I must say that this whole thing of working temp jobs is waay outside of my comfort zone.
It’s driving on a busy freeway in a big city. It’s walking into an unfamiliar building and meeting new people. It’s learning a new job fast enough to be able to perform it without much delay or coaching.
Back in Manteo, I drove three minutes down a lovely two-lane road and walked into a church where I worked with my husband and just a couple of other people. The job was very much in my wheelhouse and rarely if ever overwhelmed me.
I read somewhere that you should do something every day that scares you. Scary is probably too strong a word to use for a temp job but intimidating would certainly be accurate.
So each time I pull out of our driveway I pray, “Keep me safe. Make me a blessing.”
Even though I am definitely outside my comfort zone, I make it a point to keep an eye out for people who may need a listening ear or a kind word. It makes me feel less anxious if I can forget about myself and home in on someone else’s situation instead.
Since I am on a job today from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I wrote this post yesterday and published it as I was leaving the house early this morning.
This is my current work spot.
And this is me . . . trying desperately to look like I have a clue as to what I am doing.
Part of my job is to answer the phone which sounds easy except that it’s a computer-based phone system which I’m not used to. I “misplaced” at least a couple of people last Friday and they were never heard from again.
The biggest challenge for me has been remotely unlocking the front door for visitors. First I have to eyeball them to see if they look legit. Then I have to press a button to ask if I can help them and release it for them to talk. Except for one time I forgot to release the talk button and I had a guy out there just pouring out his little heart about what he was there for. He was just about done when I realized I wasn’t hearing a word of it.
And then there is a highly puzzling, miserably miscellaneous order of pushing a sequence of buttons to unlock said door. I have only gotten this secret order correct a couple of times. Last Friday I just ended up running over to the door and opening it in person and then running back to my desk to say, “Thank you for calling. How may I direct your call?” (Picture me saying this in my most fabulous chirpy voice.)
Most of the time I know what to do with the calls but I always dread that the next caller will ask a question that I will be clueless about You’ll be happy to know that I remain highly professional in those situations. I just make my voice even more chirpy and say, “I have no idea what you’re talking about” and hang up.
Just kidding.
I forward them to my emergency fount of all knowledge who directs them in the way they should go.
So most of the job is non-stressful but every once in a while, things get a bit muddled and I have to hope that my deodorant will hang in there while I chirpily unmuddle things.
Our poor living room keeps on thinking it is done with chaos and then the next thing it knows, it is the Chaos Host all over again.
We had been shopping for a sectional to put in the den and finally found a fabulous one on Facebook Marketplace for an amazing price. We picked it up about the same time we took the den apart to paint.
So the new sectional had to go hang out in the living room and the den had to have all of its belongings also delivered to the living room. It’s like Groundhog Day around here. The messes just keep happening again and again and again.
Saturday morning, the den was in its usual homey, haphazard configuration.
Within a few minutes, it was stripped of its belongings . . .
and the painting began. (And continued, long into the evening.)
Here’s what it looked like yesterday–well on its way, but still in need of a final coat and some trim work.
We hired Gage’s brothers to help us out. Braden (with the cat) did the painting and Caleb helped Steve move the furniture we had bought. Nice to have adopted family members to lend a hand!
I wanted to share a couple of photos from the night we took our tree down. I was sitting there staring at this array and felt like it was just asking to have its photo taken. And so I complied! (Never, ever argue with a Christmas array.)
Adding Gage to the array was a nice touch.
Hard to believe most of us have our Christmases boxed up and put away and are almost halfway through January already. I am counting down the days till spring. Flowers and green grass make me so happy.
Steve is scheduled for an MRI next week to have a torn rotator cuff looked at. He injured his shoulder while trimming some overhead branches in Manteo and it has continued to get worse with the pain waking him up at night. His ortho doctor said he’s pretty sure Steve’s going to need surgery but he is waiting on the scan to see what all is involved.
From what we’ve heard, recuperation from this kind of surgery is difficult and lengthy–up to 6 to 12 months for a full recovery.
