I've been working on this blog for awhile, things keep seem to happen. I ended up in the hospital again for a fever. Two weeks ago, after treatment, I developed a fever. Remembering what happened last time (vomiting, nausea and dehydration), I wanted to nip it in the bud before it got out of hand. Called my oncologist and he told me to go to the ER. I did and they kept me overnight. They can't seem to discover what is causing it. The nurses remembered me.
Had treatment yesterday, and I got another fever. I took some tylenol and called it a day. We'll have to visit this when I see Dr. Silver next time.
Thom and I went to Maine last weekend. My sister-in-law has a place in Normway, ME (or Otisfield, ME). The weather was absolutely fantastic. Every other time we had gone up there, it rained. Mary said that if it rained this time, we were no longer invited! LOL We had tons of fun, we went horseback riding, went shopping and just enjoyed the weather. The dogs absolutely love it up there. They roam free and go in and out of the water all day. It's so nice to see them just loving life.
Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of me and Thom's first date. I can't believe it's been 20 years!! I've known him more than half my life. Time has gone by so fast. I can't remember what life was like before him. Well, I can, but it wasn't as great. He's made me so happy, I love life with him. I love telling people how long we've been together, I love their amazement. Yes, I was lucky enough to meet my mate, my soulmate, my best friend. I'm grateful every day for him.
Thom has been renovating the living room. He painted the walls, removed the carpet and is putting down a hardwood floor. It looks great! The walls are a nice deep green, with white trim. It was beige on beige before, it actually looked yellowish when the white trim covered it. I'm very excited about it. Gives me another room to decorate!!
I signed up for a stained glass class! I'm very psyched about this. I've been looking for stained glass for the sunroom because there is a nice large window in there. Unfortunately, stained glass is in it's very nature, Victorian. My house is country. I designed a panel that has a more country-ish feel to it. The room's theme is stars and sheep. Looking forward to this.
I'm driving now, and I feel like a whole new world has opened up. I'm able to go out after work, and just able to do anything I want. I'm so happy. I've been missing so much. But I won't dwell on that. I'm only looking forward and what I'm able to do now.
This is a very long blog. I've been neglectful. Thank you for sticking with me.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Breaking the Silence
Wow, my last post was in June. I apologize for being so quiet. Life has been status quo, so not much has been happening, other than work, eating and sleeping. Boring, I know.
Speaking of work, I am enjoying it very much! One day, I was up at 3am, and I couldn't get back to sleep. I decided to go into work. Why not? I had nothing else to do...sleep was being elusive. So I showed up at work at 5am. Nobody was there, except for the security guard (who INSISTS on calling me Ma'am, I don't like it, don't like it one bit!!!) That day, I got SO much work done because there were no distractions! I saw the sunrise...I hadn't seen that in years! I was hooked. Now I have to go in for 4:30am. I LOVE it!! I'm by myself, and I get tons done. Most of all, I get to see the sunrise everyday. I never realized how beautiful a sunrise is. The sky starts to turn all sorts of colors; reds, purples, oranges, it's amazing! Only one other analyst comes in early: at 5am. But she's in the lab the whole day, so she's no bother. She came into my office area Friday morning and said, "Have you seen the sunrise, it's awfully beautiful this morning!" I looked out and the sun was a large dark orange ball. It had just gotten over the horizon. It's just breathtaking. We watched the sun for a few minutes then went back to work. People think I'm nuts (what else is new?!) for showing up to work so early, but the benefits way outweigh the negatives. 1) There is NO traffic, I get to work in record time. You know me, I HATE traffic, puts me right into a panic. 2) I get a front row parking spot (prime real estate!) 3) I get tons of work done (My boss and her manager are wicked impressed with my work, my boss wrote me this wonderful email.) They like me! They really really like me! So hire me as a permanent employee! This contractor stuff is for the birds. And 4) I get to go home early! This is BY far the best benefit. I get home around 2-2:30, and I have the rest of the afternoon to do...whatever! I can run errands, etc. This is what makes me very happy. Getting home at 6 or 7, we had just enough time to cook, eat, and then go to bed. Doing that everyday is depressing to me. So this is awesome for me! I can't tell you how happy it makes me!
This is the most I've talked about work. Getting burned before, I'm very cautious about what I write now. I DETEST feeling censored, but people seem to have so much time on their hands, that they feel it's their duty to stick their noses into everyone else's business. Those kind of people are pathetic and make me sick. Worry about YOU. Who do you think you are? Grrr, I could go on and on about this. I see it all the time, people just feeling it's their BUSINESS to watch everyone else. GAH!
