old, and the warranty was for three). Anyone know what I should have to pay to plug a small hole or where the best place to go should be? Thanks!
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Veni, vidi, legi
Terence Tunberg was one of my professors at UK. I have his Latin translation of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. I also have other translators' versions of 'Winnie the Pooh', 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone', and 'The Hobbit'. And yes, I can read them, albeit I may have to reach for a dictionary on occasion, as my Latin is a bit rusty.
The Highbrow Struggles of Translating Modern Children’s Books Into Latin
The Highbrow Struggles of Translating Modern Children’s Books Into Latin
Tunberg, who specializes in neo-Latin, or the use of Latin after the Romans were dead and gone, never planned on translating kids’ books, but was contacted by prominent Classics textbook publisher Bolchazy-Carducci, who had purchased the rights to some of Dr. Seuss’s works. Given his background with the language, and his interest in how Latin evolved after Rome, the prospect of translating these modern works was right up his alley. Of course, the real reasons for the project didn’t escape him.
“As a textbook publisher, they’re out to make money. They caught on to the idea that if they have very young children’s stories in Latin along with the regular books by Caesar and Cicero and all these other people, it would be a draw. And they were right. I still get royalties,” says Tunberg.
Allergy shot woes
I think next week when they ask me if I had any problem with my last allergy shots, I'll have to show them this. They always itch, sometimes for days, but this time they're red, swollen, and the left actually hurts enough to take ibuprofen. This is after 24 hours. I actually had trouble sleeping last night, despite anti-itch cream, because of the pain (I sleep on my left side usually). I am up near the top of my build, almost to maintenance dose.
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| Right arm |
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| Left arm |
Saturday, June 17, 2017
So it's been an interesting week, anyway
It was very busy at work. One day we had over 200 on the schedule and over 150 showed up. That was a record, I think. It will only become more normal, though, now that we're taking over the university's paediatric orthopaedic clinic. But with a lot of teamwork, it went pretty well.
I didn't hear anything about the Owenton job until Friday. They went with another candidate, I suspect because they realised I couldn't take the position. There were just too many drawbacks. I wish I could have made it work. But I still have other local applications out there, and there's a Lexington Public Library children's librarian position that just opened yesterday to apply for. I also applied for a position at Shriners in the department I'm working in. The pay range is less than I have been making, but no real commute and EXCELLENT benefits, and I think I could make it on a little less money. I think the Owenton job was mainly so I could see what was out there, especially in the other counties. For example, Boyle County library is advertising a children's librarian position for a little over $13.50 an hour. The LPL one averages about $42,000 a year. That's a big difference. But the health plan is probably the most important aspect for me. There was no way I could have taken a pay cut AND paid that much in medical expenses. With Shriners, I basically didn't pay out anything beyond my biweekly premiums and the before-tax deduction for my flexible spending account, which paid for the $1500 maximum out-of-pocket expenses we had (yes that is not the deductible, that's the out-of-pocket cost, as the deductible was $150). If I can get the patient access job at $16 an hour, I can just make it, and it would be worth it just for the insurance, really. In the meantime, I'll seek a librarian job.
Speaking of making it, after more than 25 years of living on my own, and 14 years living here at the apartment complex, it looks like I will be moving. I have a friend with whom I'm going to move in so we can share expenses. The only trouble is it's not a very big house, and there's really not room for most of my stuff, which would have to go into storage. I would basically have to get a daybed and have a few things from the apartment, but generally, most of my things would be stored elsewhere. It will take some getting used to, and like I said, I haven't lived with anyone for years and years, and we've always said spending too much time together might not be the best plan, as we're both set in our ways. There will have to be a lot of compromise on both sides, I'm sure, and we'll have to make sure we each get some alone time, as we're both introverts. I'll have to break my lease, but that's not too difficult here, you just give notice and an extra month's rent. I'm thinking I could move in by August 1st. I've already found a daybed at Amazon that has lots of storage under it in the form of drawers and sliding doors, a back that has a bookcase/storage as well. I'd need to have a hamper or two, my lamp, my Bluetooth speaker that's four-feet tall but very thin for listening to music, and not much else. There's a small closet. I'm looking around the apartment to judge what can go and what needs to be gotten rid of, and what might go. I should bring a few small things such as my iron and ironing board for pressing my interview suit, but things like books, CDs, and most of the kitchen stuff can go into storage. The aquarium might be able to go to Brenda, along with the fish inside it, as there's no room there, and she's a hobbyist. Most of the bookshelves come apart and fold down, actually, so that will help. The biggest things are the chest-of-drawers, a dresser with a mirror that comes off, the bed, which comes apart, a table that has the top come off, the computer desk with removable hutch, and maybe two other bookshelves and a microwave cart. The plants will go with me, of course. My, there are a lot of them! I'd basically be living in the living room. But it would help him a great deal, and force me to minimise things quite a bit, which is probably a good thing. The main drawback is he absolutely dislikes and will refuse to have Wi-Fi, and my new computer does not have an Ethernet plug, but I can use the old one in the library, get a USB-Ethernet adapter, or uset his one using my phone's hotspot. The speaker is Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi, and I have unlimited data so I can listen to music from my library or Pandora. Anyway, we're going to give it a try. This is a friend whom I have known for 30 years, and I've been friends with him for at least 28. He probably saved my life and sanity by posing difficult questions at the time that I was married which led me to leave my husband. He is like an older brother, and if thie helps, so be it.