This transition from Manteo to Charlotte has already been difficult for us with just about everything in our lives changing so drastically–in addition to both of our moms passing away last year. And now for this probable surgery/recovery to pile on is not good news.
The Bible refers to a “peace that passes all understanding” and sometimes that is exactly what we need for the circumstances we face. Here’s praying that both your week and ours will be filled with peace.
In the good times and bad, His peace is enough.
What about you? What’s the most memorable or interesting thing that has happened to you so far this year?
Have you ever worked an office job where you felt like you were pushing all the wrong buttons? Do tell!
Have you ever felt like too many things were piling on in life, all at the same time? How did you cope?
Becky, I definitely know the feeling of getting a room all set up and then tearing it apart again. We just switched our office & guest room for the 2nd time since moving in a year & a half ago. It’s not exactly fun! Haha. And then there are all the times I’ve turned out work out room & dining room both into storage rooms for all the stuff in all the other areas of the house we have rearranged or painted!
Sorry to hear Steve may need the surgery. My MIL has had 4 shoulder surgeries in the past 2-3 years. 2 rotator cuff surgeries on her right arm and 1 rotator cuff surgery & 1 reverse socket replacement something-or-other on her left. They were all pretty painful but totally worth it according to her! Actually the socket replacement one she had almost no pain at all!! And after all of them she was driving within 2 weeks and doing full activities which include horse back riding and all that entails within 3 months at the most! She did do all her exercises that PT gave her and kept her PT appointments so that probably had a lot to do with her recovery.
The temp job thing sounds very stressful but one thing I have learned about you from following you for nearly 20 years is that you don’t give up. You are strong and smart and will keep going until you get it!
Lizz,
Wow. That’s a lot of shoulder surgeries for one person! So thankful they went well and that she’s doing well.
Yes, I am definitely done with redoing rooms over and over but with all the bedrooms yet to be painted and the den finished, we have quite a few weeks left of the disarray. Someday . . . it will all be done.
Thanks for your sweet comment about me that you closed with. Your words are definitely an encouragement!
I’ve never done temp work and I commend you for doing it. I think it would be very hard to learn something for just a few days. Good luck with your assignments.
Most memorable thing that has happened to me this year. Hmm, might be that my dryer motor went out last week so I am waiting on getting a new one on Saturday. Fortunately I had just dried a load of towels and I have a neighbor that has let me use theirs for a couple loads. I had washed a load of new sweatpants for my mom and couldn’t get it to work. It would turn on then immediately turn off. I thought I smelled something that afternoon and the repairman confirmed it when he came out the next afternoon. I’d already replaced my washer about 2 years ago – they just don’t make appliances like they used to.
I think the den is going to look great when you are done. Painting the paneling will make it so much brighter. The woman that bought my parents’ house had started painting the dark paneling in their living room when I stopped in last April. Nice that you have two extra young men to help you with the painting.
When things seem to be piling up, I have to agree with someone else who said sometimes you just need a good cry. Prayer also helps, both by you and by friends and family. Talking with a good friend is also helpful. I have an old boss that I still see about once a month for dinner. Last night was our most recent meeting and just talking to her about my mother’s increasing dementia symptoms was much needed.
Phyllis,
Glad you could get a repairman out too quickly to look at your dryer. We don’t realize how much we rely on our washers/dryers till one of them is not working.
Yes, we’re really enjoying the lighter paint in the den. We weren’t quite sure how it was going to look so we’re relieved we’re liking it.
Cry. Pray. Talk with a friend. The perfect trio of dealing with hard times. Thanks for your sharing your experience.
What a lot of things on your plate, Becky. So many adjustments. Ugh. I would be a nervous wreck, answering calls on a fancy phone like that!
So sorry to hear of Steve’s injury, and the worry that goes along with that. I hope all goes smoothly in getting a diagnosis, then treatment. Looks like a mixed bag of comments, on how other’s have experienced shoulder issues. A fave saying of mine (not sure where it came from) is “Don’t rehearse disaster.” Sometimes the circus of thoughts in our heads are worse than actually getting through some problems. Not always, but sometimes.