OK, enough about that, I don't feel like getting all bent out of shape at 7:30 in the morning! LOL
We're going into Boston today for treatment. I saw the doctor on the 6th of this month. He's been keeping a close eye on my tumor markers and although they are still LOW (compared to when I first started treatment), they are creeping up slowly. We decided to stay the course for another couple of months and then re-evaluate again. I see him again on the 8th of October. He may do some scans then. But he's so impressed with my progress, we want to stay on this course of treatment as long as possible. I don't have any problems with this chemo, so I'm happy too.
Healthwise, I've been good. I have developed this chronic dry cough that is so strong and disruptive. It wakes me up at night; I just start coughing and I can't stop for like 5 minutes. It gets so overpowering that I start to gag. It alarms people at work. I take cough medicine, and for the most part it works, but sometimes it just doesn't. It's worse at night (of course, while I'm trying to sleep). I try to reposition and that helps sometimes, but not often.
I told one of the nurses about this cough (as well as the doctor). Come to find out that one of the drugs I take, Avastin, is known to cause a chronic, dry cough. It wasn't one of the original side effects of the drug, but the nurses are hearing more and more patients complaining about this kind of cough. It made me feel a little bit better that it wasn't just me, but it's still disruptive.
Speaking of Avastin, it's been in the news lately. The claims that the company that makes it
seem to be untrue. They stated that it slows tumor growth for 5 months. It's been found to only slow it down for 1 or 2 months. The FDA is thinking about rescinding their approval of this drug for breast cancer use. I guess that Avastin made the fast track to FDA approval, and there were not enough studies done on it. I don't know much about that, all I know is that Avastin, in conjunction with the Taxol, is helping me very much. If the FDA rescinds their approval, insurance companies will stop covering it for breast cancer use. How many people does it help? That should be looked at. I don't know if it does anything for me, maybe it's all the Taxol...but why mess with something that's working?? I'm keeping a close eye on this talk.
Also come to find out that the company I work for manufactures one of the hormone drugs I used to be on. How do you like that?! I think it's awesome!
Speaking of work, I am enjoying it very much! One day, I was up at 3am, and I couldn't get back to sleep. I decided to go into work. Why not? I had nothing else to do...sleep was being elusive. So I showed up at work at 5am. Nobody was there, except for the security guard (who INSISTS on calling me Ma'am, I don't like it, don't like it one bit!!!) That day, I got SO much work done because there were no distractions! I saw the sunrise...I hadn't seen that in years! I was hooked. Now I have to go in for 4:30am. I LOVE it!! I'm by myself, and I get tons done. Most of all, I get to see the sunrise everyday. I never realized how beautiful a sunrise is. The sky starts to turn all sorts of colors; reds, purples, oranges, it's amazing! Only one other analyst comes in early: at 5am. But she's in the lab the whole day, so she's no bother. She came into my office area Friday morning and said, "Have you seen the sunrise, it's awfully beautiful this morning!" I looked out and the sun was a large dark orange ball. It had just gotten over the horizon. It's just breathtaking. We watched the sun for a few minutes then went back to work. People think I'm nuts (what else is new?!) for showing up to work so early, but the benefits way outweigh the negatives. 1) There is NO traffic, I get to work in record time. You know me, I HATE traffic, puts me right into a panic. 2) I get a front row parking spot (prime real estate!) 3) I get tons of work done (My boss and her manager are wicked impressed with my work, my boss wrote me this wonderful email.) They like me! They really really like me! So hire me as a permanent employee! This contractor stuff is for the birds. And 4) I get to go home early! This is BY far the best benefit. I get home around 2-2:30, and I have the rest of the afternoon to do...whatever! I can run errands, etc. This is what makes me very happy. Getting home at 6 or 7, we had just enough time to cook, eat, and then go to bed. Doing that everyday is depressing to me. So this is awesome for me! I can't tell you how happy it makes me!
This is the most I've talked about work. Getting burned before, I'm very cautious about what I write now. I DETEST feeling censored, but people seem to have so much time on their hands, that they feel it's their duty to stick their noses into everyone else's business. Those kind of people are pathetic and make me sick. Worry about YOU. Who do you think you are? Grrr, I could go on and on about this. I see it all the time, people just feeling it's their BUSINESS to watch everyone else. GAH!
