Just discovered a perk of working late: avoiding the long lines. I swung by Macy's just now since I've been needing a new blush but wanted to wait for Clinique's bonus time. On my bus ride into work this morning I happened to notice the back side of a fellow commuters newspaper which had an advertisement that it's bonus time!
I saw that Macy's is open until 10 and as I walk up to the Clinique counter I see those guide ropes used to corral the crowds and a sign about picking a number. Talking with the staff as I check out I find out that it's been a mad house. It probably would have taken me an hour for something that just took ten minutes. Nice!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Grey
Work is crazy. I feel like I always say that but this last week has been more so than in the past. I feel like I’m finally hitting my stride in leadership and managing which only means more work, especially as my department expands and grows. I’ve got a game plan but waiting until we can staff it is making me go bonkers… and go grey. Last Friday I tried to take a picture of a new chunk of grey hair. Picture is horrible so I’ll just use my words. The grey suddenly appeared, just at the front of the part - a little bit on both sides.
Funny thing, this has happened in the past. You know how when you get stressed your body always finds a way to yell out (eventually) “whoa, hold up, this is a little too much.” The last several years, one of my stress symptoms is grey hair. Which actually isn’t too bad since I’m not vain about my hair and it doesn’t really slow me down like headaches and all the other physical ailments.
And in the past, I have usually tried to listen and slow down, regroup or change environments. When I do and things get a bit more calm the grey hair disappears as suddenly as it reappears. Don’t get me wrong, I still have some grey but just the normal random strands. I don’t know what happens. They must just fall out.
Well, I meant to post this Friday, and then things got crazy and it got left. And then today, I was going to post about my marvelous weekend and before I get a chance I get sucked into the craziness of work. Today was a caricature of a Monday. Not one, nor two, but three major mess-ups by staff. Luckily, I was smart and went to bed at 8:30 last night so had a good 9 hours of recharge after a busy weekend (more on that later). And I was able to keep internal cursing to a minimum and move on to how to resolve/damage control the issues in an even-keeled manner which the staff later said they appreciated (they knew how much they had messed-up). I figure it’s all part of the learning curve - you learn from your mistakes and these were all first time offenders. I have less patience when it’s a mistake that was made before and no lesson learned. I wish I could give more oversight and time to staff but in some cases I give more than I have received in the past.
I’m great at delegating but what do you do when the people you delegate too are maxed out? Time for more staff! Just need to find the right people to add to the team which is challenging - I only bring on the best. Fingers crossed it’s a short waiting period. If nothing more than keeping the grey hair at bay!
Funny thing, this has happened in the past. You know how when you get stressed your body always finds a way to yell out (eventually) “whoa, hold up, this is a little too much.” The last several years, one of my stress symptoms is grey hair. Which actually isn’t too bad since I’m not vain about my hair and it doesn’t really slow me down like headaches and all the other physical ailments.
And in the past, I have usually tried to listen and slow down, regroup or change environments. When I do and things get a bit more calm the grey hair disappears as suddenly as it reappears. Don’t get me wrong, I still have some grey but just the normal random strands. I don’t know what happens. They must just fall out.
Well, I meant to post this Friday, and then things got crazy and it got left. And then today, I was going to post about my marvelous weekend and before I get a chance I get sucked into the craziness of work. Today was a caricature of a Monday. Not one, nor two, but three major mess-ups by staff. Luckily, I was smart and went to bed at 8:30 last night so had a good 9 hours of recharge after a busy weekend (more on that later). And I was able to keep internal cursing to a minimum and move on to how to resolve/damage control the issues in an even-keeled manner which the staff later said they appreciated (they knew how much they had messed-up). I figure it’s all part of the learning curve - you learn from your mistakes and these were all first time offenders. I have less patience when it’s a mistake that was made before and no lesson learned. I wish I could give more oversight and time to staff but in some cases I give more than I have received in the past.
