Do You Like Your Job?

 Another day has slipped away and I really didn't accomplish much other than eating and catching up on some much needed sleep.  I don't know if we can really "catch up" on sleep or not.  Are we catching up or are we banking for a later day?  I guess it doens't really matter as long as a person can rest enough to feel like facing the next day.

Time seems to fly by way to fast unless I am at work.  I swear the clocks move two hours ahead and one hour back during my shift.  Unless there is a major deadline - then the clock goes into double time.  I was working on a project the other evening (I work straight evening shifts) and I didn't realize it was close to quitting time until the night shift crew walked by my office and greeted me.  "WHAT???" 

Work has been a complicated and tricky place to be recently.  The patient load is high and the staff availability is low.  This computes to not enough nurses to work needed hours and extremely overworked nurses being asked to pick up even more shifts than they already do.  I am not one of those nurses.  I pick up extra shifts here and there, but due to a heart condition I cannot work the hours that I used to.  I also struggle with the fact that my current profession is not the intended path I embarked on when I went back to college.  It's almost comical to see the expression on people's faces when they ask "why did you want to be a nurse?" and I reply "I never intended to be a nurse - I went back to school to become a paramedic". (cricket - cricket - cricket)  Sure, I make the best of my job and I do enjoy certain aspects of it, but trust me, the first solid opportunity that comes along to do something else will end up with the door hitting my ass on the way out.

 I recently cut back on my hours - not because of my heart, but because I am fortunate enough that I do not need to work full time to make ends meet.  Working many hours during our earlier years allowed my spouse and I to reduce our debt and put ourselves in a position of being debt free.  Of course, that could very well be what caused my heart condition.  The multiple jobs sometimes had me working up to 170 hours every two weeks.  In addition to that I had two children to help raise.  Looking back, I don't know how I did it.

My oldest son recently quit a job that he had been at for almost four years.  He enjoyed the job, but he could no longer work the 12 hour shifts 5-7 days a week like he had been doing for all those years.  He was a young healthy man but the physical and mental stress of the job has taken its toll on him.  He got injured on the job a year ago and has since become deconditioned, overweight, and his patience level is almost non-existent.  As much as my spouse and I wanted him to have a great paying job with benefits, we could not stand to see what was happening to him - his life was passing him by and his health was declining.  We encouraged him to find a different job and to quit where he was.  He did this and the new job did not work out for him.  He is currently looking for work - but that is okay, we are in a position to help him until he finds one that is a good fit for him.  I am a firm believer that if you don't like your job or your working conditions then you need to leave.  No job is worth losing who you are as a person.

Random thought:  What if we could agree to train in profession that has a shortage and our government would provide us up to four years of free schooling along with living expenses to help to help attain our goals?  Of course we would have to maintain a standard that meets requirements, but just think of how this could help reduce professional shortages in many fields.

This is randomly me ~ Daemon

Surviving Covid

I never thought I would be as affected by the isolation that goes hand in hand with Covid-19.  I don't mind being alone and I often enjoy my solitude.  However, being on the cusp of introvert-extrovert, there are times when I need to be in large crowds to get energized.  With the pandemic looming large, that option is not available to me without creating a situation where I risk exposure to someone carrying the virus.  For those of us who enjoy and have a compulsion to travel, I can honestly say that social distancing sucks!

I recently took a trip - yes, I know I should have stayed home and not risked myself or anyone else - to Boston with some of the women in my family.  Many online news sites, social media platforms, and travel sites had information stating Salem was closing everything down and were recommending that travelers cancel their trips.  I am very happy we did not heed this poor advice.  We got tested for Covid before we left on the trip, got our results the second day of the trip, and had an absolute blast the rest of the trip!  We took a day trip up to Salem and I have to say that I was really impressed with the precautions and enforcement the Salem community had in place.  There were plenty of places to visit in Boston too.  Although many of the businesses were closed, many were not.  People practiced social distancing, wore masks, followed the rules set by the communities, and because of this we were able to enjoy our trip.