Prayers as you continue forward, one step at a time.
Ann,
Thanks for your words of encouragement.
Steve has his MRI Tuesday and will get the results on Thursday. It will be really good to have a clearer picture of what’s going on.
I got done with my “fancy telephone” job and feel like I learned it pretty well. Now I won’t have to be afraid of fancy telephones in the future! 🙂
Ann, I love that saying, “don’t rehearse disaster”! I’m always telling people “Don’t out yourself through all that stress and worry more than you have to. Why go through it twice, or more than that even? I was JUST telling my Daddy that a few days ago. I like your saying much better. It’s short and to the point with a big impact!
Oh, thanks Lizz!! Exactly! So many times, our heads just swim with the worst possible situations. I’m all for being prepared, but…. why live it more than we need to, or when not necessary?! I just love all the comments from others. So much support, love and tidbits of advice here!
Ann,
I have always loved this community of commenters!
I know of someone who had 2 torn rotator cuffs. She searched for non-surgical treatments and found out about stem cell injections. At the time she got them, they were not covered by her insurance so she had to pay out of pocket. They were extremely expensive, but they worked. Hers were done at a hospital in Little Rock.
Rhonda,
I met a guy last week who’d had stem cell injections for a knee injury and said doctors were hopeful it was going to completely take care of the problem. What great technology! I did a little research and you’re right–it’s a bit expensive. But glad the technology is available.
Sending prayers for a successful surgery and an easy, complete recovery for Steve.
I admire your ability to make stressful situations positive. Transitioning to a new place, new jobs often, chaos with the remodeling, Steve’s pending surgery…whew! Praying for YOU as well!
I have had times where it’s all seemed like SO MUCH but I have to remind myself to “eat the elephant” – one bite at a time – and lean into God. I have had days where all I could say was “Jesus” and wait.
I hope it’s a great week for the Smiths!
Suzanne,
Yes, those elephants in life can’t be eaten in one gulp, can they?
And I love your thought about “leaning into God.” Such a great way to phrase it.
Okay, let’s go back over 30 years to my first ‘real’ job as a receptionist in a law office. Part of my job was writing checks for the two attorneys I worked for to sign to pay office bills, then mailing them. My first month or so on the job we came in one day to find the phones had been shut off for non-payment. Come to find out I had put the check in the little windowed envelope so that it covered said window and obscured the address of the phone company, meaning they never got payment. OOPS! Surprised I wasn’t fired. Was at my current job for over 30 years (911 dispatcher) and NEVER stopped getting calls with weird questions or situations that I had no idea how to handle even after all those years of experience. Just when you think you’ve heard it all…the phone rings again. So don’t feel bad about your minor struggles with temp jobs, you’re doing great! Hope that all goes well for Steve as well!
Melissa,
I have to say I just loved that story. (And definitely glad it happened to you and not me.) 🙂 You would think the telephone company might have given you a little warning. Glad you weren’t fired!
I am in awe of anyone who works at a 911 call center. I know for a fact I would not have the presence of mind to handle that. Thanks for what you do!
I absolutely love your prayer “Keep me safe. Make me a blessing.”. May I borrow it? I don’t remember a lot about my temp-ing days, except for one job where I was shown my desk and that was it. The lady I was filling in for was on vacation and left almost no instructions. My mind froze and I couldn’t even remember what to do after turning on the power button on the computer. I eventually figured it out and everything was okay. But I sure do NOT miss those days. Prayers that Steve gets good news with his MRI and is able to get relief from the pain. And a big YAY for scoring a great deal on Marketplace!! I hope you have an enjoyable week!
Sue Ellen,
Borrow away! ‘
Yep, a temp job with no instructions would be stressful, indeed. Thankfully, with this last job, the woman I was temping for took over an hour to show me the ropes and she was a great teacher.
I won’t miss these temping days either but I’m learning stuff and doing scary (to me) things so that’s a good thing.
