Apprehension

I try not to let my mind wander down certain pathways, but sometimes you get pretty far on that path before you even realize you've already made the turn. I try not to be superstitious. However, I'm thinking I may have jinxed myself by changing the blog name because I was positive my current temporary job might work into something permanent. (insert raucous laughter here)

Seems Texas has finally decided to recognize the downward turn of the economy, and in the latest budget announcement has decided....they need to cut some State jobs. Over 9,000 of them. Around 24% in Health and Human Services. Some articles and columnists have pointed out the budget as described will not be the budget that's implemented - the slashes are too severe across the board and some of the reductions just will not make it into the final list.

I'm not sure where all this leaves me job wise; I know I'm technically working for a temporary agency and our contract runs through August of this year. There is the possibility this contract will not be renewed. I know we get paid less than State workers; not to mention we get no benefits. On some days I think, well, maybe they'll keep us because we are doing the work for less money. Other days I'm convinced we'll be the first to go. I've started looking for jobs again, you know, just in case. I've come to the conclusion this is the way I'm going to live the remainder of what time I have left - constantly on the search for another job and applying for jobs I'll never get a response on regardless of how much I follow up.

So this becomes yet another reason to make the push to get the book out there. Perhaps this is a 'sign'. Maybe this is one of those proverbial 'crossroads'. I'm taking it as such anyway.

Travels With Mousie

Curses

So today on my lunch break I run to a store to pick up a few things. It includes a cheap pair of jeans, a coupla bottles of wine (it's the weekend and one was only 5$, plus today is payday!) and some 75% off Christmas candy that might as well just call itself 'Peppermint Bark' (it calls itself peppermint squares, btw). I get out to the car, punch the button on my fob for the trunk, toss everything in, slam the trunk lid, and realize - just as the trunk lid closes - that my keys were also one of the things that got tossed in the trunk.

Arrghhhhh!

Call the cousin, who fortunately has his cell phone turned on, and who also fortunately has nothing else going on. He grabs my spare set of keys and drives to where I am to bring me the keys so I can open the trunk and retrieve my main keys. (Thank you, Gary!) Do I feel stupid?? Duh! I have never done this before - well, once about 20 years ago I locked the keys in my old station wagon, but fortunately I hadn't locked the rear door, so just crawled in and got the keys. No such luck with this car. Walked around the parking lot for a while, but Cuz showed up with spare keys about 20 minutes later. Not a total loss - handed off the wine I'd just purchased and he took it home to put in the fridge so it was chilled by the time I got home after work.

The funniest thing is - tried to call work about six times and let them know what happened, but couldn't get through. When I finally got back to work (30 minutes late) no one had even noticed. When you work in a cube, are you ever really missed???

And now totally off the subject - here's a picture of some trees that were decorated for Christmas by a large company I refuse to name. The trees are still adorned and I was finally able to get pictures of them last night. May it brighten your night!

Happy Cat New Year!!

Boy! A new year! I could get really excited about all the possibilities in store for a new year, but staff person hauled me off to the vet again today. It wasn't as bad as last time...we got there and she stayed right there with me while they poked and prodded me (I don't even want to tell you where they prodded me!) and then stuck me 3 TIMES and then stuck this thing in my mouth and squirted in that obnoxious yellow stuff. I showed them though - I spit most of it back out. Some went on staff person, but the guy said I had swallowed enough so they let me be. I sure didn't want to go in that stupid carrier at the house, but when all that was over I was more than happy to scoot back inside. Then we came home. I'm a little under the weather (those sticky things make me kinda groggy), but have spent most of the day sleeping. If it goes like it usually goes, tomorrow morning I'll be zooming around the house again.

All the decorations are down and there are boxes everywhere. The living room looks just like it did before Christmas, but there's boxes and boxes of stuff she's going to haul back up to the attic - back to normal at my house.

Last night was kinda fun - staff person went to a 'party' and was really silly when she came in. She had this thing on her head that said "Happy New Year" and it had this long feather in it. She was talking to the guy staying in the front room and laughing about something that happened...I zoned out after she said "It was SO much fun." That's all I really needed to hear. I'm glad she's getting some quality fun time.

It's been a good holiday season; lots of new things to see, sleep on, walk on, sit on, and puke on. (Did I mention I puked on one of the wrapped thingies under the tree?? My proudest moment - I hit it dead on!) Hope all my four legged friends out there had as much fun as I did. If I could blow hard on that thing staff person brought back last night that rolls out and honks, I would - so Happy New Year everyone!!!