Found somebody to find my property boundary pins for me. My first quote, as you may remember, was for $1500 and a wait of about a month...
Well this guy who runs a small engineering company sent his guys out to do it for $500. He says some of the pins are off by about a foot and one is at least 1.5 feet off the proper coordinate, but that is not a big deal.
The fence I am putting up is considered temporary (welded wire and metal posts). If I ever get a new neighbor that wants to dispute the line, they can pay the huge $$$. If it is off, I'll just move the fence. It is likely I won't need the fence at that point in time anyway...
So, I have a fence guy coming out on Tuesday after work to see the "lay of the land" and to discuss the fence/gate situation.
It won't be long until I turn the Rough Riders out to the grounds of Kia Rio and to the IF!!!!!!
My property is not as long as I thought it was, and that is a bummer...
However, in the next year or so I may inquire about buying the bit behind the house - it belongs to the neighbors. They appear to be divorcing, and could probably use the $$$. It looks like there is a seasonal creek that runs along the back - much farther back than my piece goes... and I would like to have that and the 1.5 acres of the IF...
Mom is planning to video tape the Rough Riders' first day in the great outdoors. It will probably be in a week or two - depending on the fence guy's schedule and the weather. It is bleeping cold today...
If I can figure it out, I will post a clip of the video here so you can watch them foray into their natural habitat.
Dad - Being his typical silly self...
We miss you dad!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
112 pounds - February 26, 2009
She is getting there!
at this rate, she may make 120 lbs by her birthday.
She is now at the weight she was before her Dr gave her the anti-depressant that did so much damage. She should be at least 120 for a real healthy weight...
Piglet is eating everything that is not nailed down.
I am glad, because some tough dates are headed our way.
Her 75th birthday is in April.
One week later is the first memorial of dad's passing,
then a month and a day later, his birthday,
then a month later father's day,
then 3 weeks later, their wedding anniversary.
Yup, some emotional days ahead of us, so getting her fattened up now is real important.
Well, gotta run!
Spring is on the way......
at this rate, she may make 120 lbs by her birthday.
She is now at the weight she was before her Dr gave her the anti-depressant that did so much damage. She should be at least 120 for a real healthy weight...
Piglet is eating everything that is not nailed down.
I am glad, because some tough dates are headed our way.
Her 75th birthday is in April.
One week later is the first memorial of dad's passing,
then a month and a day later, his birthday,
then a month later father's day,
then 3 weeks later, their wedding anniversary.
Yup, some emotional days ahead of us, so getting her fattened up now is real important.
Well, gotta run!
Spring is on the way......
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Kia Rio's "Final Frontier"
well, interior frontier anyway...
ok, Ollie can make a person crazy with his mewing. When he wants something, he is vocal! Otherwise, he is very quiet.
So, desperate to be able to concentrate on homework today, I broke down and opened the door from the basement into the garage.
Brand new territory to the west to explore. The garage not only has the Jeep in it, but also the utility trailer, a red radio wagon, some tool boxes and a broken down side shelf. So there is plenty for them to explore.
I do hope that surveyor gets me a quote on Monday morning and can come out this week and find my property pins! I may be able to let the Rough Riders out as early as 2 weeks from now. Well, on the weekends while I am home, until they learn the lay of the land anyway!
They are sufficiently trained to the dog whistle and the rattle of the treat bag. I picked up my bag of beef jerky and they were both under my feet cause they thought it wss their treats...
Well, gotta run, nearly bed time. Day 6 on the job and I am already not keen on going in... this is only because I am discovering what looks to be a major political issue that has toxic ramifications for staff morale, and it is one that I may not be able to change due to the players involved... we'll see!
ok, Ollie can make a person crazy with his mewing. When he wants something, he is vocal! Otherwise, he is very quiet.
So, desperate to be able to concentrate on homework today, I broke down and opened the door from the basement into the garage.
Brand new territory to the west to explore. The garage not only has the Jeep in it, but also the utility trailer, a red radio wagon, some tool boxes and a broken down side shelf. So there is plenty for them to explore.
I do hope that surveyor gets me a quote on Monday morning and can come out this week and find my property pins! I may be able to let the Rough Riders out as early as 2 weeks from now. Well, on the weekends while I am home, until they learn the lay of the land anyway!