Nobody in our group got sick, nobody aquired Covid from travel, and nobody complained that the trip was wasted.  We were able to contribute to the Salem and Boston economy (even though our contributions were a drop in the bucket compared to normal tourism) without creating additional risk.  I don't think travel is a bad idea if people are smart about their social practices and pay close attention to hygeine.  Even working as a nurse, I am wearing my mask, using hand sanitzer followed by washing with soap and water (yes, I do both - in that order).  I don't touch my face, I don't pull my mask under my nose or chin - I remove my mask to eat and I don't let it dangle off of one ear like some.

I have taken a "hands off" stance when it comes to my own well being.  My coworkers do not touch me and they respect my "bubble".  This is nothing new for me and maybe that is another reason why I haven't contracted Covid.  My two sons have had it, I have been exposed mutlitple times, and I have had direct patient contact with Covid positive patients.  I have had five tests since last spring due to exposure or symptoms - all were negative.  Maybe the antihistamine effect of my allery pills make me less susceptible or maybe the Vitamin D supplements really do help.  Or maybe I am just lucky. I prefer to think that I am just cautious and that my efforts are what have kept me Covid free and hopefully will continue to do so.

This is Randomly Me - Daemon

Another Day of Being Crazy

  I know I have posted before about feeling like I am losing my mind but now it is official.  I got a phone call today from someone saying the insurance information I had on file with their company was not working.  I did change in insurance companies this year but I completed online updates and made phone calls to my providers to make sure they had the new information.  After all, I sure don't want to have to pay more than I am supposed to for my medical expenses.  Anyway, back to the phone call.  I didn't recognize the number that came up on my caller ID but I answered it anyway.  The woman on the other end has a slight drawl and started talking about my bill and how it wasn't going through insurance and she needed my insurance information - then proceeded to name my old insurance company.  Ding, ding, ding, there went the warning bells - Scammer Alert!!

  I told her I would call her right back and she asked if I wanted her number.  I told her I already had it and hung up.  She did mention two of the companies I deal with so I called the first one to see if they were making calls about insurance.  Nobody was in the office, which is typically closed on Fridays, so I left a message telling them that there was possibly someone using their name in a scam.  Then I tried to look up the number for the other company but it wasn't in my contacts list.  That is strange because they have been one of my providers for five years or more.  I decided to dial the "scam" number to talk with this woman again and try get more information.  I called the number and a muffled voice said, " [company name that I couldn't understand] this is Dave".  Silence on my part . . . then I said, "Sorry, I think I have the wrong number".  Interesting that a man answered this time - wait - did he say his name was Dave?  I think that is the dudes name that owns the company.  Yikes!

  I hopped onto Google and put the phone number in.  The name of the company came up and boy, did I feel stupid. I dialed the number again and a different woman answered, "[company name] this is Nancy". I recognized the company once the name was said clearly and I recognized Nancy's voice.  "Hi, Nancy.  This is [me] and I just got a call from your number and some woman said my insurance account wasn't working anymore.  I told her I would call her back because I didn't recognize her or the number and I thought it was a scam {embarrassed giggle}".

  To make a silly story shorter - I got connected to the woman and got everything figured out.  Then I proceeded to go into my contact list and add the provider's phone number to the company name so the next time they called I wouldn't let paranoia set in.  Oh! I also called the other provider and left a message on their machine letting them know the scam wasn't really a scam, that it was just me losing my marbles.  [I am an idiot some days!]

  Ten years ago this probably would not have happened but the age of technology and the waning morals of our society have created people like me.  Technology lovers who have multiple layers of hacking protection put in place because we know the immoral people are out to get us.  When someone calls us, rather than communicating electronically per our preference, we immediately start coming up with scenarios in our minds about all of the scams that could be introduced via the telephone.  In my own defense, several years ago I was a victim of a online banking hacking scam.  The alerts I had in place allowed me to be immediately notified and I was able to shut the hacker down.  However, it still created a sense of violation in my mind made me secure my accounts even more with multiple access layers.

