The Ants Came Marching . . . . . .

Earlier this week when I took Chrissy outside in the morning we made a discovery - the landscapers had disrupted an ant home when they did the edging on the lawn.  We were walking along the sidewalk when Chrissy - nose to the ground - took a big sniff of what looked like a pile of dirt on the sidewalk.  Only thing . . . . . . it wasn't dirt . . . . . . . it was a pile of baby ants all moving around together.  Poor Chrissy took a big sniff - scared the little ants - they scattered all across the sidewalk - and some decided to take a ride on Chrissy's muzzle!  She looked up at me and I could see these little black spots moving around on her face - good thing she's blonde and not black so I could see them.  I had to pick them out of her fur.  A few minutes later there were more baby ants on her face - I think they crawled out of her nose!! 

I wonder what the ants were thinking when Chrissy sniffed and disrupted their pile -

• Oh No - Hurricane Chrissy!  
• Maybe the Wizard of Oz theme was playing duh duh duh duh duh duh
• Oh No - There goes Auntie Em.  She got sucked up into the wind

What about those poor ants that got into her fur and nose

• What are these blonde pieces of grass we're walking on
• It's so dark and wet in here - I think I can see a light though
• Oh No - here comes a big hand grabbing at us - Quick Run . . Ahhhhh . . . .Oh No it has George!!

De

Today's Word . . . . . . Frustration

I'm not really sure how to start this one.  I had a frustrating day today and I am trying to figure out how to put the reason why into words.

There are Pros and Cons to just about everything in life but I never thought of Cons for being good at something.  I have worked in my field for 18 years - I feel I am very good at my job and knowledgeable of how to do it.  I like what I do but I certainly don't want that to be it - I would like to be challenged a little - use my brain - cuz come on - doesn't take a lot of brain activity to do data entry and to stuff envelopes.  Back in January it was indicated to me that this year I would get the chance to do more analysis - get out of the day-to-day data entry - work my brain.  That has not happened yet - I even voiced my concerns about where things were going to my immediate manager but again - nothing came of it.  Well - this week we were told about some changes happening within the department - people making some moves to new positions.  One of the people moving is my manager - which opens up a space for a Manager of Disbursements - someone who knows a lot about what I do but with more analysis responsibilities - Perfect for some growth . . . . . . nope . . . . . . .they went outside the company and are bringing in someone new - never even let the department know that this position was opening up.  Frustrated!!!

Tonight I went in and spoke to someone about my concerns - started out with "Where do you see me going in this company?"  Uh . . . . . . . .where is this coming from?  I explained everything that I was thinking/feeling and voiced my concerns that I was not being given an opportunity to learn and grow within the department/company.  I was then told that they need someone to be in my position and that I have the knowledge and skill set for it . . . . . see - the Con to being good at something - they don't want to replace you so you don't get the opportunity to move up.  Trying to make me feel better about this it was explained to me how I am training to be the back-up for Payroll and learning more about that position which will add to my skill set . . . . .well great . . . . . and that helps me out how . . . . . the payroll person isn't leaving anytime soon so the only way this skill set helps me is if I am looking for a position outside the company!  Yeah - didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy about them wanting to promote me up within the department.  About this point the frustration was getting to me - which cause tears - and I hate crying in meetings so I wanted to get out of there but I still had one more thing to say - I left them with this . . . . I feel like it's always the same couple of people in the department who are getting the opportunities to move up and grow and that those of us on my level are always going to stay on this level.  Meeting over - logged out of my computer - went home. 

I just don't know what to do.  I hate feeling like this because I do like the people I work with - I would just like to feel that the levels above me think I have a brain in my head and can handle the work that is done above me - I think I can do analysis - I think I can research why we have changes in numbers - but I'm not being given a chance because they only think of me as doing what I've been doing for 4 years.

I do have a brain - I'm not an idiot - just because I don't have an accounting degree doesn't mean I can't handle accounting work.

