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"It's Gonna Be May" (had to do it)
Friday: back to work. I woke up dreading the whole day because I was afraid to mess up in training, and I was afraid of what my steno teacher would say to me when I logged in to meet with her after work.
Like with most things in my life, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Training was just fine, I did exactly what I was supposed to do for the most part and had help when I needed it. Everyone has been so helpful, I really like all of the people who work in that department. They're patient and very good at what they do, so I want to try and emulate them very much. Today was probably my last day helping out for a while, and I'm glad it went well.
During my lunch break I went outside to take my usual lap around the building. I was texting my sister while walking, and I heard this weird slapping sound. Looking up, I saw a softshell turtle plodding at full speed across the hot parking lot, his little webbed feet slapping the pavement and making the weird sound. It was 90 degrees out, and he would book it for a few feet and then stop to rest, book it and stop, probably hot and possibly in pain from the hot blacktop. I walked over to him and he tucked his head into his shell a little, but when I didn't do anything he actually stuck his head back out and looked me over, pretty bold for a turtle in my experience.
I later learned that this type of turtle is just as aggressive as a snapping turtle, and can also do some damage with its bite. Not having much experience with softshells but knowing they have super long necks, I went around to his back end and picked him up gently on either side of his shell. It felt like slightly sticky leather. Softshell turtles are weird.
When he didn't try to bite or react aggressively, I looked to see where he had been headed. It was obvious he was trying to get to the lake across the lot and across a short strip of grass. So that's where I took him. We walked across the parking lot, and he didn't pee or try to bite or squirm as usually happens when a turtle is picked up, and kept his head out to see what was happening. When we got to the grass he started pedaling his legs and actually stuck his head out even further (DANG they have long necks!) So I didn't take him all the way to the lake, but set him gently on the grass. He sat there for a moment, then headed off toward the lake. It was cool to see this type of turtle up close, and hopefully I helped him to not get run over or overheated on his way to wherever.
After work I went home, had dinner with Jameson, opened my mail and found my glorious new mousepad which I ordered from Etsy.
It's TOTALLY RAD, wouldn't you agree?
Yep, I'm old. And I don't care. VHS was life.
I reluctantly signed on to wait for my teacher, doing some steno practice while I waited. She signed on a few moments later, and after checking my settings and observing me going through my practice routine, made suggestions for how I can avoid some of the technical issues I've been having. She also gave me a new method of practice within our school program that will allow me to log hours across different programs, something that apparently was given out at the start of the semester but since I was a transfer I'd missed out. That alone will make a HUGE difference to my practice time! So often I've wondered how the heck people are getting 10 hours per week when they can "only" use our school program, well because they were NOT only using our school program, they had the ability to log hours elsewhere! Argh!
Well now I have it so that should be helpful.
She didn't even say anything about me needing to practice more. I was so grateful for that. I already criticize myself enough, I don't need any more outside criticism, promise.
Saturday, back to my regular supervisor work. It was a fairly relaxed day, nothing to report.
At home I did some cleaning, figuring if I get my second shot and feel like shit I won't want to be scrubbing a toilet.
I also started soaking some sweet rice overnight, to hopefully make mango sticky rice. It seems easy enough to make.
Sunday, work was pretty chill. Then back home we had Greek takeout, and I made the sticky rice.
Somehow it was oversaturated, I think because I forgot to account for the extra water in the bottom of the steamer? Anyway it turned out more like rice pudding or porridge than traditional sticky rice. It still tasted good, though.
I received two amazon packages, one was a battery which I'm hoping will resurrect my poor bricked GoPro 4 (if not, I guess someone at the thrift shop is getting it) and the other was a "carton" of "egg" stress balls! They look like a shelled egg, whites with yolk, and you can squeeze them and move the yolk around. Stupid? Yes. A cheap way to brighten my day because lately I'm feeling down? Also yes. I gave one to Jameson and he seemed to enjoy it.
Monday, the day seemed to fly at work, probably because I was dreading my covid shot. Not until Tuesday, but why wait to worry, right? Sigh. I got as much of my work completed as possible. I got groceries, did laundry, and went to steno class. After Jameson left for rehearsal I drove out to Lowe's for some topsoil and 10-10-10 fertilizer for my bananas, which are getting bigger and will need double the fertilizer soon. I folded the laundry, got a shower, did dishes, and assembled the equipment and ingredients for this week's bread, "kindergarten honey wheat". I stressed about all the stuff I probably won't get to do this weekend if/when the symptoms from the second shot knock me on my ass (again).
The plan for tomorrow is this. I'll have breakfast and go get the shot ASAP after eating. On the way home I have a few groceries to pick up, then once home I'll start the wheat bread and while that's rising I'll work in the garden. At some point it'll be time to bake the bread and make dinner, then after dinner I'll practice steno.
On Wednesday assuming no side effects yet, I'll finish gardening and also make some pickled jalapenos for my coworker who gave me a jar of her homemade blueberry jam (yum!), then we're on our own for dinner because I'll have steno class. It would be really nice if my symptoms started kicking in BEFORE I went to bed, so I don't wake up in the middle of the night with a full-on panic attack like last time.
