KateP's musings

I was having a text conversation with Sis today and I told her how I have been...I said “busy” and she asked with things needed to be done or...and I went through a laundry list of things I had been doing.  IT was just about that moment when it brought me back to the argument we had last fall.  That precipitated  a 6 month (or more) cooling off period for us until the holidays.  I had gotten the feeling she was questioning me on the extent of busy...with regular daily stuff or additional.  So I hopped on the net and searched ways to react to questions regarding busy?  Well a bunch of things came up that all seemed negative towards telling people “I’m busy”.  The premise in most everyone already know you are busy along with the rest of the world.  One writer wrote “tell them I am focused!”.  To me that makes no sense.  Why do we have to justify what we have done.  Are we taking away from your superiority complex? Do you say ...

So far today has been wonderful.   The headache I had yesterday is but a distant memory (thud).   I got up only a few times during the night.   I had forgotten to turn the TV off and apparently so did Mom.   I did get up early and got online a little (actually to finish last night’s entry). I managed to leave the house by 7:15 and get some coffee (that is really   affecting me this morning).   I got here just by quarter of and chatted with JanetN.   When I came back to the desk there was very little lockbox *Yay*.   So far this morning been working on the re-address mail.   I would love to say I made a dent but looking at it now I would be lying. The second wave of the mail should be here soon.   I think Courier Jack should be delivering it today.   I am hoping its light as well so that I can catch up on the backlog of stuff here. I will be doing OT this evening until 6.   It will be the scanning EOB’s.   I...

Patti and I got the lockbox mail done early (and it was light) so she washed down some of the equipment in here and I updated staff meeting notes I had.   There are a number I don’t have but I am sure I will find them.   Patti was showing Mama Joanie the office and we were about to show her the desk drawers and Diva jumped in.   Mama Joanie told her off.   Pattie was trying to calm Joanie down and I explained later what the situation was. It turned out she knew all about it.   They apparently had issues a couple of days ago that I wasn’t aware of. Everyone is talking about how great the contract is.   Some like me are a little confused about certain things but when I have a chance I am going to go and ask people who understand better what it will mean.   Gayle was happy we got what we did but supervisors don’t get much and are not unionized. The mail is coming so I better go…I will be finally writing in my Canada trip-soon. Okay it ...

Today started out with a really messy weather. By mid morning we had gotten a thunder and lightening storm but no major damage like Mardi got up in her area. The sun came out again for a short time and then by the time I left Debra’s the sky started opening up again. I thought I heard some thunder a short time ago but nothing continuous. Today was Diva’s return. She kept mostly to herself at least that’s what I thought. I found out later she was talking often to “P” (the woman who has been doing her job these last several months). . This concerns me because if “P” over hears me. “P” was assigned to help me with the mail. I had her do the readdress mail (the tedious stuff she called it). When I first was giving her instructions on what to do-she kept saying oh I know what to do I was a “senior Admin”. That’s great so what did she ask me if she could batch all the interoffice stuff together? The way I wanted her to do it was. Condense all the mail going to say one particular...

Earlier today I had written an entry for today and I thought I sent it to my Gmail account but I can’t seem to see it. I am hoping it wasn’t sent to my work email. That would be stupid. Maybe the outlook program at work wasn’t working and it will wait a day. I have been home nearly 45 minutes. I had an opportunity to chat with Chris down the street. He says there has been a guy with a small dog walking around the end of the street at the same time every day and it was starting to freak him out. Apparently he tried to pet one of the boys and his finger got nipped by Simon. He asked if Mom has noticed him or anything and I told him I would ask. I would have been in a lot of trouble if it had not been for a phone call from D next door. He let me know I left the headlights on the car. I wouldn’t have been able to go any where tomorrow. I got an invitation from Senator Gayle Slosberg and her husband David to attend a meet and greet with Congressman Chris Murphy who is running f...

