So Chill

I don't recall just when I became such a cold wimp. Did it happen overnight, or was it a gradual thing? The fact is that cold is now more than a mere inconvenience for me, it's a pain!

Bundled at a football game fall 2018

Snowbirds - nickname for people who go south for the winter. My grandparents and parents were snowbirds - escaping Iowa in October, returning in the spring. My mother's parents, Nelle and Herb Morehead, actually retired permanently to a place in Dunedin, Florida. Dad's parents rented a condo (we'll use the short version of the word because my grandpa could never quite pronounce the full word, condominium (ninium, minum..?)) in the St. Petersburg, the Redington Beach area.

Weeks like the last few in Iowa have me daydreaming for warmer places. I love Iowa and our life here. But my bones (and other parts) are tired of being cold - she types with fingerless gloves on, covered with a heated blanket. 

Showing off in ski gear - 1970's Jennifer Deter, Vicki Behr, Steve Hauser - Breckenridge

Memory lane has me playing outside for hours, only surrendering to the cold when I couldn't feel my toes anymore. When we went to Sunnyside Park to ice skate on the flooded tennis court, they were wise to put heaters in that little shack - for a warm-up hut. I skied in cold weather before thin but warm fabrics were invented. Ski boots weren't warm and socks and mittens/gloves got better through time. I started in cotton athletic socks and woolen mittens.

Before schoolboards came to their senses and girls were allowed to wear pants to school, I walked to school in dresses. Sometimes we put pants on under, but you know how fashions are. In upper elementary school, that became "uncool". I remember rubbing my red frozen thighs to get them warmed up after the four block walk. Yikes!

In college, we sat at a few super cold ISU football games way back - before HotHands were invented. I remember thawing my toes out by a heat register. That is painful.

These days I'm much colder and smarter. I get cold just sitting at my desk or in my chair at home. Ugh! I envy those who are warmer blooded. Dare I say "hot" - yet they complain about being uncomfortable in their state too. There are pockets and people on 5th floor of the Wallace Building that are warmer. The rest of us bundle up. I plan ahead for where I'm going and the layers I will need. If I get too cold at events, I leave. (not work - haha).

Those who live and winter in the south are righteously trolling those of us getting nailed with winter weather. Sister Betsy who lives in typically moderate SW Washington has received an amazing amount of snow recently. They don't have snow handling equipment in that area. Seattle got some white stuff too. 

We are expecting more snow and more cold weather in the next week. It's a good thing we are hardy souls - with lots of layers! 

I Got the Feels

A little after 6:00 a.m. each Monday morning is not the most cheerful time for me. That's when, each week, I arrive at the "over the hill" Wallace Building to work. I love what I do - but where I do it, now that's another story.

If you know me, you've heard and seen my litany of complaints.

• Mice (and the occasional rat)
• Lack of working elevators - one day a couple weeks ago, we were 0 for 4 for a few hours
• Leaking roof
• Bugs on Floor 1, so I have to walk the gauntlet of slow crawlers on my way to the elevator each morning
• Smell - this winter the joint has been plagued with the smell of death. They keep telling us that it's the sewer, but I believe my nose can still tell the difference between crap and dead rodents...

There's more, but you get the gist.

Imagine my delight this morning when I walked in to see each and every occupied cubicle decorated as if there were a little working (tissue paper flames and all) fireplace outside the doorway, with a stocking hanging there. Each stocking had the name of the proud cubicle occupier on it.

Some elves took a great deal of time out of their personal time to put these up. Nobody is fessing up, but I believe it was the supervisors and bureau chief.

That fake fire warmed my heart. There is nothing like a little appreciation to bring a smile to one's face early on a Monday morning. I may be a long winter for state workers....we might want to leave those fireplaces up! Many thanks to the elves.

My other favorite holiday!

I complain about my workplace often. The Wallace Building is a boondoggle that the state is allowing to slowly circle the drain. Nobody knows whether it will be demolished, updated or just used into oblivion. Rodents, the non-working elevators, grimy carpet, lack of privacy and meeting space and the sick building rumors that won't go away. There is plenty of fodder.

