Five Miscellany Things
1. "Pair a head task with a body task."
I was catching up on some podcasts the other day and noticed a Before Breakfast episode with this title.
I thought, "Oh, that's what I say all the time! I wonder who else is a fan of this idea."
And when I hit "play", I discovered it was me that Laura was quoting. Ha.
I do love this method of multi-tasking; it is the only way to do it effectively.
Two head tasks (talking on the phone while writing an email) do not work. Your brain will just switch back and forth between the two.
But a head task and a body task (talking on the phone while folding laundry) work great together; I actually focus better on a head task when my body is busy.
Click here to listen to the episode.
2. I have recovered from night shift jet lag
I spent the first 48 hours after my night shifts engaging in rather slug-like behavior. I did almost nothing productive, and I slept a whole lot.
By the 48-hour mark, I had mostly recovered, and now I feel like myself again. Yay!
There is a bit of a recovery period after working a string of day shifts, but that's nothing compared to the rest I needed after six night shifts.
Thank goodness I am back in the daytime world. I do not like being a creature of the night.
(I will be working mostly day shifts from now on!)
3. I am slightly less anemic
I got my blood test results back, and I am happy to report that I am not as anemic as I was previously. Yay!
These results mean my iron supplements are working, so I can just keep on this path.
Some of my markers are getting pretty close to the low end of normal, so I'm hopeful that in a few more months, I will be walking around with average levels of hemoglobin.
Donating blood is still off the table for a good while, though. BOO.
4. A little factoid about the spleen
Can I tell you something interesting about how the spleen finds geriatric red blood cells and gets rid of them?
The spleen has pretty small channels that red blood cells have to squeeze through on their way through the body. Young cells can handle this with no problem, because they are flexible and can kind of squish/bend to make it through (source).
However, as our red blood cells age, they get less flexible. So the old red blood cells get stuck, and are then essentially sent away for recycling.
I imagine it sort of like a red blood cell game of limbo; the young, flexible cells can bend and make it under the bar, but the old ones can't.
And that's how the spleen knows which ones to keep and which ones to throw out. 🙂
5. Diabolical dishwasher loading
You know what's nice about having a small household?
You can load the dishwasher any which-way you want, and there's still room for everything.
With a household of six, I had to be more careful.
But here, I throw things into my dishwasher in a slightly unhinged way, with no eye to maximizing space, and it's just fine.
Wanna tell me some miscellaneous stuff? Go for it!
That dishwasher loading technique pains me- I want to jump in and organize it! However, I'm glad that you can fit it all and have fun with it.
I wish I had a dishwasher in general! There's only one of me so at least the washing up doesn't take long. My friend lives alone and despite having a dishwasher, she never uses it (unless she throws a party or something) because she says it's easier just to wash the dishes. I think I would be lazier if I owned a dishwasher 😉
Agreed on the head and body tasks, however, I have an issue with the general concept of people having to be productive all the time. Obviously, if you have a long to-do list, it's a great tip (and podcasts are how I get chores done!) but there seems to be a message in our society that we can't just relax and be. I need time to do nothing!
@Sophie in Denmark, totally angree! Our pastor was just talking about our need to slow down and rest more yesterday. Our society has become so consumed with more work, stuff, activities that many of us are losing sight of what matters in the pursuit of always wanting more.
@Sophie in Denmark,
absolutely, Sophie! Why constantly being productive? Why not listening to the birds when walking in the woods or even when hanging your laundry to line dry in the garden etc....
@Sophie in Denmark, I agree! Having some time to relax and just exist, not making any demands on myself, is so essential.
@Haley et al, Thanks! As there was a post on the Little House books last week, it reminds me of a scene in Little Town on the Prairie where Laura reads a poem (I think by Tennyson?) about sailors relaxing on the shore, and she gets mad at them for not being productive. I think that amused me a little even as a kid - live and let live, Laura! People need to rest!
@Sophie in Denmark, i agree with your friend. i have never had a dishwasher so i don't even know how to load one.
That dishwasher loading is awesome. When I was newly single, I loved being about to put whatever I wanted however I wanted in the dishwasher. Seems silly I guess, but its one less thing to worry about.
