Okay, so it seems I am only capable...
of only posting once a week...so here I am...making my weekly report.

The job is still pretty cool. This is what I do:

9:30 - 11:30: fax formulary forms to doctors. (don't ask...LOL)

11:30 - 11:45: break

11:45 - 1:45: more faxing...and taking calls from patients who want to know what the hell a formulary is. LOL (again, don't ask. LOL)

1:45 - 2:15: LUNCH

2:15 - 4:30: more faxing, more calls from patients and Dr's offices wanting to know what the hell a formulary is, AND calling Doctor's offices to tell them that they are not complying with their..(can you guess) formulary agreement. Then of course I have to explain what the hell a formulary is. ROFL

4:30 - 4:45: Break

4:45 - 6-ish: see 2:15 - 4:30.

So, that's my day in a nutshell. It's actually rather enjoyable. When we aren't faxing or on calls, we sit around and chat...mainly about our kids..husbands creep into the conversation too...

In other news

The old man is angling to get me to let him quit his job. I told him that sure, he could quit his job..just as long as he had another one to go to. Then he tried the "that place is making me crazy, I don't know how much longer I can take it!" So I replied with the "you don't have to tell ME about it...I was there first...and I left...I just found another job BEFORE I quit...and you're going to do the same thing!"

"But what if I can't find another job?"

"Then you aren't looking hard enough. I'm telling you now: if you quit that job without having another one...then you can find somewhere else to live."

He didn't like the ultimatum. Oh well...I wasn't crazy about making it, but it had to be said.

Let's see..what else is going on...

Taylor stayed an extra week in WV. Well, I guess I should say she decided to stay for the full two weeks. I pick her up on Saturday. I admit it...I'm excited. I've missed her since she was gone. Life hasn't been the same without my little (okay Big) Rugrat around. Remind me of what I said the next time she drives me nuts for one reason or another. LOL

Okay..that's about it. There really isn't a whole lot to report...I have no life. LOL

- posted by Kim @ 10:31 PM

 
Okay, okay...
I know I've been remiss in my blogging duties...and pretty much persona non grata this week in general. (Hush Gail! LOL)

So, here's a albeit brief, update.

The husband and I have called a moratorium on the fighting, mainly because we don't have time. LOL Seriously though, we just reached our "let's just agree to disagree" point, so we are just merrily going on with our lives...together for now. He's still not all that thrilled with his job, but he's promised that he would stick it out at least as long as I did, which means he has 4 days to go. Will he stick it out? You're guess is as good as mine. LOL

I, however, think I'm going to really like my job. If I weren't so against working outside the home I might actually love it. The pay is wonderful, the benefits are incredible (example: I am carrying full medical, vision, dental (for all three of us), 401k, cash benefit, and six-digits worth of life insurance..for $120 a MONTH). The job is worth keeping just for the benefits. Oh, and let me add that I like the people I work with...that always helps. So, I'll let you know if my opinion changes, but I really don't expect it too. Oh, and did I mention that while others in this area a making 45 minute, an hour and even longer commutes, I live 15 minutes from the place?

Don't hate me cuz I'm awesome. :-)

Let's see...what else? Oh yeah, I'm childless for the week. Taylor is visiting my parents. I talked to her last night...she was supposed to stay for 2 weeks, but I don't think she's going to make it. What can I say, my kid likes me. That, and she's feeling restricted by my parents. Gee...what were the odds of THAT happening? LOL

More later...right now, I gotta head out to work.

Buh bye!


- posted by Kim @ 7:36 AM

 
But wait..there's MORE!
THEN...oh how I wish there wasn't more...but the argument continued 8 hours later when I picked him up from work...

"Gee, glad you showed up on time."

"I told you, the only reason I was late yesterday was because I got stuck in traffic."

"Yeah, right. You leave when you damn well feel like it, to hell with how I feel. I wouldn't even be working this crappy job if you hadn't guilted me into it?"

"I didn't make you take this job. If anyone guilted you into it, it was YOU. Not me. I learned a long time ago that you are only going to do what you want to do..no matter the consequences."

"Oh, now we're back to the housework thing. Well, I'm sorry, but I only expect you to do what I wife should do. The house and all things in it are your responsibility...and you need to remember that."

"Uh huh. Well, if you want to go that way, fine. If all you mentioned above is my responsibility, then holding down a job and supporting the family is yours. So, I'll tell ya what. As soon as you manage to hold up your end of the deal, then we can talk about mine. Til then, you can go to hell."

"That was a mean thing to say."

"Yeah, well, the truth hurts. Deal with it. The bottom line is that I'm tired of carrying this family and having to endure your criticism about how I choose to do it."

"You don't give a damn about how I feel, do you?"

"Yeah yeah. I don't give a damn about you...or your feelings. You really need to change your tune, cuz this song is getting old."

"Well, maybe I should just go somewhere where my feelings are considered."

"Are you threatening to leave again?"

"It seems to be the only thing that works with you."

"You're kidding, right?"

Silence.

"You actually think that your threats are the reason you get what you want? Do you really think I am THAT fragile? Lemme tell ya something, sweetheart. I refuse to fall victim to your emotional blackmail. You, dearie are an amateur. I grew up with the QUEEN of emotional blackmail, and if I can survive HER, then you are a walk in the park. You wanna leave, there's the door...feel free to walk out it, and don't let it hit you in the ass on the way out!"

