The Grass Won't Mow Itself

Working in front of a fireplace on Monday... working with the windows open on Thursday. This is spring in East Tennessee! 

In other news, today at 3:30, Spring Break (Part Deux) began, with the kids home for the next 4 days as we celebrate Easter. It will be a different celebration this year as they are all Christians (which they weren't last year), and we have been reading through the Gospels so that they have a better idea of why we celebrate. In the words of one child when she realized what Jesus did for her, "Wow. That was really nice of Him!" Now there's an understatement, but it's an improvement on last year! And while the older four are beginning to get it, the youngest asked when we were going to do that "egg thing". She's 5... we'll get there. 

My reading has slowed down a bit the last couple of weeks (thus the lack of WOMNS posts), but I'm currently reading an early readers version of The Lost Vintage that I won from a Goodreads giveaway. Every once in a while it pays to fill those forms out! Anyway, I read both of Ann's previous books, including Mastering the Art of French Eating (which I loved), and so far I'm really enjoying her foray into novels. I try to read a few pages every night, but honestly, most nights I find myself nodding off and wake up only when the book falls out of my hands and hits my head. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. I'm officially old now. 

And speaking of old... over the last year, my pants have become increasingly tight, much to my dismay. As I recently told a friend, most women who complain about the weight they've put on have biological kids to point at and blame for it. And while I have 5 children, I can hardly point at them as the cause of my weight gain...unless I try to chalk it up to stress eating (which I really don't do). Sadly, this new phase of life appears to be tied to heading downhill to 40 and my family genes finally catching up to me, but I'm not going down (or rather - up) without a fight. 

Which is why, last week, I informed the Hubs that he needed to drag the mower out of mothballs because I was going to kill two birds with one stone - save money by not paying someone else to mow our acre (as we have for the last few years), and get some much needed exercise in. On Sunday afternoon he showed up with a new self-propelled mower (as our old mower had finally given up the ghost), and I spent about 2 hours pushing it up and down our hill. I only got about 1/4 of the yard done. Why did I think this was a good idea?? At any rate, it's scheduled to rain tomorrow, so I guess that means that I need to change my clothes and hit it again while he makes dinner. That grass isn't going to mow itself... sadly. 

Leave me a comment below and let me know what's new in your world! And for those who are celebrating - Happy Easter! 

He is Risen!

How Closet Organization Helps an #INTJ Deal with Change

I've mentioned this before, but both the Hubs and I are Recovering INTJs. However, dealing with huge unknowns and total lack of control has brought out some of our best - and worst - INTJ personality traits, which we've been channeling into a whole-house purge and organizing event.

On a somewhat unrelated note, if you're currently looking for companies to buy stock in, I would suggest The Container Store and the Sterilite Corporation as they've recently seen an increase in sales. {ahem} 

In the last month (since we found out there's a strong possibility we'll be adopting 5 children, rather than the originally planned 4), we've felt the "stress knob" crank up as we try to figure out what needs to change in our (already completed) home study, our (already completed) paperwork, and our (already completed) house. Since INTJs also tend to fall into the "Type A, Control Freak" categories, you can imagine the FUN we've been having around here as God reminds us once again that we aren't in control... HE IS. Good reminder... difficult lesson.

Last week a friend shared a link to a website that covered how different MBTI types deal with stress. Since that's something I've been dealing with in real life, I clicked through and what I read under the "INTJ – The Mastermind" section made me laugh out loud.

Some of the items listed that stress out an INTJ:

• Having to pay attention to too many details at once.
• Being in unfamiliar environments.
• Having their well-settled plans disrupted.
• Too much focus on the here-and-now.
• Not being able to use their intuition to envision the future.

Well, that's the adoption process in a nutshell! The article went on...

"When in a state of stress, the INTJ can feel an immense amount of pressure – as if everything is on the line. [...] They may find themselves overwhelmed, and thinking about ideas and options that don’t have a productive end. As stress increases, the INTJ can become argumentative and disagreeable. Social interaction becomes increasingly difficult; and they may become preoccupied with obsessive ideas and plans. [...] In a case of chronic stress, the INTJ may fall into the grip of their inferior function; extraverted sensing. When this happens, they may give into self-destructive indulgences, like over-eating, over-exercising, alcoholism, or buying lots of useless items. They may obsessively clean or re-organize files." Psychology Junkie

I'm quite sure that Peter wouldn't mind one bit if I channeled my INTJ stress into obsessive cleaning, but sadly for him (and for our house), I tend towards the "re-organizing files" and "buying lots of useless items" tracks when under stress. Apparently I've been stressed for a while, because now that we're in purge mode I'm appalled (on a regular basis) at the amount of unnecessary stuff I've once again acquired. But as it always does, cleaning up and clearing out has helped kicked my financial self-discipline from neutral into high gear, so there's always an upside (like the Tape Incident from a few years back).

