Month: August 2017

Supplies Are Fun!!

Part of my job is ordering supplies for my staff.  Most people will think it is tedious but I love it.  Mostly because I get to look through this humongous paper or digital catalog at all the different things I can order.  For someone who likes colorful things and the thought of being organized it is like being a kid in a candy shop. Unless it is a big dollar purchase or furniture I can order almost anything.  The best part is that I don’t have to pay for any of it because it is all stuff for my office.  Plus if I get it and it doesn’t really do what I thought it would do or I’m not going to use it I can return it very easily without having to leave my desk.  This is a shoppers dream!!

When I order supplies online they are usually delivered the next business day to the mail room (a magical place…just ask Buddy the Elf).  They put it on a cart and deliver it right to my desk.  It’s like Christmas except that I know what is inside, but not always.  Occasionally they mess up but returns are easy too plus I get to go down to the mail room to ship it back.  (Our mail room doesn’t look the one in Elf at all.  There are no pipes to send the mail up and there are no bins that the staff can lie around in and drink out of a flask. Ours is definitely not the magical one either.)

Here is a list of my favorite items:

  • Binder clips in multiple sizes and in multiple colors. This is important because if I am putting together a packet of stuff I like to use the same color through the packet so it is beautiful and color coordinated.  Plus my boss HATES paperclips so I keep a lot of these on hand.
  • Post-it notes. I have 2 dispensers on my desk because one is my colorful, fun one and the other is ruled like a piece of paper.  You may ask why I need both and my answer is simple.  I just like them plus they serve 2 functions.  If I want to be playful or relaxed I use the colorful ones but if I am being serious I use the ruled ones.  It’s just my way of expressing my emotions.
  • Paper clips are also fun for me. I have metal and plastic ones in a couple of different sizes.  The metal ones are really for one person in my group because they like those.  I love my plastic ones because they are colorful (sensing a trend yet).  Plus I’m the only one on my floor who uses them so when I see them on someone else’s desk I know they have been into my stash.  (Bad people stealing my supplies…I know secretly they want to be like me but that is a bad idea.  As my family would say…the world doesn’t need or deserve another Karen.)
  • Labels and my amazing Label Writer. This is a must-have for my desk and my current one is a “Twin Turbo” so I can have 2 different types of labels in the machine at one time.  It’s an organizers dream.  Currently, I have file folder and address sized labels in the machine but if you look in my cabinet you will see that I have 7 other different sizes available because you never know when you might something different.  Like a badge-sized label or a non-adhesive hanging file tab.  (In will say that I have used the badge label for some things but never for badges…because we don’t need no stinking badges!!)

As I’m writing this I realized that I need to order supplies for my daughter since school starts in a couple of weeks.  I looked at the list and realized that this isn’t fun at all and I know why.  First, I have to pay for this stuff…ugh!!  Second, she is going to want input…double ugh!! Last, I’m going to have to pick it up…NOOOO!!!  I hate going into stores.  Even if it is just to pick up something I ordered and don’t have to actually shop for it.  I just hate the noise, people, trying to find a parking place, etc.  Then if anything has to be returned I feel like it is the same as a walk of death.  More noise, more people and having to explain why I don’t like it…pain in the butt!!  When I have to return something usually one of three things will happen.  Either I will do it myself, beg someone else in the family to do it or (which happens very often) I will just put it away somewhere so I can forget about it.  What is the saying??  “Out of sight.  Out of mind.”  (Lucky for me the out of mind part happens very easily thanks to my dementia.)  My husband is constantly finding items and asking why I kept it and not returned it.  He just doesn’t understand how bad the walk of death is for me but then again he never offered to do it for me either so maybe he does understand how bad it is and doesn’t want to do it himself.  (Hmmm…something to ponder.)

So the next time you need a pick me up ask your office if you can order the supplies and you will see what a blissful experience it can be.  Plus you might even be able to order a mop but don’t bother sending me one because as you can tell from the name of this blog….I Don’t Mop!

 

If you are enjoying these posts please share it or my page!!  Also, I would love feedback too!

What Is Happening To My Brain?

First, let me say that I am sorry for being gone for so long.  As I am going to explain something big happened and it changed everything for me.

A while ago I started having issues remembering things especially short term but even some long term.  This was more than just walking into a room and forgetting why I came into the room.  This was forgetting that just a few minutes ago I had taken my meds and then tried to take them again.  Not being able to complete a sentence because I just lost my train of thought and then when I do remember not remembering what words to use. That was a big issue when I was at work because there is nothing like being in the middle of the conversation with your boss and team and then suddenly losing your place and not being able to continue at all.  It is mortifying and scary.

So after a bunch of scans, tests and other great things it turns out I have been having invisible strokes.  That means that at the age of 45 I have been officially diagnosed with vascular dementia.  Seriously…at 45!  Now at first I was happy to finally know what was wrong and having a name for it.  Then it hit me that this is life changing and I broke down.  Now I have decided to try and see the bright side of this.  So I made a list:

  1. I have a good excuse when I yell my daughter’s names and keep calling the wrong one.
  2. When I start to go upstairs and my husband asks me to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer but by the time I get up there I end up walking into my bedroom and reading instead. Sometime later he will come in and ask about the laundry and I guess my face shows that I have no idea what he is talking about.  He is nice about it but I can see the frustration.
  3. When I have to tell someone about another person but I can’t remember who it is we play Guess Who until we figure it out. Example:  You know..that tall lady….brown hair…works on the 9th floor…etc.
  4. My husband can now track me on my GPS when I get lost. Yes, I do get lost but usually, it is in the car and thank goodness I have the Waze app.
  5. When we watch a movie for the 2nd or 3rd times I still get surprised by things and even the ending (sometimes). I can remember the plot and the characters but not much of the actual movie. Thinking about it I might make a good movie critic for the studios to use because I would think it was great even if I couldn’t remember it.  (Yes I am available for the job if Disney, Universal, etc want to hire me)
  6. You see people you cannot remember ever meeting but they know you so it is like starting new relationships. I had this happen with someone I work with but I only see every few months in-person so when they come in I am so excited to meet them again.

As you can imagine every day is something new and an adjustment to my life.  I’m determined to get back on here and blog about all the funny things that happen which hopefully are even funnier with the dementia aspect added in.  So..keep up with me please, share my pages and my posts.  Looks like my messy life is about to get even messier and before you even ask that does not mean I will mop!