I forgot to mention - while I was talking to my supervisor the other night, she also wondered if I wanted any vacation days in May. I’ve been there over a year which means I get a week’s paid vacation. Because my family will be having their annual get-together at the end of May or first part of June, I decided to take those days for vacation days. That is, if I’ve got the dates right. I can always go ahead and work on the scheduled vacation days, if I’ve guessed wrong about the dates this year, and take the vacation days later.

Our family get-together isn’t one of those luxury vacations, though I’d love to try one, but it’s loads of fun. Everyone who can will bring a camper or a tent and camp out for 4 or 5 days at a local park. There will be lots of visiting, horseshoes to play, fishing, food, and relaxing during those days. I always look forward to them a lot!

Nearly every year there are a few family members who can’t make it due to work schedules or other constraints. We always miss them and wish they were with us, but there’s next year to look forward to!

Guess I’d better get my fishing license and make sure my tackle is up to snuff!

Technorati Tags: vacation, family, camper, tent, camp out

Posted: April 30th, 2008 under Flights of fancy.
Comments: none

The good news is that I’m being transferred to a different store. As I mentioned in this post, it was a possibility. Well, the other night while I was actually working at the other store, my supervisor called me to verify that it’s what I really wanted. I assured it is and she started right then making the schedule out to include me at the other store and put in the days I wanted off.

She asked me if I’d rather work early, mid-shift, or closing. I told her I preferred not to open but that I’d be glad to work the other two shifts. So, now, she’s got me scheduled to close most of the time with some mid-shifts thrown in.

Working at this new location means far less stress than I’ve had up till now. That means a lot when you are battling high blood pressure and taking more medicines than I really should have to. I don’t mean I self-dose. I mean that my blood pressure is so high I have to take a lot of meds to get it down, and even then it’s not down far enough to really be right. The lower stress of the new work location could mean a drop in my blood pressure, and that would be good for my overall health.

Technorati Tags: supervisor, schedule, work, high blood pressure

Posted: April 30th, 2008 under Flights of fancy, Work.
Comments: none

I took my blood pressure medicine before I ate breakfast. It takes about an hour and a half to really kick in, and I can tell when it does. I wind up getting very drowsy when I’m sitting down, to the point that I can barely keep my eyes open. In fact, I get so drowsy that my memory is a bit faulty. I can’t concentrate on anything I’m doing and I forget what to do next in mid-stream.

I don’t like feeling this way but I’d hate having a stroke, so I put up with the side effects of the blood pressure medicine. By the time I go to work, most of this will have passed and I’ll be fine there, so I will be able to function during my fast-paced shift.

Technorati Tags: blood pressure medicine, blood pressure

Posted: April 27th, 2008 under Flights of fancy.
Comments: none

For the first time in quite awhile, I was able to sleep late and be leisurely when I awoke. I don’t have to be at work until 2 PM, so that gave me time to do some laundry, tidy the kitchen, drink coffee, and watch a movie.

Yes, even though I did get some tasks done, I could do them at my own pace and in my own time instead of feeling rushed. I’ve been able to sit and drink my coffee instead of gulping down a half cup of it and rushing off to work.

We’ll have leftovers for our lunch in just a bit, then I’ll shower and get ready for work. We had plenty of food left from last night’s supper to use what’s left for lunch. Barbecued boneless country ribs, mashed potatoes, succotash - delicious and filling!

I’ll work until at least 10 tonight. Maybe longer. It depends on who is closing and if they need help past 10 PM.

Technorati Tags: work, laundry, kitchen, movie

Posted: April 27th, 2008 under Flights of fancy, Work.
Comments: none

I have encountered a lot of new people since I began working at McDonald’s. Some are great. Others, not so much. The one thing that surprised and concerns me is how many people talk so openly about drug use and abuse. Many will state flat out that they partake of certain drugs, and seem to be proud of the fact. This really makes me sad.

These people are hurting their health and moving in a direction that could wind up with them in jail and having a record they can’t escape. I’ve seen young people who don’t drive, can’t get a driver’s license, don’t own a car, and live from hand to mouth because of this. At what should be the bright beginning of their lives, they are headed instead toward skid row.

If you suggest to them they need to look into rehabs, they will tell you they’ve got everything under control. Sure. No permanent dwelling, no transportation, and fear of being caught doesn’t sound “under control” to me. Not to mention the fact that they are frequently sick and unable to work. <