Life in the very fast lane

I'm settling into my new job. I know it takes a while (up to a year has been mentioned) before you feel comfortable. My current problem is I don't know what I'm doing. The State software is intensely confusing and non-user friendly. I've just come off of 2-1/2 days of training and am still sketchy on the whole thing. I did discover that what I thought I knew is mostly wrong and so most of the stuff I've already done is, likewise, mostly wrong. No chance to redo it at the current time, so...oh, well! The training was geared as a refresher course for employees and everyone else in the class was there for that reason only. Being new, I didn't 'get' a lot of what was being said and the instructor was on a tight timeline to get it all covered in the time he had. I never could get the exercises completed either, which was a frustration at best and didn't allow me to follow through. I do have manuals, which will help as a resource. Anyway, I'm guessing I'm just going to have to work through the 'exercises' in real time with real cases, which if done incorrectly will come back to bite me later. I'll just claim lack of knowledge, which is true.

The drive to work and back has been, um, well, let's just say 'Fast'. I'm amazed at all the traffic, and even though I'm on the road sometimes before 6am, I'm amazed at the bumper to bumper traffic. I can't help but wonder if there's anyone in the entire area who's not on the roads going somewhere. It's amazing. And then when I think that each of those vehicles takes $30-70 to fill up...my mind boggles.

Roommate is due back today from his Summer cat-sitting gig. I certainly enjoyed having my house back to myself for a little bit. I've been musing about looking for a bigger house after I get my finances back in shape. Also thinking about seeing if it's a possibility to build a master suite up in the attic. Comments from anyone who's done the attic construction aspect would be very welcome.

Cheers, everyone!

Not an excuse!

So. Haven't been on here in a while. Been too busy chasing the occasional bug around the house, waking my staff person up at, oh, 4am, and of course, sleeping. Just can't fit in much computer time, ya know? Not that I think I owe any sort of excuse, of course.

Mom, oh, er, 'my staff person', finally got a job. I'm excited because it means she can continue to buy the expensive prescription kibble I eat (I have dietary problems...nuff said...), but she's gone all. day. long. We have a great reunion when she gets home, though. She drops all her stuff, I do a 'boomkitty' on the floor, and she rubs my belly and my head. Then I roll over on my side and stretch way out and she rubs my back. It's my own little massage session - it works out all the kinks from sleeping all day!

I hear rumors the guy in the front room will be returning soon from his, (ahem), cat care-taking chores. I personally think I'm such an amazing, wonderful cat he shouldn't go looking after other cats, even if they are on a beautiful lake. Am I not enough for him? Of course, I don't belong to him - I belong to my staff person only - but he's fun to have around when Mom is working. Keeps me from being bored, doncha know? In another way it's been nice and quiet. I heard them talking once when he stopped by for a visit about a new cat that had wandered up. He seemed quite taken with 'July', and there was a discussion of perhaps trying to bring it here. All I can say, is "THEY BETTER DON'T!" This is MY house, and no other cats are allowed. I'll boot 'em out the door as soon as it's open. However, they must have re-thought this acquisition, 'cos I heard Mom say, "I think this is a one-cat house." I knew Mom was pretty smart!

Maybe when the weather cools down, I'll get the persistent itch again to communicate with you humans and get a few things straight. Or...maybe not...

At last!

Most of my friends already know this, but I wanted to post about it anyway. After 1,681 days of unemployment, temporary jobs and more stress than I care to remember, I have finally (finally!) gotten a job. Apparently I made an impression at the current State office I'm temping at, and was encouraged to apply. I found out last week (officially that is) I had the job. People keep asking me if I'm excited, and I have to tell them "No." since this place is a real mess. People are leaving every week, either by retiring or moving on to public sector jobs. I can honestly say however, I'm relieved. Relieved to have finally found a permanent job. Relieved to finally have health benefits (it's been almost 5 years since I've had health insurance). Relieved to know I can quit worrying about whether or not I'm going to lose my house, like so many other people have done. Relieved to feel like a contributing person once again, instead of one relying on unemployment compensation and the low cost health clinic I've always referred to as 'the poverty clinic'. Pure, utter relief.

I'm going to try and keep my head down and just do the work so I can bring home a paycheck. I've already worked with the gentleman who is going to be my project manager and I'm happy to say he's very, very nice. He apologized for having to bring me in at the entry pay grade, but has promised he will get me some merit raises if I continue to work as hard as I have been. I know no other way to work, so am looking forward to the raises.

So that's pretty much the only thing worth writing about right now. I become a permanent State employee on August 20. Whew. Please join me in heaving a huge sigh of relief. Ahhhhhh...