I work at a physical therapy office. And PT is not painful.
that is not the goal. Most Rotator cuff repairs are in an abduction pillow type of device for 6 weeks and all our clients say that is the worst part. Sleep in a recliner as lying flat will be difficult. but if he is in that much pain is waking him up at night, the surgery will probably make his life so much better. Yes he will be in PT for a good while, but it is usually 2 x a week and they will work on range of motion and then strenghting. Don’t listen to those that say it was so painful. He is having the pain now, so the surgery will make him so he doesn’t have that pain. Praying for you all as you continue this new place in your life and finding a new normal. You are doing a great job at transforming the house. I applaud your temp work. I am not sure I would be to do that.
Hugs from Iowa!
Please don’t sugar-coat things, rotator cuff surgery is painful. I had one shoulder done 10 years ago and the other shoulder done 5 days ago. The pain is real. And then there’s sleeping in a recliner for weeks to months. PT is not fun, and may not be super-painful, but the day after It will hurt.
Laurie,
Wow. Just days ago? You are definitely in the thick of it! I’m sorry you’ve had to go through a difficult surgery twice.
I’ve heard other people say that sleeping in the recliner was the best way for them to get any rest; glad to have that confirmed.
It’s so good to hear stories from all my readers about their personal experiences. There is a saying that says, “Hope for the best. Plan for the worst.” Definitely holds true in this situation!
Marjie,
Physical therapy is such an amazing field; I have gotten help with PT several times with a foot problem.
Interesting to know that range of motion and strengthening is what the PT will be focused on. They are also wanting to do some PT over the next couple of weeks to see if they can strengthen the muscles around the injured place. We’ll know a lot more after the MRI next week.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
Amazed, that Steve (being a man…) agreed to paint the den’s panel walls! It looks good!
Praying for peace about his shoulder and surgery. Your future is safe in the Lord’s care.
Ruth
Old song-
My God is able, He is able .
I know my God is able to carry me through.
For he has healed the
broken-hearted,
Set the captive free,
Made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see.
My God is able.
Ruth,
Well, actually Gage’s brother did the painting but Steve had to sign off on it because first, he wanted to keep the walls dark. I think the lighter color looks so much more cheery and spacious.
Thanks for your prayers for his shoulder. Will be glad when the MRI is done and we know what is ahead.
Love that song!
When I started a new job over 30 years ago, I was using a typewriter, which transitioned into going to computer classes. It was a weeklong class. On about the 3rd day, I guess I was doing what was suppose to be done. The lady teacher said to those around something to the effect that I was doing it correctly. I told her, “do you know those chickens that are in those cages and you put your quarter in the the chicken does a trick and then gets its food? That’s me – the chicken, I might be doing it right, but I have no idea what I’m doing! Since that time, I have progressed, but do know what you mean. Very unnerving when other folks are around – but your friendly chirpy voice I know helps a lot. So sorry about Steve. Even though we have been praying for you, will make this an added special prayer.
Sharyn,
Yep, I know exactly what you’re talking about with the chicken trick! 🙂
Thanks for the extra prayers for Steve. Not quite sure what will be ahead for us.
I have had rotator cuff surgery twice on the same shoulder and it’s my dominant arm. The first one was the worst, it couldn’t be done arthroscopic because there was too much damage. It was a 7 hour surgery requiring metal anchors to hold everything in place. I’m not going to lie, it was terrible. Physical therapy was terrible. It was 5 months before I could drive.The second surgery was done by scope and was much easier and the anesthesiologist gave me a nerve block that had my shoulder and arm completely numb for 4 days! Those are the worst post op days so the nerve block was a real blessing. Tell Steve to get it if they offer it! Physical therapy wasn’t bad the second go around. People will tell you to get an ice machine. I personally didn’t have one. Ice packs work just fine. You can make your own with rubbing alcohol and water in zip lock bags. Much more economical than buying them. That keeps them pliable so they can be molded around the shoulder. Ice is your best friend after this surgery. Also stay on top of pain meds. Don’t wait till the pain is excruciating because it’s hard to catch up! Prayers for good results on his MRI!
