Remember me? Well, I'm back and have big news.

Hi everyone.  Sorry I've been gone for a while.  I've been having some health issues; shoulder, knees, back, breathing, etc.,  but most significantly with my writing hand an carpal tunnel syndrome.  I've been able to keep it together during the work days but after that my hand goes into the brace which doesn't allow for much typing. I'm trying to re-learn lefty typing but it's going slow. 

The other issue I've been dealing with is the weight.  For years now I've been avoiding a particular option.  I've been determined to try other things first, however, after years of trying diets (not all fads, some real ones too) and exercise I am barely holding my own and not losing anything.  I've got too much extra poundage and other health conditions, primarily the diabetes, has pushed me to this decision and it's not one I take lightly.  Surgery is definitely NOT the easy way out.  This is a major life changing event and it will be a long and difficult road.  As the body gets older it becomes more difficult to recover from  any procedure.  With my underlying conditions, it's even more difficult.  So, it's now or never (never meaning I'll probably be gone in a few years).  I also feel I'm setting a bad example for the kids. This is just me and my feelings, not a judgement on other overweight people who work with children. 

I have decided to go with the Lap Band Surgery.  This is the least invasive of the procedures and has the least amount of complications as well as being reversible if need be.  As I said, it's a major life changing event; not just the reduced amount and type of food I eat but also financially.   In order to get this covered I will need to switch to my employer's most expensive health insurance plan; that will cost an additional $75/month.  Plus there is a $500 deductible and they cover 90% which leaves me with 10% out of pocket just for the surgery.  Add in followup appointments with the specialist for fills and unfills on the band and Primary Care doctor check-ins, new clothes as needed, etc.  I'm looking at year one costs of approximately $5,175.  That doesn't include interest on the credit card I'll need to charge this to.  Since I am currently only about $60 ahead of my bills every month this is going to be tricky.

My time to have this done is early August (after the Library's Summer Reading Program but before Fall programming begins). 

I've begun taking step to come up with some creative financing.  You'll notice my blog has an Amazon.com link now.  I am part of their Affiliates program.  If you begin your Amazon.com search from my blog it will take you directly to the Amazon website.  You will not notice any difference.  It's the same website you have always used in the past.  Also, I don't have any tracking info so I have no idea who is buying the item.  The difference for me is that, for the referral, I will get 4% if the sale.  4 cents on the dollar is a lot, neither is 40 cents for every $10 but, hopefully it will add up in the long run.  I also have several links on the sides of my blog that relate to what I'm blogging about.  These are links to other sites with related info (I don't get to choose them) and I get a few cents for each click.

I'm working out some other creative financing ideas now and keep you all up to date on how things are going.  Also, as I get closer to the main surgery dates, I will begin to Vlog (video blog) about the experience both before and after the surgery.

Well, my wrist is really hurting now so I'm going to leave it here.  Please post comments or questions I'll get back to you ASAP.  I also plan, later in the week, to update my lists of 2010 movies, books and facts.  I have a lot of additions.

Until then faithful readers, [insert quippy farewell line here].

Michael

ugh

Sorry I've been quiet for the last several days.  I've been out sick with a bad cold and allergies.  I'll post something int eh next day or so.  In the meantime, I've updated my "books" and "dvd' posts with what I've been doing while I've been trapped at home under the covers.  Hope everyone out there is doing well.

Books, Books, where are the books?

So, I went with a friends to the VNSA books sale in Phoenix today.  Sunday is 1/2 price day which it much easier on the wallet and in the past we've found some good deals.  Even though the stock on Sunday this year was much less than usual we were stil able to find a few gems.  I'm not sure if there were fewer donations or if more dealers were there on Saturday but the place was pretty much picked clean.  I was hoping to get a few items to sell in my new eBay store which will be launching soon an I did.  Not many but I did get a really nice (and large) book on Da Vinci and his drawings for myself.  All in all, not a complete waste of a day.  I did get some good exercise. 

Speaking of which, tomorrow is the Renaissance Festival.  Going to attend along with some others from the Library system.  That'll be a lot of good exercise too.  Glad the temps are back in the mid 70's.  It's also nice to have a couple of days off from the unpacking.  Still lots to do but I've got to take a break.  As much as I love the Library I need to take a break for a couple days from that also.  I learned in my past job that down time is critical, even if there is still work to be done.