OK, enough about that, I don't feel like getting all bent out of shape at 7:30 in the morning! LOL
We're going into Boston today for treatment. I saw the doctor on the 6th of this month. He's been keeping a close eye on my tumor markers and although they are still LOW (compared to when I first started treatment), they are creeping up slowly. We decided to stay the course for another couple of months and then re-evaluate again. I see him again on the 8th of October. He may do some scans then. But he's so impressed with my progress, we want to stay on this course of treatment as long as possible. I don't have any problems with this chemo, so I'm happy too.
Healthwise, I've been good. I have developed this chronic dry cough that is so strong and disruptive. It wakes me up at night; I just start coughing and I can't stop for like 5 minutes. It gets so overpowering that I start to gag. It alarms people at work. I take cough medicine, and for the most part it works, but sometimes it just doesn't. It's worse at night (of course, while I'm trying to sleep). I try to reposition and that helps sometimes, but not often.
I told one of the nurses about this cough (as well as the doctor). Come to find out that one of the drugs I take, Avastin, is known to cause a chronic, dry cough. It wasn't one of the original side effects of the drug, but the nurses are hearing more and more patients complaining about this kind of cough. It made me feel a little bit better that it wasn't just me, but it's still disruptive.
Speaking of Avastin, it's been in the news lately. The claims that the company that makes it
seem to be untrue. They stated that it slows tumor growth for 5 months. It's been found to only slow it down for 1 or 2 months. The FDA is thinking about rescinding their approval of this drug for breast cancer use. I guess that Avastin made the fast track to FDA approval, and there were not enough studies done on it. I don't know much about that, all I know is that Avastin, in conjunction with the Taxol, is helping me very much. If the FDA rescinds their approval, insurance companies will stop covering it for breast cancer use. How many people does it help? That should be looked at. I don't know if it does anything for me, maybe it's all the Taxol...but why mess with something that's working?? I'm keeping a close eye on this talk.
Also come to find out that the company I work for manufactures one of the hormone drugs I used to be on. How do you like that?! I think it's awesome!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Doctor's Visit
Saw the doctor on the 11th. Seems like my tumor markers are creeping up again. They are still very low, but he's going to watch them over the next couple of cycles. I will see him again in August, where he will check the markers again. If they are still going up, he wants to switch my chemo. The next chemo will be in pill form. Yes, I said pill form. This means a few things.
1) I won't have to go into Boston every week.
2) I get a break from being poked by needles.
3) This means that yet another treatment is crossed off the list. I really wish that these treatments last more than 1 year. The hormone treatments only lasted a year, and now this is a year. There are only an finite number of treatments out there, and if they only last a year each...well...
The side effects for the pill chemo is redness, ichiness and maybe rashes on the palms and the heal of the feet. It doesn't make hair fall out, so maybe I'll get my eyebrows to grow back.
I'm torn about this. I felt that this current therapy was working wonderfully, which it was. I'm afraid to change. And I had begun looking forward to my treatments every week. It was almost a comfort. I know, I'm weird.
Work has been great. I'm enjoying it a lot. They are keeping me busy, which is good for me.
I ended up in the hospital about a week and half ago. It started out with an infection: fever, naseau, and vomiting. Couldn't keep anything down, even water. Ended up in the ER and found out I was very dehydrated. After being in the hospital for 4 hours, they were ready to discharge me. I had my shoes on when I started to get the chills again. The nurse looked at me and could see that I was regressing. That's when they decided to keep me overnight. I craved water, and that's all I could think about, I was obsessed with drinking water. And no matter how much I drank, I still wanted more. It was crazy.
I was at this little hospital close to home, and it's pretty high tech. There's a barcode on my ID bracelet, and before they give me anything, they scan the bracelet, and then the meds/IV, whatever. It all goes into a computer. It's very neat.
Anyways, my 102.5 fever broke in the middle of the night, and that's when I started to feel better. I got to go home later that afternoon. I never want to feel like that again, it was horrible. Now I'm drinking water like it's going out of style. They told me I should be drinking about 9 glasses of water a day.
Nothing funny has been happening in my life lately! I need blog material!! :)
1) I won't have to go into Boston every week.
2) I get a break from being poked by needles.
3) This means that yet another treatment is crossed off the list. I really wish that these treatments last more than 1 year. The hormone treatments only lasted a year, and now this is a year. There are only an finite number of treatments out there, and if they only last a year each...well...
