Today is yet another experience of watching my son’s descent into the abyss of mental illness. The past year has been hell and I thought there was a clearing on the horizon, but it seems that it’s been one storm after another. These past few months have been even worse: a DUI resulting in a… Continue reading Mental Health Check – Failed
Sometimes it hurts to do the right thing
Today was bad. Really, really bad. I had to do something that ripped my heart out and it still hurts. It was necessary and I hope, someday, my son will forgive me and realize that this had to happen. Let me back up a bit. *deep breath* WARNING: Very long read. Back in February 2019,… Continue reading Sometimes it hurts to do the right thing
So many thoughts running through my head
These past few months have solidified my need to restart my regular journaling. I really need to start tracking some of my daily tasks, pending and processing duties, expectations, conversations, and anything else that can be quantified as CYA. I’m still not sure what the hell is going on, but my disappointment and frustration with… Continue reading So many thoughts running through my head
What am I worth?
Apparently, at the moment, not much. Or at least that’s how I feel. What. A. Day. Hell. What a week. I can’t think of the last time I felt so betrayed … and weakened. A person can only be strong for so long and then something has to give. Right now, that’s where I am… Continue reading What am I worth?
Ah. A new year. Time for reflection.
(This is going to be an anti-Trump essay, so buckle up.) Well. Last year was quite a zinger. No one expected Trump to win the election and literally become the worst president in American history with approval ratings consistently hovering around 37.9%. It’s almost like he was given a shovel and had to dig the… Continue reading Ah. A new year. Time for reflection.
Buckle up, it’s going to be a rough ride
Unfettered Thoughts These last few months have been a whirlwind. I don’t even know where to start. It’s interesting. There are days where all I can think is “I got this” and then there are others where I question my decision to move into management. It’s not that managing part that I struggle with, it’s… Continue reading Buckle up, it’s going to be a rough ride
Developing and refining skills
This has been an interesting week spent in high level training. Slowly but surely, someone is trying to turn a group of us into skilled taxonomy and records management gurus. We’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Jesse Wilkins (aaim.org) attempt to teach us the basics of taxonomy, records management, document storage and categorization, and several… Continue reading Developing and refining skills
So, after a ridiculous amount of back and forth, it appears that the decision has been made that I am to sit down with my wayward probationer and clinically (i.e., coldly) discuss my expectations, his efficiencies, and his deficiencies. In other words, I must give him a second chance. Of course, I already have my suspicions as to how that meeting will go: he thinks he’s succeeding so this little meeting/evaluation will be a completely left-field ball that he’s not expecting. It’ll light a fire under him for a bit, but with his cavalier attitude, I foresee him quickly returning to the bad habits that brought us to the crux.
On the upside, I’ve hired two new staff and they start on Monday. I am curious as to how he’ll respond to having two new teammates, both female, as that appears to be part of the problem. He doesn’t seem to have any difficulty taking direction from men; sorry, but I do not plan on changing genders anytime soon.
Staffing, Recruitment, and Challenges
It’s been a year since I took over the Laboratory Services Team and I have to say that I love my team. My staff is comprised of some of the most wonderful people imaginable. They are hardworking and not only willing to take direction, but actually want to learn and do a good job. I’ve… Continue reading Staffing, Recruitment, and Challenges
Cry when I die
A note to my children, Sixx:AM has a song with a line about not crying at my funeral. I just want my kids to know that when I die, you damn well better cry. You better weep buckets. After all, I’ve spent YOUR entire life crying for you. I cried the day I found… Continue reading Cry when I die