Summertime blues

Well. I'm just pretty darn disgusted. My staff person has another 'temporary' job, and gets up early to go wherever it is she has to go. Then she doesn't get home until late. The guy in the front room is somewhere else (I heard a nasty rumor he's taking care of a house out by a lake and looking after OTHER kitties. I mean, REALLY!) He stops by every so often, and, I have to admit I know he's been cheating on me....I can smell other kitty smells on him.

So I spend my days wandering forlornly around the house, meowing for someone to play with me. Well, not really. I usually just sleep the day away, but - shhhh - don't tell anyone I said that! But I do feel like I've got the ol' Summertime blues. Whatever they are. Blue's a cooling color, after all. And it is hot.

There's something going on this next week, some sort of holiday or something. Meh. I don't really care. If it means my staff person will be here to pay attention to me, I'm all for it. Oh, I just looked at her calendar book thingy. It's called 'Independence Day'. Well, I'm pretty independent. So maybe I'll enjoy the day as well. Happy Independence day!

Doin' what I do best...

Yawn....

Ah, the joys of having a 'four-footed' alarm clock! You get awakened by the tromp of feet walking across your stomach, the joy of having something furry draped across the top of your head, and the loud, jack-hammeresque sound/feeling of deep purrs drum down into your brain. And...you're awake! The alarm was set for 6am; however I've been up since just after 4am and have already slurped down a mug of tea and am thinking maybe I should make another. It's going to be a long day, I can tell.

I must reiterate my delight in the 'essence' drops my friend Jan in Oregon told me about. Ms. Jypsy, as you know, started having some problems again so off we went to the vet. He wanted to see her again in a month, and I started using the drops since she was starting her little paranoia thing again. We've been back to the vet and she's clear, but he asked me again about the drops and were they working. Unqualified "YES!" response on my part and he just nodded. I think I've made him a believer. Jypsy is like she was a couple of years ago - playful (which I like, except at 4am), loving, and, did I mention playful? She's like a kitten again, leaping out when you walk by to tap you on your leg (is that the cat form of 'tag - you're it!'?), rolling herself up in throw rugs, burying her beloved mouse underneath aforementioned throw rugs and then attacking said rug, barrooming from one end of the house to the other just daring you to chase her...it's wonderful. And you can see when she's laughing at you just by looking in her eyes. I've never had a pet that you could recognize humor in their eyes - but you can with Jypsy.

Anyway, she's fine, and hopefully will continue to be. My lack of sleep is a different question, however...

The Best Dreams

I had the most amazing dream the other night. Sure wish I could remember it to tell it to you. The dream actually came to a logical end just as I was beginning to climb up out of sleep; I stayed in bed with eyes tightly closed, willing myself to remember it in detail. But then my leg cramped and I had to jump out of bed to stand up to get the cramp to quit, and then Jypsy came in and rolled over on my feet so I could rub her belly, and *poof*, it was almost totally and completely gone. It would have made a fantastic movie from the itty bitty parts I can remember. All I remember is it involved an extremely handsome man who looked suspiciously like Nathan Fillion and was wildly in love with me. There was mystery and intrigue, dark ill-lit streets we were creeping along, colorful clothing...can't remember specifics or why or what though. And was there a parade?? I think maybe there was. Oh, well. As I was doing a kitty belly rub, I thought that my reality at that particular point in time was much, much better than a dream.

I've said before Jypsy makes me laugh every single day, even when she's not feeling well. She's much better however, and here's just one of today's laughs...

"You can't see me, 'cos I'm hidden!"

"I'm weary, oh so weary..."

I've started a new temp job with the state. It's a different division than where I was, but a further drive to get to. I can't give a qualifier yet on it, and several people have told me they want to try and get me on full time but, truthfully, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that a job opens with the last place I temped. I really enjoyed the people there, and while I've met a lot of nice people where I'm working now....you get it, right?

Mz. Jypsy had another little relapse, but I think she's mostly over it. It's amazing what those drops do. Tonight we were playing on the floor...she is so silly and goofy sometimes - just makes me crack up laughing all the time. Such a sweetie.

Short post tonight - the new job has worn me out and all I can think of is falling in that big ol' comfy bed in the next room. Gah - I'm getting so set in my ways, it's ridiculous. I used to love going out and dancing and partying until all hours....now all I can seem to think about is "when can I go to bed? Is 8pm too early?" I guess I'm okay, as it's currently almost 11pm and I can sleep in tomorrow. Suddenly I'm feelin' old. I kinda feel like this sometimes....