I’m going for a nerve conduction study later today. I had an MRI 2 weeks ago on my back. I had a hip replacement 9 years ago and now I’m having bad hip pain but they think the pain is coming from my back since X-rays show the implant is where it’s supposed to be. Getting old is definitely not fun!
Debbie,
Sounds like you have weathered your share of medical storms! Thanks for the good advice about the surgery; I’ll be sure Steve mentioned that to his surgeon.
Hope you get some help quickly on the hip pain. And you’re right–getting old is definitely not for the faint of heart. But definitely better than the alternative!
When starting a new job, I’ve experienced those ‘bumps’ but they eventually work out because of the permanency of the job. I can’t imagine working a temp job. Oh the bumps. And then you are probably just getting the hang of things when the job is over. Your fortitude is inspiring. Hang in there.
The den looks great with the new light color! Love it!! I am the kind of person that likes everything in it’s place. It makes my brain happy. All that chaos would make me crazy. lol At least you can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Our kids and grandkids (and 2 large dogs!) were all here a week ago and stayed 3 nights. Talk about chaos! I love them all dearly and was thrilled to have them all here. Don’t get me wrong, but I was glad to be able to put the house back together after they left and get things back to normal. 🙂
LeeAnne,
Yes, temp jobs are definitely not going to be my permanent solution but they’re something to tide us over until after we find out what the recovery from Steve’s possible surgery might be and how long I’ll need to stay home with him.
Kids, grands and 2 dogs. Yep. I can certain picture the chaos! Nothing like getting everything established to your usual normal “settings.”
Dear Becky, You are amazing. His Peace truly is beyond our understanding. Transition is NOT easy but this one indeed seems to have extra bumps. Our prayers are with you all. Did I mention I think you are Amazing?! Thanks for keeping us updated. Much Love, Sheri
Sheri,
Thank you for your words of encouragement, always beautifully spoken.
We’re just taking the days as they come and believing grace will be in place for the days when it is especially needed.
The only thing that has happened this year is that Covid finally caught me. I have had very minimal symptoms so really don’t even feel sick, but have still stayed in and not gone anywhere.
I have never worked an office job, so can’t relate to those tasks, but I have pushed the wrong “buttons” in many other jobs. I taught preschool for 20 years, but when I went back and had to do student teaching in 4th grade I was way out of my element. I got thru, but barely. I was thinking each day how I didn’t want to do it and didn’t want to be there. I wish I had taken your attitude of looking for someone who needed something and not looked only at my misery.
I have had the feeling of too much piling up at once. I usually handle it by ignoring some of it until I can’t, and then I have a melt down and sob. At some point I get up and deal with what I have to. No wise words of wisdom.
Keep enjoying your challenge of temp jobs and think of all you are learning. Prayers for Steve as he consults on his surgery.
Patti,
Yes, sometimes the only solution for a very bad day is what you said–sob! Tears were given to us for a reason and I have also put them to good use.
Sorry to hear Covid finally caught you. You managed to elude it for a very long time. Glad your symptoms are mild.
When I moved to my current house at first furniture was scattered all over the living room until I decided where I wanted everything. One morning as I walked to turn on a lamp I tripped on the leg of an end table, fell and broke my left arm in five places running from my shoulder to my elbow. The table stayed in place with my phone sitting on it. I crawled around for what seemed like hours trying to get to. When I finally managed to get it I called 911 and then had to crawl to the front door and unlock it. To this day I am not sure how I managed to do this, desperate I guess. Surgery was required, but first the swelling needed to go down. It all ended well though and now my furniture is where it belongs. One of my physical therapists said I was the best patient she ever had, just because I did the exercises. I hope that Steve recovers as well as I have. All of you should look out for furniture obstacles.
Cindy,
An arm broken in five places and you managed to crawl to the door to open it? You are a tougher gal than I am! I am so thankful that we have great medical help in the U.S. where we call a number and gifted people come to our door to help. That’s how I felt when Steve had his bee sting incident.
Glad you fully recovered and you really impressed your therapist!