The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

 

The good first...

The last few days have been sunny, a little cool, but nice enough to be outside for recess.

 

There were a few 'lightbulb' moments this week with some students which is always gratifying.

 

My package that criss-crossed the state was delivered 2 days early. 

 

The local 4-H group is having their pork chop supper tonight. No cooking for me! 

I have loaded the last quilt of five for my quilt friend. I hope to finish it this weekend.

 

I am also starting on a new project. 

 

The free pattern can be found here.

And, a little video here. 

I like the kitty pincushion my sister-in-law gave me. 

I love kitties and I love her.

Next, the bad...

The school where I work will be instituting a new policy beginning in April after we come back from Spring Break. This policy will not allow parents into the building during student drop-off and pick-up times. It will also not allow parents into the classrooms unless they have been invited by the teacher and that must be pre-arranged. I have mixed emotions about this. We have preschool and kindergarten age children in our building and I understand the need for some parents and students to still have the parent involvement. We also have a few students who will benefit from not having hovering parents hanging out half the morning. I believe it will make their transition into the day easier and there will be fewer tears and upset. But, I am saddened that we have had to implement this policy because of a recent incident at another school in the district. I understand that we are probably the only district in our area that still allows parents into the building in this way.  So mixed emotions.

 

We ordered a second wheelchair ramp for my son on Jan. 21. There was a problem with the manufacturer and we had been in limbo for several weeks. Finally, the company we ordered from realized that they had a ramp that fit our needs close enough in their warehouse and offered to sell it to us a a reduced cost. We said ok. I started to receive tracking information later that day. Tracking showed that the package moved from Georgia late on Monday to Hodgkins, Illinois very early Wednesday. I expected that it would be delivered to us Wednesday. That didn't happen. The next day tracking information was updated to show delivery would happen Thursday by end of day, but it did not show that it was out for delivery. I called UPS that evening requesting more information. I was told the package was processed for delivery and would be delivered the next day, Friday, by end of day. I explained my concern that the package was lost and what had happened with the first ramp we had ordered. Again, I was told 'no worries, it would be delivered Friday. Early Thursday tracking information changed to state what I had been told, but still did not show that it was out for delivery. It was not delivered Friday. I called UPS again. And, again, I was told the package had been processed for delivery. There was talk about packages loaded first where last off the truck, blah, blah, blah. I explained that the package had been sitting at it's last destination since Wednesday and I was concerned it was lost. The reply was, "Oh, we may need to start a lost package investigation". I was handed off to that department. An investigation has been started.

The Ugly...

I am so frustrated, disappointed and angry about what seems to me to be a lack of good customer service, a lack of pride in a job well done, whatever you want to call it, that I had a few bad moments with the UPS agents I spoke with the last two days. I did apologize and stated that I understand it is not THEIR fault. I also stated that I am disappointed and angry that this has happened for a second time. When the last agent asked me to describe the item and package I told her what it is - a wheelchair ramp. It is over 30 inches wide and 5 feet long. 

Awfully big to be misplaced, especially twice. She was friendlier and more cooperative after that. Tracking now shows that a lost package investigation has been started.

The thing is, if they are unable to find this package, or it is badly damaged, it cannot be replace. At least not replaced with an exact item since the manufacturer is apparently not doing business at the moment. We like that particular ramp for several reasons and do not want to use a different type. 

I just want people to do their jobs and take responsibility for bad service.

A lost package does not affect them personally, but it allows 

son gets in and out of his apartment in a safe and dignified manner.

 

 

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Tuesday

There is a new house 3 miles west of my house. The family moved in about 2-3 weeks ago. Their oldest child is in 2nd grade, the next oldest child is in kindergarten this year.

The house is in that circle I drew. The picture isn't even close to what we actually see, but the sun has aligned just right so that when it is coming up over the horizon it reflects off the windows on this house. The house looks like it is on fire! We first noticed it yesterday and it scared us! But then we noticed there was no smoke. Thank goodness it was just a reflection.

In other news my package that started in Missouri made its was back to Indianapolis on Monday and is now in Champaign, Illinois. Crazy.

Also, tracking information shows that the ramp should be delivered by end of day tomorrow.

Happy thought for today - we got to enjoy outside recess. Then, it snowed big fluffy snowflakes this afternoon! Thankful it didn't last long and melted right away.

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Monday - Hopeful

At school we are talking a lot about growth mindset. 

The staff and students just received T-shirts that say

But, I am tired of doing hard things.

I think the hardest thing for me is adjusting my negative attitude.

It seems like one thing after another and it never ends. I have a hard time keeping a positive attitude.

I am tired of having to get before the sun. I want to sleep in once in a while, but our 

lives are being controlled by a manipulative, greedy, selfish person who thinks he has to be 

in control of EVERY thing.

I am tired of people who do not do their jobs.

I am tired of people not being on time. My day is very scheduled. I do a lot of different things throughout the day. If one or two people are late to get their students from me it affects my entire day and possible someone else's. I cover the secretary's break three times a day. If a teacher is late getting their students then I am late to cover the secretary's break.

I am tired of poor communication. I see this at work and in business dealings. 

I ordered a ramp for my son to use at his apartment. It got lost in the shipping network. If I hadn't called after 3 weeks I don't know if it would have ever been located. The ramp worked well for my son, but he needed another one which I ordered on Jan. 25th. Still don't have it. I have placed many calls to the company, the latest one today. It isn't their fault. They use another vendor who manufactures the ramps. He was sick with the flu for a week and got behind. At that point he stopped returning phone calls. They haven't heard from him in three weeks. I was curious to know if the ramp had even been shipped yet, thinking perhaps it got misplaced like the first one. They placed a call to him again today, and again did not hear back from him. They happen to have a ramp that is almost what I ordered and could sell it at a lower cost. It is close enough to what I ordered that I agreed. I received an email from UPS showing that a shipping label has been created. 

I am hopeful that the ramp arrives this week, but I am not holding my breath. 

On Saturday my husband fell about 12 feet from the top of the ladder that goes to the haymow onto a concrete floor. He thinks he is ok, just sore. His left leg and left arm hurt, but he thinks it is just muscle bruising since everything seems to be working ok. He refused to go to the hospital. He is taking ibuprofen and applying ice and heat alternately.

Now, before you say I should stop feeling sorry for myself, I know that my bad days are much better than some peoples good days. I know I could be much worse off than I am.

I am thankful for all that I have. I know these are just bad moments and will pass. I have a warm house, enough to eat, and people who love me. I am blessed and I am grateful.

As my Mom tells my Dad 

(who is suffering from dementia and gets anxious/frustrated/upset sometimes)...

Are we hurt? No. Are we sick? No.

Then we're good. It's all okay.

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I Don't Get It

I don't understand how the shipping companies ship their packages.

I ordered something that started out in Fenton, Mo which then went to the shipping location in St. Louis, Mo, then to Indianapolis, IN, then to Independence, Ky. Seems like a waste of time and fuel to me, but what do I know.

I guess my Happy Thought is that at least my package is making its way to me and I can track it. It isn't scheduled to arrive until March 12 so who knows where it will go before reaching me in east central Illinois!

 See what other quilters are up to at Small Quilts and Doll Quilt

What a Hoot Quilts is challenging quilters to finish '18 in 2018'. Check it out.