So what does happen then an INTJ under stress feels overwhelmed, out of control, and in need of a fix? Read this embarassing TRUE STORY to find out.

Friday is my scheduled-on-the-calendar "personal tasks" day. As an introvert, I look forward to having that day to be totally alone with no scheduled calls or need to interact with people. 

PRAYER NOTE: if you're a parent who is laughing at the thought that I will soon have 5 tiny people around who don't know what "alone time" is - turn that laughter into prayer for me, because I already *know* it's a weak spot. 

ANYWAY, a few weeks back the Hubs randomly suggested that he come home early on Friday to work on adoption paperwork and I didn't handle that well {*cough* UNDERSTATEMENT *cough*}. When he asked me what my deal was, I spewed out words that will live in infamy in this house: "I had plans... I was going to do THAT CLOSET THING!" That's when Peter raised an eyebrow and said, "That CLOSET THING? And what CLOSET THING would that be?" Turning a bright shade of red, I sputtered a bit more about, "organizing... storage... need to find space for... time to purge..." while he looked less and less impressed. When he came home that night, I threw open our closet door to display "THAT CLOSET THING" that had occupied part of my day: two suitcases and a bag now occupied one of our top shelves. Yeah... he wasn't over-awed either, but weeks later we're still laughing about it. 

Now that I've identified that I'm experiencing the results of being an INTJ under stress, I've settled down and channeled that need for control into preparations for a "surprise" little boy and a welcoming walk-in closet for 4 girls. When I feel the stress beginning to rise, I actually walk into their bedroom, open the door to the closet, and feel the tension start to melt away. It's amazing what a little organizing will do for the mind. 

P.S. In case you're interested, the rest of that helpful article went on to share how you can help an INTJ who is experiencing stress, and as an INTJ, these resonated with me the most:

• Give them space, and time alone to process their thoughts and feelings.
• Let them express their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Understand that they may be irrational. {I would add that the fact that I know the thoughts and feelings are irrational only makes it worse for an INTJ-type, and can cause additional anger or frustration because we don't like irrationality. For that reason, it does help to acknowledge that frustration, and provide a safe, judgement-free spot where the INTJ can vent, and then move on.}
• Don’t give them advice. This will only make them feel worse.
• Give them a break from responsibilities. {This is one of the primary reasons I schedule Fridays OFF from work-for-pay jobs... I need the mental freedom to get other stuff done.}

The #INTJ View of National Hug Day

Apparently there was some kind of "Off the Hallmark Radar" event yesterday where people celebrate hugs. So sorry I missed it [insert sarcasm here].

Over the years, I have developed a reputation among my acquaintances for not being a touchy-feely, hugging sort of person. Unintentionally acquired... but accurate.

Not one, but two of the people I work with (virtually) on a regular basis tagged me on Facebook this morning, linking to this article from the Huffington Post on how horrible a holiday National Hug Day actually was.

For all you huggy types out there, here's something to keep in mind: not everyone likes hugs from people they barely know. Or even hugs from people that they DO know. 

So here's the perspective of a non-hugger, INTJ: If you like to hug, but you don't know how the other person feels about it, let them make the first move. 

• If they come with an outstretched hand - respect that. 
• If they come in for a side hug, don't grab them in a bear hug. 
• And just because we aren't ready to "hug it out" with you, doesn't mean that we're cold or stand-offish. It doesn't mean we don't love you or even like you... we are just more reserved in our outward affection. I like to think there's room for both.

I've been called out by clients, friends, and "I only know you on Facebook" people for lying about not hugging when they see a photo of the Hubs and I in an embrace. I shouldn't really have to point this out, but I'll go ahead and state the obvious: we're married. I hug my parents. If I haven't seen a sibling in a long time, I'll give them a hug. If I just saw them last week... we usually keep it to a "hey, how YOU doin'" pat on the knee or shoulder. 

Finally, even in my own little "hug-free" world, I still believe there is a time and a place for hugs.

• When someone is celebrating a major life event
• When someone is mourning a loss
• When the relationship has developed into something deeper than, "I saw your breakfast photo on Facebook and I feel like I know you." 

Otherwise, in the words of George Stanley Banks... EXCUSE ME! DO I KNOW YOU??

A friendly handshake to all on this snowy Friday.

#FoodForThought: Things That Caught My Attention

Ebola...

• Are you worried about Ebola? Read this... a rational look at Ebola in the States, from someone who has lived through one Ebola outbreak already, and chooses to remain: ParadoxUganda. 

Teach them to fish...

• She made a coat, and then she gave them jobs. She saw a need, and filled it. But best of all, she did not allow her past to dictate what she could become. 

