Random thoughts of being essential or in my case just lucky.

As we all live through one of the most challenging times in our lifetime, I will admit I am worried, nervous, afraid and concerned.

Will I get the virus?

Am I taking enough precautions?

Will my asthma cause enough of a weakness in my system to make me a target?

As I try to push those concerns aside, I try to move through my new normal life.

It is definitely similar to watching the movie "Groundhog Day" over and over and over again.

I know I am one of the lucky ones.

I get to work my job from home.

I collect my full paycheck every two weeks.

My life has not changed as drastically as so many people, other than not wearing makeup, dressing in casual attire and a commute that takes me just a short distance from my bedroom.

I feel very lucky.

As I watch reports daily (and probably too often), I see the impact this virus has had on the world outside of me.

I do pray more often for others,

I do feel the need to thank the first responder's who walk into the line of fire each day.

I have also learned to give greater respect to some of the unsung hero's that continue to do their very "essential" jobs.  It is funny how in these unique times who has become essential. 

My brother, who has worked the night crew at ShopRite for 35 plus years is essential.

The truck drivers that make me crazy on I95 are essential.

There are more essentials but the list would go on for paragraphs.

It has been eye opening and humbling.

I hope we all do not let our appreciation fade once this crisis has passed.

I have been asked how I was doing.  At my managers meeting, my boss makes a point of asking how each person is doing.  I do the same thing with my team.

My response in my managers meetings has been "looking out my windows at rainbows and unicorns."

I was asked if I was being sarcastic?  In all honesty, I was being facetious.

While I am not what the world would perceive as essential, I am essential to my team, my coworkers and the customers we are trying to help achieve their dreams.

Pretty awesome responsibility.

I cannot lie though, at the end of the day I am mentally exhausted.

The work day is longer because I think to myself, I am home so I can do one more thing or answer one more email.

My day consists of team meetings, emails, IM's  and a zillion conference calls a day.

Once I sign off my computer, the last thing I want to do is talk to anyone.

At the end of the day, I just want to unwind and recharge my mental batteries for the next day.

I still know I am so fortunate.  I have a job, I have food in my kitchen and I can pay my bills. 

I know we all want to get back to life as safety allows.  The term "social distancing" will never fade from our vocabulary.

This event may take longer to recovery from mentally and financially than others we have experienced but we will recovery albeit slowly.

I know the world is not made up of unicorns and rainbow but I felt a need to leave you this week with the link below.

I love the words and it made me smile.

Even being able to smile through it all gives me the hope that is called tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=fEnC5gwNAN0

See you next week.

Trying to Finding More of the Good In All of This "Stuff"

It is easy to find the negatives about our current situation.

People out of work.

Small businesses closed.

Wearing masks to shop.

Strong suggestions to stay at home.

I have been looking for positives:

My team is doing an amazing job while working from home.

Being able to make meals vs buy meals is a healthy option.

I am saving money on gas.

I am saving miles of wear and tear on my car.

I am saving hours on commutes.

Jeter is loving being with Jenn and I 24/7.

Here is some of the new normal:

I called my Dr.'s office about refills on some prescription.  I have an appointment coming up for a routine visit.

Guess what I am now able to do?  A  virtual dr visit.

They are sending me a form to get my blood work done.  The results will be shipped to my primary care physician.

His office will then set up a virtual appt.  No sitting in the waiting room,, No sitting in the exam room.

I am sure there will be other things changing in our lives based on the last few weeks.

I am also trying to find things to make me smile.

In the last week, I have:

Watched the Disney Singalong (and yes, I sang along).

Watched the NY Giants ruin the NE Pat's perfect season.

Watched Michael Phelps win several races from the Rio Olympics a few years ago.

I have been able to find joy in the sunrises and sunsets.

I have laughed on my daily calls with my team.

Each night, I sign into the 7:00 Clapppy Hour group on FB and listen to people from all of NYC cheering, clapping, banging pots and pans.They are paying tribute to the first responders.  This week for the first time at 7:02, everyone sang New York New York on their balconies, stoops, roofs and out their windows. There were over 9,000 people watching the event.  Two radio stations carried it too.  They may pick a different song to sign each week until this crisis has passed. There were people logging in from a variety of states and countries.

While. I am still concerned about the possibility of getting the virus specially since Jenn and  I have asthma, I am not letting my guard down.  I will continue to practice social distancing, wearing a mask and not rush to get back to the casualness of life.

I still grow frustrated with people not wearing masks and participating in groups of 10 or more. I understand everyone's desire to get out of their houses and back to life.

But I can't help but feel we still need to exercise extreme caution.

