Well I was reading over an article and I just got a HUGE set of ideas. Rather… enough to keep me busy for a while. I’m really a little overwhelmed. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to do anything until Thursday, but it’s certainly a lot to be excited about. I think there’s a lot that could really be done and turn around what’s going on. And do it well. I guess I’m just happy about the things I found.
john.
Why parasol? No reason. Sheerly because it was the only thing I saw.
Today, I’d like to review and notate some extra projects I need to take care of. Here are some extra projects, old and new that need some taking care of. I think the deal is that you can get so caught up with the “on calendar” events that you forget to make any sort of normal system that’s just good and works.
-Regular, weekly events
I think it’d be nice to have some events that occur regularly that the residents can gather around. Like Chickenfoot, but maybe something new and different and for a different audience. Something fun that they’ll anticipate every week. I don’t know what. Sometimes it’s hard because it feels like they’re apathetic, but I don’t think that’s it.
-Storage room conversion
The storage room needs to be converted into an activity room. How or what kind… well that’s a great question. Here’s the deal. We’ll need to empty it out, find a place for everything, and before all that, decide what we want to put inside. Mom would like to see it much like a Kindergarten activity room. The only problem is that there’s so much stuff in there that we need to find a place to put it.
-Mini shopping
I heard a cool thing to try might be setting up a “store” for them to “shop” at. I don’t know how effective it will be, but it will help them gain some independence back that they can buy and sell. Things like that. Choose for themselves.
The thing is that sometimes I get discouraged easily so I worry that I won’t give them anything fun. But if I think about it the worse that happens is I get fired. Or they all hate me and nobody shows up to my events…in which case I’d be fired.
john.
So! Here’s some stuff that I got done today:
-Ran over the calendar with the managers
That was the important thing to get done, so I’m glad that’s all finished up. They approved of all the events with little reservation. February could potentially be a very interesting month at work. I suppose the good thing though is that I can get everything done at work. It won’t require any outside time, so nothing’s changing. It’s just that I’m setting myself up to have something to do.
-Created a worksheet
I love knowing what I’m doing. So when someone’s like, “I need you to make this.” It’s like, Oh my goodness. A breath of fresh air. I have structure and I know what to do. So it’s a lot easier. It’s hard for me to come into a day without structure. Without “work”. Maybe that’s what it is. I have a difficult time “making work”. I can work on something you’ve asked me to do or create. I enjoy creating plans or ideas. I have a difficult time constructing the systems and plans necessary to execute those things. I also have a difficult time front manning those plans. I can do it with nearly anything else. Just not here. It’s more difficult with older folks. And I don’t know why.
-Browsed the activity director forums for ideas
Didn’t really find any ideas. But I did find some interesting articles and qualities and attributes. Rather, I found a standard for activities directors. So. I thought that was pretty interesting. Things like, getting qualified. Etc. etc.
-Logistics rundown for February events
Basically, the previous list was like: “in theory”. Now it’s making it all practical. Some days I feel like my brain is heavy. And for some reason–today was one of those days.
-Cut out hearts and blogged
Overall, it appears like a rather productive day. I guess in hindsight everything’s okay. It’s just that during it was all pretty tough.
john.
Well, today was actually a very good day, despite some strange and quick moments of ennui and frustration.
Overall, it was a VERY productive day. Finished up my ideas for February, got it into an EXCELLENT format. So I’m very happy about that.
I stayed busy all day, which was a surprise considering it was a brainstorming day. I think that’s the reason I’m proud of the events of the day.
Tomorrow… or rather Thursday, I’ll need to submit the ideas and make sure they’re plausible and change things around as necessary. I brainstormed a few ideas as well and would like to try to implement some of them sometime. It’ll help once Jed gets back to me about the kids.
John.
The hard thing about this job is at times it’s a brainstorming job. I like doing database and wordprocessing things, but event planning at times is very tiring. I feel like the reward is low. I put lots of thought, but I never see things happen quite the way I expected. I suppose I want things to play together a certain, but it’s not.