Oh well, better hit the sack.  Lots of walking to do tomorrow.

The Dangers of the Hokey Pokey (also comments on the symbolic frame of organizations)

If you have a bad shoulder, be careful how you put right right hand in. I did it a bit too quickly and gave it too much of a shake and pulled a muscle. Yes, I actually did injure myself doing the Hokey Pokey during storytime. It's not a bad injury, and I've done this several times in the past. It was such a fun storytime though, that it was worth it. It's already starting to feel better. This group also had a great time putting their backsides in and shaking them about. It's the simple things in life that make it all worthwhile.

Anyway, onto more adult matters. I've been reading my next assignment for the Leadership Academy in "Reframing Organizations" by Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal. This next one coming up is the symbolic frame of organization; the corporate culture and style that identifies an organization. It goes beyond golden arches, geckos, clydesdales and the bulls-eye. This goes deeper into the myth, vision, values and rituals of the internal workings of the organization.

Many organizations think they have positively "branded" themselves, showing people that this is how we do things and that's why we're wonderful. Unfortunately, my miss the mark. It's not just the outward appearance that creates your brand, it's also how you treat the staff, the policies you create, the rules you lay down, and the attitude you show everyone both internal and external. In order to have a truly great brand you must also consider the culture internally. The "do as I say, not as I do" attitude many organizations have completely destroys any brand you want to portray to the external customer. When any organization says ""we want to be number one with our customers", "the customer is always right", "we go the extra mile", etc. and then creates internal "hands-off" policies or publicly praising an action and at the same time privately reprimanding employee the you're just creating a false image. You can't force people to create a positive brand. You've got to fully embrace your brand image 100%, internally, externally, sideways, up, down, diagonally.... you get the picture.

For managers, those on the top rungs of the ladder and in these difficult economic times it may mean sacrificing. I don't mean cutting more frontline staff or lowering the wages of frontline, part-time (or full-time) workers who are already feeling underpaid, unappreciated, overworked, etc. What were those rules that from business class years ago? Twenty percent of the people do eighty percent of the work. It's also likely that the twenty percent are getting eighty percent of the pay. It's not all about money, but how about thanking the frontline staff for keeping the organization running on a daily basis. Throw a little day-long party (so all shifts get to participate), give them a gift card (a $10 gift card to Target or Wal-Mart can go a long way). You can't tell me that between a dozen or so (and in some smaller organizations maybe three or four) managers you can't scrape together a few hundred dollars to thank the people who have provided you the ability to earn the higher pay.

Until management begins to treat their employees exactly the same (or in many cases better) than they expect to their customers to be treated, they won't have that truly great brand.

relaxing weekend

Well, I took advantage of the cool, dry weather and stayed inside most of the weekend reading and watching movies. Anyone out there play the video game "Postal" or "Postal 2"? Well, they made a movie out of it. You really need to be a fan of the games to enjoy the humor that was in the movie. There were also a lot of "name" actors in it you don't expect to see in this type of film.

I saw "Thirst" which is a Korean vampire movie. Normally, I don't watch subtitled movies anymore because it's too hard to see the words, but this was pretty good. It was more like "True Blood" than "Twilight"; which is good, not that I despise "Twilight" or anything. It's just not as light. It's a bit more "grown up" like True Blood.

I also spent some time catching up on my 2nd/3rd grade chapter books. After "World War Z", which was a great book, I needed something light.

BTW, the preview for the new movie "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" looks really good.

State of the Union

What can I say? I support Obama. I hope he can do what he says he will try to do. I definitely trust and believe in him a lot more then the past several presidents. Now it has been a whole year but remember that he came in to office with a huge disaster on his hands; a disaster that was
partially created directly by the previous administration.

I still like many of his ideas and hope that the politicians can put the politics aside and do what's right for the people....all the people not just the ones with deep pockets.

Huh? What?

So, tonight I have blogger's block brought about by sleep deprivation. During the day I'm able to summon forth the energy to be a good Librarian and, of course, drive but nights are tough. I'm on my fourth night of 2 hr or less sleep. Let's hope tonight I can get a bit more sleep. There is lots of work to do.