![]() It's the last day of 2021 and, honestly, this year cannot end fast enough. I had such hope when the vaccines came out for a return to normalcy, but that hope was quickly dashed. The news that the Pfizer trial for kids under 5 didn't work was a gut punch. Our kiddo is curious by nature, but we've had to keep her away from things and people in order to maintain our access to daycare. This is a kid who wants to explore and adventure, but she's stuck at home. We're stuck at home. I'm a homebody but even I've been yearning to go out to see people and do things again. 2020 was the year I was just tired and cranky. I started this weekly post as a way to help me cope and find the good that still exists. Here's what was good in the past few weeks:
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![]() Why hello there. I took an unexpected break from blogging over the holidays. The last of our family left town today, so now I'm back at it. Here's where my attention has been lately: WORK
PERSONAL
![]() No Wrap this week. I'm enjoying the holidays. If you want, I recommend heading over to my newsletter to see the most popular links for the email edition of TWW. TWW will be back next Sunday. See you in 2022! ![]() I, somehow, got out of the habit of sharing what I am reading. So, here's my current read and a list of what I missed posting. Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone Diana Gabaldon This is the ninth book in the Outlander series and it's a doorstopper. At 928 pages, I am sure that it could keep an airplane hanger door open. The size is intimidating, but I know from past reading experience that it never feels long. Gabaldon does do extensive backstory, character development, and scene setting but none of it feels like fluff to me. I'm already 100 pages in and, just like her other novels, it feels like being welcomed by family I have not seen in a very long time. It's been seven years since the last novel in this series came out, so my memory of plot points is a bit fuzzy. I'm fairly able to keep up, but I do think I should have reread book eight. Since I last posted, I also read:
![]() Our kiddo's daycare is holding a mini spirit week the next few days. On Monday, the kids will wear a festive outfit. Tuesday is red or green. Wednesday is pajama day. Not gonna lie, I am envious of the fun. This reminds me of my high school. The week before homecoming, we always had these crazy dress days. (I also dominated at our annual food twister event, but that is a story for another day.) I loved how everyone could chose to participate by doing crazy hair, dressing in PJs, or wearing their outfit backward. It was something simple but it was fun. It also created a sense of camaraderie. I want this in the workplace. Why can't we have spirit weeks? Why can't we get everyone to wear a crazy patterned onesie or capes or their fanciest outfit or zaniest hat? While we're at it, let's have some office/cubicle/door decorating contests - let them be funded by companies and done on work time. Call it team building if you need to. I know this stuff is not a replacement for, ya know, higher wages, reasonable hours, work/life balance and general respect and kindness in the workplace, but it would help. Work should be a little bit fun. What thing from childhood do you wish you could bring to the office?
![]() This was my last full week of work for the year. Finals are over. The personal stuff from my office was moved to the cubicle I will inhabit during our renovation. I am ready for a break and, happily, a long one is just a few more days away. Here's what was good this week.
![]() I need to do a better job of capturing writing ideas when they come to me. I had a great idea for what to write here today... and then it just fluttered away into the ether - disappearing forever. Oh well. Here's what I'm working on. WORK
PERSONAL
![]() At the start of the pandemic, I had to learn how to work from home. I've always worked in an office, so losing the commute and coworkers was a big change for me. It only took a few weeks for me to learn that I needed to establish a routine if I was going to get into a rhythm of working from home. One of the routines I added was to make Friday my "admin day." After a week full of Zoom meetings and far too many e-mails, I realized that admin work was all my brain could tolerate by Friday. I use Fridays to clean out my inbox and follow-up folder, update my required monthly report, empty out my voicemail, clean up my Trello and Toggl, work on random "I've been meaning to organize this" projects, and set plans for the following week. If there's time, I also tackle my massive professional reading pile and watch webinar recordings. My organization is back to work in hybrid mode now, but I am keeping my admin Fridays. I found it to be a productive use of my time that was not too taxing on my mental capacities. What pandemic induced change are you going to keep?
![]() I am always cold. In the winter, my feet are just blocks of ice. I am typing this while wearing an extra sweater and shearling slippers with a blanket tossed over my lap. I'm still cold, but at least I feel cozy. Here's what was good this week.
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