Work Stuff

Am I Suspended or Not?

Karen

So there’s a very real possibility that I will be suspended at work.

As I was settling into my cubicle this morning, I noticed the gal that sits next to me was staring at me.

I looked at her.

She stared back.

I raised my eyebrows. “Morning,” I said, thinking she looked a little weird.

“Have you checked your email?”

I laughed. “I just got here, so, um, no.”

“Just read it.”

I’ve worked with this gal long enough to know that her expression? Was scared. Terrified, if you want the truth. And she looked white. As in, “I’m in shock, white.”

I signed on and held my breath.

It was an email sent out to the entire company letting them know that Springfield was on the verge of having a flu epidemic. Our flu numbers were rising and if the CDC declared it an epidemic, that would mean I would be suspended without pay.

(And so would the gal I work with).

Because you see, way back in October of last year, I was given a choice. I could get the flu vaccine, like 97% of the rest of the company, or I could refuse the flu vaccine and gamble on the fact that we wouldn’t have a flu epidemic this year. BUT, if the CDC declared a flu epidemic, than I would be suspended without pay until the epidemic was declared “over.”

I didn’t have to think about it very long.

I said HELL TO THE NO.

I’m not a big vaccine sort of person. Sure. I believe children should be vaccinated for the big stuff, and I’m okay with the tetanus shot every ten years or so, heck, I’m even okay with repeating Hep B every twenty years or so, but getting a flu vaccination every year and gambling that the vaccine you get might just be the dominant strain that season just doesn’t make sense to me. And do you know how many people actually get sick after having the vaccine? Let’s put it this way, I seriously know of MORE people getting sick after having the vaccine than of people NOT getting sick.

And not to sound all conspiracy theory on you or anything? But I don’t trust the government, ANY government, regardless of political party. Seriously. There’s no telling what sort of gunk they are injecting people with every year.

And here’s something else I find odd – the CDC is claiming that St. Louis and Kansas City are “high” on the flu epidemic radar and yet, have you read/heard any news of this “outspread?” This is the stuff that the media salivates over and love to blow out of proportion so they can scare people half to death. So, I have serious doubts about the CDC’s “reporting.”

So no. I’m not going to have the flu vaccine. And if I have to get suspended in order to keep myself healthy and gunk free, so be it.

Kevin is not too happy with me. He thinks I should just have it – what’s the big deal? But it’s a big deal to me and I just can’t bring myself to say yes to having a needle jabbed into my arm and having poison injected into my body. And even if I were to cave at this point and have the injection, I can’t afford to have a reaction and get sick – we’re going to Chicago next week.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy into this whole flu vaccine thing. And I REALLY don’t appreciate how my company is bullying me into having it. They have taken my choice away, really. Because if I don’t get it, then I will be penalized.

Okay. So I’ll be penalized. And I will remain healthy and gunk free, thank you very much.

I mean, I GET the whole we’re working in the health care industry and they just want to try and protect their employees and those they come into contact with. I get it. Truly. And if I worked around a bunch of urgent care patients, or around children, then I would probably give in and have the vaccination. But I don’t. I work in a clinic where people show up in pain, not contagious. In fact, our doctors won’t see patients who are contagious and/or have any sort of illness because you can’t do surgery on a sick person.

So I’m a bit stressed. Because I honestly don’t mean to be difficult and I know if I get suspended, then it will put the girls I work in a bind, but people, I just can’t do it. I’ve agonized over this all day – ALL DAY. I’ve gone back and forth. I’ve weighed my pros and cons. I’ve talked to Kevin several times. I’ve talked to the girls at work. I even asked our boys their thoughts on the matter and the bottom line?

I JUST CAN’T DO IT.

I don’t have a phobia of needles or anything, again, I’m okay with getting vaccinated every ten years or so. But when something like this is FORCED on me and insisted upon year after year, well, I just can’t help but be suspicious and leery.

The company is supposed to be sending out an email to the people who haven’t been vaccinated tomorrow – I have no idea what it will say. But I’m mentally prepared to deal with whatever happens.

I’m going into this with my eyes wide open and my resolve firmly intact.

Even though I love my job and I’m quite good at it (I’m thoroughly convinced I’ll be one of the best schedulers they’ve EVER had), I’m beginning to wonder if I’m in the right industry given my suspicions and distaste for this sort of thing.

ADDED: One more thing, how do you know that cancers, Alhezimers, Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc aren’t somehow connected to flu shots? After all, people who get the flu shot year after year after year after year after year … that HAS to do something to a person’s body after a while, right? Sure. I don’t have any proof that the flu vaccine is a contributing factor in any of these diseases/disorders, but then again, do you have any proof to show me that it doesn’t?? Just something to think about …

random stuff

St. Patrick’s Day Edibles

Karen

I know it’s last minute, but check out these yummy St. Patrick’s food ideas …

Clover Cupcakes

It doesn’t take the luck of the Irish to make these St. Patty’s Day treats look so sweet — just a clever baking technique.

