Happy Birthday to Me!

I had my gigantic staff meeting, I mentioned at the start how I couldn't believe everyone made it - Linda piped up from the back that it was due to all of the threatening emails throughout the past week... The staff room was overflowing. I made a giant fruit salad, we had bagels, mini muffins, coffee - and my boss brought me flowers and a cake! I didn't think anyone knew, but they all did. It was fun having everyone sing Happy Birthday, no matter how old you get it still means a lot. The new associate director got flowers too - I really like her so far and I know I'm going to learn a lot from her. The rest of the day went well, I put the cake in the back so Peds could have too, David had flowers delivered to the office which was very nice. David built me floor to ceiling shelves in the living room which is all I wanted this year. My books have been packed for two years now, every time I want one I have to go sifting through the boxes so this weekend I'll be unpacking all my books and will finally have them within reach after all this time. Life is good most days, but some days it's better.

The Pool

We've gotten two estimates for the pool. The pool is 16 x 4 feet deep. The first estimate was $1700. The second guy came and told David he usually doesn't do anything under $3000 but for us, $2500. I know there are some thinking that is not so bad but the people that bought our house in WV just had our old pool relined. Our old pool that is 32 x 16 and 10 feet deep on the end for $2300 - labor included. That is ridiculous. Part of it of course is the pool is really too small to swim in but filling it in wouldn't work either as we'd spend just as much - or more - putting something else in that didn't look like a pool had been there. We still have some time to figure it out so we'll just let it slide for now. The yard is looking much better these days, David has it trimmed back and has been taking down the dead trees, there will be plenty of firewood this fall. We don't have much in the way of grass and I'm not sure if we want to start that mess this year or will even have time. David has been clearing off piles of brush, dead leaves, old railroad ties, dead trees, etc - nothing has been taken care of for years. The neighbors told us it was a shame because when this house was bought, the people had put a lot of money in it and it had been a beautiful place. It rained all day yesterday which is one of the problems with the lack of grass of course, mud mud mud. Pearl is very rude and doesn't wipe her paws, not to mention the rain gets her all excited so she has to run back and forth. A lot. She's a bad dog, but we like her.

Things May Appear Closer Than They Are

Yesterday did not go exactly as planned. I had signed up for the knitting class to meet people, relax and learn how to do this particular shawl - I've attempted it on my own in the past and was not successful. I'm still not. Timing was good yesterday, I scheduled my admit well and ended up with enough time to run back to the office, finish the paperwork and change and get over there. In retrospect I would have been better off with a sock class to start - the pattern is so complicated no one can really talk except on alternate rows which makes conversation a bit tricky as you have to stop talking on the even rows. I ripped mine out about a hundred times and left with only 4 rows done - we're supposed to have 50 done before the next class on the 8th - so now I'm all stressed out. About my knitting class. Go figure. I tried a couple of times last night and finally gave it up as it was really stressing me out then - I even woke up around midnight thinking about it! I think I'll try a thicker yarn today and straight needles and see if that helps - I' m considering calling in sick but that would be a wee bit over the top, wouldn't it? And I would mess up my Grand Plans - I've been with Bayada for over a year and have not called in sick once. I have 72 hours of sick time and if I can hang in there and go over 80 they give it back to you in cash! That's excellent because the last place I worked at punished you for not calling in sick - I lost over 3 weeks of sick time because I never called in. That makes me mad because you know everyone else calls in just to use it, so you end up with the very short end of the stick. I also have over 50 hours in vacation so if I die I'm covered. And of course there's that obsessive part of it as I became obsessed with not calling in awhile ago so it's not that I haven't been sick, I just can't make myself call in. There are some obsessions your superiors are in favor of, this would be one. It's raining a great deal today but we have plans to do the shopping and that's about it, I have one patient to see but all of this will cover what I spent for yarn so that's OK!

Lots Going On

David finished glopping out the pool and is now getting estimates on a new liner. We have a couple of months so he's checking out the Internet and will most likely install it himself. The first guy gave him a pretty high number (the pool is very small and it's more for looks than anything else), the second guy has already shown himself to be unreliable. He didn't show up, then called and pretended it was supposed to be today, then said he truck broke down - which is it buddy?- so I think he's off the roster already. I find it annoying how people will complain they can never get work and then do things like that. In the past we've occasionally tried to hire people and David gets so disgusted he ends up doing it himself anyhow - most of the reason is they simply don't show up when they say they will. And like this guy, if you can't even do it for the estimate, how will you behave when you've actually gotten the job? No thank you! I got my package so was happily glomming all over that last night - right after I got done having a hissy fit. I have that knitting class I signed up for weeks ago and of course at 4:55 we started getting referrals - at one point I had two which meant I wouldn't have been able to go to this class which of course, is nonrefundable. I do get upset because it seems like every time I plan something work interferes. That's probably not true but I do reserve the right to over react for at least five minutes. However I have it down to one admission and already have it scheduled so hopefully it will all work out. I also have to go shopping this weekend as I'm having a breakfast for the new boss on Thursday so that will be my weekend. My package from Knitpicks came when they said it would - the yarn is very nice and I got all sorts of stuff.

