Cat-sitting

I have a co-worker who went home to Indiana for the holidays. I volunteered to check in on her cat while she is gone. Here is a picture of her cat. I love the way she looks. And she is has a cute personality too. I have enjoyed checking in on her.

My co-worker is renting a place right by the lake. I love the location! Here are a couple pictures from her back yard.






It's going to be a great place to visit in the summer. Here's hoping we're still working together and I get to take advantage of this view.

Holidays

It's Saturday. Christmas is over; which means most of our obligations are over. We did Christmas day with my family. It went well. I don't think anyone got their feelings hurt, and we didn't have any kids crying or fighting. I had a good time. My sisters' never fail to make me laugh, and laugh alot.

My girlfriend is at her Aunt's house. She left yesterday and will be home sometime this afternoon. So I am getting my alone time that I crave. I am starting to wish she was home, which makes me glad. I'm always afraid that I won't miss her, but that hasn't happened.

Once she gets home, I am looking forward to having a couple days to do whatever we want, no obligations, no work. We don't go back to work until January 2nd. Not sure what we'll do, we have no plans and I love it.

Winter is Here

Which looks better?

The picture on the left was taken in my backyard yesterday morning.

The picture below was taken in my backyard a couple months ago.

I prefer the flowers and birdbath, but unfortunately we live in a snow belt and we're getting snow, snow and more snow! Sigh. It's going to be a long winter.

Election Results

My GF and I got home from work Tuesday night and couldn't wait to turn the tv on and find out what was happening with the election. We got home just in time to see McCain giving his concession speech. I could hardly believe it. The last couple elections have been so unbelievably crushing and disappointing, I had a hard time believing that the person I wanted so badly to win this time - actually won! The happiness and excitement we felt Tuesday night was wonderful. We were watching history and cheering it on........ go Obama, go USA. I felt proud to be an American again. I felt (and still feel) hope for the future of our country. It feels very very good.

Working the Late Shift

I have been on 2nd shift for two weeks. For those of you unfamiliar with 2nd shift - I start work at 3:00 pm and finish at 11:00 pm. I worked these hours only briefly many, many years ago, so this is a pretty big change in my routine. Not to mention that my GF works the same hours and we have never been together this much before - never! So far, so good.

The best part..... not having to get up to an alarm when it's still dark out. The worst part.........not much alone time. We're still working on that one. GF doesn't seem to need the time alone that I need, she likes having me around - imagine that! While I also like being around her, there is a part of me that wants be alone sometimes. I can feel myself getting very irritable and antsy if it doesn't happen.

I know we'll figure it out. In the meantime, I'm going to keep enjoying no early alarms!

Stay Away

My brother received great news about his health. His lab results came back cancer free! He is back on the road to "normalcy" again.

While I feel elated about this, I also feel myself hesitant to celebrate too much or too long. I guess it's because I think the cancer is not finished with him and is just giving him a reprieve for now. The fucker always seems to be lurking, waiting till everyone is happy and calm. Then it strikes again. It's like an evil monster that won't go away. Just lets you catch your breath and relax until it makes it's nasty return.

So...........even though I am very happy for the good news, I am afraid to let down my emotional guard. It sounds crazy, but it seems like if I can be cautious and not get too relaxed or happy about his good health, then maybe the monster will stay away. Nuts I know, but that is the crazy kind of bargaining that goes with this disease.

No More Sewing

I finally post about my sewing job, and two days later it changes. I am now in my permanent position - permanent meaning - until I have 6 months of employment and can start bidding on different jobs if I choose.

I am working on the receiving dock. I receive parts with a scanner, unload trucks, and deliver parts. I am currently still in training, and it is kicking my butt! I am not used to being on my feet all day (especially while wearing steel toed shoes) and the past few days I have not had the chance to drive the forklift. Ouch. I come home and collapse...........

I think I'm going to enjoy this job. I like doing a variety of things and not being stuck at a machine all day. I have previous experience in shipping/receiving, so it feels familiar to me. Not too sure about my co-workers, though. I am trying not to judge too quickly, so we'll see.

My old Singer

Let me share a little bit about my job. First of all I am working in the largest manufacturing plant in our city. It is our largest local employer and most of the people who live in this area, want to be employed at this plant. When I interviewed and was hired to work here, I was expecting to run some kind of machine or equipment. Or I thought I might be a fork-lift driver or work on an assembly line of some kind - because after all this is a manufacturing plant. But guess what my job is? I am operating a sewing machine! Yes, a 1955 Singer. I am sewing parts that go on other parts. Except for a brief time in 7th or 8th grade when I was forced to participate in a home economics class, I have never sewed anything in my life.

