Ethan’s Journey

 My day started off impacted by the Amazon outage, but I didn’t even know it. My work software called in sick today. I scrambled to get ready for my 7:30 am call and had ZERO information that I needed. I embraced the disaster fairly gracefully….I think. I had no resumes to review, no clinic information, I couldn’t email, forward documents or do most of my work. It was quite stressful. I was several hours in before my team mates also started having issues. Frustration led me to stop working and making a batch of rice crispy treats. I legitimately COULDN’T work. I did my calls and then spent the evening playing catch up once things were resolved. Basically this is how I think it happened….Amazon Web Services crapped the bed. It has it hooks embedded in several other online platforms and shut those down too. It was a domino effect that was felt across an elaborate. Audience. Tomorrow will be better.  Progress was made on the barn. The contract company left muddy footprints on the...

 I met a friend for breakfast this morning. This was set up like 2 weeks ago as the soonest we both had time. We laughed at how when you are middle aged, people ask “what’s new?” And really you get up, go to work, come home, do chores…and life isn’t overly exciting…so we say “nothing much”. We both decided that was how we both should answer that question.  The day was so nice. The windows were open, the breeze was filtering in. The dogs went on a walk and they loved it. I gathered sticks for kindling for the wood burning stove. I put them in my paper Aldi bags. While I did that, the dogs were following me around happily. They were glad to be out and exploring.  Ethan was in and out of the garage. Paul waxed the camper one final time for the season. He is getting her ready for her winter slumber. Boo! I finally brought up a few Halloween decorations. I went through some bins in the basement trying to consolidate things and setting aside stuff for donation. I have a bag of ...

 I did meal prep today. 37 meals in the freezer. It took half a day but it means I don’t have to cook during the week. We had a Halloween party to go to this evening. I shopped at Goodwill and Paul was Duff man from the simpson’s. I was a whoopie cushion. Avery decided to stop home a few hours beforehand for a visit. Since I bought these costumes unsure if they would fit, my back up plan was that we would switch costumes. I made Paul try on the Duff Man costume to make sure there was no “moose knuckle” inappropriate fitting areas on the costume. Avery and Ethan were witness to this and many jokes were made. Avery came dressed as an axolotl. Kendall was working and couldn’t make it. There were a lot of great costumes. Ethan decided not to go. His reasoning “there will be people there.” Who does this sound like?  We had great food, great music, did some dancing and made a donation to help fund breast cancer research. There were a lot of good costumes this year. Maybe aunt and un...

 I started my day off at physical therapy. It is the longest hour of my life.  This week I was a little sore from all the sitting I did.  I spent the majority of the day trying to dig myself out of the work hole. I was able to get some chores done. I think my head had enough. It was pounding throughout the evening. My body just wants to retreat. Maybe I can sleep in tomorrow and get some rest in the bank. Jiminy was cuddling with me. He was trying to help by sleeping next to me. It was a valiant effort! Tomorrow is the annual Halloween Party. I am excited about our silly costumes. We may have an Avery siting there. As I was going to pick up my groceries, I drove by Avery. I called her and she was on her way to pick up a friend to spend the night at Avery’s apartment. Avery said they had plans to make food and a dessert. Avery shared all about her cats and how silly they are, and how naughty Pluto is. Apparently he accidentally ended up in the fish tank again. There is a c...

 The dread of looking at the mountain of work you have waiting for you, when you have been away from work. I was experiencing that dread this morning. Ugh! So much to do. Since last Friday I have had ~160 people that have applied. Their résumé’s were waiting to greet me….or taunt me? The worst part…of those 160, I have been picking away at them throughout the week on breaks, during speeches etc.  Not to mention the house stuff that needs attention. I needed the quiet today.  I did my many calls but in between it was quiet. No music. No talking. I worked a a few hours longer that usual. Finally, I slammed my computer shut and declared “I’m done!”  We do have exciting things happening on our land next door. A structure is underway. Our future tenant is our first born and is thrilled to have his own space coming. There is a spark of excitement in his eyes again. He is excited to start living like others his own age. He sees his friends, sister, cousin all doing age appr...

  We did more learning today and only scratched the surface on the software we are using. I think it will be more efficient. My energy was draining and I looked forward to flying home so I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone. My social battery needed a recharge. A coworker and I had lunch together and discussed things happening in our lives. We have worked together for 2 years and have been to events with one another. We sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine and the warm weather. Our corporation is a merge of two companies. One of the companies only allowed veterinarians to take any sort of paid maternity leave. All the other women within the organization didn’t qualify. Grrrrr! Luckily, moving forward, this will change    starting the first of the year. I consider it a huge win for all the women that want to utilize that benefit! The flight to Chicago was only half full, so I got a row to myself! It was wonderful! The flight to Rochester was full to the brim! I sat in a middl...

 What a whirlwind today was. We had breakfast, which went right into software training. There is about 60 people in attendance. Adults learning software is hard. Some adults talk while our peers are speaking/teaching and I don’t do well with information retention in that distracting environment. We also went over our enneagram results. I am a 7 as well as a 1 with the coping skills of a 5. It is interesting to pick apart the way you operate. Picking out who on your team is your compliment personality and how they can support you.   I do like talking to my coworkers in person and pick their brain or “interview” them to see how they do things. That way I can see if there is anything I can do to streamline my work process. For dinner we had team dinners. The meal is covered and the company really went above and beyond to make us feel valued. We had several appetizers, a main course and then desserts…as well as several alcoholic beverages. A group of us walked to a bar that was cl...