Learn-or-Do

Election Day

On my way to work this morning, I passed a house with an enormous banner on the roof that said FUCK HARRIS. What I have found most unsettling about our political process over the past 10 years, is just how coarse it has become. And I find it unsettling.

In my every day life, I can disagree with a coworker, or a neighbor, or a family member and generally speaking, it will not lead to name calling, swearing or threats. Generally speaking, normal disagreements are solved by compromise or just agreeing to disagree and we all go on with our lives and our relationships with all involved.

So how did we get to a place where putting a banner with an expletive on your roof is socially acceptable? We shouldn’t need to demonize or threaten other people because of differing political policy opinions. We should be electing smart people who are able to articulate policy positions and are ready to listen to other opinions and compromise in order to do the best for our country.

I’ve been reading the biography of George Washington by Ron Chernow and cannot help but think our founding fathers would be appalled by the state of our national politics today. As they set up our government, they modeled the role of President on what they saw in George Washington – particularly his sense of integrity. I believe they would all be quite disappointed in what we have done with our country and the lack of integrity in so many of our elected officials today.

If a candidate ran a campaign based on the need for term limits as well as election finance reform, I would vote for them in a heartbeat. I read that over a BILLION dollars was spent on the election last week alone – and anywhere between $15-20 BILLION will be spent on the election in 2024. That’s the kind of money that can (and has) lead to shady behavior at every level of government. Couldn’t that much money be put to much better use?

So in the absence of the reforms we need so desperately, I did what I could. I researched the positions of the candidates, went to the polls and cast my vote. And while my candidates might not win in every race on the ballot, I will not damn the winners or agitate for overthrowing a free and fair election. I voted my conscience and for what I believe is the greater good. I hope you did too.

Friday Funny

So glad I’ve landed!

Back in the Saddle Again

So no – I didn’t fall off the face of the earth. I got a job! I’m coming up on 4 weeks in role and I’m on a HUGE learning curve. I’m going to try not to let the blog go dark but cannot promise 5 posts a week now.

Can I tell you how great it is to be gainfully employed again? I have a low boredom threshold so the job is certainly giving me a lot of new things to learn and do. And I’m not going to lie – it was more than a little thrilling to see dollars going into my bank account last Friday rather that just dollars going out. I wasn’t in financial danger in any way, shape or form while I was unemployed but it is nice to see dollars flowing in.

For anyone looking for a job, I will tell you from experience that I landed where I did because I applied for a job on a bit of a lark. The title seemed higher than I should aim – but the responsibilities described were right in my wheelhouse. So I applied – and much to my shock, I was invited to interview. I made it through all the rounds and in the end they chose a person in-house.

Was I disappointed? Of course! But along the way, I apparently impressed people – and as a result, was invited to interview for what is now my role. The job description for the role hadn’t even been written so I’ll tell you it was a LONG process that felt a little like 2 steps forward, 1 step back all summer. But on September 6th, I got a phone call with the offer. So you just never know where a “no thank you” might lead you.

Biggest surprise? The two weeks between the phone call and my start date were FULL of running around getting things set to start work. The background check required me to be fingerprinted so I had to go to a UPS store to do that. The ID check also required going to another storefront to provide my information and sign my tax forms. The background check required me to answer A LOT of questions – I spent most of one afternoon filling out all the forms online. I mean, I get it – I’m working for a bank now so security is a big deal, but I think they know more about me now than I do! Oddest thing? No drug test! But since my drug of choice is usually Advil, no big deal!

I’m working hybrid now – 3 days/week in office and 2 days remote. For a person new to the team, hybrid is great. I get the benefits of being able to shadow my peers in person if I like but still enjoy being able to work from home on 2 days of my choice every week. Life is definitely good!

Well, lunch break is nearly over – I need to get back to work!

New Mammogram Regulation

Yesterday, it was all over the news that healthcare providers will soon be required to notify women whether or not they have dense breast tissue when they perform a mammogram. Why is this important?

First let’s talk about breast tissue in general. Overall, there are three different types of breast tissue:

Glandular. This is the tissue and ducts responsible for producing milk.
Connective. This is fibrous tissue that keeps ducts and glands in place.
Fatty. Yes – we carry fat in our breasts.

If you have a lot of glandular and connective tissue and not a lot of fatty tissue, you are considered to have dense breast tissue. But the tricky thing is that no matter what you weigh or what cup size you are, only a mammogram can determine just how dense your breast tissue is.

About half of all childbearing age women have dense breast tissue – but it changes over time. As you age, your breast tissue generally gets less dense due to estrogen levels falling off. So again – the question is – why do you need to know if you have dense breast tissue?

The two big reasons you need to know about your breast tissue are that high density has been linked to increased chances for breast cancer and the density can make finding breast cancer early harder because cancer and the fibers in your breast both show white on a mammogram.

Examples of types of breast tissue density – you can see how cancer could easily be hidden as the tissue density increases.

