When "Work" Calls Me Away From Hub Pages
65So Much Time.....
As a traveler, moving from city to city, sometimes there were huge blocks of unfulfilled time.
The dog required so much walking. Letting the bread rise took a bit more. Caring for plants or veggies required some time. Much of my time was finally dedicated to my art of writing.
Some might call it seventh heaven. I might have been among those.
Another New City
There is no laziness in me, and I wish to earn my keep. In some cities that I find myself, the job prospects are poor.
As the story unfolds, I found HubPages, and I liked it! It was my ally. I poured myself into it and dedicated myself to it. Never, ever, believe in " riches" pouring from talent and having something to say. Just do not do it..........you will become hungry.
Just as I began to develop a following, a rating, make a presence...............I got a job, involving food.
In reality, I spend my hours, putting out fires, managing those who can not manage themselves.
For those of you either interested in or skilled in the kitchen, you know how to present an attractive meal, plan for tomorrow, read a menu, plan one, and make creative uses of leftovers.....................right? Are we on the same page?
A " cook" asked me, " what do you want to do with this leftover salad"?
Does anyone, ANY ONE have a use for leftover salad? ANYONE?
People Will Not Leave Me Alone
The work schedule is posted on the office door. There are several copies, to be taken for those who can not write down their hours or be trusted to remember. It is a simple design.
On Saturday morning, before 7am, my phone awakens me...........the caller asks, " I don't see my name on Monday, do you want me to work?"..................I promise, this call took place!
In A Matter Of Weeks
In my short tenure, I have terminated two people........never a pleasant task. Began an organic vegetable garden in which some residents can take part. A recycling program has been introduced.
If you are facing the idea of placing your loved one into a residential facility, pay particular attention to the kitchen. Good food is the only pleasure some people have left in life. There are those of us, who still care a great deal about this, and them.......
Be well......live well.......
It Is My Job
I am the " dietary services manager"............why don't they just say, " kitchen manager"?. I will order and check in groceries.
I will teach my people how to cook from scratch, address the various dietary concerns, and run a clean and efficient kitchen. I will manage the grocery and payroll dollars.......it is what I signed up for and am committed to.
This is not a fast food or buffet type of job. One must pass accreditations and obtain a license. This position requires a knowledge of addressing particular diets, low fat, increased iron, weight loss, weight gain, renal, low purine, avoid high potassium, fortified foods.......the list goes on. This is not about throwing something in the microwave.
But I sure do miss you here, at Hub Pages. My 'job' is really interfering!
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Good for you...it is very important for these people...I know my mom has been in a facility now for 3 years and though they fix really good food she still loves it when I bring in food from home.
I strictly cook and eat organic, and all her food must now be puree'd so I have an imercible(sp?) blender and puree' her food.
Glad to hear you are doing this...:O) Hugs G-Ma
Great hub, it definately brought a smile to my face and a bit of a chuckle too. Thanks for sharing this with us here on "the pages."
onegoodwoman: Nicely done thank you. One should be greatful if one has employment at all, you can't pay bills with good intentions. I know because I have been unemployed for three years now and at my age 63, prospects of employment are fading fast.
Hub pages will always be here worry not we will not disappear.
OGW, I've missed you! It's good to hear that your absence was due to a worthwhile effort and not some misfortune. As you already know, I wish you all the best in whatever endeavor you are involved in. Sounds like you are putting things in order and getting much done in your new job. I wouldn't expect anything less from you. Anyway, nice to hear from you again, many blessings to you and yours, your friend, JR
It is so nice to hear from you again, I have missed you here! But you do a important work to see to that those who can´t do it themselves anymore get good and tasty food. They sure deserve it and good food is the highlight of their day. Gratulations to your new job even if it sounds like a great deal of work!
Justom,
Good to see you too!
Of all the things that I have done
for a living, running a kitchen is the
one that suits me best. Some days are just
too long, but that's just part of the
transitioning.
G-Ma Johnson,
Puree is a facet that our residents
are not going to get away from. Hard
to make it attractive, so I insist on
garnishing the plates.