I have given up on multitasking. However I have noticed that listening to alpha waves does help me concentrate. So I have a (mental) tough tasks checklist that I follow if I need to get work done that I am dreading/procrastinating. It includes clearing my desk, going to the bathroom, starting alphamusic, gathering all necessary files, and breaking down the task in smaller doable fragments. This combo usually does the trick - even if I cannot complete all, I get smaller subtasks done. And it is easier to pick up afterwards. I also set the kitchen timer by the way - 20 minutes, then 10 minutes rest. Once I see progress, it gets easier. It is like climbing up a hill: it looks huge from the distance, but once you get walking, you choose a tree or other orientation point that you direct your feet to - then you have a break, and then - onwards.
@JNL, I really appreciate your list of steps and process. What is alphamusic? I am 74 and about as non-tech as one can be and survive in today's world.
@AZ Lynn,
Well, alpha music is basically a continuous set of sounds at a certain frequency that helps the brain to focus. It is often used as background noise for studying or focus tasks. You might not recognize it as music at all!
Copied from Wikipedia: "Alpha waves, or the alpha rhythm, are neural oscillations in the frequency range of 8–12 Hz likely originating from the synchronous and coherent (in phase or constructive) neocortical neuronal electrical activity possibly involving thalamic pacemaker cells. Historically, they are also called "Berger's waves" after Hans Berger, who first described them when he invented the EEG in 1924."
Years ago we had a house guest ( a young relative doing an internship locally ) who informed me that I was loading my dishwasher incorrectly. The concept that there was a “correct” way to load a dishwasher had literally never occurred to me!
@Jean C, WhenI married into my husband’s family I found out there were “CORRECT” ways to mop the floor, clean the shower, put the toilet paper on a roll, and load a dishwasher!! LOL! Who knew.I grew up in a “whatever” household!
@Jean C, and Madeline,
A recent Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast episode included some tips for "recommended" dishwasher loading - things like "put forks in with the tines facing upward", etc. I think these tips were to make sure everything gets clean, and to maximize space. I put things in so I can fit as much as possible. Heh. 🙂
@Madeline, that concept is just so boring to me. People who get hung up on that, and judge others for not complying, are boring. There’s no wrong was to do those tasks. If it works for you, it’s the right way!
@Liz B., Putting tines upward is the sure way to get stabbed by your own cutlery. Manuals for the dishwashers often state that that knives and forks go stabby end down but spoons do well when not nestling but standing with the spoon part up.
@Lindsey, I'm in the "tines facing upward" club, after having some tines bent inside the basket. Also, I've noticed forks and knives get cleaned better when they point up.
My idea of multitasking is running through household chores while laundry cycles through the washer and dryer. Otherwise, I'm a "one thing at a time" person, as things go better and faster when I'm focused. My husband can have a video on, read an article, and hold a conversation at the same tim--I haven't the faintest how he does it!
@N, *time
@N, I can do a head task and a body task simultaneously, and organize chores so - as you say - the laundry is running while I cook, but I can't do two head tasks at once.
@N,
Just taking a guess, but if you asked your hubby details about the video/article/conversation involved, her wouldn't have a good recall of all three. My DH tries to do this, and things are definitely missed.
I'm slightly ocd about loading my dishwasher!! It's just 2 of us, but I can't stand it it someone puts things in on the wrong rack, or not in a way I would do it! Good grief...you'd think I could find something better to be ocd about! 🙂
@Alica, Me too! I'm working to let this go. My husband told me it makes him less willing to clean up if I just go behind him and redo it. Sometimes my teenage son puts bowls, etc. in the dishwasher rightside up or cups on their side and my head explodes.
@Meeghan, I think mine would, too, with upside down cups - who wants to empty the sludgy wash and rinse water that collects and rewash it? Bleh. Otherwise, I'm a full 'er up if I run the dishwasher.
@Meeghan,
...and when someone puts an item in that I wash by hand!
I'm learning to let things go, albeit slowly!
There sure is value in having help!
My BIL loves to help in the kitchen, and he has finally chosen to let me load the dishwasher by myself after family dinners!
@Meeghan,
My hubby uses that as an excuse, too! I don't care *how* he puts things in the dishwasher, but I do remove things that can't go in there (things with wooden handles, aluminum items, etc).
@Liz B., oops, I didn't know about aluminum. I too fish out the wooden items.
Very miscellaneous: I spent some time online this weekend trying to track down my favorite shoes that have been discontinued. They're Altra Wahweaps. I bought them at least a decade ago. They were discontinued maybe five years ago. I can't replace them, they're definitely wearing out, and all the zero-drop shoes now are so ugly. These were just normal-looking shoes, which is what I want. Boo.