The side effects for the pill chemo is redness, ichiness and maybe rashes on the palms and the heal of the feet. It doesn't make hair fall out, so maybe I'll get my eyebrows to grow back.
I'm torn about this. I felt that this current therapy was working wonderfully, which it was. I'm afraid to change. And I had begun looking forward to my treatments every week. It was almost a comfort. I know, I'm weird.
Work has been great. I'm enjoying it a lot. They are keeping me busy, which is good for me.
I ended up in the hospital about a week and half ago. It started out with an infection: fever, naseau, and vomiting. Couldn't keep anything down, even water. Ended up in the ER and found out I was very dehydrated. After being in the hospital for 4 hours, they were ready to discharge me. I had my shoes on when I started to get the chills again. The nurse looked at me and could see that I was regressing. That's when they decided to keep me overnight. I craved water, and that's all I could think about, I was obsessed with drinking water. And no matter how much I drank, I still wanted more. It was crazy.
I was at this little hospital close to home, and it's pretty high tech. There's a barcode on my ID bracelet, and before they give me anything, they scan the bracelet, and then the meds/IV, whatever. It all goes into a computer. It's very neat.
Anyways, my 102.5 fever broke in the middle of the night, and that's when I started to feel better. I got to go home later that afternoon. I never want to feel like that again, it was horrible. Now I'm drinking water like it's going out of style. They told me I should be drinking about 9 glasses of water a day.
Nothing funny has been happening in my life lately! I need blog material!! :)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Just checking in
Hi everyone!
I'm just checking in to let you all know that I'm still here and doing well! Had treatment yesterday and all went fine. I see the doctor on June 4th.
Work is going well, I am enjoying it!
Thom's last day got extended until August 27th. The stupid people realized that they let too many go too soon and are now scrambling to keep enough people to finish the work that's left. Ugghh, don't even get me started on that #$@%! company. Closing that site is probably the worst decision they've made. Do you know how much experience and talent are going to be lost? It's a shame. Good for the company's who are taking advantage and hiring people.
Thom hasn't found anything yet. I wish that someone would realize how much talent and knowledge he has. Whoever gets him will be very lucky.
Speaking of my favorite show, I have to give my formal farewell to my favorite Captain, Phil Harris. God Speed Captain. You made me laugh often, and learning about "crab farts." You will be sorely missed. It's hard to watch this season knowing that you are only part of half of it.
Thom showed me something in our yard.
We have a robin's nest in a bush next to the barn. As we were looking at the nest, the mom robin was squaking at us from a nearby tree branch. Thom said she divebombed his head. What a good mommy bird. Oh and excuse my finger in the picture.
Well, time to get back to my show.
I'm just checking in to let you all know that I'm still here and doing well! Had treatment yesterday and all went fine. I see the doctor on June 4th.
Work is going well, I am enjoying it!
Thom's last day got extended until August 27th. The stupid people realized that they let too many go too soon and are now scrambling to keep enough people to finish the work that's left. Ugghh, don't even get me started on that #$@%! company. Closing that site is probably the worst decision they've made. Do you know how much experience and talent are going to be lost? It's a shame. Good for the company's who are taking advantage and hiring people.
Thom hasn't found anything yet. I wish that someone would realize how much talent and knowledge he has. Whoever gets him will be very lucky.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there, both to 2 legged children and 4 legged children! Mother's Day is also The Deadliest Catch Marathon. You bet I'm watching it! The commercial's are cute too, they have these rugged, manly seamen holding home-made cards for their moms. Makes me smile.
Speaking of my favorite show, I have to give my formal farewell to my favorite Captain, Phil Harris. God Speed Captain. You made me laugh often, and learning about "crab farts." You will be sorely missed. It's hard to watch this season knowing that you are only part of half of it.
Thom showed me something in our yard.
We have a robin's nest in a bush next to the barn. As we were looking at the nest, the mom robin was squaking at us from a nearby tree branch. Thom said she divebombed his head. What a good mommy bird. Oh and excuse my finger in the picture.
Well, time to get back to my show.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
3 years
Today is the 3rd anniversary since I was diagnosed. Has it been 3 years already? Seems cliche, but it just seems like yesterday. I probably say this every year, but it's true.
Things have been good here, quiet, but good. Job is great, I like it very much.
