Back on the bus, and back to reality
Or in a non derogatory sense, its back on the chain gang. Which gives away the video at least. No, its not that bad really, but its still going to be a culture shock after all this time. The longest period of time that I can actually remember having off previously, and then gone back to the same job, would be an extended fortnight, back in 1987, which was my first ever trip to the US. Extended only in the sense that we flew out on the Saturday, so it would have been 2 weeks, plus 1 working day. This time around, its going to be 2 days short of 3 weeks! Wow!
The main difference though is going to be the situation when I get back to work. Back in 1987, working in a betting shop, there were no emails to return to, let alone the several hundred that will be waiting for me when I get back tomorrow. Mainly because back then, there were no such thing as work emails, of course! Now, 30 years on, we live by our work emails lol! Oh, and back then, the only ‘computer’ I had to help me with my work might have been a very primitive settling machine, though I’m not convinced we had them that far back, but as I cant remember the exact date we did, lets roll with that, certainly nothing more, if we even had that.
Oh, and back then, you needed to get an actual visa to go to the US, unlike today. I know, you still have to get approval to go there, but you do it all online, not sending off passports in the post, and hoping you got it back, care of the Post Office!
So yes, despite the fact that I will be doing exactly the same job tomorrow, as I was doing before I went on holiday, its going to take a bit of time to get back in the groove. Even more so, given that we started using a new call system on my last day at work, before my holiday. But yes, get there I must!
So yes, it will be interesting to get ‘back on the chain gang’ tomorrow, though there are certainly a few faces I’m looking forward to seeing again, I must say. But yes, I will be out of practice, and I just hope it all sticks in my head. Mind, if they needed to ‘download’ all that information into my mind again, it might be fun! Fine, you might hear at the weekend, if I have nothing better to write on Sunday, at least.
Fine, I’ve given enough clues to the video, so lets just get it posted up!
The frailties of a middle aged woman
And before anyone says anything, that title is definitely one of my tongue in cheek ones, so…
Its fair to say of late, that some of the hours I’ve been working, aren’t conducive to a good, long nights sleep. Late finishes, putting me to bed at crazy hours of the morning, early starts, dragging me from my bed before 5, and all that. Sometimes, like last night, both in one!
And let me add, through no fault of work, I found this time around (despite only being a 5 hour time change) that I didnt settle into my time zone changes as well as I usually do. So, that might all have added to being under the weather, with not enough sleep, and…what happened today.
The alarm went off just before 5, and I went to get out of bed. Well, I did, but just about avoided ended up being a crumpled mess on the floor, as my legs gave way under me, rather akin to a baby foal, after birth. Yes, head hurts, eyes will barely open, but its before 5.00, so…Eventually I get up, head to the bathroom, wash and things, but it doesnt improve the bleary state. Neither unfortunately does the first cup of coffee, which normally helps at that hour.
Indeed, when I’m due to go, around 6.15, I feel so shocking, I consider not going in. But…there are only 2 of us for the first hour, I’m meant to be the escalated agent, so somehow or other, I drag myself in. Not a good idea, as second, and indeed third cups of coffee might bring very temporary relief, but then I feel even worse than before.
Finally, about 10.45, I give up the fight, and say I’m going home. The journey home was interesting, as I fought a sometimes losing battle to stay awake. Finally, about 11.45, I get home, and slump straight into bed. Apart from a couple of very brief stirs, next thing I know is 3.15, I’m hungry, hardly surprising given its about 10 hours since I last ate anything.
But yes, I feel a bit better, and even more so after some food, so…I wouldnt say I’m back to normal yet, but I’m a lot better, for sure. Just exhaustion, possibly? Maybe my health isnt perfect either, who knows? But either way, I’m glad I gave up the losing battle. In all honesty, I probably should never have gone in to work in the first place, but I did.
Oh, and before anyone asks, its been over 5 years since I last failed to complete a designated shift, and I’ve had about 15 days off sick, in 40 years of work. So it takes a lot to stop me, but this did. Or maybe I’m just getting old?
The video, what I did earlier
Gender of convenience?
Yes, lets talk transgender tonight, and in a sense, politics at the same time. Controversial stuff for me, lol!
You’ve probably heard all about it on the news, especially if I’ve got any American readers here. Yes, Bradley Manning as he was known, Chelsea Manning as she now wants to be known. You know the story, all about security leaks, so I wont bore you with all the details.
Because thats not what brings me to this subject matter, its the whole transgender thing, and the timing of it. Dont get me wrong, his chances of winning the case, were about the same as me winning the 100m title at the next Olympics. Yes, that good!
No, what got to me, and from what I’ve seen around, others as well, was the timing of the moment to come out as transgender, immediately after he lost the case. Now, I have no idea if female prisoners get better treatment than men in the US, especially at somewhere like Fort Leavenworth, but…cynicism factor comes out pretty high on this. Equally, we will never know if he would have said the same thing if he had won the case, will we? Put it this way though, I’d have offered you decent odds that he wouldnt!
As someone said, in the battle for transgender equality, we need good role models in the public eye, and we get this! Its sure not going to help our cause when people see these sort of people turning to transgenderism. As I say, maybe I have got Manning wrong, and this desire was genuine, but you’d have to work hard to convince me of that.
So yes, I’m just wondering who will actually come out of prison, Bradley, or Chelsea? Me, my bet is on Bradley, but I’d love to be proved wrong!
Given where he has gone, that cynic in me found this making a rather apt video
stevielounicks 
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