So here I am, everyday going to work on my sewing machine. I am the only person who is operating the old Singer. As far as I know there is only one. I now know how to change the bobbin -I am not sure if I am using the correct word here - the person who has been training me is very hard to hear and to make it worse she uses alot of slang that I don't understand - I can sew a very straight line and am also pretty darn fast!

This is not going to be my permanent position, I could very well end up running a machine or on an assembly line. But for now I am sewing away and can't help but think that God has got one hell of a sense of humor!

Lack of Power

I know that this is going to sound lame considering what the poor people in Texas are going through but.......... we got hit with the last remnants of Ike last night. And boy what a wind storm!

Our electricity went out (in the second quarter of the Browns vs Steelers game DAMN IT) and stayed out all night. That has never happened to us for that length of time. Has it happened to my family who all live in the country? Yes, many, many times. But not to us city dwellers.

At first it was exciting (except for missing the Browns vs Steelers) but quickly became a pain in the ass.

We had our air on because it was a stifling 80 degrees with 91% humidity, so that was the first thing we missed when the lights went out. Then of course the bedrooms are upstairs and it was hot up there without the air or even a fan on.

I was sure I would wake when the power came back on so I could set my alarm for work, but that never happened and I woke up at 6:45. I am scheduled to start work at 7:00.

But really,that didn't matter because I could not get my car out of the garage anyway! We have no man door in the garage, so we have a key to release the door when the power goes out. But since we have never had to use it since getting the electric door openers quite a long time ago, I could not find the key.

And the phone is electric and we have no cell phone ( what can I say? we are old and stubborn and see no need for it?) so I couldn't call anyone for a ride. And I couldn't call my boss to explain why I was going to be late.

The electricity came back on at 8:30 this morning. I arrived at work at 9:30.

The GF slept peacefully through the night and was early for work today. She works second shift.....

Rainy Saturday

Today has been a good day. It's been raining lightly all day but is warm, so the windows are open and a slight breeze is coming in. So even though the rain blew our plans to golf today, the GF and I have made the most of it.

We took a short ride to a local apple farm and purchased a couple baskets of freshly picked apples. The area we drove to has one farm and grape vineyard after another. We had our choice of produce stands to stop at. Peaches, apples, tomatoes, corn....... it's all out!

We stopped at a bar/restaurant in the country for lunch. The food was great, the service was good, the prices reasonable. We left full and happy.

We took a short nap after we got home. And there is not much better than napping on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

I baked an apple cake - not sure what the name of the cake is. It just came out of the oven and is cooling. So now the house smells like apple cake and fresh rain.

I am working tomorrow, but not even the thought of having my weekend cut short can ruin the good day we're having today!

Blank Looks

I want to post more often, but I find myself looking at the blank "post" page with a blank brain until I give up and go read other fun blogs. I can't think of anything worthwhile to write. There is nothing happening right now (not that I'm unhappy about that).

My work life has started to become routine. I have a fairly mindless job; but it pays very well and has great benefits.

My home life has been calm. I still like the GF and she still likes me. Our cat is spoiled and spends her days sleeping, eating, and getting petted.

My family is the same, with the exception of an upcoming surgery for my brother. He has been fighting cancer and hopefully the surgery (Sept 8) will be successful and he will be able to get back to some kind of normalcy. I have not blogged about this because it's all very scary and hard to know what I'm feeling about it from one minute to the next. Might be a topic in the future?

So, no news is good news? Maybe I'll be able to stop going blank when I try to post in the near future............it could happen............

Do we have to go?

I'm getting into the routine of working again; it's Monday and I'm waiting for Friday already. No matter how hard I try to talk myself into getting the most out of every day, I am always waiting for Friday! Then Friday is here and I blink and it's Monday again. I can't be the only one who does that, can I?

We had a good (and fast) weekend. Went to the casino to celebrate my sister's birthday Saturday night. It was fun, didn't win anything but then I didn't expect to win. My sister is fun to be around, she is very witty and likes to laugh. So even though none of us won any money, we all had a good time.

