The older you get, the stranger the message

 As previously posted, my place of employment has become EXTREMELY TOXIC.  The new Administration is much like a clique in high school.  Some are the chosen ones, the targets, and those in the middle to do as little as possible and only as told, so as not to be noticed.  

We are treated based on the Director's attitude rather than equality and fairness.  I am not a favorite, and my physician states that I need to reduce stress, or I may not have a retirement year.  I have been great, but I am concerned about heart issues with all the pressure and abuse from the leadership.  As with most medical problems, the delay in getting a full review is crazy.  They think a follow-up echocardiogram is essential, but they can only get in in July!

Another stressful reality is that everyone in the office was friendly and enjoyed being together; the Administration has created an environment where it is best to shut up, do your work, and leave.  I recently had one employee I saw in the parking lot, and I said, "Been a while."  They apologized, explaining that they knew the Director hated me and was particularly harsh with those who considered me a friend.  So they go out of their way to avoid me.  Again, they are concerned that they will face repercussions if the Director sees them talking to me.  In fact, they created an acronym, "WOK," and say avoiding the WOK should be the most important goal.

I am at a point where I know that the longer I stay, the longer the Administration will be unhappy, but I will wait to see if I am forced out, as some others have been.  I have already hired a legal counsel and have documented everything well in case the Director decides to take action against me.  I need to eliminate my healthcare coverage concerns before retiring next spring.

Over the past few years, I came to my office, and books were placed on my deck.  Some are like "five years before you retire" or "how to retire early.  I take this as a subtle message to leave.  Then, I found the book below.  What a message.  How can I distinguish between a threat from a friend and friendly advice from the Director?  Either way, it's inappropriate, but I now have it on my desk.  The one who put it there may put it back.

Then, a few weeks ago, I came to work, and the book below was on my chair.  I know this was not from the Director, but who was the Secret Santa?  I'm unsure what to make of the messages.

In other news, age makes it harder to do things that were EASY in the past.  This past weekend, I changed the tire on my bicycle.  After destroying three tubes trying to get the tire mounted, I gave up and paid a bike shop not to do it.  I still quickly changed the sprocket and chain, but the tire change was nearly impossible to accomplish.  I think my age has weakened my ability to repair the tire.

I am upgrading my photo-taking and processing system as I prepare for retirement.  I have the 2016 IMac that I have used for post-processing photography, which has slowed down.  So, I took the plunge and purchased the Mc Studio.  WOW, what a difference.  On the 2016 IMac, loading Photoshop or Lightroom takes well over 30 seconds.  My Mac Studio is under 10 seconds, and post-processing photos is a blink now.  In addition, there are no delays in processing.

I am not going to upgrade the cameras.  My two Nikon D810s and my D600 are still my go-to cameras, and they do a great job, so I am not grading.  In the coming months, I may share more photos; only time will tell.  As I age, I realize time is not infinite.

Carry on, my friends, carry on.