They are sufficiently trained to the dog whistle and the rattle of the treat bag. I picked up my bag of beef jerky and they were both under my feet cause they thought it wss their treats...
Well, gotta run, nearly bed time. Day 6 on the job and I am already not keen on going in... this is only because I am discovering what looks to be a major political issue that has toxic ramifications for staff morale, and it is one that I may not be able to change due to the players involved... we'll see!
The book I wish I had authored...
is the newest addition to my reading list
- right over there in the right hand pane...
with a link to amazon reader so you can peek inside if you like.
- right over there in the right hand pane...
with a link to amazon reader so you can peek inside if you like.
111.0 pounds on Feb 22, 2009
she is ouncing forward and, is now up to exactly 111 pounds...
Goal was 115 by her birthday on April 11, but I think she might just make it before then... we'll see. The final holding weight we are aiming for is about 122 pounds. If she can get there and we can keep her there, I think things will be fine.
I am trying to keep her stocked with raspberry filled Krispy Kremes, venti strawberries & crème Frappuccinos, cheesecakes (the whole cakes...), lemon raspberry cakes, Little Debbies, chips & dip and of course the Boost/Ensures...
I also bought her a big box of Ferrero Rocher's for valentines day.
We'll start to go out more often for fattening dinners now that I have a job... and will hopefully have a fence up in the next few weeks.
My first quote to get the property boundaries identified was $1500. Um, no. I can take a surveying class and probably rent the equipment for that... but I found a company that might be able to do it for under $600 which I am fine with...
The fence is going to cost about 1500 and it is nothing pretty, just a 6 foot welded wire with t-posts every 8 or 10 feet, and a basic double wide metal gate filled with welded wire.
So, here is hoping that by March 15 or so I can start letting the little juvie's outside. Ollie is already flouting the rules and sitting on the little cat tree that sits in front of the cat door - that is literally just a step through the door and he is outside. So, security has had to clamp down!
I feel bad, they are cats, they belong in the woods climbing trees, chasing animals and leaves and each other... soon. That'll free me up more to go and do things with mom after I get off work so i don't need to run home and let Snuggie out for a couple of hours before bed time. They will all be able to come and go as they please during the daytime and evening hours.
This is not a fool proof road barrier, but it is the best I am going to be able to do for them until we can someday move to a place much farther off the road and to a road that has much less traffic. The IF next door only has a 30 inch high fence between it and the road and there are tons of trees growing up at the fence.
I am seriously thinking about trying to buy the IF. I could extend the fence up higher... the current appraised value is only $7500 and it is 1.5 acres, so maybe, if the lady will sell it...
I could have some chickens then... the IF is in the township and I am in the city limits which means I have to have chickens 100 feet from the house... not enough room to do that... I walked around there about a week ago while I was clearing up brush, there is a seasonal creek that runs along the back of it and from the culvert under the road.
I don't know if the lady that owns it would be willing to sell it, maybe with the economy the way it is, she might jump on it. I am going to see if Carter across the street knows her. Carter has lived here since about 1954 and she knows the history. Use to be a house on the IF, but in the late 50's the man that lived in it killed himself with his shotgun. Knowing what we know today, she thinks he was dealing with Alzheimers... well, the house seems entirely gone. Use to be a blacksmith shop up by the road, as the corner of it is one of my property bounder markers, err, was...fortunately the rest are allegedly proper "pins."
I need to make sure I can stand this new job before I think about approaching her!
OK, got tons of school work to do.
Goal was 115 by her birthday on April 11, but I think she might just make it before then... we'll see. The final holding weight we are aiming for is about 122 pounds. If she can get there and we can keep her there, I think things will be fine.
I am trying to keep her stocked with raspberry filled Krispy Kremes, venti strawberries & crème Frappuccinos, cheesecakes (the whole cakes...), lemon raspberry cakes, Little Debbies, chips & dip and of course the Boost/Ensures...
I also bought her a big box of Ferrero Rocher's for valentines day.
We'll start to go out more often for fattening dinners now that I have a job... and will hopefully have a fence up in the next few weeks.
