It is Friday night. Once again we find ourselves with nowhere in particular to go. After our little version of Cheers closed in 2008, it took a while, but we finally settled in to another Friday night haunt. Quite a few of the regulars from the old pub started showing up there, and one of the bartenders as well. The old familiar pattern was back.
It didn't last long.
The new place changed ownership a few months ago and by late fall the handwriting was on the wall. The last few Friday nights we were there, the place was nearly empty and they had nothing but Bud on tap. Our bartender friend showed up for her shift last week and found the doors locked.
Not really sure what we'll do in 2010. Some friends opened a pub recently, but it is not the easy drive we prefer and it's a smoking bar. Plus, we'd hate for our bad mojo to kill their pub and ruin their investment. The New Year is the traditional time for making resolutions and changes. Looks like we'll be making at least one change, ready or not.
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Friday, January 01, 2010
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The "explaining later" part...
Things have been pretty crazy at work. Short-staffing for much of the time (a maternity leave, plus some meetings and vacations), and an increase in the usual patient load by about 25% have made for a tough time getting everything done. I have been working long hours and getting a lot of tension headaches. I REALLY need a vacation (which is coming very soon, thank goodness).
On Friday, when I was in the midst of handling a crisis, I got an email from my boss. Unfortunately, I opened it immediately. It was distracting. The good news is that I still have a job. The bad news is that they are splitting my work assignment between two locations. NOT ideal. I've dealt with this situation before. Don't really care for it. I tried my best to talk them out of it, and who knows -- maybe they will change their minds. It isn't scheduled to happen for another two weeks.
But if it does happen, then I have no choice but to go along with it, and give them my best effort. As always, there are positives and negatives about this new situation. All I can do is try to accentuate the positives and deal with the negatives. One thing is certain - things always change. Don't get too comfortable.
On Friday, when I was in the midst of handling a crisis, I got an email from my boss. Unfortunately, I opened it immediately. It was distracting. The good news is that I still have a job. The bad news is that they are splitting my work assignment between two locations. NOT ideal. I've dealt with this situation before. Don't really care for it. I tried my best to talk them out of it, and who knows -- maybe they will change their minds. It isn't scheduled to happen for another two weeks.
But if it does happen, then I have no choice but to go along with it, and give them my best effort. As always, there are positives and negatives about this new situation. All I can do is try to accentuate the positives and deal with the negatives. One thing is certain - things always change. Don't get too comfortable.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Oh, the drama!
Once again, it is "Drama Central" at work because of a reassignment. Thankfully, not mine. This time. My last reassignment was about six months ago, and I was happy with that change.
I've worked here for three years. One thing seems certain - they continually change who is working where. Our department covers four different facilities. We are all one group, but we don't all work under one roof. No matter what the current situation, the reality is that things change all the time. The best approach is to "make lemonade" and to try to ride out the changes. Easier said than done. But all the facilities have their ups and downs. None of them are Siberia, and they should not be thought of as a punishment.
Meanwhile, the stuff that was making me have to work long hours last week is also affecting this week. I haven't been home before 7pm all week. *sigh* It will get better. It has to. Sometime. I hope. Because this work schedule is not conducive to studying for my board exam. And it is summertime, dammit. Girls just wanna have fun!
I've worked here for three years. One thing seems certain - they continually change who is working where. Our department covers four different facilities. We are all one group, but we don't all work under one roof. No matter what the current situation, the reality is that things change all the time. The best approach is to "make lemonade" and to try to ride out the changes. Easier said than done. But all the facilities have their ups and downs. None of them are Siberia, and they should not be thought of as a punishment.
Meanwhile, the stuff that was making me have to work long hours last week is also affecting this week. I haven't been home before 7pm all week. *sigh* It will get better. It has to. Sometime. I hope. Because this work schedule is not conducive to studying for my board exam. And it is summertime, dammit. Girls just wanna have fun!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Actias Luna
So, what's new with you? I continue to feel unsettled. Not sure why, exactly. There are all kinds of excuses, like the pollen, or the changes at work, or the changing seasons, or the changes at home (work on the porch continues). Twice during the last week I have come home from work exhausted, and gone to bed absurdly early. I hope this is just a transient thing, and not me coming down with something or slowly losing my mind.
Maybe I will feel better after we have had Big Daddy's celebration on Saturday, and his interment on Monday. In addition to the obituary on Sunday, there was an article in the Atlanta newspaper about him in Monday's Metro section. I'm still putting together the photo slide show for the reception.