Thanks for coming by!
annaw,
You are welcome, I miss the folks
here on the pages.
Thanks for reading, glad it brought
you a smile.
Jr.....
It is I who have missed you.
I noticed your new handsome photo
right away! Is this from a celebration?
Good to see you!
Thoughtforce,
You have been on my mind, are you doing
well?
You are right, the residents should enjoy
good food. There are dietary laws that I
must abide by, but my personal thought is
that many of them have so little to look
forward to, they should at least have a
good meal to sit down too.
Be well my friend, be well.
Brother Dave,
Good work to be done is a gift, and
I can see your predictament.
I am glad you liked the story, I certainly
miss writing them!
Hello Yolanda! You have been missed! I kept checking to see if I had missed any of your posts. I was a bit worried. I am happy to see that you are fine and well. Sometimes we are lead to those who need us the most. I hope that your staff is grateful for having you at the helm! I also hope to see another post from you soon!
Giselle2323,
How great it is to see your smiling face!!!!
I have indeed missed you along with several others.
Today, I hired a cook, who came to OKC from Jackson, Ms.,
she reminds me of your photo. A cheerful lady. I fully expect that she will be warm and wonderful, and I told her, 'if you can be a good cook in Jackson, you can cook anywhere'~~~
Miss you bunches.
Great and funny article in here.i really enjoyed it.
Crystolite,
Thanks, glad you liked it.
It's good to have a new reader!
Hi goodwoman, so nice to see you, too! Congratulations on your job ... it sounds very productive and challenging! That's wonderful that you are going above and beyond to serve them, and create a special experience with their meals. Take care!
Prairieprincess,
Long time , no see........
Hope you are well.
Thanks for coming by!
It is at times quite challenging. There
is always resistance to change. But the rewards
are worth the growing pains.
I've missed your sweet presence Ylonda!! I know of what you speak regarding the time it takes away from our beloved hubs, I have not had a chance to write in a couple of months. So miss this and you and all! Bless you as you help prepare sumptuous fare for our precious elderly!
Hey Judi,
I have missed you! Hope you are well~~~~
I know what you mean, I'm on my truck driving job right now near Salt Lake City Utah, finally, my company keeps me mostly in the Northeast near New Jersey and Ohio.
I have a power inverter in my truck which allows me to plug in my laptop and hub pages seems to be my computer hobby when I'm on the road not working.
Sometimes when I'm having writers block and can't really think of anything good to write about, I like to leave comments like this one or answer or ask questions or put stuff in the hub pages forums.
ZZron.......
In my personal journals, lay several stories about
my time on the road. Pass through Montana much? My personal favorite is about washing my face in a cold
stream along side the hiway at " mile marker four hundred
and forty four", just to keep going.
Be safe in your travels, and thanks for coming by.
Great article and interesting hub. Great to see you again!
Thank you Erin LeFey,
Glad you enjoyed it, and what a lovely
thing to hear~~
Hey there girl, glad to see you still have your head in the game. I didn't know if I should laugh or cringe about your hourly schedule example...when one can relate its a bad sign of our future. It's been a while, I had to jot something down. Take care.
JRM,
So very good to hear from you!!
Might as well laugh as to cry,
it's all in a day's work. We
are adjusting.....at least those
that made it through the first few
weeks~~
I am glad you checked in and filled us in as to what is going on with you. It sounds like a very important position you find yourself in. Best wishes, and don't forget us! :-)
Hi James,
Too long since we last met!
Full time job, going to school, and my garden
keeps me busy!
I still pop in on answers.
This too, shall pass, and there will be
time for writing again.
Be well my friend, be well.
Sounds busy and stressful, but nothing that you cant handle right? its been a while, ive been rather busy myself with work, personal issues and moving as well. I need to get back into writting again.
Hey Fullerman!
Good to see you again~~
Come on up, I need a good cook........
Seems like I come and go with HP too, on a different scale, but I understand...life gets in the way. :)
Something tells me that you could have some interesting experiences to use in your writing via the new job.
RTalloni,
It has been a very long time........so good to see you again.