I didn't hear anything about the Owenton job until Friday. They went with another candidate, I suspect because they realised I couldn't take the position. There were just too many drawbacks. I wish I could have made it work. But I still have other local applications out there, and there's a Lexington Public Library children's librarian position that just opened yesterday to apply for. I also applied for a position at Shriners in the department I'm working in. The pay range is less than I have been making, but no real commute and EXCELLENT benefits, and I think I could make it on a little less money. I think the Owenton job was mainly so I could see what was out there, especially in the other counties. For example, Boyle County library is advertising a children's librarian position for a little over $13.50 an hour. The LPL one averages about $42,000 a year. That's a big difference. But the health plan is probably the most important aspect for me. There was no way I could have taken a pay cut AND paid that much in medical expenses. With Shriners, I basically didn't pay out anything beyond my biweekly premiums and the before-tax deduction for my flexible spending account, which paid for the $1500 maximum out-of-pocket expenses we had (yes that is not the deductible, that's the out-of-pocket cost, as the deductible was $150). If I can get the patient access job at $16 an hour, I can just make it, and it would be worth it just for the insurance, really. In the meantime, I'll seek a librarian job.
Speaking of making it, after more than 25 years of living on my own, and 14 years living here at the apartment complex, it looks like I will be moving. I have a friend with whom I'm going to move in so we can share expenses. The only trouble is it's not a very big house, and there's really not room for most of my stuff, which would have to go into storage. I would basically have to get a daybed and have a few things from the apartment, but generally, most of my things would be stored elsewhere. It will take some getting used to, and like I said, I haven't lived with anyone for years and years, and we've always said spending too much time together might not be the best plan, as we're both set in our ways. There will have to be a lot of compromise on both sides, I'm sure, and we'll have to make sure we each get some alone time, as we're both introverts. I'll have to break my lease, but that's not too difficult here, you just give notice and an extra month's rent. I'm thinking I could move in by August 1st. I've already found a daybed at Amazon that has lots of storage under it in the form of drawers and sliding doors, a back that has a bookcase/storage as well. I'd need to have a hamper or two, my lamp, my Bluetooth speaker that's four-feet tall but very thin for listening to music, and not much else. There's a small closet. I'm looking around the apartment to judge what can go and what needs to be gotten rid of, and what might go. I should bring a few small things such as my iron and ironing board for pressing my interview suit, but things like books, CDs, and most of the kitchen stuff can go into storage. The aquarium might be able to go to Brenda, along with the fish inside it, as there's no room there, and she's a hobbyist. Most of the bookshelves come apart and fold down, actually, so that will help. The biggest things are the chest-of-drawers, a dresser with a mirror that comes off, the bed, which comes apart, a table that has the top come off, the computer desk with removable hutch, and maybe two other bookshelves and a microwave cart. The plants will go with me, of course. My, there are a lot of them! I'd basically be living in the living room. But it would help him a great deal, and force me to minimise things quite a bit, which is probably a good thing. The main drawback is he absolutely dislikes and will refuse to have Wi-Fi, and my new computer does not have an Ethernet plug, but I can use the old one in the library, get a USB-Ethernet adapter, or uset his one using my phone's hotspot. The speaker is Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi, and I have unlimited data so I can listen to music from my library or Pandora. Anyway, we're going to give it a try. This is a friend whom I have known for 30 years, and I've been friends with him for at least 28. He probably saved my life and sanity by posing difficult questions at the time that I was married which led me to leave my husband. He is like an older brother, and if thie helps, so be it.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
It is becoming fairly normal
for me to drop off to sleep between 7 pm and 9 pm only to wake up in the middle of the night. It's been incredibly busy at work. I really need to learn to balance things better--I'm messing up on taking my meds and eating right, which isn't good for someone who's diabetic. Tomorrow I don't have to get up quite so early, as I have an ophthalmology appointment at 8 am which is across the road from me, basically, and I've been getting up before 6 am to get to the medical centre before work so I can have a little time to myself before everything starts.
So I didn't hear back from the public library I visited last week, at least after the exchange after I'd sent my thank you. I would have been willing to get a better idea of their health plan, etc., before making a final decision, but most likely I'd have had to turn them down had it been offered to me, and I think she knew it. It was a perfect storm of high-deductible life insurance, two hours of driving a day (at half a tank in gas each time, which would roughly mean an hour each day working for the gasoline), at 75% of my former pay. It would work for someone who could move there, perhaps, as there is a lower cost of living there. But I wasn't in a position to do that anytime soon, and it would mean being even more tired and unlikely to have much of a life outside of work. As much as I would have loved to work in that library, I would have been haemorrhaging financially and healthwise.
So even though it isn't library-related, I went ahead and applied for a job with the department I'm doing the contract work for right now. It may mean a pay cut as well (I'm going to check with HR tomorrow for the salary range), but the benefits are really, really, good, and the health insurance is excellent. I may still eventually find a library job, of course, but in the meantime, I'd be working regularly with benefits. Still, I have to get some stamina. Today wasn't actually that bad, although we had more on the schedule than ever before, so they made sure everything went smoothly by having people from other departments run charts, etc. It worked pretty well. I managed to pick A up from the doctor's office, run an errand or two, and then come home, where I stayed up playing on Facebook for awhile before dropping off to sleep.
Speaking of which, I'm getting sleepy again. Time to go back to bed. Good night!
So I didn't hear back from the public library I visited last week, at least after the exchange after I'd sent my thank you. I would have been willing to get a better idea of their health plan, etc., before making a final decision, but most likely I'd have had to turn them down had it been offered to me, and I think she knew it. It was a perfect storm of high-deductible life insurance, two hours of driving a day (at half a tank in gas each time, which would roughly mean an hour each day working for the gasoline), at 75% of my former pay. It would work for someone who could move there, perhaps, as there is a lower cost of living there. But I wasn't in a position to do that anytime soon, and it would mean being even more tired and unlikely to have much of a life outside of work. As much as I would have loved to work in that library, I would have been haemorrhaging financially and healthwise.
