Another picture from Hackney, a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what's going on with me lately but I haven't been taking many (any) pictures. I think my head has just been elsewhere.
Yesterday I mentioned that my job might change as a result of my co-worker's departure. One of the possibilities was that I might go half-time. A part-time vacancy arose because of some departmental reorganization and I proposed to my boss that I step into it, and I seriously considered it. I thought it would be a good way to back away from the library as I get closer to retirement and perhaps get more days off to travel around and explore.
But alas, it looks like that idea is not going to work. Because of the library's requirements I'd have to come in every day anyway -- for fewer hours, granted, but I'd get no days entirely free. I would never have enough time to, say, take a train somewhere and go on a weekday hike. And of course I'd be losing half my paycheck, which we could manage but I'm not sure there's enough benefit to justify it. Why not keep earning that money and save it?
So I think for the time being I'll stay full-time. It was good for me to look into this but I don't think the timing and circumstances are right.
We also had (once again) a minor bit of health drama with Olga. She has lots of lumps and bumps on her body, like any old dog, and one of them arose rather suddenly and seemed infected. I took her to the vet on Monday and they biopsied it, and it didn't show signs of anything terrible. But we have to keep an eye on it and make sure it heals well. That was another £250 down the drain.
Yet another reason not to give up any of my paycheck -- Olga maintenance!
(Above, that's her lying next to me on the couch as I type this.)
Yesterday was very busy at work. Among my other duties I'm updating a spreadsheet (!) that shows all our board games with links to descriptions and how to play them. This is for our annual Board Game Night, which I normally don't attend myself but I do help prepare for it. I actually found it pretty interesting work and it kept me absorbed (between "customers") most of the afternoon.
It made me realize how many games are a sort of indoctrination (some would say preparation) for our capitalist, competitive way of life -- Monopoly being the most obvious example. It's funny how we play it as kids and don't really question the ethics of the objective, to drive our competitors out of business and bankrupt them. I guess all games are competitive and if we simply shared all the resources the game would never end. But in real life, that's kind of what we want, isn't it? A balance that allows us all to prosper in perpetuity? Or am I talking like a Communist now?
I hope Olga recovers and continues to be healthy. An excellent reason to keep the full time job. I haven't played any board games since I was little except scrabble with my kids to help them learn words and spelling. With no scoring.
ReplyDeleteI never play board games these days. I think the last time I did was when I went to a friend's house for Thanksgiving about 15 years ago!
DeleteNo, not a communist..more a realist?
ReplyDeleteGood to enquire about a job change even if it doesn't happen, you need to be informed...and information is your job! The only other way that would work would be to job share with another...but you both need to have the same aim equally.
Yeah, it was good to explore the option, even if it's not practical at this point.
DeleteGood that Olga's lump wasn't anything worse! I have already spent £192 at the vet's this week, and expecting another £50 plus this afternoon, just to walk through the door for a check on his conjuntivitis! I think I might need to go back out to work to support the dog!
ReplyDeleteArgh! Vet bills can be crazy. Is Alexi insured? We had insurance for Olga her first year, but then they hiked the premiums a huge amount so we dropped it.
DeleteUntil recently I was playing Monopoly with my grandchildren and the moral thought never crossed my mind, now you have given me a new direction to look at it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not sure my perspective is necessarily the right one, but that's how it's always seemed to me (as an adult).
DeleteThe original Monopoly would have made you happy. It was created to demonstrate how bad private monopolies were. It’s sad that we’re either capitalists or labeled communists. There’s a lot of room between. We paid €100 each for our rescue cats and then spend anywhere from €100 and €1500 at the vet! And, admittedly, they’re worth every penny. Olga sure is a trooper.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the original Monopoly was so different from the version we currently play! Paying a hundred euros for a rescue cat seems pretty demanding. You'd think they'd give them away for free!
DeleteThat is an absolutely crap path to retirement and it was tried here. You still have to go to work for the same number of days, and that is what matters.
ReplyDeleteI am not in touch with Australian veterinary care prices but £250 sounds like a lot of money.
So, now I am thinking Monopoly is a capitalist indoctrination.
Well, I'm glad I didn't take that path, then! I bet vets in Australia aren't a whole lot cheaper. They're expensive everywhere.
DeletePerhaps Monopoly is the REAL game of Life?
ReplyDeleteIf you work on Wall Street!
DeleteI agree about the part time job - that seems like more of a hassle than a help. For myself, on the other hand, having somewhere to be every day might keep me from being a total sloth (this is not a problem you have). I would squander my days off doing very little & then be annoyed at myself about it.
ReplyDeleteWell, that was a concern for me too. I didn't want to just have multiple hours every morning where I had nothing to do, but couldn't go on any kind of outing because I'd have to be at work later.
DeleteI hate monopoly, teaching greed, I say! And that's not my idea of a part time job, having to be in daily. I was thinking maybe three days a week, something like that. Picky, me! I'm so surprised you're thinking of retirement on the horizon, you're so young. But to me everyone is, including retired people.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Teaching greed! I'm in my late 50s so retirement isn't too many years away. Seven, maybe?
