A "boo-hiss"!
We're having some randomness today, starting off with a little "boo! hiss!" from me.
My classes are overlapping
I opened up Blackboard on Sunday and had a dismaying realization: my summer classes overlap for two weeks.
BOO! HISS!
I've never taken summer classes before, and it didn't occur to me that summer holds fewer than sixteen weeks. Which means for this week and next week, I'm in both classes.
I would have preferred for them to just accelerate each of the classes by one week, but I suppose that is a logistical issue, since the courses are all designed to be eight weeks.
The main issue for me, I suppose, is that I didn't realize this ahead of time, so it was an unpleasant surprise. I should have looked more carefully, although it's not like that would have changed anything.
The especially unfortunate thing is that my last residency meeting happens in this two-week stretch, so that's an extra day I have to be at the hospital. And this one requires a 75-minute online class to be done beforehand.
To add insult to injury, I have an eight-page paper due in week two of this new class. Also, in our introduction discussion post, we had to include three scholarly references, which is absolutely silly to me. In an introduction post??
BOO! HISS!
I have to keep reminding myself that:
Relief is coming
I graduate from residency at the beginning of August, so that will be one thing off my plate.
And then starting on August 23rd, I will go down to two shifts a week instead of three.
(When I went in to tell my director, she was like, "Noooooo!" and I felt a little bit bad, but as I told her, I am feeling way too crispy these days, and something has got to give.)
So, in about eight weeks, things will get a little bit easier.
(Except, in the fall semester, I need to add some extra classes to make up a few credits. But WE ARE NOT GONNA THINK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.)
A reselling clarification
In reading some of the comments, I realized I might not have made this clear in Monday's post but: I have zero issue with the concept of reselling.
People who trash-pick or thrift stuff for resale aren't doing anything wrong, in my opinion! And the same goes for people who pick up stuff that's listed for free on Facebook Marketplace, which is why I'd have no problem selling that bookshelf I flipped upside down.
My only moral hesitation in that post was about items from Freecycle or Buy Nothing, since those groups have policies that place restrictions on reselling. Aside from that specific circumstance, I think reselling is a-ok. 🙂
(I know people like to pick on those who thrift for reselling purposes, but my goodness, last time I checked, thrift stores are hardly lacking in inventory, and also, the resellers are buying the items, which means they are indeed supporting the thrift shop and its cause.)
Considering others
I was thinking about the recent ethical topics we've been discussing, like being cheap (in a negative sense), or reselling an item you've fixed up, and I was pondering the truth that some of this is solved simply by considering others.
If we consider others, we won't behave in ways that are greedy, and we won't use other people's generosity for our gain. And if we have a heart that considers others, our behavior will be generous to others.
I know ethical issues sometimes get murky and require nuanced thinking, but I think we can clear up a lot of these dilemmas if we put ourselves in other people's shoes and think about how we'd want to be treated. 🙂
Nooo for the classes!
My boo hiss is for summer allergies. I never had hayfever as a kid, which adds insult to injury. I don't have any food allergies, for which I'm eternally grateful, but hayfever sucks. On a cheerier note the heatwave has broken!
This feels heavier than a boo hiss, but I had to say goodbye to some work colleagues yesterday, only they were more than colleagues, they were my friends. I'm really, really going to miss them.
I'm sorry, Sophie, that's hard. Work relationships can be so special - they see our work in ways no one else does, even if we are good about telling people in our lives about what we do.
Thank you!
Scholarly references for a personal introduction? Geez Louise, that's silly. I guess you could find 3 of the topics you've enjoyed learning about and include references to those in your intro. ( but what's the purpose?) Is this the same teacher from that hard, extra burdensome class in the fall? Sounds like them...
My boo-hiss is the hot seather and the fact we have to have the AC on. My old house doesn't have the best ventilation, so after a few days, the AC doesn't help the second floor temperature much. But its better than living in the current high humidity.
I just sold a free item I got off FB Marketplace about five months ago. It was a new, large, still-in-wrapping framed wall art from Target. It was free because there was a small chip out of the frame, and the chip was enclosed along with the shipping box. We repaired it but the main aspect was this art was too large for anywhere in my home. I could use it after all. I listed it for $10 (store price $60) and it sold in 24 hours. I am glad it is out of my way and I don’t have to store it anymore. If the buyer flips it for more $s, I don’t care.