De

Late Weekend Update

So Sunday Chrissy went to the groomers - time to get a bath and get rid of the knots - start with a clean slate.  Well - it's definitely a clean slate - they ended up having to shave her really really short!  She looks like a rat terrier!!  Poor baby!  I now know that she's the type of dog that needs to be brushed and often!

Luckily it's been warm since then so she hasn't been cold when we go outside.  And . . . . . knock on wood . . . . . she hasn't had an accident in the house since last Friday!!  She's finally getting me trained to take her outside about every hour - hour and a half.  I leave her harness on so all I have to do is snap on the leash and out we go.  Now - if I could get her to just do her business quick instead of spending so much time sniffing around to find the perfect blade of grass to pee on we would be perfect!



L started at McDonald's yesterday - seemed to have gone fairly well - she was tired when she got home.  She worked again today but she hasn't gotten home yet - a friend of hers picked her up from work so they must be out and about.  Last Friday - while we were out and about running some errands - I broached the subject . . . I said, "I don't want to start a fight for the weekend, but we need to talk about the elephant in the room"  she responded that yeah - she knew - and was working on finding a place now that she had a job.  Let's all say our prayers and keep our fingers crossed.  I am sooooooo ready to have my house back!  Once I have it all to myself it will be time to really clean things out . . Hey C, wanna come up and help!

Yesterday was a perfect work day!  Got off at 1:00 - road the SLUT (South Lake Union Trolley) to Lake Union and boarded an Argosy Cruise ship!  It was a Finance Fun Day!  I have worked in this department for 4 years and this is the first off-site fun day we have had!  The boat cruised around Lake Union - through the Montlake Cut - around Lake Washington by 520 - and then back again.  We had lunch and drinks - the sun came out - it was a really fun day!  After we got off the boat we went over to Jillian's and had some snacks, beer, and played pool.  I didn't actually play pool - I sat and mocked people who made poor shots! 

De

Out of Service

I really hate my home Internet sometimes!!  The past couple of days it keeps going in and out for no apparent reason - which is very frustrating because the Internet is my relaxation tool when I get home from work - not relaxing though when it won't frickin' connect!!! 

L cashed her big unemployment check and actually gave me most of it to put in to savings and then she also paid me for her phone and part of the electric bill . . . . . the L of old days would have had the whole thing blown in one weekend.  Nice change . . . . . . things have been going fairly well at home with her but I can tell we have been around each other a little too long . . . we are getting snippy at each other . . . . she is getting rather moody and when I say something she gets defensive and cranky . . . . . I am also getting very tired of not having enough spoons - cups - bowls . . . not because I'm not doing dishes but because they are all in her room with weeks of dried on food and nastiness on them.  See - one of the side effects of my meds working again is that i have noticed the clutter in my house and it is really getting on my nerves!!  Weekend plan is to get down and scrub!!!!

Chrissy gets her cone off tomorrow!!  Yay!!  I have already made her an appointment at the groomers for Sunday . . .bath and a cut . . . . short so we can get rid of the knots and matts.  I will definitely need to keep up on the brushing with her.  I will post a pic when she is done.

Time for bed . . . . . fingers crossed that the Internet stays up long enough to post this!

De

Lucky Star

Oh My Gah!!!  What The Hell!!  What kind of lucky star was shining on 5/11/90!  I have always said that L has never had to work for anything and once again I have proof!

She has been out of work for over a year and a half - had applied online to various jobs but didn't get anything - but that was OK because she was getting food stamps and unemployment from the government - what more could a 20 yo who isn't really motivated to do anything want - get paid $200 a week to sit and play computer games.  Well - about 5 weeks ago her unemployment ran out - she went through all of her savings - and her 3 months are just about up.  So - she applied at McDonalds - received a call to come in today for an interview.  She walked in - filled out paperwork - they asked if she could start on Monday.  No interview - just walk in and get the job.  Now I am thrilled she has a job - if that were all that had happened today I wouldn't be all OMG and WTH!  Today when I got home and picked up the mail . . . . . there was the tell tell yellow envelope from the state . . . . inside that envelope was a check . . . . . yup - she qualified for emergency extended unemployment . . . . and not only was it for a week of unemployment - it was back pay too!!  She got a check for $1,010!!!  See - - OMG and WTH!! Never Works For Anything!!!

