Author: Jo Redd

Preppers, unite!

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Even if things are going right in your life, it is still a good idea to have upwards of six months worth of food stored away. Natural disasters, government-created chaos, and economic instability can create food shortages in the blink of an eye. I recommend that everyone invest in a secondary freezer (a deep-freeze, if you will) and that you designate an area in your dwelling to food storage. I live in an apartment so I understand that space can be tight, but in the long run its a smart idea to try and have a full pantry that is regularly rotated out.
Below is a ever-updating list of common foods that can be stored for months or even years.

Pasta:

When looking at different brands, Barilla was found to have a longer shelf life than the store bought brand, however the difference is almost negligible. I live in the Midwest so this brand, along with the HyVee brand, are two of the more common names you’ll see.

bought within the last month (12/10/2020)
bought 2 months ago (11/15/20)

Canned Vegetables:

Clover Valley is the “store” brand that the local Dollar General carries. Most of their canned vegetables give you a two year shelf life.

Bought one month ago (12,2020)

Applesauce:

HyVee Brand only gives you a year long shelf life. Apples are something that you can can or mash up and preserve on your own.

Bought two months ago (11/15/2020)

Spaghetti Sauce:

Prego only has a year and a half shelf life which seems short, but if you think long term you will more than likely be canning tomatoes from your own garden by the time this is unable to be used.

Bought 1/07/2021

Winter can be over now

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Yesterday the midwest was slammed with a major snowstorm, and the area where I reside was finally caught in the crosshairs. Roughly eleven inches of snow fell. Initially, the snow was heavy and wet, but just as the winds picked up last night, the snow became light and fluffy. It was beautiful to watch the snow yesterday. Most businesses were closed early, and so it was tranquil, even in the heart of town, and the snow wasn’t being blown about; it was just falling silently to the ground. I even managed to keep my car cleaned off yesterday afternoon.

Last night was a different story. Keeping up with shoveling was next to impossible due to the high winds, and the temps dropped rapidly. Going outside last night was awful, and I couldn’t stay warm for longer than a minute or two. At about 9 pm, I gave up and decided I wouldn’t be going outside again. Now my car is completely stuck. I am supposed to move it so someone can come to take the pile of snow away, but I don’t think that’s going to be possible today.

I feel trapped, I am currently experiencing cabin fever, and I am in an awful mood. I hate winter, and I’m ready for it to be done. Spring can show up any time now.

The Job Hunt.

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Back at the beginning of October, I began casually checking the job listings in my area due to some significant changes with my current employer. Once December rolled around, that job hunt became a higher priority, and right now, I am looking daily for something new.

Within the last six months, I have begun working towards various certifications, and none of them seem to be taking me anywhere. I enrolled in the Prior Authorization Certification Specialist program because the clinic I work in considered getting a nurse to do just that for our providers. I was told there was an excellent chance to get the course reimbursed. About a week after I paid for the class, an email was sent out saying that the main hospital campus would be taking over this task, which rendered my certification useless. (and naturally, there was no reimbursement for something the company was no longer interested in.) Perhaps the most frustrating part about this is that any jobs looking for PACS certification want an experienced worker as well. Since obtaining my certification, I have gotten no more work with prior authorizations because they are done out-of-clinic.

I took applications all around town last week. I have yet to hear back from any of those companies. After reading reviews on Indeed, I walked into one establishment, confident that I would be interviewed on the spot, but the manager wasn’t available to speak to me. I called that same business on Monday and, again, the manager was unavailable.

I keep up with the news, and there seem to be endless reports about places needing workers. I can’t even get Culvers to call me back. It isn’t like I am refusing any avenue for a job; the jobs just aren’t interested in me. I could apply to McDonald’s, where they pay their workers anywhere between $13 and $15 an hour, but I bet they say I’m overqualified to work the register. I consider a job as an administrative assistant, and they want me to have 5+ years of super-specific industry skills while only offering to pay $15 an hour. There was a remote position listed on indeed for a test scorer, and that position also required a bachelor’s degree for $16 an hour.

While I would never say that a company should have to pay me more, I will say that a college should not take taxpayer dollars and then charge $30,000 a year for just the classes.

Finally, there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

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Tomorrow the MLB owners and players will be sitting down to, hopefully, hash out a deal both sides can agree to. Fans around the country are ready for the postseason to begin in earnest, and that can’t happen without an agreement made by the two competing interests. Twitter has been abuzz with the news that there will be a meeting, and there has been heavy speculation that the owners are going to ask for a shorter season, as expanded playoffs and a universal DH. I am entirely on board for the DH in the NL league. However, the first two need to be left at the door.

No one wants to see less baseball in the regular season. No one wants to see an endless number of teams in the postseason, though. It’s a conundrum that only true fans will understand. 2020 was already a strange season, and many teams getting a chance at the postseason felt even weirder.

Not only was 2020 an aberration, but there were commentators who decided we needed to campaign on keeping around the expanded postseason. People were whining during the 2021 season that teams who didn’t make the playoffs should have. That is too bad. Play harder. The divisions could always be adjusted if teams feel like they are getting the shaft, but adding more teams after the regular season is lame.

While I am optimistic to see the two sides decide to show up and talk, I am apprehensive that there will be a lot of progress made on a deal. If either side chooses to not be flexible, this could be a terse meeting.

Scared to make the next move.

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I want to work as a freelancer; I would like to help others, but I want to do so on my schedule. I am falling into the same old rut where I have nothing to offer. I know that can’t possibly be true, but the small voice in the back of my mind is beginning to grow louder. Every day I have entered at least one application for a new position, and almost every day, I find another rejection email. The worst is when the company gives nothing but silence. I couldn’t tell you if I was still in the review process or if certain companies have outright rejected me.