  I think the cyber world is only going to get worse and we all need to learn to use security layering to protect our identities from those individuals that think it is okay to steal anything and everything a person has.  So, do yourself a favor and check your accounts, delete accounts and profiles you no longer use.  Unsubscribe to those e-mails from companies you no longer deal with and stop giving out personal details on social media sites.  Be smart and stay safe onliners!!

Random thought:  When was the last time you received a letter on stationary from a friend or loved one?  Better yet, when was the last time you wrote and sent a letter to someone?

~Daemon

Blogging Anonymously Allows Personal Freedom

  I recently shared the fact that I am a Blogger.  I am not sure if that was the smartest thing I have ever done.  I started blogging years ago as a means to express myself and to provide an outlet for all forms of thoughts.  I didn't have my blog open to others at first - I was using the space more as a diary that had the added security of an electronic key rather than a physical one.  About a year ago I allowed a few trusted friends access to my blog - we shared common interests and I knew they wouldn't judge my random musings.  I made several of my blog pieces public and kept the rest private (a girl has to have some things that are private). 

  Anyway, back to the sharing comment . . . I was on FaceBook and someone posed a request for the readers to share something about themselves that others may not know.  I posted that I was a blogger.  Well, that piqued the interest of some of my friends and several asked for the link to my blog site.  Here is the dilemma - if I share the site address I will lose the anonymity I have enjoyed and others will be able to tie me to my pseudonym.  Is this something I am willing to do?

  I decided that I would take a chance and share the blog address.  I only ask that any of my friends who I have shared this site will honor my request to remain anonymous.  I am not so conceited that I think I will become the "talk of the town", however, I do not want to open myself up to scrutiny from those who do not understand and respect my need for personal privacy.  If any of my blogs speak to you or make you feel the need to share them, feel free to share my site address - just don't share ME.

Older parents and technology - Just shoot me now!

Does anyone else have that one parent that thinks he is ready for technology even though he can't even operate a remote control?  When computers were in the Windows 95 stage (probably one of the better eras) my mom decided to buy herself a desktop computer because all of her friends were sending "e-mails" and it was the thing to do.  Needless to say, she had no clue how to operate a computer and none of my siblings were tech saavy - so, guess who got to bond with mom over a Windows 95 desktop device?  Yep!  Lucky me!  Now don't get me wrong, I do not think there is anything bad about someone wanting to try something new and improve themselves.  However, I do think that a person needs to make the committment to at least learn how to use the technology they have so willingly enmeshed themselves into.  Over time my mom did learn how to use her computer to send e-mails and to print "stuff" (mostly jokes and pictures on plain paper).  In addition to those skills, she learned how to play games online.  She entered the world of POGO and opened herself up to a whole new world of fun . . . and viruses!

Is it selfish if you don't want to go visit your parents because you know that the so called visit is going to turn into a technical nightmare of redoing system settings, cleaning out caches, and killing viruses?  How about when the phone rings and it's your mother on the other end and she "just has a little question!"

     "Yes mom, this little picture (icon) needs to be left alone". 

     "No mom, don't try to "clean" your computer yourself".  

     "Sure mom, I can drive 45 miles one way to fix your computer".

     "Did you shut the computer off and turn it back on first . . . ".  

     "Oh, your friend Steve said to do a system restore because that's what he does when his computer freezes - Ummm, no! Do not press that button, I will be there in 45 minutes". 

I was in heaven when my parents decided to buy a second home in Texas and head South for their winters.  Six months of not having to trouble shoot computer problems (they didn't have smart phones yet either).  I was dreaming of what I would do with all of my extra time over the winter months . . . and then my mom calls and says, "I am taking my computer to Texas with me.  What do I need to do to get internet when I am there?"  [Crickets chirping . . . ]  And, that single sentence started a month long saga of me trying to "talk" my mom through a process that she was in no way, shape, or form, able to handle.  The saga ended with me getting on a plane and flying to Texas to get my parents set up with "dial-up" internet.  Well, that wasn't the only reason but it happened to be a catalyst. Yes, this was a long time ago and wireless technology wasn't readily available - this fact alone should indicate how many years I have been dealing with this demon called technology.

