Radio Silence

When I was the producer of a radio talk show, the majority of the callers were angry. They were either upset by something the host had said, or they were fired up because of it.

It didn't matter if the host was liberal or conservative. Both viewpoints sparked vehement reactions.

So, you will understand that I wish to refrain from *any* conversation relating to the election today. I suspect voters on both sides will have plenty to say, and none of it will be moderate. 

Or useful.

Please excuse me while I uninstall several social media apps.

Candid-8

During a conversation with several 20-somethings, one of them remarked that in the entire 8 years since they've been old enough to vote, the same Republican candidate has been on the ballot every single time.

How's that for choices?

Screentime Downtime

To nurture my mental health, I've been reviving hobbies that I love.

Reading, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles.

I dove deep into the puzzles, thriving on how they add no new data that my brain needs to process. 

Reading adds a story that makes my brain contemplate what might happen next, try to solve a mystery, or wondering what I'd do if I was in the protagonist's place.

I crochet while watching TV. Always. Creating something useful almost justifies sitting in front of the boob tube. Televison provides a LOT of brain input.

But puzzles! Puzzles input nothing! They do the opposite, in fact. It's a quiet activity that allows my brain to process all the data it has collected throughout the day, mull it over, solve some things, and discard other things. 

Washing dishes by hand does the same thing. Man, I solve world problems with my hands on hot soapy water.

Taking a solitary walk without earbuds is also good for clearing the brain.

But dishes and walking are chores, not hobbies that I love.

Time spent with a good jigsaw puzzle goes fast. I forget to eat and take bathroom breaks.

Brain clears out so well, it doesn't talk to me when I settle into bed leaving me alone with my thoughts... hecause I've already worked out so many issues over the puzzle.

Last night, I considered the book I wanted to finish, the crochet projects I wanted to start, and the puzzle spread out on the kitchen table.

Oo, decisions, delicious decisions!

I ended up scrolling Facebook with the TV on for several hours. Of course 🤷‍♀️

Brains

Passing through the Marketing department's collaboration space, I noticed the PR guy, photographer, and videographer huddled together in a meeting. They paused to look over and wave politely. Without breaking stride, I pointed in their general direction and said, "That's the company brain trust, right there."

One of them replied, "Oh, I doubt that."

Another added, "More like brain fart."

Hugs

Elder Son was at the house doing his laundry when I got home. I gave him a quick hug as we said our greetings, and then we each went about our business.

After he unloaded the dryer, he sought me out and gave me a hug goodbye. We chatted briefly as Midwesterners are known to do, and he headed for the door.

"Wait," he said. "Did I give you a hug yet?"

"Pretty sure you did, but if you have to ask, it didn't take. Better get another one."

"Yeah. It's good to have extra just in case."

The One With the Play-Doh

Had a conversation with Elder Son this afternoon that evolved from Play-Doh into the anxiety I felt as a mother.

I told Elder Son that I regret things I said and did when he and his brother were young. Nothing specific, just many things in general.

"I don't remember any of that," he said.

He went on to tell me that he and Younger Son had had a similar conversation. They each felt bad for the way they used to treat each other. But neither one remembered anything the other had done, only the things they'd done themselves.

It was a lovely and forgiving conversation that started with Play-Doh.

(Note: Apologies to you, reader. I jotted this down quickly just to remember it. It has no finesse or style. My intent is to revisit and flesh the story out better.)

The One with the Company Network

This shouldn't be a thing, but here's the thing...

My workplace is having network problems. We are able to access only in-house applications while on the company campus. Other things, like access to Google Analytics and other SEO tools that I use, are blocked. 

Conversely, I can access everything using my home internet accept for the company's proprietary apps.

So...

I can do a few things at work, but everything else I have to do at home.

Fortunately, I can function nicely at home without the company's apps. There are only a handful of "aw crap, I can't do that right now" things that pop up. But, I can function.

This all means that for the past couple of weeks, I've been working exclusively from home. I went in Monday morning (yesterday) because my super said things had cleared up, but she was wrong. I struggled to find things I could do with just the company apps, and quickly ran out of work.

It was frustrating. And sad, frankly, because I *like* being in the office with my coworkers. Having no work to do meant I had to leave at 9am.

It all smacks of COVID. I feel alone and abandoned. I can't keep track of which day it is. I'm depressed. Nothing matters because no one knows or cares what I'm doing. 

Communication from our supervisor has been infrequent and unreliable.

The all-staff updates we get from corporate are useful but not inspiring.

 "We're working on it," they say. "There is a long list of things we need to fix. This is how far we've gotten so far. Please be patient."

The IT department has been working almost around the clock for weeks and weekends. They are tired.

And no one is saying a peep about what caused this. Very hush hush.

So many rumors. So little information. 

I am surviving by telling myself that this is only temporary. But, we thought COVID was going to be temporary.  So, I'm not feeling comforted by this at all.

I'll be okay.

I just don't like this.

Plus, the weather took a turn. We had a high of 88 degrees on Saturday and a high of 65 Sunday. Yesterday I got up early, did my hair and makeup, and drove into work only to turn around and drive back home an hour later. Today it's raining.

So, super moody as I type this.

Thanks for listening.

One Good Thing 9/4/2024

One:

I woke up before my alarm went off this morning. I got up, took care of a thing or two that was on my mind, then I went back to bed. When the alarm finally went off, I hit the snooze and enjoyed, with zero guilt, sleeping in because I had already taken care of sh!t.

Two:

The weather was pleasant today and did not try to kill me when I went outside.

Three:

While grocery shopping over the weekend, I lamented to The Husbamd how I'd really like to have fresh peaches, but it's always a crap shoot whether or not a seemingly good peach is actually rotten on the inside.

Today, this man brought me two peaches that he meticulously picked out himself. And they were delicious!

Group Work Texts

It is disappointing that my department director sends out a work request to everyone in the department when the particular ask is something only one of the group is responsible for.

It's as if the director has no idea what each of her reports do.

"Someone will take care of this. I don't know who. Nor do I care."

What?

I'd never been to this facility before. 

I followed all the directions given to me over the phone, but there was construction going on and detours around the building. I was pretty sure I was in the right place, but the sign over the desk said Lung Center instead of Sleep Study. 

So I asked.

"Is this the check in for the sleep study?"

And she said.

"What?"

There was construction, remember?

So I asked again a little louder. 

"Is This The Check In For The Sleep Study?"

And she said again a little louder.

"What?"

So, I asked once more, even louder and clearly annunciating.

"IS THIS. THE CHECK IN. FOR THE SLEE-PUH STUH-DEE?"

And she frowned. And turned away from me. And said quietly to her computer screen.

"Yes."

I took it as a well-you-didn't-have-to-shout reaction.

After she'd asked me TWICE. 

"What?"

I upset her. Now I feel bad.

What did *I* do wrong?

WHAT?