So even though it isn't library-related, I went ahead and applied for a job with the department I'm doing the contract work for right now. It may mean a pay cut as well (I'm going to check with HR tomorrow for the salary range), but the benefits are really, really, good, and the health insurance is excellent. I may still eventually find a library job, of course, but in the meantime, I'd be working regularly with benefits. Still, I have to get some stamina. Today wasn't actually that bad, although we had more on the schedule than ever before, so they made sure everything went smoothly by having people from other departments run charts, etc. It worked pretty well. I managed to pick A up from the doctor's office, run an errand or two, and then come home, where I stayed up playing on Facebook for awhile before dropping off to sleep.
Speaking of which, I'm getting sleepy again. Time to go back to bed. Good night!
Saturday, June 10, 2017
I can't sleep
I woke up a little before 4 am, after falling asleep about 8 pm. Today I worked from 8 am to 11:30 am, then came home, got into Spanx and pantyhose (which is a little harder than it sounds, as I'm not as limber as I once was), and then headed to Owenton via the Interstate. Big mistake. I thought, well, I'm on the eastern side of Lexington so it will be quicker to take the Interstate rather than the road I'm familiar with, Highway 127, which is accessed by going through Frankfort. The drive up the Interstate wasn't bad at all, although there were backups in the other direction due to construction and possibly a wreck. But then I got off at the exit for Corinth and took three winding and terribly maintained roads which had the posts for guardrails, but no actual guardrails, through Grant and Owen counties. At one point Google Maps had me take a right on a road that was at a 45-degree angle to the one I was on, and it was so small it didn't warrant a yellow line, and thank goodness I had the Google Maps on because I would have been totally lost. I never drove that much on the eastern side of the county, after all, and I was a child when we lived in Grant County at Dry Ridge and near the boat dock on Williamstown Lake. Finally, I was within a mile or two of the library, and I wound up behind a tractor in a no-passing area. But he eventually left the road, and then I drove right by the library and had to turn around at the Save-a-Lot. :)
So I was a few minutes late despite leaving work earlier than planned. But the director was great. I told her I'd had some trouble with the roads, and she was horrified I'd come that way, and when I told her about the tractor, she smiled and said 'Welcome to Owen County.' She had a great sense of humour, and we chatted for quite awhile before the actual interview questions were asked. It was the best interview I'd had in my entire life, really, and I think part of the reason was I was speaking with one person in a conversational way, as opposed to a panel whose members are reading questions off a sheet and scoring me on little sheets of paper, like they do here. I mean, yes, she had the questions laid out on paper, and I'm sure I was being scored mentally, but it was different, and she was very personable. She actually told me that I had all the qualifications they were looking forward to. I came out of the interview feeling very good, and really wanting to work there. There are a lot of potentials there for helping the community. For example, one of the largest employers is about to shut down, and librarians--and especially in this position, which is the electronic resources coordinator, whose main job is to teach people how to use technology, which we all know is vital for finding a job these days. I could really help people and make a difference, and I understand what it's like to lose a job after years of service. I know how important that job search is, and how frustrating it can be to have to do everything online--and I have the tech skills. For many people there, the library has the best internet connexion in the area, as some still have slow connexions or none at all, in such a rural area.
There are some cons, though, like the fact that it starts a full $5 an hour less than I've been making an hour, although that may be somewhat negotiable. I knew that out in the rural areas that would probably be the case, although it's better than the jobs Jessamine County, which is adjacent to mine, ever offers. I might be able to get a dollar or so more, maybe. Also, there's the drive, a full hour or so away from my apartment, and I am not in a position to move, as I have people here that I consider family who needs me. I went through about a half a tank of gas in one trip up and back. That's a lot. I usually fill up every week and a half. They do have benefits, but the health plan is high deductible, and so medical costs would be higher, although they do have a health spending account, and I believe she said they contribute a certain amount in addition to what the employee does. But monetarily, I just don't know if I can make it on this job.
She said she has one more person of the seven applicants to interview and would make a decision on Tuesday evening who the top two candidates would be, and she wants them to meet the board on Friday. I told her that I do have an obligation planned in addition to a morning of work, but I would see if I could make arrangments should she pick me (which I am fairly confident that she will). She would then make a decision at the end of that week. I looked at the board members listed on the website when I got home, and one is a Cobb, so either she or her spouse is most likely a relative through my great-grandmother's family. I don't know if that's a plus or a minus, but it could go either way.
So I took Highway 127 home, and they've done a lot to make the road safer. It's even three lanes in some so you can do more passing when needed. I got on 421 at Frankfort, but made a mistake and kept going straight when it turned off towards Lexington and took 60 to Versailles and then to Lexington, which was longer, but I was able to go Man O'War instead of through downtown. On the other hand, the main snag was when I was within a block or two of home, as there was a wreck at Easthills that slowed everything to a crawl there towards the end. I left Owenton about 3:45 and got home at 5:25 as a result. I think it would be safest to allow an hour and a half each way. So that's three hours or so of driving a day. That's a lot, although we have demonstrated 127 is the way to go. Anyway, I guess I'm trying to figure some way to make this work, as I would really like to accept the job if offered, but that's my heart, not my head talking. I just don't know if I can do it from a practical standpoint. So I guess it's not all that surprising that I'm up and can't sleep.
