Cold and Colder

It is the Arctic freeze outside. Shelby needs to have a jacket on to walk in the backyard. It has been days since it has been above freezing. Tonight, thousands of people will be standing in Times Square shivering. Young girls in mini skirts and heels will have their legs turn red as they try to look their New Year's best. I have been dressed in layers since last week. I feel like a stuffed sausage and can barely lift my arms up. They say by next Monday things will ease up.

Bed and Breakfast

Whenever I go to visit my children, I stay in a Marriott hotel that offers a nice breakfast included in the price. As the years go by they add more to the buffet. My routine is to get up, get dressed and go down to the lobby to eat. Recently, the dress code seems to be loosening up. People have been coming to the lobby in pajamas. Sleep clothes, flip flops and messy hair are showing up at the buffet line. For a lack of better words, it grosses me out. If I can get washed and look presentable, so can you. What's next, a towel wrapped around your waist and wet hair?

The Avatar

Yesterday I interviewed an Avatar. I do not think she was human. Her first interview was with one of the doctors and her opinion was that the girl was nervous and maybe that was why she was so stiff. I saw her yesterday and she had not loosened up. She sat there, lifeless as a doll with no facial expression. I told her that the job description was for someone that needed to be warm and friendly at the front desk window. She looked at me blankly and said, "It is very important to be friendly". Her face never cracked a smile. After she saw me, she was interviewed by the new doctor, the one who she would be assisting. The doctor was the one that said she seemed like an Avatar or some other type of robot. If this was the personality she had to get a job, I am afraid how she will act if she got it.

Efficient Hours

The best way to have something run efficiently is to do the job and make decisions based upon your findings. In my office, my boss likes to do the reverse. We have a job opening for a work load that starts in the early morning and must be attended to immediately. The administrative doctor and I decided to make the hours 11am-4pm which would cover most of the day. My boss decided to make the hours 3pm-8pm. That makes no sense. If a patient needs to change their appointment time for that day, by the time the worker comes in, the appointment time has passed. If a patient needs their medication, they would need to go to pick it up in the evening, when it will be called in. There is no rationality to her thinking. Since I turned 62, I have a relaxed attitude with my job. If that is what she wants, that is what she gets. When problems arise, I will look at her with a smirk on my face and ask he how she wants the problem solved. This all reverts back to "Smart vs Bright".

What Were They Thinking

As I drove down I-95 yesterday it was smooth sailing until we got to a mall area. The traffic slowed to a crawl for a mile or two and then freed up again. It was the usual December 26 day of gift returning. The "what were they thinking" thoughts hanging in people's minds. About 60% of gifts are right on target. The rest break down like this: 15% are "Wow, I really love this. They thought out of the box and nailed it", 15% are "I guess they like these types of gifts so they though I would too" and the last 10% are the "WTF, why would they buy this for me? Now I have to go to the mall and wait on line to return it or get a gift card if I can't find the receipt." Before that is done, we all take a moment and think if there is any upcoming celebration so that we can pawn these gifts onto another person. Another happy holiday season.

Heading Home

After a wonderful weekend, we are heading home. I always feel a bit sad as I get so attached to my granddaughters, that I hate to leave. Most of my time here was spent like a playdate. We played with toys, did arts and crafts and jumped around doing "moves". My older granddaughter calls her made up acrobatic dances "moves". She has an unlimited amount of creative steps. My younger granddaughter has a permanent smile on her face. She giggled and smiled the entire time I was here. The time here was filled with hugs, kisses and pure joy. I haven't even left yet but I cannot wait to return.

Through A Child's Eyes

Christmas is not my holiday but as a grandparent I have adopted it. Before I had my grandchildren, I did not understand the fuss. Now I embrace it, not as a religious day but as a day of happiness and childlike wonder. Any day that makes a child happy is a good day. While most young children do not yet understand the concept of God and religion, they do understand a day of family festivities. Unwrapping a lot of gifts and eating delicious food with your whole family is all they focus on. That is how I see the holiday and am glad that I have the opportunity to broaden my horizons.