Ultimate Accountability Challenge April 2020

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What's on your mind today?

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  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    @juliemouse83
    Sorry to hear about the cutbacks. One would think there would be more hours, not less. Seems rather suspicious to me. But, that is how my mind works.

    Sending thoughts of strength and endurance to you as you adjust to your new normal.
  • Chinkiri
    Chinkiri Posts: 1,435 Member
    I don't have to be prepared for hurricanes etc. here in Southern France, but I always have a stock of dry and canned food. I grew up with my Mum's stories of WWII in Occupied Holland and I think this may have had a lifelong effect... I am always careful financially and have always kept at least some money back in various savings accounts, even when I wasn't earning much. I can therefore help myself if necessary and my kids who may not be able to put money away. I was appalled by my partner's finances when I took over the management of his bank accounts from him last year. At some point he'd earned good money and there was nothing to show for it. It's taken me almost a year to get his income and expenses balanced. I cannot stress too much how important planning is for our future. However, I do realise that some of us just don't have the money to spare, especially not now. Counting my blessings!
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    I am grateful this pair of "olde fogies" figured out how to shop-on-line for the topping up of pantry bulk basics (bread machine flour, sugar, cheerios even .... the site LOVES to say, "sorry, couldn't find /we're out of X. May we suggest CANDY?" LOL )

    Didn't order any candy, but DID order chia seeds so that I can make my chocolate chia pudding. I have 100 cals / day more to work with than I did this time last month as I inch my way through stabilization towards what MFP says a "sedentary lifestyle person of my age / hight / weight AUGHT to need for maintenance"
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    SuziQ113 wrote: »
    @juliemouse83
    Sorry to hear about the cutbacks. One would think there would be more hours, not less. Seems rather suspicious to me. But, that is how my mind works.

    Sending thoughts of strength and endurance to you as you adjust to your new normal.

    I would have thought so, too, but they cancelled elective surgeries and diagnostics about a month ago, and I wondered when they were going to get concerned, as this is big income for a hospital. When you tell people to go home, stay home, and only come out in the event of an emergency, then screen for said emergencies at the drive through screening/triage in our ER Circle, it adds up to a $1.6 million loss. Weekly. I knew we were going to take a hit, but I had NO idea it was going to be as big as all that.

    In a "normal" season, this time of year has our census up to 160-170 inpatients daily. Lately, it's been 80-90. When there are no patients to care for (or move, in our case), you have nurses, diagnosticians, transporters, EVS personnel with nothing to do... :confounded: So it fiscally makes sense, from a business standpoint, to send people home, and that is sad, as we thought we were safe. It's happening all over the country. I read an article about a bunch of healthcare workers in Oklahoma having their contracts cancelled and being layed off.

    So, my list of things I am grateful for is as follows:
    • A beautiful morning to drive into on the way to,
    • A secure job with no loss of income for me.
    • The ability to crochet, as I am making button headbands for the girls on my team and throughout the facility, if they need them. These keep the backs of your ears from becoming raw or irritated from loop mask straps, because the buttons hold them in place.
    • That I may not have to close my small business' doors, even though we are taking a hit.
    • My supportive as all get out husband, who has my back about everything
    • Three day weekends! :heart:
    • Functioning coffee pot that always has my brew ready for me as soon as my feet hit the floor each morning. :smiley:

    So off I go, now to get that inventory out of the way, so I can spend the remainder of the day squeezing extra PTO days into an already spotty schedule. I'm hoping my team will have more three and four day weekends. *fingers crossed*
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

    This is so ironic! No sooner did I hit the publish button, than in came my boss and told me I've been demoted.

    Life...gotta love it.
  • HASWLRS
    HASWLRS Posts: 8,001 Member
    juliemouse83 wrote: »
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

    This is so ironic! No sooner did I hit the publish button, than in came my boss and told me I've been demoted.

    Life...gotta love it.

    @juliemouse83, sometimes all you can do is laugh. Gotta love irony!! (hugs)
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    juliemouse83 wrote: »
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

    This is so ironic! No sooner did I hit the publish button, than in came my boss and told me I've been demoted.

    Life...gotta love it.