It has been weeks since I have penned anything....except for the notes in my head.
You could be right, perhaps I will tell the memory of
an old folk. There is a wealth of stories to choose from.
Be well.......
I really enjoyed this one so thanks for sharing and here's to many more to share.
Take care
Eiddwen.
GREAT read!!!!! Much love....
Eiddwen and DRpastocarlotta,
thanks to you both for coming by to read...........
Work, school, gardening ( and canning ) are keeping me truly busy. Some days I just want to turn over and sleep.
On any day, there are 213 ideas for a hub or story.........life moves too quickly by us.......
Fortunately, in the garden, I can be creative and thankful in the same space.
The very best to each of you!
do u paint also i am sure bcoz if u are a writer u cud paint also....and being a women i understand the way u cud be busy. And the way u describes your routine here in this hub is very beautiful, like u. haha..i like ur hubitivity no doubt
Hello moneycop,
No, no painting or drawing here.......just not
a talent here. Even young children laught at
my stick birds!
Thanks for coming by~~
I can so relate to you onegoodwoman. There are so many priorities in life which make us take the thing that we "love" away from us ;) Glad to read your hub and find all well your end :)
You are such an easy writer. You are a delight to read. i feel better reading this hub. I thought I was busy. I thank God for the gift of Hub pages. It really is a community.I have met people through their writing that I would never have met in my busy schedule. Our varied worlds are wonderful as well. Must write about mine sometime.
Ruchira......
Welcome to my hub!
If all we need to do, was what we wished to do anyway~~
Akune.......
How very gracious!
I do hope that we meet again on another hub........
excellent hub.. and i can relate big time, my work was night shift.. it took all my time bar a few hours once a week but i never had the energy to write anything or even read a hub.. my novels have even now sat aside waiting for me to do something with them, but now that i am working days, i find more time to come in here, once a day even for half an hour, read a question or two, and read a hub of someone interesting like you.. it gets the brain going and i find that each day just a few more minutes gives way to HP and i am much more relaxed and happy.. so, give yourself once a week to spend half an hour then each day, allow yourself 10 minutes to pop in an say hi here an there or just answer a question.. soon you will have so much time and your friends at work will start joining too :) and look, you've inspired me to write all that.. lol ty
Hello there Sugz
Pop in from time to time and express
some opinions in the form of answers,
is about all the energy, I have now.
If only my pen could keep up with my mind!
Thanks for stopping by....
i was like that too, just an answer or two, as for my pen, i gaveup with those, its the keyboard that is now my trusty friend that i pumel so lovingly and answer questions too and even a hub here an there but not too many as like you, i haven't a lot of time. damn keyboards gone an done that rhym thing again.. must be time to think up another hub LOL
i look forward to reading your other hubs.
A career that is so demanding it challenges you to kick it's butt-and it sounds like you do so, on a daily basis. IT IS difficult, finding little niches of time to do what we want..whether it be catching a game, reading, or best of all, writing. It just takes to *(^*&^&*^*& much time to make a living any more!! Great hub, One, and kicked up a notch to prove it!! How are you? :)TR
I changed jobs in September and since then have had my hub time really cut down, so I can sympathize.
Phil,
If ever my hubby comes home from a hard day's,
not in need of a hot meal, some noisy, bad guy TV,
or a host of , " honey, hold this, while I do this"........on the same day, that I have a story brewing....
I will write again!
I use to work on the Railroad in my home town of New York City, and I tried managing a website simultaneously, and so I fully understand the difficulty you've gone through here on hub, all this was prior to my getting on hubpages.
I quit that job back in April to pursue my very own business, which has been a tough ordeal as well, but I've been blessed to have family who help me make ends meet today.
Since then I recently found hubpages which has been a sorta savior for my writing talent, and it has provided a platform for my professionalism to take lift with the usage of words.
This hub makes me realize what someone is truly going through behind these computer screens, besides myself and it has taught me something about how others may have to deal with differing circumstances, like working and helping the elderly or other family issues.