Raising daughters...

• I was blessed with a great dad - different from this guy, but perfect for me. Dads don't need to do everything on this list, but it's certainly worth reading: 15 Things All Dads of Daughters Should Know.

Dancing priests...

• This has got to be one of the most fun videos I've seen in a while. Forget the fact that they are priests... these guys can DANCE! And the singers aren't bad either. Watch the Dance-Off.

And in my own backyard...

• Tom and Jerry decided to put on a show for me this week.

What's catching your attention in your world?

For the Love of Butter

In late April, I had a major gallbladder attack. And when I say "attack" I'm not exaggerating. It felt like my gallbladder was attacking me from the inside with a tiny hatchet. I had barely made it through a dinner with friends when the thing started kicking. I tried to smile and choke down a slice of the homemade cake our guests had brought, but all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and moan. By the time they left, it was all I could to do crawl into the bathroom and lay on the floor... writhing. I have never writhed before, so when Peter walked into the bathroom and saw me, he inquired if I needed to go to the hospital. Since I'd never writhed on the floor out of pain before, I did something else new - I said, "Maybe."

Instead, I got myself into bed and he called my dad and brother (both physicians) who made a special, late night house call. OFF TOPIC: Why in the world did we ever move away from the time when doctors made house calls? I mean, let's be honest, when we feel horrible and really shouldn't be out in public anyway (especially when you sound like you're hacking up a lung), doesn't it make more sense for them to come to you in the comfort of your home? I have never been more attune to this fact as I was the night my literal family doctors came to check me out. It was glorious and I would totally pay for that kind of service.

After my dad noticed I was rubbing my right shoulder every time another spasm  hit, he diagnosed gallstones and recommended I get an ultrasound. The good news was that my family saved me a trip to the ER. The bad news was that the ultrasound confirmed that I did, indeed, have a gallstone mass. Not a big one, but large enough to make its presence known. Surgery was scheduled, and fees were added up. I had another attack... not a gallstone this time, but my wallet and my budget experienced a searing pain when I realized how much it was going to cost us out of pocket. More talk ensued after we realized I could narrow this issue down to one thing: Peter's amazingly delicious butter sauce.

He had been perfecting it since February. A mixture of butter (and lots of it), even more cream, a pan of steak drippings, some shallots, and the occasional dash of red wine - this sauce was "smack yo' mama good" and I gobbled it up, week after week. The first time he made it, I suffered no ill effects. A couple of weeks later, we had friends over and he made it for them - and later that night, I told him I was feeling a little "full", rubbing a spot about half-way down my torso. Two days later, he made it again (more company), and that time I felt the effects for about 24 hours, no pain, just discomfort. I ate a lot of Tums. This went on each time he made the sauce, but I never made a connection until the night when my gallbladder said, "Hey, YOU! I've been trying to talk to you for a while now, but you're clearly dense, so I'll spell it out for you!"

And so, with surgery looming, I had a heart-to-heart with my gallbladder. I expressed sadness that it couldn't make its peace with the butter sauce (for I have cautiously eaten everything else, and experienced no spasms of any kind). I told it that I would rather it stay where it was, if possible, and promised to take it easy on the butter, if it would only behave itself. So far, we have a truce. The surgery was cancelled, the gallbladder remains, the butter sauce hasn't been made again, and I am spasm-free.

Last week, my husband asked me if it was worth it... eating the sauce. The pain was pretty bad, and for three or four days after the attack, I was sore - like I'd been kicked in the gut repeatedly. But time makes one forget pain, while the memory of the sauce remains. You know, our 14th wedding anniversary is next week... maybe just a little taste...

Quote from Julia Child, Original Graphic Source

A Crisis of Punctuation...

Over Christmas, I saw a pillow in the Nester's house during her annual holiday home tour that stopped me dead in my online tracks. I loved the look, went to Etsy, and purchased one (in blue) from some great gals in South Africa. It arrived shortly before Christmas, but I planned to use it in January, so I tossed it in the office and didn't think about it again until I was sprucing up the house on New Years Day.

The pillow cover came without a form, so I stuffed it into one that I already had and threw it on the couch, delighted with the fresh new look it gave the living room. And then I gasped in grammatical horror. Anyone see what I saw (though missed in my initial exuberance)?

If you're someone who has a problem remembering when you need an apostrophe, and when you don't, this would be a time when you do. Baby IT IS cold outside. Too long? Baby it's cold outside. With my love for punctuation (and yes, even I screw up - more often than I would like to admit!), and my love of Mma Ramotswe, I have dubbed this: The Case of the Missing Apostrophe.