    I am sitting here shaking my head - wow!
  • Chinkiri
    Chinkiri Posts: 1,435 Member
    Oh, @juliemouse83, what can I say! Feeling furious on your behalf. What a way to reward service.
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    juliemouse83 wrote: »
    (April 14)
    So, my list of things I am grateful for is as follows:
    • A beautiful morning to drive into on the way to,
    • A secure job with no loss of income for me.
    • The ability to crochet, as I am making button headbands for the girls on my team and throughout the facility, if they need them. These keep the backs of your ears from becoming raw or irritated from loop mask straps, because the buttons hold them in place.
    • That I may not have to close my small business' doors, even though we are taking a hit.
    • My supportive as all get out husband, who has my back about everything
    • Three day weekends! :heart:
    • Functioning coffee pot that always has my brew ready for me as soon as my feet hit the floor each morning. :smiley:

    So what IS your small business?

    I crochet too .... and am intrigued by the sound of "button headbands". Could you post a picture?
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    :s (don't really see a "grumbling" face to this will have to do)

    There was SNOW last night - sufficient to still cover the deck when I got up, and all but the very tips of taller blades of grass. DEFINITELY more white than anything else out there this morning! (grumble, grumble, grumble)

    I am grateful for :
    • a working furnace
    • a working coffee maker (even if it DOESN'T have auto-on capabilities)
    • NOT having to drive into the office along with people who have already removed their snow tires.
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    BMcC9 wrote: »
    juliemouse83 wrote: »
    (April 14)
    So, my list of things I am grateful for is as follows:
    • A beautiful morning to drive into on the way to,
    • A secure job with no loss of income for me.
    • The ability to crochet, as I am making button headbands for the girls on my team and throughout the facility, if they need them. These keep the backs of your ears from becoming raw or irritated from loop mask straps, because the buttons hold them in place.
    • That I may not have to close my small business' doors, even though we are taking a hit.
    • My supportive as all get out husband, who has my back about everything
    • Three day weekends! :heart:
    • Functioning coffee pot that always has my brew ready for me as soon as my feet hit the floor each morning. :smiley:

    So what IS your small business?

    I crochet too .... and am intrigued by the sound of "button headbands". Could you post a picture?

    Soap and candles. :smile: Both melt & pour and cold process soaps, and my candles are soy.

    So, the headbands are like this, but crocheted...

    7krkfnrb9fci.jpg

    It's basically a 9mm hook, chain six, work 5 dc for 22 rows, then 5 half dc one row, then slip stitch together weave in the ends, and sew buttons behind the ears. When I complete another one I will snap a picture. :smile:
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    So many things to be grateful for today. Here are just a few.
    • Awakened to another healthy day.
    • The hot shower I took this morning.
    • The wonderful leftovers I had for lunch.
    • That since "lock down" I have been eating breakfasts and lunches with silverware on dishes.

    I hope everyone is having a good day.
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    So, okay! Here is my gratitude list:
    • I woke up healthy.
    • I’ve encouraged my team of 16 to take furlough, and four have, with a fifth thinking about it. While some of my favorite folks are going out, I know it’s the best for them. Some of my other favorite folks are staying.
    • I can’t even really stay mad at my boss. He isn’t himself. I suspect that is because he’s had maybe one day off in a month.
    • My husband. ‘Nuff said.
    • I’m adjusting to my work “new normal”
    • The new, forced work/life balance


    That being said? I did the following tonight:
    e7ch955tpcrd.jpeg

    The links on how to do these are below:

    https://youtu.be/ji4q0-ix_zc
    Adapter bands


    https://youtu.be/PDTD9bDmBFA
    Headbands

    If you can crochet? I urge you to gather your yarn and buttons, make some and donate to your local healthcare facility. 💜💖❤️
  • craigo3154
    craigo3154 Posts: 2,572 Member
    This is whats on your mind, so I'll unload a little here.

    Read at own risk. Note, I do have clinical depression, so it's more a rant than usual.
    Last Monday had something happen in my vision. Turned out it was a mini-stroke within the eye itself, so I am likely to have a blind spot in one quadrant of the eye, but not in the focal region (unless the blockage self clears).

    Call yesterday from the hospital. As it is a type of stroke (TIA), I am not allowed to drive for 4 to 6 weeks (till they see me again). No fixed appointment made, so who knows when I really will be able to drive again.

