Calmer day today. I sent a very carefully worded email that seems to have goosed someone into fixing their own estimate. And they delayed the training phone call until the morning. Actually, they kept delaying it all day and I put a firm deadline on how late. And then they delayed again. So it's tomorrow morning now. I honestly don't care if he uses my information to fix his estimate because it will fix it for his boss. My end goal is to provide his boss with estimates that provide the true costs of the jobs so that he stops losing money with each job. And said person got a comeuppance in another area of work today, actually two other areas, so the ego bruising probably didn't want the phone call. Even though boss swears that I have the ability to keep ego bruising to a minimum and keep people focused on moving forward to the goal.
She might, or might not, have been on the receiving end of that a time or two when we started working together. She's a bit sensitive to criticism, and took just about everything as criticism until she realized that I didn't really care. Just as long as we figured out how the mistake happened and took steps to make sure it wouldn't happen again, if possible. I don't play the blame game. It's pointless. At the same time, I will not take blame if someone is playing that game. She learned that and a lot of things just settled out.
Boss and I have an understanding that in order to have a work/life balance that keeps me functioning at the level she needs me at, I don't do overtime. I don't work through meals. I have a weekly hour limit that I will go over for short periods of time to help clean up messes. But not regularly because that screws with my son and he becomes more needy for attention. If we keep the balance things work. If he feels that I am not providing his needed level of attention, well things become difficult and he interrupts a lot. This week is turning into that. Probably because the last two weeks have been high hours and stressful in all areas.
It is sometimes, frequently, hard for people to understand that about me. Money is useful. Sanity is more useful. Peace and calm in our home life is more useful than both of those put together, with a whole pile of other things mixed in.
Got a very pleasant Christmas surprise from a friend today. Simple things but appreciated very much. Son has an Ariel ornament for the tree. He absolutely loves Mermaid. Anything mermaid. I can't say that I don't. I wear a pendant of a mermaid mother and son that, to me, symbolizes him and I. We both love the water.
Son got a bit ornery today. So I had to take a break and go outside with him to clean up the mess. In the bloody cold. And he won't wear a jacket so by the time we were done, he was cold cold. So he napped for a chunk of this afternoon. I think I'm about to go make breakfast for dinner for him. Waffles are good food. And I can have grilled cheese. And then get my butt out in the dark for my walk.
His new humidifier is paired with a hydrometer. It works. It seems to amuse him that it comes on randomly. And the hinoki oil seems to be helping keep the headaches on the small side.
It finally occurred to me to ask family what the meals were going to be for the holiday. I got unhelpful answers. So I have a delivery order prepped to go to friend's house while I'm at the doc's on Thursday. I'm just going to prep his stuff in silicon bags so it can travel in the bags, go in the oven, get served, and travel home again without much difficulty. So far, some ham, some roast veggies, and some regular veggies that I'll drop some of his "cheese" in with. I've got some dessert for him already. I may add some cookies this upcoming weekend since I will be doing some other "baking". While I'm out, I'm going to get the gas tank filled and the tires filled with air. That should have us ready for the trip on Monday.
I have to detour south to get a brother whose vehicle is broken down. I think I'm going to make sure that I have a thermos of chai on hand to make him civil. I may sneak one part of his Christmas gifts out of the main bag so that I can toss coffee his way if it is needed. I'm debating getting a microwavable breakfast biscuit and having him heat it before he gets in the van. He has a habit of not eating when needed and is an absolute grumpy bear when hangry and decaffeinated. And I may snap back more than he expects.
Hoping for a calmer day tomorrow. And for the rest of the week to be calmer.