*Couldn’t use it.
Booo and hisss both with and for you! As you remind us, you can do hard things, and thankfully this is a finite issue with an end date on the calendar. But, still, boooooo!!!
I agree that considering others and putting oneself in their shoes is a good metric for many decisions. It also works the other way when being hard on self. A really helpful question from my therapist is "What would you tell your friend if she were in your situation?"
My boo hiss for today is joint pain and overwhelming fatigue.
i have monster ibruprofen originally for teeth pain 600mg during dental work. however, it seems to work on joint pain. i also use voltaren for joint pain. feel better soon.
If this is a new phenomenon, and you live (or have visited anywhere) where Lyme disease is common, I encourage you to get checked out. We live in the South, but visited my family in New England for two weeks and one of my daughters wound up with Lyme in that time. Joint pain and fatigue were her first symptoms. Fortunately the doctor was willing to consider Lyme once I mentioned we'd been in NE and the antibiotics are working.
Thank you! I ended up breaking out with shingles this weekend so that explains a lot. Was able to see doctor Monday and she is running additional autoimmune tests. Thankfully the Lyme results came back negative. Glad your daughter got the correct diagnosis and best wishes for her treatment!
Completely unrelated, I love Chiquita's perch above your keyboard! She looks so happy there 🙂 Why is it that cat's love keyboards?
And yes, summer classes can be a heft. Sorry to hear you're having an overlap while also being an adult. Here's hoping this period goes quickly and well for you!
As for the reselling aspect, I agree with you. Even it the item was free to someone, if they've significantly improved/repaired it, they should be able to sell it.
And here comes the hot weather! (Not loving the sinus headache I woke up with.) We're into several days of extreme heat warnings so I raised the temp on the A/C, and am keeping the draperies & blinds closed. I tilt the mini blinds up rather than down which blocks more sun. The cats are displeased that they can't watch outside, but they'll live. They actually like to lay at the sliding door and peek through the fabric of the draperies to watch birds and chipmunks.
Have a good day everyone!
I join in the chorus of boos and hisses for your overlapping classes in particular and your educational load in general. But as you say, this too shall pass.
And re: the general point about considering others, I don't think there's any expiration date on the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Today's entry in the Chiquita Caption Contest is her variation on the Golden Rule, as expressed in the last photo: "Do unto others as you should always do unto the cat.")
With rule, we would all treat each other like royalty : D
*that rule!
One of the things I heard recently that was really interesting was called the "Platinum Rule", which is "do unto others as they would do unto themselves," because sometimes what you would want done is not the thing that the other person would want done in that situation. I think both the Golden Rule and this Platinum Rule have really interesting thought implications when we are approaching how people might want to be treated, especially considering different cultural backgrounds and life experiences. Just a fun thing to think about!
I've heard of this, too, and think there's definitely value in the perspective!
How terrible that your classes overlap! But .....thank goodness you logged on and realized! Imagine if you hadn't....that would have been consequential.
No boo hiss for me....except for soupy Canadian weather.....it is so hot. 🙂
Kristen, I'm sorry abut your class overlap and the crazy early assignments for the new one. I'm glad you are able to step down to two days a week next month. You are juggling so much.
My boo! hiss! is the destruction of a neighbor's large, great shade providing, maple tree by a company they hired to prune it. They destroyed it by removing all foliage and way too many branches. They suspect the workers had the wrong instructions on what the job entailed as they showed up much earlier in the day than scheduled.
I am curious how your employer handles your reduced hours in relationship to your health insurance coverage. currently considering that option but under 36 hours per week is considered part time and coverage is either eliminated or they raise my contribution by a very significant amount.
I Bryant,
I can't speak for Kristen, but the hospital I work for allows PT employees to participate in the health insurance plans they offer. I do believe they pay a somewhat larger premium than FT employees, BUT 32 hours/week is considered full time.
My employer (not a hospital) has health/dental/vision for PT employees. With cost based on your salary (read when I got PT, I won't get a premium break but that is okay).
