Hello Blogland. It's me, checking in! It's been a hot minute since I've made a post so I thought I had been fill everyone in on what has been going on with me.
Not much, same old same old. :)
Work has been busy and steady. Since returning from vacation (and my last post), I've been sticking to my guns about putting not working extra hours. I pretty much come in as scheduled, leave as scheduled and haven't gone in on weekends. It's been good for me.
I feel at a crossroads in life right now. I'm older-er, but not at the age where I can retire (yet). The insurance for both Tom and I is ridiculously expensive. I don't see leaving a job where healthcare is paid to pay an astronomical amount of money for insurance. Guess I'll just be biting the bullet and staying put for two more years.
My friends Jennifer (and husband, Rich) and Amelia were over last to plan our annual camping trip. What a great evening out on the patio. We had drinks and appetizers, good music, and plenty of laughter. It was a great evening to end a busy, stressful week. Our friend dynamics is going to change slightly...maybe. Jen and Rich are moving about 60 miles away. While it's not that far but it will make the impromptu get togethers nearly impossible. That said, they've given an open invitation for weekend getaways at their new home. They have 5 bedrooms and live on the outskirts of town, perfect for bonfires!
My hometown of Marion just recently celebrated its 125th celebration What a great time that was! I planned our 45th class reunion. Out of a class of 21, thirteen of us gathered together (two deceased). It was great seeing everyone! Most of us live in the area so I made a promise to everyone that I'd open up my home and patio next year for another get together for whomever wanted to attend.
Summer is in full swing, and I cannot believe we're already nearing the end of July. I've been outside as much as possible, riding bike, tending to my flowers, reading or just enjoying the sun. These are the days that I dream of in the middle of winter.
Family is all doing well and good. My sister Peggy and Blaine just celebrated their birthdays, 77 and 45 respectively. Blaine is going through a life transition with work right now. My heart aches for him and his parents. While I know everything happens for a reason and usually a door closing opens up a new one, it doesn't make it any less stressful to go through at the time. I'm hoping the Universe is kind to Blaine (and his parents) and their prayers will be answered soon.
I've purposely been missing in action. Until recently, I haven't realized the intensity of my stress level has been. After my return from Arizona, my energies were put towards work, getting caught up on my workload (which is non-ending), training my co-team lead on the grievance procedure, meetings, setting up a policy procedure and incorporating a new person into our team dynamics. I have always been prideful of my ability to handle stress and multi-task; I thought I was doing well. Until I wasn't.
Tom and I left April 19th for a scheduled vacation; I scheduled two full weeks out of the office. In my attempt to have everyone set up to carry on while I was gone (including having all of my work done and staff cross trained to handle things while I was gone), I realized how beat down, stressed and tired I was. Being the senior staff in the office, I have taken on the mentorship role (of sorts) to the younger staff in the office. My co-team lead is phenomenal, and we work well together on so many levels. But at times I feel that she looks to me for guidance on certain things; other times she's the proverbial bull in a china shop (her words, not mine!).
While traveling, each day I felt the stress and tension begin to fall away from my shoulder and I felt 'at ease' with myself; I haven't felt that in a while. I started to also realize how neglectful I've been towards my health. On more than one occasion, I would cancel my planned workouts in order to stay at work and 'get ahead of things' for the next day. I wasn't the over-achiever but rather trying to reduce my stress level at trying to get the work done so that I wouldn't have to face it the next day. Worse yet, I wasn't getting paid overtime for it. I did 'flex' out some of those hours, but not near what I should have. I didn't want to take the time away because then I'd feel more stress with the work facing me on my return. Wow!
I don't like what the stress has been doing to my mental health and my body. For me to cancel my workout plans to stay and work is just insane. I'm pretty sure my tombstone will not read "Here lays a dedicated State employee".
I'm 62 years of age. I've already put the Warden and staff on notice that my absolute last day of work in office will be December 31, 2027. I have made no secret about that. Every year I age, Tom ages as well (he'll be 75 in December). If I can figure out the insurance thing until I hit Medicare age, I may just try and go sooner. It's the whole money thing, you know? Also, what will I do when I retire...get another job? If that's the case, I should stay working at my current job and stack my retirement funds. Ugh, decisions!!
Then there is the 'age' thing at work; I won't say it's outright age discrimination but there certainly are some age jokes being told around me and to me. I hate that. I don't want to become irrelevant because of my age. Maybe that's a factor of my stress as well? I mean, maybe -in my subconscious - I feel I need to be a step above so the 'young'uns' don't make fun of me?
So yeah, I've been purposely MIA; I unplugged from the news and all social media. All in an effort to de-stress, work through my 1–2-year plan, set personal boundaries so that I don't feel this stressed again. Stop going in early, staying late and stop canceling workouts! Mentor, yes; take on everyone's problems and try to fix them, NO. Boundaries, Sherry!
We'll see how this works for me. Stay tuned!
I was very fortunate to spend 3 days in Arizona with my best friends, Vickie and Donna to celebrate Donna's birthday which was March 31st. It was a short trip this time, leaving on Saturday the 29th and returning on Tuesday, April 1st. Donna is the brightest light in the Universe and when the three of us get together, it is magical! I mean, we're the Three Amigos! :)
The first night there, we did a healing float at the Mesa Aquatics Center. We floated on boards in the pool while a Native American flutist played, while the yoga teacher lead us into a guided mediation (Yoga Nidra). Right up my alley! We were under the stars, floating on water ...what more could I have asked for! I'm not so sure Vickie enjoyed it though. It was difficult for her to get on/off the board due to her recent cracked pelvis (three weeks ago). It's been bothering her a lot to walk, which is why I reserved a wheelchair for her in Fargo and Mesa.
We hung out at Donna's for the most part. We had a wee bit of coffee with our Bailey's Irish Cream every morning! :) Oh my gosh, what a delight to just bask in the morning sun, drinking coffee in my pj's, laughing with my best friends. No topic is taboo or off limits with us; there are no boundaries and no judgment with us. We've been through everything together in the last 25 years that nothing surprises anymore.
We watched movies, drank great wine, ate grate food and just enjoyed. We promised Donna that we'd be back for a week in November; I'm already looking forward to it!
Yesterday was my first day back at the office. My co-team lead did a great job in holding down the fort while I was gone. There is a young gal in my office that is going through some issues with her ex-husband and his girlfriend; all three of them work at the prison. Co-parenting wasn't an issue until the 'girlfriend' started making demands and creating problems for my co-worker. All three of them seem to have an issue with keeping their personal life, personal. This is now affecting my department, so I had to be the bad ass and have the tough talk with her. I hate doing that, but it comes with the territory of being a supervisor.
I abhor drama, absolutely despise being drawn in to something that doesn't affect me personally, especially in this stage of my life. My mottos is Protect My Peace. I try to do everything in my power to live in a state of tranquility, so when that is interrupted, I get pretty owly! LOL Is this age or wisdom? You couldn't pay me enough money to relive my 20's, 30's or 40's again! (Fifty wasn't so bad) LOL
Tomorrow is my 1/2 day (flex schedule). I have a few appointments in the afternoon then a crab fest with my sister and her boyfriend at the Elks Lodge. Pretty lowkey weekend after that; nothing but laundry, cleaning and the gym (to work off my vacation fluffiness!).