I so want some of the luck she has!!

De

Weekend Update

I should just start naming every Monday blog Weekend Update!  I just don't write on the weekends anymore - unless something major should happen.

This weekend was incredibly hot!!  Not complaining - just observing - this summer has been one of extremes - we're either hot in the 90s or cold in the 60s - why can't we just have a nice string of 70s!I like that kind of weather.  When it's in the 90s for consecutive days the condo heats up to 89!!  Very uncomfortable.  To try and help beat the heat this weekend I bought a small kiddie pool for Chrissy and I!!  Just put enough water in it for my feet and for her to wade around in.  She liked it.

Of course - as you will notice from the picture - I took her cone off because she look so miserable.  I thought - what could happen in the few minutes she's in the pool . . . . . I forgot I was dealing with Chrissy The Destroyer Houdini!  In no time at all she had her stitches out!!  It looked OK to me but I called the vet - knowing that he is there on Saturdays and only a mile away - so we got in the car and took a little ride - air conditioning was nice!!  Dr Brar took a quick look at her - after shaking his head at me - and said she was good and to keep the cone on for another week so she doesn't disrupt the scabbing.  

Last week I had a Dr Appt and we discussed how I've been feeling over the last few months - made a small adjustment to my meds - things are back on track!  I like my happy pills!  Hopefully no further adjustments need to be made - at least not for awhile.  It's hard to really explain - one moment you feel down, don't want to do anything but sleep, nothing holds your interest - then a little adjustment - and it's like coming out of a fog - your head feels clearer, the weight of everything feels lighter, you feel like you can handle things.  Life is just a little bit better and easier to try and deal with.  It doesn't make the problems go away - but it does make it so you can think clearly about how to handle them.

L applied to and got an interview at McDonalds - the interview is tomorrow at 1:30.  The McDonalds in Issaquah by where the Albertsons used to be is having a hiring day tomorrow - so cross your fingers that she gets the job. 

OK - I'm moving back to my bedroom where it is hopefully cooling off - finish watching The Closer and then get some sleep.

De

One of Those Days

Yesterday when I was heading to the parking garage after work I walked by a 20 something guy who was panhandling – I didn’t look at him or read his sign I just walked by keeping my eyes straight ahead. As I walked by he asked me for spare change and I ignored him. His response . . . . . . “Go ahead and ignore me Fat Ass!” I kept on walking but flipped him off over my head. He proceeded to tell me to stick it up my Fat Ass. Really – really – Really!! Well – that’s certainly going to get me to turn around and open my wallet to give a hand out . . . . . . . NOT!! I should wear a sign that says – “Already Supporting a Panhandler”


Today I was going to relay the story to my lunch crew but they ditched me!! I headed to the lunchroom at the same time we always go to lunch – R at the front desk said I had just missed them they were heading out to Mexican. I went in and sat down to eat my lunch hoping that they had just gone out to grab it and then come back . . . . . . nope . . . . . . . they had gone out to eat without me. I felt so stupid because my feelings were really really hurt because of it. The explanations have all been that there was miscommunication and it wasn’t intentional. Which – OK, but my feelings are still hurt. I need a drink.

I am thinking that when I leave work today I am going to see if the panhandler is in the same spot and I’m going to walk up to him with some money in hand and then say – Oh wait a minute, you’re the one who called me a Fat Ass yesterday, guess I will have to give my money to someone else! We’ll see – I’ll let you know what happens.

On my way out now ~

De