I've been having some quiet time

checking the news, Facebook, and e-mail, as I didn't really do that over the weekend, which was spent with friends, as usual. L'Shanah Tovah to my readers who are Jewish. May this coming year bring blessings. I was a little late with the well wishes, but the holiday is still technically going on.

Today wasn't quite as hectic as I thought it might be, considering it was a Monday with many people coming in for clinic. There weren't a lot of reschedules or phone calls, so I could keep up while figuring out how to do things after not doing them for eight months. The very first reschedule I made an error, and I don't know who it was (it was a phone call, not a voicemail, so I didn't write anything down), but my boss thinks she can run a report that will catch the problem in time. Everything after that went pretty smoothly, though.

I'd gone in early to do some work in the library before going over to scheduling, worked there from 9 am to 12:15 pm, and then had lunch with the group of co-workers I usually eat with. Then I went back to my desk and furiously put in outpatient charges, trying to get caught up before leaving for an appointment at 2:30 pm. I got a lot accomplished, and I didn't have any surgery charge reconciliation to do and had worked on the referrals earlier, so I'm happy with what I accomplished, but there's still more to do. After work there was the appointment, and then I spent time with YKWIA and watched an episode of 'Danny Phantom' and one of 'Lost Girl' with him. Tomorrow is my normal early day, so the idea is to get all caught up if at all possible. Then I'm going after work to a stationary shop with a friend who wants to write thank you letters to some folks. (He's the traditional sort of person, no computers, no note cards, real letters).

I should work on the game notes tonight, and I did transfer the recording over to the computer, but I'm kind of liking the quiet. I'd brought the fan out to the dining room, after cleaning off the table and putting things away, and so the only sounds in the room are the fan and the gently falling of water in the aquarium. It's so peaceful. Originally when I sat down, I'd considered listening to some music. But this is more restful.

I think I need to get away from the computer for awhile, though. My hands and wrists are hurting. The bracing at night and during the workday is helping overall, though. But I think I will take some ibuprofen tonight before bed. Maybe if we can find the stationary fairly quickly, I can come home tomorrow and work on them then. Good night.

It's been so quiet at work this week

Although I am the only librarian in the library, there is another person who is my cubicle-mate who oversees an outcomes programme, and a research director in what used to be my storage closet. This week, the cubicle-mate is away visiting relatives for a wedding, and the other person worked Monday and Tuesday, but is off the rest of the week, so needless to say, with the exception of an occasional printout (the library has the two main copiers, a heavy-duty black-and-white one, and a colour one). It's been quiet enough that instead of listening to music while I do the data entry job on my earphones, I've been listening (softly) via the speakers. But, when that happens, and someone calls me, the music cuts out as its supposed to for the call, but there's crackling and popping on the other end and the person can't hear me unless I hold the phone directly in front of my face and speak into the microphone, if that. I recently had an update to my phone via my carrier. Granted, the reception is not always great in the hospital, but I have better luck than most because I have windows. It hasn't happened before. It doesn't seem to be an issue when I'm elsewhere, but I haven't been listening to music anywhere else, either. I have a Samsung Galaxy S5 with Android 4.2.2, with the latest firmware T-Mobile is providing. Any ideas? I did look through the settings and there was noise-cancellation feature (like if there's a siren or something in the background) that I turned off, thinking that the copiers or some other background noise could be working with that to cause the problem. But I doubt it. I don't think they've been printing at that point, and if anything, it's been quieter in the library this week than normal. So, I'm thinking it may have been the update, which was supposed to bring greater stability to the system, and I'm not sure, audio may have been affected. I searched for anything like this problem, and I haven't found anything as of yet. The latest update was yesterday; there was another a couple of weeks ago, I think. What I really wish is that they would go ahead and upgrade me to Android 4.4.4, or at least 4.4.3!

Something I read while waiting for the box springs to arrive

Bring back shushing librarians: Library users plead for quiet places to read, write and study — but is anybody listening?

Librarians hate to be depicted as bun- and glasses-wearing shushers, hellbent on silencing any and all noisy activities within their sacred domain. Fair enough: Librarians are highly skilled, well-educated and socially aware as a rule, and should not be reduced to a cultural stereotype ranking only a notch or two above a church lady on the hipness scale.

Nevertheless, there’s a lot to be said for that shushing. I’ve long believed that one of the most precious resources libraries offer their patrons is simple quiet. Alas, for too long I’ve been forced to confine this sentiment to bar-stool rants because for all I knew I was being hopelessly retrograde. Libraries are constantly talking up the new — and often clamorous — services and activities they have added or plan to add in order to “better serve a diverse community” (and by extension, justify their continued funding in the eyes of public officials who like to appear forward-thinking). But take heart, seekers of serenity, for now we have data!

Thanks to Tasha Saecker ‏(@tashrow) on Twitter for sharing.

Good yet tiring

Today for the first time since my accident I was able to visit YKWIA and A inside their home (I have seen YKWIA a few times while sitting in the car, and he was there when I had surgery, and of course we've talked regularly and at great length on the phone.) A and I have pretty much just talked on the phone. I had decided that now that I can walk to some extent I should be able to do my laundry there, as it is all on one level once you get up a couple of front stairs. Brandon took me over, carrying in the laundry cart for me and my overstuffed backpack that was too heavy for me to carry on my back without tilting over. :)

I got to share holiday presents. The laundry went pretty well except for standing long enough to fold the clothes. That was longer than normal and my back was hurting due to the discrepancy in leg height with the boot on, even with my normal shoe on the other foot. But I took it easy and slow. The dogs and cats were very gentle with me, and it was nice to see everyone. My foot and back are hurting a bit, although I took some Tylenol, the first time in a few days. I have a headache as well. That may be the change in weather (it's supposed to be cold and snowy tonight and tomorrow) plus, as much as I love them, Brandon's kids were very lively and have very high-pitched voices. :)

So now I'm in my peaceful house. I've eaten, including some wonderful salad YKWIA sent with me. I didn't get a chance to eat dinner there, as he was still making food, but I did peel potatoes and break up the lettuce up for the salad. The wind outside is very strong; I can hear it through the windows, although fortunately they are not drafty. We saw some nice Christmas lights on the way home; the kids loved that.

Tomorrow I have physical therapy and some visitors should be coming by. I am very tempted to go ahead and turn in, although it's only a little after 8:30. I think I might retire to the bedroom and read for awhile, and stretch out and elevate my leg. I'll put the clothes away tomorrow.