I also see that your a real person who hides very little about what you believe in, your firm and dedicated to your career of being a Kitchen Manager.
I commend you on being yourself while writing here on hubpages, its not easy for most people judging by all the hubs I've read so far, & because it would mean lower numbers of viewers, if their life stories to share aren't of interest.
Your very definitely privileged & lucky to have an interesting career in this tough heartless economy today, so this makes all the difference I believe for sure for most writers on hubpages.
Awesome hub here, voted up.
I like how you hold no punches with all the writing I've read from you thus far. Your newest fan.
CloudExplorer.
I sincerely thank you for your gracious words.........
Yes, I am a " real person"...my adult children sometimes, anger me........still, I am their Mom, and at the end of the day ( well, ok, at the end of the week ), I come charging in to rescue them~~
My mind, is currently, gearing up to share the story of the loss of a loyal dog.........all I have to do, is stop the tears from flowing so that I can see the keyboard.........yes, I am a real person....
And, I thank you again~~
I am going to enjoy following you. I am a hospice liasion and father of two young boys. so I understand your hub. Here is hoping we both are able to multi-task enough time for writing and not let the grind suck the inspiration out of us.
tonyfischer.......
Lack of inspiration is not my problem.
There are always 2-3 hubs buzzing about in
my head. I schedule a day off, and someone
has a crisis, leave early with the intent of writing
and get caught in the longest grocery store line.
It will come about again, I'm sure.
Happy New Year~`
You remind me of another hubber by the name of Tlpoague. She is one of my favourite people here and your hub reminds me of her.
You have a big responsibility as Kitchen manager...er..sorry.. dietary services manager. Glad I found this hub. I hope your garden is till doing well after all these months.
Cardisa,
I , too, have read from this author!
That is a compliment to me.
My garden is under snow, awaiting the sunshine
of springs...........and my plans for me.
Loved your hub! Love your attitude about work!
Thank You Ruby H Rose!
Glad to meet you here......hope to cross paths
again~~
onegoodwoman: Your writing stands out because I feel as if you are having a direct conversation with me, the reader, and anyone else who reads your hubs. I SO understand about work. I get it, I have walked in your shoes. Only those who experience what others go through can truly understand. Blessings, Sparklea :) You are ONE GOOD WOMAN!
Sparklea........
Your words almost echo those of an encourgagin 7th grade English teacher.
She said, " write like you know who is reading".
Thank you so very much for your kind and gracious words, and the trip back!
I do hope, that we will meet again on HP.
Onegoodwoman, THANK YOU for your kind words. Yes, we will meet again on HubPages. Blessings, Sparklea :)
It is always interesting to learn about the person behind the writing, and you are a very special person. Thank you for showing us another part of you. Rated up and interesting.
toknowinfo........
good to see you again, it has been a while!
Thanks~~
well OGW... i see it's been 6mths since i have been on here and looked at my hubs let alone anyone elses.. man does life get in the way.. well for some strange reason i opened facebook and viola... a notification about hub page stuff.. so, i came in here and saw loads of notifications and wow, it's changed a tad.. can't say im motivated to write, am so not myself these days that i completely forgot about HP.. i think, nope, i know i have to do some writing.. my brain is in such overload tho.
Sugz........
A confidant, once told me............you can't write about a life, not lived..........
so, when I not writing, I am living..........what I will one day write about.
Until then, I am learning from others.
I, do hope it is likewise with you......
Thanks for stopping in.
lol if i wrote about my life the story would be finished within 4 sentences. :) writing for me is a release of a brain that wont shut up so, it comes easily when i can be bothered, which lately, is hardly ever.
living.. hmm that would be not looking after everyone else and sorting everyone elses problems out lol
justom Level 4 Commenter 14 months ago
There you are! I've missed you but it sounds like you've got your hands (and everything else) full. I didn't know you were a dietary manager. My friend Kris has been doing that for at least the last 10 years. You sound just like him. He takes care of everything and has to babysit too. He's very serious about his work and really gets along well with the residents, who he asks to suggest meals that they would like. Glad you're doin' well. Peace!! Tom