It will only pinch for a moment

Those are the words we heard as children when it was time for the dreaded trip to the doctor's office. Dreaded not because we disliked our pediatrician, but because we were likely to get a shot. Even the choice of a sucker did not quickly dry the tears. But those vaccinations were necessary to keep us healthy. Fast forward to adulthood and we find ourselves in the position of having to get a shot to protect us from the flu. As employees of BJC, the influenza vaccination (or nasal mist) is now mandatory. I confess that I experienced my first flu shot in 2007 when we had the voluntary push for employees to take the vaccine. Not that I was afraid of the pinch, but because I remembered the Swine Flu debacle in the 1970s and because I never got the flu. However, thanks to the information that was shared in 2007, it became clear to me why getting a flu shot was not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. So this week, I will happily roll up my sleeve and take my shot. As employees of the largest health care provider in the state, we are setting an important example and ensuring that we are doing everything we can for the safety of our patients. I urge each of us to take advantage of the free flu shot and to remember, it will only pinch for a moment.

When your work day turns our differently

I had everything planned for how I would spend Friday, October 17. A 9:00 meeting this morning that would only last about 45 minutes, followed by a quick 'surprise' visit to staff at what we affectionately call 9890 and the Tab, then lunch with Director of Marketing for one of our other hospitals, a meeting on I-64 and then plowing through the piles on my desk and credenza. Of course that was before I was alerted at 5:20 a.m. to the news that there had been a fire at BJSPH and that patients and staff had been evacuated. At least that was the story on the news. The facts were quite different, but a fire at a site takes on a life of its own and zaps any plans you had for how you would spend your work day. There was no evacuation, the fire was contained to a mechanical facility and the hospital was back to normal operations within an hour and a half thanks to the great work of staff and the local fire departments. So, I sit here at 5:33 p.m. now that everything is under control (in our world, that means the facts have now been communicated to as many audiences as we can think of) and wonder if I should now try to make the piles on my desk and credenza smaller or give in to the fact that I am no longer 32 and my energy sometimes depletes faster than it used to and head home. Which scenario do you think won out and why?

When's the upside of this roller coaster ride

When I was little I hated roller coasters for one reason -- the feeling in my stomach as the coaster took the downward plunge. For my siblings that was the thrill. Well, the downward plunge we have been on for the past week has been anything but a thrill as we all anxiously wait for the stock market to do what roller coasters do -- go back up! As I wait, very nervously I admit, I am trying to ensure I am doing everything I can to not panic, to not make any rash decisions, and to make small changes that will help me to save more, spend less (probably what I should be doing anyway). As readers know, I started taking Metro to work and have now expanded to using it to run errands -- saving wear and tear on the car and totally reducing the amount of money I spend on gasoline. I am also not eating out at lunch and dinner as often. To the shock of my husband and our last still-at-home daughter, I have cooked dinner every night this week (I added up the dollars spent on grabbing Mexican from Qdobo or healthy stuff from Crazy Bowls & Wraps or saying "let's meet at Houlihans" and realized we could do much better). I am placing into the recycle bin the Macy's, Talbots, Harolds, Black House/White Market mailings as soon as they come in the mail, lest I be tempted by the Season's Biggest Sale with a 25% additional off coupon to match (yes, I love to shop).
Indeed these are very scary times, but I am thankful that I work for BJC (health care is a much more stable employer than many); am trying to remember that when it comes to retirement savings, when stock prices are low it is a buying opportunity; and focusing on what kept me going as a child on those roller coaster rides was knowing they would be going back up and eventually coming to rest.
I'd love to hear things you are doing or have heard others are doing to weather this economic storm. Please share.