Mailbox Patrol

As you get older your not so desirable traits tend to get a little stronger - mine of course of impatience. It makes me good at my job - I have to do it - and do it NOW. The phones go on at exactly 8:30 am (or earlier), paperwork moves along. But it makes me a major pain in the ass to UPS and Fed Ex, especially with 3 Day Shipping. And even worse I can Track A Package which which becomes a preoccupation at best, an obsessive demented activity at worst. I did indeed order yarn and other assorted Yarn Related Items from my favorite web store Knitpicks - I super love them and their yarn is not only high quality and low price but I can find colors and stuff I can't find anywhere else. Add in the 40% off all the books - Charge!! So I ordered at 4:03 PM yesterday and the clock started ticking. I've peeked throughout the day and still have two days to go - I will worry it won't get here, call Customer Service at least 10 times if it doesn't arrive by 4:03 on Friday - if I have to go through the weekend Package-Less, the drama will continue. I have my first knitting class on Saturday to distract me and will be using a yarn I bought at the shop - that's polite. I still have a $25 credit waiting for me in Milford, but I'll get to that eventually - it's not going anywhere and I have to see what I need later on. Work was fun today, we had Starr Medical talk and they brought breakfast from Panera Bread. Next week our new director starts and I'm having a breakfast for her at the meeting next week so I have to get that planned this weekend. We have CHAP coming, all sorts of things and I've been ordering to beat the band. Our business is picking up and I'm still sifting through the staff, busy busy. David bought a cap for his truck and put an ad in the local paper so we'll have to see what happens - this area is much more depressed than we realized so it's been pretty tough for him. We're also getting prices on the pool liner - we have a couple of months so we can do a lot of comparison before committing.

Karma 101

I always think of Karma as looking at someone while trying to look like you're not looking. That's an odd way of putting it - but the basic principle is the same. Today, I had the opportunity to do something nice for someone who wasn't expecting it - and I would get nothing in return. That's a basic - it's not a swap meet A patient had been discussing an ingredient he loved and he couldn't find it anywhere, but I know they sell it near me. The patient lives in the yarn shop area so I was going to see him first, then off to Church to pray to the Wool God. Of course as I was about to leave the phone rang and it was a long several conversations, notes - then I remembered I also needed gas. So as I got into my car I did the math and if I skipped the grocery - I could make it. And that is where your karma gets a little boost - if there's suffering and sacrifice involved there's a few extra Buddha Points. I ran to the market, drove behind The Car That Only Goes Thirty Four Miles An Hour to the gas station, watching the clock, watching the speedometer, turtle slow. I sighed and gave it up, selfish thoughts for something I can do anytime. Got to the patient - absolute delight, change in menu for dinner, patient is doing very well, the gift was an unexpected and appreciated extra. When I left I realized it was a little earlier than I had anticipated and if I drove - I vacillated between hope and despair, 4:47, 4:48. I got there two minutes AFTER five - still open! Turns out this was the first day they started their spring and summer hours, open til 6 now - I bought the buttons and it put me right over the amount I needed for the free $25 rebate - to be paid in yarn of course on my next visit. That is what happens karma-wise when you're a good egg rolling on the path. But if you start feeling good and thinking you're all that - a cop will show and drive behind you the entire length of 209, speed limit 45 and they're just looking for an excuse. A little cosmic reminder that no matter how well you behaved today, you could be sidewalk jam tomorrow in the greater scheme of things. David was emptying the pool out when I got home, gobs and gobs of Pre-Frog goo, sigh, Karma calls again. 3 trips to the swamp to give the tadpoles a chance, as the end of the day if you can stay even, that's all you can ask most days.

No CPR

I tried to get out of here in time on Saturday - but between this and that, plus I had sort of forgotten how far it is to Pittston from here - I ran way late. But on the way there I was rummaging through my wallet and found my CPR - dated for October. That was confusing until I remembered that when I moved here I had to take it again because it took so long to get my card from WV. After I took it here, my first card wandered into the area so I indeed have two cards. Since I was near to Pittston I popped my head in and decided against taking it. I was so late it would've distracted the class and it was two more hours. This gave me Bonus Shopping Time. So off to Dickson City I scampered, coupons in hand and a song in my heart. I mainly poked around, there's not much I need these days but managed to get a couple of pair of shoes for work and a good book. While at Borders there was story time for the kids and the woman leading it was singing Ten Pigs In a Bed - I almost started laughing because I had been known to sing that to Liz when we were drunk teenagers. Then she started singing Little Bunny Foo Foo which the boys of course liked, it's a bit odd though isn't it? The day was cold and grey so it was a good day for all of this. Then last night was Dr. Who marathon, I didn't get to see the new episode but it will be on every week so no big there. I spoke to Adam, they'll be out of port in the near future and he's trying to start planning on what he'll do after the navy. This time I think he'll be better prepared than the last. Today I have nothing on the boards, David and I are plotting small trips for the summer I think, once we get everything settled here.