Roll forward to 2019 - my dad is no longer with us, my mom is remarried to a great guy who is a little more tech saavy than she is - just enough that I can actually explain steps to him over the phone and he is able to follow them.  My mom has had a cell phone for years - I put her under my phone plan and I pay for her monthly bill and we call it her Christmas, Mother's Day, and birthday presents all rolled into one.  Solves my problem of trying to figure out what to get her and it keeps her from having to dish out money each month for a phone.  Enter the SMART PHONE - since hubby #2 has a smart phone and he can do all kinds of cool things with it, mom decided she might need a smart phone.  Oh God!  I didn't realize I had PTSD (Prior Technology Stress Disorder) until I heard the words "how much would it cost for me to switch to one of those smart phones?"

Here's the problem - as a teenager I could look my mom in the eyes and lie my ass off to get myself out of any situation.  As and adult, I can't do it;  I wish I could, but I just can't.  So, I let mom know it wouldn't cost any more for her to switch to a smart phone and she would just have the cost of purchasing a new phone.  I ordered her phone (a very simple Motorola without major bells and whistles) and my older son set the phone up with everything she wanted.  She got a Facebook account, and e-mail account, and all of her contacts loaded into her phone.  Passwords were created and documented for her. Family members were notified that mom was entering the "smartphone" world. But the best thing by far was the "Duo" application that was loaded to her phone.  We could now make phone calls back and forth and use the same technology that George and Jane Jetson used when making their cartoon phone calls.  How cool was that? 

Today I almost cracked - my mom has not checked her voicemail messages for years.  Six months ago I spent time with a Verizon tech getting her password reset (this was pre-smartphone) because she couldn't remember what her PIN # was.  She also insisted that we never told her what her PIN was to begin with.  Okay, my fault, let's just move on.  Today, I spent time with a Verizon tech trying to get my mom's voicemail cleaned out.  The mailbox was full and nobody could leave messages for her.  She then tells me she has never checked her mailbox because nobody ever gave her the PIN #. [Plant my palm on my face].

Long story made short:  After an hour of frustration and explanations, I finally got my mom to understand that the "little blue circle with all the dots on it" could be pressed and an actual keypad would appear. Of course, in order to do this, I had to call "Hubby" and have him take a picture of her screen then send it to me so I actually saw what she was seeing.  Once we accomplished this, I was to talk her through accessing her voicemail. Loe and behold, she did have a PIN # ["Oh! Well how was I supposed to know what that number was for?"].

As I try to look on the bright side I remind myself that I will always be tech saavy . . . because my mother demands it . . . Just shoot me now!

Random thought:  In twenty years are my own children going to be blogging about my inadequacies and sharing their frustrations with anyone in cyberspace who wants to "listen?"

~Daemon

Today is the day to SNAP . . .

Well, the day has come when I can no longer pretend that I enjoy my life as it is.  It is time for some serious change.  I have become unhappy and as a result, apathetic.  I pretend that everything is wonderful and fine and I think that the reason I do this is because I believe that I can make my situation be whatever I want it to be through the power of positive thinking.

Positive thinking is a powerful tool - albeit a dilusional one.  So, what are the triggers that finally caused me to snap?  I would have to say the number one trigger is the fact that I have no place to go to get away - nothing to call my own.  Now, I understand that this is a selfish concept - wanting something that is just mine and nobody elses - but I believe it is the key to sanity.  The corona isolation has been a huge problem for me as I can no longer get into my car and drive somewhere to get lost in the crowds.  The crowds have been disbanded.  I cannot hop a plane to another country and lose myself in the thrill of exploring someplace new - the countries have been closed.

What I can do is find an escape that allows my mind to lose its reality and stop thinking about the world as I know it.  I guess the introvert in me requires this "task" as a way to reenergize myself.  The problem with this process is that it also requires isolation in a manner that blocks out all excess interuption and stimulation.  That is not possible in my current situation as I have animals that require attention, husband who shares my space, and a multitude of noise that intrudes upon my solace.  I completely understand the concept of needing to have personal and private space and have decided that this is going to become a reality on my life.  I am going to create a "She-shed" for myself.