My first quote to get the property boundaries identified was $1500. Um, no. I can take a surveying class and probably rent the equipment for that... but I found a company that might be able to do it for under $600 which I am fine with...
The fence is going to cost about 1500 and it is nothing pretty, just a 6 foot welded wire with t-posts every 8 or 10 feet, and a basic double wide metal gate filled with welded wire.
So, here is hoping that by March 15 or so I can start letting the little juvie's outside. Ollie is already flouting the rules and sitting on the little cat tree that sits in front of the cat door - that is literally just a step through the door and he is outside. So, security has had to clamp down!
I feel bad, they are cats, they belong in the woods climbing trees, chasing animals and leaves and each other... soon. That'll free me up more to go and do things with mom after I get off work so i don't need to run home and let Snuggie out for a couple of hours before bed time. They will all be able to come and go as they please during the daytime and evening hours.
This is not a fool proof road barrier, but it is the best I am going to be able to do for them until we can someday move to a place much farther off the road and to a road that has much less traffic. The IF next door only has a 30 inch high fence between it and the road and there are tons of trees growing up at the fence.
I am seriously thinking about trying to buy the IF. I could extend the fence up higher... the current appraised value is only $7500 and it is 1.5 acres, so maybe, if the lady will sell it...
I could have some chickens then... the IF is in the township and I am in the city limits which means I have to have chickens 100 feet from the house... not enough room to do that... I walked around there about a week ago while I was clearing up brush, there is a seasonal creek that runs along the back of it and from the culvert under the road.
I don't know if the lady that owns it would be willing to sell it, maybe with the economy the way it is, she might jump on it. I am going to see if Carter across the street knows her. Carter has lived here since about 1954 and she knows the history. Use to be a house on the IF, but in the late 50's the man that lived in it killed himself with his shotgun. Knowing what we know today, she thinks he was dealing with Alzheimers... well, the house seems entirely gone. Use to be a blacksmith shop up by the road, as the corner of it is one of my property bounder markers, err, was...fortunately the rest are allegedly proper "pins."
I need to make sure I can stand this new job before I think about approaching her!
OK, got tons of school work to do.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Midnight at the Kia Rio
Sent my kittens to bed
Snowflakes paintin' my faces
Prayers of sleep in my head
Snowflakes paintin' my faces
Prayers of sleep in my head
The New Job
Yup, got a new j-o-b.
Day 4, arrived at the office at 8:30 am, left at 9 pm.
Nice, huh?
So, I am going to keep the information here somewhat vague for a variety of reasons, but I am now a human resources manager for an organization of 170 people. We provide services to vulnerable populations.
I am beat, beat, beat and so please forgive the numerous typos to follow. (you know who you are...)
Day 4 was chock full of the usual routine meetings, plus my initial round of research on the organizational culture and processes.
Then the evening resulted in more meetings with employees, and investigations regarding a situation in which a member of the public made physical contact with an employee that could be construed as either abuse/or an attempt to protect someone else arising from the person's mis-reading of what our employee was doing. Co-workers of the situation voiced serious concern for their personal welfare and ongoing safety. Apparently this person has a history of being out of line verbally, and now a new and more serious physical line has been crossed. It should have been nipped in a bud long ago, and I think mgmt sincerely felt it had been handled. The front line had a diffrent perception entirely.
So, I think the expression is baptism by fire.
Now, this is my first experience dealing with this particular industry. I do not know what the norms and protocols are for dealing with the public nor do I know what their processes and procedures are. So, this was an exhausting evening. And much remains to be done in tightening procedures and improving training on how to handle situations.
I am, however, happy to report that I believe I have managed to establish a quick and positive rapport with at least a third of our front-line service providers, and have made a foothold toward calming some highly toxic gossip. The facility administrator and I seem to make a kick-ass team.
The management staff of this particular location (one of 3) is made up of 8 key positions. Two of those people are long term employees who are about 6 months into brand new positions. 3 of us are brand new to the organization (4 days, 3 months and 6 months) and the remaining 3 have been here for several years in their current capacity. So, there are many many organizational issues to be overcome.
Anyway, I am beat and have to spend all day tomorrow out of town at a business event and am really just wanting to curl up and sleep half the day...
