[Jupiter]

3 hours ago, Chesire said:

Oof.  May things reset for you by lunch time. 

 

Seconded. Hope the afternoon is better. 

[Whisper]

Week really not going well. Haven't been filling out my grid, would be a mix of red and green. Thinking best move is to leave it grey and start again tomorrow. 

 

Work has been super busy, and it is only going to get worse over the coming weeks. This week has been particularly vexing with the production manager that I loathe. We have an equipment vendor that is supposed to be refurbishing some of our machines. They were supposed to have one ready to ship to Mexico weeks ago, it wasn't, so we shipped one of the two we had in production down instead, with the plan to replace ours with the refurbished one.

 

Twice last week, one of our engineers had me go with him to the vendor to check if the machine was ready. First day they couldn't show me the machine running, which is what I reported. 2nd day, we got there, they hadn't made any real progress, but while there were able to get it to do a few tests that I requested.  

 

Reported back to the plant manager that afternoon, and the next morning to the plant manager and the production managers and engineers "they've shown me that the machine is physically capable of running in the ranges we need it to, but none of the actual setup to run our products has been done.  I believe that it is at a point where I could do the necessary programming and calibration myself, it would probably take me over a day to do, but we need to decide how much more time we give the vendor to finish the job we payed them for, versus biting the bullet and getting ourselves back up to capacity"

 

Overall sentiment was that they needed to do what we had paid them for. I was supposed to go back out again with a different engineer on Friday but when he tried to arrange it, he was informed that the machine was already crated for shipment. So I arrange to have the crate delivered to us on Monday. Timing didn't work to get the machine in place during day shift, so I asked nights to get it placed so I could see where it was at.

 

Tuesday morning I start looking at the machine and, big shocker, they haven't done what they said they would and it isn't ready to go. I start figuring out what I need for it, as well as the million other things I'm supposed to do.

 

Around 11am, without ever talking to myself, my manager, or the engineer, the production manager decided to send an email to the (currently out of town) plant manager with an all caps URGENT subject line:

 

"The old-new machine was placed on production last night around 6pm. Now almost half the day is over still not working and I don't see anybody even working on it. 

 

When and what is the plan to get this machine working and released back to production?"

 

Texted my manager "If I reply to her "urgent " email, my answer is going to be "fuck you, you fucking fuck"

 

There were more emails that I fortunately didn't see at the time, with her claiming that she was told that the machine was going to be plug and play. Nothing NOTHING is ever just plug and play and she knows it. She was in multiple meetings where we talked about delays with this vendor and them not meeting expectations. SHE WAS THERE WHEN I SAID THE MACHINE WASN'T SET UP.

 

The engineer was able to get a jump start on the programming for me, but even with that I spent all day today on that thing, fixing things that should have been done, dialing in and adjusting and calibrating and testing. After 11 hours today, I got it to the point where it would be good to run limited production on night shift, with a buggy feature turned off that they could work around. 

 

Not once in the full day I was in her shop, working on her machine, did she say a single fucking word to me. And on the one hand, I really never, ever, want to have any interaction with her, but on the other hand, any other production manager would have checked up on me "how are things going? Thanks for all the work you're doing". Best you ever get from her is "why isn't this done yet?"

 

I hate her so much. She is the only person that I actually, personally, hate.

[fleaball]

bruh. even I know you can't just plug and play with machines like that, and I don't even know what kind of machines they are. fuck that lady. 

[Whisper]

Ended up in the manager meeting Thursday morning. I would like to point out that I've just been made a lead, so like at least two promotions below "manager". Basically called BS on her for two different things.

I oddly seem to be her best friend ever since. It is creepy and I don't trust it.

[Whisper]

Hi.

I think I'm going through a depressive cycle right now. Probably been in it for a while. Reached the "wanting to cry for no clear reason" point this morning.  Happy that I'm recognizing it and trying to take steps that will actually help.

 

Got out for a walk this morning. Work was crazy and I haven't been able to get outside and walk there (including Saturday) and haven't gotten myself to do it after work. So walked, and it was sunny, but there was shade too, and it wasn't too hot. And I started thinking about how sunlight impacts us, Vitamin D and sleep cycles and what not. And I started to wonder, do sunglasses reduce the positive benefits of being outside, particularly for people that spend almost all their time indoors? 

[fleaball]

Given that there are a bunch of different benefits from being outside regardless of the sun, I’m gonna say probably not? Or at least I hope not? I really need sunglasses if I try to exist outdoors. 
 

hooray for recognizing the depressive cycle although ugh at it being a thing in general. Hope it passes soon. ❤️

[Chesire]

Sunglasses do not detract from the benefits of being in the sun.  I wouldn't be surprised if indoor dwellers actually suffer less eye strain than they would otherwise have from impact of the bright sun.  Also, it's good to have the UV protections.  I've previously asked my dr about this

 

Congrats recognizing your depressive cycle and fingers crossed that your interventions and awareness help it pass quickly

[Whisper]

Work was super busy today. Lots of stuff I just couldn't get to, including lunch. Hit a drive-through on my way home for my first solid food of the day. This is my manager's last week. He's trying to tie up loose ends, but there always seems to be more, and the company doesn't have a plan, so things are only going to get worse. 