I kind of sprung the idea of the "She-shed" on my husband today.  Well, I actually blind-sided him with it as I told him I was going to take over one of his storage sheds he has sitting in the yard.  This storage shed has been slated for renovation into a cabin.  For the last 5-6 years, nothing has been done to this shed to even hint at this becoming a reality.  The shed is rotting away - siding is falling off in places, critters have started to nest in the building, and the roof is looking pretty poor.  The shed was sheet-rocked about 20 years ago; wiring and windows were put in, and a wood sub-floor was installed.  And it has sat in this condition since then.  Of course it was moved to a different spot and blocked up, but nothing more has been done to the shed . . . nothing!  So, I have decided to squat on this piece of prime property.

I know my husband wasn't happy about my announcement. As I am typing this, he is working like a mad man on a room he is remodeling.  That is his response to me when he is pissed off or upset - he goes and does something manly.  Sometimes he cuts down trees with a chainsaw, sometimes he burns garbage, other times he gets on his tractor and does whatever it is guys do on their tractors.  The end result is he becomes productive, burns off steam, and I get to make a positive change about something that has been driving me slowly insane.

Is a "She-shed" going to make me happy?  Of course not; But it gives me focus in a time when I need it.  It gives me purpose and hope and it will give me a place of my own to escape to.  I can decorate it any way I want, I will be able to go to meditate in quiet and provide myself with spiritual regeneration.  If I want to work on a craft project and not pick it up right away - I can.  If I want to have my girlfriends over and not be bothered by ESPN blaring from the television, the rattle of the washing machine, or the demands of pets - I will have a place to go.  Right now, I am attempting to save my sanity by creating my own space . . . wish me luck!

Random thought:  What if we were able to tune out the world around us - kind of like putting ourselves into a sensory deprivation chamber - for 60 minutes every day?  Would we come out refreshed or would we come out insane?

~Daemon

The Utopia of Weight Loss

  Does anyone remember that movie "Logan's Run"?  It was based on a book that was published in 1967.  The setting brings us to a post-apocalyptic, future dystopian society where people lived in harmony. Population and resource consumption was controlled by requiring the death of anyone reaching the age of 30 (21 if you read the book). Citizens were required to report to a "sleep shop" where they were incinerated. Anyway, the one part of the movie that has stuck in my mind all these years was a scene where any citizen could enter a lab and request to be "laser sculpted". The female character was beautiful, already thin, and perfect looking.  However, just like current times, all she and society saw where those tiny little flaws that kept her from being "perfect".

 Laser trim a few pounds off here, there, and anywhere else the pesky fat cells were accumulating. I remember thinking "how cool would that be"?  A machine that could fix any physical flaw. Even as young as I was back then, I was already focusing on my so called flaws.  Fast forward forty years later and I realize not much has changed other than I have gotten older and . . . yep . . . more fat. Actually, according to clinical standards I am obese.  When did the term "obese" replace the term "fat"?  Why did it replace it? Whose ideas was it?  

I started an online application based weight loss program last Monday.  It is a points based system that includes "free foods" and incorporates activity into the overall plan.  I was on this same program years ago and had fairly good success so I decided to try it again.  I do recall that the last time I started the program I had 31 daily food points - this time I have 17.  The points and pathway are decided after the user takes a survey based on their preferences. Luckily, in my pathway, I have 300 free foods to choose from so it shouldn't be too much of a hardship, right? OMG!  The first day I had access to the program I ate like I normally would just to see what my typically day would look like for points. This first day was not my start day but since the application allowed me to start tracking a day early I figured I would see how I measured up.