Related to your preference for diurnal living: I get up very early naturally. Some mornings too early. I did this on Friday when I woke up at 4 a.m. An hour later, I had had my coffee and was ready to go, but everyone in my house was still asleep and the sun wouldn't be rising for almost two more hours. I was mentally reviewing the things I wanted to get done during what was going to be a very busy day of my family going in many different directions. First on my list was getting the walls of my bathroom painted. It occurred to me that I could actually do that before anyone woke up. It's quiet, and in a lighted room. Which is how I found myself painting at 5:15 a.m. I was done by 7 a.m., at which point I got three baskets of laundry folded and ready to put away when I could get into bedrooms. Then I went into the kitchen and made cookies for the travelers to take with them. The three things at the top of my mental to-do list were done by 8 a.m. 🙂
@kristin @ going country,
I'm up at 4am often, and all I get done is wordle and blog reading! I am very nervous about making noise or turning on lights. I do occasionally make a breakfast treat, but only if it's one without a mixer. I admire your fine use of time!
@kristin @ going country, re the painting... amazing!! Well done!
And I'd not heard of those kind of Altras before. I own two pairs of Altras right now (for indoor and outdoor, because even indoors my feet hurt unless I'm wearing them). I think they look relatively normal, but I'm fairly oblivious about fashion. Comfort over fashion, given my awful feet.
@mbmom11, Well, that wasn't a typical morning. Most mornings when I get up early, I'm just aimlessly messing around on my computer. The whole truth about this morning was that my laptop battery got low and the cord to charge it was in the room my husband was sleeping in. 🙂 A clear sign that I would get a lot more done without access to the internet. But I already knew that.
@kristin @ going country, oh my goodness! I admire your productivity. It's 8:00 am here. I have had a cup of coffee and played a handful of word games. Not productive at all!
@PD, Altras now look like basic running shoes, with the thick soles and all. Which is fine, but not what I prefer to wear out and about. The old ones I have are more of a canvas material, light brown, with a very flat sole. Kind of like Keds, maybe. I don't know how the thicker soles Altra now has can still be zero drop, but that's what they say. I just don't like wearing shoes that look like athletic shoes unless I am actually running or working out.
@kristin @ going country, WOW, that is impressive!
@kristin @ going country, very productive of you. you should be very proud. i get up at 4am to use the bathroom. then i go right back to sleep. then i get up at 6:30am via radio alarm. the second alarm goes off at 6:45 and the day begins.
@Bee, maybe doing the word games is some kind of productivity? The word is that word games improve our brain function. It must at least be better than staring at a TV screen or doom scrolling...two things I have been known to do with my morning coffee.
I was just thinking about a related dishwasher factoid for me. Even without 6 people here, I manage to create a load of dishes in the dishwasher every day or so. How does that even happen? Sometimes I will load it very carefully and I can get away with running it every other day, but more often than not, its daily. ONE person is living here. I guess that's proof that I am doing some cooking...conversely, I barely have any trash to throw away. I do remember having to be strategic with that. And if we forgot to roll the bin to the curb? Chaos.
@Gina from The Cannary Family, my family of four produces an astronomical amount of trash. it is really absurd. sometimes 5 bags a day. but i just take it to the incinerator in the hallway. forget how many times a day i go to the recyclables. i don't want hubbly to be the cliche of the man who always takes out the trash.
Isn't it funny how dishwasher loading is kind of a flashpoint? I don't have one (and despite having five kids end up doing the vast majority of dishes all by myself) but we are fixin' to introduce my husband's dad (a fairly recent widower) to the joy of loading the dishwasher (which he has but does not use, a holdover from ... I'm not sure. His mom's memory of the Great Depression? Or something almost vaguely relevant like that).
The thing is, he can load it any which way, and still have space, and then there will be no ants. So.
@Karen.,
FYI - if your husband's dad's dishwasher is old and hasn't been used, check the door gasket to make sure it's not dry rotted.
@Liz B., now, that is a very good point I hadn't thought of. Thank you.
How does the body get rid of old blood cells when someone has had their spleen removed?
@Live and Learn-Toss and Turn, The liver actually does quite a lot of blood cell recycling and can take over for the spleen in that regard.
@Live and Learn-Toss and Turn, I just had the same question as a friend just had part of her pancreas and her spleen removed. Thanks Karen A. for the answer.
@Karen A., That makes sense since I know people have their spleen removed without big consequences.
@Live and Learn-Toss and Turn, love your name here does it have any special significance?