Frankly, right now, I feel like I would prefer a job just typing all day. Typing anything really. Maybe not inputting numbers. But data maybe. I get a sense of working hard. I like my job, but. Maybe I don’t give myself enough credit. It’s like, I feel like I could sit and brainstorm all day, if I had the ability to do it on salary, not by the hour. When it’s done by the hour, I feel pressured to produce. I guess I like a very free environment. Just come in, and do whatever it takes to produce something.
Also, I’ve got some ideas at times, but I think at times I let budget and opinions hinder me from doing the things I want or feel might be good. For example, I think building A could totally use a more “productive” event. Something less intellectual, more hands on. I just can’t think of what that might be.
Building B, needs events. period. Maybe one day I could just sit, and see what it’s like. Just sit through what they sit through. I mean, what are they watching all day? What about that is intriguing? What can I do to make them enjoy their lives and feel more fulfilled?
john.
So partially I call this blog that because, it’s a message. And also, because that’s the song that’s been crazy stuck in my head ALL DAY. Okay, so but here’s the lowdown on the day.
Today. I didn’t feel like I accomplished much. Just one of those days. But I think I did accomplish quite a bit. I spent a good hour or so with Isabelle and the kids just sitting through that event. I enjoyed it. I usually half work during it and half watch. But today I sat through the whole thing because I thought it would be impolite to pass through the only hall in the room. Yeah. It was good though. I talked a lot to the kids. That was good. Not exactly my job. But then again, it kind of is. Building relationships with the people who come to entertain us, I think that’s important. That way, they know we appreciate them, and they’ll be more likely to come back.
Spent some time packing boxes. And that’s just standard. Stuff’s gotta get done? Then stuff’s gotta get done.
The database was reviewed. A few… glitches? still. But it’s pretty good, I think. The one thing that just didn’t quite get done today was the interviews and the newsletter. The newsletter needs two interviews and it’ll be all done, ready to ship out. The Website update will hopefully just take those two or three interviews. But then we’ll need to take some pictures.
Personal. If I could describe Abba in one work, it would be “personal”. It’s a small business. We run it like a small business and we like it that way. We make it so you know us and we know you and that’s really kind of our hook if we had one. And I think if we ever franchised, that’s the heartbeat of ABBA that would go with it. I think if we set it up somewhere else, that’s the DNA of ABBA that would follow it in another location. A personal place with a personal care. Like ABBA. And you can’t really manufacture it. It’s just something that’s birthed and happens right.
john.
Okay, well I finally finished Mom’s database. For the most part. What’s next is that I have to just have her proofread it. I’ll show her sometime and she just needs to tell me what she thinks.
Problem: What in the world do I do now?
I’m a little bit lost because I had the database to keep me way busy. Now I’m trying to come up with events and I feel like I don’t know where to start. I’m getting that overwhelming feeling of getting lost in the details. So I thought, y’know what? Maybe I can talk out the gameplan by typing.
Okay, so here’s the deal. This month, there are three events. A movie in A. A movie in B. And a choir in B. Oh and the Blairs in A. 2 events per building. Not to mention Bingo and things like that. Now the problem I suppose is first of all, that I feel like since half of those events aren’t MY events, then I haven’t done my job. But that’s not true. So let’s go ahead and kick that out of the system.
So I haven’t NOT done my job because the events aren’t mine. Okay! So next up:
February is going to be a new month. I need to know what’s up in February. The calendar looks completely clear. Alright. The 14th is Valentine’s so we should do a Valentine’s reception after lunch. We can do a reception and a movie. A cute romantic comedy. That sounds good.
But what can they do during the reception. I was thinking they could craft something the week before. Whoever wants to do the craft. Then the next week, they trade with someone the craft they got. And then another week for another an event. Maybe a felt project? Like a flower for March. Or a heart for February. Hm… We’ll see how that goes.
That wasn’t too bad now was it. I think I feel a little bit better.
I think the thing is that I want to accomodate for every resident. The new people in particular have interests that I don’t want them to lose because we have no outlet. I want to make sure the crafts….
That’s it! I don’t need an event for them. Because heaven knows they can do more than craft a popsickle stick or something like that. They need an outlet not an event. And an event may not necessarily be an outlet. For example, Jimmie and Fern will both need an outlet for their crafting abilities, but they don’t need to craft something under their skill level to do that. They need to craft their skill level, so maybe they can teach.