The porch construction is coming along. The contractors were the ones who first saw the luna moth in the photo. I would have completely missed it. It was clinging to the brick near the downspout on the corner of our home. At first, its wings were folded, and it looked like a leaf. They pointed it out and I went in to get my camera. I think giant Saturnid moths are beautiful, and took several photos of it. My regular readers know how I love the Latin names for things. Thus the post title. If you've never seen a giant Saturnid moth in person, they are impressive. They have a 4-5" wingspan, and all have vivid, distinctly marked coloring - most with "eyes" like this one. They tend to hide in unobtrusive locations and are easy to miss. I once shot a whole roll of film of a polyphemus moth that I found on my windowsill one Saturday morning in Massachusetts. Beautiful!
In other news, I was well positioned to win the office NCAA tourney pool, but Memphis blew it for me, so I came in tied for 5th. Hmpf. Oh well. I did way better than last year, when Georgia Tech was in there warping my otherwise good judgment. Memphis was doomed from the moment I inked them in the top spot on my bracket. I have notoriously bad luck with sports wagers. Once I was spotted 50 points on a game, and my team lost 51-0. 'Nuff said.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Dawn
It has been a strange weekend. I feel sad, but I'm OK. The tornado that ravaged downtown Atlanta did not affect us here on the outskirts, twelve miles away. We're fine.
Normally, there would have been a lot going on this weekend into Monday with a wake and funeral, but Big Daddy is to be cremated and we'll have a celebration of his life in a few weeks. But it seemed wrong to just go about my business like nothing happened. So I didn't.
I was getting ready for work Friday when Mom called. It could only mean one thing. I sent word in to work, so they'd know not to expect me, and to let the people know who treated Big Daddy when he was our patient. Arranged to pick my sister up at the airport - she'd been about to work a trip (she is a flight attendant) from Atlanta to Hawaii. Called Mom to let her know we were on our way.
There wasn't an official wake planned, but I am glad that Big Daddy had one anyway. The old fashioned kind that doesn't involve embalming or funeral homes. Just the body and people who loved the dead. I kept fighting the temptation to stop the clock in the room, an old tradition. Its ticking seemed intrusive, distracting, unnecessary. I was there with my sister, my mother, and Big Daddy's "sweetcake", Jean. His priest came and went before I got there, to perform last rites. It is an experience I will never forget. After they came for the body, we went over to Big Daddy's house to console one another and make some phone calls. Jean and I sat for hours on Big Daddy's porch and watched the birds and the intermittent rain while voicing our memories. He was larger than life, and his absence leaves a big hole.
The rest of the weekend was, for me, rather low-key. I did not know about the tornado that hit downtown on Friday night until we got Saturday's paper. It was just a thunderstorm here, and we were spending a quiet evening at home once I got back from Big Daddy's. No TV or radio on, so we didn't hear about the havoc. PDM and I turned off the carport lights and stood in the darkness there to more fully experience the storm that came through. Other than one very close lightning hit, it was (to us) a normal thunderstorm. There were several more storms Friday night through Saturday. The unsettled weather fit my unsettled mood.
Yes, life will go on, but it will feel unsettled until we have one last gathering for Big Daddy. I miss him.
Normally, there would have been a lot going on this weekend into Monday with a wake and funeral, but Big Daddy is to be cremated and we'll have a celebration of his life in a few weeks. But it seemed wrong to just go about my business like nothing happened. So I didn't.
I was getting ready for work Friday when Mom called. It could only mean one thing. I sent word in to work, so they'd know not to expect me, and to let the people know who treated Big Daddy when he was our patient. Arranged to pick my sister up at the airport - she'd been about to work a trip (she is a flight attendant) from Atlanta to Hawaii. Called Mom to let her know we were on our way.
There wasn't an official wake planned, but I am glad that Big Daddy had one anyway. The old fashioned kind that doesn't involve embalming or funeral homes. Just the body and people who loved the dead. I kept fighting the temptation to stop the clock in the room, an old tradition. Its ticking seemed intrusive, distracting, unnecessary. I was there with my sister, my mother, and Big Daddy's "sweetcake", Jean. His priest came and went before I got there, to perform last rites. It is an experience I will never forget. After they came for the body, we went over to Big Daddy's house to console one another and make some phone calls. Jean and I sat for hours on Big Daddy's porch and watched the birds and the intermittent rain while voicing our memories. He was larger than life, and his absence leaves a big hole.
The rest of the weekend was, for me, rather low-key. I did not know about the tornado that hit downtown on Friday night until we got Saturday's paper. It was just a thunderstorm here, and we were spending a quiet evening at home once I got back from Big Daddy's. No TV or radio on, so we didn't hear about the havoc. PDM and I turned off the carport lights and stood in the darkness there to more fully experience the storm that came through. Other than one very close lightning hit, it was (to us) a normal thunderstorm. There were several more storms Friday night through Saturday. The unsettled weather fit my unsettled mood.
