Several years ago I began learning the principles of process improvement, which is a way of evaluating systems and designing them to do what you actually want them to do. One of the huge lightbulb moments I had when I was first introduced to the concepts of PI was that all systems, every single one, … Continue reading The System Works Perfectly
Author: randomknowledgesyndrome
Librarian. Writer. Troublemaker. Scamp.
Midlife Crisis at the End of the World
In early March, as the COVID situation was heating up, and three years of the Trump administration had me against the ropes of despair, I took what I thought would be a brief hiatus from Facebook. The world had become so loud I could no longer hear my own primal screaming over the din of … Continue reading Midlife Crisis at the End of the World
Big Cat Confessional
I approached watching the Netflix documentary Tiger King with some trepidation. In general, I don’t enjoy documentaries that involve people exploiting animals. I don’t like watching animals forced into unnatural situations. I can’t even watch fictional movies where the dog dies. So, Tiger King, which highlights a uniquely American brand of colorful sociopaths, insanity and … Continue reading Big Cat Confessional
Trigger Warning
Very quickly into our exchange I could tell I was not in the mood for this woman. It had been a very long day of a very long week. My boss was on extended vacation, leaving me truly in charge for the first time since I started this job in July. Since then it’s been … Continue reading Trigger Warning
Whole Confusion
Today I worked out at one of our branches that happens to be located next to a Whole Foods. When I finished my shift at noon I thought to myself well, I guess I could go to Whole Foods and grab something. I wasn’t fully committed to the idea because I have a weird and … Continue reading Whole Confusion
More words that will solve nothing but are the truth
I was a freshman in high school when Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was entering college. I attended a small private college preparatory high school, co-ed and not a boarding school, but certainly in the same orbit as schools like Georgetown Prep. When I graduated I entered a highly regarded university which though public was … Continue reading More words that will solve nothing but are the truth
Complicit
During the insanity of events this week, I found myself reading some comments on a post about Trump’s Russia summit. Someone mentioned “the pee tape”, and there was much discussion about whatever it is that Russia “has” on Donald Trump. I admit I’ve savored this line of thinking, that somewhere there’s a smoking gun, a … Continue reading Complicit
Bitter as an Orange, Post Script
Today I was at an appointment with my psychiatrist, just the usual check in. We talked about the fact that I felt like these times are leaving me no margin, no cushion of calm. By the time I get to work I'm already emotionally fried. We discussed practical strategies and some med adjustments. We scheduled … Continue reading Bitter as an Orange, Post Script
Bitter as an orange
“The Count is neither sad, nor sick, nor merry, nor well, but civil count, civil as an orange..” - William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing When I was growing up the quickest way I could I get my father to shut down was to cry. If we were having a disagreement and tears started, he would … Continue reading Bitter as an orange
Stillness
I had a good weekend, both productive and entertaining. I got some gardening done, real gardening that involved digging holes and stuff! I got my hair did. We went to a concert with some friends. We spent a day going on blind dates with kittens and met our new babies, a boy and a girl … Continue reading Stillness
Random Knowledge Syndrome 