And being the slightly OCD person that I am, I emailed the shop owners, requesting that they fix the error on their next pillow printing, though I added that I would let the missing comma (after "baby") slide, since it is a song. I'm sure they are rolling their eyes at the weirdo in the States. So be it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some paint to match and an apostrophe to add...

#FortuneCookieWisdom

Honest to goodness, real-life "fortunes" from our takeout.

{Top} My new life motto. So far, it's working.

{Bottom} Really? REALLY?? 

When these came out of our fortune cookies, we remembered why takeout was worth it.

What's making you laugh this week?

Thankful For :: Week 12

Lessons learned this week:

You cannot  make everyone happy

Facebook is, in fact, a for-profit company (a.k.a. stop complaining about the ads!)

It is possible to find comfort in filing paperwork (clearing clutter)

This week, I am thankful for:

1321. A husband who encourages me to walk

1322. That I didn't throw up, even though I felt like it all day (for the record, I HATE throwing up)

1323. That we're not going to have to pay as much in taxes as I was fearing

1324. Weekly trash pick-up

1325. A fun, unexpected meal with friends - cooked over a real fire (mmm...)

1326. Another good week of my parents adjusting to their "new normal"

1327. A nice filing cabinet

1328. YouTube

1329. I know this is on here all the time, but...The flexibility of my job!

1330. Reliving my childhood by watching The Cosby Show



What are YOU thankful for this week?
Do you have a favorite Cosby Show episode?

Let's Talk About Flying

Last week I mentioned that we flew up to Montreal for a short trip. What I failed to mention is that we took a third person with us. Oh no, he might not have been there physically, but Brian Regan's comedy act quotes were flying out of both our mouths as we sat in airports and watched the curtain being snapped shut to shield the first class passengers from the peons in coach.

Since I realize that not all of  you are familiar with Brian Regan, I felt compelled to share this bit of humor with you. It makes flying a little more fun...push and shove people, push and shove.

Are you patient at the gate, 

or one of the "I want to get on before everyone else!" type people?

And Then, I Threw It Out The Window

This week, the fearless leader of our company had to make a difficult decision. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't nice, and it shook us all just a bit. I'm glad I'm not her.

The {DAY AFTER}, we were just starting our regularly scheduled phone meeting when she decided to lighten the mood and send me this cartoon via email. I believe I might have snorted when it arrived. I'm not into yoga and meditation, but tell me, who hasn't felt like doing this to Facebook at some point??

Source: geekculture.com via C.G. on Pinterest

I know I'm not alone. Delete the drama, the "Jenny Jones liked 97.6 WXYZ's picture of a dog kissing a pig" notifications, the hurt feelings and unnecessary information that people feel compelled to share. No, I don't want to play "WORDS" with you - spelling bee's made me anxious enough as a child. No, I don't want to share my birthday on your Facebook calendar - is the notification at the top of the screen that says"Joe Smith's Birthday is TODAY" too hard to figure out?

My moment for wanting to pull the plug came after the whole Chick-fil-A incident. Now, I'm not getting into the politics of that here, so don't run screaming, but I was ready to chuck the computer out the window after reading a page of comments (poorly spelled and grammatically suicidal) about those who "love" Chick-fil-A, and those who don't. {That's putting it nicely, right?}

However, despite my own personal opinion and actions on that topic (waffle fries = yum, first amendment = good), it wasn't the folks who were for or against a privately owned company that drove me to the breaking point. It was the friends who were refusing to take a stand on either side, but loudly complained about being "forced" to see all the Chick-fil-A references in their news feed.

Reality check. You're talking about Facebook. Just think about that for a minute.

When did a completely fluffy social media site, one where everyone can share what's on their minds, baked in their oven, birthed from their womb, read in the news, playing on YouTube, or recently pinned on Pinterest, become something we are forced to view? Chick-fil-A was in the news for a week, at best. If you don't want to know - don't log on. Same goes for all those people who complain when the "spoilers" tell who won a football game, Olympic event, or American Idol.

It's really not complicated, and it's certainly not worth posting an angry Facebook status. Unless you want attention. In that case, type away. I'm not trying to point fingers or be mean, but when every fifth post on my home page is a cry for attention, my delete finger gets itchy.

Part of my job involves using Facebook (and other forms of social media) to support and promote clients, so I can't ever completely give it up, but I can control how much I view. As we head into the election season, I'm already realizing that I'm going to have to do just that...my blood pressure won't take much more.

What is YOUR pet peeve about Facebook or other social media sites?

{You can vent, I support the First Amendment}

Things That Make Me Laugh

This week, someone found my blog by googling, "boots for fiddler on the roof". I say that anyone who is searching for two of my favorite things (boots, and "Fidder on the Roof") deserves a giant "Welcome" - and if you are that person, would you please say hello in the comments? I'd love to meet you! And I hope you found the "Fiddler on the Roof" boots that you were seeking.

