Feeling Overwhelmed

Ever feel completely fucking overwhelmed? That is what the last few weeks have bene like here. I am REALLY looking forward to a couple of down days over the period between Christmas and New Year's Day. I have been so stressed with work stuff that some days I have come home and changed into pajamas. The other day, I came home so stressed, I thought I was going to cry. I held it off. It doesn't solve any problems...

So, I am told that work is going to try and get me to full staffing levels next month early in the month. I have been promised a full staff by both my manager, and the controller of all of my division. They both know we are doing way too much, with way too few people. So, that will be good, providing, it happens....


Grandpa Al

My grandpa Al is up and visiting. I get to see him tomorrow, and I am really looking forward to it. He and my grandmother dated for 26 years or so, until her death in 1997. He has been around since I was an infant. I never knew my grandpa. It was always just Grandma and Al. Well, I haven't seen him in almost a year, so am really looking forward to spending Christmas with him this year!

Good Ideas

I get a few daily financial newsletters, and the one today included the following, which I thought was worthy of passing along.

AN ATTORNEY'S ADVICE

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his
company.

* The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of
first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your check
book they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials
or your first name but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

* When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts,
DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead,
just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the
rest of the number and anyone who might be handling your check as
it passes through all the check processing channels won't have
access to it.

* Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.
If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do
not have a PO Box, use your work address.

Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it
if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

* Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both
sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in
your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call
and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a
photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've
all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing
a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc.

Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my
wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered
an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit
card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received
a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information
online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this
happens to you or someone you know:

* We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.
But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers
handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can
find them easily.

* File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was
stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a
first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought
to do this).

* Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately
to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number.
I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called
to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in
my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit
knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you
by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the
theft, all the damage had been done.

There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves'
purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert.
Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves
threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It
seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285;
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742;
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289;
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Last post before the weekend

So, I got offered an interview with the Dental School as their central finance person. I interview next Friday. Carla, I need help answering a questions about a rough patch on my resume. Available for some tutelage?

Thanks!

P.S. I bribe with cookies!

You are 'Silent Night'! You really enjoy
Christmas, and you like your Christmases
conventional. For you, Christmas is about
family and traditions, and you rather enjoy the
rituals of going to church at midnight and
turning off the lights before flaming the plum
pudding. Although you find Christmas shopping
frustrating, you like the excitement of
wrapping and hiding presents, and opening a
single door on the Advent Calendar each day.
You like the traditional carols, and probably
teach the children to sing along to them. More
than anyone else, you will probably actually
have a merry Christmas.


What Christmas Carol are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Work

So, if you haven't been able to guess by my spartan Blogging lately....work has been busier than I have had time to deal with. As I have mentioned, My area absorbed all of the the functions of another area, and we went from having myself plus 4 staff to myself plus 5 staff. One of those staff members, the one we absorbed, is on medical leave, so that leaves my group doing the work of two areas, with zero additional help. This was all done to procure budget savings for my department. With more state budget cuts coming this year, our budget may be even cut more. I don't think it will be possible to cut more jobs in our department without a major cut in services, but try and convince management of that! So, sorry I have only been doing the quiz thing of late, but life has been a bit too busy.

Thanksgiving
Patrick and I went to my folks house and had a pleasant enough time. It was just the four of us, and the my older brother and his family went to the sister-in-law's father's house, and my little brother lives in Florida. We re-organized their newly finished basement ala "Queer Eye". It needed it. They had 5000 lbs. of furniture in area designed to hold 1000 lbs. (you get the idea.)

Christmas
Patrick and I went with Kristen and Jack to get Christmas Trees on Saturday. We then decorated their tre on Sunday, followed by our tree. It was fun. We have an enormous tree. 8'6". I love cathedral ceilings. I have always wanted to have a large tree, and this year, we actually managed to get all of our ornaments on the tree this year! I will try and get a picture of it to add here soon.