So I was a few minutes late despite leaving work earlier than planned. But the director was great. I told her I'd had some trouble with the roads, and she was horrified I'd come that way, and when I told her about the tractor, she smiled and said 'Welcome to Owen County.' She had a great sense of humour, and we chatted for quite awhile before the actual interview questions were asked. It was the best interview I'd had in my entire life, really, and I think part of the reason was I was speaking with one person in a conversational way, as opposed to a panel whose members are reading questions off a sheet and scoring me on little sheets of paper, like they do here. I mean, yes, she had the questions laid out on paper, and I'm sure I was being scored mentally, but it was different, and she was very personable. She actually told me that I had all the qualifications they were looking forward to. I came out of the interview feeling very good, and really wanting to work there. There are a lot of potentials there for helping the community. For example, one of the largest employers is about to shut down, and librarians--and especially in this position, which is the electronic resources coordinator, whose main job is to teach people how to use technology, which we all know is vital for finding a job these days. I could really help people and make a difference, and I understand what it's like to lose a job after years of service. I know how important that job search is, and how frustrating it can be to have to do everything online--and I have the tech skills. For many people there, the library has the best internet connexion in the area, as some still have slow connexions or none at all, in such a rural area.
There are some cons, though, like the fact that it starts a full $5 an hour less than I've been making an hour, although that may be somewhat negotiable. I knew that out in the rural areas that would probably be the case, although it's better than the jobs Jessamine County, which is adjacent to mine, ever offers. I might be able to get a dollar or so more, maybe. Also, there's the drive, a full hour or so away from my apartment, and I am not in a position to move, as I have people here that I consider family who needs me. I went through about a half a tank of gas in one trip up and back. That's a lot. I usually fill up every week and a half. They do have benefits, but the health plan is high deductible, and so medical costs would be higher, although they do have a health spending account, and I believe she said they contribute a certain amount in addition to what the employee does. But monetarily, I just don't know if I can make it on this job.
She said she has one more person of the seven applicants to interview and would make a decision on Tuesday evening who the top two candidates would be, and she wants them to meet the board on Friday. I told her that I do have an obligation planned in addition to a morning of work, but I would see if I could make arrangments should she pick me (which I am fairly confident that she will). She would then make a decision at the end of that week. I looked at the board members listed on the website when I got home, and one is a Cobb, so either she or her spouse is most likely a relative through my great-grandmother's family. I don't know if that's a plus or a minus, but it could go either way.
So I took Highway 127 home, and they've done a lot to make the road safer. It's even three lanes in some so you can do more passing when needed. I got on 421 at Frankfort, but made a mistake and kept going straight when it turned off towards Lexington and took 60 to Versailles and then to Lexington, which was longer, but I was able to go Man O'War instead of through downtown. On the other hand, the main snag was when I was within a block or two of home, as there was a wreck at Easthills that slowed everything to a crawl there towards the end. I left Owenton about 3:45 and got home at 5:25 as a result. I think it would be safest to allow an hour and a half each way. So that's three hours or so of driving a day. That's a lot, although we have demonstrated 127 is the way to go. Anyway, I guess I'm trying to figure some way to make this work, as I would really like to accept the job if offered, but that's my heart, not my head talking. I just don't know if I can do it from a practical standpoint. So I guess it's not all that surprising that I'm up and can't sleep.
Friday, June 09, 2017
I'm up in the middle of the night as usual
Because I fell asleep at 7:30 and couldn't keep my eyes open any further. I woke back up at midnight. I have that interview tomorrow, so I figured I might as well get everything ready for it, rather than try to do anything early in the morning when I'm usually rushed.
I:
Note to self: Get gas in the morning before work, so that you don't smell like gasoline for your interview. :)
- Updated my résumé to reflect the professional certificate I got today from the state of Kentucky. The Professional Librarian Certificate is used primarily for public libraries in Kentucky to ensure that librarians in the commonwealth keep up their continuing education and are qualified to serve in public libraries.
- Updated my curriculum vitae to reflect my work with Doody's Core Titles this spring and the upcoming publication of a book review that has been accepted and for which I just finished the proofs.
- Printed out copies of the résumé, my references, and my updated curriculum vitae (not likely to come up with a public library, but one should be prepared).
- Assembled everything together in a portfolio, put a paper pad in it, and put some of my business cards in the portfolio, along with a pen.
- Got all the essential stuff into a small(ish) black purse to match the portfolio and my shoes.
- Plugged in the computer to let it charge. It's got a great battery and had 6 more hours of charge, but I wanted to top it off.
- Found my Spanx and the box of nude pantyhose I'd bought for the occasion and laid them out.
- Steam ironed my suit, took off the tags, cut open the slits, and put the extra button somewhere safe, then hung it back up.
- Put all that away, or in the case of the iron, let it cool in the bathroom.
- Took my night meds, checked my blood sugar (which has run really high all day, no matter what I tried). Took my long-acting insulin and a little of the short-acting as well, as I was in the 300s. This morning I was over 400. I can't afford to have it up tomorrow when I really have to be at my best cognitively.
Note to self: Get gas in the morning before work, so that you don't smell like gasoline for your interview. :)
Wednesday, June 07, 2017
Tuesday afternoon
was my last day at pulmonary rehabilitation. I did pretty well, and I finally got to the top of the inspiratory resistance inhaler in terms of difficulty. It was four sessions early, but they felt pretty good about my progress. They took a selfie with me and gave me sheets with goals on them and a nice t-shirt as well.