Thursday I expect to be a total wreck, so I'm counting it as a lost day.
Wish me luck y'all.
Like with most things in my life, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Training was just fine, I did exactly what I was supposed to do for the most part and had help when I needed it. Everyone has been so helpful, I really like all of the people who work in that department. They're patient and very good at what they do, so I want to try and emulate them very much. Today was probably my last day helping out for a while, and I'm glad it went well.
During my lunch break I went outside to take my usual lap around the building. I was texting my sister while walking, and I heard this weird slapping sound. Looking up, I saw a softshell turtle plodding at full speed across the hot parking lot, his little webbed feet slapping the pavement and making the weird sound. It was 90 degrees out, and he would book it for a few feet and then stop to rest, book it and stop, probably hot and possibly in pain from the hot blacktop. I walked over to him and he tucked his head into his shell a little, but when I didn't do anything he actually stuck his head back out and looked me over, pretty bold for a turtle in my experience.
I later learned that this type of turtle is just as aggressive as a snapping turtle, and can also do some damage with its bite. Not having much experience with softshells but knowing they have super long necks, I went around to his back end and picked him up gently on either side of his shell. It felt like slightly sticky leather. Softshell turtles are weird.
When he didn't try to bite or react aggressively, I looked to see where he had been headed. It was obvious he was trying to get to the lake across the lot and across a short strip of grass. So that's where I took him. We walked across the parking lot, and he didn't pee or try to bite or squirm as usually happens when a turtle is picked up, and kept his head out to see what was happening. When we got to the grass he started pedaling his legs and actually stuck his head out even further (DANG they have long necks!) So I didn't take him all the way to the lake, but set him gently on the grass. He sat there for a moment, then headed off toward the lake. It was cool to see this type of turtle up close, and hopefully I helped him to not get run over or overheated on his way to wherever.
After work I went home, had dinner with Jameson, opened my mail and found my glorious new mousepad which I ordered from Etsy.
It's TOTALLY RAD, wouldn't you agree?
Yep, I'm old. And I don't care. VHS was life.
I reluctantly signed on to wait for my teacher, doing some steno practice while I waited. She signed on a few moments later, and after checking my settings and observing me going through my practice routine, made suggestions for how I can avoid some of the technical issues I've been having. She also gave me a new method of practice within our school program that will allow me to log hours across different programs, something that apparently was given out at the start of the semester but since I was a transfer I'd missed out. That alone will make a HUGE difference to my practice time! So often I've wondered how the heck people are getting 10 hours per week when they can "only" use our school program, well because they were NOT only using our school program, they had the ability to log hours elsewhere! Argh!
Well now I have it so that should be helpful.
She didn't even say anything about me needing to practice more. I was so grateful for that. I already criticize myself enough, I don't need any more outside criticism, promise.
Saturday, back to my regular supervisor work. It was a fairly relaxed day, nothing to report.
At home I did some cleaning, figuring if I get my second shot and feel like shit I won't want to be scrubbing a toilet.
I also started soaking some sweet rice overnight, to hopefully make mango sticky rice. It seems easy enough to make.
Sunday, work was pretty chill. Then back home we had Greek takeout, and I made the sticky rice.
Somehow it was oversaturated, I think because I forgot to account for the extra water in the bottom of the steamer? Anyway it turned out more like rice pudding or porridge than traditional sticky rice. It still tasted good, though.
I received two amazon packages, one was a battery which I'm hoping will resurrect my poor bricked GoPro 4 (if not, I guess someone at the thrift shop is getting it) and the other was a "carton" of "egg" stress balls! They look like a shelled egg, whites with yolk, and you can squeeze them and move the yolk around. Stupid? Yes. A cheap way to brighten my day because lately I'm feeling down? Also yes. I gave one to Jameson and he seemed to enjoy it.
Monday, the day seemed to fly at work, probably because I was dreading my covid shot. Not until Tuesday, but why wait to worry, right? Sigh. I got as much of my work completed as possible. I got groceries, did laundry, and went to steno class. After Jameson left for rehearsal I drove out to Lowe's for some topsoil and 10-10-10 fertilizer for my bananas, which are getting bigger and will need double the fertilizer soon. I folded the laundry, got a shower, did dishes, and assembled the equipment and ingredients for this week's bread, "kindergarten honey wheat". I stressed about all the stuff I probably won't get to do this weekend if/when the symptoms from the second shot knock me on my ass (again).
The plan for tomorrow is this. I'll have breakfast and go get the shot ASAP after eating. On the way home I have a few groceries to pick up, then once home I'll start the wheat bread and while that's rising I'll work in the garden. At some point it'll be time to bake the bread and make dinner, then after dinner I'll practice steno.
On Wednesday assuming no side effects yet, I'll finish gardening and also make some pickled jalapenos for my coworker who gave me a jar of her homemade blueberry jam (yum!), then we're on our own for dinner because I'll have steno class. It would be really nice if my symptoms started kicking in BEFORE I went to bed, so I don't wake up in the middle of the night with a full-on panic attack like last time.
Thursday I expect to be a total wreck, so I'm counting it as a lost day.
Wish me luck y'all.