Archive of Marcia's Musings January 14-20, 2002Sunday, January 20, 2002
Early Update
For a multitude of reasons but mostly because, I have fallen off the wagon in a major way today: Myrna and Roger took us out for brunch to thank us for designing Roger's surprise birthday party invitation. We used some old photos and the text that Myrna supplied but, even though it didn't take much to put together, they felt they should take us out for this brunch. Well, we are quite full-- stuffed-- which, I believe in most circles, is an under-statement. My goal for Weight Watchers this week was what? Oh, yeah, not attainable!! Between this brunch and my thyroid flare-up, who knows what I'm going to do!!
Anyway, before we left, I managed to put together the Ano Nuevo State Reserve pictorial-- its really quite interesting and I suggest that you click on the "Related Links" section at the bottom of that page to find out more.
So, with that said, I'm going to roll around the house and see if I can get anything of my quilt finished-- ya never know, I might still fit in front of my sewing machine (okay, so I'm exaggerating but only just an eensy-bit!!). Have a nice night!!
Saturday, January 19, 2002Busy Day!!
Late this morning, we went to Grammy's house and picked up some things that Brian's mother said we could have-- it'll be nice to have some remembrances of Grammy around the house. The table is fitting in nicely already but the chair needs a little persuasion-- ultimately it will work.
Brian gave Sally a bath-- she's hysterical after her baths! Just gotta laugh and then calm her down or at least, try to calm her down. I took some pictures with the regular camera that I have so it'll be a week or so before those are developed.
Not A Good Thing!!
Yesterday, I played telephone/voicemail tag with my thyroid doctor (endocrinologist). I generally like him although I'm not crazy about the "physician service" that he works for or the office staff. Thanks to the incompetent office staff, I've been billed for four out of five pre-paid office visits because they lost track of my receipt, I've shown up for appointments that weren't booked and, waded through tons of voicemail options trying to talk to the doctor and/or his nurse. When I originally began to see this doctor, I told him that I need to know what my TSH number is-- saying that it is "within normal parameters" doesn't tell me anything. I know the numbers and I know where the numbers are supposed to be at to be "within normal parameters" for me.
Two months ago, I had been tested and my number was at .44; this isn't bad but it isn't great either because it is almost too low to be good. We changed my prescription and, when I was in the office two weeks ago, my number was 1.59. Then, I started experiencing "Not Good" symptoms: scalp condition is back in wild and rare form, freezing when everyone else around me is warm, and generally being tired. I called and requested a blood test; they complied and I got my number on Friday morning: 2.41. In two weeks' time, the number had gone up almost a full point and my doctor's reaction? "Well, its still within normal parameters." ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! How ticked off am I? Oh, yeah, not a Good Thing.
All day yesterday, in and out of Ano Nuevo State Reserve, I'm playing voicemail tag trying to catch up with him. His office staff told me to call back at 4:45 so I did. They put me on hold and either my cell phone cut the line or they hung up on me 5 minutes later so I called back. The phone rang and rang and rang and rang and finally someone picked up and tried to transfer me to their office. There was no answer; they'd all left for the night. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! How ticked off am I?
So on Monday, I'm calling my General Practitioner who offered to take care of me for the thyroid condition almost a year ago and tell him the situation. I'm going to change my dose (I know self-prescribing isn't good but neither is freezing!) until I see him and then we'll see where he lands me. No, I'm not going to go back to the other doctor's office. The Medical Group (and insurance group) that he's a part of is not a good place to go and, while in most cases, people cannot up-n-leave his care, I can and am going to do so.
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I want to get back to my quilting and Brian doesn't have the Ano Nuevo pictures downloaded yet so that'll probably happen tomorrow.Thanks for coming by and have a nice evening!
Friday, January 18, 2002Really Tuckered Out!
Today, my department went on one of it's post-quarter outings. We went to Ano Nuevo State Reserve which is totally cool. Pictures are forthcoming but for right now, I'm too tired to write anything creative either here or on that page so I'll sign off for this short bit and catch you up more tomorrow.
Have a nice evening!
Thursday, January 17, 2002Catching-Up!
My sister and her husband are back in Brazil; they've sent up an update so if you've been reading here instead of there, feel free to click over. I have to admit that it had been so long since I'd done any of their web work that I almost forgot where to find the files!! That wouldn't do, would it?
Complimentary Statements
Much to my surprise (although I shouldn't've been surprised) I was told something by the Director of the United Kingdom office: It appears that at last week's sales meeting, a number of the sales reps that I work with went up to the three Contracts Department representatives that were present (that Director, my Director and the General Counsel) and, looking around and not seeing me, asked where I was and why I wasn't there. Then, they went off about how great I was to work with and how helpful I was and so on and so on. Apparently, this happened so frequently that at one point, the General Counsel looked at my Director and said, "What does Marcia do that they like her so much?"
Well, gimme a raise and I'll tell ya!! It has to do with responsiveness and the word "can't" not being in my vocabulary. The reps all know that I hate having documents on my desk as much as they hate having to turn documents over to someone else and have it out of their control. But knowing that it is going to be DONE by someone, rather than sitting on their desk, makes them a whole lot happier. Also, when they present a situation, I don't say: "We can't do that!", I say: "Let's see what we need to do to get that done!" That makes for happy sales reps cuz I'm trying to line their pockets by getting the work done and done right and done legal and . . . just plain DONE!!!
Big difference from some of my co-workers (who, thankfully, do not read this page) who spend a great deal of time complaining about how much work they have to do instead of actually doing the work. Blows me away how that makes sense! In the time that they spend complaining, I've got four phone calls made and 3 emails sent out and they haven't done anything-- that's why my sales reps like me!!
Anyway, I digress-- she couldn't remember who it was that said it ("Oh, you know-- all of those sales reps are so young and so cute, who can remember their names?") (Yes, that from an attorney-- how politically INcorrect!!) so I can't thank anyone directly but, it was a nice compliment anyway.
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Between cutting the blocks for the quilte wall-hanging, worrying about the Syroids driving across Canada (again and in the middle of winter!!) and typing the webmaster stuff for my sister's site and Sally (Yes, she became quite prolific during the day again-- consciousness does that to her, I think.), my shoulders are quite tense! I think I may have to knock off for the night but, the good news is that I'm ahead of schedule on my quilt. I'm doing tonight what I thought I wouldn't be doing until Saturday so I'm definitely a happy camper!!
Have a nice evening!
Wednesday, January 16, 2002Happy Birthday, Myrna!!
My friend, Myrna, who used to work with me/us came to meet all of us for her lunch today. Turns out that it is also the birthday of our one male co-worker but, who knew? If they don't tell ya, we can't do anything about it, right?
We had a lovely lunch with Myrna catching up after her trip to Wales (with hubby, Roger) and Roger's 50th birthday party. She's such a crack-up!! Brian and I made up the invitations to her surprise party for him and so, as "payment" (which I still don't understand amongst friends), they are taking us out to brunch on Sunday. (Yes, by the way, I am exercising to earn extra points for that!) That'll be lots of fun and we can certainly get more details about their trip and the party from them in a more private setting! ;>)
Slow News Day
Other than that, it is once again a slow news day-- sorry about that folks! I've got the bills to pay tonight and have already done some work on the quilt. I began to take pictures of the process tonight, more for myself than anything else. I want to remember how I did this in case I have to do it again (beside the dresser runners that is). In speaking with my sister Karen tonight, I started her thinking about what colors she'd like to see in her living room (or wherever) for a wall-hanging . . . Christmas is coming, don'tcha know!!
That said, I'm outta here to do the above-- ya'll have a great evening and thanks for coming by!
Tuesday, January 15, 2002Better Day!!
Sally had a much better visit today at my office than last week-- that's a Good Thing. Auntie Nina and Auntie Joyce were so glad to see her!! She came to a meeting with us and, after some initial wanderings, finally settled down to be petted by me. She ended up sprawling out on the floor so I could scratch her belly as I listened to Joyce.
Even though things were going swimmingly, I decided that I would send her home wiht Brian. It is wonderful to have her there but also constricting on me. For one thing, I can't get up and leave my desk whenever I need to or want to which is something that I need to be able to do in a high-stress job. Another thing is that I tend to worry about her and try to make sure that she's doing well or that she's happy or maybe she needs to go outside but, alas, it doesn't lend itself to getting much work done.
I will, as a result, probably limit her visits to days when Brian is working his short day so that he can stop on his way home to get her. It makes it easier on me and on her that way-- not too much exposed time at my office is a good thing for her, too.
Speaking of a Better Day . . .
When I went to Weight Watchers tonight, I lost 2.9 pounds!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I am excited about that-- I'm definitely in a downward spiral again, finally!! I feel better being back on Program which is the only thing that I found surprising. I'm looking forward to next week and continuing my progress despite going out to lunch at work and brunch on Sunday and a "field trip" on Friday from the office. There are always a lot of obstacles in one's way, aren't there?
Oh, well, I know this is short but it is late and I'm in my office. Not that unusual except that Brian built a fire in the living room where the thermostat is located. Making sense now? Yes, you've got it: my fingers are becoming ice chips again so I have to go back to the living room.
Have a nice evening!
Monday, January 14, 2002Not Much To Report . . .
Pretty much a slow day at work. I think people are getting back from the annual sales conference a little slowly because of where the meetings were located this year: Orlando. I've got a feeling that a lot of people stayed and hung around to spend time with families. Not to mention, January is a good time to go on vacation if you're a sales rep since there isn't much happening following the sales meeting.
Hopefully it'll start to pick up a bit even though it is a Sally Day at work. Yes, we'll be going in and having her try this again. I'm hoping she'll be a little happier since she won't be having any problems with her food and her stomach being upset. Yes, her stomach has been fine since we changed her food-- she hasn't vomited once so, yes, us (her ignorant parents) have figured out that the food she had was the food that she had for a reason.
Who knew?
WW Report
Well, I'm not telling you anything other than the fact that yes, I gained weight over the holidays and I'm okay with it because it was worth it. However, as I said last Tuesday, I am back on Program. The first three days were horrible-- I couldn't seem to have enough Points!! All I could think of was food and I couldn't get enough of it. Since Saturday, however, it has been a different story: I can't figure out how to eat enough Points!! I keep falling between 2 and 5 points short every day to where I have to sit down and tell myself to eat something. I know-- that's weird!! No, I don't have to eat all of my points but, for me, it has been a historical (or should that be "hysterical"???) fact that if I don't eat all of the food that I'm supposed to eat, I don't lose weight. Since I have a goal for myself set for the end of February, I want to make that goal. By tomorrow, I hope to get good news-- I really hope so! Man, this has been a weird week-- indeed!
Back to my quilt appliques-- have a nice evening!
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