The week gone by — Sept. 5

I left my mask on and the lanyard with my ID badge hanging from my neck as I walked to the car. I didn’t need either of them at that point, but I just didn’t feel like taking them off yet.

The weather was beautiful, the rain from the very northern edge of Ida’s remnants having stopped that morning.

It had been quite a day and quite a week, even if both were short.

This wasn’t the standard “I don’t know what I’m doing” feeling caused by my imposter syndrome being afraid it would be exposed as a fraud (think about it).

They were looking for people to help. I was looking for a decent get-out-of-the house job that would let me make a little money. So it made for a quick match.

All jobs should be taken seriously, but this is the kind of job where mistakes can turn out a lot worse than screwing up someone’s burger-and-fries order or bagging a 12-pack of soda on top of the eggs.

And I realized pretty quickly that I was the low man on the totem pole. Which was fine, except I also realized I really had no idea of what I was doing.

This wasn’t the standard “I don’t know what I’m doing” feeling caused by my imposter syndrome being afraid it would be exposed as a fraud (think about it). For most of the past 20-plus years, even when I’ve been new and not known exactly what I should do, I had at least some of the basic skills and could figure out the rest.

After all, that was how I had gotten the job. But here, I literally didn’t know what I was doing.

While trying to figure it out, I’ve been forced to consider completely different methods of interaction, that sometimes really leaning in and listening works and an instinctive “Hey!” not even yelled, but said sharply across a room, may not.

And I’ve tried to invoke the advice I first saw on a classroom poster in seventh grade and have remembered to this day — “Win little victories.”

I may be the newbie who wonders how my coworkers can make it look so easy, but if I can make myself useful in some way or find a solution that makes things a little better for someone … it feels like a win.

In the world I’m hoping for but which hasn’t shown much interest in having me so far, I won’t be there very long, and the people I’m working for know that. But as long as I’m there, I’m going to make whatever contributions I can.

What I wrote

The brain was letting lots of ideas in and out this week. I like when that happens.

Some social media staffer either narrowly missed having a very bad day … or had already had them. (Also includes the phrase “I may be a wiseass, but I’m not a monster.”)

If I ever were put in charge of everything — which really should happen, by the way — a major part of my platform would be a very simple question.

I’ve collected and acquired a lot of things over the years, but the ones that are symbols and memories of friendship are particularly special.

Stuff I read

Sticking to a budget is responsible, but Austin warns against keeping one kind of budget too low.

Thomas has some thoughts about going back to the office for the first time in 18 months.

Speaking of going back, students and teachers are returning to school. Pea Green got her sons ready to go back, while Graham has five predictions for September and Lindsay has some lessons for teachers.

Renata is not a fan of the expression “think outside the box,” because …

Anyone who quits their job because it’s terrible has Rosie’s support.

According to Vee, “anonymous” does not mean what some people at her office think it means.

My “favorite” scam is the offer to help with my student-loan debt, since by virtue of a scholarship, parents who had good jobs and tuition costs that were somewhat tethered to common sense, I don’t have any. That one comes on the phone, but Pepper takes aim at online scammers.

We should just all thank Jeff for this.

Who is Kristian? (This is not a prelude to outing herself as Jean Valjean. She’s answering questions about herself.)

Cama believes in the power of hope.

Fran and her kids went on vacation to a friend’s house. It had its moments.

“Eventful” would be a good way to describe Hannah’s experience getting to Copenhagen.

If someone is belittling themselves, Louna has suggestions for how to respond.

Ferrari reminds us that even on the bad days, we still matter.

Michelle tells the story of the magic man of South Africa.

BereavedSingleDad wonders if the pandemic ended and he missed it.

Jen and her husband took their daughter to the zoo. It did not go as planned.

Zoe compares people to blinkers.

Tweets I liked

They may not need my or anyone else’s permission, but I’m a 49-year-old married man who sees no problem with either of these.

A bag of mcvities nibbles might not be traditional lunch but I’m a 43 year old single woman and I dont need permission to pretend it’s acceptable so enjoy your dinner. pic.twitter.com/Ee6HfNW0Sz

— Miss P (@misspreturns) September 3, 2021

Yup, that’ll do just fine.

A beautiful night to be outside. pic.twitter.com/w3W2G6RH8b

— Rick L Johnson (@RickLJohnson1) September 3, 2021

I’d be down with getting back there someday.

We took a break and went to #Edinburgh. A Trip that was well worth it and much needed.#roadtrip pic.twitter.com/W8O1Lf7sPn

— T. B. C… (@HyacinthSoul3) August 30, 2021

This is approximately 90 percent of any British shows I watch now.

You know you watch too much stuff when 5 minutes into a new film and you’ve already recognised 5 people from 5 different series.

— LovePopcorn (@LovePopcorn6) August 29, 2021

Onions being chopped … dust bunnies running rampant.

My nephew passed his driving test yesterday just a few weeks after his dad passed away from brain cancer. It took his dad an over an hour to write this card a just few days before he died – it was a monumental effort for him! pic.twitter.com/DUgJmLbOvS

— Anna B💙 #FBPPR #GetPRDone #FBPE (@palindrome_lndn) August 28, 2021

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