DeleteI've always hated playing Monopoly and I didn't realize why. It is all about destroying your competition, hence the name. Doh!
ReplyDeleteIn our house we're playing Jenga, Snakes and Ladders, and Candyland, more my speed.
Those DO sound more fun! And a lot shorter. I think most kids don't have the patience for an hours-long game like Monopoly now.
DeleteCommunist Steve (hah) - I watched an interesting program perhaps a year or two ago somewhere on the history of the game of Monopoly. The original game was designed by a lady to be non-capitalistic and to emphasize that our economy is better if individual persons were rewarded through hard work versus monopolies holding all the wealth. When Parker Brother's stole the idea, they changed to the capitalistic rules that it follows today.
ReplyDeleteIt IS interesting that the game was changed. I wonder if this happened in the 1950s, when anti-Communist fervor in the USA was so strong? I need to see that program.
DeleteFor some bizarre reason, August loves the game Life. Have you ever played that? It definitely gives you choices about how to best live a life from getting an education (expensive now but pays off in the future) or becoming an artist. Etc.
ReplyDeleteI just love the pictures of Olga all bundled and cozy in her blanket nests.
As to the job situation- do you ever think, "Geez. I'd rather be a barista,"?
We used to have the Game of Life when I was a kid, so yes, I've played it many times. (I'm not sure we always followed the rules very closely, though -- like many people in real life!) I practically AM a barista.
DeleteAccording to Trump-a-Dump and his merry trumpists, Ms Harris and Mr Biden are both communists. In fact, they were both trained in Moscow and wear red underwear. Ms Harris speaks fluent Russian and normally holidays in Cuba while Mr Biden has Karl Marx tattooed on his left shoulder. So if they are commies, there's little doubt that you will be too.
ReplyDeleteOh, to hear the Trumpers and their ilk talk, everyone to the left of Joseph McCarthy is a Stalinist!
DeleteI never thought of monopoly a training for young capitalists. My brother and I made a rule that we could borrow from the bank. Then we wondered why the game never ended. So we made the game very leftist.
ReplyDeleteWe played that we could borrow from each other, as well. As children, I remember Monopoly games on the back patio that lasted for a week.
DeleteThat sounds like a much healthier and more reasonable version of Monopoly!
DeleteI hadn't thought about games that way but you are so right. We are a very competitive society. What is it about aging that makes us grow strange bumps here and there? I point out these little rough spots to my dermatologist who always says "oh, that's normal, no worries".
ReplyDeleteOur cells just get wonkier and wonkier as they divide and reproduce. Something about the DNA chain getting shorter. I read about this at some point but don't remember the specifics.
DeleteAll three of my adult children and their families are hard-core board game enthusiasts. In addition to stuff like Monopoly (which I always hated), there are plenty of cooperative board games out there. My very left-leaning atheist child particularly enjoys them and has introduced me to a few. Sweet Olga.
ReplyDeleteI should have said "as opposed to Monopoly" since there's nothing cooperative about that game at all!
DeleteOh, yes, there are many games that are NOT about driving your competitor into miserable bankruptcy. Some of them do tend to go on for ages!
DeleteWhenever I play games with my grandkids, I always have to stress that we play for FUN so they don't get carried away with WINNING! They can get upset about losing but I just make jokes and try to keep it silly and fun.
ReplyDeleteOlga looks so sweet cuddling up next to you, Steve.
Good for you for teaching that lesson! And yes, I'm always happy to have Olga's cuddles.
DeleteMy thinking would be to work Tuesday through Thursday and have Monday and Friday off. 4 continuous days off makes a great break to pursue other interests. Personally, I think employers are going to have to be creative to retain great people.
ReplyDeleteMy son and his friends loved Monopoly and Chess.
The Corporate world is one big game. Knowing how to play the game is key.
I was thinking something like that too -- maybe even 3 full-time days and two days off. But no!
DeleteMonopoly was never one of my favorites--even the title of the game is suspect. It would be nice if you could come in every other day, but since there are probably daily tasks to deal with, that probably wouldn't work. How far away are you from retirement?
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's the problem -- the library needs opening and closing at specific hours and they're longer than the average workday. If I work 'til I'm 65, that would be seven more years.
Deletehalf days every day of the week? might as well work full time. MInie is 9 and she's developed a fatty lump on her chest. not too big, vet said just keep an eye on it unless we wanted to do a biopsy. he throws out every possible action for you to decided even if he doesn't heartily recommend it.
ReplyDeleteI know! What's the point of working half days all week?! Fatty lumps are very common on dogs, particularly bull breeds like Olga.
DeleteI have never actually played monopoly! If you can believe that!
ReplyDeleteIt's a veritable rite of passage in the USA!
DeleteI hope everything turns out okay with Olga. Dogs are indeed a major expense. I love the photo of her wrapped in the blanket.
ReplyDeleteWe spent nothing on her for years and years, but suddenly she's requiring more veterinary attention -- which isn't a surprise, really.
Delete