A Most Ridiculous Week

So I guess the trial isn't over yet.

On Sunday, after returning from camp, my Check Engine light went on. In the 5+ years I have owned the car, none of the lights had gone on, even when major repair was needed. So I figured it was a good idea to take it into the shop and hopefully this would help them discover what was wrong with the not-starting for me and starting for them issue.

Monday afternoon I dropped Derek off at the shop and picked up a rental car. Tuesday the shop called just to say they didn't know what was going on yet, but they'd keep looking. So far so good. Tuesday evening as I was getting into bed I was COLD, like shivering, teeth-chattering cold, and my temperature shot up to 102 in addition to several trips to the bathroom. Needless to say, I did not go to work yesterday.

The shop called yesterday while I was recovering on the couch and informed me that it would be $1000 to fix the car. CHOKE. I told them I needed more time to think about it, I'd call in the morning. In the mean time, I'm trying to figure out if it's worth spending that much to fix it or would it be a better investment to just buy a new, more reliable car? After talking with my friends, I conceded that I just needed a car that would run. I originally said I needed Derek to last a year while I'm paying off some medical debt, but I hesitantly figured I could squeeze a small car payment in somewhere.

Because I have to be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to work, I wasn't allowed to come in today. So this morning I called the shop, told them I wanted to just trash it and get a new one, and the guy encouraged me to come in and take a look at it. He spent a good deal of time with me, and I was paying attention, but I also could feel myself starting to tear up. You know those times where you're trying NOT to cry and it's just not working? Yeah, that was this time. Here he was trying to convince me that he could SAVE it and it wasn't as bad as it COULD be, and I was just confused because what I am to do now? I was more embarrassed than anything. But he was really nice and understood what I was going through and told me to wait a few seconds while he talked to his boss. The result? A new quote of $600! After some calculations, I said yes.

So this week I have gone from not having a car, to possibly getting a new one, to fixing the one I have, all with a GI illness mixed in. I'm pretty exhausted. But this weekend I'm headed to camp again, and I can't wait. I always find rest there, and I hope that this weekend isn't any different!

Impatient with Inefficiency

Last fall, with impending job interviews in sight, I decided I should practice answers to common questions, like what are you strengths and weaknesses? Anyone can name their strengths, but I was always at a loss for weaknesses. I'm not perfect, I know I have them, but I just didn't know what they were. So I asked my mother, because she knows (me) best.

She said I can be impatient with inefficiency.

Whaaat? I thought about it. And after much observation, it's very true. I'm always looking for ways to make processes easier and better (more efficient), and I do get frustrated when tasks take forever or I get interrupted. Hence, my frustrating day.

I'm still trying to learn time management at work, which is frustrating to me - there should be a better way to figure out what is priority! I have an intern coming in one week, and her binder has yet to be put together. I also have the weekly task of doing follow-up calls, and the more I procrastinate week to week, the more calls I have to make. In addition, I also do a lot of tasks that need to be done but are not done consistently; I'm the only one that is there everyday, so typically that falls to me. And then when it's 3:45 and time to leave, I'm surprised that I have made so little progress on anything.

And then there's my blood thinner. I ran out last week and called the pharmacy to refill. They needed to contact the doctor. Okay, no problem, usually takes a day or so. I phoned the doctor as well to give them a head's up. A few days later, still not filled. Phone the doctor yet again, but it's the weekend, so I don't get a response until yesterday. Yes, he'll fill it, but he wants me to get a blood test (that monitors my blood viscosity) to check and make sure the dosage is right. I agree. The order is faxed to the hospital where I work, and I plan to get it done after I clock out at 3:45. I didn't leave until 5:00. Why did it take that long to do a 1-minute blood draw? Inefficiency! In the form of mix-up with the orders, calling my doctor's cell phone because the main line said it was "after hours" at 4:00, and then finding out it was someone else's fault. Sheesh. It's just a stinkin blood test, how inefficient at that can you be?

It may not normally have bothered me, but it was the end of the day, I was hoping to get in and out and then go work out, which never happened. And when I don't work out, I'm usually a bit more stressed and a little less happy.

So what's the cure? I'm typically a patient person, EXCEPT when I know how the process could've been done better. Sigh.

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

That's always a fun line to start any conversation, and thus today, it will start my blog. Last week was normal, as in, nothing really spectacular occurred. Last weekend, however, I got to go hang out & help out at Camp Eagle which was pretty much amazing.

One of the first sights that greeted me upon arriving was this:

So apparently there was a HUGE storm at camp the weekend before and this particular tree (who I can blame for putting a dent in my rear fender along with many others!) decided to bring an end to the Brown Suburban. The Brown Suburban is a legend at camp. I'm pretty sure it's not only the most disgusting and ruthless vehicle, but it's also the most ridiculous. That thing will not die. One summer the rear axle broke. I'm pretty sure it's engine has been rebuilt several times. But it is STURDY. And gross.

On Saturday I suddenly realized that, wow, I was going to be going home on Sunday afternoon, but then I have to get up and go to work on Monday. OH NO. This is when I asked myself what have I gotten myself into?! I was contacted to help out and replied that, hey! I've got my weekends free, why not? I forgot that weekends are for rest. Sigh.

But God is good and he'll take care of me. And I love being at camp. It's rest for my soul, and there's so many people and memories there that I love.

Tomorrow is my day off! I was confused several weeks ago why my supervisor was giving me a Thursday off instead of a Friday or Monday (as usual when I work a weekend), but I know now that it's the Lord's provision. I could feel myself almost getting burnt out today and so I really do need a day off. My intern starts in like a week and a half and I still haven't gotten her binder together, and my niece's birthday is in a week and I need to finish her scrapbook. If I wasn't such a perfectionist, I'd be fine! But no, everything has to be done with EXCELLENCE, not just halfway there. Sigh again.

Cheers for a day off!

Best. Weekend. Ever!

Wow, so I just had possibly one of the most amazing weekends since I've moved to Texas. I can't believe how sunny it is here, and it makes me super happy when it's sunny.

Friday and Saturday I went camping with Dawn's sister and her friends at Inks Lake. I needed to get out of Austin and this couldn't have been any more perfect! I realized how much I love camping again, and how I really should do it more often - like once a month. It was perfect weather, and I even avoided worsening my sunburn on my shoulders. However, while kayaking I realized I didn't put any sunscreen on my legs, and so now they're super red. Sigh. Someone told me that Texas is closer to the sun than Kansas, and I'm beginning to believe them!

I also realized how much I want to marry a guy who loves camping as well. It's almost required.

And here's a pancake I made. It's big.

We got back on Saturday evening, ate some amazing burgers from a place by UT, then watched Chuck, a show that I'm becoming very preoccupied with. It's pretty funny and awesome.

Sunday I went to church, which was great, and had lunch with my friend Teal. After baking some cookies and starting laundry, I decided to go do my Bible study at a coffee house that's on Lake Austin, so beautiful! It's right there on the lake, and my skin felt so good in the sun. So great. After that, I watched Chuck again. :)

And now it's Monday. Tomorrow at work we're installing a new telemetry system, so it will be kind of a fun training day, I think we're even going OUT for lunch. Weird! :)