Witnessed something funny the other day. Robins have made a nest nearby and from time to time, I see one of the robins sitting on our car. It will hop from the side view mirror to the driver's side window. Back and forth, back and forth. It seems like it sees it's reflection in the side view mirror, then tries to get this invader bird, and hops onto the side view. It's funny to watch.
I'm trying to grow my hair out. I want to see how long it will grow. It's in an awkward stage right now, so hopefully I can weather this out.
Captain Mayo will be back in the states for good in May. He's leaving Dubai and heading to Texas to be with his fiance. But first, he's making a stop in Brookfield.
Treatment went well yesterday. Feeling good.
Here's to another year!
Things have been good here, quiet, but good. Job is great, I like it very much.
Witnessed something funny the other day. Robins have made a nest nearby and from time to time, I see one of the robins sitting on our car. It will hop from the side view mirror to the driver's side window. Back and forth, back and forth. It seems like it sees it's reflection in the side view mirror, then tries to get this invader bird, and hops onto the side view. It's funny to watch.
I'm trying to grow my hair out. I want to see how long it will grow. It's in an awkward stage right now, so hopefully I can weather this out.
Captain Mayo will be back in the states for good in May. He's leaving Dubai and heading to Texas to be with his fiance. But first, he's making a stop in Brookfield.
Treatment went well yesterday. Feeling good.
Here's to another year!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
New Beginning?
Quite a few things have changed in the last week.
Thom was offered a position in Chicago. To even see if this move was feasible, we had a real estate agent come to the house to tell us how much we could sell our house for. In the current market, we would get $50k less than what we owe on the house. There was no way that we could do this. So, the decision was made not to move to Chicago. But that also means that we are unable to move closer to Boston. At least not yet. Anyone want to buy a house in Brookfield?? ;)
I have a new job! I had an interview on Monday and got out at 2:30. At 3:30, I got the call that I got the job! Sahweeet! And that's all I'm going to say about that.
I really believe things happen for a reason. I start on Monday. But now Thom is going to be out of work on April 23rd, so we are just switching positions. No step ahead, but no step back either. Hopefully Thom will get a job soon too. Keep your fingers crossed for us.
I began driving a little again! I made it all the way to Millbury, which is like almost to Worcester. One day, I was just driving to Walmart which became like second nature, and I decided to see how far I could drive before I started freaking out. At every stoplight, I said to myself, "Lets just make it to the next stoplight." And I kept saying that. This is absolutely a miracle for me. I tried to produce an anxiety attack, but one wouldn't come. Could my medications actually be working?? About a month ago, I asked my doctor if there was something else he could give me to control the anxiety, because I felt like I needed just a little something else to push me over the hump. This is going to sound weird, but while trying to induce an attack, I actually felt the anxiety hit a wall and it couldn't get through it to escalate. I felt such elation! Do you know what this means?!? I am not a prisoner to myself anymore. I won't have to depend on people to drive me everywhere I need to go. How amazing that would be!
In other news, Chemo is still going well, I'm feeling good.
Thanks for standing by me.
Thom was offered a position in Chicago. To even see if this move was feasible, we had a real estate agent come to the house to tell us how much we could sell our house for. In the current market, we would get $50k less than what we owe on the house. There was no way that we could do this. So, the decision was made not to move to Chicago. But that also means that we are unable to move closer to Boston. At least not yet. Anyone want to buy a house in Brookfield?? ;)
I have a new job! I had an interview on Monday and got out at 2:30. At 3:30, I got the call that I got the job! Sahweeet! And that's all I'm going to say about that.
I really believe things happen for a reason. I start on Monday. But now Thom is going to be out of work on April 23rd, so we are just switching positions. No step ahead, but no step back either. Hopefully Thom will get a job soon too. Keep your fingers crossed for us.
I began driving a little again! I made it all the way to Millbury, which is like almost to Worcester. One day, I was just driving to Walmart which became like second nature, and I decided to see how far I could drive before I started freaking out. At every stoplight, I said to myself, "Lets just make it to the next stoplight." And I kept saying that. This is absolutely a miracle for me. I tried to produce an anxiety attack, but one wouldn't come. Could my medications actually be working?? About a month ago, I asked my doctor if there was something else he could give me to control the anxiety, because I felt like I needed just a little something else to push me over the hump. This is going to sound weird, but while trying to induce an attack, I actually felt the anxiety hit a wall and it couldn't get through it to escalate. I felt such elation! Do you know what this means?!? I am not a prisoner to myself anymore. I won't have to depend on people to drive me everywhere I need to go. How amazing that would be!