Afterwards, I went downtown to the revenue office and applied and paid for my business licence. So now I am duly licensed and in compliance with local ordinances while doing this contract work. My boss is going to see if they can reimburse me for the unexpected expense.
A was downtown, too, getting ready to take the bus home, so I gave him a ride. I took something over to another friend's house for him, and I took that friend to the library, where they were having movie night (Metropolis). I stayed at the library working on the game notes, as I'd brought my laptop with me. I got home about 9 pm and then relaxed until about midnight, trying to keep awake longer than I have been, with success, although I'd woken up tired yesterday, and I lingered in bed a little too much this morning, as I got to work with only five minutes to spare after taking the shuttle in. On the other hand, I couldn't believe my eyes when I got the very first space as you come into the parking lot. It was a little weird that it was free. But, still, it made it easier to find the car when I left for an appointment. I walked this afternoon, afraid I'd missed the shuttle and in a hurry. Three shuttles passed me on the way, so I needn't have worried about that issue. I knew that fewer shuttles run during off-peak times, so I walked. But it was good exercise. Later I took a friend to get something, then we ate at Captain D's (I had my usual grilled wild salmon salad, but added fried green tomatoes this time to my order). After that, I went out to Costco to get some 100-watt-equivalent LED light bulbs for him. I also picked up some Edward Marc Chocolatier Coconut Almonds with Dark Chocolate, which I love, and he pointed out that perhaps because I didn't get 'goodies' much growing up, I tend to get something for myself whenever he gets something. It's a valid point. Then we went to Kroger to pick up a partial prescription for A, who had his ADHD medicine stolen out of his locker at work the other day and who had filed a police report, which was needed before they could replace it. He really needs it and was feeling awful. So after that, we went and dropped it off to him. Then I took my friend home and came home myself. Now I'm listening to Pandora and trying to get caught up on my blogging. I'm using a tool developed by Grammarly that examines your typing/writing not only for spelling errors (and I was able to set it to British English since I use that in my personal writing) but also grammatical ones as well. It's free at https://app.grammarly.com/. It works really well at alerting me to errors which I normally only catch after hitting 'publish' and proofreading on the page. Yay!
Okay, I think that's enough for now. I'm going to go eat the puffy pierogis I just baked. Maybe I'll write a little later.
Afterwards, I went downtown to the revenue office and applied and paid for my business licence. So now I am duly licensed and in compliance with local ordinances while doing this contract work. My boss is going to see if they can reimburse me for the unexpected expense.
A was downtown, too, getting ready to take the bus home, so I gave him a ride. I took something over to another friend's house for him, and I took that friend to the library, where they were having movie night (Metropolis). I stayed at the library working on the game notes, as I'd brought my laptop with me. I got home about 9 pm and then relaxed until about midnight, trying to keep awake longer than I have been, with success, although I'd woken up tired yesterday, and I lingered in bed a little too much this morning, as I got to work with only five minutes to spare after taking the shuttle in. On the other hand, I couldn't believe my eyes when I got the very first space as you come into the parking lot. It was a little weird that it was free. But, still, it made it easier to find the car when I left for an appointment. I walked this afternoon, afraid I'd missed the shuttle and in a hurry. Three shuttles passed me on the way, so I needn't have worried about that issue. I knew that fewer shuttles run during off-peak times, so I walked. But it was good exercise. Later I took a friend to get something, then we ate at Captain D's (I had my usual grilled wild salmon salad, but added fried green tomatoes this time to my order). After that, I went out to Costco to get some 100-watt-equivalent LED light bulbs for him. I also picked up some Edward Marc Chocolatier Coconut Almonds with Dark Chocolate, which I love, and he pointed out that perhaps because I didn't get 'goodies' much growing up, I tend to get something for myself whenever he gets something. It's a valid point. Then we went to Kroger to pick up a partial prescription for A, who had his ADHD medicine stolen out of his locker at work the other day and who had filed a police report, which was needed before they could replace it. He really needs it and was feeling awful. So after that, we went and dropped it off to him. Then I took my friend home and came home myself. Now I'm listening to Pandora and trying to get caught up on my blogging. I'm using a tool developed by Grammarly that examines your typing/writing not only for spelling errors (and I was able to set it to British English since I use that in my personal writing) but also grammatical ones as well. It's free at https://app.grammarly.com/. It works really well at alerting me to errors which I normally only catch after hitting 'publish' and proofreading on the page. Yay!
Okay, I think that's enough for now. I'm going to go eat the puffy pierogis I just baked. Maybe I'll write a little later.
Monday morning
I was putting my bags together to take to work, and I was startled by something going by the window. I grabbed my phone and carefully went outside and looked for the unexpected visitor, and snapped some quick photos before she went around the building.
Sorry for the quality--these are cropped pictures that were taken at first light and so they could be better. But I think you can see the deer pretty well. I live in town, but near a reservoir, creek, marsh, and a small wood. So I guess it's not all that surprising that you'd find deer here. I've written before of how I once saw two young ones running by the church at Man O'War and Beaver Creek, which is not that far away. But this one actually ambled slowly by my living room windows, which are lower than the parking lot. Later, on my way to a friend's house to pick him up for work, I had to use my anti-lock brakes when a duck waddled into the road. She was in no hurry to leave, but I drove around her. So it was a wildlife sort of day. :)
Sorry for the quality--these are cropped pictures that were taken at first light and so they could be better. But I think you can see the deer pretty well. I live in town, but near a reservoir, creek, marsh, and a small wood. So I guess it's not all that surprising that you'd find deer here. I've written before of how I once saw two young ones running by the church at Man O'War and Beaver Creek, which is not that far away. But this one actually ambled slowly by my living room windows, which are lower than the parking lot. Later, on my way to a friend's house to pick him up for work, I had to use my anti-lock brakes when a duck waddled into the road. She was in no hurry to leave, but I drove around her. So it was a wildlife sort of day. :)
Sunday, June 04, 2017
No one should be forced to marry, much less at such a tender age...
