4:04 p.m. - 2003-01-25
Why and why?
Sorry I'm late Dear Diary, the server for Diaryland crashed last night for quite a while, so I went to bed instead.
My blood pressure was a "little elevated" yesterday when I went to see my doctor. I had gone to have my ear checked because the cold that had settled in it seemed to be getting worse. He slipped the cuff on my arm before I could explain, so he caught me. I had taken a decongestant and forgotten to take a couple of doses of the one med I do take, plus this extreme cold takes a heavy toll on the body. So we (I) decided it was just a blip. I was more concerned about him, because he was showing so much stress and he has been fighting the flu and colds going around as much as the rest of the population. Setting up a new office, while running an operation full out - I do that as a Returning Officer - is very demanding and he has had to do it twice in six months under very difficult circumstances. He told me a little more about the shenanigans of the last landlord, which is part of the reason for the second move in such a short time. Having to cope with legal issues and illness, plus all the paperwork that is required of any administrator means he hasn't been able to care for his patients as well as he'd like. Yet that was the whole reason he chose to set up his own clinic - he is a good MD. Anyway,I offered again to help as a volunteer until I'm working again, but I could see he was wondering why anyone would do that. I've already explained that in my last entry, and in the above text. As well, I know it won't be too long before I have to go through the same process when the next election is called, so it would be good to get some practice in beforehand. Last election, I remember walking into our office the first day we opened, already having set up appointments for the phones to be hooked up, mail delivery, and the furniture delivered, thinking it wouldn't be much of an issue. Then, as usually happens, everything went slightly awry and a lot of unexpected problems arose - including vandalism from the prior tenant - just enough to take up three times the amount of time one allocates. There were several days where I didn't eat or look up from the "have to's" until eight or nine at night, after having begun the office workday 12 hours earlier. Any short cuts I can devise now would be worth my time in his office. I think he was closer to accepting the offer by the end of our discussion.
When I got home there were two messages waiting for me. The first was from my supervisor. Could I attend an interview on Monday with respect to the new contract they've been working on? Well, that day is fairly booked up now, but of course I'll work something out. That's usually the way job hunting goes from what I can recall - I haven't had to go looking for work for several years - a long stretch as you're sending out resumes, then two or three possible choices all at the same time. This time, one choice is working with something I love to do with a supervisor I really trust and respect, the second choice is working in a relatively new environment with the opportunity to learn a great deal and, I think, a bit more autonomy, and door number three is the mystery door as the interview seems to be geared more to finding out about me as a person. So what do I want, comfort zone and security, new and challenging experiences, or a leap of faith - can't I have all three?
The second call was from Andr� at Employment Insurance. He had the documents I dropped off on Wednesday, would I have time to clarify a couple of things so he could forward my check? YES! I think perhaps Darlene, the woman I spoke with on Wednesday, may have asked the office to fast track my file. I didn't hide how stressful I was finding the delay in processing my claim (probably the other reason my blood pressure was up) when I spoke with her. One thing I've learned over time, is to never take your frustrations out on the front line people in any service. For one thing, they have no control when there are systemic problems in an operation. Secondly, if someone earlier on has messed things up - as has happened on my file twice now - it means that their workload is just as heavily impacted by their co-workers' lack of knowledge or skill as your needs are. Having to take abuse for those factors is wasteful and unfair and it doesn't move the issue forward one knot. Sometimes that person you've just unloaded on, may be the only ally you'll find as you try to resolve things. When I spoke with her, I clarified immediately that I knew nothing to that point was her fault, but that I was very frustrated and couldn't wait much longer for the income I am entitled to. We talked a little further and then she said she'd see what she could do. Andr� was her solution and he was a good one. He said I would have my check next week.
Checked the newspaper when I'd finished my calls (another reason for the blood pressure). Seems the Provincial government has decided they are now going to turf the elected members of the health boards that were elected 18 months ago because "we don't need elected representatives" to do the job. They are to be replaced with appointees of the province on April 1, 2003. I'm beginning to wish the Federal Government would apply the same rationale to this Provincial government. I've mentioned in earlier entries, that the provincial government is at loggerheads with the federal government over the administration of the Canada Health Act. In the Federal Government's Romanow and Kirby reports, that came out just before Christmas, among several recommendations was that provincial governments should have to account to the public and the feds for the billions of tax dollars they receive each year for health care. Well Duh! I'm guessing that the provincial government doesn't want any leaks to the press or any public discussion on any of the tactics they'll likely pull to circumvent this and several of the other recommendations. Maybe Premiers and their cabinets should be deemed the same as CEO's of large companies - that's how they refer to themselves anyway - then the Enron solution could be applied. Right now they claim they have immunity from prosecution for wrong-doing.
Second entry was kind of curious. There was an article about two NORAD jets escorting a lear jet into the Calgary airport the day before as an anti-terrorist exercise. Nothing wrong with that, except that both the Canadian and American military use the airspace over Calgary on a regular basis for a variety of purposes. I've lived within a few miles of the end of one of our busiest landing strips for twenty four years - as in, I wave to the pilots who sometimes wave back. I know the regular flight patterns for our airport intimately. Since the Gulf war, when military staging was almost a nightly exercise, I have been able to recognize the different motors/sounds of that aircraft - not hard since it makes even the jumbo jets' engines sound tinny. There was significant movement, for example a year ago January and again last May, with smaller bursts of activity in between, escalating again late in November and in December, so why pick this one incident to highlight as a news story. Oh well, maybe the editor needed filler.
The third disturbing entry was of another probable arson fire. This time it was at a furniture factory just before staff were supposed to arrive. Very hard on the firemen who, of course, are handling water in -20 temperatures. I met one of the workers at the bus stop on the way home from my doctor. No work today now. He just arrived in Canada 10 days ago from India - where it is summer - and he had no idea of how to dress for this weather. Poor guy was in a spring jacket. I asked him if he needed a break buying a winter coat - there are agencies that supply them at low or no cost - but he said no he was ok re: finances. Problem is with all these fires they not only hurt the businesses, the employees - who are often not paid very well to begin with - lose their pay for the time the business is closed or even their jobs as a result. I wonder what the arsonist's problem is.
Anyway, my guys are wanting dinner so I better go do the Mom thing.
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