In other news, Chemo is still going well, I'm feeling good.
Thanks for standing by me.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Voice
I got sick around March 3rd, had a very nasty cough, so nasty, it made me vomit (TMI I know). I was coughing so much that I lost my voice, and I mean lost it. I couldn't even speak at all. Thom enjoyed that time because it was quiet! That lasted for a good week and a half. I got some cough medicine from my doctor and that worked miracles. No more coughing, which gave my voice box and larynx time to recoup. But now I have my voice back, it's still froggy, but at least I can talk.
Still looking for a job.
We're having a real estate agent coming to the house tomorrow to look at it and appraise it etc. Just to see. We don't have any kind of plan yet, and that sucks. I hate having things up in the air like this.
Treatment's going fine. The IV's are getting harder to put into my hands because they've been poked so much, they've developed scar tissue and they have to press harder to get the needles in. Truth be told, that's the worst part of it. The veins are more prone to collapsing because they're poked a lot. I'm surprised I don't have track marks! ;)
I've been slowly getting rid of the clutter in the house. I have a huge pile to donate/sell whatever. It's amazing the amount of stuff you accumulate over the years.
Well, I'm going to go take a dog out for a walk. I can't take both of them at the same time because they kill me. I get so exhausted. But I always feel bad for the one I leave behind because they look at me like, "Mama, why aren't you taking ME?!" Breaks my heart. I need Ceasar Milan to come and show me how to be a better pack leader. That guy is utterly amazing. I watch his show and try to implement his techniques, but it doesn't work. Max is a good boy, I took the time to train him. But Tanner? She's a bundle of energy and she makes me so tired.
Anyways, talk soon!
Still looking for a job.
We're having a real estate agent coming to the house tomorrow to look at it and appraise it etc. Just to see. We don't have any kind of plan yet, and that sucks. I hate having things up in the air like this.
Treatment's going fine. The IV's are getting harder to put into my hands because they've been poked so much, they've developed scar tissue and they have to press harder to get the needles in. Truth be told, that's the worst part of it. The veins are more prone to collapsing because they're poked a lot. I'm surprised I don't have track marks! ;)
I've been slowly getting rid of the clutter in the house. I have a huge pile to donate/sell whatever. It's amazing the amount of stuff you accumulate over the years.
Well, I'm going to go take a dog out for a walk. I can't take both of them at the same time because they kill me. I get so exhausted. But I always feel bad for the one I leave behind because they look at me like, "Mama, why aren't you taking ME?!" Breaks my heart. I need Ceasar Milan to come and show me how to be a better pack leader. That guy is utterly amazing. I watch his show and try to implement his techniques, but it doesn't work. Max is a good boy, I took the time to train him. But Tanner? She's a bundle of energy and she makes me so tired.
Anyways, talk soon!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Harsh Lesson Learned
I got fired from my job today (well, it was actually yesterday because it's 2:30 am) because of my previous blog entry. I violated a code of conduct. So I am unemployed again. This is a record low for me. I don't know what to say except I've learned a harsh lesson. I was stupid and payed the price.
I start chemo again today. I see the doctor today too.
That's all I got, not feeling much like writing.
I start chemo again today. I see the doctor today too.
That's all I got, not feeling much like writing.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Owned
I got my ass kicked in a comment from my previous post. After reading the comment, it made me stop and think, and they were right. I am not perfect, nor should I judge anyone or their abilities. I feel chagrined and ashamed, and I will watch what I say from now on.
Just wish they left their name. It's easy to talk behind the name "Anonymous".
Anyways, this is the internet after all, and information is pretty accessible to most anyone. I should watch my mouth.
I actually spent time with the lady on my left and I got to know a lot about her. I was too quick to judge and for that I apologize.
If anyone was offended by my previous post, I'm sorry. I edited the post to relect that. I left the "Anonymous" comments on the blog just as a reminder.
Just wish they left their name. It's easy to talk behind the name "Anonymous".
Anyways, this is the internet after all, and information is pretty accessible to most anyone. I should watch my mouth.
I actually spent time with the lady on my left and I got to know a lot about her. I was too quick to judge and for that I apologize.
