Welcome Winter

Saturday, November 21, 2020

This time of frozen beauty makes it possible for my horses to be on pasture. They may spend whole days munching on grass without gaining weight. This year the freeze came slightly early, as usually they’re not allowed to graze freely until after Thanksgiving when it’s really cold.

I’m eager to go out with a camera and capture this transitional season. For the purposes of photography and needed exercise, maybe on Sunday with camera and dogs, I will travel to the mountains. It’s wonderful up there to tramp around, study natural beauty, and see my dogs just being dogs.

Today, this must be short for the farrier is on his way, and on Monday, the horses’ teeth will be floated. Those are my equines’ big needs for awhile. Next week at work, my hours should become shortened. That and appropriate weather will allow time for horseback riding, and since ’tis the season, in an area that disallows hunting.

Dear Friends: Look around, breathe, and enjoy this lovely day. Diana

Scrambling

November 20, 2020

I’m starting to write this at 4:30 a.m. and hoping to jot a thought or two before 5:30. Then I’ll head outside to feed horses. After meeting all my critters’ morning needs as well as my own, I hope to be en route to work before 8:00.

At my workplace, word from above has announced that our accustomed schedules are about to change, meaning that more often I’ll be in charge of our department. My manager has decided to push more rapidly my supervisory training, because whoever’s in charge must attend to tons of daily system and reporting details. She hates mistakes.

The work itself isn’t hard. One must know where to locate and retrieve data, the frequency of needing certain information, and understand how all our data connect this branch to the larger system. Ideally, we supervisors are OCD and always put report pages into perfect order, and we have good working relationships (i.e., communicate well enough) with those who receive our sendings.

I prefer being casual and enjoy circling rules when possible. I’m wondering about my interest in striving to meet rigid demands of my promotion. Here’s the thing, I’m retired, have a little ranch with a few horses, goats, hens, dogs, birds, and a cat. My reason for working is to be forced away from ranch responsibilities which keep me happy but also a little isolated. Working in one of a small city’s biggest box stores puts me in touch with other folks, and often with distant friends who shop there. Work provides social opportunities.

Something else falling into play is a personal deep need to achieve. I want to step up to the plate and learn the stuff, do the job well, and hopefully, contribute meaningfully to our teamwork and goals. Back in my career days this was an active drive, pushing me to learn, perform, and contribute. Who could’a guessed that years later it’d return to get me all wound up!

Dear Friends: Now, I must hurry outside and start to feed the big ones. Diana

Gift From The Aisles

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Katie is in charge of Costco’s Flower Department. A busy young woman who moved recently from the East to Bend, she holds two jobs and works toward a college degree. She’s passionate about volleyball, has played and coached the game, and moves with athletic grace. These Covid-19 days prevent participating in team sports, so Katie has refocused her passion. She runs daily on complex paths with her adored Husky.

We’re buddies at Costco, especially this past week as I wandered in my new supervisory role. She knows her way around the store and where most products are located. Customers ask Katie where things are, she takes them directly to items. Part of my new job is shopping, and well as I know the store, I get confused. Katie bails me out.

An essential in my new job is preparing samples daily for display. I cook only rarely and yesterday got stumped in the middle of preparing pancakes. My batter was too thick, the cakes on a griddle looked like hell, and I didn’t know how to start over and make things any better. That work had to be complete before the demo crew arrived. In the midst of my dilemma, Katie popped in to say hello. Guess what, she knows all about pancakes, took the spatula and rescued me by transforming my giant too-thick cakes into dollar-size sprinkled with cinnamon. That plate looked pretty good.

Moreover, my hero is strong, lifted a microwave from a high shelf and set it on a low table so I could prepare mac ‘n cheese (instead she prepared). Before the crew arrived we had finished my morning work! Thank you, Katie!

Katie is very bright. Hopefully, she may continue with school, and work on toward a Ph.D. I could visualize her as expert in a field suiting one of her passions, like sports or veterinary medicine.

Dear Friends: A “find” that delights, this cool, intelligent, modern “flower child”. Diana

Oy Vey!

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

This day at work will be more challenging. In theory, I’ve completed the supervisory training.

Yesterday was worrisome. My manager tried staying uninvolved by having me perform all the work. I did okay in some categories, poorly in others. Inside Costco, “Computer systems knowhow” is required to manage a sample-serving organization. The manager faces online information gathering and reporting systems and creates reports. They’re demanding, time driven, and complex. Yesterday, I recalled enough computer stuff to meet some expectations, and sometimes my manager bailed me out of dark holes.

There’s the people part, of managing sample servers and building teamwork. A manager’s bottom line is achieving higher sales. I handled the morning pep talk with the crew, and was assigned to give breaks and lunches to two sample servers. When we became very busy, my manager took over giving breaks to one of my assigned servers.

A couple of times, I screwed up royally.

After giving my single-assigned server a break for lunch, I became busy with computer stuff and in an awful slip forgot to give her the afternoon break. That was illegal, for she’s entitled to all her breaks, and besides, I’ve performed serving work. I understand how much having breaks means and have railed when breakers are too slow to show up and relieve me.