11 Years Old, a Mom, and Pushed to Marry Her Rapist in Florida
She was in elementary school. And she's not alone. And Kentucky has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the country.
She was in elementary school. And she's not alone. And Kentucky has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the country.
This is interesting
Who Doesn't Read Books in America?
I can't imagine life without reading for pleasure, even though I don't have the time to do so that I once did. The Pew Research report predictably found that those who were older, poorer, less-educated, and those who were Latino were less likely to have read a book at least in part in the last year or *ever* visited a library. For some, it's probably that they may not be fully literate, and we fail in helping with that, I think, especially once they've gone through the system and are adults. I have one friend that can read, but almost never does, short of maybe skimming the newspaper. He is visually impaired, and was embarrassed having to use large print books as a child, and it was just more difficult. He never developed a love of reading and I'm still not convinced he's really very good at it, yet he makes fun of others he's encountered who obviously are functionally illiterate. I remind him on those occasions that it's something to be sad about, and to offer help about, not something funny or worth belittling someone.
We're better now at providing books to children whose families might not be able to afford them, and we can promote our library services, but many children live in areas where it is impossible to come to the library on their own if they're old enough, like I did when I was in my pre-teens and teens. My local library branch moved from across a major road from a residential neighbourhood to a business area two streets away, but the distance increased significantly, and to ride the bus, you now have to go downtown, transfer, and it's an hour and a half ride for a five minute trip by car. It's bigger, it's better, but if I didn't have a car, I couldn't really go anymore. Same goes for rural libraries. Urban ones may be easier to get to in some ways, but there are other factors such as crime and drug use that often happens right outside. So if the parent didn't grow up loving libraries enough to take their kids to the library, the children might not develop that love.
Latinos may be less likely read for socioeconomic or language-barrier reasons. There's not a lot available, at least here, in Spanish at most library branches or bookstores. That is, they may be literate in Spanish and have trouble finding books short of Amazon shipping them in. And they may have the same barriers as the other groups. We do have a branch here in Lexington that is an area of town which is heavily Latino which encourages Spanish among its staff and has more selection, as well as programming aimed at this group. I hope that can be expanded.
I can't imagine life without reading for pleasure, even though I don't have the time to do so that I once did. The Pew Research report predictably found that those who were older, poorer, less-educated, and those who were Latino were less likely to have read a book at least in part in the last year or *ever* visited a library. For some, it's probably that they may not be fully literate, and we fail in helping with that, I think, especially once they've gone through the system and are adults. I have one friend that can read, but almost never does, short of maybe skimming the newspaper. He is visually impaired, and was embarrassed having to use large print books as a child, and it was just more difficult. He never developed a love of reading and I'm still not convinced he's really very good at it, yet he makes fun of others he's encountered who obviously are functionally illiterate. I remind him on those occasions that it's something to be sad about, and to offer help about, not something funny or worth belittling someone.
We're better now at providing books to children whose families might not be able to afford them, and we can promote our library services, but many children live in areas where it is impossible to come to the library on their own if they're old enough, like I did when I was in my pre-teens and teens. My local library branch moved from across a major road from a residential neighbourhood to a business area two streets away, but the distance increased significantly, and to ride the bus, you now have to go downtown, transfer, and it's an hour and a half ride for a five minute trip by car. It's bigger, it's better, but if I didn't have a car, I couldn't really go anymore. Same goes for rural libraries. Urban ones may be easier to get to in some ways, but there are other factors such as crime and drug use that often happens right outside. So if the parent didn't grow up loving libraries enough to take their kids to the library, the children might not develop that love.
Latinos may be less likely read for socioeconomic or language-barrier reasons. There's not a lot available, at least here, in Spanish at most library branches or bookstores. That is, they may be literate in Spanish and have trouble finding books short of Amazon shipping them in. And they may have the same barriers as the other groups. We do have a branch here in Lexington that is an area of town which is heavily Latino which encourages Spanish among its staff and has more selection, as well as programming aimed at this group. I hope that can be expanded.
Saturday, June 03, 2017
Not only did I
get it all out to the Dumpster and Rosie recycling containers, I hit my daily activity level goal, for the fourth day this week (Sunday was the game, Monday was spent away from work and the trip from the parking lot to the medical centre) according to my phone. I went to plug it in for the night, and realised that the step count was 4,995. I was five steps short of my 5,000 step goal. So I unplugged it and walked down the hall with it a couple of times. Now it says 5,024. I can tick it off my Habitica dailies list. Is it scary that I do what my phone suggests? Or that I sign into my laptop with my face? I'm not sure the marriage of human and technology is always for the best. I'm not a Luddite--I'm actually an avid adopter of technology, but I use it knowing I have no privacy, and I'm not entirely sure I'd set up a Smart Home, if I had a house, because frankly, having my very home hacked scares me a bit. I don't think I'm paranoid to think of that scenario at all, you know.
Ah...