Yes, life will go on, but it will feel unsettled until we have one last gathering for Big Daddy. I miss him.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Changes
Fall is a time of changes. Weatherwise, the changes in Atlanta are subtle this time of year. There is not a hint of color in the trees, nor will there be frost for a long time. But it is noticeably cooler at night, more comfortable (yet still warm) during the day, and best of all - it is far less humid most of the time. We can finally turn off our air conditioners and rely on fresh air from the windows. Still summery, but with that indefinable "something" in the air that hints of things to come.
Some things don't change, unfortunately. Georgia's extreme drought conditions are projected to worsen over the next few months. The long-term forecast calls for a warmer and drier winter than normal, extending our rain deficit into next year. Usually we can count on a wet fall and winter to help refill reservoirs, lakes and streams. Not this year. The persistence of sunny days has led to a change in outdoor water use restrictions. The tight restrictions have been replaced with a total outdoor watering ban for the entire northern third of the state. I'll miss the gardening I would have done - autumn is a great time to plant new perennials - but the region needs to conserve water for drinking and power generation. We are also obligated by law to release a certain amount of water downstream, and this far exceeds the reduced inflow to the lakes. Our water sources are at historically low levels. Lake Lanier is likely to reach a low not seen since it was first filled.
Yesterday was no exception to the fair fall weather pattern. Sunny skies and a warm, but not hot, afternoon made for excellent football weather. I had low expectations for this game. Change was in the air at sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium, where Georgia Tech was able to engineer a reversal of fortune over their previous two games. The victory over formerly undefeated Clemson was a much-needed confidence builder for us. Our passing game still needs work, but special teams and the defense were spot on! Running back Choice was back to his normal performance, gaining 145 yards in spite of his injured hamstring. The team pulled together to overcome a bad start in our conference this year and to avenge last year's loss to Clemson. Close games are exciting, but difficult to watch when you care about the outcome. The fans of both teams were rocking the house during the entire game. We were finally able to relax with some cold fried chicken and beer at an impromptu post-game celebratory tailgate party. An added bonus was the hassle free exit from campus, long after most of the crowd had dispersed.
There is more change afoot in the sporting world: TBS will no longer broadcast Braves games nationwide. "America's Team" has been canceled due to declining ratings and a changing TV landscape. We will still be able to see them on TV here in Atlanta and in much of the southeast, but for the first time since 1977, the Braves will no longer be a big part of nationwide baseball programming. I can't help but feel sad about this. During my 12+ years living in New England, being able to turn on the TV and find a Braves game helped me feel less homesick. Even when I was too busy to watch, I would sometimes leave the game on just to hear the familiar voices from back home. The Braves on TBS made me feel more at home and less alone.
And speaking of television, the changeover from summer programming to fall programming is in full swing. Monk, Psych, and Rescue Me are on seasonal hiatus. Eureka and Doctor Who end this coming week. Heroes arrived again last week, along with newcomers Chuck and Journeyman. Looks like Monday is our new "couch potato night". This week brings the return of Dexter, and new show "Pushing Daisies" looks interesting.
And last but certainly not least, there are big changes in the works at my job. It has been handled rather strangely. We have a new physics schedule starting on Monday, and all of us know what it is from the grapevine, but I have yet to see any official notice/memo/email regarding the change. They usually have a short meeting to announce big changes, but not this time. I am going back to the schedule I like most (100% at the main location, so no more switching back and forth). Because this is what I wanted, I was afraid to get my hopes up about it until getting the official word. But official or not, apparently it is a go. I can't help but cynically feel that it will change again in the future, and I will once again get an assignment I don't care for. All I can do to fight that is to work my butt off at the main location and try to become indispensable. The rest of it is out of my control.
Edited to add: Speaking of changes, I have cleaned up my links list and added some people that I have been reading for some time now. They are in no particular order, so please don't anyone get your feelings hurt. Some day I will shuffle them into alphabetical order or whatnot. Don't hold your breath. I've been meaning to spiff up the graphics for nearly a year now, and the blog is still black and plain.
Some things don't change, unfortunately. Georgia's extreme drought conditions are projected to worsen over the next few months. The long-term forecast calls for a warmer and drier winter than normal, extending our rain deficit into next year. Usually we can count on a wet fall and winter to help refill reservoirs, lakes and streams. Not this year. The persistence of sunny days has led to a change in outdoor water use restrictions. The tight restrictions have been replaced with a total outdoor watering ban for the entire northern third of the state. I'll miss the gardening I would have done - autumn is a great time to plant new perennials - but the region needs to conserve water for drinking and power generation. We are also obligated by law to release a certain amount of water downstream, and this far exceeds the reduced inflow to the lakes. Our water sources are at historically low levels. Lake Lanier is likely to reach a low not seen since it was first filled.
