My Week that Was - March 7

Heavy snow fell for 60 minutes. 2/28/2026 dwm

 The last day of February provided a small and short-lived reminder that winter wasn't over. 

 We barely touched an inch of snow after the system moved out of south Wisconsin while trucks fitted with plows were hustling to clear the white stuff before it melted.

 Coming back to work after spending a week at conference is difficult. It's not as tough a transition as after a vacation, but it's in the ballpark.

 During the week in Chicago I was in touch with the office in Madison and kept up with incoming emails. After a vacation, there are usually a hundred plus that are unread. 

It was Tuesday afternoon before I caught up on office work and could focus on the next round of projects, starting with a report listing all the birthdays during April, May, and June.

Flowers spring to life. 3/4/2026 dwm

Wednesday as I walked through campus to the office, I noticed green shoots emerging through the dirt near the brick wall of an apartment building. 

There's still a decent chance we'll have more cold days and it's possible we'll get a snow, perhaps, a lot of it. 

Life in the office felt normal by Wednesday. The three of us make a good team. We look out for each other and are able to talk through various issues and find solutions.

Thursday was the busiest day of the week. It started on Oakwood's Prairie Ridge campus with a short donor visit so they could sign a form. Then we had Board meeting, followed by a second donor visit.

Nutsy. 3/5/2026 dwm

 All this week both campuses emphasized appreciation for employees with a variety of events and treats. Tuesday there were walks while Wednesday there were 'Dirty Sodas' available. I had a Compassion Cooler which was Orange Crush with a bit of cream and vanilla added.

 Thursday, the Oakwood mascot, Nutsy, made the rounds handing out goodies and offering gratitude, encouragement, and swag to  employees.

  Friday morning I had an appointment with the Red Cross and there was a new twist to the process called applied muscle tension or AMT. The process of crossing your legs by putting your right foot over your left leg, hold five seconds, then switch helps maintain blood pressure.

 It's also a distraction when the needle is inserted, and whether that's one of the benefits of AMT, or not, I will say there was almost no pain as the blood started flowing. 

Friday wrapped up employee appreciation week and it wrapped up with a nacho bar for lunch. A bag of Tostito chips was poured into a basket then covered with beans, corn, chicken, and beef before getting topped with melted cheese, peppers, and guacamole. It was made to order, and yes, I did leave off a couple of the ingredients. It was a nice treat. 

It was an unusual week in that I had something going on four of the five evenings which prevented me from getting home by 5. It wasn't a big deal, but the weeks go better when I'm home at the regular time. 

Whatever time you get home, be sure you arrive safe and sound; have a great new week!