Excuse me?

 I got an email, late in the day on Friday, from my "supervisor."

She told me that they want me to start working in the office a second day every week.

Excuse me?  None of my co-workers have to work more than one day in the office, so why should I have to?

The reason she gave is that they want me to "review the refund checks, and mail them out."  

Um.... 

It will not do any good at all for me to have to review my own work.  

I review the accounts in great detail BEFORE I put a refund into the system.  

I am not going to know if I made a legitimate mistake, because I already reviewed everything up front, and determined that a refund was needed.

AND,  lastly, how difficult is it to print out the document that goes with the check, fold it up, and stick it in an envelope?  Anyone can do that.... you don't need ME to be in the office- for an entire extra day per week- just to do that.

Sigh.

Accounting prints the checks late on Wednesday afternoons.

She asked me to add Thursdays, and I had to remind her that I have chemotherapy every 3rd Thursday.  I've been doing this for over 18 months, but I still had to remind her.

So then, she asked if I could do Fridays, so I added that every 3rd Friday, on the day after chemo, I really do NOT need to be in the office.

The day after chemo tends to be a pretty rough day, because I don't sleep well when I am full of steroids, and I don't always feel well. 

And there's the lovely steroid reactions that I get.  You know.  Rage and emotions and stuff.

I asked why I can't just add mailing the refunds to what I do on my regular office day, and the answer was "we want the checks mailed out ASAP.  We can't let them sit until Monday."

Huh.  That's weird.  Because accounting used to take about 10 days to get batches of checks out in the mail (back before management decided that WE should be mailing the checks ourselves), and, up until now, the "supervisor" has been leaving them until Mondays.

So, last I heard, things were still up in the air as to which day they want me to add.  I could do Thursdays, but there will be one every 3 weeks that I won't be able to do.

I guess I will find out more tomorrow.

In other news, physical therapy went really well this past week.  I talked with my "substitute" therapist, and he determined that I should keep doing all of the exercises every day, but to take a break from the resistance bands.

I did, and it helped.  I have not had another day of crippling post-work out pain.

He also did some extensive manual therapy on me, including massage and traction (pulling on my leg), that gave me a tremendous amount of relief. 

I felt pretty good again yesterday.  I'm thinking that Saturdays are my best days, because I spend so much less time sitting.

We shall see how today goes.  I will add the resistance bands back today, I think.

My office days are definitely the worst, when it comes to making the symptoms worse.  

When I am in the office, I can't just flop down onto the floor of my cube and do a few stretches, or drape myself over a pile of pillows (to give my spine some traction), like I can when I am at home.

By the time I get home from work, the symptoms are so bad that I can't even describe it.  This is another reason that I really don't want to have to add a second day a week having to go there.

ANYWAY...the heat has continued to be intense here.  Highs above 100 degrees, with heat index values around 115.

No end in sight.  Average highs next week are 103 to 105, and overnight lows in the 80s.  They keep saying it's about a month early for this kind of heat.

Great.

So, being trapped inside is not helping my physical or mental health any, either.

Today should be less intense, though.... in theory, with a high in the mid 90s. Whee.

I may go over to a friend's house, at some point, to help her with something.  We shall see.

And my plan for today's cooking project is to cook up a bunch of the frozen chicken tenders that I have on hand, and make a nice Waldorf-like chicken salad, with grapes, and celery, and baby broccoli.

Have a good week!

The heat is on

 It's very odd that it's been hotter well-north of us, so far, than it has been here.

However, that is changing with this weekend.  It was already 80F at 8 this morning, and will be over 100 by afternoon. 

This is the trend for the foreseeable future. Lows in the 80s, highs over 100.

My cabin fever days have arrived.

They said on the news the other day that we had the latest arrival of the heat in years, but they also said that we don't usually hit THIS intense of a heat wave until July.... so that part is early.

Yippee.

Had my first really intense physical therapy session, for the lower back, on Wednesday.

Couldn't walk on Thursday, and was not much better on Friday!   

He had me working the deep muscles of the hips... and WOW was it hard work!

Then, the muscle soreness the next day was SUPER painful.   However, I DID do some of the exercises yesterday, and will do the others today.  

I think that if I start out doing different ones each day, I will not suffer such intense consequences!

My regular therapist is not going to be there this coming week, but I will talk to the one I will see, and explain how intense the post-pain was, and see if he agrees with me breaking things up a bit, until I get stronger.

Yesterday, Dave and I treated ourselves to pedicures (we usually put that into the budget once a summer), and then I did all of my chores, and the laundry, and never felt like I needed to stop because of the tingling in my leg or foot!  

I was symptom free, which was REALLY nice, and utterly surprising.  

So, during the Cubs game, I got out my resistance band, and did some of the hip exercises, as I mentioned.

I will do that again today.

Tomorrow is the mandatory office day, that was rescheduled after the first one didn't work out (the bank representatives who asked for it didn't show up).

No change to my schedule, which is nice, but everyone else will be there on MY office day, which is not nice, HAHA.

OH well.  