So Friday wasn't too bad, really. Work was much calmer than the rest of the week, and we worked at a steady but relaxed pace. I left at 5 pm and went and got a friend who had taken a bus to an appointment that didn't happen (but I was more annoyed at that than he was), and we went and got another one, and I dropped them off and came on home, and I stayed up till (get this) almost 11 pm (although I was just heavy-lidded and falling asleep quickly). The rest of the days this week have mostly been about 8:30 pm as far as bedtime, I've been exhausted (to the point that while I met my goals the other day on Habitica, I fell asleep before checking off the boxes, and woke up 10 minutes after the start of a new 'day' (which I've got set at 2 am), so my little avatar took damage--and so did everyone else I game with. I felt so bad. It's just been hard to get everything done that needed to be done lately.
This morning I called A at 6:30 am, picked him up at 7:30, took him to work, got a couple of cheese and egg biscuits and a parfait at McDonald's, and came back intending to go back to sleep. But I laid in bed from about the time I got home (8:30 am) till about 9:30, and decided to go ahead and get my day going. I went to Costco, intending to get some light bulbs and a couple of other things, and spent more than I meant to, but everything I got was quite useful. Well, maybe not the cheese bagels and tomatoes, but they're yummy nonetheless. Then I went to the library, where I sheepishly turned in most of the books I had (most of which were overdue, including one of two interlibrary loans I'd gotten for a friend, who'd taken off the papers that have all the information on them that the ILL department uses. I had most of it to give them. It so embarrasses me that he does that, and I know they're not happy with me. He wants to see the covers. I tell him not to do it. He almost ripped the cover off one, because they changed how they do it, so instead of having two sticky labels, they wrapped the cover in a piece of paper that was carefully taped. I am beginning to think that should they ever let me borrow again, I should remove them myself, carefully. The man mangles anything he tries to remove (paper from a notebook, or my favourite, the DVD envelopes from Netflix, which we just leave to me now). Anyway, I apologised, left the other books in the book drop, and slinked away without mentioning in any way that I am, indeed, a librarian. And with all the overdues, I checked later after everything got checked in, and I owe $6.30, which is actually less than I expected. The interlibrary loans are $1.00 a day. One was still before the deadline, but one was due the 25th. :( I got it from him on the 26th or 27th, but I literally was just too wiped out to take them back during the library hours, and didn't just want to dump them in with the papers just sitting inside the books. Also, they had a 'read off your fines' thing going on through the 31st, and while I planned to do that, I just decided I was too tired. So I'll happily pay the fine.
Speaking of public libraries, I have an interview about an hour's away up the interstate on Friday afternoon, and got permission to leave work at noon so I can get there before 2 pm. I'll probably come home, change clothes, and go straight up there. It's Owen county. My dad's family, the Duncans and the Cobbs, have lived in the Owenton area for generations. I'm interested to know more about the library. I never visited the library there as a child; I don't know much about it, actually, and I should educate myself on it before I go. I also need to e-mail a confirmation that I will be coming.
I went to the grocery a little while and got some veggies for a tray for the game, some cheese, some crackers, and some dill dip, so I'm good for the game tomorrow. And I spent four hours today doing the notes. I came back and collected the trash and recyclables from various containers and some horizontal surfaces, and I now have quite a load to take out. I had to take a break, though, before actually taking the bags outside, as my back was bothering me. Mainly I've been doing better with my back, although that workout on Thursday made muscles in my lower back and buttocks scream, because they apparently didn't know they were supposed to do anything. I didn't make it to the gym at the complex today (there was a pool party going on early afternoon that was intriguing, but too many people for me, I think, being a shy introvert who would have stood around, not eaten hamburgers or hot dogs, would have had to slather on a ton of sunscreen, and gee, talk to people). It's not my thing. I am glad the complex did that sort of activity, though. I wish they'd have a yard sale. They did that every year for several years while I was at Speedway and working on Saturdays. Now I could participate, and I have plenty of stuff that needs to go, if I can part with it.
Okay, as much as I hate to admit it, those bags of trash and recyclables are not going to take themselves out. I should get up and do that, so they're taken care of and I can tick that off my busy day list.
This morning I called A at 6:30 am, picked him up at 7:30, took him to work, got a couple of cheese and egg biscuits and a parfait at McDonald's, and came back intending to go back to sleep. But I laid in bed from about the time I got home (8:30 am) till about 9:30, and decided to go ahead and get my day going. I went to Costco, intending to get some light bulbs and a couple of other things, and spent more than I meant to, but everything I got was quite useful. Well, maybe not the cheese bagels and tomatoes, but they're yummy nonetheless. Then I went to the library, where I sheepishly turned in most of the books I had (most of which were overdue, including one of two interlibrary loans I'd gotten for a friend, who'd taken off the papers that have all the information on them that the ILL department uses. I had most of it to give them. It so embarrasses me that he does that, and I know they're not happy with me. He wants to see the covers. I tell him not to do it. He almost ripped the cover off one, because they changed how they do it, so instead of having two sticky labels, they wrapped the cover in a piece of paper that was carefully taped. I am beginning to think that should they ever let me borrow again, I should remove them myself, carefully. The man mangles anything he tries to remove (paper from a notebook, or my favourite, the DVD envelopes from Netflix, which we just leave to me now). Anyway, I apologised, left the other books in the book drop, and slinked away without mentioning in any way that I am, indeed, a librarian. And with all the overdues, I checked later after everything got checked in, and I owe $6.30, which is actually less than I expected. The interlibrary loans are $1.00 a day. One was still before the deadline, but one was due the 25th. :( I got it from him on the 26th or 27th, but I literally was just too wiped out to take them back during the library hours, and didn't just want to dump them in with the papers just sitting inside the books. Also, they had a 'read off your fines' thing going on through the 31st, and while I planned to do that, I just decided I was too tired. So I'll happily pay the fine.