I’m great at delegating but what do you do when the people you delegate too are maxed out? Time for more staff! Just need to find the right people to add to the team which is challenging - I only bring on the best. Fingers crossed it’s a short waiting period. If nothing more than keeping the grey hair at bay!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Bumper Sticker
On my walk to the bus stop this morning I glanced over at the cars in the street and saw this:
It might be hard to see but it reads:
Honk if you're Amish.
It took me a moment and then chuckled and went back to take a picture and by then the red light was green resulting in a motion shot.
It might be hard to see but it reads:
Honk if you're Amish.
It took me a moment and then chuckled and went back to take a picture and by then the red light was green resulting in a motion shot.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday Continued
I have to add another feel good item to my Monday list. Earlier I had gone out and found I had a flat tire. Not a problem, right? I wrestle my full spare out of the trunk and get the equipment only to find I’m missing the jack. I find there is another special compartment in my trunk that houses the jack up against the metal frame. Except I can’t get it out - it’s wedged in there. I work on it and nothing. I’ve never changed a flat tire on this car and I finally give up and take a taxi to where I was going (super annoying but I was late). On Monday I call my mechanic to make an appointment and figure out how to bring the car in. I was wondering if I could borrow my neighbor’s jack which is for a different make and model car. My mechanic wasn’t sure about it but instead offered up…. not towing which I was trying to avoid (the cost), but to swing by my place and pump air into my tire so I could drive it over.
So I’m trying to leave work early to get home soon after he pumped up the tire, and three hours later (didn’t get to leave until 7 almost), I make it home not sure if it was a success. And it was! I slowly drive my car the 10 blocks or so to my mechanic, write him a note and then spend another 15 minutes trying to find the drop box to leave my key. It took me forever and I was close to just hiding the key on the property and calling him the next day when someone came by and helped out. Seeing the slot in the dark was a challenge.
So I’m trying to leave work early to get home soon after he pumped up the tire, and three hours later (didn’t get to leave until 7 almost), I make it home not sure if it was a success. And it was! I slowly drive my car the 10 blocks or so to my mechanic, write him a note and then spend another 15 minutes trying to find the drop box to leave my key. It took me forever and I was close to just hiding the key on the property and calling him the next day when someone came by and helped out. Seeing the slot in the dark was a challenge.
It was so nice that he swung by my house and did that. Whoever heard of a mechanic making house calls?! How awesome is that? Now I’m just waiting for the call to find out the damage (not just the tire but also getting a general tune-up, it’s been awhile). Fingers crossed it’s not too expensive.
And this morning I came in and my eggs where waiting for me - super fresh farm eggs. Ever since I was down to one egg in the fridge, all my meal planning has been egg-centric: breakfast egg sandwich, dinner omelet, egg-salad sandwich. You know how it goes, when you don’t have something, that’s all you want. Now I can go egg crazy!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Monday
I don’t know about you, but my Monday’s are getting harder and harder. I love my job but it can be quite intense. From the minute I come in, to about 5 pm it’s non-stop go with meetings, calls, people stopping by and emails from people wanting something ASAP. Which leaves me after 5 pm to work on the actual work. By Friday’s I’m tired and I’m usually good at letting go of work and just taking a break on the weekends from it all and recharging the batteries. Lately, I’ve been finding the most I’m up to is working on the house. By the time Monday morning rolls round, I’m in a completely different frame of mind and it’s like coming back to work after vacation - got to get back into the swing of things. Plus Monday morning is usually me running around doing all the last minute chores I never got around to over the weekend (taking out the trash, tidying up, paying bills, etc).
On the upside, not to jinx anything, but after my first discovery of a few of the buggers in places I haven’t seen them before, it looks like things have plateaued out. I’m optimistic if I do a good, deep, spring cleaning I’ll have a fresh start and address the issue. I realized that the sweaters I was cleaning could use for a nice TLC and de-pilling anyways. I’ve found a few things that needed mending and slowly cleaning everything gives a nice airiness to a stuffy winter. I took stock of where the bugs could be and think I’ve got things covered and have a plan. The main issue remaining is the carpets. No matter how much I try to clean them, there is still only so much I can do and I don’t feel like I’ve eradicated the buggers. So I think I’m finally coming to terms of ripping them out, but will save that for another post. Actually, I’m realizing that I should post about my slow progress on my house. Its finally sinking in that I own my place and can do whatever I want - no more renting! I’ve got a ton of plans which must have come about from perusing other people’s blogs and my latest addition, Pinterst. So what I’m thinking is that I should post about the home decoration plans/progress. Now thinking and doing is another thing, so time will tell, but be forewarned.
