Two Beer Blog

Ok, so that was a one beer blog, now let's try a two beer blog.

Occasionally, the sadness hits again and there isn't much to do but ride that through. I wish I had nicer things to report on that front.

But here's the thing: I am always going to have those feelings.

I share this because it's better to get it out, and this is how I do that.


But let me tell you how my first full week at my new job went.

I am seriously exhausted. I have so much to do, and it's nice. The former library guy retired in December, and a few people have been manning the PERC while still doing their real jobs, so they have been stressed and no one's really sure how personnel is structured, where the lines are, and who reports where. The retiree lost enthusiasm after he didn't get a job he wanted, and that was a long time ago, so all sorts of short-sighted behavior has gone on for way too long. Everyone was hoping for the new Library Tech to liven up the place with enthusiasm. One of the nurses who teaches the New Patient Orientation class ran up and hugged me when she learned there was finally a new PERC person. All the people involved have been very welcoming and encouraging. I'm going to need to wear walking shoes every day and put my feet up every night. I am going to need to hone my organization skills and wean myself down to one calendar. I will have to practice leaving work at work- today I had to actively unfurrow my brow on the way home. A colleague has been cleaning out the PERC office, but there is still so much stuff left from this guy... I found an empty VA frame meant to hold Polaroid pictures. Polaroids! Oh, and spoons. Unwashed, left over from random lunches. Scattered throughout the drawers. And oh god, the drawers. I have a lot of projects going- one of which is to clean all that out, but people are sending scheduling requests and there are work orders and permissions and accounts and phone calls and people stopping by to get help or provide help or say hi and it will be a while before I am really settled in. Today, one of the work studies finished the drawers for me and I'm still doing a happy dance. He threw out things that my inner recycler/thrift donator did not have time for, consolidated the 45 boxes of Kleenex and toner cartridges and My HealtheVet pamphlets and red permanent markers and Happy Birthday supplies and everything else that guy was hoarding for 11+ years and made sense of it. The difference that makes is phenomenal, and when I see him next week, I will tell him that again. I unburied over half my desk today and crossed several items off my to-do list. I also got the ok to attend the Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony, and I am very happy about that, as those people are actively helpful and knowledgeable and awesome. There are some pre-existing issues and anticipation of power struggles among the various departments involved, and I am going to need a sturdy diplomatic hat, but I think we are headed in a constructive direction. I have been learning about the problems over the week, but today I had very encouraging conversations with all three parties. I've got a strategy. I never thought I would say that about anything.

It's minor chaos in there, but minor chaos is fun. There is a lot of responsibility, but nothing so serious as performing a tracheotomy or doing a senator's taxes. I can help people in a variety of ways, and even with such a mix of schedules and departments, I feel like there is already a team in place and no one really recognizes that. Yet.

My therapist said today that I am going to do well as a diplomat in this job because I am not reactive. I was like, "Wait, have you met me?" but she pointed out that I take time to ruminate and after much contemplation, I realized that she was right. (Ha ha ha ha ha ha... ahhhhhh. Jennyway.)

It's fun. I like juggling. It's a nice change of pace from having to do one thing over and over and over. Even once I get settled, there will be so much to learn and track and manage that I think I will be busy for a long time. And also today, I talked with the person who manages volunteers. We talked a lot about the creation of the current situation and possible changes, but she assured me that manpower is not in short supply. She said she can get me all the people I need. When do you ever hear that?

It's good. Today, my boss was explaining that we had to go over my position description in case I was utterly horrified for some reason and wanted to decline the job. I asked her if that would mean going back to the Call Center. "I suppose," she said, then cracked up when she saw my expression. "I'll stick it out here," I replied with a grin.