Sunday we went to a party at an old friend's house. I didn't want to go, thinking it would be a big drinking event. But I reluctantly went and ended up having a good time. There was plenty of drinking, but we went early and left before it got too drunk. It was good to see some old friends, and meet new people. I'm not a big socialite, would be happier staying at home with my girlfriend. But I'm smart enough to know that I need to get out occasionally and stay in touch with friends - even though I usually go kicking and screaming! I wish I was the kind of person who loved to be social, active and busy in the world, but it's not going to happen.

Waiting

It is Thursday of the first week of my new job. I still don't know what I'll be doing at work. What a place! First of all, it is massive. My legs are aching and my knees are killing me from walking and going up and down (too) many steps. I am worn out before I get into my building, because I have to park so far away. Think I might be a bit out of shape? You would think correctly. I am pissed at myself for being so fat and out of shape, it is making everything with this job twice as hard as it needs to be.

I have been in new employee orientation all week with 10 other people. We have watched many videos, filled out much paperwork, taken a few tours, but mostly we have just sat around and waited. We did absolutely nothing today. We sat in an air-conditioned room for 8 hours, reading the paper, watching MSNBC (they repeat the same stories all day) and waited for our job assignments. The assignments never came.

I am anxious to know what my job is going to be like. All I know at this point is which building I'm working in.

To be continued when I have more information..........

Vacation

I'm still on "vacation"! Yeah! I was scheduled to start my new job on June 23, but they called to inform me the start date was changed to July 14th. So I'm still on my "summer vacation" and very happy for it.

GF is on vacation this week and next. We didn't make any plans this year for a real (going away somewhere new) vacation because my job situation has been so up in the air. I wasn't expecting to have any time off work this year, but am ending up with over a month between jobs.
So we have been staying close to home and enjoying each day. We've golfed alot this week - my game has gone steadily downhill much to my frustration - we've stayed home and played many games of marbles - aka aggravation, we've visited friends, we've taken leisurely naps, made big meals and eaten like there is no tomorrow........it has been great! Today is a rainy day, so I expect a nice afternoon nap and maybe a movie later.

Sounds boring, but I'm loving it!!

Gratitude

Yesterday GF and I went to visit her aunt in small town PA. We spent most of the day with her, then came home, rested briefly and went to a friend's birthday get-together. We were home by 11:00 and in bed by 12:00ish.

Sometimes I am astonished by how much my life has changed. Twenty years ago I could have never imagined having a day like we did yesterday. But even more shocking is I could have never imagined having a day like yesterday and being happy about it!

I can remember making fun of people who spent their time doing pretty much exactly what I do now. Funny how that works out.............I'm usually pretty satisfied with my choices now, it wasn't always that way. My life used to be clouded with alcohol or the after effects of alcohol. My life could have very easily turned out much differently than it has.

Today I am feeling grateful for what I have, and for what I don't have. Grateful for my GF, my family, friends and home. Grateful that alcohol is no longer an active part of my life, although it will always be there waiting to take over - it no longer runs my life.

This is starting to sound like an AA meeting - and I don't want to sound that way. So I'm going to go read more blogs, stop being soppy, and get back to my cranky self!!

I've been a bad blogger. Sorry it's been so long.

Much has been happening here - we're back in the "excitement, turmoil, make it stop!" mode. I just got another new job! Quit my "old new" one and start the new one next week. For someone who worked at the same place for over 28 years, this whole process of applying, interviewing, accepting, quiting and doing it all over again, has been a bit of a nightmare! I hate change! But am getting heavy duty doses of it this year.

I'm glad to be out of the "old new" job - worked there for about 4 months. I really hoped it would be a job I liked, or at least could tolerate. I tried, but kept coming back to the sad fact that I did not like the place at all. I just hated how the place was run, the employees received little or no respect, the people in charge thought they knew everything and wouldn't listen to anyone. All about me, kind of attitude was rampant. I was having a harder time getting myself to go to work with every day that passed. Glad it's over!!

Now the new job............I'm not sure what to expect. It is a huge employer in our area. Great pay, great benefits. But I will no longer be in management, I'll be back on the factory floor. My biggest fear is I won't be able to do the physical labor that the job requires. It's been along time since I've done this kind of work and I'm not getting any younger! So I'm worried, but trying not to think about it too much.

I have tomorrow and next week off then start the new job the following week. I'm going to make the most of the time I have off. GF and I are golfing tomorrow (she took a vacation day). We're going to a course we both love and I'm looking forward to it. Should be a fun day.