My mom died of cancer that started as breast cancer so statistically, I’m at a higher risk of getting breast cancer. As a result, I’ve always been very good about getting my screenings regularly. Before I went through menopause, my breast tissue was very dense and the routine for me went something like this: go get a mammogram, get a call from my doctor telling me that the mammogram was inconclusive and they’d like me to come in for an ultrasound, go in for the ultrasound, results were negative for breast cancer. I always wanted to cut to the chase and just get the ultrasound, but that’s not protocol!

Because of my mother’s history and the fact that a lot of my family is in the healthcare profession, I knew to ask questions and find out about the implications around the density of my tissue. I’ve also been blessed with having really good OBGYNs over the course of my life who have taken the time to educate me. I’m REALLY glad that more women will be getting this kind of information so they can make the best choices for their health.

Want to learn more? Check out these links:

So much to do!

My to-do list has blossomed! I signed my offer letter this morning – now I feel like I need to be getting ready for a new school year.

My Apple Watch won’t hold a charge for a full day anymore and if I work out, it doesn’t last much past supper time. So I’m off to the Apple Store to see what they can do for me. Apple Watch 10 was announced yesterday! But I don’t think there’s that much difference between the 9 and the 10 so I may not wait. Here’s the announcement about Apple Watch 10 from Apple in case you’re interested: https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-10/?afid=p238%7Cs3R8IOVTb-dc_mtid_20925qtb42335_pcrid_712872752772_pgrid_166902453003_pexid__&cid=wwa-us-kwgo-watch-slid—NonCore-AppleWatchSeries10-Announce-
I have to be in the office 3 days a week once I start the new job – and their dress code is business casual. I haven’t been business casual since before Covid! My wardrobe mainly consists of jogger pants and t-shirts. So I’m going to need to do some shopping. I’m thinking along the lines of a capsule wardrobe to give myself a lot of flexibility but not a lot of expense. Here’s some info about a capsule wardrobe: https://theeleganceedit.com/a-business-casual-capsule-wardrobe
I’ll be shadowing someone for a while to learn new systems and processes so I’ll need to take a lot of notes. So what will I need? Office supplies! I love college ruled notebooks and who can start a new job without new pens? I’ll be checking out the leftover school supplies at Target.
I’m also trying to wrap up a couple of home projects before I’m consumed with the new job – I’m trying to get the dryer vent cleaned which has been MUCH more of a project than you would think. And I’m still working on the grass where I had a tree removed. It’s definitely a process and will include a trip to Lowe’s soon….
- And my social calendar is blowing up – I’m trying to pack as much fun as I can into the next 2 weeks so playtime with friends is a priority right now. Anyone want to meet for lunch? Dinner? A walk in the park? LOL!

So I’m off to the mall and Target – have a great day!

Good News!

Yes – I took a week off the blog for Labor Day. I had company so I was distracted being a good hostess! And I also had an interview which resulted in a job offer! So after 8 months of job searching – I’m going to be working again!!!!!!!!

If all goes well with the background check timing, I’ll be starting as Program Management Lead Analyst – VP at Citi on September 23rd. I am OVER THE MOON excited! The job description is full of things I excel at – I couldn’t have written a better description of what I like to do myself so I think I’m going to be very happy in the role.

So I’m working to pack the next 2 weeks full of as much fun as possible to celebrate – and because I’ll need to jump into the new role head first. I have a LOT of learning to do but that’s when I’m happiest so YAY!!!!!!!

Throwback Thursday!

So I humiliated myself big time yesterday and to make myself laugh, I’m throwing back to the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to me.

Background: I grew up in Wapakoneta, Ohio which is most famous as being the hometown of Neil Armstrong. It’s a small town and my family and the Armstrong family were friends – my Dad and Neil were really good friends in their youth. The Armstrongs and my family went to the same church – which the remaining player in my story attended as well. Her name was Doris Weber – and she was in the same high school class as Neil.

So now we throw back to it being time for Doris and Neil’s 30 year class reunion. Doris was in charge of the reunion and had a reputation around town for putting on little “shows.” And as her actors/singers/dancers, she often recruited members of the Sunday school class she taught. That’s where I come in along with my friend Jenny. Jenny and I were about 14 at the time – which most women will tell you when they look back was a horrible age. Well, Doris decided that the theme of the “show” at the reunion would be a Hawaiian luau and that Jenny & I would be singing through it. The highlight of the show being when we went over to Neil, sat on his lap and sang “Fly Me to the Moon.” It’s been a lifetime since that night, but I still blush when I think about it. It was just horrible singing that particular song to a man I had known and idolized my whole life. The saving grace? He was as embarrassed as Jenny and I were. He never spoke of it again any time I saw him until his death – thankfully.

Jenny and I laugh about it today. But that is the MOST embarrassing thing that I’ve ever done!

Embarrassment

My health question today is – can you literally die of embarrassment? I did something epically dumb this morning that may cost me a new job. I confused a no email for a role at a company for a role where I am 2 rounds of interviews deep in the process with final interviews pending. A role that I have been pursuing for 11 weeks and think I could be a rock star in. And of course the person who has been my contact and could potentially be my boss is the one who pointed my error out to me. In my defense, the role titles and req numbers are very similar – I just didn’t check my job application spreadsheet before I leaped into disappointment. I would like to die of embarrassment this morning,

So I asked Chat GPT if you can die of embarrassment. The odds are low, but yes you can. Here’s what I got:

Yes, in rare cases, embarrassment can be fatal. For example, in 1860, a housemaid who was caught stealing food from a larder died suddenly after the incident, and doctors were unable to determine the cause. However, it’s likely that a sudden rush of adrenaline, similar to the one that occurs during stressful situations, was a factor. Another way to die from embarrassment indirectly is by not reporting a medical condition until it’s too late. For example, some people may be embarrassed about getting a colonoscopy, which can cause discomfort, but almost all patients don’t remember the procedure.