I work overnights most of the time. When I first started, it was rough. I got used to it and it's easy now. But this week I'm working day shift, early 6:00 start. So, it's a change. But I know I'm a morning person because I can get going easily in the morning. One day I won't have the job that is mostly nights. Also, we usually have a weekend between working days and nights. I say that because sometimes we switch during the week. Those weeks are rough. I don't know if I'm coming or going. And don't ask me what day it is, I will have to ask Google.
About the head/body tasks, I agree. I can do mindless tasks with a mindful task, but not two mindful tasks. I try to do my household chores while I talk on the phone. Sometimes it's the only way they get done. Lol.
It is weird that I'm on here so early. I love reading the comments and there isn't very many yet. I hope everyone has a wonderful day.
I haven't used a dishwasher in years. In one of our rentals, we found that ants were drawn to the appliance (the really gross, large black ants), and DH deduced it was the moisture they were attracted to. Even if you use the power dry, there's still moisture in there. We stopped using it and let it dry out completely, no more ants. A similar thing happened in our next rental, and at this house, the dishwasher smelled SO GROSS when I opened it that we just use it to store things we rarely use. It still smells funky but at least it's dry. With four boys, we have a lot of dishwashers. 😉
My miscellany that's been on my mind: On a whim I ordered a food allergy panel with my Hep B titer I needed for nursing school. Those poor phlebotomists had to stick me six times to get a vein! And then the test came back positive for allergies to wheat, soy, corn, all nuts, peanuts, and clam and shrimp. Hmm. This does explain some uncomfortable symptoms I've been having. But happily I am not allergic to dairy, as I thought! Or eggs. I spent some time this weekend cleaning the kitchen out of cornstarch and soy products (except soy sauce, which I generously let the boys keep, and some frozen veggies with edamame, which they will happily consume for me.)
@Karen A., oh you poor thing! Corn is a really rough allergy to have as corn products hide in so many places. Baking powder, for example. I had a coworker with a strong corn allergy and she basically never ate food she hadn't cooked.
@WilliamB, Yep, and I was already avoiding wheat so using corn tortillas for things like homemade pizza crusts! And I feel badly for DS#3, who likes to make a corn tortilla casserole (stacked enchiladas) with corn and beans. I feel like I'm already a step ahead, as we rarely eat out and I don't buy ready-made foods. The soy is the tough one. Soybean oil is everywhere; when I was growing up canola oil was what was in mayonnaise, now it's soybean oil.
I am happy I did not test allergic to dairy---cheese is back on the menu! So there is that!
@Karen A.,
Soy lectins and other lectins are in so many things even ice cream. I have been wheat-free, soy-free, and lectin-free for many years now. Once I found out that I had these allergies, I stopped eating these things immediately and felt better within just a few days. I hope the same for you,
@Karen A.,
None of my business, and I probably should not say anything - but it was my job. . . I would be suspicious of a food allergy lab panel that came up with so many positive results (particularly if was reported only as positive or negative vs actual immune response numbers and a general immune system evaluation)
and would recommend that you see an actual allergist for a better true allergy evaluation. Not all lab testing facilities are created equal and, like a lot of information on the internet, there are a lot of for profit companies that will try to sell you nearly anything and it really takes very little to set up a "lab" that will give them the results that they need to convince people to buy their, usually expensive and restrictive?products.
By the way, peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes - an entirely different food class.
I am not saying that there are not people who have multiple food allergies with true histamine responses. . .
Ok, I will shut up and feel free to ignore me.
@Karen A., My sympathies on the allergies! I have a number of them as well and more. Because dairy and chicken eggs are two of mine plus soy, I really had to look to find a mayo, plant-based margarine, etc. that didn’t have soybean (AKA Vegetable oil) oil as the primary ingredient. I have been successful, though. There’s so much more available now. I do cook a lot for myself, but I’ve learned what I can have when we eat out and which questions to ask. It helps to feel better and that will keep you on the straight and narrow.
@ceecee, This was done at an established lab I have used before and trust. All the healthcare facilities here in my area use it. This lab doesn't sell any products, just the tests. And yes, there were actual immune response numbers, I just didn't see the point of putting the numbers in my post. 🙂 I understand there can be low immune response numbers, but even then, every time one ingests that food it can increase the risk of having a more severe response.
I have had episodes of anaphylaxis in the past, and when I went to an allergist they did not want to do blood tests, only skin tests, which even they admitted were not reliable for food allergies. They basically shrugged their shoulders and told me to take allergy medication.