Practice patience .

This too shall pass.

See you next week.

An Easter none of us will ever forgot

Quotes of the week:

"These are the times that try men's souls." Thomas Payne

and

Timothy Cardinal Dolan spoke of the empty tomb found on Easter morning and the joy that followed.  He equated that with the empty churches today, the sadness we are suffering right now due to illness, loss of loved ones, loneliness and fear.'  He said." St. Paul tells us in the Bible, "the church would be the living stones and that is our people."

I usually do not reference religion on my blog or FB posts.  To me religion is extremely personal.  In a rare moment, I will share some of my thoughts.

I do believe in God.
I do believe Jesus died for our sins.
I am a good Christian even if I am not sitting in a pew each Sunday.
I am far from perfect but still believe God loves me.
I do believe prayer is important.
I do believe in the power of prayer.

I do believe God and his son, Jesus, will get us through these trying days ahead.

And that is all I will say about my beliefs.

What I can write about is the way people have pulled together.

It makes me proud.

Police and firemen applauding hospital workers on the front line.

All of us recognizing the unsung hero's that are invisible to us each day that really keep our country running.

The grocery workers, truck drivers, sanitation dept. the post office workers and on and on.

They are showing up doing their jobs because that is what they are expected to do.  I am glad they are finally getting the recognition they so richly deserve as some of the unsung hero's of our lives.

I am also impressed with the creativity of people.  Whether it be hunting for bunnies posted in peoples windows, learning how to use Zoom to keep in touch with families or teachers driving through their students neighborhoods honking their horns with signs that say "We Miss You".

There are neighborhoods where at 7:00 each night, neighbors come out of their homes and while observing social distancing applaud those on the front lines.

I love this side of people and America.

It give me chills.

There will be a time in the (hopefully) not too distant future where life will get back to normal albeit a new normal.

We will come out of our houses, return to work, shop without masks covering our faces and not fear sitting next to a friend or neighbor.

I hope we don't let the memory fade too quickly though.

I want us to not take things for granted as we have before.

We should appreciate the small things such as walking into a grocery store and being able to find whatever we need,  leaving our house to spend time with friends, going OUT to dinner,  or just going out.

Next year, we will gather together with our loved ones.

There will be Easter services.

There will be egg hunts.

There will be.....

Happy Easter !

See you next week.

More of our new normal

Today's quote:

"Life is uncertain. We can never predict when hard times will strike"  Lailah Gifty Akita

If anyone ever told me 6 weeks ago how much our lives would have changed, I would have doubted it. 

But then again, I am not a great visionary.

Things have to hit me like a 2 X 4 and then I think "Wow, where did that come from?"

I do see people adapting to all we have been asked and challenged with as part of the new normal.

After two weeks, we finally found ground turkey at a local butcher.  Jenn had to wait on a line  outside the store standing six feet apart.  Then only three people were allowed in the store at a time.

At the end of the two lane road (one lane in and one lane out) onto the island where we live at sits the security booth. The owners lane is closed. Each car must stop to do a kind of check in before the visitor gate is lifted.

Driving by Boundary Street and seeing it empty with the exception of the few signs for curbside pickup from restaurants.

There has been a learning curve to our new normal.

While Publix has offered early shopping for seniors (along with other stores), it has not always turned out as planned.  Parking lots filled early, people not practicing social distancing and leaving their manners totally behind.  I read an email, where a senior said "you are better off going during normal hours". Thank goodness, I don't make the age cut for "senior shopping".

With so many from TD now working from home, we have pushed our servers to the max.  This has led to getting kicked off line for hours at a time.  By the end of the week things have improved. Most of the day Friday, I only had to sign off and on three times and didn't have to wait hours to get back to work.

I know realize how much I need social contact.  Between calls, emails, text and other social media I don't feel as alone.

Each day I understand more and more that everyone I know has impacted by these troubling times.  Hours and wages cut on jobs, layoffs,  401K's diminishing, and worst of all getting ill from the virus.

When I heard yesterday about a NYC police officer who died from the illness the report mentioned he had an underlying health condition, asthma.

Both Jenn and I have asthma.  It was another one of those 2 X 4 moments.

When I was a kid, my Dad would pile the family in a car for a ride. 

Yesterday, I went with Jenn for a few stops.  I drove and stayed in the car with Jeter, while Jenn got out of the car. The stops were for basics nothing extravagant.

Just being out for a little while felt good but not done lightly.  In fact, done with more trepidation than I anticipated.

Wanting to be home is very different from having to stay home. I doubt I will ever take that freedom for granted again. Well, at least not for a while.