As I stated earlier, I have 17 daily points allocated for food intake.  I also have a bonus bucket of 32 weekly points that I can draw from should I go over my daily limit.  Test day 1: I tracked my food at the end of the day - big mistake! I consumed all of my daily points, all of my weekly points plus more.  I had a total of 63 points for ONE DAY!  It's no wonder I am fat  - or obese if you have made the change to political correctness.  I was sharing this story with my co-workers while we were at the nurse's station and as I made the statement "no wonder I am fat", my own physician just happened to come walking around the corner.  He had heard part of the conversation so of course I had to retell it. I was embarrassed - I don't know why, it's not like he doesn't already know I am "obese".  Maybe it was because I had confessed, out loud, that my eating habits were the real reason for my weight problem . . . I have been trying to convince him it is a thyroid issue.  Anyway, he now officially knows that I am following his advice to lose weight.

For now, the laser sculpting machine will remain a dream and weight loss programs and changing my eating habits will be my reality.  At least I was able to live past the age of thirty . . .

Random thought: The word "utopia" is from the Greek language and combines two meanings: "a good place" and "no such place".  Isn't it ironic that the word that has come to be associated with perfection is really a good place that doesn't exist?

~Daemon

Did I Really Do That?

While I was at work last night my coworkers and I happened to get into a discussion about things we remembered from our childhood.  I shared my memories of having to practice bomb drills.  No, not the drill where you think there is a bomb in your school and everyone has to evacuate the building.  I am talking about the point in time where America was worried that the Russians were going to bomb us. My generation was just at the tail end of this particular reality - thankfully it never happened but if it did, I knew how to dive underneath my desk for safety.  Are you kidding?  My desk?  As I think back I wonder what material that desk was constructed from that it could withstand a bomb.  I wonder; do any of those desks still exist today?  If so, I would really like to purchase a few and gift them to my family and friends.  I would be the hero! 

 "America, we are under attack . . . get under your desk, now!".  My family and friends would probably be the only survivors because of my gift.  How about this scenario? "The Civil Defense has noted a tornado heading in your direction . . . "  No problem friends and family, just crawl under that desk and hang tight until the storm passes.  Your house may be gone but at least you still have your desk and your life.

Isn't it amazing how we can overcome our fears when we think we have something the will keep us safe during any event?  Many of us have those items that we have to keep on our person or really close by to ward off evil, danger, and the occasional zombie.  My safety items have changed over the years.  I used to have a Teddy Bear but one day I imagined him coming to life and killing me . . . I don't know what television show I must have seen that planted that in my mind, but Teddy was relegated to the attic.  I also had magic blankets that could be pulled over my head when I was in bed.  Those blankets kept the monsters away. As long as I was laying in the middle of the bed - suffocating myself - nothing could reach me.  Not even that big monster under the bed.  There were times when I actually thought I saw that monster but I am pretty sure it was my oxygen brain playing tricks on my mind.  I better not forget about the cats and dogs that kept me safe over the years.  As long as one of those animals was sleeping on my bed or walking with me in the dark, nothing could get me.  I was convinced my pets would turn into vicious killing machines to protect me.

My current safety item is my cell phone - I keep it close by and even take it into the bathroom with me sometimes.  Why on earth would I do this?  Because it saved my life once.  Well, I actually saved my own life by calling for help but my cell phone was the safety item I used. I don't have the Teddy Bear or the magic blankets anymore and my pets are not going to save me from anything. Now, I try to anticipate certain situations and role play in my head what my reactions would be. I think about problems that could arise and how I could fix them. I tend to do this with everything and I haven't decided if it is healthy or not.  Sometimes my brain won't shut down because there are so many scenarios running around up there. It is this ability or curse that allows me to have a quick comeback or reaction to most things that come my way.  It's like I myself have become my elementary school desk and I can protect myself - I just have to crawl inside my own head instead of under my desk to be safe.  Crazy? Maybe, but it works for me.

Random Thought:  What if all children were taught to critically think and solve their own problems?  What would our world look like in 20 years?

~Daemon

Dare to Dream and Just Push Through It.

I woke up this morning feeling like I had been run over by a truck.  Not that I know what that feels like, but if I had to imagine what it felt like I would have likened it to the massive aching body that greeted me when I opened my eyes.  Getting older can mean different things for different people - for me it means that every day my joints wear out just a little bit more.  Do I sound like I am whining?  Well, maybe I am.  After all, there are things I can do to reduce the stress to my joints. I could lose weight, I could work out, I could cut back on the number of hours I spend sedentary, or I could take a handfull of pills every day to cut the pain.  I do not do any of those things because like many other people, I have gotten myself stuck in a rut and I am not sure how to get out of it.