I lost the company credit card! We couldn’t buy products to show today. I first denied losing the card, but in fact was the last person to use it, might have put it into my pocket. Well, that was on Saturday, three days ago! I couldn’t recall what I wore to work, or where those clothes might be, in piles that have collected during this full-time work week. I’ve rushed, dropped things everywhere. Long story short, I came home, found the jacket and in its pocket the credit card.

Today, my manager will be gone. I’m The Supervisor In Charge. With credit card in hand, I’ll arrive early at work to buy our needed products. But wait! My manager screwed up, too. Haha, nobody’s perfect. She forgot to leave the key to our office door. I must find someone to saw-off the lock and chew-up valuable moments. Well, I’ll handle the lock problem, make the product buys. But jeeze, in the wings are those computer reports, to be prepared promptly and correctly. It’s gonna be a great day.

There’s a positive: I won’t be fired for having lost the company credit card.

Dear Friends: Please have positive thoughts, as good vibes for my stressed self. Diana.

Pretty Potash

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

This week I lost Potash, one of my three remaining elderly hens. Among them (all nearly eleven years old), Potash seemed strongest and most likely to be longest to survive. A gorgeous bird, Potash’s feathers basically were black, always flashing highlights of blue or green depending on how they reflected the light. A tough bird, Potash claimed leadership of the flock after its two ill-tempered roosters forced me to rehome them.

Often in mornings, I’d arrive at the gated area that houses my Dwarf goats and hens. Potash would be perched on a goat’s back, the team appearing comfortable.

The goats and chickens taught me lots. For example, hens often peck at the corners of the goats’ eyes and remove accumulated matter. Watching this I’d hold my breath, but the goats neither flinched nor blinked, and always, the hens were accurate.

Early last week Potash appeared okay, but one night something was different. Instead of being snuggled with LittleTail and Wellsummer, I found Potash settled deeply in straw inside the goat house and against its farthest back wall. That night promised to be bitterly cold, and in severe weather the hens usually roost as a batch.

The next day, I peered into the goat house and saw Potash’s eyes closed. She appeared comfortably asleep, but on reaching to check I felt her body cold and stiff. I wiped away tears, lifted her, and began thinking about bravery. This chicken might have felt herself in declining health and increasingly cold. She found a warm safe spot, but on a very cold night had been too weak to generate combative body heat.

Chickens are brave, and especially as they age, poor health in one isn’t always apparent. Ten years ago, my beginner flock numbered a dozen day-old chicks. Upon reaching six or seven years old, the hens’ laying days began to dwindle. Afterwards, and one by one, I began losing them, and understanding that mass-bred chickens are marketed as egg layers or meat birds with life expectancies at the low end of a bird’s capacity range. I feel grateful for still having two hens, but they’re old and ahead must cope with another dicey winter.

Those who’ve grown up in families that worked to manage large chicken flocks might have had enough, couldn’t give a hang about a chicken’s life or death. Those who’ve never lived with chickens might not value a chicken’s life or consider its death a blow. Well, from this small rancher’s experience, losing a chicken is a big deal emotionally.

We humans willing to house one or more animals, regardless of variety, embark on an amazing journey. Often with our charges, and almost unthinkingly, we find ourselves connected to and deeply attached to them.

Dear Friends: Ten years ago my flock had a dozen baby chicks, and now only two. Diana

Yes, Really!

Monday, November 16, 2020

My week has been one of mumble-jumble anxiety. I’m receiving speedy-like training for a new supervisory role in my part time job. Several days ago, my friend Susie got in touch and invited me to the Neubauer’s TiPi. She and Dale would provide wine, cheese, a fire. She added, “It’s a great place to ventilate.”

Last night, we gathered around the fire pit, sipped wine, and shared our stories. For me, their pleasant companionship was plenty, but they had a surprise. Susie handed me a flat package wrapped in comic-paper, “Here, this is for you.”

My little dream seems more true.

This beautifully designed sign turned my head completely from the complex topics of business, sociology, and politics. Their gift is an honor to my recently-named Eight Pines Ranch, with its three wonderful equines. The sign, a mark of achievement, increases the ranch’s individuality.

So beautiful and meaningful. I couldn’t look away from it.

The Neubauers have lived many years in this neighborhood. Dale, a helicopter specialist, is an inventor. His HeliLadder, a tool used in making repairs to aircraft, is designed to avoid damaging complex body shapes. Susie, his entrepreneur partner at Heliladder, makes certain that they maintain a life beyond work. In our neighborhood, Susie knows nearly everybody, her confident insight identifies and brings together folks with common interests. It wowed me, she had caught onto my casual mention, but deep wish, for a more identifiable property.

Thank you again, Neubauers, for offering on a chilly fall evening, the comforts of TiPi, fireplace, and talk. I’m beyond delighted with a beautiful sign identifying “Eight Pines Ranch”.

Dear Friends: Sharing seemingly small things often refreshes and keeps us going. Diana

Stressing

Sunday, November 15, 2020

My “weekend” has begun, it’s delicious. During this partial week of my supervisory training, the mornings have been action oriented. Work wants me there by eight a.m., which means very early caring for my large animals. A dislike of working outside in early, dark, scary hours makes me pause for some natural light. This week, between limited early light and an onslaught of awful weather, I’ve not finished early with the horses and have been running late. It’s not been a huge problem because already my manager has been in the office and working.

