Ok, so I'm not a computer engineer or what have you. I can usually load up a new computer with the programs I need, transfer data, you know the basics. Well...today I made a faux pas...what could have been a really bad one...I needed to download a program, I've done this hundreds of times before, for years...and I go to the website and it doesn't work, I get an error message. Please call... So I called the provided number...well...it was very frustrating...this guy keeps trying to tell me about the issue I have and how complex it is...the whole time, I'm saying this does not make sense...this is a new computer, this could not be accurate...he keeps getting more technical...then finally the magic words are dropped it will cost you additional fees to get this corrected. I asked to speak to his manager. And I said, look something about this seems fishy, I need you to verify to me you are from the company I contacted. The guy starts getting belligerent with me...and I will admit, I was not being a kind sweet little old lady either. I knew at this point it was not good.  Next thing I see is them attempting to create a password to lock me out of my own computer!!!  I'm sure that dishonest fellow is laughing it up someplace thinking he stole my computer. He didn't!  I restored the operating system to prior to their access, I am good to go, and have subsequently successfully updated the initial software I was trying to do. Beware on the interwebs: Just cause it looks like a rose,  it might smell like shit.

Every year in January I print out a 12 month calendar and start plotting my travel plans for the upcoming year.  I am trying to figure out what my BIG trip this year will be.  I have lots of travel plans already, things I will talk about as they happen this year.  I am going through a list of places from  Northern Arizona to Europe. I have to elicit the help of my potential travel buddies and see what they are up for.  I'm booked up until end of summer, so I guess it's a fall adventure and maybe something for winter. For the first time I am considering going away over the Christmas Holidays. My children are all over the country, we were all together in 2016, so that won't happen again for 2017; too many miles between us.   One year we were all together in Germany for Christmas!  What an amazing time and place to be for Christmas. I won't ever forget it. Many countries actually still observe the Holiday the way it was meant to be. Businesses are closed Christmas eve, Christmas Day and many even the day after. I remember walking around the town where my daughter lived in a new fallen snow, and it being so peaceful and quiet. Serenity, I like to find that when I travel.  Hmm so many things to think about.

I guess it started with the spice rack...and I'm still on a kick to clean up and clean out.  I'm getting down to things I hadn't touched in years. I do have a habit of gathering and saving things because I know I'll need them later. I assure you, it's not a mess in my house. I'm not walking through trails of paper and stuff stacked to eye level.  I tend to organize things in a shoe box or basket and I actually know what's in there. I have decided it's time to part with the unnecessary things that hold no value be it monetary or sentimental. Those printed out directions really just aren't necessary anymore; GPS will indeed get me there. The recycling crew may not be too happy with me this week.   I've started various boxes to donate to those in need of what I can give: Books I've read (I still like to hold a book in my hands, e-reading is too much like work!) Kitchen utensils and dishes,  Clothes, Christmas ornaments (I could have 2 trees and still not use what I have some how acquired) and even a few pet items.  Even when I finish this "project" I think there will be more to do.

Well on this eve of change I find myself wanting to miss every thing about it. I just don't like politics. A friend of mine once described politics as "Many (poli) Bloodsuckers (tics). Hmmm, can't say that is wrong. No matter what side of the aisle you may be on, or even if you aren't on a side at all the reality is that most of the folks who are representing the people haven't got a clue about the life of the people at large.  I think that statement is true in most countries around the world. I do believe that some "politicians" have better intentions than others. I won't lie, I am concerned about where things could be headed, but remain hopeful that all will be okay. Only time will tell. Only time will show the true heart of the matter and the people involved. My hope is that this change remains peaceful in all aspects.

Hmm, a volunteer what? That's where the issue begins. When I was a kid I was a candy stripper. I went around the hospital and delivered mail and flowers to patients. Some times inter office mail from one area of the hospital to the other. It was enjoyable, but I don't think that's what I'm interested in now. A friend of mine reads to children in school. That's pretty cool, but that job thing makes that complicated for me. Dogs - I love dogs.  There are a lot of places that need volunteers with animals. That's a possibility.  Before I dive in, I will have to do diligent research on the organizations.  The truth is I don't have a lot of time to give, but maybe I can do something to give back.  One weekend day a month? Yes, I could do that.  I realized part of my personality is that I need to have something to care about.  Over this past year I adopted the squirrels in my yard. Well, okay maybe they really just love the black walnut tree in the back yard, but they are my "pets".  I toss about a pound of shell on peanuts out for them every morning. It's gotten to the point where they are waiting for me in the morning, at least on most days.  It's kinda cute really. They sit on the front porch and wait for the treats to come. When it's really cold, I cheat and throw them from the window instead of actually going outside.   There are also Blue Jays and Cardinals that like the peanuts. I have had quite a gathering of small animals in the yard:6 Squirrels, 5 Blue Jays, 3 Cardinals and a chipmunk. Something about having them there, knowing I'm helping them survive makes me feel good about life. I've actually shopped around and found the most economical place to buy the peanuts.  I've also hung a few bird feeders. They are "squirrel proof" so to speak. That's where  feeding the squirrels came from. It hardly seemed fair to dangle seeds that the squirrels aren't allowed to have with out offering them something of their own. Maybe volunteering has already started in my yard...might be time to expand on that.