Boo-hiss to Google for screwing up YouTube. All the changes they are putting into effect are interfering with my use and enjoyment of YT.
Then, by the rationale of having paid money (to do up or mend or whatever) and item from a buy nothing group, you are free to sell it at a fair price. It would be icky to flip for profit, but wanting reimbursement for outlay plus a bit extra for time / sweat equity is not unfair nor underhand.
Oh boy. Grace to you this summer! Hang in there... you'll make it! And we're all cheering you on!!
Oh, man, that is going to be a rough few weeks! However, you do have far better than average organizational skills, which will help a lot.
i forgot to mention something about being cheap. at noah's bar mitzvah a couple brought baggies to bring food home. and they were not even inviited.
Oh my gosh! That's so ballsy! Terrible, but kind of funny.
Beth B., was thinking the same thing!
You sound a bit irked these posts. I can almost see everything swirling around in your brain. I understand. Just curious, once school is done will you work more than two days a week? Is this typical in your area of work?
Booing the summer course load on your behalf! That stinks!
My booing and hissing is for the heat in Chicago this week. I need a pool to be happy in this weather!
I once had a friend describe big transitional times in a metaphor: waiting in the hallway about to enter the next room of your life. I think this period for me between retirement and moving into the renovation has felt so long that I have decorated the hallway. I get the sense you are in the same place. The balance is in patience, footwork, self care and a good sense of humor.
Today is moving day. I have been scrubbing, gardening, and decluttering since February. The movers come in a hour. Everything has blue tape and a letter matching the schematic I printed out for them. The work is not nearly over to create a new "home" but the work I have accomplished with grace and dignity has made me a better person. Such a great feeling.
Best of luck with the move today - so excited for you!
(& I love the idea of "decorating the hallway" while we wait)
Was one of your scholarly references your blog? I dare you to include it next time. 😉
Hahaha, no, I used actual journal articles.
Knowing your limits is an important part of self care. If your classes are overwhelming for a few weeks, cutting back somewhere else is essential.
I have a lot going on in July. It's the one time I perform for our local theater for the Old-Fashioned Melodrama. And I have a LOT of reherasals, dress rehearsals, etc. I knew I had one Friday night. But I saw my name on the call list for tonight and had a definite "boo-hiss" moment. I don't have childcare. So he's coming with me... :/
Hang in there Kristen! You can get through this, too. Just look at how far you've come already!
My boo-hiss is related to the giving and reselling thing. I once had a friend who oohed and ahhed over some clothes I was going to cull from my closet. I had gained weight and they no longer fit. I'd asked her if she could use them and she acted as if she liked the style and would wear them at her job; she worked at a high dollar department store that required employee dress real nice. She even tried on my outfits and said she liked how they fit her. She gave an Oscar-worthy performance pretending to like them, being excited to get them and hugging and thanking me....and I absolutely believed her. Imagine my surprise days later when I went to the consignment store to get some Size 16s and saw my expensive Size 12 business suits on the rack. My so-called "friend" had conned me into giving her these nice suits, under false pretences, so SHE could sell them!
Meant to say that I had planned to consign them myself before offering them to her, thinking she'd choose only one or two. But she wanted them all. Not wanting to be rude, I gave them all to her. What a sucker I was!
PS -- I haven't seen or talked to her in more than 20 years, but.....
She recently had her photo posted online. On the county jail website. Arrested for theft!
Holy cow, what an end to that story! I'm sorry that happened to you.
Poetic justice. Or karma. Or both!
BOO! HISS!!!
Summer classes in general. Teaching them or taking them.
You and Chiquita are built for this.
Kristen I'm booing with you about your current schedule. What a pain! Just remember you don't have to knock anything out of the park right now, just get by (e.g. I'd be tempted to include 3 references that are clearly scholarly, but perhaps, arguably random.. a gentle salute to the inefficacious nature of the requirement)
But moving on to something that is both pointed and meaningful - love the pic of Chiquita on the specially-bought keyboard shelf as the visual epitome of your message to consider others, sometimes to your own inconvenience : )
I'm so sorry, Kristen! That's awful! Thank goodness you've already planned to reduce your hours at work.
