Oh no! I've officially become one of those!
You may wonder--to what those am I referring? A great question.
I refer to those people who see the TRAX train pulling into the stop and make a mad dash to catch it before it takes off again.
Much as it pains me to admit it, I have joined the ranks of those dashing to catch TRAX. I've done it three times in the last week and a half, twice in the last week alone. Before I was a regular TRAX rider, I would often see people making this run as I left my building, and I'd watch with mild interest. I couldn't quite fathom the need to do so until I found myself in that situation. So, off I go!
See, if I can catch the 5:10 train from downtown, I reach Sandy just before 6, giving me a little extra time in the evening. This is especially important on the nights when I have something else after work. If I miss that train though, it's another 15 minutes before the next one comes. Now I know that 15 minutes isn't that big of a deal, but it's enough of a difference that if I see the earlier train, I will run to catch it.
Now I just have to be careful to make sure my mad dashes don't involve getting hit by a car or anything like that. I would be just plain embarrassed, not to mention injured, if that happened, so I'll make sure I'm careful, even if I have become one of those. :)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Starting over again
Yay! Internet access twice in a few days. Excellent!
Today I attended my new ward for the second time. I was so proud of myself last week for going because I had to do it by myself. Let's be honest--it's not always fun to go to church alone, but it's especially hard to do it in a new ward. I was glad that I got up the nerve to do it. And I felt rewarded by the fact that I made a new friend in my ward, who is also new.
It wasn't quite as hard to go today, but it hasn't gotten to the point where it's easy yet. In fact as I was leaving the house to head to church, the thought crossed my mind that I could just come right back in the house and not go to church at all. But it was fleeting and I dismissed it immediately. Not going to church is not an option for me, especially after all I've been through in the last year. I've had too many witnesses to ever think that I could stop going and be okay with it. That's why I plan to work hard to get established in my ward, so it's easier to go every time. And I've got to put myself out there, which I'm not very good at. But I'm working on it.
It's been a couple years since I've done the new in the ward thing, and I've forgotten that it takes time and effort to establish yourself. Most people don't just come up to you and make it easy; in fact, that's the exception rather than the rule. But just because people don't come up and introduce themselves to you doesn't mean it's a bad ward or anything. It just means they're comfortable and have probably forgotten what it's like to be new. It's all right.
Each time I become the newbie, I always promise myself that I will become one of those people who introduces herself to other people and tries to make others feel welcome. I don't know that I always succeed, but I do try. Sometimes I'm just better at it than other times.
In any case, wish my luck as I integrate myself into a new ward. Hopefully it all works out for me. :)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Feed me, Seymour
It's been six years since the last time I had a cavity filled. I was so hoping that despite the (cough, cough) three-year gap between my last dentist appointment and the one I had a couple weeks ago that I'd come away with a clean bill of health.
Alas, such was not the case.
When the dentist told me that I had a small cavity, I sighed and reluctantly set the date for the appointment to get it filled. Which happened to be Monday.
I sat in the dentist chair as the top right part of my jaw went numb for the torture to follow. Or, rather the filling. I sat in the chair with my hands clasped tightly in front of me as a guard was placed in my mouth to keep my tongue out of the way. Then the dentist was bending over me, drill and pick in hand. He did a quick test to make sure my mouth was all the way numb (it was), and then started the process.
I can't even tell you how much I not only hate the sound/feeling of my tooth being drilled away but also the smell that accompanies it. Ugh! I know it's for the health of my tooth, but still, it's not a pleasant experience. I'm sure my eyes were wide as I listened to what was going on and watched the various instruments put into and out of my mouth. I was quite curious about what one of them was, but of course I couldn't ask since my mouth was rather occupied.
Although I was worried it was never going to end, of course it did and not too long after it started, thankfully. The dentist warned me that he had to dig sort of deep, but he'd put medicine by the nerve so hopefully it wouldn't hurt. He also said it might be sensitive for a couple weeks. I was very worried after hearing that just because the last time I got a cavity filled, they hit the nerve, and it hurt for about a month before they replaced the filling, which made it better.