When I am not working, I play games on my IPAD, watch too much TV (blame Hallmark and the Christmas Marathon), read and try to write a little.

I watched "Toy Story 4", and will admit I cried at the end.

Learning about app's like Zoom has been eye opening.  Having Facebook Messenger calls to see people have been fun .  Seeing people on these calls has not pushed me to put on make-up in the morning though.

I try to add something fun or interesting to my team conf calls.  I really want people to talk and not just about work. Last week, each day we had a topic from dream vacations, to a recipe exchange, pictures of our pets and listing the best books we ever read.

I have been pleased to see companies reinvent themselves to help out with items needed by hospital and medical staff.  I have seen people showing each other kindnesses that warm my heart.  I have finally heard of some well paid athletes and CEO's stepping up and making sure their staffs still have a paychecks.

In times of crisis, we recognize our first responders and medical personal. To the list we have added truck drivers and grocery store staff.  I asked my brother who has put in more than 35 years on the night crew at Shoprite if he ever though of himself as essential.  Until now, I don't think he had but he sure is important now.

I do feel a sense of sadness as I see plexiglass being being installed by the cashiers at the supermarket.  I hate hearing about people intentionally coughing on food that then must be thrown away. And I an frustrated by those that choose not to observe "social distancing".

None of us is really immune to this virus. Wake up people !

I am hoping and praying by the next time I sit down to write my entry next week, the curve will be evening out.

Let's all keep praying. 

I do believe in the power of prayer and people with a common goal.

See you next week.

































Today's quote

I wasn't even close to the changes that would take place when I shared my blog last week

Today, let's start with the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh.

Piglet: "Where are we going Pooh?"

Winnie the Pooh: "Home Piglet.  We're going home, because that's the best thing to do right now."


The changes have come at us all fast and furious.

Here is some of what my week looked like.  I am sure it is very similar to many of your weeks too.

It took me three visits to Publix to find one piece of meat.

Having someone spray your hands with sanitizer before you enter a store.

Spending days trying to get your team into a remote work setting.  Mission accomplished Friday night!!

The stock market continuing to give me an ulcer.

People acting oblivious to the words "stay at home".  I am not talking about a grocery store run.  I am talking about people in crowds at the beach.  Someone please explain this to me.

My Mom used to tell me to pray specific.

A few years ago Columbia, SC had what was called "the 1,000 year flood".  I prayed no water would come in my house.  And it didn't, from the storm or from any other source such as the sink, tub or toilet.

Lately, I had been praying to spend more time at home.  I was not quite expecting a pandemic that would end up with all of us being home for a minimum of two weeks.  I won't be back in the office until May at the earliest along with Jenn back at her job at USC.

I am sure Mom is somewhere saying "I told you to be specific."

On the upside (and yes, we must find an upside):

I have spent more time on the phone talking to family and friends.

Hallmark is running a Christmas movie marathon !!!!!

It is wonderful to not rush in from a long commute, get lunch ready for the next day, take a quick shower, have a hurried dinner and get to bed.

Making the big decision "do I shower tonight or in the morning"?  Normally, I have to do it at night since I don't have that much time in the morning.

I have time to eat  oatmeal every morning.  I love oatmeal but it is not something I usually have time to make and it doesn't travel well.

Coffee in the morning and not having to wait until I get to the office to have my first cup (which is about 4 hours after I wake up)!!

I am still able to get in more than a full day of work.

Jeter walks me to my kitchen/office each morning and stays with me until I put up the gate that keeps him from sitting between my feet all day.

What I would like to see happen:

Put all politics aside and work together.

No finger pointing as far as who knew what when.

Support small businesses in any way you can.

If you end up with one of the checks from the government to help us get through and you really are not in dire straights, give it to people who need it. I am still getting paid every two weeks. I would rather help someone not as fortunate as me.

Practice "social distancing" if not for yourself then for others.

Pray more. (please be specific in your prayers)

Remind yourself (as I have reminder myself), this is a temporary situation.  Life will get back to a normal, although it may be a new normal.

Don't let the lack of socialization get you down.  Skype, Facetime, Text, IM, call, email or go retro and write a letter. Staying in contact with people is key, especially those who are alone.

Once the time has passed and we are all back out in the world, let us not forget the lessons we have learned in the recent weeks.

See you next week.

What a week that none of us saw coming.

Two quotes from Eeyore courtesy of A.A. Milne:

"Could be worse.  Not sure how, but it could be'"

"A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference."

The stock market going up and down like a roller coaster. 

And "the virus".

I was obsessed with the stock market and it's impact on my 401K all week.  I was checking how the market was doing several times a day.