The 31 year tradition is over. This may be the last one and those words came from Mom after we learned about the numbers of people who were invited and confirmed and who basically showed up. Tessa told us she sent out 300 invitations/flyers in the mail. They were to those who were in the fourth district that were families with children in the school system, Single mothers with teenagers all that could come and meet the candidates. Of the 300 people 28 confirmed (RSVP) and said they would be here. Guess what? This was the list: Three of our neighbors from the street came One of my neighbor’s sisters and two friends of hers. 1 friend of Mom’s from Bridges Six Candidates Four other 4th District Members Kevin Lembo the state Treasurer One woman I didn’t recognize My friends Mike and Roberta came in support. Tessa was thoroughly disgusted. She says and I agree with her that the people in this town are apathetic. They are not informed and could have learned so much...

Things have been hectic.   I helped EH with the signature and lit drop Tuesday in the pouring rain.  I had to leave by 7:30.  I still had to see Mom before meeting M&T. I got to Gaylord by 8.  Mom was watching NCIS and was relieved to see me.  We spent about half an hour. Never did get to meet with M&T.  We both had things to do. I was home by 9:30, exhausted and not so hungry.  I didn’t do much except watch TV and then go to bed. Wednesday work was hectic.  We had a party for EH.  After work I was so tired I went home.  I found BC working on the roof.  Short time his son came and did the lawn.  HE had some questions about the door so we called Brother #2 and worked out what the results would be.  Later on he made a request that the final payment for the “project” be paid Sis stopped by after having a dodgy phone conversation with her.  Partially I was having the conversation with BC and the other is...

As I mentioned earlier this week I was indeed busy as indicated here and in this entry. There were some rough moments and moments that were not so bad. . Mom has been busy with all the stuff she normally does. In her concern for the internet and stuff she forwarded one of those “email alerts for viruses and hoaxes” from a friend of hers. After I read it I searched out Snopes (it was the one about Hallmark greeting card) and I sent a link to Mom. I called her up and made her aware of it. I also told her that she needs to tell her dumb ass friends to stop freaking sending these out! She was trying to say it was legitimate blah-blah and it really freaking annoyed me because the entire email was verbatim for what it was on the snopes.com site. She avoided the whole discussion and jumped on the fact I was online a lot. Something that freaking pisses me off because well it’s none of her business. She was asking me how many breaks etc. I finally had to tell her I had to get back to...

It is almost 8:30 Sunday night and I am exhausted. First I did my bingo with “my team”. I was the first to arrive and started the coffee. After a while the girls came and they started getting everyone. I had made the announcement so the residents were starting to come down anyway. The Bingo session went well. I started the games and the girls finished them. As soon as it was done we headed to Telka’s. The girls had to do some things first and came later. I arrived just as Donna K and her Mom were arriving. Telka greeted us at the door. Roberta was near by. I was pleasantly surprised because I expected her to be with family today. Roberta had the days mixed up. We got started on the whole process. Telka gave us instructions and then the assembly line began. The 120 lbs of apples were washed and then we started the peeling and coring while the toehrs got the other ingredients done. The next several hours there was fun, laughter, food, and stories. We even had our pictures t...

Today is/was Jim’s 58th Birthday. Unfortunately I haven’t done anything for it. No e-card, no snail mail card, and of course no phone call. I am not sure what I feel but I will send him something maybe tomorrow. I have no idea if Mom did or not. It has been quite a hectic couple of weeks for her and she is concerned and a little bit annoyed with him with his choices. Yes I know it’s his choice but she is a Mom and is worried about him. Last night was awesome. Before I left work we picked our secret Santa and I got Lucinda G. Unfortunately I have to guess at what she wants because she didn’t write it on the list. We were not supposed to tell anyone but I managed to tell Cami and Liz. They rolled their eyes. When I left it was shortly before 4 but I managed to get to the polling place before my appointed time and got in and got to vote. I personally didn’t have any problems but I would later find out that there was a fire alarm that morning. There was one while I was there as ...

Did you Change your clocks yet? I had to do change the VCR in the living room (again) and the microwave and the oven. I had to change my alarm clock and my watch. Everything else did it on its own. Well not everything. The two kitchen clocks will have to be done later. In the past I would sometimes get up at the 2 am time and change it then go back to sleep. I don’t know why but I did. I don’t even know why 2 am was the appointed time but I guess there is a reason. Yahoo had an article on the time change I probably should have read it. Today will be the last Sunday that Mom goes to the Mercy Center for a while. Starting next week the Center will be starting renovations for an indefinite period of time. Mom is so not looking forward to that. She loves going there and listening to Father Whitson. She will most likely go to St. Agnes. She really doesn’t like that church but it is our parish. I would imagine she will go to St John Vianney’s if she has a choice and that wou...

Good Morning! I am leaving in 15 minutes with Dave to meet Mary and her sons at the restaurant for lunch and then go to the Orchard. I suspect we will also do the Corn Maze. That should be fun. Not really but what the hay. Hey everyone I am back. It has been a long day. Dave didn’t get here until around 11:15 and we had to wait a bit because Mary was still at church. I told Dave they should have said this originally. I mean I could have done bingo if I tried and also went to church. I was going to go at 8:30 but by the time it came time I didn’t. We started off at 11:30 and headed to the Meeting place while we were driving Mary called and said she would not be getting there until 1. So we made a few side stops. (Now that I am writing this so late I can’t remember what order they were.) They were Dunkin Doughnuts, Vinnie’s garden shop they all didn’t take very long. Mary and the kids were just ordering when got there (we had no trouble finding it). It was in a lovely place on Route 66. ...

Well good morning everyone. IT is after 10 and I am working on today’s mail. The mail from the post office should arrive any moment now. I got up fairly early to be getting some things done before taking Mom to the hospital for her surgery. I did get to watch some TV before showering and ironing and dressing. It was the show Alias. It wasn’t a fan favorite of mine but I did see it from time to time (I seem to recall watching the series finale when it aired). Mom got up around 6:40 and I finished getting dressed and she got herself ready. We left by 7:30. We had to turn around because we left the directions on her desk. After the fifteen minute drive and a circling of the hospital and going into the garage we were at the hospital by 7:58 or so. We went into the surgical waiting room we met the triage nurse and then I gave my number and headed to work. It is now after 1. I called the hospital around 1:15 and after a few moments got the info that Mom went into surgery at 10:15 and the sur...

It is after 9:30 and I am just about to hit the sack again. Despite the fact I was chilled for most of today it was a good day. I got almost everything done again. I am still doing the readdress mail. I managed to get through the Diagnostic mail that was there and found mail that should have been opened and I did. I had to separate the Diagnostic return mail into a couple of piles ones with addresses and ones with no addresses. Patti will check them on the system (the ones with updated addresses) and I probably will readdress them and send them back out. I left a little before 4 and brought the mail for the 4th Floor downstairs then I left. I walked with Mary C to her parking garage and then went on to mine. The traffic was a bit slow and heavy. However I still managed to get home before 4:30. Mom was home when I got there. She was starting dinner and we had decided earlier in the day I would get into my pajamas and stay home from all the evening activities. While Mom was grill...

I have had me another day. The snow started during the night and there was a lot on the ground by 6. As I was getting ready for work Mom got up and was having a really hard time walking. I got really scared and admittedly over reacted. Anyway I calmed down and helped her to the bathroom. When she finished she went downstairs. I went with her and got the newspaper. I also shoveled the sidewalk and put the de-icing pellets on the ground. I even tried to get the snow off the sidewalk. This was all done in anticipation of taking Mom to the Doctors. When I left for work I told her to call me one way or another about the Doctors. She said she would. The ride in was long. I had fallen near the car as I was trying to clear it off. I used the broom to get the heavy stuff off and the pulled out of the driveway and headed up to Woodmont Road and exit 40. The traffic was slow but I went twenty miles an hour. As I got into Orange and West Haven I managed to get over to the far lane. U...