 

Emailed my doctor yesterday (Sunday) about upping my antidepressant. Got an answer from her MA, saying she would talk to her, but no final answer yet. I kind of already upped it myself. Supposed to take two a day, but I have some extras, so filled my pill sorter with 3 per day for this week. 

 

Took a shower this afternoon. I've been finding it extra hard just to get into the shower the last several weeks. Afternoon me is tired and doesn't wanna, and says morning me can do it. Morning me is all like "are you fucking kidding me!?! We're not getting out of this bed until the last possible moment to get to work". So the shower keeps getting kicked down the road until I feel so gross that referee me finally grabs on of the me's by the ear and drags them into the shower. I'm fine once I'm actually in there, but just getting in the shower is inexplicably hard.

 

I don't think the rest of my challenge is going to happen this week, so I'm thinking I might just replace my goals with "take a shower every day" for this week. 

 

Only day where there might be a legitimate obstacle is tomorrow. Working, then helping Maggie with some medical stuff, then rushing down for bell practice. Still, should be able to hop in the shower really quick before bed.

[Whisper]

My cats' favorite sleeping position. Me on my side, left leg, with Sasha draped half over it, right leg bridged over Sasha, the covers over that, with ShyAnn stretched along my right leg.

 

Both cats are there, x-ray vision required to see Sasha. 

Spoiler

 

[Jupiter]

ShyAnn looks very comfortable.  Hope things get better soon. *hugs*

[fleaball]

omg her face. I love her. 
 

I think taking a step back on the challenge for the week is a great idea. You know I feel

you on the shower issue. If I ever figure out a solution you’ll be the first to know. Well done doing it today! 

[Whisper]

Driving home from bell practice tonight, debating the shower question with myself. The best reason not to that I could come up with (other than "tired don't wanna") was "late, don't want to go to bed with wet hair".

 

And lo! did the heavens part! and doth it was revealed unto me that shower caps have totally been invented in this time-line. (I am freakishly proud of that sentence, even knowing I used "doth" wrong) 

 

Stopped at the Walgreens I needed to drive past anyway, got the shower cap, went home, took a shower. Victory for today. 

 

 

Heard back from my doctor today. She didn't agree with my going from 2 to 3. She wants me at 4. Sent a new script to my pharmacy. I'm good with trying this. A normal treatment range is 2 to 8, so we're going from a minimal dose to a medium one.

[fleaball]

Fuck yeah!

[Whisper]

Today had a really rocky start. My alarm woke me up at 4, but the next thing I knew one of the other techs was calling me at 5:30. Managed to make it in around 6, but still, that's a full hour late. Was too tired to properly scold myself, so let me off with a warning. And turned my back up alarm back on.

 

Busy day. Normal production stuff, getting ready for my manager leaving Friday, getting ready for a new production shop coming in in two weeks. Supposedly I'm moving the maintenance shop too.

 

Took a shower before dinner. Checked my blood pressure and sugar for the first time in a long, long time. 128/86 and 97. I think that means those meds are working properly? I suck at getting blood from the finger stick, took 3 tries, which is why I had given up on checking. Don't do well with needles and having to do it over and over with the machine telling me there isn't enough blood...

[Whisper]

Continuing the shower saga. Stopped at Walgreens to get my new antidepressant script and also picked up a hair clip while I was there. I'm thinking every other day is probably good for washing my hair, and while I was showering early enough today not to worry about it having enough time to dry, I wanted to see if the clip and caution would work well enough when it does matter to work in place of the shower cap. I have a freakishly large head and the cap was uncomfortably tight.

 

Happy to report that the clip worked out very well. 

[Whisper]

Friday, I didn't take a shower because I was going to take one Saturday morning before a funeral I was helping with, and I would have plenty of time. 

 

Saturday morning I was tired and it was cold, and I didn't want to be tired, cold AND wet, so no shower. Ran into a whole mess of tech issues that I was barely able to work around before the funeral, like literally switching cables around 10 minutes before it started. 

 

Rest of the day went well, but a shower didn't enter my head again, so missed two days in a row. 

 

Today, technology worked at church. Decided to go to Michael's after and get some calligraphy markers and mixed media paper. Played around for a while. Been a LONG time since I've done actual calligraphy, but my normal handwriting has been a simplified form of it since college. 