This will probably be the hardest job I have had in twenty years. Having said that, I think it is also a transitional job - that job in which you permanently move from middle management to senior management. Trouble is, I have never wanted to be senior management. I know too much about how badly those jobs can suck.
I do have the opportunity to effect serious change here, and that is really a good thing as I think this could really help me move into organizational consulting using the framework of applied anthropology.
Most folks screw up their faces in confusion when I tell them what my masters' degrees are in, as they seem them unrelated. Nothing could be further from the truth, it is a blessed union.
Blessed.
Blessed is a term that I will likely adopt in my vocuabulary as a result of proximity.
It is a very common saying amongst many of the black/African people in this area. Have a blessed day. Bless. Blessed.
So, have a blessed day.
Tired puppy has played with the kitties and is now going to bed.
Employed and signing off for now...
Day 4, arrived at the office at 8:30 am, left at 9 pm.
Nice, huh?
So, I am going to keep the information here somewhat vague for a variety of reasons, but I am now a human resources manager for an organization of 170 people. We provide services to vulnerable populations.
I am beat, beat, beat and so please forgive the numerous typos to follow. (you know who you are...)
Day 4 was chock full of the usual routine meetings, plus my initial round of research on the organizational culture and processes.
Then the evening resulted in more meetings with employees, and investigations regarding a situation in which a member of the public made physical contact with an employee that could be construed as either abuse/or an attempt to protect someone else arising from the person's mis-reading of what our employee was doing. Co-workers of the situation voiced serious concern for their personal welfare and ongoing safety. Apparently this person has a history of being out of line verbally, and now a new and more serious physical line has been crossed. It should have been nipped in a bud long ago, and I think mgmt sincerely felt it had been handled. The front line had a diffrent perception entirely.
So, I think the expression is baptism by fire.
Now, this is my first experience dealing with this particular industry. I do not know what the norms and protocols are for dealing with the public nor do I know what their processes and procedures are. So, this was an exhausting evening. And much remains to be done in tightening procedures and improving training on how to handle situations.
I am, however, happy to report that I believe I have managed to establish a quick and positive rapport with at least a third of our front-line service providers, and have made a foothold toward calming some highly toxic gossip. The facility administrator and I seem to make a kick-ass team.
The management staff of this particular location (one of 3) is made up of 8 key positions. Two of those people are long term employees who are about 6 months into brand new positions. 3 of us are brand new to the organization (4 days, 3 months and 6 months) and the remaining 3 have been here for several years in their current capacity. So, there are many many organizational issues to be overcome.
Anyway, I am beat and have to spend all day tomorrow out of town at a business event and am really just wanting to curl up and sleep half the day...
This will probably be the hardest job I have had in twenty years. Having said that, I think it is also a transitional job - that job in which you permanently move from middle management to senior management. Trouble is, I have never wanted to be senior management. I know too much about how badly those jobs can suck.
I do have the opportunity to effect serious change here, and that is really a good thing as I think this could really help me move into organizational consulting using the framework of applied anthropology.
Most folks screw up their faces in confusion when I tell them what my masters' degrees are in, as they seem them unrelated. Nothing could be further from the truth, it is a blessed union.
Blessed.
Blessed is a term that I will likely adopt in my vocuabulary as a result of proximity.
It is a very common saying amongst many of the black/African people in this area. Have a blessed day. Bless. Blessed.
So, have a blessed day.
Tired puppy has played with the kitties and is now going to bed.
Employed and signing off for now...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Another loss...
I came home tonight, and found an email from the anthro department in my inbox with the subject line of:
"to the friends of Brent"
and proceeded to read that my classmate from last year was found dead in his home this morning.
We don't know anything else at the moment around the circumstances of his death.
I can still see him standing in the student parking lot, next to another classmate, as we said our good-byes - he because he earned his M.A., and me because I was moving away.
We spent a fair amount of time in that parking lot after class, sharing ideas and stretching each other's thoughts to new places.
It seems I am getting message after message about how temporary our existence in this plane is.
It is fleeting.
Please try to remember to live fully in the moment as you go through your days.
And Brent, I will always treasure our parking lot conversations. May your new journey be filled with peace and love.