Our supervisor was ill most of last week, so we shall see if she shows up.  She's one of the loudest ones, who instigates the other loud ones.  Ugh.  

These people do not possess indoor voices.  They yell.  All. The. Time.

Oh well. Nothing to be done for it. This, too, shall pass.

I'm one of the only people who REALLY needs to sit with one of the bank representatives, so I don't know why EVERYONE ELSE has to be there.  Some team members never use the bank websites.

Whatever!

My potato plants are still alive, and get watered every evening.  The herbs are still doing okay, too.  

With this heat, and the lack of rain we can expect until September, watering is critical.

Also, as I start to feeling better reliably, we will probably start taking our walks at sunrise again, because it will be too hot by mid-morning.

We have been going out a mid-morning, for just one block, because I need to MOVE, and get some exercise!  But, my pain/tingling is usually worse first thing in the morning, so the "sunrise steps" may not happen for another week or so... we shall see, though!

Yesterday was REALLY encouraging!

Anyway, my plans for the Solstice fell through, so I am hoping to do a meditation, or something, today.

Wishing my gentle readers a cool, comfortable week!

Busy week

 Had a lot going on this past week.  

Heart ultrasound came back fine. Oncology visit went fine. Treatment went fine.  Physical therapy went fine... HAHA...

We have progressed to begin working on my lower back issues in p/t.  Just started that on Friday, though.

I HAVE been doing my own self therapies, given my experience as a massage therapist, and dancer, and that has been helping a LOT.

My physical therapist encouraged me to continue doing what I am doing, and add in what he teaches me.

Dave's upper respiratory issue has FINALLY started to clear out.  Last night was the first night he didn't cough once, and we both got some good sleep at last.

I got out and mowed the back yard yesterday morning, before it got insanely hot outside.  Dave did the front.

Then, I did my indoor chores, and we ran some errands.

We met up with our friend who has the Chicago hot dog and beef food truck, and took him the beer we got for him in Wisconsin.

It was a good day, which ended with me making scallops and linguine for dinner.  One of my favorites!

Friday, the day after chemo, I had a pretty strong steroid reaction this time, and had a rough time with an issue at work.

I dread going to the office tomorrow, anticipating that my supervisor, or worse, the director, will come to my desk to "discuss" it.

One of the payment posters did a refund to a credit card for a patient in the incorrect amount.  She argued with me about it, so I escalated it to the supervisor, who then agreed with the payment poster, and escalated it to the director, making me the bad guy.

Yippee.

I've been doing refunds for 10 years at this job.  I can do math.  The amount was wrong. Period.

SO... I have that going for me.  It's actually been causing me to lose sleep this weekend.

I hate that I have no choice but to work, and to stay at this job.

Unfortunately, when my supervisor called me to discuss the issue, I had to stop speaking because I was going to cry.  Steroids make me very emotional, and it's hard to control how I react.

SO, when she would say something, I would pause, and just say "okay."  When she finally asked me why I was doing that, I just was honest with her and said "Because I am about to cry, and I don't want to."

So, Yay.

Hopefully, I will be in my cube, by myself, all day tomorrow, and no one will bring this up.  That's definitely my preference.

ANYWAY... it's cloudy this morning, and we have the windows open to air out the house before it gets hot.

We WERE going to go woods walking first thing, but I really needed to rest, so I didn't get up until 8, and then Dave changed his mind about wanting to go out for breakfast after, so we didn't go anywhere at all.

I am enjoying my coffee, am already showered, dressed, and have my make up on, so I am ready for whatever the day holds.

We might drive out to Kohl's and return some shorts that I ordered that I can't fit into.  It's SO frustrating how clothing sizes are NOT consistent!  Every other pair of shorts or pants that I own is this size, but these won't zip.

My garden barrels need some work, so maybe I will get that done this morning.  The lettuce was thriving, but it's dead after a hot week.

The potatoes need more soil piled around them, so that's got to be done.

Also, I got some pretty begonias to replace the dead petunias I had in the flower box on the front of the house.  That's a quick job, too.

Dave needs to do some trimming, and cleaning up outside, too.  Nothing big, though.

We are both so glad he's finally over his bug.  It's been exhausting for both of us, but especially him!  Neither of us can believe that his doctor's office never responded when he reached out to them.

Just.. wow.  He has a history of cardiac issues, and it's kind of important, when a patient is sick, to respond to them when they call.

At least WE think it is!

Anyway, have a great week!

Bubbe

 On Sunday evening, Dave said "I have what feels like a sinus headache."

The next day, he said "my throat is scratchy, what should I take?"

I gave him extra vitamin C and D, but that was all I could think of that we had on hand.

It was, of course, too late for that to help, and he has been sick all week.  

He's had a fever that comes and goes, lots of congestion, and a horrible cough that has his whole body aching.

I tried to get him to put a call in to his doctor on Wednesday, and again on Thursday, but he waited until Friday...after lunch... SO, of course it was also too late.

The fever was back yesterday, and he also refused to go to an urgent care facility, so he spent the afternoon in bed.