I've worked in worse buildings in my varied career, including a dumpy underground office on the edge of the Old Market in Omaha and a tiny windowless office above the meal-site in Creston City Hall (insert food smells and Bingo calls). My biggest frustration in the Wallace building is the lack of a plan and little control regarding the future. The workers are in limbo, marching up and down the stairs (if they are able), crossing fingers and using the creaky elevators if they must. Last week a toilet overflowed and janitorial staff used a buffer to polish the runoff into the carpet. Then they turned on fans. What? Evidently DAS doesn't have a ShopVac...

This week I'm flipping the mindset - thinking and writing about what I love about working in the Wallace Building.

It's the diversity! I've never enjoyed a group of people more. Though I dislike putting labels on people - in order to give the reader an idea of what I'm talking about:

• All different religions are represented - and likely some atheists. Plus people like me who aren't quite sure what they are. I haven't been frightened by one Muslim.
• Young and old - though the latter seem to be retiring and are not really being replaced.
• Many nationalities, cultures and races walk the aisles in between cubicles. I enjoy hearing the accents and seeing the diverse beautiful skin tones.
• People with disabilities are employed at DNR. I applaud the folks who must have to make such an effort to just reach their desk each day due to the unfriendly access the building presents.
• Openly gay people (and maybe some who don't care to discuss their sexuality) represented. I'm glad to count some as my friends. There are also single people, young families, empty nesters - people in all stages of life. I still have a hard time realizing that I'm in the "oldster" era of employment.
• People who dress up and others who wear shorts and flip flops. (Me - I kinda split the difference). One guy walks around in his socks or barefoot. Dude - see the note about the toilet water buffing above!
• Serious nerdlike dudes and dudettes that are all business and people like me who like to spice things up by being a bit sarcastic at times and funny at times. We all do the business of the State of Iowa.

There is more but you get the idea. It's like a very small (run down) city.

I love it! And it reminds me of America and why I love it. Tonight starts the beginning of the 4th of July celebrations for the greatest country in the world.

Paul and I are attending Yankee Doodle Pops - music and fireworks! It's a beautiful summer day. We'll be there in the shadow of the Wallace Building, among a diverse group of thousands. Yippy!

Crews begin setting up for Yankee Doodle Pops Wednesday

 

I was on a rant roll today

I think I was in touch with my inner Maxine. You know - that old bitchy lady in the cartoon? I was just feeling a bit put out with some things going on at work - and to quote an old movie - finally I became Mad as Hell and I wasn't going to take it anymore.

I love my job. Some of the people there are knuckleheads. I could be one of them! I saw another soup can in the trash can when I tossed my banana peel after lunch. Grrr. We're the DNR. Shouldn't people who work there be environmentally conscientious? The recycling bins are 3 steps from the trash.

I went back to my desk and emailed Communications for a copy of the poster containing recycling information for the building. Then I opened the Microsoft Publisher program and made a sign that said something like "Tree Huggers - recycling bins are that way. Rinse out soup cans and yogurt containers along with other recyclable stuff listed on and sign above (stuck the recycling poster on the wall above my sign) and help protect our environment". I taped both right above the trash can.

We'll see if the dummy can read. Who could work for DNR and not recycle? And another thing...


Henry Wallace

You have probably heard me complain about my workplace - the Wallace Building, named after former Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace born in Adair County, just north of our former home in Creston. Sorry Henry - your building sucks. It was built during an era (early 1970s) that in my opinion, few beautiful buildings were designed. On top of that, the rumor is they cheaped it up due to budget issues - no surprise there!

I put up with a lot. Then the paper towel dispenser in the restroom began mis-firing. You had to crank it about 15 times to get a sheet of the brown no ply paper big enough to somewhat dry your hands. The teeth on the Kimberly Clark machine were shot! There are also two hand dryers on the wall in the 5th floor women's room, but nobody uses them. One doesn't seem to work and the other is flakey. When I've tried to use it in the past it is slow to start and stops quickly.