***

Speaking of combining favorite things...yesterday, I took a break from the chaos and allowed myself to waste time on Pinterest. When I first found that site last year, I was sucked in for hours at a time, seven days a week. I'm happy to announce that I have learned to control that urge, and I now check Pinterest a couple of times a week, and usually spend less than 10 minutes on there (most of the time it's to pin an idea that I've found or an outfit that I want to remember). However, yesterday I was so glad that I spent time looking around because I found this...

Source: redbubble.com via C.G. on Pinterest

If that isn't hot, buttery goodness, then I don't know what is. And just in case you are completely lost, it's a combination of a movie that is tied tightly to our courtship story ("The Princess Bride"), and a Pixar film that is loaded with great life lessons ("The Incredibles"). Whoever did this - brilliant.

***

And while we're on the topic of movies, I might as well end this thing with one of my favorite scenes from another one of my favorite films: You've Got Mail. I shared this clip on my Facebook page yesterday, but for those of you who are visiting from Twitter, or haven't followed me on Facebook (BTW, how arrogant does that sound? Or is that just me?), I wanted to share it here as well. Let me go on record as saying that you might be able to find a "defining sense of self" the next time you walk into a Starbucks, but good luck finding a "tall, decaf, cappuccino" for $2.95. {sigh} I think this movie makes me feel old. I went to see it when it was new in theaters, then again (at least 3 times) when it made it to the $2 theater that was down the road from my college (and across the street from Target - hello, perfect location!).

What's making YOU smile today?

Carrie's Busy Nothings | Leibster Blog

I've actually been tagged in the Leibster Blog grown-up-chain-letter thing before, but since the lovely and gracious Molly tagged me again, and since I needed a blog post for today, I decided I wouldn't be the party pooper who didn't join in the fun - so here we go!

{If you haven't checked out Molly's blog - A Foreign Land - then you are absolutely missing out on some great stuff, like reviews of Chicago food, architecture, and freebie tours}

Definition: Liebster Award goes to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is German for {so I am told} sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

According to Miss Molly, there are some rules to this thing:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves. {Optional}
2. Answer your assigned questions and create 11 new questions for the people you tag
3. Choose 11 people/blogs and link to them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs!

11 Things About Yours Truly

1. I love pumpkins {this should come as no surprise to long-time blog readers and friends} 2. I believe that flavored coffee creamers are all kinds of wrong 3. I typically read 3-4 books at a time - just in case I get bored with one of them 4. I'm actually NOT a people person {just one more reason why working from home is a dream job} 5. I don't watch TV - unless the Olympics are on or it's Thankgiving (Macy's T-Giving Day Parade) 6. I get mad when people don't exercise their right to vote, but feel free to complain later 7. Born a sinner, forgiven by the Grace of God 8. I've been to 44/50 States 9. I've driven from Tennessee to Alaska and back again 10. I've snorkeled with jellyfish in the most amazing lake in Indonesia {Jellyfish Lake, Kakaban Island} 11. I've counted pills for a living {pharmacy tech}

Now on to Molly's assigned questions...

What was the last movie you saw in a theater? Um, I think the theater is a rip off, so if memory serves me, the last movie I saw was The Help - and my mom paid.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A work-from-home writer and editor who gets to play on social media for pay - oh, wait...

What would you do-oo-oo for a Klondike bar? Drive to the grocery store?

Superman, Batman or Iron man? Old school Batman.

How many brothers and sisters do you have and where are you in the birth order? Sister, Brother, Brother, Sister, Me = 5

What is your favorite season? Fall

Are you more of an early riser or a night owl? Night owl by birth, early riser by habit and necessity

How did you come up with the name of your blog? I couldn't think of anything unique, and then I thought about my favorite line from my favorite Jane Austen novel, Mansfield Park - it's still not unique (there are other blogs called "Busy Nothings"), but the rest, as they say, is history.

What's one thing you've accomplished that you want to brag about? Go ahead! Brag! I don't know if we've accomplished it yet, but we're on course to have our 30 year mortgage paid off in 11 years and 10 months. I'm pretty pleased with our self-discipline over the last year.

What book(s) are you reading right now? The Lemonade Crime (at my sister's request), The Nine Tailors, and Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1904

What would you consider your signature color? "Signature Color" - like, to wear? I'd have to say blue. I wear it a lot and I like how it makes my eyes pop.

I'm Tagging...

(Here's the deal - I don't care if you participate or not, but I want everyone else to know about these blogs!)

DogFur and Dandelions

Little Gumnut

A Kaleidosocpic Life

A Work in Progress

A Penny A Pass

Always Better Together

Karin.Tome.com

And I'm Double-Tagging... 

(because Molly snatched them first and I don't read that many blogs!)