"to the friends of Brent"
and proceeded to read that my classmate from last year was found dead in his home this morning.
We don't know anything else at the moment around the circumstances of his death.
I can still see him standing in the student parking lot, next to another classmate, as we said our good-byes - he because he earned his M.A., and me because I was moving away.
We spent a fair amount of time in that parking lot after class, sharing ideas and stretching each other's thoughts to new places.
It seems I am getting message after message about how temporary our existence in this plane is.
It is fleeting.
Please try to remember to live fully in the moment as you go through your days.
And Brent, I will always treasure our parking lot conversations. May your new journey be filled with peace and love.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
"My nurse Jody"
That is one of the very last things my dad wrote.
He was in the hospital, and it was the last week of his life.
He also wrote some very brief I love you notes to mom, and some things we never could quite make out. After the stroke, his hand control and vision were problematic.
Jody was his home health nurse, or really, more accurately his angel on earth, and his Crush.
Dad could be a difficult person at times, and when it came time for him to have a home health nurse, well, we all knew it could be an unpleasant ride.
Then Jody showed up. I wasn't in Ohio when Dad met Jody, but I am pretty sure he fell for her before she got both feet in the front door... He'd do anything for her. She came 3 days a week, then 2 days a week, as his health improved. Every day he would ask mom if Jody was coming today. When she finally said yes, he'd say he needed to get a shower. Now, Dad was not one to be showering all the time, so that kinda fun to see him ready to get in that shower cause his girl was coming to take care of him.
As luck would have it, she fell for him, too. She bonded so closely with Dad that she promised him (he lived for 2 things mom and fishing) that her young son's first fishing trip would be to Dad's favorite fishing hole - Possum Creek (1/2 mile from Rancho Kia Rio). Her intent was to bring him out last spring or early summer, once Dad was back on his feet, and let Dad show him how to fish.
Well, Jody left the home health nurse business a few weeks after Dad died. Some months ago she called mom to reconnect. After many failed attempts to connect, we met Jody for lunch yesterday.
Last summer, her own dad wanted to take his little grandson (now 6) fishing. Jody told him he would have to wait until she was able to take the boy to Possum Creek so he could have his first fishing experience at Dad's favorite space.
Jody means so much to us, to Mom, to Dad, and I know to all my brothers and sisters who got to meet her. She was truly an angel for Dad. Now, she is an angel for mom.
We'll be connecting up regularly with her from now on and she is taking mom to lunch on her birthday in April. Dad would have liked that. We'll make plans for her son to go to Possum Creek and my guess is it will probably be on his birthday in May.
Well, it has been an emotional few days. Tommorrow, the 15th, it will have been a year since I stood in my parents kitchen with my arms wrapped around my dad, peering deep into his blue eyes, knowing he was dying and listening to him ask me to move back. The words fell effortlessly and without hestiation out of my mouth. Truth be told, I would have promised him anything in that moment, and then made good on it.
These next few months are probably going to be the hardest for me, emotionally. Well, here is picture of Jody and Mom at Chicago's Uno Grill in Dayton.
He was in the hospital, and it was the last week of his life.
He also wrote some very brief I love you notes to mom, and some things we never could quite make out. After the stroke, his hand control and vision were problematic.
Jody was his home health nurse, or really, more accurately his angel on earth, and his Crush.
Dad could be a difficult person at times, and when it came time for him to have a home health nurse, well, we all knew it could be an unpleasant ride.
Then Jody showed up. I wasn't in Ohio when Dad met Jody, but I am pretty sure he fell for her before she got both feet in the front door... He'd do anything for her. She came 3 days a week, then 2 days a week, as his health improved. Every day he would ask mom if Jody was coming today. When she finally said yes, he'd say he needed to get a shower. Now, Dad was not one to be showering all the time, so that kinda fun to see him ready to get in that shower cause his girl was coming to take care of him.
As luck would have it, she fell for him, too. She bonded so closely with Dad that she promised him (he lived for 2 things mom and fishing) that her young son's first fishing trip would be to Dad's favorite fishing hole - Possum Creek (1/2 mile from Rancho Kia Rio). Her intent was to bring him out last spring or early summer, once Dad was back on his feet, and let Dad show him how to fish.