I am really feeling a "boo! hiss!" today, so that I can be ready to be grateful tomorrow. LOL.
I interviewed for a position (for months and months) for which I am an excellent fit. And I would have loved the job. And they didn't give it to me. The exact same thing happened to me last summer.
I think if I wasn't getting interviewed so often and doing well in those interviews, I would have changed my career path a long time ago. But to keep getting so close! Being an academic is killing me!
The hiring process today is so unprofessional and discouraging. Companies play games and waste the time of more than one candidate, often playing them off each other with various requests for work ideas, sample projects, etc.
I remember when I was in a PR company, we met with a potential new client. He wanted us to create a "sample" program for his new product as a form of auditioning for the job. After showing him the work we had done for other satisfied clients, we politely declined to continue the process.
Many times today these job interviews are just to see what is out there and often to pick the brains of applicants for ideas, etc. (Example: How would you improve our product or process?) in which they try to solicit free and valuable info that they can use.
Many times there is no job (because someone inside is being promoted) but HR or other rules say they must do open advertising of a position.
And then there is the sheer laziness of not reading cover letters and/or resumes and only using apps to scan for keywords and using algorhytms (SP) to assign values without the courtesy of reading. Maybe this is ok if you are getting thousands of applicants (most unlikely for most companies) and the way you set up the screening is open enough to not eliminate qualified candidates because you've gotten too specific/picky with content check).
I have so little respect for many companies today after hearing friends describe the process, which drags on, includes multiple interviews, and basically is a waste of time because a company is only going through the motions.
The worst is when a "committee" has to approve a candidate. So much subjective stuff comes into that (Seen it first hand where someone vetoes a candidate simply because they don't like one of their co-workers and doesn't want them to have the person. Stupid, petty and unprofessional but it happens.
Don't give up but do as much research as you can on a company and its hiring practices, often a lot online with others doing reviews of company including this aspect.)
Also, try to get specifics and feel it out to see if you are being strung along. You can also say something like "I, too, am on a timeline and exploring other positions to make a change by X date. Can you complete your review by then?
Do not be afraid to set boundaries. If you're really in the running and you are being sincere and honest and respectful in setting your limits, there should not be pushback or automatic dismissal of you as a potential employee.
I spent 3-4 months in an interview process (before I decided to retire); made multiple trips to the site and spent 1-2 hours online doing "training" so I could shadow for a shift. The interviewer was super hung up on the fact I would have a hour commute for a 2-3 day/wk job in a healthcare facility.
The day after the shadow shift (which I thought went really well), the interviewer asked for feedback which I gave. The next day, HR emailed me and informed me they decided to do more interviews.
😤😲
That sounds so frustrating. Hang in there- cheering you on!
Fixing up and reselling is just another type of recycling, so yay, you, and everyone else who picks up stuff off the curb or otherwise for free, puts in time, effort and minimal expense, and resells. Things are still being removed from the waste stream and enjoyed.
agree to disagree. Our local Salvation army and goodwill have had a huge drop in available items. Why? Because when you make a donation, some of the people who work there actually take the stuff for themselves to use or resell. Surely, this is wrong. Now if you buy it from these thrift shops and resell, no problem.
But when people literally steal the donations to resell (which does happen), that is just so very very wrong. Stealing to keep or stealing to resell, either way it is theft because donor wanted to give to the resale shop so others could benefit from needed and affordable items.
So many people, myself included at times, need what is in those shops because we can't afford anything else.
I totally agree with Buy Nothing and the other group requiring you not to resell. That really keeps things available for those who need to USE.
I appreciate that some people literally live off the money they make from reselling but there needs to be limits so those in real need are no longer able to have access to affordable items.
I am not sure how serious I would take the scholary reference in my introduction...good grief. A series of steps towards your end goal. Please gift yourself some treats during this annoying schedule snafu, will surely help with the crispy edges.
I am grateful that I do not have a boo hiss to share. I am so worried about all of my friends and family who are affected by the heat dome. 152+++ million people!
My mom mantra is "Kindness is the glue that holds Humanity together".