If anyone was offended by my previous post, I'm sorry. I edited the post to relect that. I left the "Anonymous" comments on the blog just as a reminder.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Automated Hell
I have recently found a new job! It's a contract job at Genzyme in Framingham. It's a 3-month assignment, but the project I was assigned to is going to go on to at least April of 2011, so hopefully they will continue to re-up my contract, and maybe even make me a permanent employee. That's my goal. I started this week, on Tuesday. This company is SO huge, I feel like a very small fish in a very large pond. I'm used to being in companies that are only in one building, not like Genzyme.
I don't have a cubicle or anything, I was put into what is affectionately called "The War Room." Now, if that's not an indication of something, I don't know what is! There are like 16 people in this room. We are set up on tables and I have a miniscule amount of space, enough to fit my keyboard and laptop and THAT'S IT! Talk about being ergonomically INCORRECT! I have no place to put my coat or purse. And I don't even get a drawer. I understand that I'm a contractor and only temporary, so they don't want to dump any resources to us, but come on!
Anyways, to recap my first day:
1) Got settled into my new home.
2) Got a laptop.
3) Got all my logins. Had a problem with logging in. Locked out of account. Had to call the help desk.
4) Training…Overwhelmed.
5) No supplies, no paper, no pens, no paper clips. Nada. Had to borrow someone’s pen and write on napkins. (How much does this company make??)
6) I misjudged the speed of the printer, so everyone had to wait for me to print my long-ass SOPs.
7) And lastly, and most hilarious:
So I go to the ladies room right…easy task? Nope, not for me.
Welcome to my automated HELL.
First, the toilet is automated, but it wouldn’t flush, so I had to manually flush it.
Second, the soap dispenser is automatic and I misjudged the trajectory of the soap (usually it comes right below the spigot. Nope, not this one, this one had a very large arc), so it missed my hands. Had to repeat, got it now. Fool me once, shame on you…
Third, the faucet is automatic, so I try to rinse my hands. Water comes on, so I rinse my hands. Thought I was done with that, but OH NOOOOOO, the movement of my hands away from the faucet caused the friggin soap to dispense, so now I have soap on my hands again. Rinse the second time.
Now I try to move away from the soap, and to my left is the paper towel dispense, which is also automatic, so now the paper is rolling out!
I couldn’t move anywhere without something going off!!!!!! OMG
Can’t wait to see what happens on Day 2!
Day 2 was pretty uneventful. Meetings on stuff I don't know much about yet, but it was good to go so that I can start getting the "lingo".
I have friends who work here, but they are in another building, so I don't see them. That sucks.
But it's a job, so I am not complaining.
I don't have a cubicle or anything, I was put into what is affectionately called "The War Room." Now, if that's not an indication of something, I don't know what is! There are like 16 people in this room. We are set up on tables and I have a miniscule amount of space, enough to fit my keyboard and laptop and THAT'S IT! Talk about being ergonomically INCORRECT! I have no place to put my coat or purse. And I don't even get a drawer. I understand that I'm a contractor and only temporary, so they don't want to dump any resources to us, but come on!
Anyways, to recap my first day:
1) Got settled into my new home.
2) Got a laptop.
3) Got all my logins. Had a problem with logging in. Locked out of account. Had to call the help desk.
4) Training…Overwhelmed.
5) No supplies, no paper, no pens, no paper clips. Nada. Had to borrow someone’s pen and write on napkins. (How much does this company make??)
6) I misjudged the speed of the printer, so everyone had to wait for me to print my long-ass SOPs.
7) And lastly, and most hilarious:
So I go to the ladies room right…easy task? Nope, not for me.
Welcome to my automated HELL.
First, the toilet is automated, but it wouldn’t flush, so I had to manually flush it.
Second, the soap dispenser is automatic and I misjudged the trajectory of the soap (usually it comes right below the spigot. Nope, not this one, this one had a very large arc), so it missed my hands. Had to repeat, got it now. Fool me once, shame on you…
Third, the faucet is automatic, so I try to rinse my hands. Water comes on, so I rinse my hands. Thought I was done with that, but OH NOOOOOO, the movement of my hands away from the faucet caused the friggin soap to dispense, so now I have soap on my hands again. Rinse the second time.
Now I try to move away from the soap, and to my left is the paper towel dispense, which is also automatic, so now the paper is rolling out!
I couldn’t move anywhere without something going off!!!!!! OMG
Can’t wait to see what happens on Day 2!
Day 2 was pretty uneventful. Meetings on stuff I don't know much about yet, but it was good to go so that I can start getting the "lingo".
I have friends who work here, but they are in another building, so I don't see them. That sucks.
But it's a job, so I am not complaining.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