Well, Jody left the home health nurse business a few weeks after Dad died. Some months ago she called mom to reconnect. After many failed attempts to connect, we met Jody for lunch yesterday.
Last summer, her own dad wanted to take his little grandson (now 6) fishing. Jody told him he would have to wait until she was able to take the boy to Possum Creek so he could have his first fishing experience at Dad's favorite space.
Jody means so much to us, to Mom, to Dad, and I know to all my brothers and sisters who got to meet her. She was truly an angel for Dad. Now, she is an angel for mom.
We'll be connecting up regularly with her from now on and she is taking mom to lunch on her birthday in April. Dad would have liked that. We'll make plans for her son to go to Possum Creek and my guess is it will probably be on his birthday in May.
Well, it has been an emotional few days. Tommorrow, the 15th, it will have been a year since I stood in my parents kitchen with my arms wrapped around my dad, peering deep into his blue eyes, knowing he was dying and listening to him ask me to move back. The words fell effortlessly and without hestiation out of my mouth. Truth be told, I would have promised him anything in that moment, and then made good on it.
These next few months are probably going to be the hardest for me, emotionally. Well, here is picture of Jody and Mom at Chicago's Uno Grill in Dayton.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Productivity, the Kia Rio way
A typical, um, productive, morning…
I wake up about 8 am, usually with Ollie walking on me and Heljye smashed up against my face, trying to get into my skin with me.
I feed the cats, open the cat door, scoop the liter box, take a shower, get breakfast, all the time trying to keep Ollie at bay while he mews incessantly for “the feather toy” - he will mew, then run to the closet where it is kept, run back, mew, return to the closet…
After I eat, Ollie is typically settling down somewhere preparing for a nap - certain I am not going to play with him. I look at him, and then I say “feather” and his little eyes open very wide. I say “feather” again and his head pops up, I keep saying it and he keeps moving - sticks neck out toward me, then lifts body up, then finally bolts across the floor as I start to move.
We play feather for about 20 minutes, and sometimes Heljye joins in, and sometimes he sits and watches. Jaz is somewhere napping. Snuggie is outside.
I put the feather on the floor and the kittens mess with it for awhile, then wrestle each other and finally settle down for a nap about 30 minutes after I stop playing with them. After about 15 minutes of “napping” Ollie will come jump on the desk, wanting and not wanting attention. I pick him up, he wrestles free and jumps down, 2 minutes later, he is back. I hold him snug and he settles down more. He gets down and goes to lay down for his nap.
About 10 minutes later, Heljye comes and sits by my chair, softly mewing. He jumps up and proceeds to attempt to get in my skin with me for about 10 minutes. I snuggle him and then take him to the bed where Jaz is napping. Jaz drops a large paw on Heljye’s body and starts to lick him. If I am lucky, Heljye will stay with Jaz and sleep. Often he comes back to the desk, rolls around and starts biting my arm. I return him to Jaz, he jumps down and goes elsewhere.
It is now about 11:30 am. They have finally started to all nap. Well, I hear a meow behind me and it is Snuggie, in from the wilds, asking me to go to the food dish and pet him and stay near while he eats. He may repeat this process anywhere from 2 to 6 times during the next 2 hours.
By the time he decides to come in and sleep, guess who is up and ready to roll… and the low winter sun is now (on sunny days anyway) beaming through the office window and directly into my eyes. Curtains? No, the walls are not painted yet and I am trying to avoid making more holes in the plaster before I paint…
Productive day…
I wake up about 8 am, usually with Ollie walking on me and Heljye smashed up against my face, trying to get into my skin with me.
I feed the cats, open the cat door, scoop the liter box, take a shower, get breakfast, all the time trying to keep Ollie at bay while he mews incessantly for “the feather toy” - he will mew, then run to the closet where it is kept, run back, mew, return to the closet…
After I eat, Ollie is typically settling down somewhere preparing for a nap - certain I am not going to play with him. I look at him, and then I say “feather” and his little eyes open very wide. I say “feather” again and his head pops up, I keep saying it and he keeps moving - sticks neck out toward me, then lifts body up, then finally bolts across the floor as I start to move.