Outside of crafting there’s that interest in sports. or animals. How do I handle that? How do they exercise that? They can’t move. The wii? I suppose we could give it a shot. Wii tennis is an excellently easy thing to do. What about racehorces for Grady? Or football? A football party I suppose, but what about when football season is over?
john.
Today was a pretty chaotic day. I didn’t really know what I was doing half the day, but it still wasn’t as bad as some days. Some days are just bad.
So let’s get to it, what happened today?
First I finished off Mom’s Database. Now I think it just has to be proofread, so we’ll take care of that tomorrow. The databasing has been nice because it gives me drive and a reason to work. It’s a structured project I know I can do. I can work and work until it’s finished. Structured projects. Maybe that’s the best way to look at things. As far as productivity is concerned, I still feel like there would be easier ways to have set that database up, but right now, I feel like that was the best way to do it. To start all over again and just get the ball rolling from there. Regardless I’ll show Mom a complete database tomorrow, and we’ll see where to go from there. It would probably help as well to know how the database will function in order to determine the best format and interface for it.
Ran an errand today. That went fine. Nothing crazy there. I suppose it could’ve been accomplished a little more quickly, though.
At the end of the day, I started on some of the inventory storage stuff. I need to know what Mom’s goal is. Is it to get rid of some books. Or is it to get rid of some stuff? Because looking at this wall, I feel like there are other things that could certainly go.
I took the last few minutes to read their files and also just re evaluate how the actual events are going. I’m excited to see how Remember the Titans goes for them in both buildings. I’m finding that there are lots of desires and old hobbies they’ve had that haven’t really been tapped into. Fern came in today and I know she enjoys crafting, so I want to see if there’s a way I can allow her to exercise that. I don’t want her to come in here and lose all desire for crafting because she’s lost her outlet for it. So, for her sake and for others’ sake, I want to see if I can tap into their other desires and make things… not more comfortable. But more… peaceful? More fulfilling? I don’t want them to die bored. I guess I just don’t think that’s really living for anyone. Maybe, though, I’m comparing their retired life, when they still had more motor skills to now when their motor skills are certainly falling. But is that a result of lack of outlet, or is a lack of outlet a result of loss of motor skills? Hmm.
john.
Ahh… it hurts to blog. It makes me stay over at times.
Anyways, for the record, I really have enjoyed working lately. I feel like I’m improving.
This week, I’ve been trying to rack up the hours. Mom’s database overhaul has kept me busy.
Trouble I ran into today? I got really self-conscious a couple of times. Sometimes, I wonder if people think what I do is really worth doing, and I’ve just gotta tell myself that it is. And that it does make a difference. And I’ll show people that it makes a difference.
Another improvement in my work ethic has been that I feel like I’m really for the company, not just for my job. I’m intensely hungry and can’t focus, but what I mean to say is that, I realize my job is to build this company. I just happen to be an event coordinator, but my job is to make this company great in whatever form or fashion that may be. And I’m gonna do the best I can.
One thing that could use improvement is possibly the fact that today I felt like I did more than what necessary. The database probably took a little longer than necessary. There may have been a better way to do it. The goal with that must be to make it a functional database that everyone and anyone can use as a reference. If for any reason it isn’t functional when I finish, I haven’t done the job.
Well, and once I finish that, it’s on to cleaning the storage.
john.
Happy New Year. I need an overhaul makeover in every way possible. And so does everything I’m responsible for at work.
The database needs to be completely redone. One good data base is better than 5 remakes. So I’m about to just scratch this old database and get a new one going.
I’m stressed and I don’t know why.
I need to get my delivery down in building B. It’s very poor right now. I’ll plan and plan, and for some reason it just never seems to get done in Building B. What we need to do is improve communication. Between me and the staff and between me and the residents. It’s obviously a problem to one resident that we don’t deliver on time, and it’s only right and professional that we deliver on time and correctly. So I will do my best to deliver better, yes?
Yes. Maybe I should apologize to that person.
Anyways. I also need to remake the storage and the system. I don’t know how though, and I’m not sure that rehauling the storage is priority. I’ll redo the database for these two weeks, and if there is time, I’ll tackle the storage system. That would require I redo the data base this week. I may have enough time. It’s a pretty long process, but I really kinda like this sorta thing.
John.