And to wrap up the Monday, I have to say that I was glad I got going this morning for when I arrived, waiting on my desk was this:
How awsome is that - real homemade syrup from a coworker. This is his first year tapping the maples on his land and the syrup never got syrupy, it’s still very liquidy, but I can’t wait to try it out. And I had spoken with my other coworker last week about getting some eggs Monday too and he said that would work out great since he would have some “fresh weekend” eggs. Unfortunately he forgot but will bring them in tomorrow. Still, gotta love where I work where I can get fresh goods like these. Mondays can be good after all.
On the upside, not to jinx anything, but after my first discovery of a few of the buggers in places I haven’t seen them before, it looks like things have plateaued out. I’m optimistic if I do a good, deep, spring cleaning I’ll have a fresh start and address the issue. I realized that the sweaters I was cleaning could use for a nice TLC and de-pilling anyways. I’ve found a few things that needed mending and slowly cleaning everything gives a nice airiness to a stuffy winter. I took stock of where the bugs could be and think I’ve got things covered and have a plan. The main issue remaining is the carpets. No matter how much I try to clean them, there is still only so much I can do and I don’t feel like I’ve eradicated the buggers. So I think I’m finally coming to terms of ripping them out, but will save that for another post. Actually, I’m realizing that I should post about my slow progress on my house. Its finally sinking in that I own my place and can do whatever I want - no more renting! I’ve got a ton of plans which must have come about from perusing other people’s blogs and my latest addition, Pinterst. So what I’m thinking is that I should post about the home decoration plans/progress. Now thinking and doing is another thing, so time will tell, but be forewarned.
And to wrap up the Monday, I have to say that I was glad I got going this morning for when I arrived, waiting on my desk was this:
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Hitchcock-like Invasion
I’m not wild about the creepy crawlies. I’ll jump if a snake crosses my path and I’ve yelped when I had discovered a little field mouse in my last house. But if they keep to themselves, I can cohabitate with them. Take spiders for instance. I’m not wild about them. I don’t want to hold them or have them crawl on me, but I have several living in my place. They keep to their corner and I keep to mine. They don’t do any damage and even help out - in the summer they keep any fruit flies that make it inside down to a minimum. I’m good with spiders, I’ve even named them - they’re all called George since I’m afraid to admit they all look the same to me.
I remember once, when I was on the west coast, my kitchen being invaded by little brown, innocuous ants and getting goose-bumps. After seeing Hitchcock’s movie, “The Birds”, I have respect for animals en masse. And that’s the issue. If they’re small and don’t do any harm, I’m OK. If they’re small and do some harm but there’s only one or two, I’m not too happy, but I’ll probably make do. But if they are doing harm AND there are a bunch of them, then I start getting creeped out and start to worry.
And you got it, I’m finding that I’m getting invaded by little buggers. I mentioned them at the end of last year. I have absolutely no idea what they are. They’re little, itty bitty worms - nothing if you just see one or two. I’d guess they’re less than a quarter inch. I can mush them in my fingers, no problem. Over the winter I moved the few items (usually yarn items) that I found with one or two worms in them, onto my 3-season porch to be subjected to three continuous days of freezing. I was told by several sources (including a relative who works at a museum that deals with these issues professionally) that this is what is to be done. My porch is full of stuff and I have yet to move anything back inside.
The problem is that I all of a sudden started discovering these little buggers in other places - everywhere actually. Just one or two lone fellas, but somehow they’ve migrated to the far corners of everything I own. They leave a little cocoon thing so you can see where they’ve been and they usually wrap themselves up in wool, so what looks like a fuzz is actually home to one of the little worms.