We play feather for about 20 minutes, and sometimes Heljye joins in, and sometimes he sits and watches. Jaz is somewhere napping. Snuggie is outside.
I put the feather on the floor and the kittens mess with it for awhile, then wrestle each other and finally settle down for a nap about 30 minutes after I stop playing with them. After about 15 minutes of “napping” Ollie will come jump on the desk, wanting and not wanting attention. I pick him up, he wrestles free and jumps down, 2 minutes later, he is back. I hold him snug and he settles down more. He gets down and goes to lay down for his nap.
About 10 minutes later, Heljye comes and sits by my chair, softly mewing. He jumps up and proceeds to attempt to get in my skin with me for about 10 minutes. I snuggle him and then take him to the bed where Jaz is napping. Jaz drops a large paw on Heljye’s body and starts to lick him. If I am lucky, Heljye will stay with Jaz and sleep. Often he comes back to the desk, rolls around and starts biting my arm. I return him to Jaz, he jumps down and goes elsewhere.
It is now about 11:30 am. They have finally started to all nap. Well, I hear a meow behind me and it is Snuggie, in from the wilds, asking me to go to the food dish and pet him and stay near while he eats. He may repeat this process anywhere from 2 to 6 times during the next 2 hours.
By the time he decides to come in and sleep, guess who is up and ready to roll… and the low winter sun is now (on sunny days anyway) beaming through the office window and directly into my eyes. Curtains? No, the walls are not painted yet and I am trying to avoid making more holes in the plaster before I paint…
Productive day…
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Good News!!!
Well, much to report on from the blustery 16 degree temps here in Ohio.
My sister got some really good news this afternoon. The cancer had not made it into the muscle tissue, they managed to catch it early. She goes in on Thursday to get the tumor scraped out and a chemo drug injected directly into the bladder. They will run more tests on the tumor. She will need to be monitored closely to watch for any new growth, and if all goes well, new growth will get the same scraping treatment. It sounds like it did not get the chance to spread anywhere.
I did not realize how worried I was about her (I think they call it denial...) until she told me the results of her visit today. I started sobbing, you know that whole body sobbing. And just writing this I am getting worked up. I couldn't handle losing her, not any time soon and she is so far away that I don't know how I (or mom) would have been able to handle it, never mind what my big sis would go through.
So, whew.
Mom is up to 110 pounds - she was so excited that she got on the scales to show me the number! She had a dental appt today and lucky for us, when we went to the nearby grocery (mega grocery store) they had a starbucks.. guess who sucked down a venti strawberry frapp? She drank the whole thing. 790 calories.
The grocery also had samples out all over the place, so she ate cheese samples, spreadable cheese on crackers, chips, cookies, fruit, mini cinnamon buns and a few other things... she was stuffed by the time we left...
and, the news just keeps a coming... I have a second interview for a job. I think they were salivating. They tipped their hand when they called me about 2 hours after receiving my resume (not a good move for salary negotiation tactics) but since it is a nonprofit, I know there isn't much wiggle room involved...
So, the first interview was 2 hours and 20 minutes long. 4 hours later the woman that would be my immediate supervisor called me to get my feelings about the job - she said, well I think it is obvious that we are really interested. Ya think? So, I have a second interview on Monday morning and I think it is a t crossing and i dotting kind of thing.
It isn't a dream job by a long shot, and there are some aspects of it that are really not terribly appealling. But, in this market, it will do. I am at the point where I feel a real need to get a J-O-B since they are in such short supply. Sounds like I am going to have to fire my only direct report employee. Nice, huh!
Well, I asked them all the expected questions and then my final question was how my being an out lesbo was gonna fly (my office will be at a residental care facility). Turns out the "man in charge" is a big ole' out homo (he was the primary interviewer - and the instant I saw him I thought to myself "I really hope he knows he is gay...")
He said he was out when they hired him to run the 170 employee org, and it has not been an issue. He moved up from Florida and said he was really pleasantly surprised at Dayton's tolerance levels. Well, he is also a single Jewish man raising a young black daughter and he moved into the conservative section of town and he said he is doing just fine... so not to worry.
So, looks very likely that I will start a full time job on 2/16.
Sleep? who the hell needs any sleep?
