Poetry Pounding in My Peritoneum

Lately I have been on a rhyming kick. Every thing I look at immediately my mind starts composing a poem. Usually when I do this, it means a happy time of life. Here are a few of them: YOUR SHIN SPLINTS ARE AT THE DOOR It feels like my leg’s been hit by a two by four. How much it hurts when I step upon the floor. My inflamed right shin is injured and extremely sore. All because I went running, good exercise for the core. After two miles with old shoes, I couldn’t stop and wanted more. Web MD says Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), it’s pretty sure. I should have used my new shoes, bought recently at the running store.

In The Way The neighbor’s branch was in the way, When I passed by the other day. I’ll help him out, trim it away Won’t take a second in the early dawn gray. But what of my own branches, you say. Oh, yes, much more in the path are they! With loppers in hand, it felt like play. Now no more sprigs have gone astray. Next check my own or come what may Cast out my beam and think to pray.

The Six C's of My Job

C - Customers - The customer always comes first. Greet each one with a smile and make them feel like they are valued (which they are!) Learn their names. We need them. This is my favorite task, being front and center when someone walks through the door.

C - Collections - Collections will always be there. Someone is always going to owe a bill. These jobs are what keep us calling and reminding for tomorrow's payment. Ten years of experience came in handy when the need arrived. Now I am doing it again.

C - Cash (Petty) - Unexpected small expenses for batteries, ice, supplies, flowers and so on is a Petty Cash Box must. Making change for employees and keeping everyone happy with small expenses is enjoyable. C - Copy Paper - Ordering and keeping plenty of copy paper in stock for our many machines is not too difficult. So I get bids, order, email the warehouse and have paper shipped when needed. Although most of our work is with online invoices, there has to be a paper back-up. Paper will always be important in business.

C - Calendar - Birthday and break calendars have to be kept current, so everyone knows who has what coverage and birthday when. Making up the calendars with lots of pictures and color doesn't seem like a job. Missing someone's birthday isn't fun and neither is missing coverage for a break.

C - Coke/Candy/Cookie Machine - Even though I never use vending machines (too frugal), many people do. It is a big industry. Many cravings are met with the pop/candy and goodie machines. I keep our vendor informed if we need more or there is a jammed machine.

These are the six C's of my position. There may be more down the road and some jobs that I have missed. They keep me employed and I like it.

The Purple Turtle Tempted Me

There are some places you just want to visit. It may be their name, building, food, popularity, or many other reasons. The Purple Turtle is a Pleasant Grove tradition and one more place I can check off my list of 'must visits'.

After a disappointing night at the Storytelling Festival, we stopped for a hot fudge sundae at the newly restored eatery. I expected it to be more purple and turtle infested. It did have purple benches and walls. Thanks Purple Turtle for making me feel better. I'll be baaacck!!!

The A E I O & U of Office Managing

When our great and efficient office manager left six months ago, some of her jobs came to me. Many of them immediately and other just recently. My new job duties consist of A, E, I, O and U tasks. A - Answer the phone. The goal is to get it on the first ring and not make our customer wait. I have a console of three phones with sixty lines, but this blackie seemed appropriate to post.

E - E-pays. These are companies we do work for that want us to submit our invoices through their online payment system. They've been piling up for six months (100+ now) until we're sending collection letters, even though an invoice was never submitted. Enter - ME! My boss told me two weeks ago, it was 'my baby'. What seemed like a monumental job of 'cracking the code' to each company, and many phone calls/emails later has now been tamed to a few.

I - Itemizing. Scrutinizing the freight, uniforms & office supplies bills to make sure all items are correctly priced. also, I keep track, of the paper supply and the vending machine man, not too hard.

O - Office Supplies. The workroom always was stocked magically, until I was in charge, now many of the cubicles are nearly empty. The product seems to disappear overnight. My keener eye takes notice to add a few pens, sticky notes and such whenever there's a need. It's not a good idea to empty the whole box at once on the shelf but to let them think, we are low and maybe they won't take as many.

U - Uniforms. We changed vendors in July. What a challenge to keep everyone happy. First they brought 40 of the X, XX, XXX sizes and no XS & S. We had chemists without coats and others with five each. Today our supplier finally dropped of some new anti-fatigue mats, after six weeks of going the rounds with them. They blamed it on their shipper. I am learning to count the product myself and not trust the other guy with all his promises. Change is always a challenge.

Now I know more of what it's like to manage an office. What an eye opener! And those are just a few things that make me think I'm going crazy.

Soaking Up in Sunflowers

I love, love, love sunflowers, all kinds especially the hybrid hand-sized blossom ones you can plant for show. My favorite is the brownish to gold petaled ones. I like to get the seed packet that has several kinds, then they all grow. I feel like a green-thumb gardener.

I get jealous of the early bird planters that have a happy row of them bobbing their big heads over the fence smiling at passers-by before the end of June. Their bright color and round faces warm me up. We can't forget about the wild yellow ones popping up wherever they can get a root hold. Also the big, sunflower seed producing giants with heads bent low from their nearly plump full fruit.

It's time to pull out my sunflower arrangements, tins and door wreath to enjoy looking at every day. Before we know it, fall will be here and our great warm weather gone along with the sunflowers. No more soaking up in sun and sunflowers. Boohoo.

Electra is Energizing

I finally got my new birthday bike. The last time I had a new bike was for my tenth birthday. It was a bold, blue Schwinn with a rack over the back wheel. My only ride to friends homes, Primary, farm fields to help bale hay and many more places it went. I left it behind years ago when I married. When my husband asked what I wanted for my birthday this year, "A bike", I said. After using my son-in-laws old red one for years, now with a flat tire and worn gears,

it was time to get my own. Test driving all styles, prices and colors was exciting. Choosing was a bit harder, because you have to narrow it down to one. Lime green, my favorite Jello and a Townie, just felt right. We have taken many excursions by now and it feels as good after ten miles as the first one. Electra sounds pretty energizing so I chose it for the slick name. Now to try riding it to work and back.

Been to the Bard

With a world premiere play, Sense and Sensibility, I had to go. Plus, catching a play in the soon to be mothballed Adams Memorial Outdoor Theater was also on my bucket list. Both are must see theater. Sandy, had a birthday coming up, so what better thing to do than take a road trip with the girls. We were glad to be under the awning at the outdoor building, but it didn't take long to declare a 'rain-out'. Everyone moved indoors. It's a bit of a disappointment, if that is what you go for. Luckily the rain stopped and we were able to enjoy the outdoor theater after intermission. Thank you USF for going above and beyond the call of duty, making it possible to be outside. The plays were wonderful. Take a weekend trip to enjoy this great art. P.S. If you have relatives in Cedar City, they get 1/2 off tickets.