I know I was not alone in this obsession.

I had put thoughts regarding the virus on the back burner until it was right in my face.

Universities closing, sporting events being cancelled, church services online and the search for toilet paper.

All SC schools will be closed for the next two weeks.

Now, we are in a mad dash to get our teams in the office set up to work remote. 

Lots of challenges.

The stock market being impacted by oil on the other side of the world and a virus that originated around the globe are bringing our lives to a stand still or close to it.

No March Madness.

Broadway closed.

Many of the things in life we take for granted are not happening. 

People fighting at Costco over TP and water. 

Has the media added to the hype?  ABSOLUTELY.

Does the flu and the number of deaths from it each year get the publicity this virus has been given? NO.

When you hear all this overload of info 24/7, you cannot help but let it seep into your brain as much as you try to ignore it.

I have to say I have never experienced any event like this in my lifetime.

In the near future, life will return to normal and these events will fade in our memories.

Maybe we will change for the better, take less for granted and dear God, treat each other nicer and with consideration.

Poor Eeyore, tended to see the world as the "glass is half empty".

Can we prove him wrong and take a minute to be more caring during this trying time?

And maybe from here it can continue to be the norm. 

At least, something good will have come out of the bad.

Could things be worse?  OH YEAH.

I think even Eeyore knew that as he sat under his little dark cloud.

See you next week.

Those darn little things that make a difference

Some of the little things involving work:

Being able to work from home a couple of days a week.

The days I walk into the office and someone on my team grabs me a cup of coffee (they know I am much nicer AFTER coffee).

Another team member takes my Hydraflask and fills it with ice.

My little desktop fridge that holds 4 bottles of water. It keeps my water very cold.

My work buddies hear me say I need to clean out my desk. Coming into the office to find out they did it for me.  They also kept anything I might want to save in a box to go through.  My work office mate taking a break and helping me go through the box.  Did you know the bottom of my desk drawers are black?  I haven’t seen the bottom in ages. The memos, instructions and training materials from 2015?  Time to pitch them since those procedures changed in 2016.

Friday, I arrived to see our February tree has been changed to March. Shamrocks with everyone’s name on them.  The top shamrock has Team Pizzo written on it.

Yes, my team willingly kept up what had been our Christmas Tree but is now our holiday tree. It has been through Valentines Day and now it is ready for St Patrick’s Day. Yes, it will then turn to Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th and on and on.

There was also a new poster hanging near my desk.  Nichole, one of my processors, bought it. It was about Team.  I loved it.  In fact, in one of my sappier moments, I started to cry when I looked at it.

I have really made it my focus to form a cohesive team with my processors in the office and my underwriters who are remote.  Then we add our Loan Officer’s all based in Florida to the mix. 

I feel I have succeeded in making Team Pizzo function like a well oiled machine who all work toward our monthly goals and find time to laugh and enjoy each other in the process.

Recently, I was awarded a monthly SSOAR Award.  It is only the second time in nine years I have been given this honor.  At TD, when you win this monthly award, the WOW Patrol comes to visit you.  They arrive in all kinds of green and purple attire.  They also make quite a noisy entrance with noisemakers of all kinds.  I had not had my coffee yet but did agree to take the requisite pictures holding a sign that says “I have been WOW’d!”

Another thing TD likes is for the mangers to spend time out on the floor.  I think, in my case,  they might prefer I stay in my office.  I tend to cause a ruckus out there.  I joke and chat and even involve other teams in the conversations.  I work with people not robots or machines.  The laughter and occasional chatter is good for our employees.

While those are some of the good things about the office, small events outside the office can make a difference.

Changing my hair color to whatever Wayne chooses.

Jenn getting some pictures I like printed up for me.  One or two made me cry.  I will be getting frames for some and putting them on my cleaner desk top.

Mom....

Jenn showing me some crossword app’s that I enjoy.

Using my wireless earbuds to listen to “I Heart Radio”, is such a treat.  I keep finding stations I love such as music of the 60’s and 70’s as well as I Heart Broadway.

Keeping up my journal with my five good things about the day each day in 2020 gives me a sense of accomplishment.

The time change next week, finally.  We will not be arriving home in the dark is something to look forward too.

Look for the little events or unexpected joys, they are there. 

You just have to open your eyes and heart to find them.

See you next week.

P.S. I I was also proud of myself when my laptop decided to die today, I didn’t get upset or angry. I will save up enough money to buy an new laptop eventually, no running up credit card debt when I can work with the things I already have in my house.  I used my IPAD and a small wireless keyboard Jenn bought me last Christmas to write this blog.