My Job's Re-org

They've been implementing a re-org at my job for a while now and they've finally made their way to the assistants. Starting in June they are going to start putting their plan into action for us. First they're going to interview all of the Partners to see what their preference is, i.e. if they have strong feelings about keeping their EA or not. And if not, what they want in an assistant. Then the EAs are going to be individually interviewed to see what our strengths are and preferences as far as placement.

About 60%, from what I understand, will remain Partner EAs and the rest will be working as a team assistants. Team assistants work for titles Director and below - getting more involved with the work that goes into the services provided to the client. They say that there's room for promotion as a team assistant. You could potentially get promoted to 'intern' and then to an "associate". Once you're on that track you're on your way to working yourself up to a higher position (e.g. Associate, Sr. Assoc., Manager, Director, etc.). But who knows how likely one would actually be promoted and go that route. Plus I think the salary cap is lower for a team assistant.

I wouldn't want to be a team assistant because it seems to put one in a position of having to do overtime, which I can't do because of Jazzmin. And being promoted into client service positions isn't appealing because these people work crazy hours most of the time. And it's not like it gets better with a higher position - in fact the demands are much more. I wouldn't want a job where I'm working at all hours and basically a slave to work. Sure they make good money but look at the lives they lead - not a lot of time to actually enjoy the money. I think there is a good chance I am going to stay with the 2 Partners I have and just get 1 or 2 added onto my assignment. I feel pretty confident that both of my Partners are going to want to keep me as their assistant. But we'll see what happens!
.

Gumdo Anyone?

I'm thinking about taking Gumdo classes his summer in addition to Taekwondo. I think it'd be interesting to try and would also step up my workout. I'm really going to be on a mission to lose weight his summer. I can't take Kumdo when Jazz is in town because it's asking too much of her. To sit through an hour of Taekwondo and then another hour of Gumdo... 2 hours of waiting around several times a week.

I'm still waiting for resolution regarding my asthma but I'm hoping a solution is eminent. At the very least I can still do classes using my emergency inhaler, as long as I don't run. Running majorly effects my breathing even with the emergency inhaler.

Fortunately, my job gave out bonuses, thats another reason why I'm willing and able to take Gumdo. I do have extra money during he summer because Jazz is gone but I want to pay off some bills and also want a little "wiggling room" with my budget. So with the bonus I don't have to dip into my summer money to do Kumdo.
.

Meow!

.

"F Minus" Comic

CLICK HERE to view larger version of comic.

Marshmallow Experiment

I'm on a webcast at work right now about "Emotional Intelligence" and they mentioned this "Marshmallow Experiment" they did with 4 year olds. They found out that kids who passed this test and showed restraint tend to have better study habits and a bunch of other positive characteristics. Click here to read about this experiment.

Apparently they leave a marshmallow in the middle of a table and tell the kid they're going to leave and if the marshmallow is still there when they come back - the kid will get a second marshmallow. Those who abstain pass the test.

Interesting study - perhaps would be interesting to see what fruity does at age for with regard to this.
.

"Close to Home" comic

Meow!

My Foray Into Making Empanadas!!

I wanted to try and make empanadas because they're a food Jazzmin loves to eat and they seem easy to make. My first attempt a couple weeks ago wasn't great as I had thought pie dough was used to make them but soon found out that wasn't the case. They tasted good but they weren't empanadas.

So this weekend I went to the frozen food section because I seem to remember pre-made empanada dough being sold.... and I was right! So I finally got around to making them last night. As you can see directly below, it worked out great and they taste yummy!


But it took a few tries before I got it right. Figuring how much to put in so it wouldn't be too much, trying to get the ends to stay together (as pushing them down with a fork didn't work on it's own) and I had to figure out how to get them into the frying oil without it sticking to the spatula.

.

Old Friend of Hillary's Came to Visit Me

Kermit THE Frog!!! .....or it's Jazzmin. But look at those freakishly long puppet arms!!


.

Pulmonary Test Results

My pulmonary tests came back as my having pulmonary hypertension. Or should I say, the results sheet faxed to me yet not explained by my doctor states that as diagnosis. But then the contents says some other results being normal. I'm confused. I faxed the results to my general practioner so she can tell me what the results mean. I've called 4 times to the doctor's office with no call back from the doctor.

I've looked up Pulmonary Hypertension in Wikipedia and it's a little scary. Hope my general practitioner can gets back to me and clarifies things.