Yesterday was no exception to the fair fall weather pattern. Sunny skies and a warm, but not hot, afternoon made for excellent football weather. I had low expectations for this game. Change was in the air at sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium, where Georgia Tech was able to engineer a reversal of fortune over their previous two games. The victory over formerly undefeated Clemson was a much-needed confidence builder for us. Our passing game still needs work, but special teams and the defense were spot on! Running back Choice was back to his normal performance, gaining 145 yards in spite of his injured hamstring. The team pulled together to overcome a bad start in our conference this year and to avenge last year's loss to Clemson. Close games are exciting, but difficult to watch when you care about the outcome. The fans of both teams were rocking the house during the entire game. We were finally able to relax with some cold fried chicken and beer at an impromptu post-game celebratory tailgate party. An added bonus was the hassle free exit from campus, long after most of the crowd had dispersed.
There is more change afoot in the sporting world: TBS will no longer broadcast Braves games nationwide. "America's Team" has been canceled due to declining ratings and a changing TV landscape. We will still be able to see them on TV here in Atlanta and in much of the southeast, but for the first time since 1977, the Braves will no longer be a big part of nationwide baseball programming. I can't help but feel sad about this. During my 12+ years living in New England, being able to turn on the TV and find a Braves game helped me feel less homesick. Even when I was too busy to watch, I would sometimes leave the game on just to hear the familiar voices from back home. The Braves on TBS made me feel more at home and less alone.
And speaking of television, the changeover from summer programming to fall programming is in full swing. Monk, Psych, and Rescue Me are on seasonal hiatus. Eureka and Doctor Who end this coming week. Heroes arrived again last week, along with newcomers Chuck and Journeyman. Looks like Monday is our new "couch potato night". This week brings the return of Dexter, and new show "Pushing Daisies" looks interesting.
And last but certainly not least, there are big changes in the works at my job. It has been handled rather strangely. We have a new physics schedule starting on Monday, and all of us know what it is from the grapevine, but I have yet to see any official notice/memo/email regarding the change. They usually have a short meeting to announce big changes, but not this time. I am going back to the schedule I like most (100% at the main location, so no more switching back and forth). Because this is what I wanted, I was afraid to get my hopes up about it until getting the official word. But official or not, apparently it is a go. I can't help but cynically feel that it will change again in the future, and I will once again get an assignment I don't care for. All I can do to fight that is to work my butt off at the main location and try to become indispensable. The rest of it is out of my control.
Edited to add: Speaking of changes, I have cleaned up my links list and added some people that I have been reading for some time now. They are in no particular order, so please don't anyone get your feelings hurt. Some day I will shuffle them into alphabetical order or whatnot. Don't hold your breath. I've been meaning to spiff up the graphics for nearly a year now, and the blog is still black and plain.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Flux
Things are changing a lot at work, and it has all of us feeling uneasy and unsettled. We said goodbye to one person, a good friend, on Friday. A physicist is leaving later this summer, and we also have another physicist who will be going on maternity leave any minute now. There is sure to be a new hire (or two, or three...) to adjust to, and assignments are likely to change and change again.
I was very busy on Friday and found myself comfortably in denial about my friend's departure. It may not hit until late next week, when I'm back at the main location and things are very different. Then again, I may be too busy to deal with it this week as well - there are several things going on that are out of the ordinary and likely to take up a lot of my time. I came in and worked half a day on Saturday and still expect to work late several days this week.
But enough about all of this. How was everybody's weekend? Ours was low key. A little more low key than we had planned. We've been thinking about taking in another kitty (June is Adopt-A-Cat Month). We went to the Atlanta Humane Society on Saturday morning to look at the kittens, after getting the house all ready for a new arrival. It was tough to decide on just one, but we finally settled on this little guy:
He has to be neutered before the shelter will release him, so we couldn't take him home right away. I can't wait to see how Moxy reacts to him. I think they'll end up being buddies. Zima, not so much.
I was very busy on Friday and found myself comfortably in denial about my friend's departure. It may not hit until late next week, when I'm back at the main location and things are very different. Then again, I may be too busy to deal with it this week as well - there are several things going on that are out of the ordinary and likely to take up a lot of my time. I came in and worked half a day on Saturday and still expect to work late several days this week.
But enough about all of this. How was everybody's weekend? Ours was low key. A little more low key than we had planned. We've been thinking about taking in another kitty (June is Adopt-A-Cat Month). We went to the Atlanta Humane Society on Saturday morning to look at the kittens, after getting the house all ready for a new arrival. It was tough to decide on just one, but we finally settled on this little guy:
He has to be neutered before the shelter will release him, so we couldn't take him home right away. I can't wait to see how Moxy reacts to him. I think they'll end up being buddies. Zima, not so much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