I get it. I’m in my thirties, and I realize that most people are too busy to reach out unless they want something. I just wish that I knew what I was doing wrong. Since the beginning of the year, I have updated my resume, I have taken numerous assessments, and still, I am striking out.

I cannot feasibly jump into a writing career at home if I have no audience and no job. My current job is still sucking the life out of me, and my motivation is struggling to be found. I want to make this blog more marketable, but I don’t foresee people wanting to hear me complain. The struggle is real, and I don’t feel like I progress. I can’t decide if I can use my papers from college or if that is considered plagiarism, and I don’t know if community college writing would be sufficient for some of the careers I am applying for.

Foot pedal FTW!

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If you’re going to try and enter the world of transcription, I highly recommend you get a foot pedal. Sure, most software can utilize the F keys at the top of the keyboard, but that still isn’t quite as handy as not having to use your hands at all. Doesn’t matter which side is dominant. You can switch up the “keys” on the foot pedal within the software.

I purchased the one that comes with the Express Scribe software, and it all works like a dream. I have already cut my time substantially due to using the foot pedal.

Planning for the Future.

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Roughly three days before the end of 2021, I got an idea in my head that I needed to buy a planner for the new year. I am trying to become a freelance worker, and I don’t think I can keep everything in order if I don’t have something to write in. I love making lists and keeping track of my schedule, but sometimes it can be challenging for me to continue using planners. Normally I would consider using a regular notebook, but there’s something so blah about using just another writing book.

After checking out a couple different sites that recommend which planner to use, this is the post that sold me on getting a Clever Fox planner. I’ve only had the planner for a few days, but already I have fallen in love with it. The cover is soft, and the color green is a dark hue that makes the planner look super sleek. Its got three different bookmarks, which come in handy for marking the monthly, weekly, and daily pages.

Inside the planner, you’ve got beautifully thick pages that can hold up to the medium-point fountain pen I use, and there is no bleeding through to the backside of the page. All pages are left black for the date, which is excellent for people like me who can be sporadic with their planner usage. Initially, the planner asks for affirmations, things that give you joy, and a spot for habits that you would like to adopt over the next year. Next is a vision board, and then there are two total pages dedicated to goals for all aspects of your life.

The most important part comes next: this is where you can do some serious preparation, down to the hour if that’s what you need. The month calendars give you an area for monthly goals, as well as a place to reflect on what was successful and what you’ll work on the following month. Each month’s side is an area of specific plans of action.

For the week portion of the planner, you can set different habits you want to work on, goals and priorities for that specific week, as well as a work and personal to-do list. At the end of seven days, there is a weekly reflection to discuss what was successful and what areas of life need improvement.

Each day has a schedule you can use and areas to list daily goals, a to-do list, and a small room at the bottom to reflect on how productive your day was.

I’m already so impressed with this planner that I’m getting ready to purchase the budget planner that is also made by Clever Fox. I think I’ve finally found a product that I will continue to use and can genuinely help hone my time management skills.

If you’re interested in buying one, I suggest you look at this one!

Edit: I still love this planner, but my critiques all remain the same as of 6/4/2022

My First Surprise of 2022

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I wasn’t planning on making any resolutions for this year because every year before this one has been an epic failure. In 2020 I had made decent progress, and then the pandemic hit, and all the goals I set went out the window.

While I would like to lose weight and become a healthier person, that was not something I had put high on the priority list. I assumed that if I became more active in general, my health would come up also. When I woke up this morning, I checked my email, like I always do, and was more than a little shocked to see that I had a receipt for a Noom membership. I signed up for the program about 9 months ago when I became enthusiastic about working out again, but I quickly lost interest. I knew a renewal was coming up. I just wasn’t sure of the date. Well, that date was today.

I suppose this means I should try and use it diligently. If I keep paying for the service, it makes no sense to let this opportunity pass me by.

Lockout: Day 18

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Baseball fans are beginning to get impatient now that the lockout is reaching well into its second week. As far as anyone can tell, everyone seems to have gone home for the holidays, and they have no intent on getting this lockout resolved before the new year. It would be nice if teams could resume practice at the training facilities and if big-name trades could resume. It’s already hard enough to deal with no games being played, but now there isn’t even much conversation about prospects or the future of the next season. Everyone is focused on the lockout despite nothing happening.

I’m leaving the Healthcare Industry.

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Perhaps this will not be a permanent thing, but as for right now, it is the best thing I can do for myself. I am unhappy at my position with ISH, and I do not think that things will get better. In July they implemented a new call system for our clinic, and it has been sub-par, at best. Our clinic is a shining spot in the community because we offer small-town, genuine care. Our patients used to be able to get in contact with us directly, and now they must talk to at least two other people before they land on a line with someone they are familiar with. Our patients hate it, and they tell us often that they are unhappy with the changes.

Yesterday we had a meeting with some of the bigwigs and it was kind of sad to see the women around me act the way they did. Rather than stand up for the patients, they agreed with Kim that they would just need to “get used to it” because this was a time of growing pains. Maybe the patients shouldn’t have to get used to it. Maybe this clinic should stay small and stop acting like its a big medical plaza inside a booming metropolis. We are in the middle of nowhere, Iowa, and the people here don’t want to have to talk to a call center.

The girls who run the call center take no accountability for the things that go wrong, and when we explain how something needs to be different, they usually ignore what we say. I said very little in the meeting yesterday because I knew that it would fall on deaf ears. What I did bring up was swatted away and seen as something that had already been addressed.

Perhaps I am not with the right company and there is somewhere better out there. I do not plan on moving away, so my options are limited. Right now I would rather just change industries and attempt to wade back into healthcare at a different time.