Butcher Bunkhouse

And Then We Laughed...

Vessel Unto Honor

Until Grace is Gone

And here are MY questions for YOU:

1. What's your favorite book from childhood?
2. What's the best gift you've ever received?
3. What have you splurged on recently?
4. You're going out with friends, do you wear - skirt, dress, shorts, or slacks?
5. Pearls or diamonds?
6. Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts coffee?
7. Favorite Olympic event (you knew I had to go there, right?)?
8. Do you have a favorite blog? (If you do - share the link!)
9. If you could have any car, what would you want?
10. If I picked up your favorite pizza, what toppings would I find on it?
11. What color is your kitchen?

If you decide to play along with us {and, like Molly, I hope you will}, then please come back and leave a link in the comments so that I can see your answers! I hope you learned something new about me today, and I hope to learn something new about you as well. Happy Wednesday, friends!

#HumorMe

Have you ever read a book by Bill Bryson?

What's YOUR favorite?

Last Day

Over the last year and three months, I've avoided talking about the details of my job, mostly because I didn't know how long I would be staying. Now I know. Tomorrow is my last scheduled day {insert mixed feelings}, so I think it's safe enough to share that I've been counting pills as a pharmacy tech at a retail pharmacy.

Yes, I'm that person in a white coat that gets the brunt of your frustrations when prescriptions (that we haven't even received yet) aren't ready within minutes of you leaving the doctor's office. I'm the middle (wo)man who has nothing whatever to do with the cost of the drugs, but who gets taken to task for the amount that is being charged by the insurance. I'm the verbal punching bag that gets pounded when I have to tell the patient that it's way.too.soon for their refill of "nerve pills", "pain pills", or "sleeping pills".

Despite the fact that a patient has experienced the pain of an insurance deductible at the start of each and every year, they are still convinced (and mad) that I have somehow screwed something up because "it didn't cost that much last month". {sigh} That's because it was December, now it's January, which means it's a new year, and a new deductible. And that medication that the insurance won't cover? Impossible. They (meaning, the customer) have never paid for it before! That's when I pull up the patients profile and inform them that's what they paid last month, and the month before that, and the month before that ... And let's not even get started on the whole idea of the Medicare doughnut hole - something I never fully figured out, which made trying to explain it someone who refuses to listen, one of my least agreeable jobs.

 

{Source}

I've heard a lot in the last fifteen months. Everything from, "Well, can you fill it now and I'll bring the prescription in later?" to "I've been taking 3 a day because that's what my doctor told me. What do you mean the directions say one a day? Well, that's wrong." to "If I don't get this [insert name of an elective drug here] RIGHT NOW, I could die!" No, you really won't die. I promise. And then there's my favorite - the people who can't possibly wait 15 minutes for their medication, snatch their script back and declare their intent to "go somewheres else" (yes, the extra "s" is intentional) because "it shouldn't take that long to fill a medication". Good luck to you.

One of the highlights of my job is the customers who complain because they have a $3 co-pay. They put on a totally disgusted look, roll their eyes, and snarkily ask, "So, they wouldn't cover that medication at all?" That's when I start doing the inner {happy dance} because I get to say, "Well, let me look up what the CASH PRICE would be...if you were paying CASH for this medication, it would be $276.45, so I think $3 is pretty good, don't you?" {Insert sweet, but totally fake, smile here, push down inner glare and the voice that wants to scream, "YOU'RE WELCOME! MY TAX DOLLARS PAID $273.45 FOR THIS!!"}

The worst possible side of human nature comes out when you stand between people and their drugs. This I have learned, and learned well. I've been cussed at, accused of all kinds of things, hung up on, and generally berated for whatever issues the customer is experiencing. I've smiled through clinched teeth, apologized for things that I had no control over, and tried to remember that as a Christian, I represent God, and as an employee, I represent the company, so sometimes it's just better to keep my mouth shut. I've experienced fights in the drive-thru (between customers), meltdowns at pick-up over the cost of a medication, and anger at drop-off when we refuse to fill an out-of-state prescription.

 

{Source}

{Sigh} And tomorrow, it's over. Tomorrow I clock out for the last time. It's bitter-sweet. I'm going to miss my sweet and funny co-workers. Never, in my whole life, have I liked a group of women as much as I like these gals. Even though I'll still see them when I go to my pharmacy, it just won't be the same. As unbelieveable as it seems (especially to me), I've actually enjoyed parts of this job, not just the paycheck and my co-workers, but even some of the customer interaction. {Shh...don't tell anyone}

You see, for every nine hateful, troublesome customers, you can get one of the nicest, kindest, most understanding people to ever enter the store. They will understand that life happens, that doctors don't immediately call in prescriptions, that things take time, that it takes more than just "slapping a label on a bottle" to fill a script. They will offer you a smile and a kind word, and when they tell you to have a good day, they mean it. Those people are bright spots in the day, and I will miss them.