PA Primary

Ok, so today was the Pennsylvania primary - finally! Never have we had a primary that actually meant something, like this one. Usually by the time it is our time to vote at primaries, the candidate has already been picked. There has been so much hoopla around here for the past few weeks - I'm glad it will be over soon. We had at least four phone calls every day for the last few days from both Obama and Clinton campaigns. Someone from Clinton's campaign has been in town four or five different times, President Clinton twice, Hillary once, and Chelsea once or twice. Obama was in town once. Don't get me wrong - I am very glad there is excitement about this election. And I have been excited about it too, but it is getting to be too much around here this week! Enough already!

No sleep apnea at my house

It's official - my GF does not have sleep apnea! I was convinced she had it. Guess I'll put my doctoring theories away. So I guess the reason she never sleeps well, is she drinks too much caffeine, and has to pee too often in the middle of the night. Huh, go figure.

I am blogging while at work - it's a first for me. I'm nervous about it, but I have nothing much to do today, besides look busy. Makes for a long day......especially when the weather is beautiful like it is today. I blame my parents for not making me be born wealthy so I could be outside golfing instead of inside earning a living. Sigh.

Not much to say

I have not really had much to offer, so I haven't posted in some time. I still don't really have much. I started blogging when I lost my job, and now that I'm employed again, it is hard for me to take the time to write anything. That doesn't mean I don't still read many, many blogs. It just means I'm too lazy to write.

My GF just left to sleep overnight at the hospital. She is being tested for sleep apnea, which I'm convinced she has. I miss her. We work different shift, so I'm used to not seeing her during the week. But tonight is Sunday, and I'm used to having her in the house on Sunday! Funny how we get into routines without noticing, until the routine is changed.

I have started weight watchers (again). I feel so fat and uncomfortable, it's making me unhappy. So far I have lost 12 lbs. It is a start, but I am really struggling. I gained weight when I wasn't working - emotional eater? - and I stopped exercising too. It is a real struggle for me to get started again. Everyday I have to fight the urge to overeat, and God knows I am always in an internal fight to do any kind of exercise. And the really odd thing about exercising, is I like it when I'm doing it. Go figure.

That's all for now. Maybe now that I have started again, I'll blog more often. I'm not sure though. We'll see.

Cabin Fever

I am getting a huge dose of cabin fever this week. We were buried under 2 feet of snow last weekend (I'm not kidding, we got 24" of snow in a day and a half!) and all I want to do now is shed these winter blues. I am dreaming of open windows, fresh spring air, warm breezes, green grass, working in my yard, golfing, sitting on my porch listening to the neighbor kids play, etc,. etc. Hurry up spring..................

Fun With the Kids

What's a good way to beat the winter boredom? I know - stay overnight at your mothers house with your nephews and niece! That is exactly what I did last night. Keep in mind my mother is in Florida, and I am "watching" her house and her cat while she is away. I think having the kids for an overnight visit at her house was an excellent idea.

We had fun eating junk food and watching movies in the dark. It was a big slumber party! My favorite movie of the night was Underdog. (Give me a break, the movie choices were slim) Cute dog, sweet story. We watched one of The Simpson's movies this morning, while we ate pop-tarts and played with the cat. Then we played Black-Jack and the dumb card game that the kids call "match". They kicked my butt at both games. Did I say my oldest nephew is 12? Yeah, they beat me at games....

Do you think my mother will mind that her house is trashed when she gets home?

Nurse I am Not

My GF is sick. She had flu-like symptoms yesterday and today she has a cold. Sneezing and blowing her nose, coughing and wheezing, and whining non stop.

I feel like smacking her snot filled head. Is that bad of me? I can't help it, she is making me nuts. She thinks I have no compassion, but I do. I just can't keep up the good nurse routine for very long - I could play Dr. but that is another subject and believe me, she is not in the mood today.

Ugh. I just want to have spring be here and go outside and play in the dirt. I don't want to be stuck inside with a sick girlfriend. With this admission, I am now doomed to get the cold from her, and suffer the consequences.

TGIF.........No More

I miss my Friday's! Damn! Let me explain.... At my last place of employment, I worked 10 hour days, Monday thru Thursday. And Friday was "my day". It was wonderful. It felt like I actually had enough time. Time just for me. I could spend the day doing yard work, visiting my mom, going to the beach, whatever I wanted to do. Even though I mostly just stayed home and got the house cleaned, did laundry, etc. - it was still my time. I loved that.

I no longer have my Friday's. The new job requires me to work Monday thru Friday. Thursday evenings, I feel so resentful and cranky! I feel like a little kid who got their favorite toy taken away. And yes, I am pouting over it.