Last week I went to grab a sweater from the bottom of the pile and there were signs of critter presence. I was cleaning a chair and in the crevice of the seat (it was slipcovered) I found another one! I pulled out a blanket from storage, and boom, there was another guy. And it’s not just dormant stuff, this morning I was taking off my jacket and sweater I wear with the jacket everyday and there was a hole in the sleeve of the sweater - I think done by one of the little guys, or it could have just gotten caught on something that created a whole. I’m starting to go crazy now. Every fuzz, or little bit of something I’m paranoid and think it’s evidence of invasion. And winter is over - no more three continuous days below freezing. At night, yes, but not 72 hours straight.
I don’t know quite what to do. I’ve started by filling my freezer with a batch of sweaters - good thing I don’t have a lot of frozen food - most of which I put in the door. I’ll put them in the laundry next, they need a good washing anyways, and I’m thinking of this as a spring cleaning. I’ll need to find a safe place to store the “cleaned” stuff. And then I guess I just bleach the closet surfaces. I hate to do that but not sure what else to do. Actually, I just had an idea - I’ve been thinking of repainting stuff. I think I’ll repaint the inside of my closet - it could use a nice new coat to spruce things up. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll slowly move my sweaters through the freezer. I was looking online and thinking of buying a used freezer to put in the basement. You know, one of those big things that you could put a body in. I could use it for a few months and then get rid of it once I’ve cycled everything through. I’d put all my linens, clothes, yarn (again), fabric and anything else that could possibly house a lone worm.
The quandary is how to deal with the bigger items. The one chair which had the slipcover, I’m suspicious one of the worms might have crawled down to the good fabric below and the innards of the chair. And this is my favorite, good chair that I just spent tons of money reupholstering a few years back with some really expensive fabric. The slip cover was to keep the cat claws at bay. I’d like to freeze the whole chair but think I’ll just have to wait for next winter. And what about my other furniture. No signs, but does that mean I’m free and clear? Could a lone worm that is in my couch somehow migrate back to the sweaters and breed and I have to start the whole cycle over again?
And there are the rugs. I have mostly wood floors thank goodness. But I do have one oriental rug in the living room and two carpeted rooms. I’m thinking it’s time to get rid of the carpet. I have a steam cleaner and think I’ll just slowly steam clean every inch of the oriental rug, twice. Not sure if that will do the trick, but fingers crossed.
It’s going to be slow going and I feel like I just finally got everything into its right place and now I have to turn my place upside down - having quarantined zones and bleached down safe zones.
In other news, I just bought some new fabric to make some slipcovers for my couch and chairs. I looked at my budget and realized it will be several years until I can get a new sofa and my current one is just embarrassing. It’s in good shape but those cat claws have done a number of the years. My local fabric store is having a huge sale on upholstery fabric. Not a huge selection to choose from, but for the sofa I found some fabric for only about $7/yd. I’m not completely sold on the color. It’s a tealish color which looks great with the mid-century Danish blond wood in the room, but I may experiment with dying it a slightly darker shade. I’ll cut out the pieces this weekend and pin it up and see what I think. I think with some nice pillows the color will get a bit more subdued. It’s all slowly starting to come together. I was thinking I really need to take some pictures to post. Definitely some before pictures. But love having my own place to slowly transform, piece by piece into my little haven, sans critters hopefully.
I remember once, when I was on the west coast, my kitchen being invaded by little brown, innocuous ants and getting goose-bumps. After seeing Hitchcock’s movie, “The Birds”, I have respect for animals en masse. And that’s the issue. If they’re small and don’t do any harm, I’m OK. If they’re small and do some harm but there’s only one or two, I’m not too happy, but I’ll probably make do. But if they are doing harm AND there are a bunch of them, then I start getting creeped out and start to worry.
