HI Laura! Hi Windsparrow! (Hi all!)

I'm making oatmeal and remembering when people were writing a lot about making oatmeal. It's one of the small pleasures of being retired for me, making slow-cool stovetop oatmeal in the morning.

Askye, would you want me to ask my docs if they know anyone in your area for uro-gyn? It's a long shot, but you never know. I don't know where you are though. Somewhere in New England, obviously.

The diet thing has been pretty key for me. I've given up beer and wine entirely, but pear or apple hard cider is okay, as long as I have just one. I can have a little chocolate. I haven't tested the citrus. My hunch is that it would be bad. The biggest surprise to me was finding out that cranberry is hell on your bladder. Who knew? I guess if you have a UTI, instead of IC, it can be a good thing, but for people with IC, it's like acid. If I tell people what it's like, I describe it by asking if they know about stomach ulcers, then saying it's like an ulcer, only in the bladder.

Another day, have a great Saturday!

Steph articulated my whole point for that particular content.

Not too long ago, we hired a walker...before I had access to her...who, during a training walk with me expressed so much discomfort with that particular aspect of the job that I just knew she would not last. In fact, hiring her ended up costing us a great deal...for other reasons.

Anyway, I'm hoping to attract people with the "what the?!" approach and then keep them with the humor and excellent support.

Java, I totally get your reaction. I sincerely do. I'm no big fan of that aspect of the job either, but if you were to do the math of this job, bagging and scooping are more than 30% of the effort.

I just love that the piece fomented conversation.

And, I deeply appreciate the help!

bonny, I think the ad is wonderful.

A good attitude toward pet messes = "Ew, gross! I better get that cleaned up!" as opposed to "Ew, gross! I gotta get out of here!"

The outfit I work for now includes a "realistic job preview" in the interview process wherein the prospective employee comes to one of the houses for a couple hours, usually including dinnertime. They observe, they have a worksheet of questions they need to ask us, they eat the meal with us, they get a chance to participate in leisure activities with people. This is excellent because the supervisors then ask both caregivers and residents what we think of them. I give thumbs up to the ones who look at the clock in the middle of a card game and say, "Oh, I was supposed to go at 6 o'clock. It's ok if I stay to finish this game, isn't it?" Thumbs up for the ones who say, "I know I'm not supposed to do any hands-on care this visit, but I want to at least help set the table," as well. How practical would something like that be for your situation, bonny?

I'm practicing subtle subversion in our hiring process such that I am insinuating myself into the whole shebang. I honestly believe I am a better choice for screening than either the owner or the pet care manager. Both tent to move in panic whereas I know that a bad hire will NOT make the situation any easier.

Andi, I think your approach is the very best. I do training walks to watch how people interact with the animals, but even more than that..do they get stressed by keys and alarms...to they write decent notes, etc.

Honestly, I can't do that job...or don't want to in the slightest...because those things freak me right out.

So, I'm a good judge of success!!

Yeah, flying from staffing crisis to staffing crisis kills morale.

Introducing: Batcat and Pele. Mine from tonight. Extra soft. Very amusing. [link] [link]

Ahhh, kitties! They're beautiful! They look like mischief on their minds, too, have fun with that! I love black and white cats, odd that I haven't had one since I was a babe.

bonny, I love the ad!

Kitties!

Nice ad, Bonny. I hope it brings in some great candidates.

Kitties!!!

Java, I still haven't called my previous urologist but I'm in Vermont, close to Burlington so you'd think that would be helpful sometimes it's not. I think the cranberry can still be irritating for people with UTIs but they may not realize it because there is pain associated with UTIs. The D-Mannose supplement is much better to do. But cranberry is an acid bomb.

I had a cup of clam chowder 2 days in a row and that was a mistake. Combination bacon, pepper and onions in that. So I'm back to plain stuff.

Today work was interesting. We got 2 shoplifters arrested. 1 was a repeat guy. The other woman - one of the guys in my department noticed her and mentioned it on the headset. So we practiced "aggressive hospitality" until the managers told us to stop because the police were on their way. I think at some point she figured out what was going on and she tried to go out the back. She flagged me down "Miss! Ma'am! Please watch my stuff I'll be right back!" (she had one thing in a cart). She went into the ladies room and when I wandered over there were police. They sent a female officer in and ended up arresting her.

I didn't realize about the other one they called the cops on it was much quieter, but he was a known figure.