I'm happy to report that thus far I've been pain free! This dentist really must know what he's doing I guess. :) Good news for me. . . and my teeth!
Alas, such was not the case.
When the dentist told me that I had a small cavity, I sighed and reluctantly set the date for the appointment to get it filled. Which happened to be Monday.
I sat in the dentist chair as the top right part of my jaw went numb for the torture to follow. Or, rather the filling. I sat in the chair with my hands clasped tightly in front of me as a guard was placed in my mouth to keep my tongue out of the way. Then the dentist was bending over me, drill and pick in hand. He did a quick test to make sure my mouth was all the way numb (it was), and then started the process.
I can't even tell you how much I not only hate the sound/feeling of my tooth being drilled away but also the smell that accompanies it. Ugh! I know it's for the health of my tooth, but still, it's not a pleasant experience. I'm sure my eyes were wide as I listened to what was going on and watched the various instruments put into and out of my mouth. I was quite curious about what one of them was, but of course I couldn't ask since my mouth was rather occupied.
Although I was worried it was never going to end, of course it did and not too long after it started, thankfully. The dentist warned me that he had to dig sort of deep, but he'd put medicine by the nerve so hopefully it wouldn't hurt. He also said it might be sensitive for a couple weeks. I was very worried after hearing that just because the last time I got a cavity filled, they hit the nerve, and it hurt for about a month before they replaced the filling, which made it better.
I'm happy to report that thus far I've been pain free! This dentist really must know what he's doing I guess. :) Good news for me. . . and my teeth!
Choices
Oh my goodness! I've been dying this week because I wanted to write in my blog all week long, but, alas I still don't have Internet access at home. It's driving me crazy! I'm still looking into solutions and have a couple in mind but nothing definite yet.
I wanted to write yesterday about those key moments in life when you realize you're presented with an important choice of whether to accept something or not. Either way is going to have consequences, but you have only a short time to decide which way you'll choose.
I've had at least two experiences in my life when this happened to me. Something came up and I really didn't like either situation, but I was forced to choose whether I'd accept it or not. Acceptance meant putting myself on the road to being okay with something that really wasn't, while not accepting it would just make me miserable.
In both cases I chose to take the higher road and accept the situation, even if I didn't like it. And I was better off for having done so.
This week I've been presented with a similar choice. Some things have happened at work that, quite honestly, I don't really like. I was hoping that the situation might change, but such is not going to be the case. The other day it was made clear to me that not only was it NOT going to change but it was going to be even worse than I'd anticipated. And there was nothing I could do about it.
So. . . the question now is do I choose to accept the situation and do my best to deal with it? Or do I hold back and potentially make myself more miserable in the process, fruitlessly hoping there was still a chance it could change?
Being me, I squared my shoulders and tried to make the best of a difficult situation. I have to be honest--I was resentful of the whole situation, despite deciding the best choice was to accept what I didn't like. And today it was a little better, but this is far from over.
I'm going to have to work harder than ever and probably do some things I don't like, but I'm sure it'll be okay. After all, I've already made the choice to accept the situation, even if it's preferable to not do so. Wish me luck!
I wanted to write yesterday about those key moments in life when you realize you're presented with an important choice of whether to accept something or not. Either way is going to have consequences, but you have only a short time to decide which way you'll choose.
I've had at least two experiences in my life when this happened to me. Something came up and I really didn't like either situation, but I was forced to choose whether I'd accept it or not. Acceptance meant putting myself on the road to being okay with something that really wasn't, while not accepting it would just make me miserable.
In both cases I chose to take the higher road and accept the situation, even if I didn't like it. And I was better off for having done so.
This week I've been presented with a similar choice. Some things have happened at work that, quite honestly, I don't really like. I was hoping that the situation might change, but such is not going to be the case. The other day it was made clear to me that not only was it NOT going to change but it was going to be even worse than I'd anticipated. And there was nothing I could do about it.
So. . . the question now is do I choose to accept the situation and do my best to deal with it? Or do I hold back and potentially make myself more miserable in the process, fruitlessly hoping there was still a chance it could change?