I think I have come up with a term for a very common aliment that I know I suffer from. And I know I'm not alone.  Pickmeitus: the condition of wanting to be picked for who you are, as you are all the scars, baggage, bumps and bruises. I think this condition begins at a very young age maybe even before the school years. It is definitely advanced by playground games and gym class. You know, 2 people are team captains they go through the class and pick team members one at a time until the few kids are left that no one really wanted in the first place. And it just continues through life: making friends, dating all these scenarios we want to be picked. I want to be picked, I won't lie about that. And I have some criteria...I want to be picked by some one who is right for me. And I don't just mean for a relationship. I mean friends and jobs and life. We are in circles of interaction all the time. Wouldn't it be lovely to be in the circles where you really belong? Where you fit in? Where you can be comfortable to be all of who you are?  Don't pick me because of what I can do for you. Pick me because you want me to be there. Yes, Yes please, please  PICK Me for the ME I am and the ME I will be!

Had to take a breather for a few days. Was just getting overly caught up in 2017 feeling like 2016 all over again. It will be different as I will approach it differently. Perspective makes a lot of things in life easier to handle.  Care about the things I can change and try not to care as much about the ones I can't. Hmm sounds a lot like the serenity prayer. Maybe I need to think about that just a little more.  Some how I know or think I know that this year will be the same if I don't keep this in mind all year long.  Glad to say the germs have gone away for the most part Yeah for that. Got a chance to unpack, and start some serious clean up on my house, it's not really dirty, I just like to keep things neat and tidy.  Last week ended with hopefully finding a new hire, only time will tell for sure, feeling pretty caught up on work, and oh.. getting hit at a stop light this am. And the guy who hit me...says oh I'm late can we hurry this up? Seriously? You hit me because you wanted to go straight on a green arrow... guess you will be a little later... BREATH...JUST BREATH!  Some how I want to continue to take it all with a grain of salt, keep a sense of humor and find the change in me.

In my line of work we deal with out sourced companies to provide payroll processing. I have been dealing with one of the big guys for several years. I left one big fish for the other. Can I tell you this has been drama since the very beginning. From the initial conversion to this latest bit of fun. So the beginning of January we were billed several thousand dollars supposedly for services provided in December.  I looked in to this briefly and quickly determined there was some type of error. I had one of my staff members call and they spoke to some one who assured them they had checked and this was a new fee, and not a duplication of charges.  I knew this could not be accurate, but had to table it for the moment.  As luck would have it I was contacted by a representative of the company...of course his interest was to sell me something new. I told him look...you want an appointment with me, get to the bottom of this issue and I will meet with you.  5 days later, he still had no answers.  So today, after he was still feeding me the I am not making any headway line, I made my own phone calls only to once again get transferred to a manager I have dealt with before. Rule number 1, when dealing with sticky issues...always ask for the bosses boss. And make sure the guy on the phone getting you there understands that you know how the system works.  At the end of the day, issue resolved, credit issued and pointed questions asked yet again: WHY does a major company provide such horrible customer service. Yes, I am currently shopping around yet again.

Sad. Disgusting. Horrible. Pathetic.  I guess I could go on all night with negative words to describe the step-children of my recently deceased Aunt. It was not 2 days before she went to the hospital that my Mom received a call from one of these parasites saying get her out of my house. I can't take her anymore. she won't do anything. Of course she could't do anything...she was dieing!  these same cold heartless people are now so sad posting on facebook how they will miss her. But they couldn't wait to get hold of her will, her bank accounts her insurance policy. None of that matters. People who hadn't thought of her, come to see her or even spoken to her in years have come out of the wood work because they now care so much. and hope to get some piece of what might be left behind. Truly a side of people I can't stand.  Sad how superficial and fake people can be for the love of money.

Well today was the day. Time to start the honest search for a new staff member. I met with the person in charge of the search process today and hope that I gave him all the key data that he needs to understand just what we are looking for. Some one who is motivated to be committed to their job, take ownership of their position and become a long standing memebr of our staff.  Unemployment is low, I am glad for that as a whole. It sure makes hiring difficult.  I am hoping since it is early in the year that there will be quality people searching for a change in the new year. 

​I think I'm headed to the Great Nortwest again some time in early spring. It may still be the end of winter now that I think of it.  I'm hoping there may be an opportunity to sneak in some fun for a day or two. I have to be on the west coast for business, so a quick little side trip never hurt anything.  Always use time wisely.   Time is a very precious asset. At least it is to me. It's something you can share, give and cherish no matter what your economic position is.