And you got it, I’m finding that I’m getting invaded by little buggers. I mentioned them at the end of last year. I have absolutely no idea what they are. They’re little, itty bitty worms - nothing if you just see one or two. I’d guess they’re less than a quarter inch. I can mush them in my fingers, no problem. Over the winter I moved the few items (usually yarn items) that I found with one or two worms in them, onto my 3-season porch to be subjected to three continuous days of freezing. I was told by several sources (including a relative who works at a museum that deals with these issues professionally) that this is what is to be done. My porch is full of stuff and I have yet to move anything back inside.
The problem is that I all of a sudden started discovering these little buggers in other places - everywhere actually. Just one or two lone fellas, but somehow they’ve migrated to the far corners of everything I own. They leave a little cocoon thing so you can see where they’ve been and they usually wrap themselves up in wool, so what looks like a fuzz is actually home to one of the little worms.
Last week I went to grab a sweater from the bottom of the pile and there were signs of critter presence. I was cleaning a chair and in the crevice of the seat (it was slipcovered) I found another one! I pulled out a blanket from storage, and boom, there was another guy. And it’s not just dormant stuff, this morning I was taking off my jacket and sweater I wear with the jacket everyday and there was a hole in the sleeve of the sweater - I think done by one of the little guys, or it could have just gotten caught on something that created a whole. I’m starting to go crazy now. Every fuzz, or little bit of something I’m paranoid and think it’s evidence of invasion. And winter is over - no more three continuous days below freezing. At night, yes, but not 72 hours straight.
I don’t know quite what to do. I’ve started by filling my freezer with a batch of sweaters - good thing I don’t have a lot of frozen food - most of which I put in the door. I’ll put them in the laundry next, they need a good washing anyways, and I’m thinking of this as a spring cleaning. I’ll need to find a safe place to store the “cleaned” stuff. And then I guess I just bleach the closet surfaces. I hate to do that but not sure what else to do. Actually, I just had an idea - I’ve been thinking of repainting stuff. I think I’ll repaint the inside of my closet - it could use a nice new coat to spruce things up. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll slowly move my sweaters through the freezer. I was looking online and thinking of buying a used freezer to put in the basement. You know, one of those big things that you could put a body in. I could use it for a few months and then get rid of it once I’ve cycled everything through. I’d put all my linens, clothes, yarn (again), fabric and anything else that could possibly house a lone worm.
The quandary is how to deal with the bigger items. The one chair which had the slipcover, I’m suspicious one of the worms might have crawled down to the good fabric below and the innards of the chair. And this is my favorite, good chair that I just spent tons of money reupholstering a few years back with some really expensive fabric. The slip cover was to keep the cat claws at bay. I’d like to freeze the whole chair but think I’ll just have to wait for next winter. And what about my other furniture. No signs, but does that mean I’m free and clear? Could a lone worm that is in my couch somehow migrate back to the sweaters and breed and I have to start the whole cycle over again?
And there are the rugs. I have mostly wood floors thank goodness. But I do have one oriental rug in the living room and two carpeted rooms. I’m thinking it’s time to get rid of the carpet. I have a steam cleaner and think I’ll just slowly steam clean every inch of the oriental rug, twice. Not sure if that will do the trick, but fingers crossed.
It’s going to be slow going and I feel like I just finally got everything into its right place and now I have to turn my place upside down - having quarantined zones and bleached down safe zones.
In other news, I just bought some new fabric to make some slipcovers for my couch and chairs. I looked at my budget and realized it will be several years until I can get a new sofa and my current one is just embarrassing. It’s in good shape but those cat claws have done a number of the years. My local fabric store is having a huge sale on upholstery fabric. Not a huge selection to choose from, but for the sofa I found some fabric for only about $7/yd. I’m not completely sold on the color. It’s a tealish color which looks great with the mid-century Danish blond wood in the room, but I may experiment with dying it a slightly darker shade. I’ll cut out the pieces this weekend and pin it up and see what I think. I think with some nice pillows the color will get a bit more subdued. It’s all slowly starting to come together. I was thinking I really need to take some pictures to post. Definitely some before pictures. But love having my own place to slowly transform, piece by piece into my little haven, sans critters hopefully.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)