There are those people who have the willpower of the gods and they can do anything they put their mind to.  The push through every obstacle to achieve the task at hand and they set an example for everyone else in regard to just what one person can achieve.  I often wonder what drives the individuals - I have that same drive when I start to dream about accomplishing a task.  I can plan everything from start to finish in my head and I can actually see the end result.  However, I either never start the task or I start it and it sits unfinished until I abandon it completely and dispose of the product of my mind.  Why do I do this?  I can come up with many reasons that are all legitimate when I think about my own situation.  I guess that is part of the answer to my question - we each have different abilities and even though we may dream big there is always the risk of something stopping the dream.  It could me a mental deficiency that cripples a person or it could be a physical reason.  In my case it is both. 

I deal with depression, arthritis, and cardiac conditions that often stop me dead in my tracks.  However, I am learning that I can still accomplish tasks that seem insurmountable.  I just have to go back to taking baby steps . . . or in this case baby bites.  It may take me longer to accomplish something but I realized that I needed to continued to bring my dreams to fruition even if it takes me two or three time longer than someone else.  After all, what is the hurry?  The dream is alive as long as I make it so.  I have decided that I need to continued to dream and tell myself to "just push through it".  Wish me luck!

Random Thought:  What if we all decided to "just push through it" and accomplished all that we dreamt of.  Imagine the possibilities . . . No, do the impossible.

~Daemon

The Year of Problem Solving

This morning I had another one of my epiphanies.  This one was better than the one I had where I realized I didn't have to eat blueberries anymore because I was an adult and could make my own decisions - that's a whole other blog.  Anyway, I have been struggling with not getting out of the house enough and feeling sorry for myself because I don't have time to do any errands before work.  What I realized this morning is that I do have time to do errands before work and the reason I wasn't going out before work was because I didn't want to wear my scrubs on my errands.  Here is the easy fix - wear whatever I am wearing from when I got dressed for the day and just bring my scrubs to work with me and put them on there.  Why did it take me so many years - yes, years - to come up with this solution?  Probably because I was too focused on feeling trapped and sorry for myself.

So, today I dressed in my jeans, t-shirt, and put on my makeup.  I fixed my hair, grabbed some lunch, ran a couple errands and still had time to stop at the local coffee shop for some much needed caffeine and a little "blogging" time. My scrub outfit is hanging in the vehicle just waiting for me to put it on when I get to work.  Work - there is another issue that this will help with.  We used to be able to punch in when we got to work and the boss would just adjust our time to reflect our scheduled start time.  Now, we have a new time and attendance system and staff is not supposed to clock in early - we have to wait for the clock to be at least seven minutes before the start time before sliding that badge through the reader.  I usually get to work at least 15 minutes early and I always just punched in and started working on something.  After the new rule took effect, I would often get to work early and plan to go back to the time clock to punch in - that didn't always happen.  New plan: I am going to go to work like I always have but from now on I will have my scrubs with me a go to the locker room and change. By the time I am done doing that I should be able to punch into work as I am going by the time clock.  Problem solved!  An added benefit is that I can change back to my street clothes after work and reduce the "bugs" that I could potentially be bringing into my home.  Win-Win!

Life has so many road blocks for all of us and it is easy to let ourselves get pulled down to a point where we feel we have no control over our own outcomes. I'm not a big believer in New Year resolutions but considering we are just starting a new year, I think that I am going to try looking back to my past and pull out some of the tools I used to use to help others problem solve.  I have a plethora of skills and tools sitting inside my brain just waiting to be dusted off and put to good use.  I think 2020 is going to be the "year of the problem solver" and I am going to try find unique ways to get myself going in the right direction.

Random Thought:  What if everyone focused on solutions rather than problems for just one day . . . I can only imagine the productivity spike that could result.

~Daemon