Cats have amazing ears

The cat hears too much. I guess I need to do a little explaining. After my mortgage company increased my mortgage payment and forgot to tell me about it, my November and December payments were short. After receiving, finally, a notice that I was past due on my account, I called the number on the notice and got everything worked out with a very nice young lady. She advised me to go down the next day and pay the $49 I was short to the local bank holding my mortgage. Which I did. To make a really long story somewhat shorter, somehow a debt collector became involved which included several letters through the mail, and finally, one taped to my front door by someone who had stopped by to "help me save my house". Upon calling the bank again (6th phone call!) they agreed with me - I was current. What was scary though was when they told me they had never heard of the company who was bombarding me with letters, and apparently, home visits. I was asked to fax the letter I received, which I did. I called them back to verify they received it. They did. It has been passed on to the appropriate department, and I should not hear anymore about it. Do you believe that? Neither do I. I still have the number handy and am seriously thinking about contacting a columnist at the local paper who handles stuff like this; he calls himself 'The Watchdog'. One more letter and he's my next contact.

I have now applied for 136 jobs since September 1. No job interviews have resulted. The good news is there are at least jobs to apply for now - a year ago there was nothing out there. The bad news is there are 400 people (or more) applying for every single job. Frustrating? You bet. I'm determined this will be a better year than 2009. I'm trying to stay positive. The jobs are there. I just have to snag one. After all, I have a cat to feed.

Owwwttttt

Been napping all morning. The staff person won't let me outside so I can rid the backyard of all things that shouldn't be there like birds and squirrels. I ran around inside the house meowing my displeasure for about an hour, and she ignored me - do you believe that? Truthfully, it just tired me out so I jumped on the bed and am just now waking up from a long nap.

She's been on the phone a lot the last couple of days. Don't know who she's been talking to but I keep hearing words like 'debt' 'harassment' and 'mortgage'. Then she stuck a piece of paper in a thing and hit some buttons and the paper went through. Then I heard a dial tone like when I knock the phone off the desk. She's much less stressed today so I guess everything got taken care of.

I think it's time to start a little harassment of my own and see if she'll let me outside now. Daylight's burning, ya know?

Gonna lock my computer up....

Again? She stole my computer...again??

I found the poor green bug - I scooped it up in a paper towel and it started moving again. I put it outside so hopefully it can recover. She doesn't try to eat unexpected visitors, just likes to play with them. Although I did have to throw away a dead lizard once.....

I've lucked out and received an extension on my unemployment. I would rather find a job. I'm thinking about heading to some department stores next week to see if I can get on as a sales associate. Can't hurt to try; might turn into something I'll love. I'm also going to meet with someone about possibly re-training. I've been thinking maybe that's the route I should take since I can't seem to find anything in my field.

The cat got a bath yesterday and smells and looks springtime fresh. She doesn't care for baths much, but it does wonders for my allergy to her. She's currently napping (huge surprise, right?) and it's raining outside so even I'm starting to feel a little sleepy. If anyone has any good ideas about what sort of training I should think about, please let me know.

While the staff's away

So, the staff person has gone off somewhere and left her computer on. Tee-hee! I'm wide awake - found something green and hoppy that slipped in the door as she was leaving and have been having great fun chasing it around. I know that won't last long though so figured I'd do this now before my eyes start closing on their own.

We had company last night which is always fun. I, ahem, am a very social cat - not like some of those cats that run and hide in a closet or under the bed when someone comes over. I want to know where they've been, what other animal they've mistakenly petted, and whether or not they know I'm the cutest cat in the whole world. I'll sniff them to deduce they've been in a grocery store or outside on the grass, and whether they were dumb enough to pet a dog. I mean, puh-leese. It also doesn't take long for them to start oohing and ahhing over me once I roll over on their feet and rub up against them. I remember one time we had a guest who sat on the floor and took this little plastic plate with tiny holes off the wall to work on the spaghetti looking stuff behind it. I wanted to see what he was doing so I just marched right up and crawled in his lap. My staff person pulled me off and I didn't get to observe so much, but when he finished he plugged something in some of those little holes and light came out of this tall thing. I can see pretty well in the dark, but apparently my staff person can't.

Hmmm. Speaking of seeing, I'm beginning to see the back of my eyelids...guess that means I better go find my 'bed of the day'. The back of the sofa sounds pretty comfy....must...go....now.........

Ya go to the store and look what happens...

Oh, that's just great. I go to the store and the cat commandeers the computer to start a blog. Figures. She's just too damn smart.

It's true what she says though. I'm looking for a job. Being laid off was not on my career to-do list. When one of my bosses called me in to his office to tell me my position was eliminated, I know I turned deadly white and my brain just refused to comprehend. Eliminated? How could they eliminate my position? I had projects I had to finish!

But it happened.

I've been lucky in one respect - I've been able to find a few temporary jobs and I have a part-time job that brings in a few bucks too. It's also been frustrating though - I've never NOT worked. I've always had some sort of job since I graduated from college. Not that I want to list age here, but let's just say I've worked a few years and felt pretty confident in my search. But then the first month turned to two, two turned to six and now I'm coming up on 2 years.

Still looking. Still confident my next great job is going to show up tomorrow. Still trying to be positive.

Something new

Since I seem to have so much free time, you know, being a cat and all, I thought I'd try something new. I love taking naps, especially on the bed with that big ol' feather comforter since it's been a bit chilly recently, but variety is the spice of life I hear.

My staff person has been around a lot for some reason. She used to disappear for long periods each day and then suddenly she was home all day long. I hear her sometimes talking about how tough it's been to be laid off and looking for work in this upset economy, but since I don't know what economy means and it's nice to have her around to let me outside on nice days, I'm not going to complain. She does seem to spend an awful lot of time on the computer and talking to people about finding work. Isn't her work taking care of my every want and need?

Goodness. I've been awake for a half hour. My eyelids are saggin'. I hear that feather comforter calling me. I gotta go get some sleep....