Being me, I squared my shoulders and tried to make the best of a difficult situation. I have to be honest--I was resentful of the whole situation, despite deciding the best choice was to accept what I didn't like. And today it was a little better, but this is far from over.
I'm going to have to work harder than ever and probably do some things I don't like, but I'm sure it'll be okay. After all, I've already made the choice to accept the situation, even if it's preferable to not do so. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
In the minority
This weekend I had the wonderful experience of going to Idaho and spending plenty of time with my family. Oh how I LOVE being with my family, and nothing in the world makes me happier. :)
I was blessed to be able to ride to and around Idaho with my sisters. Unfortunately, the sister I was riding with the most was having a little car trouble. To save her van a little stress, she had to take it slow, which meant going exactly the speed limit or slightly under.
I have to be honest--like many others, I'm a chronic and unrepentant speeder. I'm usually in a hurry so I push it and maybe go five miles or so over the speed limit. It was quite a change for me to not be speeding for once, but I definitely think it was good for me. I suppose what I most noticed in our reduced speed is just how many people speed along the roads because most do. The question isn't if they're speeding; it's more like how much are they speeding? Some people flew past us while others eased by. I was just amazed to think how many people, like me, speed along the freeway above the speed limit. without giving it a second thought.
I'm not going to promise that this will make me stop speeding because I'm pretty sure that would be a lie. But I am going to think more carefully about how it feels to be in the minority of those who consistently follow the speed limit.
I was blessed to be able to ride to and around Idaho with my sisters. Unfortunately, the sister I was riding with the most was having a little car trouble. To save her van a little stress, she had to take it slow, which meant going exactly the speed limit or slightly under.
I have to be honest--like many others, I'm a chronic and unrepentant speeder. I'm usually in a hurry so I push it and maybe go five miles or so over the speed limit. It was quite a change for me to not be speeding for once, but I definitely think it was good for me. I suppose what I most noticed in our reduced speed is just how many people speed along the roads because most do. The question isn't if they're speeding; it's more like how much are they speeding? Some people flew past us while others eased by. I was just amazed to think how many people, like me, speed along the freeway above the speed limit. without giving it a second thought.
I'm not going to promise that this will make me stop speeding because I'm pretty sure that would be a lie. But I am going to think more carefully about how it feels to be in the minority of those who consistently follow the speed limit.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
My heart goes out to you
I heard some news this week that makes me very sad indeed. The Deseret News, my former employer, announced that it was letting 43 percent of its workforce go. This means (if I recall correctly) that 57 full-time and 28 part-time employees are now out of work. And there wasn't really any time for these people to adjust to the news; according to a former colleague, all those who lost their jobs were required to leave by the end of day Tuesday when the announcement was made.
Oh how my heart hurts for all those who find themselves so suddenly without a job! I learned only yesterday that one of my friends was a casualty of the layoff. It's always been a deep dark fear of mine to suddenly lose my job like that. To not have a source of steady income terrifies me. And I feel so bad for those who will now be searching for work in such a rough economic situation.
They say this will be a positive change and that combining the D-News staff with the KSL team is going to create the largest newsroom in the state. It's going to be hard, however, to provide the same level of reporting with such a reduced staff. I sure hope that everything goes well with the transition. I'm sure it won't be without its difficult moments as all transitions are.
Bur for all those who won't be joining in this effort, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you, and I wish you luck in finding a new source of employment. I'm sure that although the paper will still be an important news source that it won't be the same without all of you.
Oh how my heart hurts for all those who find themselves so suddenly without a job! I learned only yesterday that one of my friends was a casualty of the layoff. It's always been a deep dark fear of mine to suddenly lose my job like that. To not have a source of steady income terrifies me. And I feel so bad for those who will now be searching for work in such a rough economic situation.
They say this will be a positive change and that combining the D-News staff with the KSL team is going to create the largest newsroom in the state. It's going to be hard, however, to provide the same level of reporting with such a reduced staff. I sure hope that everything goes well with the transition. I'm sure it won't be without its difficult moments as all transitions are.
Bur for all those who won't be joining in this effort, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you, and I wish you luck in finding a new source of employment. I'm sure that although the paper will still be an important news source that it won't be the same without all of you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)