I may have to hire someone to go handle mom's outside care for the rest of winter. It took me a few hours to break up that inch of ice that was coating her sidewalks and I still did not even get started on the one that goes to her garage... but I have been driving her everywhere so she has not had a need to use that walk. Guess I better get on that detail before the new job.
Well, I will let you all know if I end up with the job. Having to report to a residential care facility (ready nursing home) everyday may be hard to take, especially given the way dad was in his last 3 weeks of life) I choked up about it in the interview.
My mind flashes around with it. Sometimes I see him laying there in that bed - not at all my dad, but still my dad -- and other times I see him at home messing around, being silly or something. I am sure those images of his final days will always be with me - they were, after all part of his life, but they sure are hard to choke down. I suppose in time the memories of the 45 years will eclipse them. I sure hope so.
Ok, back at it folks...
My sister got some really good news this afternoon. The cancer had not made it into the muscle tissue, they managed to catch it early. She goes in on Thursday to get the tumor scraped out and a chemo drug injected directly into the bladder. They will run more tests on the tumor. She will need to be monitored closely to watch for any new growth, and if all goes well, new growth will get the same scraping treatment. It sounds like it did not get the chance to spread anywhere.
I did not realize how worried I was about her (I think they call it denial...) until she told me the results of her visit today. I started sobbing, you know that whole body sobbing. And just writing this I am getting worked up. I couldn't handle losing her, not any time soon and she is so far away that I don't know how I (or mom) would have been able to handle it, never mind what my big sis would go through.
So, whew.
Mom is up to 110 pounds - she was so excited that she got on the scales to show me the number! She had a dental appt today and lucky for us, when we went to the nearby grocery (mega grocery store) they had a starbucks.. guess who sucked down a venti strawberry frapp? She drank the whole thing. 790 calories.
The grocery also had samples out all over the place, so she ate cheese samples, spreadable cheese on crackers, chips, cookies, fruit, mini cinnamon buns and a few other things... she was stuffed by the time we left...
and, the news just keeps a coming... I have a second interview for a job. I think they were salivating. They tipped their hand when they called me about 2 hours after receiving my resume (not a good move for salary negotiation tactics) but since it is a nonprofit, I know there isn't much wiggle room involved...
So, the first interview was 2 hours and 20 minutes long. 4 hours later the woman that would be my immediate supervisor called me to get my feelings about the job - she said, well I think it is obvious that we are really interested. Ya think? So, I have a second interview on Monday morning and I think it is a t crossing and i dotting kind of thing.
It isn't a dream job by a long shot, and there are some aspects of it that are really not terribly appealling. But, in this market, it will do. I am at the point where I feel a real need to get a J-O-B since they are in such short supply. Sounds like I am going to have to fire my only direct report employee. Nice, huh!
Well, I asked them all the expected questions and then my final question was how my being an out lesbo was gonna fly (my office will be at a residental care facility). Turns out the "man in charge" is a big ole' out homo (he was the primary interviewer - and the instant I saw him I thought to myself "I really hope he knows he is gay...")
He said he was out when they hired him to run the 170 employee org, and it has not been an issue. He moved up from Florida and said he was really pleasantly surprised at Dayton's tolerance levels. Well, he is also a single Jewish man raising a young black daughter and he moved into the conservative section of town and he said he is doing just fine... so not to worry.
So, looks very likely that I will start a full time job on 2/16.
Sleep? who the hell needs any sleep?
I may have to hire someone to go handle mom's outside care for the rest of winter. It took me a few hours to break up that inch of ice that was coating her sidewalks and I still did not even get started on the one that goes to her garage... but I have been driving her everywhere so she has not had a need to use that walk. Guess I better get on that detail before the new job.
Well, I will let you all know if I end up with the job. Having to report to a residential care facility (ready nursing home) everyday may be hard to take, especially given the way dad was in his last 3 weeks of life) I choked up about it in the interview.
My mind flashes around with it. Sometimes I see him laying there in that bed - not at all my dad, but still my dad -- and other times I see him at home messing around, being silly or something. I am sure those images of his final days will always be with me - they were, after all part of his life, but they sure are hard to choke down. I suppose in time the memories of the 45 years will eclipse them. I sure hope so.
Ok, back at it folks...
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