{What I've Learned in the Last 466 Days}

In addition to realizing that there are women I can work with, that I like getting a paycheck, and understanding the value of a dollar, I'm leaving my job tomorrow with one life-changing lesson: I will be kinder to all service people. I will not complain when my food takes 10 minutes longer to arrive. I will not gripe when I arrive somewhere to pick up something and it's not ready. I have promised myself that I will remember that things happen, that sometimes the person I want to take out my frustrations on has absolutely no control over the situation and should be treated with kindness. I will keep in mind that you get better service by being nice than you do by acting as if you are the only person on the planet that matters. In short, I will not become like the customers that get talked about when they leave.

{And Here's What I'm Thankful For}

I'm grateful for the opportunity to have worked outside of our home for the last 66 weeks and 4 days (yes, there are calculators to help figure that kind of data out). I'm thankful for the confidence it has given me to put myself out there and try new things. I appreciate the life lessons I've learned, as well as the way that it has helped me discover my own personal strengths and weaknesses. I'll always be thankful for my friend taking a "risk" by hiring an unemployable English major with an empty resume. Because of my time at a retail pharmacy, I now know what kind of jobs I will and won't apply for in the future, and I have a better grasp on what I'm truely good at doing, and what I can do if necessary. I'm even grateful for the additional knowledge that's now stored in my brain regarding medications and insurance, because you just never know when that might come in handy.

So, with my last day ahead of me, I can honestly say that I'm sorry to see it end, I'm thankful for the experience (even the bad days), but I'm looking forward to the future and am excited to see what unfolds!

{The End ... or rather, The Start of Something New...}

The Tax Man Cometh

It's April 17th, which means it's time to pay up. However, "April 17th" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "April 15th", does it? Or am I the only one who thinks that? Possibly. At any rate, the IRS collected our check a month ago and were grinning all the way to the bank, I'm sure. Over the week-end, we saw a bumper sticker that said, "If 10% is enough for God, then it's enough for the IRS" - at which point we almost had to stop the car because we were laughing so hard. However, as I shared on Facebook, since all that we have actually belongs to the Lord, then I'm beginning to think that the IRS believes they are God, because they seem to think that all that we have belongs to them. Just sayin' ...

"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax."
— Albert Einstein

{Source}

"We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."
— Winston S. Churchill

{Source}

"We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough;
we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much."
— Ronald Reagan

{Source}

"The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin."
— Mark Twain 

{Source}

"Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes."
— Benjamin Franklin

{Source}

Happy Tax Day.

3.15

It is possible that I'm the only person (besides my husband) who finds this humorous, but just in case there are others out there with a strange sense of humor, I had to share this button from Beanforest on Etsy. For $1.50, you can remind people to Beware the Ides of March.

{Beanforest Etsy Shop}

And just in case you were wondering...

{someecards}

If you want to find out more about the whole March 15th thing, you can check out the post that I wrote last year to get the details - plus, it has a clip from The Cosby Show, so it's totally worth clicking to see it. In the meantime, have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow with my thankfulness list!

Beware Caesar...

Lessons from the Pasta Machine

I was a freshman in college, newly engaged and browsing around a Williams-Sonoma store in Burlington, Massachusetts when I rounded a corner and fell in love. Everything, including Peter (who was with me), faded away into the background as I stared at the shiny chrome body, the wooden handle, and the "Imported from Italy" sticker. I immediately had visions of us working together to churn out the finest homemade pasta ever made. Despite the $49.95 price tag, I knew that it was destiny and we were meant to be together. I glanced at Peter, who had the same starry-eyed look, and together we carried the Italian Pasta Machine to the counter to check out.

{Thirteen Years Later...}

I'm in full-fledged purge mode. I've already collected over ten bags and boxes of stuff to donate, trash, or sell, and I've worked my way into the kitchen. As I opened the upper cabinet, my eyes went directly to a little square box on the top shelf. I felt a knot begin to develop in my stomach and the flashbacks started. Four moves and multiple yard sales and this little box had survived them all. I climbed up on the counter top (the only way to reach the highest shelf) and pulled the box down. There it set, never opened, paperwork still intact...I swear it was laughing at me.

{Source}

It knew, you know. It recognized me for the sucker I was and it begged me to take it home, knowing I would never, ever make pasta from scratch. Even when we were in a tiny African village that had just received electricity less than a year earlier, I was able to find pasta for sale at the local food shack. Although my gourmet cooking skills are in the improvement phase, I am well enough acquainted with myself at this point to recognize that no matter how much I grow to enjoy cooking, I will not add "homemade pasta" to the list of things I want to do.