I do know that peanuts are not nuts, that is why I listed them separately from nuts. 😉
I have been dealing with bad skin rashes, headaches, and unwanted weight gain. Within a couple of days of eliminating the foods that showed up on my test results I dropped two pounds without trying, and my rashes improved, and I have had no more headaches so far. I appreciate your concern, and I know you're coming from a place of knowing the business, so to speak. 🙂
I'm glad you have recovered from the night shift. That must have been really difficult. I can't even manage to function after raking a red-eye flight.
1. I load the dishwasher, and DH quietly reloads it. He never says a word, but he is always moving things around for efficiency. If I have a really big and varied load, I'll skip it all together and suggest that he loads it. I think it is like a giant puzzle for him.
2. I always listen to audiobooks when I clean house. It makes it much less painful. I love books. I hate to clean house.
3. I do want to mention something that isn't happy. When away for a wedding last weekend, someone entered my home and stole some of my jewelry. I live in what most consider an exceptionally "safe" neighborhood. However, this still happened. I am terribly creeped out, and I keep Rescue Pup - a 100 pound Pyrenees mix - with me at all times. My eldest and DH are putting in our security system this week. Please, please make sure that you lock all windows and doors, and are aware of your surroundings. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
@Bee,
@Bee, I’m sorry that happened to you.
@Bee, I'm so sorry that happened.
@Bee, That is a horrible violation. I am so sorry. It took me a while for my home to feel safe again, but it does. Psalms 4:8 in AMP version is my touchstone. Yay for DH and eldest.
So sorry for the loss of your jewelry. I hope none of the pieces are significant ones to you. Am praying for peace of mind for you, that the criminal is caught and your property is recovered. <3
@Bee,
I am so sorry this happened to you. Our country road has been inundated with prowlers for the last couple of months. We started an aggressive community security patrol and it is better. May peace find you and comfort you in this stressful time.
@Bee,
I am so sorry that happened! I pray you will find peace again. Having someone break in leaves a terrible feeling.
@Bee, i am so sorry this happened to you it is so creepy. when i lived in brooklyn, someone came in thorough the fire escape. the neighbor across the way saw it and did not call the police. this was more than 35 years ago. the thief got my mother's wedding ring and my grandmother's watch. it felt horrible. i am glad youa re getting a security system.
@Anita Isaac, @ JD, @Blue Gate Farm Girl, @AZ Lynn, @ Sophie in Denmark, @ Aunt Diane from Streator
Thank you for your encouragement. It is appreciated. Sadly, the jewelry taken is not replaceable.
However, I really wanted to share this experience, because it is easy to become complacent especially when you feel safe and secure. It is important to be vigilant. Without going into great detail, it was a crime of convenience, and I made it easy for the perpetrator.
Blessings to you all and thank you for your kindness.
You do such an amazing job of explaining anatomy/medical stuff/bodily functions in layman's terms. Thank you! I enjoy learning from you. 🙂 More please!!!
I don't have a dishwasher...never have had one. But I carefully place things in my dish strainer. Amazing what and how can be fitted in that space.
Kristen, once you have a few years of practical experience under your belt, transitioning to nursing education would be a great option. Your clear explanations and your enthusiasm for medical topics are very evident. I guess you may have had a *little* experience in teaching over the years. 😉
I'm jealous of your lap cat. Our cats aren't huge snugglers.
My dishwasher might not look pretty to the casual observer but one thing I do that is a bit different is big pots & bowls go on the top shelf and the bottom is filled with smaller....for some reason (logical or not) I think the water gets 'trapped' under the big bottom pots....
Miscellaneous Stuff: After my recovery from a hip surgery I was soo happy to be “back to normal” that I took on a bit too much outside activities.. clubs, classes,etc and now, am curating my time a bit better.. I am enjoying being home a bit more! I have art projects, reading, and just some “down time” I want to appreciate!
Continuing to follow the DASH diet for blood pressure reduction,Mine has been a borderline and I took some meds that made me feel awful.I find if I am very diligent with the amts of fruits/veggies in the DASH diet and keep the proteins on the low fat side, and measuring my fats (I have always done that) like salad dressings,mayo,etc. I am keeping in a healthy range without meds! It’s a normal healthy way to eat. A huge salad for lunch each day helps get in thosse veggie/fruit servings!
Re energized my astrology/tarot business and am enjoying being back in that line of activity, and am making a little extra $ too.
Appreciating the lower temps here in Arizona..and the rain,although some areas to the East have flooding, we’re ok.
How awesome to find yourself quoted! And sourced, too.
My relatively quiet month turned into a busy one with multiple trips. ☹️ Each decision is the right one but I could have done without 3 non-vacation trips in a month.