We who oversee Costco’s daily sample serving process are responsible for bunches of early work. First, we generate mega computer numbers to report the previous day’s costs and sales, and we create documents to guide the current day’s demo servers. After the computer work and before sample server employees arrive to start working, we overseers must prepare and have ready the displays of foods. By ten a.m. all computer reporting and demo food preparing must be complete. My manager knows well the computer systems and keyboards. She’s fast. I’m still slow and aware of the pressure to get quicker.

Our plan upon returning to work on Tuesday (my final training day), is for me to handle all the computer and food prep needs. My manager will supervise and if necessary lend a hand, because on the next day, Wednesday, she’ll be away. On Wednesday I will be in charge, must get everything done, and accurately, by 10 a.m. Here I’ll pause a moment, to roll my eyes.

My manager on offering the promotion said my hours would continue to be part-time. Her supervisor interviewed me, too, and casually mentioned “computer work”, asking if knew how to “use a mouse”. My early expectations didn’t rise to the organization’s many real time needs, to manage and report in a big business focused on sales and productivity.

Learning Costco’s computers has made me aware of its very busy office. Out in the aisles, Costco employees hurry, moving products, cleaning up, and pausing briefly to assist customers. The employees working in its computing office are focused, intense, fast. They tend to ignore a novice to the system who needs help. My manager has responded, dropping what else she might be doing and coming to bail me from “stuck spots”.

This Wednesday will be my “final exam”. Hopefully on that day, I will be able to manage everything in a manner acceptably accurate and timely. Now, again I’ll pause, to sigh.

Dear Friends: An automated working environment tests brain capacity and memory. Diana

Oops!

Saturday, November 14, 2020

On this very beautiful morning I got preoccupied, writing to a longtime friend, and lost track of the hours. Now, I’ve too little time to compose something more before it’s essential to leave for work.

Yesterday was a day of storming. Snow dropped, but not too much. Just enough to crunch underfoot.

Dear Friends: I’ll “see ya” tomorrow morning! Now, I’m off to the management training. Diana

Relationships

Friday, November 13, 2020

The dogs love staying eight-hours inside while I’m at work being trained in my new role. It took a nanosecond for them to recognize on going outside that shortly they’ll be re-invited inside. After a time or two of five or ten five minutes outside they’ve learned to huddle at the deck-slider, barking to remind me. In this cold weather it’s good they’re inside, for Miles is arthritic and Louie is recovering from a sprained back.

Meanwhile, I’m learning about my new role and adjusting. For many years I’ve handed out samples at Costco and in the process have escaped the business’s paperwork end. In my new job a daily priority is detailed, hefty paperwork. It’s how our branch team communicates with our home office team. The paperwork requires computer skills and speedy processing, and we must gather numbers from computers in the Costco business office to assemble with other data from our own computer.

It’s been shocking to realize that the two online business systems are unlike anything I’ve known and each differs from the other. Plus, the various keyboards aren’t like mine at home and require more learning. So I’ve been stumbling and slow to gather information. It’s frustrating, but learning is a processes and I resist being too hard on myself. My manager worries though, because she must have me “trained” by the end of tomorrow, and before next week when I’ll re-start working part-time.

Another big part of this has been learning to team with another person. That means creating a relationship of mutual comfort and confidence, in skills, dependability, and trust. We avoid areas of differences, like politics, religion, and such. There is a mutual trust developing, we will team together well.

This week during my long hours away from home, my across-the-road neighbor has baby sat the horses.

I’m thrilled the trio may be all day on grass. They walk over with me in early light, and hurry toward me in early darkness when I’m returning for them. They are easy and cooperative in both directions of our walks.

Dogs are inside, horses are on grass, and I’m starting to re-settle at work. All’s good.

Dear friends: Working with animals forces aside all thoughts about other sorts of work. Diana

Deformation Professionnelle

Thursday, November 12, 2020

I’ll speak some about my adventure of training for a new role in my part-time job. I report to a woman who’s significantly younger. We spend lots of time together. She’s focused on the organization’s need to increase sales, is aware of staff as individuals and with unique capabilities.

Our different personalities push our discussions into directions both wanted and unwanted. Our worldviews differ enough that we must work to coordinate ideas on leadership and training. Sometimes our efforts are slow, for her management brain trends to the left and absolute, mine searches for enlightenment from the squishy, less-known.

It’s important that we talk, to thread toward our goal of teaming in mutual trust and dependability. In my experience, people who can get their heads together do team more creatively and achieve worthwhile outcomes.

It’s a long time since I’ve tried professionally to coordinate thoughts with another person. A powerful outcome of expressing aloud thoughts and ideas is that individuals may continue processing, by reaching deeply inside to explore more their views and opinions. Talking is powerful, it can summon self-awareness. I’m reconsidering ideas that have arisen from me and might recast a few.

Dear Friends: That seems enough, there are animals to feed in barely enough time. Diana