What I understand at thirty that my seventeen-year-old self would never realize, is that I was in love with the idea of homemade pasta. The images of an Italian kitchen, pots boiling, noodles being churned out, racks of drying pasta - those were the things that my younger self was seeing in my future. My older and wiser self sees the stacks of dirty dishes, the annoyance when it doesn't work, and reality of the fact that my time is better spent doing things besides making my own ravioli.

{The Take-Home Lesson}

Before you slap down $50 on a kitchen gadget (or anything else), ask yourself if you have been getting along just fine without it.* I recently read a humorous post about a jalapeno corer over at one of my new favorite places to waste spend time online: The Unclutterer. The pasta machine was my jalapeno corer, only larger. It was beautiful and shiny, but in the end, it did nothing more than take up cabinet space and collect dust. As of last week, it was sold through Amazon and is now working it's way to the frozen tundra of Alaska to some woman who, I hope, will actually use it.

As for me? After paying for shipping to our 49th state, and losing a bit to the Amazon commission, I ended up shelling out $6 for the privilege of knowing that I once owned a pasta machine from Italy. I'd say that's a small price to pay for a big life lesson regarding pretty much anything I look at in a store: I have to have it. No, no I don't. I have had it, I have stored it, I have donated and trashed and sold it. I have experienced regret over the resources that have been frittered away on items of "necessity" that were forgotten about a few hours or days after they were purchased.

Selling the pasta machine on Amazon was a refreshing restart for me. It felt freeing to let go of something that I had to have, then I had to store, and then I felt guilty about getting rid of for so many years because "I paid good money for it". Shipping that little box opened up the floodgates of purging as I fully embraced the William Morris principle** (brilliant idea, Jules!) and viewed everything with a critical eye. Do I use it? Do I love it? Does it serve a purpose? So far, 2012 is off to a strong start.

What is YOUR pasta machine story?

* If you'd like to read more about giving yourself time to reconsider a purchase, I recommend checking out Trent's posts on The 10 Second Rule (I've been doing this since our financial regrouping in July), and The 30 Day Rule (we've done this for about 3 years, and it does help quell those impulse purchases).

** Want to learn more about the William Morris Project that Jules is hosting each week? A good starting point is this weeks post, How to Organize the Family Medicine Cabinet.

The Thanksgiving Ham, er, Pig

While trying to digest a huge Thanksgiving meal and visit with our friends and family at my parents house, I quickly lost patience with one of their dogs who would not stop barking on the front porch. After a few minutes, I finally went over to the window to knock on it each time she let out a yap. After a few raps on the window, something white and PIG-like caught my attention in the dark front yard. At first I thought I was seeing things - and when I announced to the room that there was a PIG in the front yard, everyone (myself included) thought I was crazy. And yet, YES, there WAS a PIG in the front yard, grazing away while the dog barked her head off on the front porch. Let me tell you, there's nothing quite like finding a PIG in the front yard to make Thanksgiving a little more interesting...

If someone in East Tennessee is missing their tame pot-bellied pig, I know where you can find her.

{Sniff, Sniff}

{Source}

This is what I've been feeling like since Friday night. Oh yes, it has been de-light-ful, as you can imagine. Peter started sounding bad about a week ago and by Friday night, I decided that it was no fun for him to be sick alone, so I should join him.

I'm nice like that.

Then I gave in and took some cold medicine, which caused my heart to race like I'd just run a marathon and I thought I was going to pass out in church. Instead of passing out, I got up in front of everyone and pretended like I felt fine while I talked about missionaries who work in South America. Peter said no one would have guessed that I was totally out of it.

This has been fun, can we stop now?

I took a three and a half hour nap on Sunday afternoon in the hopes that it would help clear my medicine head. It helped, but it wasn't a fix-all. My mom called to ask if I was going to stay home from work on Monday. Nice thought, but I don't get sick days. One co-worker actually thought that I growled at her when she said hello, but all I really said was, "Harumph..." in a low register.

Hardly a growl.

By the time I get my days off this week (that would be today and tomorrow), I'm no longer going to be in the "stay in bed all day" sick phase, so they'll be totally wasted. As much as I hate being sick, I do enjoy a good, guilt-free day of bed lounging and movie watching, don't you? Sadly, now I'm just at the point of blowing my nose on a minute-by-minute basis and trying to suppress this annoying hack that has come along.

I'll tell you one thing though, all it takes is a simple cold to make me thankful for good health.

See, there's an upside to everything!

{Source}

The Smell of Peppermint...

Guess what's back at Starbucks?

{Source}

That's right...the Peppermint Mocha.

{Source}

Guess who got one this week-end?



I hope you find a reason to do the {happy dance} this week!