That said, I returned from #2 shockingly refreshed. I shall have to put that lesson into effect in the future.
My father finished his life story. There's a physical copy for every family member. Early holiday gift for all.
@WilliamB,
I love that your father wrote his life story. What an incredible gift for his family!
@WilliamB, That is awesome! What a legacy. I frequently think of things that I wish I could ask my parents, including things about their lives. So glad for you to have his autobiography and him both!
@WilliamB, my father and my stepmother were both part of the spielberg project. they have separate tapes but i will never watch them. they never let me watch them when they were alive. i came into possession of them after stepmother died. he had diaries that i said i wanted but i didn't get them. he was still alive when i was able to read his account of my birth. his handwriting was really tough to read. but is it was pretty cool to see. my aunt wrote her life story in english considering german was her native language, she did a great job. i gave the book to the rabbi officiating at her funeral. it helped him with her eulogy. they had extra copies there and everyone took one.
I load the dishwasher with unloading in mind. Same with unloading the dryer - like items together.
You probably know this, but your body will absorb the iron from your supplements better if you take them with a vitamin c supplement 🙂
Head task and body task is a great idea! Will plan on some ways to incorporate that into my daily activities.
I just listened to my first podcast! Almost feel a part of the 21st century. Thanks Kristen. Glad that you are officially back in the land of the day people. : )
I feel like a geriatric red blood cell some days - stiff and not able to push easily through small openings.
Just living by myself, now, I still have to run my dishwasher every other day or so, and on weekends, when I prep food ahead for the work week, every day. I cook meals from scratch a lot, and most are not one-pan meals, for one thing. Plus, I wash the dogs' bowls and Kongs on a weekly basis. But I still work to place everything carefully.
Doing a mind and hand task together.... I don't really do that. I might ponder how to do something or plan my schedule, but I don't go around listening to podcasts, I'm not studying for anything, and I just pop in a CD in my player if I want music. I sit down and read if I want to take in a book. I can talk on the phone with someone while doing something with my hands, but I rarely do. I don't like ear buds or headphones, so I can't do much while using the phone. I find not multi-tasking makes me more peaceful. Definitely, I don't think it's a good idea to do two mind-tasks at once.
A little bit of miscellany, I'd noticed in the last few weeks that I have songs running in my head any time I am not actively engaging my brain, such as talking, reading or listening to something or someone. It can really bother me when trying to fall asleep. I remembered that was something that used to happen temporarily when things would be really stressful with DH's situation. I looked it up, and this is a known stress response. I think making new insurance decisions, facing retirement, making plans for a reduced income, getting through a hurricane season (thankfully a quiet one, but the memories of the last two are fresh), plus the things going on right now in the bigger world, are quietly stressing me out. Plus, I'm still working out grief. I find that acknowledging those facts and "changing the channel" in my head to uplifting music like "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is helping me deal with the annoyance of constant songs. I expect getting some things taken care of, like those insurance decisions, will help, too.
@JD, I almost always have music in my head. A side benefit of autism, maybe 😉
@JD, I am in the same recently as far as "ear worms" - songs stuck in my head, mostly when trying to sleep -- and the most recent for me has been "both sides now" by Joni Mitchell....I am going to take your tip to try and redirect my brain to a different record LOL
Some helpful tips I've acquired working night shift: 1) I leave a light on on the kitchen during the day that I work that night. Serves two purposes by reminding me that I work and that it is day as opposed to night. 2) My bedside clock also informs me not only of the time, but also the day and date. (I got that idea from some of the families of our geriatric residents to help (some) with reality orientation.) 3) I mute the work chat groups. But no matter what time I go to bed, somebody dings. 4) I also know that blackout curtains are beneficial. I don't have them. I will say that I spend a lot of my day reminding myself what day of the week it really is.
I have had only one apartment with a dishwasher. I play Jenga when washing dishes and letting them air dry. I stack things very strategically.
I watch my favorite TV shows while cooking and doing dishes. And I really don't watch much as Bluebloods is no longer on and NCIS doesn't have Mark Harmon anymore. I liked to say I had dates with Mark on Monday and with Tom on Friday nights.