Speaking of public libraries, I have an interview about an hour's away up the interstate on Friday afternoon, and got permission to leave work at noon so I can get there before 2 pm. I'll probably come home, change clothes, and go straight up there. It's Owen county. My dad's family, the Duncans and the Cobbs, have lived in the Owenton area for generations. I'm interested to know more about the library. I never visited the library there as a child; I don't know much about it, actually, and I should educate myself on it before I go. I also need to e-mail a confirmation that I will be coming.
I went to the grocery a little while and got some veggies for a tray for the game, some cheese, some crackers, and some dill dip, so I'm good for the game tomorrow. And I spent four hours today doing the notes. I came back and collected the trash and recyclables from various containers and some horizontal surfaces, and I now have quite a load to take out. I had to take a break, though, before actually taking the bags outside, as my back was bothering me. Mainly I've been doing better with my back, although that workout on Thursday made muscles in my lower back and buttocks scream, because they apparently didn't know they were supposed to do anything. I didn't make it to the gym at the complex today (there was a pool party going on early afternoon that was intriguing, but too many people for me, I think, being a shy introvert who would have stood around, not eaten hamburgers or hot dogs, would have had to slather on a ton of sunscreen, and gee, talk to people). It's not my thing. I am glad the complex did that sort of activity, though. I wish they'd have a yard sale. They did that every year for several years while I was at Speedway and working on Saturdays. Now I could participate, and I have plenty of stuff that needs to go, if I can part with it.
Okay, as much as I hate to admit it, those bags of trash and recyclables are not going to take themselves out. I should get up and do that, so they're taken care of and I can tick that off my busy day list.
Thursday, June 01, 2017
I kicked butt today
First, I think I handled the normal busy pace at work well and any of the weird stuff that crops up, too. Then I went to pulmonary rehab and went up to a 39 on the inhaling resistance gizmo (it only goes to 42, I think), 2750 on the spirometer, and 45 seconds on the pursed breathing, my best yet for any of them. They put me on a heart monitor while I exercised to see if my heart remained normal in response, with the idea that when I'm exercising on my own I have an idea for how high to get my heart rate up. The good news is that my workout was at higher watts, higher resistance, and more duration than normal on the Nu-Step, the bike, and the hand bike (I did treadmill for cool down), and my heart responded exactly as it should, going back down to normal within two minutes of exercise cessation at each piece of equipment. She said I should be safe going up to 120-130 beats per minute, so I have that as a goal. The equipment takes heart rate, as does my phone, which also takes the oxygen level. So I'm set to work out on my own. Also, although technically I have four more visits approved, I'm going to cut that down to Tuesday being my last day, my fifteenth visit, so that it will work better with the schedule and coverage at the hospital. I think graduating early is okay in my case--I don't have COPD, and I'm doing much better. Anyway, that's the plan. I got one planned for Tuesday approved to make up for this Tuesday.
After rehab I took YKWIA to a couple of doctors' offices he goes to using the bus route and pointed out the correct stops. He's going to have to go on his own. Then I took him by the grocery for a quick stop and looked up the bus times for his appointment. Now I'm home, I've eaten, and I'm looking at how much needs to be done around here, none of which I really have any energy for at the moment. I'm going to try to rest for a little while and then tackle things. Barring that, I'll see about getting up early and doing what needs to be done before work. We'll see how successful I am in that endeavour. :)
After rehab I took YKWIA to a couple of doctors' offices he goes to using the bus route and pointed out the correct stops. He's going to have to go on his own. Then I took him by the grocery for a quick stop and looked up the bus times for his appointment. Now I'm home, I've eaten, and I'm looking at how much needs to be done around here, none of which I really have any energy for at the moment. I'm going to try to rest for a little while and then tackle things. Barring that, I'll see about getting up early and doing what needs to be done before work. We'll see how successful I am in that endeavour. :)
PS
I found out today that I do need a business licence so that my local taxes are paid, since I am an independent contractor/1099 employee the way we have things set up.
The fee is $100, but will be offset when I pay my taxes, as it acts like a credit. Still, it's a little annoying. At least I thought to check, and I can send in the paperwork and payment by mail, rather than going downtown.
PPSMy boss wants me to get a detailed receipt so they can reimburse me for the unexpected expense, so the plan is to go downtown after all, after my last pulmonary rehabilitation session on next Tuesday. :)
Sorry I've been so sporadic lately
On Tuesday someone called in, and instead of working till 1 pm and going to pulmonary rehab, I cancelled my appointment and stayed till 5:30 pm. I wound up eating out of vending machines because I didn't bring my lunch. But by the time I got home at 8, after getting A and taking him home, I could barely drive, I was so tired. We had an extremely busy day, and were three people short. It is amazing to me how tired I get, even though it's not physically hard, but it's intense mental juggling, not only when you're trying to check someone out, but with all the follow up with so many people there is. So I was in bed Tuesday by 8:30 and slept and slept till it was time to do it all over again. I got up a little early this morning and took A to work and grabbed a few things at Kroger so I'd have breakfast and lunch today.
It was still busy today, but a steady busy where you're not pulled in too many directions at once. I had a headache again, but not as bad as Tuesday, when I felt my brains are about to leak out of my head. Things quieted down by 4 pm and I was able to catch up on phone calls and emails. After work I took A briefly somewhere and did a grocery run for a friend who hadn't slept for two days. Then I came home, ate, and slept from 8:30 pm to 1:30 am. I took my meds and now I'm heading back to bed, trying to get up a little early to deal with the trash and the recyclables, which are threatening to overtake things in my little apartment.
Okay, I'm going to sign off. Have a good night!
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