Category: work

The Other Side

Thursday already?  This week is flying by.  So far this morning has been quiet and peaceful, just me and my teacup and my computer.  The novelty of me working from home wore off for my cat last week some time, and he no longer supervises me, although he still partakes in his daily stroll across the keyboard for old times’ sake.

This week launched with hassle after hassle, from issues with the server at the office, which we rely on to work from home, to our dinosaur of a home computer protesting about suddenly being used all day long.  I did some clean-up, some scanning, some sweet-talking, and it’s decided to behave again.  For now.  

It started to get to me.  I was annoyed, stressed out, and I let it start compounding, rolling like a snowball, picking up the aggravation and uncertainty of the lockdowns and the virus and everything being closed and the nasty, negative, petty headlines when people should be focused on just doing what is right and helping each other.

My husband reminded me that I had just said, maybe a week before, that things will get worse before they get better, and the only parts we have any direct control over are how we react and how we treat each other.  So I took a deep breath and took my own wise, practical, and always-correct advice.  (See how I slipped in some self-congratulatory praise there?)  

Now, I read just enough news to stay informed of anything major happening in the world I need to know about, like zombie outbreaks or an asteroid hurtling a million miles an hour toward my house.  I focus on my new workout routine, on my health, my family’s health.  I refuse to become a cranky, hissing, spitting curmudgeon and just make everything worse.

I saw a quote recently that I wish I had saved, because now I can’t find it.  But it was basically that people are griping and complaining about social distancing and stay-at-home orders, whining about being bored, pining for things to go back to the way they used to be, when maybe instead, people should see this as an opportunity to slow down, to assess their lives, to take a good look around and see what could change, what could be better.  Why wish for what used to be when some editing may be required?

The next month, two months, or however long this goes on is going to pass us by, whether we are under stay-at-home orders or not.  What are you doing now to make sure that a better version of you emerges on the other side?

Karl Jung

Late to Work

I confess, I was shamelessly late to work this morning, and I work from home.  How does that happen?  But when the blasted, sinful alarm went off, I just wasn’t ready to get up.  My husband had tossed one arm around me, had his other hand resting on my head, gently stroking my hair, and then my cat snuggled in close beside me, purring away.  Add in the cozy covers, my comfy pillow, and truly, how could I be expected to get out of bed?  I rest my case.

Late start or not, I finally finished that work project I have been slaving over all week, so I just hit send on that and got it out of my face.  Time to go back to bed, right?

The upcoming weeks will continue to bring a lot of change, and unfortunately, people in general are woefully lacking in common sense, critical thinking abilities, and courtesy.  People will continue to spread rumors, panic, hoard, and act like morons.  I have decided that, to the best of my ability, my focus right now and in the upcoming weeks is taking care of myself, sticking to my newly revived workout routine, and doing my damnedest to make the best of this situation.  Really, it’s all I can do.

Oh, and wash my hands 🙂

Good Day

My husband had to get up extra early today, so instead of lounging in bed (which was wildly and deliciously tempting), I got up for a morning workout, then enjoyed sitting on the deck to enjoy what will likely be one of our last cool, breezy mornings before summer sizzles in to bake us.

I am wrapping up a big project I have to finish this week, and it will be a huge weight off my shoulders to send that off and cross it off my to-do list.  It is shaping up for me to maybe have most of Friday off, and I am trying not to get my hopes up too high, just in case…but I really need it!

Today was just a really nice day.  I love how my husband reaches over to me and pats my hip before he gets out of bed.  I love how the sun peeks through the lacy pattern of leaves in the backyard.  I love the scent of flowers on the breeze as I sit outside.  I love the cinnamon smell from a scented candle drifting through the house, all the windows tossed open to embrace the cool weather.

But, back to that aforementioned project…it’s not quite finished yet, so time to crack the whip.  Hope everyone else is also having a good day and staying safe and healthy.

1.6 Down

Monday already?  Hmmm.  I had a really good weekend.  It started off with a pretty good weigh-in, not quite 2 pounds (my goal for the week), but I lost 1.6.  Close enough to celebrate, with the acknowledgement that I need to tighten up some things this week.

I spent most of Saturday afternoon in the yard, sweating and nearly passing out, but I got a lot done.  My husband came outside to help, then my stepson wandered out for a bit.  I suppose my neighbors are getting bored with this social-distance/stay-at-home thing, because almost the entire street was outside, puttering around.  We were calling out to each other from our yards, waving, joking around.  (For the record, our yard is still the best-looking one on the street!)

I figured 5+ hours of manual labor was enough of a workout for Saturday, but on Sunday, I suited up and did a weight training DVD that I have only done once, quite some time ago, and forgot how hard it is.  I struggled through it and got it done.  I’m not sore yet, but I am sure I will be.

This is going to be a busy week. I have several meetings scheduled, some brief time in the office (locked in my office with disinfectant wipes), and a pretty big project I need to finish by Friday.

My goals this week: lose 2 pounds, drink more water, drink less soda, at least 15 minutes of exercise each day, and get more consistent with logging my food.

Almost the Weekend

I am so glad it’s Friday!  I went into my office today to water my plants (and talk to them and assure them I have not abandoned them) and to pick up some things I need at home.  It was odd, being the only one there, my light the only one glowing in the row of dark offices.

I didn’t stay long, but not because I was creeped out by the empty office.  Nope, I didn’t stay long because my office is not far from my favorite garden center, so naturally, on the way home, I had to stop there, right?

My mother has said many times that I missed my calling, and I do believe she is right.  I feel so at peace and in my element when I am surrounded by plants.  I picked up a new houseplant for our dining room, then filled a tray with plants for an outdoor hanging basket and the flower beds.

My area now has a curfew, as well as a stay-at-home order, but many businesses are still open on limited hours.  Everyone has to stay 6 feet away from each other, and the cashiers were only accepting debit or credit cards, with the machines placed several feet away on small tables.  Normally, I can spend quite a bit of time wandering around the garden center, arranging and rearranging flower beds in my head, but today I grabbed what I needed and headed home to wash my hands.  Languid daydreaming will have to wait for another day.

I’m looking forward to this weekend.  First, I am hoping for a good weigh-in.  I have worked out every day this week, even though my work schedule has not lightened up at all.  (I am semi-jealous of all the people complaining about being bored at home with nothing to do.  What does that feel like?  I am stuck in overdrive, even in the middle of a global pandemic!)

That’s why I am excited about this weekend.  I have been asked to work, but I likely will not.  I need time to myself, time to unwind, time to focus on me and my sidekick (my husband).  I have plants lined up in the front yard, waiting for my attention tomorrow.  On Sunday I want to relax, do my nails (which will desperately need some attention after all the yard work), maybe a face mask, tune out the world, hang out with my husband and my stepson, and just be happy.

A friend of mine posted this today on Facebook, and I laughed way too hard at it:

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The first thing I thought of was how grateful my husband must be that he was never quarantined with that miserable termagant.  Then my second thought was, well, the kids are trapped with her, so it’s not so funny anymore, is it?  As always, I will worry about them until I see them again and know for sure that they are safe.

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