On dishwashers:
I try to be thoughtful about lifestyle inflation. With some things, I can enjoy them and then return to my previous, more frugal way--like taking a lot of cabs instead of using transit when we're in a really busy month. It's still cheaper than owning a second car, but once it's time to revert back to transit, it doesn't really bother me. Same with things like buying takeout or convenience foods. But a DISHWASHER. Oh I knew that once we got a place with a dishwasher, I would never again live without one. Same with air conditioning. I didn't actually spend much of my life without those things, but the years I did were plenty, thank you. I absolutely LOATHE doing dishes by hand. It takes forever, it's gross, it hurts my back...I'd rather run the dishwasher twice a day (and sometimes we do, even with just three people) rather than wash a single plate.
Re: Anemia. Its possible giving blood is your culprit! I went through this about 10 years ago - my Ferratin (stored iron) levels were so low my Doctor said I should be on the floor with zero energy! I had to go through 6 weeks of iron infusions to get it back to normal level -- after a year of multiple tests, including an earlier than normal colonoscopy/endoscopy, and a bone marrow biopsy - everything coming up normal, no internal bleeding........they concluded that it was probably from my many years of being a consistent blood donor. When you donate blood it takes your iron stores, which takes a long time to build back.
Also - fun food fact - Cream of Wheat and Grape Nuts are VERY high in iron! Many cereals can be high in iron, but as most eat with Milk, and dairy can inhibit iron absorption, so I stopped eating cereal with dairy milk. Learned this while trying to get my iron back up with diet rather than a supplement/RX.
In our two person household, we only have to run the dishwasher every other day. My husband loads the dishwasher like a racoon on meth, while I load it (or rearrange his load) like a Swedish architect.
@Lynn D., Love this description!!!!
I'm also doggone-tired from working/chairing our church's Blessing of the Animals. (No pun intended.) Although it was Saturday morning, I worked both my p.m. weekend shifts. I'm still feeling the effects of that and the loud music coming from the local fair (see below), which meant even with two fans going in my room, it was hard to get to sleep. Lesson learned: I'm not in my 20's anymore.
1. Although the fairgrounds are less than a mile from my house, I avoided going to our regional fair and rodeo. I’m told it was $20 just to park (in a dirt filed), $20 to get in the gate and that the fair food was astronomically high, as were the rides and admission to the rodeo, concerts or anything else you’d want extra. Almost impossible to be there without spending a hundred bucks or more. So by not attending, I must’ve saved a bundle! (Thankfully, it has ended. I could hear the noise late at night, even with the windows shut, and it about drove me up the wall.)
2. Ordered my usual $3 small burger at the drive-through. The cook erred and made me a giant-sized one. They gave it to me free. So yesterday, I had half a burger for lunch and the other half for supper.
3. Instead of buying snacks from the store when I went on break, I brought a sandwich bag full of cookies from home. (The cookies were from Aldi. Bentonville chocolate chips, which are cheaper than the Nabisco brand we sell….and since they taste the same and are packaged very similarly, I imagine the same factory produced them both.)
4. I was volunteer chairperson for our church’s Blessing of the Animals, which we held a week late due to the above fair’s opening Saturday last week. (Happy to say it was successful, and the pastor was pleased….the good Lord answered our prayers!) Used a lot of things brought from home (free), and I also gathered a lot of “freebies” from the various vendors, who were giving them out and urged me to take some t the end, as they didn’t want to haul things back with them. Snuggles had to stay home, as I couldn’t handle him and do my hosting duties at the same time. But he got 4 doggie cupcakes (which spoiled his supper, LOL!), numerous dog biscuits, a frisbee, a red tennis ball for playing “fetch” (he wasn’t interested once he saw it wasn’t edible), and a collapsible water dish. The church got a stack of children’s books about animals.
5. Took one of the (non-washable) drapes I'd ruined (in the washing machine) to a restaurant that was collecting bedding for an animal shelter. Got a coupon for a free dessert.
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@Fru-gal Lisa,
* a dirt FIELD, not filed. Oops!
I'm temporarily recovered from last week's shifts. Had to unexpectedly defrost the bigger freezer because there was so much ice that I couldn't shut the door. Posted a couple things on Facebook Marketplace for free.
Chiquita looks so cute cuddling with you. I'm glad you've had time to recover from those night shifts. And that's very interesting about the spleen and red blood cells. I am enjoying these little medical facts you have been sharing lately.
We experienced a few days of true PNW fall...wind, rain and no temps above 60F. I collected wood like the acorn woodpeckers are collecting acorns....swiftly! Between rain showers, I managed to put in 8 cords of wood with more to come this week. My woodshed holds 14 cord and we usually use 6 cords a season.
Great workout for sure. My farm helper told me on his first day that no amt of $$ would he touch firewood. His parents burn wood as well. Poor child. Wait till he has to pay his first heating bill. Bless his heart.