Boo Hiss... My employer, per contract, is initiating a break nurse role each shift starting today. This means that every shift gets an extra nurse. With our staffing (lots of open positions) and matrix, it's much less likely I'll get random shifts off each week now. I went from a 0.75 back to a 0.9 last June after the closing of my unit and a restructure in FTE by administration. I've been getting 1 to 2 shifts off each pay period, often in the form of standby, but rarely have ever been called in. With the increase in staff needs, the loss of 2 to day shift, and our traveler's contract ending in September, I don't see any reduction in my shifts in the future. 🙁
On the topic of reselling, my significant other of 18 years is very wealthy, and frugal and at times, just plain cheap. Since I am independent financially, it doesn't really impact me. He is mostly retired (between Covid shutting down the majority of his consulting, and his cancer diagnosis last fall, he isn't taking new cases), and he is working on selling off his rental properties by 1 to 3 a year to simplify life. In any case, his "hobby" is garage sale-ing every week - Friday and Saturday mornings. He fancies himself a picker. He is very efficient in his route, very knowledgeable and can talk anyone down in price. He knows antiques and what sells. He will go out and come home with a $10 lawn mower or a higher end bike among other things, clean it up, list it on FB marketplace or craigslist within 2 hours of being home, and have it sold that day, usually having a "$400 - $800 day". He makes a lot of money doing this, which "pays for" his true hobby of collecting old oil and gas signs and other auto memorabilia. He likes to say he paid "negative $54k" for his sign collection because that is how much more he has sold than paid. Sometimes I think he is taking advantage of people, but on the other hand, I recognize that people selling stuff at garage sales have the same opportunity to list items on those platforms, but choose not to do the work, and he will. Incidentally, one of those antiques got him a spot on a Pawn Stars episode. They saw a listing of his for a vintage exercise bike, contacted him, shipped it to Vegas, had him and the bike on the show, then shipped it back when they didn't buy it.
He taught his daughter about bikes when she was 10, and she too has a side hustle in addition to being an accountant, she garage sales for nicer bikes, cleans and fixes them up and resells, typically for at least $100 more than she paid. This has paid for he car at 16, padded her savings account, and, when she took a 6 mo sabbatical from work last year, between her bike sales and interest on her investments, plus her frugal lifesyle, she came out financially in about the same place as she started, rather than using her savings.
I like that the FG logo with the link back to your home page is back. 🙂
My boo-hiss is that our AC *conveniently* decided to stop working on Sunday.....and our HVAC person couldn't come until yesterday. DH ran out and bought two AC units (a window unit, and a stand-alone unit) to get us through until Tuesday. Sooooo, $1000+ later (eyes popping out comically in horror and disbelief), our AC is now working. For which I am grateful beyond belief.
Ugh, what an awful thing for you to realize about your summer classes, but we all know you will power through. Chiquita gets the most satisfied look on her face when you scritch between her ears! She has a little smile.
I do feel your pain. Kristen; only I experienced it from the other side. The graduate program I taught in was course heavy in the summer because it involved teacher preparation. I taught multiple classes, back-to-back. Trying to finish up grading in one class while getting ready for the next was a logistical nightmare. I often averaged 4 hours of sleep a night.
Here’s what I did to help! It wasn’t just one summer, it was my life. I bought all non- perishables for 3 months at once. I made sure I had my prescriptions and OTC meds. We ate out once a week or got take out. I usually ate lunch at my desk.
Writing this, I don’t know how I did this as long as I did. Fall and Spring semesters were a bit easier.
Good luck!
Good luck with the class overlap period, Kristen!
I'm doing a summer class (just one though), and we have a 20 page paper due every two weeks up until the team project portion at the end (and we all love those team projects...). This past spring was extra challenging for me - really busy work schedule and a grueling class. Hope everything goes well for you!!
You remain an inspiration to me on this later-in-life academic journey!
That cat is quite the character!
A day at a time with your classes! Your journey has been amazing to watch. You can do it!!
Love Chiquita, at least you have her, she's always friendly!
Kristen, will you still qualify for paid medical benefits when your hours drop? Where I worked 30+ hours a week was full time for paid benefits.
Yup! I'll still have my health insurance.
Awesome ☺️