    Also the TIA (stroke) clinic at the hospital has been shut down due to COVID-19. Are people expected stop having strokes and no longer require attention just because another risk factor is in the community? Wonder how many non-COVID deaths will be experienced due to diversion of resources away from existing conditions.

    Cholesterol breakdown finally came back. LDL is now high and HDL is normal (this is very different to 6 months ago), but I have had almost no change in diet or habits. Only major change to intake is I am now on an anti-depressant medication that has focus on liver system health because of complications in metabolism. May be a coincidence. Now the doctor wants me to start on a statin which further works on the liver (initially a low dose).

    My family history with statin medication is that my mother was almost killed by the one I was initially prescribed. My father gets muscle soreness from them. Told my doctor this, so the compromise was to start a low dose. Likely have another cholesterol test in a month.

    Mentally I feel defective and defeated. I literally have given up caring. I have been diagnosed with major depression and have anhedonia (basically no joy in life, emotionally flat). I'll eat what I have been given and do what I am told. If it get better good, if not, I'll see if I care if that happens (right now I don't).
  • Chinkiri
    Chinkiri Posts: 1,435 Member
    @craigo3154 You are still posting though! I have some experience of depression, my youngest son and myself, and we usually crash out of any contact, won't answer phone calls or messages. Please keep posting, even if you think your posts are negative. You have a supportive wife, sort your diet with her. Take your time. Keep walking (I hate walking for the sake of it, but it works). You're doing a lot of good, just posting, be aware of that. One day at a time... How was breakfast? How does the wonderful world look outside? Let your wife take you for a walk for a change... Maybe your daughter will take you? Would be good for her as well. Is she aware of your situation? Often people with problems rise to the occasion when people they love need their help.
  • Chinkiri
    Chinkiri Posts: 1,435 Member
    @craigo3154 Sorry, don't want to meddle in your family situation. Trying to help from my own experience
  • Chinkiri
    Chinkiri Posts: 1,435 Member
    @craigo3154 I do so understand. Whatever we can do here on this forum... One step at a time... I went back to bed at 9am after I'd spoken to my 97-year-old Mum who's coping better than I am. Woke at 4.30, feeling life was pretty pointless. Now 11.30, try again...
  • HASWLRS
    HASWLRS Posts: 8,001 Member
    @craigo3154, I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have nothing to offer as I am not a mental health professional, nor do I have any personal experience in these matters. That being said, the one thing that did strike me, that I do have a comment on, is your diet. It is wonderful that your wife wants to help you sort out your diet, and it should be a team effort as you share a kitchen and meals together. However, that's a heavy burden for the two of you. What about an impartial bystander? And by that I mean a registered nutritionist/dietician, preferably one affiliated with a stroke recovery clinic. This is too important to possibly let emotions and considerations of another's feelings cloud judgement on the best course of action. Just my two cents. I hope you get it straightened out soon either way....it'll be one less thing to worry about. (hugs)
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    @craigo3154 I just want to give you a hug!

    Keep posting! I find that connecting with folks in forums like this can be mildly therapeutic. I'm personally trying to utilize the mental health resources they have for us, but in the meantime, I read and post.

    I know how difficult this time is for many of us, but with the added health-related issues, it makes it harder that it normally would be.

    Hang in there!!!! We have your back!
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    SuziQ113 wrote: »
    Hello one and all.

    The week is flying by and I have more work to do then hours in the day. As I am a bit of a protester I refuse to work too much OT (salaried) unless absolutely necessary or during specific times such as month/quarter end. I feel as woman we say yes way too often and must be careful not to give too much of ourselves away. We must learn how to care and love ourselves more. If we do not set the example of how we want to be treated by treating ourselves at that level, how will anyone respect us at a level we deserve and desire?

    So many things to be grateful for today.
    • I awakened to a new day.
    • I have the strength to keep moving forward and see things in a positive light.
    • I am almost to my original goal weight! Yeah!!
    • I have this moment in time to evaluate what is really important to me.

    Hugs and prayers to all.

    I think I just barked at a squirrel in the backyard .....