 

I learned that Water color and acrylic do not work over ink or marker (expected) 

Ink and marker both work over watercolor, and marker worked ok over acrylic. 

Neither really works well over (dry) oil paint.

I think I like the markers better than the pen and ink, but I would like to try out different sizes if both. I like keeping the letters a bit looser, even if it does make things take LOTS of space to write.

 

Spoiler

 

Did laundry,  which was used as a valid excuse to delay the shower, not enough water pressure for both. Started thinking about kicking the shower again. Decided "fuck that shit, worlds not gonna end if I go to bed with wet hair". I'll have to fix it in the morning, but that's much more likely to happen than a 4am shower. 

 

So I'm clean, and my hair is half dry with another hour until bedtime. I need to get better at listening to the smart voices and ignoring the dumb ones.

[Chesire]

On 10/2/2022 at 9:19 PM, Whisper said:

"fuck that shit, worlds not gonna end if I go to bed with wet hair"

So.... uh..  it's been a few days since you posted this.  I hope that going to bed with wet hair did not in fact end the world for you.

[Rookie]

On 9/29/2022 at 10:34 PM, Whisper said:

Continuing the shower saga. Stopped at Walgreens to get my new antidepressant script and also picked up a hair clip while I was there. I'm thinking every other day is probably good for washing my hair, and while I was showering early enough today not to worry about it having enough time to dry, I wanted to see if the clip and caution would work well enough when it does matter to work in place of the shower cap. I have a freakishly large head and the cap was uncomfortably tight.

 

Happy to report that the clip worked out very well. 

So I despise washing my hair. On average I shower every other day (unless I get sweaty/dirty, then I will shower) and I only do my hair 1-2 times a week. When it's really bad I just use dry shampoo. I get a weird itchy irritated scalp in some places sooo the less I have to wash the better. And I am hearing a lot of people are starting to only wash their hair once a week or even less. I do have the convenience of working from home 3/5 days but I also noticed my hair doesn't get as greasy as fast now.  When showering I just throw it up in a high pony (or bun when my hair is long enough) to avoid getting it wet. It mostly works.

[Chesire]

19 hours ago, Rookie said:

So I despise washing my hair. On average I shower every other day (unless I get sweaty/dirty, then I will shower) and I only do my hair 1-2 times a week. When it's really bad I just use dry shampoo. I get a weird itchy irritated scalp in some places sooo the less I have to wash the better. And I am hearing a lot of people are starting to only wash their hair once a week or even less. I do have the convenience of working from home 3/5 days but I also noticed my hair doesn't get as greasy as fast now.  I just throw it up in a high pony (or bun when my hair is long enough) to avoid getting it wet. It mostly works.

Same!  I only wash my hair twice a week.  You can always tell how long its been based on how 'up' my hair is    Dry shampoo/ cornstarch is so helpful.

[Whisper]

On 10/10/2022 at 6:27 AM, Chesire said:

So.... uh..  it's been a few days since you posted this.  I hope that going to bed with wet hair did not in fact end the world for you.

I've identified this as the moment everything went to hell. I don't think it's because of the wet hair, but I can't rule it out either 

 

[Chesire]

I hope you'll be around next challenge, when you are able, so we have a chance to support you from behind the screen.

[Whisper]

Went to painting on Saturday. Couldn't think to do anything detailed, so just played with colors. Sadly the blue one got messed up.

Spoiler

 

[Whisper]

I've been having this mental block the last couple weeks where I don't trust my water bottle at work. I'm fairly sure that all I have to do to break this block is to clean the water bottle with the "clean and free" dish soap I have at work FOR THIS PURPOSE, but every time I look at it, it gets shoved into the endless mound of things to deal with later. So I'm not drinking water at work. So I'm not drinking, or grabbing soda. Because based on literally nothing, I looked at my water bottle and decided I didn't trust it, and refuse to fix it.

 

Put a bottle of water next to my lunch box to take to work tomorrow. A lesser solution, but hopefully one that starts me in the right direction. 

[fleaball]

Could you half ass it and like, just pour some soap in the bottle and then leave it for later? Then it's already started?

[Whisper]

One of the HR ladies asked me today who was in charge of Maintenance. Told her I was as close as it got, then gathered up the Open Enrollment forms...

 

Tonight's installment of "Angry Work Emails"

 

If we persist in this course of action, eventually one of these bars is going to hit an associate while it is falling and we will have a major safety incident. 

 

I am urging you in the strongest terms possible to immediately have all plastic bags removed from the festoons. They've already caused a minor incident with one of my technicians straining his back, damaged part of the festoon, bent some of the bars, and resulted in full roles of fabric being thrown into the dumpster. 

 

This needs to stop.

Spoiler

 

I would like to take this opportunity to remind the audience that I am nothing more than a freshly minted "lead technician"