Once you *know* it's stress, everything makes sense
Hey everyone! First post by this newbie. I've known Steve Basile for like ten years, and I'm delighted that he's put together this neat 'blog.
Tuesday night, I didn't get to sleep until 4AM. This is very unusual for me. I was having anxiety over the fact that I was feeling some tightness in my chest, and various "things that go bump in the night" unpleasantnesses. When I decided to look up "chest tightness, job stress" on google.com, and found out various other physical and emotional things that are linked with stress, it finally hit me: my job is stressing me out! I have managers who are very good at managing, but rather lacking in the "warm fuzzies" department. My group is highly competitive and elite. I know they enjoy and appreciate my contributions, but I also know that there are other people in there who "work harder" than I do, so I guess I should just work on becoming more serene about the low appraisal I got this year, and the low appraisal that I may get next year... *sigh*. Don't big companies have any managers who care about trying to "take care" of their employees anymore? I guess I had just been really lucky during my previous 13 years with my company...
But, compared to lots of folks who really don't enjoy their work, and lots of other folks who wish they could *find* work, I do count my blessings.
Oh, and by the way, Iron Chef Restaurant at 183 and Burnet is pretty good, in an "Ikea" sort of way... Try their "Iron Hurricane" ($3 special).
...to have a family I actually enjoy spending time with. I am up North in Albany, NY , celebrating my parents' 50th Anniversary, and have really been struck by how much fun we have when we are together. We had dinner at my baby sister's house (celebrating her 38th birthday this weekend as well) on Friday, then a wonderful catered dinner at a favorite restaurant for Mom and Dad and the immediate family on Saturday night. Sunday took us all to the Catholic Church where my Mom was baptised, made her First Communion, and attached to the school she and my dad attended many years ago, before being married there during the Eisenhower administration. They renewed their vows (my Dad hesitated a bit before saying "I do" once again) at a mass served by two of their nephews acting as altar boys. All 6 grandchildren brought up the offertory gifts, and all 5 children were in the audience.
Following a brunch, Sunday afternoon took us to Dad's Festival Choir concert, 100 voices singing pop, jazz and show tunes, along with a jazz ensemble and an all-male a capella group that was not only hot, but talented. Today is a day of rest after the whirlwind weekend. But I have also had some time to contemplate how lucky we are. We have our health, we love each other, and we seem to really enjoy spending time together. We have had many challenges as a family, and many ongoing difficulties, but we are so fortunate to have the circle of support and love that only a family can bring. Our extended family is typically diverse: it has a gay kid (me), some ADD/HD, some lesser-known childhood syndromes, a recovering alcoholic, a recovering heart patient, the usual array of financial challenges, one divorcee, some arthritis and a lot more trying things, but it has stayed together over the years because deep down, we like each other too. I am well aware how rare this is, and how fleeting. Enjoy every sandwich.
