A normal life is returning... slowly.

A belated Merry Christmas and I pray that 2012 will be a blessing to you all!

This is mainly just a note to let everyone know that I'm still here! I never imagined that my 6-days-a-week of school would be lateral training for 6-days-a-week of actual work! [But rest assured, if I need time off for anything, I only have to schedule it. Otherwise I'm considered available for the 6 days because I told the boss I would be. Right now, income is essential.]

For the time being, blogging has to wait for those rare times when the files run out or when other delays happen. Today seems to be that day. My boss (in Denver, CO) had unexpected company arrive at her home and there are currently some issues going on with the hospital's data interface system. So, the boss isn't available, new data isn't available, I've completed the files I'd been given, and I now have a little time to play. [And, hey, it is Saturday after all!]

Hmmm. Let's see. I guess I should start with a quick picture of my work day. [I don't suppose describing it as a blur would be helpful.]

My old job had work days that were feast (so much work you believe you will lose your mind if you could find the time) or famine (thumb twiddling) across weeks or months. Transcribing seems to have work days that go feast or famine between days... or even hours! The work hours themselves essentially vary with the amount of work available which correlates to when the doctors/nurses submit their dictations. [Some are very behind and they catch up in clumps!] And, of course, they all want it turned back to them as quickly as possible.

I suppose having started this job during the holiday season, I really don't have a sense of what "normal" is as far as a work-load pattern across an average week. However, I imagine that I will be getting a better idea over the next few weeks as vacations end and everyone gets back on staff.

Of course, I am also still in the "training" stage and this requires closer reliance on my boss' time as she provides my files and, after I submit them, she also very graciously provides feedback so I can learn the client preferences (and her preferences) and to pick up on those things that I need to watch for or work on. [I am happy to add that she is very pleased with my work so far!]

Technically I am a subcontractor and can set my own hours, but because of the current work patterns, I have mentally decided to reserve from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for my "work day." However, this varies from day to day depending on what is needed. Some days I start at 6 a.m. (particularly if I already have files provided from the night before), some days I don't start until the afternoon. Some days I have only one hour on the clock, some days I have nine hours on the clock. It really is completely unpredictable.

This unpredictability can be a source of frustration, but I'm learning to see the down-time as opportunities to do puttering tasks around home. [Remembering all those thumb-twiddling days in an office thinking: "If I was at home, I could be using this time to be doing (insert some task here)." Right now my puttering is focusing on cleaning and sorting and trying to make our home seem less like a "squirrel's nest." [I have not yet reclaimed the dining room table, but I can see most of it again!] Although, truth be told, the last few weeks had me completing the end-of-the-year tax receipts for the church.

Confession Time: After so many years of commuting to work I have to say: I LOVE BEING AT HOME!

Working at home there are other adaptations I've had to make, too. I have finally learned to set an alarm so I remember to eat breakfast (generally around 8:30 a.m.) and then another to remind me to take a lunch break. I've found that my blood sugars stay a bit elevated if I eat much earlier, so this works out well to keep the numbers down. It actually took me quite a long time to get my body geared to eating at a certain time rather than during a certain stage of the morning routine. With the old job, breakfast came around 4:30 a.m. after packing a lunch and before driving for an hour prior to starting work. However, this is a new life and it requires a new way of doing things. It's actually worked well and, with a few other slight modifications, I've gradually lost about 10 pounds as a result.

Well, that's pretty much my life in a nutshell these days, and I'll save any other details about work for another time.

I will close out this post with another note of good news: After the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr. Squirrel was finally added to the team of drivers for the local school district. He had to wait a bit after that to get scheduled, but he is now driving for sports and other activites. He is LOVING it! The school also has him down for substitute teaching for math, science and history should the need arise.

So, like the photo (credit goes to TrekNature.com) there is life returning. It may take quite some time to fully get back on our feet, but this is a hopeful start!
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God bless & Godspeed