Embarrassment can also trigger self-destructive behaviors and suicidal thoughts and actions. Men may be especially vulnerable if they are confronted with evidence that they aren’t as smart, powerful, or brave as they think they should be.

Here are some tips for coping with embarrassment:

Practice self-compassion

Stay calm and take a deep breath

Laugh it off

Confront the situation

Learn from it

Treat yourself with grace and compassion

Acknowledge what really happened and own the situation or mistake

Spotlight levity

Remember that you are not alone

Distract yourself

I’ve definitely learned something from this. I need to learn to curb my tendency leap into disappointment during this job search. I’m trying to treat myself with grace and compassion – hope my potential new boss will too.

New Grass

I had a tree removed from my front yard about 3 weeks ago so after they removed the stump, I had an area that was just wood chips and mud. So I’m busily working to get grass growing there. Have you ever needed to seed lawn from scratch? Unfortunately, there’s no sod to be found around here right now so I seeded.

This is what AI told me to do:

Here are some steps you can take to seed a new lawn:

Prepare the soil. Remove weeds by hand or weed killer, and loosen the soil by raking. If the soil is compacted, you can aerate it. You can also add compost or topsoil if the soil is poor quality. Let the area cultivate for 10–14 days to encourage dormant weeds to appear, then remove them by hand.
Choose the right seed. Select a type of grass seed that’s suited to your climate and area.
Spread the seed. You can use a seed spreader or your hands to spread the seed evenly across the area. For larger areas, use a spreader and spread half the seeds in one direction and half in the other to create a crisscross pattern. The manufacturer’s instructions should indicate how much seed to use.
Rake the seed. Gently rake the seed into the soil to distribute it and cover it with a thin layer of soil. You can also firm down the seed with your foot or a roller to improve contact between the seed and soil.
Water the seeds. Water the seeds to soften the ends and start the germination process. Keep the soil moist for the first 10 days, and then water every two days for a month after the seeds germinate. You can reduce watering as the grass matures.
Apply fertilizer. You can apply a small amount of starter fertilizer near the seeds when you plant them to help the seedlings and sod roots establish.

I followed this pretty much to the letter but I haven’t fertilized yet. I did add a few bags of top soil to help level out the area but with all the watering, the soil has settled so it isn’t as level as it was when I started but that’s OK. I’ve been watering morning and evening every day since I put the seed down – I think this is the key to getting good results (especially when you plant in August!).

The grass is about 3″ tall and filling in nicely but I’ll be overseeding it in a couple of weeks to try to encourage more coverage and sod roots before winter.

So there you have it! This works for bare spots and worn areas too – give it a try in your yard!

Only a week until Labor Day?

Where did this summer go? Next Monday is Labor Day already! It’s the un-official end of summer – but what do you know about Labor Day – other than it’s a good excuse to have a party or cook-out?

Labor Day has some of its roots in the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago. So definitely NOT a party. And as the word riot implies, there was violence and several deaths. On May 4, 1886, workers from the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company were holding a peaceful protest in support of a strike over the demand for an 8 hour workday. An unknown person brought a bomb – and threw it at police who were trying to break up the rally. Between the bomb and police firing in retaliation, seven police officers and four civilians were killed – and dozens more were wounded.

If you’re in Chicago, you can see a memorial to the events in Haymarket Square on the New West Side at Randolph and Des Plaines Streets just east of Halstead Street.

Fall out from the riot lead to the arrest of of eight men and the trial Illinois vs August Spies et al which began on June 21 1886. It was a high profile, contentious trial with jurors who themselves professed that they had prejudice against the defendants. In the end, 7 of the 8 defendants were sentenced to death by hanging with the 8th defendant sentenced to 15 years in prison.

It’s a fascinating case. 7 of the 8 were foreign born and were labeled as anarchists by the judge. There were allegations of manufactured evidence and evidence tampering as well as press campaigns inspiring widespread public fear and hate of immigrants as well as strikers.

The convictions were appealed – but the petitions were denied. Illinois Governor Richard Oglesby commuted two of the death sentences to life in prison in November 1887. And one of the defendants committed suicide on the eve of the scheduled executions. The remaining four defendants were taken to the gallows on November 11, 1887 where they were hanged – but did not die immediately. Instead, they strangled to death slowly.

And even though there were convictions, they were for conspiracy. No actual bomber was ever brought to trial – let alone convicted. However, the Haymarket Riot was one of many labor actions which eventually lead to the establishment of an 8 hour work day. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill creating the Labor Day holiday as the first Monday in September in 1894.

Want to know more about the Haymarket Affair? Check out these links: