Wednesday November 8, 2017

Ann, I hope All goes well with DH today. Paula, the same with DH tomorrow. Devon, it sounds like you are making some good adjustments, but what about your main job? That seems to be a big stressor right now?

Weight 117, calories 795.

I have to stop caring about my old company (or so I've been told). The woman they have put into the role I would have wanted if I were staying and would have been right down my alley is ill-suited for it. It is what is called Senior Product Owner and is driving the technology to enable business strategy. The individual works with product owners assigned to specific projects and has the final say and is the main voice of the business. She worked as a partner on the IT side about 5 years ago (I was always in a technology related position on the business side because my expertise was business strategy driving technology changes). She was one of the MOST DIFFICULT people I have ever worked with. She knew nothing about our business but would never admit it. She was incredibly stubborn and refused to listen to the business or to compromise. We didn't make much progress during the couple of years she was in that role. AND of all the hundreds of people I worked with over the years she is the only one who ultimately refused to even speak with me. SO...I found out that she had contacted my former boss and a peer to ask them what projects/proposed strategies I had to transition, INSTEAD of contacting me! How childish can you be? This is a pretty high level job and she can't talk to me directly? Though I would have liked to avoid it, I'm not that childish, so I sent her a lot of documentation and met with her yesterday afternoon to explain what it was. The other participant in that discussion (added at his request) is a guy who I worked with for the last couple of years who doesn't know the business or technology and is going to work with her to set priorities. OMG! Between the two of them they don't have a clue: they don't know what they don't know! I have to stop stressing over this and remembering that I should not care anymore.

I am done ranting... Thank you for listening.

Have a well-run Wednesday!

Liz, you are so right that you have to stop caring -- and you will. And if those two yahoos eff it up as much as they surely will, you might find yourself being begged to come back as a consultant to help clean up their messes.

Big offer here: If you do consult with them, I have tons of good consultant advice for you on everything from fees to what and when you will work and the limits you put on your obligations. The bottom line is that you must put all the terms re what you want in a consulting contract. NEVER EVER EVER consult without a consulting contract in place that benefits you. :)

Quick post this morning (we're packing up) ... calories yesterday were 1,729 and weight this morning was 131.4. My weight appears to have stabilized, which I'm happy about. Yesterday I started taking my iron again and will continue to watch any possible correlations between the iron and future weight loss. Admittedly, I am not running a clean research design here, since there's a whole lotta stuff going on. ;)

Today's theme: I am calm. I am quiet. I am at peace.

Yeah, right.

Good theme: Remember it today (good luck)!

Liz-that's so hard; to stop caring for something that's been your pride and joy for so long. Wish I had some wisdom, but I don't.

Weight: 170.4 (down) Looking like I won't return to OB next week having gained 20lbs. in one month. Whew.

DH and I are in the process of planning our "babymoon." Ok, so it's a lame made-up thing, but we love to travel so I'll take any excuse I can get. So many tropical places are off the list because of zika fears (although I think maybe it's less serious than it once was?). And we went to Hawaii in April. So we decided on NYC at Christmastime!! I'm THRILLED. I've never been, but have always felt NYC holds my heart. And at Christmastime--ecstatic!! The downside is I'm finding out just how pricey NYC is, especially if you want to be in the action. I'd really like to stay near Central Park/Rockefeller Plaza. And at Christmas that's quite expensive. Currently in-between "it's only 3 nights, and YOLO" and "those prices are RIDICULOUS! All you need is a clean bed to sleep in." So far YOLO is winning over. But there's a no-risk cancellation policy up until 24hrs. before sooooo...YOLO.

This one is easy ... YOLO.

:)

Happy Hump Day to my family of choice ! I so appreciate all of you !! Paula and Ann ... lots of positive energy headed your way. I can't begin to imagine the stress. Liz... the company will need to assume the consequences for the decisions they have made. You have earned your retirement.. your excellence can't compensate for their stupidity. Consulting January - June took a toll.... wish I'd moved away sooner ! I vote for severing those ties.

Sadie did great last night. Fire engines starting up, moving and beeping. Lots of radios toning out, the huge bay doors opening... loud vibrational noise. We got to navigate hoses and "commotion". She did well around the oxygen packs, which make quite a lot of noise. I remember the fire fighters donning all of that gear (masks and air packs) at fire safety assemblies, to expose children to the sights and sounds in case they were ever the focus of a rescue. They need to associate that sight/sound with friendly help.

I have to pick up the contact for my right eye in a bit. Three years after cataract surgery and lense implants, that eye has declined to 20/70. We'll see how this goes before considering Lasik.

Greetings Maintenance Pals

down a half today but still in the wrong decade. I got a little more walking in by parking car far away and walking up to the bank for gallery business. I will be out again tonight after dark due to gallery board meeting. Oh well. At least there will be no treats.

Liz, my sympathies on the yucky business developments. But soon you will be able to let go of it. I agree - avoid consulting if you can. Not worth it. Its natural to sort of grieve when you leave what you built - DH did when his company tossed the custom software he developed so they could have a generic off the shelf package. Just imagine every day is Saturday without all the chores....

Ann and Paula, wishing the bet on upcoming DH medical issues. Take lots of crosswords and I hope they have good coffee.

Diane O, kudos to you and Sadie for doing so well with the emergency responders training. What a great idea.

Cleaning lady comes today so we have ti "pre clean" by picking up junk. Clear the decks!

Rain today. Its always a bit of a challenge to stay in a good mood when its overcast. But its a studio day today so thats always fun. Populated with fun happy people.

Well off to make an egg for Tesla who must be catered to at all times.

Devon you are on the right track. Sometimes reducing things to lists makes them seem less onerous. Stops you from spinning them over and over in your mind. And sing in the car every day!

Diane S

Argh. I started to post this morning, then I got a phone call that someone had attempted to open a credit card in my name and it all went downhill from there! I got 2 of my 3 credit reports (the 3rd has to be mailed for some ridiculous reason) and someone tried to open not one but at least SEVEN credit card accounts with all my information - full name, address, SSN, phone number... I spent hours today getting fraud alerts and credit freezes in place, getting those cards declined, getting the credit inquiries those credit applications triggered taken off my record. What a huge headache. We are so vulnerable to identity theft these days! I'm thankful for Chase bank for calling me about the first account, which made me check my credit reports. Personally, I blame Equifax. Anyway, I haven't even brushed my hair today and it's 4:10 (though I've walked the dog twice. The horror.) due to being tied to the phone all day.

Liz, that sounds terrible to have to watch a company you helped build and maintain go down the wrong path. I'm sure one day it won't sting so much, but you're allowed to be peeved now.

Brownblonde, I went to NYC a few weeks ago to celebrate a friend's birthday. We stayed at The Library Hotel. Very cute, great location (Madison and 41st), and not as expensive as some of the other hotels we looked at. The Petite room would be too small for 2 people, but was perfect for one. They also have bigger rooms/beds... They have books everywhere and you are allowed to take them home. All the rooms are set up like the Dewey Decimal System.

I was at 170.4 this morning despite earning over 1000 exercise calories on my Apple Watch yesterday (they are hard to earn!). I blame post hiking swelling and movie popcorn salt. 1440 calories (again, I blame the popcorn...)

Hi,

Was thinking a lot about the DHs today. Even the word Cancer can trigger emotional horror in me. When my mom told me she had pancreatic cancer it was clear she did not understand the hand she had been dealt. I did. Whatever the outcomes from today's meetings with doctors and scans, I wish for both Ben and Ann's DH to have the strength and determination my mother had navigating her cancer. Almost 20 years later I am still struck by her ability to will herself to live a full life until the last two weeks of her life when she decided it was time to let go.

Started listing today. Focused more on work lists.

Groomed Blue today. Want her to look pretty for her new mom and dad. I needed that one on one time with her. My hands had to touch and hold her. I am feeling conflicted. I adore her. I know she loves me, too. I will miss her. I am feeling guilty. I had a troubled sleep last night. All at the same time I know it is the best move for her. She will be adored. She will be catered to and will get to live an active life and will get to travel, which is one of her favorite things to do EVER! She is such a great traveler and is so comfortable in hotels and traveling in my van. I can only imagine how much she's going to love her RV!

My day was full yet again. At school in meetings until 5:00 pm. Got home sometime around 5:30. Made coffee and got to work on Blue shortly after 6:00. Finished her up, fed the dogs, got dinner ready and sat down about 9:15. Watched some TV and now here I am. Should get off to bed. Gotta be up by 6:00 for another full day - school, then clients in the afternoon, bathing Blue and finishing her trim after that.

Night!

(((Hugs))) Devon! I can feel in hurt/conflictedness in your words!