About a month ago, after all of the women on my floor had struggled with the towel machine for weeks, I emailed the operations gal for DNR, Lisa to let her know "Kimberly" had lost her teeth. I also told her the dryer was a no go. Weeks went by. The custodian finally began placing the giant roll of towels on the counter with a note instructing us NOT to swipe it for coffee spills in the break area.

This week Lisa sent me a forwarded string of emails. It seems the operations guys had tested the dryer and it blows just fine. The director of that department said they would not replace a dryer just to replace it. Hmmm. Yes. That makes sense - but did they not notice that it was flaky?

I sent an email thanking them for checking into it - and suggested perhaps we've all gotten used to those vortex machines that blow really hard, so we're impatient. I went on to state that nobody uses the machine because of some reason...so even though it blows, it might as well be a wall ornament. Since nobody uses the dryer we'll continue to use many paper towels. So there - take that! (which I didn't say)

Today I in one of those moods.
If you're female...you know what I'm talking about!
I was ready to snap. The soggy giant roll of paper towels was getting to me. This was after I had dealt with the wayward soup can tosser. I was all set to stick another sign up in the restroom.
Bathroom Users Unite! Rebel against soggy towels and a crappy dryer! But a clearer head prevailed.

Instead of white towels insert worthless brown ones...

I forwarded the email string about the dryer to our bureau chief and explained the towel situation. I told him I was fuming.
Lo and behold a new towel dispenser was installed later this afternoon. Squeaky wheel!  

Pablo arrived home from a work trip to Madison, Wisconsin today. Odie and I are happy to see him. I am going to lunch tomorrow with my longtime pal Jane Flack Conn. Can't wait to hear how her daughter Morgan is doing - freshman at ISU.

Birthday Walk

I love this pic of Mom and Dad - they must have been dating or newly married

It's Dave Bullfrog's 85th birthday today. My dad. That is one of our nicknames for him. He was born in 1928 in Atlantic, Iowa. He was a heck of a guy - loved by many. I sure miss him! It's been nearly seven years that he's been gone - it was too soon.

There's a shot of my parents with me...I'm probably looking for the lighter fluid to drink...

Dad wasn't the best dad ever when we were growing up. He was gone a lot - working hard to make money to support our family. That's what dads did back then. They didn't engage with the family on all levels - making sure the kids did their homework - talking to them about emotional issues. Dad did things like snap my bra when I was uber embarrassed in the first place about wearing one. Then he let Mom deal with the fallout...hmmm come to think of it, maybe he's in purgatory. haha

But he was a fun-boy and we loved him. So I forgave him - eventually - even after he embarrassed me. And when I grew up - he was a wonderful dad - giving advice when needed and not sticking his nose in otherwise. He was a swell grandpa too. The kids loved it when he took them to "feed the ducks" and all the other Country Club activities. In Marco Island, Dad would pop popcorn to feed the gulls and would help the kids prepare shells to take back to their classmates. He was a real hands on Grandpa! (He still didn't handle stuff like Jud spilling soda pop at the Country Club very well...).

Today I pictured him playing golf with his buddies - like Eddie Freese and Tom Clithero. Then they'd have drinks in the heavenly clubhouse. Happy Birthday Big Guy!

To celebrate Dad's bday, I took a walk during my lunch break and took some photos. Readers know how I enjoy that.

Check out the bike on this doorframe of an antique store

Check out this new biz on Grand - a well groomed beaver is a Pink Beaver?

The rest of my walk was fairly uneventful. It felt good to get outside into the late summer heat because the Wallace Building is over-chilled.

The big job news is that I've put in an order for a stand up desk. I'll get a tall chair to go with it - so I won't actually have to stand up all day. In order to raise my workspace up, I asked to move to different cubicle so all 5 foot 6 inches of me won't be tempted to peep into neighboring cubicles. I'm moving into an empty cubicle that is up against a wall. Stay tuned - I will post pics once it's all set up.

I heard from Pablo the Poolboy today. The weather has deteriorated in SW Colorado. It sleeted and the elk are now laying low. He's talking about packing up and heading back either tomorrow or Friday. Yay!

A pic of Pablo from last year