Overwhelmed

Two days on the new job............I'm tired!! Whine! Whine! More than anything, I feel overwhelmed - there is alot to learn. I'm working on being patient with myself, so I don't go crazy.

Hopefully I'll get used to working again soon, so I can start posting something a little more interesting. Right now I'm too tired to think.

Working For a Living

Guess who got herself employed? That's right, I went and got a job! That the hell was I thinking? There go my lazy crazy days of unemployment; no more sleeping in, no days filled with reading blogs and playing spider solitaire, no more afternoon naps, no more getting paid for not working. No more domestic diva, oh no!

Seriously, I'm both excited and scared shitless. I have only experienced working in one place my whole adult life, so this is all new to me. Yikes! I'm happy for this oppurtunity, but I really do feel like throwing up.

I start Monday, so I'm going to try to calm down - at least until Sunday night. Might be easier said than done.........

My spell check won't work? WTF?

Six Feet Under

We spent most of Saturday evening and almost the entire day Sunday watching Six Feet Under. I know we're behind times, but I am totally hooked on that show. We are renting it on NetFlix and have spent good portions of the last few weekends watching it. Good story lines, I love what they do with the gay couple. They are right on with so many of the issues that come up in relationships - gay or straight.

There was an episode (we're watching season 3) with David and Keith that struck home with GF and me. It was a scene when they were discussing their different backgrounds - David's family is stoic and never shows any emotion, Keith's family is angry and doesn't hide it. Very much like our respective families. My family is based on Leave it to Beaver; all is good, we are never emotional and especially never angry. Her family is constantly angry about something and seems to be in constant crisis. It has been one of our most challenging "issues" to work with in our relationship.... same with David and Keith.

We also watched Puccini for Beginners this weekend. It was OK at best. I liked how the main character dressed, and I thought her girlfriend "Grace" was cute. Sometimes that is enough to keep me happy..........what can I say?

Shopping & Interviews.........Yuck!

Since I am not working, I get to do alot of chores around the house that I've been lucky enough to have avoided until now. Like grocery shopping. Ugh! I remember the days when I thought my GF spent way too much money and time on groceries. That thought has quickly been replaced with "My God! I can't believe we need to get groceries again. They cost so much!"
Gone are the good old days when I waited in the car while GF shopped. Or better yet, waited at home while she shopped. Another reason to get employed?

Speaking of employed......I had an interview last week and another of sorts this week. I wasn't too sure that I was interested in the job that I interviewed for last week. The pay and benefits looked appealing and I thought the interview went well. But I didn't hear back from them. I'm trying very hard to look at this whole employment thing in a positive manner (otherwise I'll go over the edge into depression) but I have to say - it sucks! Interviews are nerve wracking. I'm a pretty shy person and have been taught not to "brag?" about my strengths and abilities. So the whole interview thing is going against my core feelings. It is a struggle.
The interview I had this week was done on the phone, by a large corporations' recruiter. We'll see where it goes next. They have many levels of hierarchy so now I wait until next week to see what happens. I am trying not to get too worked up over this one, and will wait until I know more before commenting on it.

Until then, I'll try to stay out of grocery stores (yeh, right) and will take a deep breath and get ready for the next adventure.

Let It Snow

We're getting snow today - - - alot of snow! I was starting to think (hope) that winter had forgotten us, but it was not to be. Although I have to admit all this snow is feeling quite fun. The GF and I are stocked up on good food, have many good movies to watch, and it is the weekend! It's a nice way to spend the day - eating, watching movies, snuggling under our blankies and watching it snow. Life is good.

Out With the Old... In With the New

I know I'm a little late to be posting a New Year's topic, but since I am a terrible procrastinator I tend to think that January 11 isn't too late. (think I should have procrastination in my resolutions this year?)

Lets re-cap the big events in 2007;

1. I get a large promotion and raise in early April.
2. I turn 50 in late April (still in shock over it)
3. I join a golf league in May and enjoy it all summer.
4. I start to feel the stress of the job promotion in May and it continues to increase all summer.
5. We get a kitchen remodel in July.
6. My Boy Caleb dies in August.
7. I get permanently laid-off in October.
8. I start to feel less stress and more like myself in December and it continues.....

As you can see, I had some BIG life changing events in 2007. Both good and bad. I am glad the year has ended and I am trying to convince myself that 2008 is going to be full of new adventures and new beginnings. I am both terrified and excited to see what happens this year!