He has high blood pressure, so he can't take much in the way of medicines.  I got him some cough syrup and Vick's vapo rub.

He's taking ibuprofen for the fever and aches, and drinking lots of water.

Poor guy!  He is testing negative for Covid, so this was probably the flu.

I've been feeding him home-made chicken soup, and yummy herbal teas, so at least he has been cooperative with that, HAHA!

My role has been Jewish Gramma, or Bubbe, and hopefully, the soup and teas have been soothing.  He thanks me profusely every time.... 

The summer heat has arrived.  It was over 100 yesterday, and in the upper 90s most of the past week.

I am, decidedly, unhappy about this.  

I would have loved to have gotten into the hot tub last night, but it was still 87 degrees when we went lights out for the night.

My return to physical therapy was on Friday, and I had a good session, and talked to my therapist about the return of the lower back issues.  

The pain is in the same place it was right after the car accident, but now it's referring down my leg, in the form of intense tingling, muscle weakness, and occasional numbness.  

My primary care is supposed to add lower back to my physical therapy prescription, but it had not come through yet when I was there.  

Hopefully, by my next appointment on Wednesday, it will be there.

I have been treating myself, though, with gentle yoga, movement, and stretching.  I'd love to return to dance class, but I can't when my leg keeps going numb!!

Next week, I return to my regular Monday office day, then, on Tuesday, I have a heart ultrasound, and will get my labs drawn.  Thursday, I see the oncologist, and have my treatment.

Sigh.... I am so sick of this, but it is what it is.

No updates on our Aunt, who had the stroke.  I've sent off a letter to her.  My cousin said (in her letter from a few weeks ago) that she likes to have cards and letters read to her.

It's supposed to be a bit less hot today, and Dave plans to get outside and do some weed whacking that the lawn crew we hired didn't do.

The lawn had grown so much during our vacation, and then a full week went by, and it just kept growing, so we had to spend money on it again!

He's also headed to Costco later this morning, because we are almost out of toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues.... he's been going through a box of tissues a day, so yeah.... we need that errand to happen today!

Have a great week!

Vacation recap

 We had a wonderful trip to Illinois, this past week.

The traffic was well behaved in both directions, and there were only a couple of scary moments with big trucks at high speed.

I trust Dave's driving, but I don't trust anyone else who is on the road.  We see people passing us with their heads down, looking at their phones.  

Anyway, we got to see just about everyone we had hoped to see.  

There were three family gatherings, one at the baseball park in Milwaukee, with my brother in law's entire family, save one.

One of my brother in law's nephews threw out a ceremonial first pitch, on Memorial day, and then proposed to his girlfriend on the Jumbo Tron, but apparently not on live TV.  

My family gathered at the house on our first night in town (with EVERYONE on my side), and our last night, in town (with a few missing, sadly). 

It was easy going and fun both times, and everyone pitched in to try to ease the burden on my sister.

I managed to see TEN friends in THREE DAYS.  

It wasn't necessarily non stop, though.... as I scheduled things to allow for time to relax in between meet ups, MOST of the time.

We took a day and went south, to a forest preserve, where we hoped to find the double brood of cicadas.

We THINK we succeeded, as there were two different sizes of cicada, and they appeared to have slightly different markings.

We got to eat all of the Chicagoland-specific things that we wanted, though the pizza was not the greatest.  We tried a new place for pizza night, that no one had tried before, and it was a little disappointing, but that's how we learn!

In other, sadder news, we learned that my Aunt, the last surviving elder from the Greatest Generation of our family, has had a stroke, and is in hospice care.

We all signed a card to send to her, and gathered to make a toast to her on her 96th birthday, on the 31st.

I am so grateful that we got to go visit her a couple of years ago, and that I got to place her mother's journals in her hands.

Also, I received word that my best friend from high school died suddenly last Sunday.  Her son tried to call me that evening, but it was during our first family dinner, and I didn't answer.  I called him back the next morning.

She had a massive heart attack.  Her funeral was Thursday.  Given that she lived way down in southern Illinois, I was unable to attend.

Also, while traveling, I learned that a dear friend's mother was just placed in hospice care.  She passed away this past week, as well.  

We used to hang out together: me, my ex, my friend, and her mom.....watching Cubs games, and playing Trivial Pursuit, back in the day.  

So there was a lot of devastatingly sad news during this trip.  I tried to let myself have time to cry when I was alone in the guest room, but it was hard.

Once we were back, and settled, yesterday, I was finally able to really let the tears flow.  Frank was concerned, and came to check on me.

Today, there are a couple of errands to run, but nothing pressing. Dave will get the new dishwasher ordered...hopefully this one will fit!

My office day is not until Wednesday, so I don't have to worry about jumping right back into that first thing tomorrow.

We hope to see our house sitter some time today, to give her our thanks, and the gifts we brought back for her.

I ordered groceries, and did the laundry yesterday, and today, will mop floors and vacuum rugs.... 

There appears to have been a big mess on the wood floor in our absence, and there are streaks from clean up attempts, HAHA... ew....  Kind of looking forward to finding out what happened there!

Have a good week!