I have an echo-cardiogram scheduled for June 12th - so we'll see what happens after that. I don't know if I am going to stick with this doctor. Not only due to her lack of response and directly relaying my pulmonary results - but it turns out she is one of the few doctors at the facility I go to that isn't an "in-network" doctor for my insurance. I got something from Blue Cross stating that they're only paying a portion since she's not in-network and I'm going to end up paying about $170 for the one consultation visit I had with her.

In the 10 years I've gone to this facility - all the doctors there have been in-network, I was never advised that I'd have to double check this info. ::sigh::
.

Flying Lessons

Missing Dad

I really miss Dad today. It sounds stupid but I saw somebody at my job whose eyes looked a lot like Dad's eyes to me and it got me upset.

It was like the time I smelt Shalimar perfume (Mom's favorite 'pricey' perfume) one time not long after Mom died. I smelt it and for a split second my mind forgot she was dead and I fully expected her to be there when I turned around. But just as quickly I remembered she was gone.

It's still so hard to come to terms with the fact that I will never see him again.

I don't really want to write anymore about it because I don't want to lose my composure at work. But I just wanted to mention that he was on my mind.
.

"Close to Home" comic

Rabbit Ears

I forgot to mention the Mother's Day card Jazzmin made for me. On the inside she drew a picture of the both of us - she was giving me 'rabbit ears' in the drawing while I was naturally sprouting rabbit ears. When I saw that it reminded me of Dad and his giving 'rabbit ears' in photos.
.

"Flight Deck" Comic

My Mother's Day = Jazzmin's Day

Jazz and I had decided earlier in the week we were going to see the movie "Baby Mama" on Mother's Day. Then there was some mix up with regard to the deposit I made on Jazzmin's birthday party (yes, am having it way after her actual b-day - go figure). So we had to schedule a detour to Chuck E. Cheese. Jazzmin decided she'd try to make it an excuse to get more "face time" in with her best friend Aaliyah. They have been best friends since kindergarten (5 years). And yes, Aaliyah is the same age as Jazz (actually a few months younger) - she is just tall.

So I agreed. It was a nice day out. "Baby Mama" was very funny - one of the very few movies that kept me laughing throughout, highly recommended. Then we went to Barnes and Noble so Jazzmin could spend the gift card Aunt Hillary got her for her birthday. She got a Klutz art project and a book instructing on cartooning. The 'lovely' cashier asked my 10 year old daughter if she wanted to buy a Barnes and Noble member card. Sorry kid, not so much.

Then it was off to kid heaven, Chuck E. Cheese. I got them $10 worth of tokens (50) to share and then we ate pizza there. The pizza was good but way too small - my tummy was still growling after 3 slices. Why did Jazz and Aaliyah insist on eating - they have their whole lives ahead of them to eat. I wanted that pizza all to myself. Of course - I was too cheap to buy more.

From the time we left our apt. to the time we finally got home - it was 7 hours of running around. My legs are still sore from all the walking.

Nova's Not The Male He Used To Be

I brought Nova in to get neutered yesterday - so now there is no chance of baby making in his future. I gave him this new product, Feliway, it's first real test as far as keeping Nova calm in a stressful situation. I sprayed a paper towel once with the stuff and put it in his cat carrier. When he first got in his carrier he was circling around rapidly looking for an exit. Once he resolved that he was stuck there - he was meowing that loud, hollow meow cats have when they're stressed out. About 5 minutes later he was quiet and seemed OK with his journey. When it was time for him to be taken from me, his pupils were fully dilated - so he was lovin' life thanks to Feliway. I'm glad it worked - no need for him to stress out the whole ride there.

When I got to the vet they told me that he had to get a rabies shot and physical before they would even consider neutering him. So I had to fork over an extra $85 for them to do that in addition to the fee for the neutering. I'm just wondering where Nova would contract rabies stuck in my apartment and being the sole animal. Even with Arecibo and Azucar - they were shut ins too - so he couldn't catch rabies from them either. But whatever, thanks to the stimulus check - I had the money for the shots and physical.

I left Nova there for the day and picked him up at 5pm. He was still a little out of it on the way home - so he was feeling no stress. When we arrived at the apartment I just opened the cage and let him decide if he wants to get out or not. I thought maybe he might feel too weak to get out or something. But he got out - walking low to the ground and clearly having issues working his back legs. He made his way under my bed and stayed there until it was almost time for me to go to bed.

