People . . .

I don't understand people most of the time and I truly don't understand some people any of the time!  Makes doing a job in customer service more difficult once in a while but usually the confusion about people isn't about customers or people who are only marginally known - it's more common that the confusion concerns those known longer or (seemingly) better.

It begs the question - how well do we know those whom we consider "close" or, at the very least, friends?  And, once those bonds are broken, for whatever reason, the damage can be quite extensive for some people, particularly those who truly believed that they did "know" the person.  Luckily, unless the other person involved is part of my family, I tend not to be as emotionally involved.  That doesn't lessen feelings of disappointment and incredulity when something happens but it does tend to greatly lessen  feelings of betrayal, loss and pain.

I understand when others are affected by the results of another's actions but I don't have a great deal of sympathy (or empathy) for those who caused this collateral pain by their actions.  I have always enjoyed psychology . . studying it and reading about it . . but, while why someone does something is interesting, there has to be REALLY extenuating circumstances before I'm pulled in emotionally.  I'm much more likely to say "what were you thinking?" or "were you actually thinking?" or "was your head with you ALL day?" than I am to say "you must have been really confused" or whatever.  (Probably the reason I never went into counseling huh??!!)

Once a situation has been resolved, I don't lose sleep, stop eating (that might be a plus . . . humm . . . ) or really think about the actions or the person commiting them.  It's done, move on.  But I do ponder the abstract WHY behind the actions - but not too long!

2010 - Week 1

Don't worry, this isn't going to turn into a weekly rehash of 2010 - mostly because I know I don't have the dedication or maliciousness to bore anyone, including myself, with a weekly rehash of life, work and anything else!

I don't know exactly what I expected from 2010 - after all it's a man-made number on a piece of paper and not a cosmic event (beyond the regular rotation around the sun) - but the reality of the first week is leaving me a bit underwhelmed! 

I tend to think the best of everyone - I can be sarcastic but not really cynical - and I expect (hope?) people to be good and do good for the most part.  And I don't know why I'm always surprised and disappointed when that doesn't happen - SIGH.  Peoples is funny - they're also confusing, annoying and just plain CRAZY!! (PS yes, I do include myself in "peoples" in case there was any question about that!)


I seem to be running faster and faster and yet getting further and further behind - everywhere - home, work - DOUBLE SIGH.  I'm certain that things will eventually right themselves and life will even out somewhat - but the road to that end is increasingly bumpy and I can only hope that the shocks on the vehicle going down the road are equal to the task.

Enough of week 1 - getting a bit maudlin and that's just gotta end!

Heartwarming story

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Just when the world looks cold and cynical . . .

People are Funny - and Strange too . . .

Years ago I volunteered with the Navy Relief Society - I did it here and in Maine - and, for the most part, enjoyed it.  I worked 4 hours per week and was trained as a budget counselor which, in and of itself was amusing because I rarely maintained a budget myself!  Every week I would talk with people who, for many different reasons, had gotten themselves in a position where they had to ask for help from Navy Relief. Some were easy to advise and some were very very difficult but the work was always interesting.

When we went to Maine, the base was, of course, much smaller.  I actually worked two days a week for 4 hours each day.  On my days it was me and the social worker.  Because the base was small, and because my husband was stationed on the only ship in the area (in for repairs) it was important that I notify everyone coming in from the ship that there was a connection.  I also assured everyone that I didn't talk about my work with him as he didn't talk to me about his work - but everyone had to be given an option to either talk with the social worker (if she was available) or come back the next day.

Most people didn't leave, although after I introduced myself to one client, he did say - they told me your husband worked on the same ship - they didn't say he was my boss!  He and I had a good laugh and I was able to help him!

All this leads up to a talk I had with the social worker during a quiet time one day.  We were talking about what I was going to do after we moved (again).  I said I didn't know - I enjoyed what I was doing but being a social worker meant going back to school and that wasn't something I wanted to do and besides I didn't think I was social work material.  Imagine my chagrin when she laughed and said definitely not!!  Anyway there are days I still think I'm in social work and, while it was fun, interesting and fulfilling part-time, it's not nearly as much fun full time. 

This too shall pass . . . sooner rather than later would be nice!!

Something to ponder . . .

Why is it that I can spend all day doing nothing and really not worry too much about it - just lazing around.  But when I don't have a car in the driveway (it was at the hospital getting an oil change and 100,000 mile checkup!) and waiting for the HVAC people to assure me that the furnace/ac will last I can think of dozens of things I'd like to be doing . . . and can't!?

The human psyche is amazing - or maybe it's just my mixed up mind!

Another Day - Another Arrest

Well, it's Thursday and we had another eventful morning at work!  We had not been open long when the guard came and said that there was someone who'd been falling asleep a lot - and had then gone into the men's room.  And had been in there about 30 minutes!  Since he'd been falling asleep, there was concern that there might have been something wrong!  So . . . I asked a male staff member to go into the rest room - he reported that the man was awake, shut into the stall and not responding to talking.  So . . . a call to the police was made!  Two officers came and spent quite a lot of time in the rest room - then a third officer came and the three police officers and the man left to talk outside.

Eventually the man was arrested (after the police discovered outstanding warrants) but not for the incident in the bathroom where (allegedly) he had been packaging marijuana for sale!! 

Oh well - we banned him for a year - the police arrested him and it was just another day in libraryland!

What is it about Thursday???  Last week was "interesting" too!!

Truly Blessed

I work in a great place for terrific people. Everyone's been so supportive and concerned with my progress with this hunk of plaster on my arm! Emails, phone calls, opening my soda bottles!! (I can open cans but not bottles!!). It really makes the entire ordeal a bit easier knowing that kind of support is there!

I'm very lucky that I have wonderful support outside work too. My friends, neighbors and family check to see if I need anything on their way to run errands and I've gotten lovely flowers and delicious fruit!

In case anyone is interested/concerned - yes. I woke up at 3:30 a.m.! I fell asleep at 10 p.m. and, in my dreams, I heard one ring - like a phone - which it wasn't - and "bink" my eyes flew open! I'm not good at lying in bed so I got up and here I am! I'm sure I'll be back in bed soon. In the meantime, a little surfing, a little reading and I'm good. What's really strange is that there are more interesting TV programs (in my opinion) on at 4 a.m. than during regular "daytime" hours - go figure!

NCIS Marathon!!

YIPPEEE - there's an NCIS marathon on USA! Hours and hours of Mark Harmon & company! Now that I'm home from work (1/2 day today!) can it get any better than this??

Not-So-Secret-Vice

I love iGoogle and actually have four tabs on my page - the main page (with my Google Reader, weather, and some gadgets that let me know how many months/days to particular events), a tab with with Gmail (which I can "preview" from a city computer but not read), a tab with news - BBC, Washington Post, Drudge, MSNBC, and a tab labeled FUN.

That's where my secret vice is - People.com - Top Headlines - all the news that keeps me up to date with what the celebrities are doing - like, it's REALLY important for me to know what that scamp Britney's up to now!! But it's addictive! I find myself reading it almost every day and, for those days when I don't read it, there are always the archives so I can catch up!

Oh well - I've admitted it - I'm a closet celebrity junkie! Could be worse!