I work in home infusion pharmacy. We make IV (intravenous) drugs for people to take at home, thereby enabling them to get out of the hospital and on with their lives. It's a very cool concept. You get your medicine, connect it to your IV catheter, throw the drug container in a special (but normal-looking) backpack and head out. Our patients go to school, work, on vacation, all while taking their very complicated meds. I complain about it, but truth be told, if I ever need this stuff, I'd absolutely trust my co-workers. They can be pains in the ass, but they are really good at their jobs.
It's commonly agreed at my workplace that we have communication issues. The problem is always, of course, the other guys' fault. Someone-in-management read an article (always a bad idea ~ never teach managers to read) and decided that a daily huddle was the solution. Twice each day, every department sends one or more representatives to the huddle. We're told how many patients are pending for the day and what type of therapies they'll need. Each department reports as to their status. Sometimes it's useful, such as today when we were informed not to make chronological promises because delivery couldn't meet them. It was snowing quite prettily and visibility was non-existent. Often though, it's just confusing, hence its nickname: the Daily Muddle.
In order to improve interpersonal relations at work, someone-in-management (I don't know if this is the same someone or not) decided we needed to get to know each other better. Now the Daily Muddle includes a trivia question. Today's question: What's your favorite book? Now, there's a question. How can anyone limit themselves to one? There are so many awesome books available. I could fill a bookshelf with favorites. Since a bookshelf won't fit in the computer, I'll just reveal one from time to time. Today's book: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I'd recommend this to everyone. It is one of the best books I've ever read. It's the first one that ever made me cry - I bawled so hard (if you've read it, you know exactly where I was) I couldn't finish it for another hour. This was the first book that truly transported me and the first book with a real, genuine hero (and thinking about him has me tearing up again). I know it's a "children's book" but if you've never read it: go, now, find a copy and start reading. I'll be here when you get back.
If you're wondering why "Cathy the Spherical," its because I like history & genealogy (which is just micro-history). Before there were surnames, there were descriptors. I've always liked the ones that weren't so flattering, yet probably quite accurate, like Lulach the Fool, Edward the Outlaw, Henry the Quarrelsome or Cathy the Spherical.
Today's Genealogy Tip: Label your source documents. Whenever I get new documents, I enter them in my Reunion (great genealogy software) file as unique sources. That way, I can list all the info I want to transcribe right into the source. (Uncertified copies of Minnesota death certificates are available at the Minnesota Historical Society library for 30 cents, so I have a lot.) I then link all the pertinent info to that source. Don't forget to link Mom, Dad & Spouse using the death certificate as a source, and the informant is often a family member, too. On each document I write a code number - you can use the source number from your software or number the documents consecutively. By numbering the document, you can easily find it later if you want to recheck something. In your software, record the document # and keep the documents in order. When your files outgrow the first folder (or drawer), having them coded will be a sanity saver. Of course, if it's an original source, you'll want to write on the acid-free envelope, not the actual document.
It's commonly agreed at my workplace that we have communication issues. The problem is always, of course, the other guys' fault. Someone-in-management read an article (always a bad idea ~ never teach managers to read) and decided that a daily huddle was the solution. Twice each day, every department sends one or more representatives to the huddle. We're told how many patients are pending for the day and what type of therapies they'll need. Each department reports as to their status. Sometimes it's useful, such as today when we were informed not to make chronological promises because delivery couldn't meet them. It was snowing quite prettily and visibility was non-existent. Often though, it's just confusing, hence its nickname: the Daily Muddle.
In order to improve interpersonal relations at work, someone-in-management (I don't know if this is the same someone or not) decided we needed to get to know each other better. Now the Daily Muddle includes a trivia question. Today's question: What's your favorite book? Now, there's a question. How can anyone limit themselves to one? There are so many awesome books available. I could fill a bookshelf with favorites. Since a bookshelf won't fit in the computer, I'll just reveal one from time to time. Today's book: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I'd recommend this to everyone. It is one of the best books I've ever read. It's the first one that ever made me cry - I bawled so hard (if you've read it, you know exactly where I was) I couldn't finish it for another hour. This was the first book that truly transported me and the first book with a real, genuine hero (and thinking about him has me tearing up again). I know it's a "children's book" but if you've never read it: go, now, find a copy and start reading. I'll be here when you get back.
If you're wondering why "Cathy the Spherical," its because I like history & genealogy (which is just micro-history). Before there were surnames, there were descriptors. I've always liked the ones that weren't so flattering, yet probably quite accurate, like Lulach the Fool, Edward the Outlaw, Henry the Quarrelsome or Cathy the Spherical.
Today's Genealogy Tip: Label your source documents. Whenever I get new documents, I enter them in my Reunion (great genealogy software) file as unique sources. That way, I can list all the info I want to transcribe right into the source. (Uncertified copies of Minnesota death certificates are available at the Minnesota Historical Society library for 30 cents, so I have a lot.) I then link all the pertinent info to that source. Don't forget to link Mom, Dad & Spouse using the death certificate as a source, and the informant is often a family member, too. On each document I write a code number - you can use the source number from your software or number the documents consecutively. By numbering the document, you can easily find it later if you want to recheck something. In your software, record the document # and keep the documents in order. When your files outgrow the first folder (or drawer), having them coded will be a sanity saver. Of course, if it's an original source, you'll want to write on the acid-free envelope, not the actual document.