It is now after 12 and I am about to finish the rest of today’s mail. It has been unexpectedly light in volume. I should be finished by the time I leave here today. I have already done the chart requests for tomorrow and I am just waiting on some info. I still have to go check the mailbox downstairs in the lobby. I was able to get the candy I promised Renee Trotman late last week. I also got some Hershey kisses with cherry liquor. I managed to get some cereal and have had some of it already. I got to the office around 8. I noticed many people were not here or were going to be coming later. According to some people they got a lot of ice and power outages. That woman Tamara is an obnoxious little witch. Her tones in the email are accusatory as though I am misreading or misunderstanding and what is she doesn’t get it. She was rude and obnoxious. She continues to portray herself as a victim and continues to attack me for what I am saying. I finally told her we have been over this and let i...

I have so much going through my head right now. I did not get a chance to write at all while at work. Although I found time to get online a few times. I left here a little after 7:15. Mom was just getting up and having coffee and about to get ready fro her meeting at Bridges. The drive in wasn’t bad at all. Well maybe when I was pulling into the parking spot. One car was coming at me and didn’t look like he was going to stop. Thankfully he did. I kvetched about it to someone. I got to the office a little before 8 and managed to pick up the mail from Customer Service and Registration. I even took some to Registration. The day went pretty well. I started off with the charts and there were like 32 (I counted them) MR. Mike from Gofor had to bring them in two totes (the long ones that look the chests you bring to college. I sorted them and delivered them. While I was sorting Arcenia brought me the lockbox for today. It wasn’t bad but would have to until I did yesterday’s post office mail. ...

My Mind is racing so much that I can't sleep. I know part of it is the soda I drank yesterday. The other part is because I was worrying if I was too negative with people or if I my attitude was worse then anyone else's during the oyster fest. I was also remembering all the people I met through out the day. There was Shirley from the bus, Barbara from Treats farm, Dottie B (and that was a little awkward but I maintained civility. I told Roberta about it too. She said she avoided her altogether), I met one of the athletes from MOM. I also saw classmates I called the wrong name. I saw the Novistein Family through out the day. I also saw Rob Serrano and Barbara Genovese. I decided to watch TV but all I managed to do is lose more sleep. I am thinking if I don't any sleep that I might have to skip bingo. I probably will get an argument from Mom but I just can't help it. I am thinking that I need to change some things about myself. The fact I am so critical or negative. Even i...

I got a message from JG asking me to remove the picture she took of me from my myspace.com. I haven't and posted a question to the three journaling lists that I am on. Satia responded from JournalWriting and said its my perogative to keep it up there if I want. While driving up to the Temple Street Garage someone cut me off to get up the ramp and some cow who apparently doesn't know that you are not supposed to walk down the vehicle ramps was walking down. She saw me yelling at her. I don't care. It is really annoying to watch people do this. Not to mention dangerous. Around 9 I checked my emails and Satia was relating how she had problems with a person who was harrassing her and suggested to me to choose between being right and keeping peace. I also had a response from Jill on the same list as well. She also says I can do what ever I want as well. I went walking at lunch. I was going to the Post Office over by Church Street. It was clossed so I dropped off the envelope to ...

Every summer the city of Milford has bulk pick up. Every six weeks I believe the last time for the year will be either Sept or October. It is the time where people can empty out their garages, their attics, their basements of things they no longer need or want. Everyone starts collecting it and putting it out to the curb two weeks before the date of pick up. During that time potential junk collectors come through and pick through and see if there is anything worth getting. They are freaking morons. They break stuff, they just leave stuff all over the place and make it a mess. After all the time and effort that the homeowners put it out there neatly. I hate when this happens. I so can't wait for the final one of the year.... Well it is now just before 11:30 and I am working on today's mail. The lockbox was pretty lite so I am taking the rest of yesterday's and putting it with today's. I am confident (or delusional) that I will be caught up once again and can be a little ...