I was trained by a mom who did laundry, mopped, vacuumed and loaded the dishwasher, made beds and scrubbed bathrooms with stringent rules. Now that she is wrecked with dementia, she remembers not a single rule. She loves to help and I encourage her to do what she wants. The dishwasher only has "weight" rules for the top 2 racks and I let her go with abandon. I try to beat her to the unloading as it becomes a bit of an Easter egg hunt when she puts away...
I too, am an early riser @ 4:30 am. I do outside chores, start laundry and lastly bake off cookies, bread or rolls at the 7 am hour to wake up the house. The first burst of energy lasts about 4 hrs then I break and check on this community and emails. As I write this I am staring at a double rainbow. It is going to be a great day!
with a household of four the dishwasher is me. the chiquita photos are fab but maybe we could get a shelley one too please? glad you are back on the day shift.
We don't have pots and pans that can go in the DW. I have a system and we can get 2-3 days between cycles, depending on who's home (maybe 1 1/2 days on weekends if we are all home). After 37 years of marriage with some breakage, we sometimes run out of either dinner plates or salad plates before the dishwasher is full.
I'm one of those people who rearranges the DW every day for efficient filling. I do the same for the fridge. Leftover chicken does NOT belong on the dairy shelf! Why is the cottage cheese where the leftovers go????
My daughter worked graveyard shift in a medical lab for a year and it was horrible. The only thing worse is rotating shfits-- she went on to medical school and residency, and the ever changing schedules including night shifts and 24 hour call shifts was terrible. As you get seniority in your job, try for regular shifts (daytime if possible) because the constant switching takes a toll on your body.
Trim my own bangs and save $17? Absolutely!
Grab a free bottle of water from a previous meeting? Yep.
Feeling sad for the people involved in a highway accident (emergency vehicles already on scene), but thankful that the traffic backup was still minimal (vs 20 minutes later when I drove back past and the line was WAAAAY longer).
Happy to have helped a shelter with some donations (and cleared them out of our house).
And took a side road that I've always wondered where it went--a longer route to reach just further up the same road (no road signs involved), but my curiosity was appeased 🙂
@Beth, Hi! This was fun to read and cheering you on for your successful bangs trim!
We call it Dishwasher Tetris.
Our is eight years old and DH can stack it so tightly that the dishes do not actually get clean. I have wrested the dishwashing away from him and thus no longer have the Coffee Cups with a Nasty Surprise inside.
We eat every meal cooked at home and go through a lot of dishes. It is not unusual to have to run it twice a day.
Evidently, my Husband and I argued enough about dishwasher placement, our youngest daughter told her fiancée that she didn’t care if they argued, but NEVER about the dishwasher! Now, it’s just the two of us and we have set places where things go, which helps … but, he still moves things around. And, I still think I’m doing just fine.
Hanging out the laundry was the thing my mom was strict about … at one of our homes, the laundry lines faced the alley where the football boys ran between the school and the field. Large items (sheets, etc.) went on the line closest to the alley. Unmentionables came next with large items on the front line that could be seen from the street. I still am meticulous about the way I hang laundry on my IKEA rack. I also play “tetris” with it and can hang up to 2 loads.
My ex worked graveyards (4 - midnight). I worked days. It probably prolonged our marriage longer than it should have.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/the-most-effective-productivity-hack-is-the-one-you-least-want-to-do/ar-AA1LeWWy
"The problem is the brain hasn’t changed much since the days of hunter-gatherers, but the demands we put on it have, says Kayla Stajkovic, a lecturer in organizational behavior at the University of California Davis. In the past, humans did a fair amount of strategizing and planning to survive, but now, we’re bombarded with emails and messages all day, we juggle calendars, attempt to multitask, and pull out our phones when we can’t think of anything better to do."
I can read and knit at the same time. Of course, the knitting has to be relatively automatic and a simple repetitive pattern for this to work. I thought I was special, and then my mom told me that her grandmother used to do this!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, When I was little I was amazed my grandmother could knit plain stockinette while watching TV. Then I learned to knit while reading and she was shocked that anyone could do that. As you say, repetitive patterns only.
I made the mistake of donating blood right before I had to have blood drawn at the doctor's office. They were very concerned, needless to say. They were putting me on iron supplements right away. I told them I would wait the 56 days and have blood drawn again. As I knew, the levels were normal. I explained that if my levels were low, I would not have been able to donate. I guess they must not encounter that very often. I was laughing really.