Moving desks

always unearths some interesting things.  I've worked out of the same office for the past 4+ years, but this week am making the move to one of our other locations.  So far I have found copies of assessments we haven't used since 2009, boxes containing two out of date versions of my business cards, brochures for programs that no longer exist, a Palm Pilot case (!), and old papers.  Sooo much paper!  Who even uses paper anymore?

Okay, I use paper some times, but will avoid it when I can.  I had so many folders of handouts, resource guides, meeting minutes and the like, none of which I had looked at in the past 4 years.  I'll Google it before I open my file drawer.  When I go to a training, I usually ask for the presentation to be emailed to me.  If it's an agency wide training,  the information is scanned and made available in a shared network folder.

Is this finally the dawn of the "paperless office" we heard so much about in the 90s?  I, for one am happy to no longer be hoarding bits of dead trees in my workspace.   Everything seems lighter and cleaner!  Even spacious!  I rejoice in this clearing of clutter!  I revel in the ability to find resources at the "click" of a button!

Until the day the power goes out.  Then I'm screwed.  Here's hoping they have back-up power at that new office.  :p

Bag Lady*

Yesterday I arrived to work carrying:

1. My work bag - contains my binder with forms, notebook, business cards and comes with me to all meetings and client appointments

2. My purse - contains personal, non work stuff like wallet, lip balm and ear plugs (they have come in handy, trust me)

3. My laptop bag - I don't usually bring this outside the office, but sometimes it's neccessity

4. A grocery bag - containing my contribution to the team pot luck (broccoli slaw - it was good)

5. My lunch bag - because despite the put luck luncheon, I was on my own for second breakfast, elevensies and afternoon tea

6. A gift bag - containing a very *lovely* purfume a client had gifted to me.  I told her I couldn't accept it but I had another client who would really appreciate it, and after it sitting in my car for a week, and me inhaling the fumes I really needed to give it to her.

7. My giant tea thermos.

Oh, and I had my crackberry in my pocket.

I think I need one of those personal organization assistant people** to help me.  Or I just need to listen to my 8 year old and use a backpack already.

*this term always gets this song stuck in my head

**this is a thing, right? These people really exist???

Cleaning Out and Cleaning UP

A client of mine who has some, ah, let's call it "moderate" hoarding issues recently made it a goal of hers to clear out her kitchen enough that she could set up the table and chairs that she has.  I am helping her with this, and we began by tackling a corner where she had numerous plastic and paper shopping bags stacked about knee high.  In many of these bags were old empty prescription bottles she hadn't wanted to throw out due to her name and address being on the labels.  In all of the other bags were FULL prescription bottles of medication she hadn't taken, including some serious pain killers.  Apparently her doc has continued prescribing her 3xday when she only takes them as needed (maybe one a day a few days a week).  She had these from the past 4-5 years.  The mind boggles to think of what the street value of these things would be.

We just returned them to the pharmacy for proper disposal.

Got a pile o'problems

I was catching up on some old posting by one of her posts put me in mind of a story of one of my clients.

There seems to be a lot of talk about hoarding lately, recently brought into the spot light my such shows as