In case you want to go a-Maying

I was going through my photos and came across the pics from last year's Maypole "dance" at work.
A Maypole dance was one of those things that i always thought would be cool to do; then last year finally did, and will probably never do again.

Making the May pole was pretty simple.  There was a piece of some kind of heavy plastic-y piping left from some work that was being done. The magnificent maintenance director cut it down to size that i wanted.

All i did was wrap it with brown duck tape, tape strands of crepe paper to the top of it and stuck some artificial flowers on top. Voila.

Rocks in a beach pail in another pail thing worked to get to stand upright. 

And that was it. 

The whole thing as actually rather successful simple because members of departments were in  good moods (or just curious) that day and helped push people in their wheelchairs around the Maypole. 

We ended up with a rather large number of people who wanted to participate. I ended up adding more strands of paper to the pole. 

So, there ya go. Happy Maying. 

Doodlin'

So, my workplace has recently gone to  electronic documentation. This is more efficient, less time consuming ...... NOT! I am more backed up with paper work than I have ever been.

Handwriting all of my assessments and progress notes was a big pain in the butt - I'll admit that. My tendonitis flare-ups have been not nearly as bad or as frequent since the new system - so there is the positive.


However... with the old system, I was mobile. I had a neat little notebook with every form I needed tucked away in its own little pocket. & there was a pocket for forms completed & to be filed. & there was a pocket for forms in progress. & there was a special pocket for work that was due. And - much of this work - I could do anywhere at any time. If I needed to write the narrative after an intake interview - I could do that while waiting for morning meeting to end. Quarterly notes? No problem. I could write those up in another meeting or during a volunteer led activity.  Something  happen with someone that should be notated in his/her chart? Stiiiicky Note!! I could stop & write one in the hallway - slap it into the proper place in a heartbeat. Done! Up to date! Plenty of time to focus on the important stuff....... the people.

But alas, no more. Now everything is computerized. My computer is in my office. I mean.... there are  a couple of "Computer on Wheels" here & there throughout the building. But it takes an awfully long time to log in and get started on those - much longer than opening a notebook and pulling out the proper form. And.... I really do not think that it would be acceptable to hide behind a C.O.W in morning meetings (After all these meetings are only "15 minutes" out of the day. ...... Not.) or other situations where I could stealthily get my work done in the good ol' neo-luddite days of pen & paper.

So... now what? Stuck in meetings with nothing to do. ARGH.

"Duh.... you could take an interest in what's going on around you."

Of course, snarky voice in my head, I hear what is going on around me. Much.... most of what is said does not really pertain to my workday or my responsibilities. & quite a bit of it is simply personal asides or whispered conversations & stifled giggles.

So, I sit... & sit ... &....... Doodle!!!! Yay.  Yes, I used to doodle often & quite prolifically back in the day when my life felt as if things were going in a creative and spiritual direction. Often my morning time or evening time was spent just doodling or journaling or doodling & journaling. & then colored markers came into play and transformed my squiggles into colorful art that any mother would be proud to hang on her fridge:)-

So, they say that people who doodle during meetings retain ... like 29% more information than people who don't. That's what they say. I don't really remember if I remember more or not. I do know that I usually leave feeling more calm and less postal &/or suicidal than when I am just sitting.  It is easier to step into the chaotic beat of the day & rise above.  & doodling is really just enjoyable to me.

So, because I am a weirdo, I've started saving my doodles. The pages that fit I staple into my journal and color from time to time. The small ones I sometimes cut out and put in an envelope. Maybe one day they will become some kind of collage or something. & the big-guns I sometimes take a picture of.

Why? Dunno. 'Cuz  I has a smart phone & it can do that?

At any rate  - this one I dropped into Piknik, a pretty cool photo editing site that unfortunately is closing in April. So, check out that site now if you are interested.

 & here it is:

Yes. It looks like a box of Crayolas had the flu. But, I feel much better. 

And to all moms out there - yes you are welcome to hang this on your fridge. 

And you're welcome.