All last night he was sleeping with me, but switching positions regularly. First he slept on the my pillow - leaning on my head. Then he moved next to me, then between my legs - back to the pillow and the cycle starts again.

He seems like he's back to normal this morning. He's been very good about taking his antibiotics. So I think he'll be fine. Except for maybe a higher pitched meow - now that his manhood has been compromised.
.

First Class Back at Tae Kwon Do Saturday

So I finally took a taekwondo class since all the drama from asthma. It was as light as a class could be - and by the end I was feeling worn out. I took my emergency inhaler before class - as always. I was able to do the warm up just fine (25 each of jumping jacks, push ups, mountain climbers, up and downs and squat thrusts). Then after that all we had to do was practice or forms for the rest of the class as there is to be tip testing next week.

During the last 20 min. of class I was starting to feel really drained, like I had really done a workout when I didn't. I did have to take another hit of my emergency inhaler halfway through class. I wasn't extremely out of breath but I felt discomfort. For the duration of the weekend my bronchial tubes felt sore. Strange, huh?

Also, my body is feeling like a rusty robot since I took the Prednisone. Hopefully that is something that will eventually go away.

I think I am going to limit myself to just Saturday classes until my breathing issues are resolved. If this light class was hard on me - the regular class will be impossible. Even if he gives a hard class next Saturday - it's less of a pain to compensate for my issues 'cause the class is small.
.

Got My Pulmonary Test Today

I was expecting more from this test - but it was just more of the same, blowing into a tube and sucking the air back in. The added bonus was they put a clip on my nose so I could only breath through my mouth. I thought they were going to do some type of test to show my poor breathing when I exert myself - but no dice.

When I went into the testing office it smelt like they washed the floor with urine. YUK! It was such a nasty smell! And I don't know why they required I wear no make up and loose fitting clothing. I don't even know why I was made to deprive myself from my morning cup of coffee. ::sigh::

I am supposed to call the doctor and tell her assistants that I've taken the test so the doctor can view the results on the computer. But wouldn't you know everything is going to voicemail even though the outgoing message states they open at 9am. I guess I'll keep calling.

Up next is my echo cardiogram on June 12th.
.

Pulmonary Diagnostic on Monday

I just found out that my "pulmonary diagnostic study" will take place first thing in the morning on Monday at 8:15am. But then my echo cardiogram isn't until June 12th - I wonder if the doctor is going to do anything once she gets the pulmonary results or if she is going to wait until the echo cardiogram is administered before give me new meds or something. I'm pretty sure she said to call once I've completed the testing and she can get the results. So we'll see what happens.
.

Leaky Heart Valve = Breathing Issue?

I went to the pulmonary doctor today regarding my ongoing asthma issues. She had asked me about any current health issues I had and I had mentioned that several years ago I was diagnosed with a very, very slight leaky heart valve. She had her assistant get the echo cardiogram results from a different floor and she said, "I'm not impressed." - giving me the impression she thought the leak was nothing. But she said, to be on the safe side, she wants to do another echo cardiogram to see if it has gotten worse since I was initially tested and she's also going to do it while I am running. Sometimes the leak can be worse when you exercise.

A leaky heart valve can effect your breathing because the end result is it can allow more fluid to build up in your lungs and inhibit breathing.

I am also going to do a few asthma tests - which also involves my running. Once that is done and the leaky heart valve is ruled out, she will then talk about changing my asthma medicine dosage.

I liked this doctor - she explained everything very well to me without my having to ask. Just like my general practitioner, she told me what she was thinking and why re: my diagnosis.

.

Feliway for a Calm Kitty

I was looking for a way to curb Nova's propensity to pee on anything with Jazzmin's scent attached to it. Actually, I thought he was spraying but it turns out he was not - spraying the lift leg, peeing crouching. So I found this product which is a product vet's tend to recommend. It has more then one purpose - it not only helps with urine marking but also with stressed out ::coughs Isis coughs:: cats - it's supposed to have a calming effect.

What it does is release friendly cat pheromones. Cats won't pee on something that has the pheromone smell on it. It comes in a diffuser and a spray. So I am going to get this for Nova. Nova needs it for stress anyway - he has been very unhappy since the other cats have gone. Poor thing. So this will not only help his urine issue but make him feel more calm.

I'll let you know if it works!
.

"Flight Deck" Comic