    Quarantine seems to be turning so many of us into dogs. We roam the house looking for food. We are told 'no' if we get too close to strangers. And we get REEEEAAAALLLLYYYY excited about car rides. (especially when one's DH keeps one on a short leash, and my respecting it eases his anxiety levels about my potential exposure given lungs)
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    Chinkiri wrote: »
    @craigo3154 I do so understand. Whatever we can do here on this forum... One step at a time... I went back to bed at 9am after I'd spoken to my 97-year-old Mum who's coping better than I am. Woke at 4.30, feeling life was pretty pointless. Now 11.30, try again...

    Hang in there! I am relating to your post more than I want to admit.

    When I really just want to be home hiding, I'm coming out here to walk through God-only-knows-what in the air in each of the COVID units. This is the weirdest headspace I've ever been in.

    What I keep telling myself, and others remind me, is this is not going to last forever. (Although, if I hear "we're all in this together" one more time, I may throw something, haha.)

    Anyway, I just wanted to reach out and say that I see you! :heart:
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    juliemouse83 wrote: »


    That being said? I did the following tonight:
    e7ch955tpcrd.jpeg

    The links on how to do these are below:

    https://youtu.be/ji4q0-ix_zc
    Adapter bands


    https://youtu.be/PDTD9bDmBFA
    Headbands

    If you can crochet? I urge you to gather your yarn and buttons, make some and donate to your local healthcare facility. 💜💖❤️

    Now THAT's something I can do even faster / easier / better than using a sewing machine!
  • craigo3154
    craigo3154 Posts: 2,572 Member
    HASWLRS wrote: »
    @craigo3154, I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have nothing to offer as I am not a mental health professional, nor do I have any personal experience in these matters. That being said, the one thing that did strike me, that I do have a comment on, is your diet. It is wonderful that your wife wants to help you sort out your diet, and it should be a team effort as you share a kitchen and meals together. However, that's a heavy burden for the two of you. What about an impartial bystander? And by that I mean a registered nutritionist/dietician, preferably one affiliated with a stroke recovery clinic. This is too important to possibly let emotions and considerations of another's feelings cloud judgement on the best course of action. Just my two cents. I hope you get it straightened out soon either way....it'll be one less thing to worry about. (hugs)

    @HASWLRS. Thank you for the suggestion. I would love to have help from a stroke clinic to help with the decision, but due to the COVID situation, there is no stroke clinic. I am literally on my own with the occasional consultation with my general practitioner.

    I am so grateful for my wife's help in all this.

    My wife has done a lot of investigation of what can help food wise with this situation. I trust her judgement and knowledge.

    Neither my wife or myself trust registered nutritionists/dietitians. Our personal history in this area is quite disturbing. For example, the prescribed diet for a type 2 diabetic (my wife) persisted the condition instead of helped alleviate it. It was only when my wife followed a different diet that her condition improved and dependence on insulin was reduced.

    I will monitor how my situation progresses.
  • cjane917
    cjane917 Posts: 688 Member
    Bit behind again in catching up on this thread.

    @BMcC9 and @SuziQ113 I love your interesting and inspiring posts each day!

    @juliemouse83 so sorry about the boss changing your position and hours. I know that must be tough emotionally and financially. At least the silver lining is that you won't be overworked now and they will surely realize the amount that you were putting in and how it just doesn't "work" this new way-- things are not going to get done and they'll have to figure it out and perhaps reconsider.

    @Chinkiri very insightful post

    @craigo3154 I don't have any expertise or advice but please know that I value your posts here and your evidence-based way of thinking and providing the group with information. Even during this time, you're fighting through it in your own life and still posting here-- please keep us updated and know we're here for you!
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    Now this was different ... never had the breadmaker do THIS to a loaf before ... LOL
    i1bgat25gvdu.jpg

    cmbq44934ac6.jpg


    a single, massive air-bubble juuuuuuuuuust under the surface of the top crust. Apparently DH had to "cut it out of the machine" (detach the 'top skin' from the inner surface of the lid)
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    BMcC9 wrote: »
    Now this was different ... never had the breadmaker do THIS to a loaf before ... LOL
    i1bgat25gvdu.jpg

    cmbq44934ac6.jpg


    a single, massive air-bubble juuuuuuuuuust under the surface of the top crust. Apparently DH had to "cut it out of the machine" (detach the 'top skin' from the inner surface of the lid)

    🤪😂

    At first I thought it looked like a castle, then I thought it looked like a popover! 💖 It looks delicious!
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