Clever Cloves

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these yummy shamrocks made from yogurt-covered pretzels.

Potato Candy

Yes, there really is potato in this classic Irish treat, though you’d never know by tasting. Rolled in coconut, these mini spud-shaped sweets make a perfect St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

I know what you’re thinking, POTATO CANDY?!?! But dude, my mom used to make potato candy (sans the coconut) and it really IS pretty awesome. Try it!

Abundant Life

Audio Teaching: Perfecting the Saints

Karen

by Dave Hanson
One of Jesus’ last commands before his ascension was to “go make disciples of all nations.” Clearly God’s and Jesus’ vision is for each Christian to become a strong, mature believer. Dave Hanson explores the goal in Ephesians 4:13, that we be unified and “become mature.” This maturity is exemplified by love, meaning that all Christians should strive to love to the point of reaching out and helping others. Dave shows the context of Ephesians 4:13 with the equipping ministries of Verse 11 working to “prepare” or “perfect” the saints to help all of us get involved as the subsequent verses indicate.

This teaching explores the Greek word, katartizo, meaning “to supply exactly what someone needs,” and shows that each believer has the awesome privilege and responsibility to reach out and love other believers to “perfect” them so that we are all unified and become mature in Christ..

Click the arrow to listen.

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random stuff

When the World Gets in My Face I say, Have a Nice Day

Karen

Have a Nice Day Lyrics, by Bon Jovi:

Why, you wanna tell me how to live my life?
Who, are you to tell me if it’s black or white?
Mama, can you hear me? Try to understand.
Is innocence the difference between a boy and a man?
My daddy lived the lie, that’s just the price that he paid
Sacrificed his life, just slavin’ away.

Ohhh, if there’s one thing I hang onto,
That gets me through the night.
I ain’t gonna do what I don’t want to,
I’m gonna live my life.
Shining like a diamond, rolling with the dice,
Standing on the ledge, I show the wind how to fly.
When the world gets in my face,
I say, Have A Nice Day.
Have A Nice Day

Take a look around you; nothing’s what it seems
We’re living in the broken home of hopes and dreams,
Let me be the first to shake a helping hand.
Anybody brave enough to take a stand,
I’ve knocked on every door, on every dead end street,
Looking for forgiveness,
what’s left to believe?

When The world keeps trying, to drag me down,
I gotta raise my hands, I’m gonna stand my ground.
Well I say, Have A Nice Day.
Have A Nice Day

Don’t let the world get you down, people.

Life

Get a Grip on the Weight Problems

Karen

I’ve been tired.

I mean, UNNATURALLY tired.

I mean, SOMETHING DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT tired.

And then it hit me, I haven’t been taking my iron.

Duh.

I’ve been anemic since my first Ob-Gyn appointment. I’ve never been able to give blood because of my iron-deficient blood. And when I forget to take my iron? There are days I can barely motivate myself to stay awake, let alone move.

Seriously.

This job, which sucks what little mental energy I had to begin with, right out of the few brain cells I possess, coupled with the fact that it’s a sedentary job, has NOT helped my tired levels.

At. All.

I finally got smart and took my little red pill both Saturday and Sunday and today? I feel like a new woman! It’s AMAZING how much more ALERT and AWAKE I feel when I take my iron. I felt SO good, in fact, that I actually worked out. I did 20 minutes of EA Sports and then I walked 2.5 miles while watching “Brothers and Sisters.” (A guilty pleasure, I must admit).

And though I’m tired now, it’s a different kind of tired. It’s a HEALTHY sort of tired. I’m pleasantly tired and know I will sleep pretty soundly tonight.

Kevin is relieved. He never says anything about my weight gains (smart man), but I can tell he’s pretty happy whenever I get back into my workout modes.

I’d rather sit and watch TV. I rather surf the Internet and get fired up about politics (I have SO MANY thoughts on what’s happening right now, ya’ll, but UGH, that requires a little more mental energy than I’m capable of) …

… but I also dislike how tight my pants have become. I’m not exactly crazy about my jiggly arms, either. Or the extra roll of fat that has suddenly appeared in my pelvis region.

This simply will not do.

I will not succumb to this weight gain, I simply won’t.

I refuse to buy bigger clothes to accommodate my growing girth (a common problem judging by the fact that the majority of Americans are overweight), I force myself to cut back on the chocolate (Mmmmm … chocolate), and I force myself to MOVE, even though that’s the last thing I really want to do when I get home from work every day.

Though I will never likely have the hard body I once had (wait – when was that exactly?), I REFUSE to get any bigger than I already am.

And not because I think Kevin won’t love anymore.

And not because I’m afraid of what society will think of me.

But because I don’t want to be any bigger.

And I like being alive and living my life, quite frankly.

It’s time to stop killing ourselves and get a grip on this weight problem – don’t you think?