Twenty Years

June 16, I completed my twenty year anniversary working at the University of Utah.

A colleague in the ER had recommended the job for me. I met with the manager and she hired me on the spot. I hadn't filled out an application, so she had me complete the application while I was in her office. I remained working at SLRMC ER part time and later moved to PRN.

Halloween on the 6N unit

I began my time at the U as a HUC (Health Unit Coordinator) on the inpatient orthopedic floor. I learned a lot about myself. I learned to stand up for myself. Looking back, I couldn't be paid enough to do that job again. Maybe it was the nurses, the doctors or the unit, but the HUC was everybody's stepping stone. Everybody yelled at her. Back then, we documented on paper. The HUC received the admission or post surgery orders and had to decipher the handwriting, then transfer them to the appropriate location on the unit.
I left my position as a HUC in a flaming blaze of glory; burning bridge and all! It's super funny now, but I was at a pretty low point back then.

1999 - Catwoman costume

I changed positions from inpatient and moved to work in a registration call center: Pre-registration. We'd call patients for their outpatient visits and register them on the "new" computer system. A system I would one day train to other new users. A system that feel ancient now.
It was during my time in preregistration, where I met my mentor. I was so angry during that time. Going to therapy and learning to stop hating myself. It was a hard time and I took out my anger on a lot of people. My boss, who would become my mentor, nearly fired me during that time.
I learned a lot about accountability from that boss.

I left preregistration and moved to billing. Billing was...about as exciting as it sounds. *yawn* I stayed there for about a year and a half and learned billing procedures and insurance rules, That's about all I can say about that time.

After billing, I moved to help open a new department. I was fortunate to be hired by that mentor/boss. He was creating a new department to improve the insurance authorization process. I moved from clinic to clinic working through their existing process and creating improved ways of authorization and working through deposit processes. I enjoyed working in the clinics and stayed in this position for nearly four years. I loved working in the clinics, meeting physicians, nursing and other clinicians.

From insurance auth, I moved to financial counseling. A pay grade increase position. A position I was terrible at! I could not make this work for me to save my life. I was beginning to worry that my position would be eliminated when the training team opened a new position. I applied and interviewed and was offered the job on April Fool's day of 2004. A huge relief!

I've been training since that time. Our training group has moved from department to department but now report up through IT. I have loved working as a trainer to the various audiences.

In those twenty years, I've met and married the love of my life. Celebrated achievements with my family and friends and mourned the loss of some of those family and friends.
I decided a long time ago that I would chose not to live with regret. It has helped me push to be honest and compassionate in my dealings with myself and others.  Looking at the past twenty years at the U, I'm grateful to have been fortunate to work in jobs I both loved and hated, with some of the most gracious people. I'm grateful to have a mentor who helped me learn and grow into a contributing team member.
Some of the days in the past twenty years:

2008 - taking a daily self portrait (before "selfies" existed)

2009 - Thanksgiving in LA

2010 - I have cut my hair every year. I usually cut between five and eight inches.

2010 - July 24 with Andrew

October 2011 - A visit from Leo

2012 - October - The Patriots game! Yay!

2012 - November - A back injury took me out of commission. This day I had the first of two back injections.

Feb 2013 - Eric and I at a charity dinner

April 2013 - Playing with the kiddos. They always bring me so much joy!

2013 - Halloween. Remembering my cousin who'd passed away weeks before. 

July 2014 - Iceberg with these nuts!

May 2015 - Feeling rejuvenated.

Jan 2016 - This girl! 

Nov 2016 - Another visit to see the Patriots. 

2017 - returning home from a camping trip. They look exhausted. 

May 2015 - Celebrating 20 years!

Favorite Pictures from 2011

I've narrowed down my favorite pictures from last year. I had a busy year and I'm glad my camera was with me for most of it.
Some of my favorite pictures are faves because of the memory and others, because I really like the way the picture turned out.

#1: I went outside and there were weird little icy nubbie things all over, like old crystals beginning to grow. This was about the size of a dime and I like the look.

#2: In February, Eric and I took our nephew Chance to the boat show. After a nice morning, we went to Pirate O's. They have this tiny old car on their porch. The lighting was too good to pass up so I put Chance in front and started clicking.

#3: We had a long winter in 2011...it seemed to last forever. On a stormy morning, on the drive to work, I put the camera out the window and got this picture..

#4: This picture was taken at the celebration we had for my nephew's birthday. My brother and his wife had just split up and the kids were (and still are) taking it very hard. Elise hadn't smiled for several days and she laughed and laughed when she and Eric played together. She is a joy!

#5: Elida and Mason were in town in May and we went to Fairmont park near my house. This little girl was trying to get the birds to eat some of the bread she was so willingly sharing.

#6: On the same day, Mason was playing on the play ground and I got this shot of him. I love the look on his face.

#7: One of my favorite memories of 2011 was the U2 concert! We camped out in the rain playing cards and chatting. It was too much fun! A truly great memory.

#8: This picture made the favorites list because of what it means to me. Taken on the day we were in the path of a Trax Train. One of the scariest moments of my life.

#9: I love, love, love the lighting and color of this shot. This was one week before my cousin was married to this sweet, sweet girl.

#10: In July, Eric and I joined my brother and traveled to LA for a great concert and to see Six-Man. At the Six Man, I took this picture of Eric enjoying the beach. Definitely a favorite of mine.

#11: There were so many great pictures on this day at Echo. April and Sandy were passing through and we all spend the weekend playing in the water; and family favorite pastime. I loved the facial expressions on the faces.

#12: I was so sad that my camera was in the shop and I was using the lesser of my cameras. We were wandering the Utah State Fair when I turned around and saw this image. I was glad to have any camera at the moment.

#13: Halloween is a favorite holiday...it's fun to decorate the house and dress up. I was double checking on a few outside decorations when I saw this one: Eric standing in the black light in his costume.

#14: My mom retired in November and I love this family picture. It was such a marvelous night and being with my family made it that much better.

#15: Richard asked me to take a picture of him and the boys wearing La Celeste shirts.

#16: We went to Temple Square of Christmas Eve and this was one of my favorite shots.

There were many other favorites, but it would defeat the purpose of naming a few, if I listed them all here. The rest of my 2011 favorites are stored on Flickr.
I have previous years of favorites as well: 2009 and 2010.