He sighed and didn't say another word. And, wonders of wonders, he was actually civil this evening when we got home. Don't know if it will last, but at least we aren't fighting at the moment. I'll settle for that..for now.

Yes, we ARE a VERY volatile couple. Yes, we fight A LOT. And we DO love each other. There are just things each of us can't stand about the other...and neither of us know how to get past that. Normally, we just agree to disagree, but when he is in a position that he doesn't like, then he tends to lash out, and I am his main target. As time has gone on, and I've had to take on more and more responsibilities that should be on his shoulders, I have become less and less willing to be his emotional punching bag..even though I know that most of the time, I'm not the problem. You can only take so much before you reach your limit. Well, I'm here to tell you that I have reached my limit. Don't know what's going to happen from here on...but I'll keep you posted.

I promise that my next post will be much lighter. I hate being a wet blanket. I really do...


- posted by Kim @ 11:10 PM

 
***WARNING***
This is an official rant about by dh. If you don't want to hear me complain about my husband's latest antics, if you are in a good place and love your dh right now and don't want to read anything that might make you second-guess your position (kidding...I still love mine, I'm just really Really *REALLY* ticked at him right now) then you might want to stop reading now.

Still with me? Okay..here goes...

He is being the biggest a**hole right now. As I was driving him to work, he starts off the day with this pithy remark:

"Ya know, I wish there was a way that we could have RoadRunner without cable."

"Uh..why?"

"Well, if we didn't have cable, then maybe you might do something around the house."

"Uh..excuse me?"

"There are boxes that need to be unpacked, there are clothes scattered all over the place, and there is no food in the house. All you do is sit around on your a** and watch movies on HBO."

It took everything I had not to pull the car over and kick him out of it. I was gripping the steering wheel so hard, it creaked. I could NOT believe the prick had the nerve to say all these things to me. Who unpacked the carloads worth of crap into this house and put 95% of if away? Me. Who makes the bed, does the dishes, loads and unloads the dishwasher, walks the dog half the time, and feeds the pets? Me! (Taylor walks the dog the other times). Who gets up at 7:15 in the morning to take his obnoxious ass to work, even though he is more than capable of driving himself, and we would save half a tank of gas a week if he would? Me.

I've cooked, cleaned, shopped, moved, lugged, unpacked and tossed a ton of stuff in an attempt to make this house a home; I fixed the computers, setup the cable modem (the cable guy was clueless...cute but clueless), fixed Taylor's computer and stood in line at the post office to pick up our mailbox keys.

And he's bitching because there is a unpacked box? Yeah, you heard me. ONE! One unpacked box..and it's still packed because I still haven't decided where it's all going to go, so I've been taking things out of it as I need them and finding homes for the items one-by-one.

I was thinking all this as I was driving his pathetic ass to work this morning..after getting up earlier than I needed to since I have this week off. (My job starts on Monday) I was going to say all this to him, and just as I was about to speak, he started again.

"Ya know, if I was lucky enough to have a week off, I would do more than sit around and watch TV."

Now, I was mad before...but at this point, I exploded. (WARNING: If strong language offends you, and you are still reading after the above post...then stop reading, cuz I'm about to make a soldier blush)

"Back the bus the fuck up! You sat around the house for three, count 'em three fucking months and didn't do a goddamn thing, other than complain that we didn't have any money and things weren't the way you wanted them to be. Then you decided that we were moving. But did you bother to look for a job? Oh, hell no. You left that to me. Now, here we are, we both have jobs, and all you can do is complain that there's an unpacked box in the kitchen? You couldn't be bothered with unloading the car ("I have to work in the morning, I don't want to do anything strenuous!" / "I had to work today, I'm tired!") so Taylor and I did it. You can't be bothered with walking the dog or feeding either of the pets..but you are going to bust my chops because I have a week off between jobs? Do you realize that I haven't had a vacation in almost five years? I've been the sole support for this family for four years...if I decide to take 6 months to unpack that last box, then so be it. If you have a problem with it, then unpack the damn box your own fucking self, otherwise shut the fuck up about it!"

I think he really wanted to hit me. But if THAT would have happened, he would have found himself lodged underneath the tires of my car, cuz I would have kicked him out of it then hit him with it.

The rest of the trip was in silence. When he got out of the car, his parting words were, "Maybe I should call someone else to pick me up tonight, and go stay with them."

"Well, if you do that, then let me know so I don't need to make the trip back here."

He glared at me and slammed the door as he walked away.

See, he thinks that threatening to leave me is going to make me bow to his whim. In his warped, twisted, self-absorbed brain, he is convinced that my survival is dependent on him. Well, I learned a LONG time ago that depending on him to be anything other than a headache and a pain in the ass, is suicide. So, his threats really holds no wieght for me.

Why am I still with him, you wonder? Because I love him, that's why. For now, that's still enough...but I'm not naive enough to believe that will always be the case. And just in case, I know I'm not perfect, and that I can be a royal bitch, but I really think I have gone above and beyond the call of duty where our relationship is concerned. The only responsibility he has is to earn a paycheck. But he grouses about doing that...then wants to criticze me for not doing everything else the way HE thinks it should be done...even though I also have a full-time job and a writing career. To me, it's not fair, and I am not willing to tolerate it. Not anymore.

Okay, that's my rant. If you got this far, thanks. I feel better just for posting it.
- posted by Kim @ 10:41 AM

 
What kind of writing am I?
I've spent a good part of the day thinking about this. Several people on several lists have been pondering whether they were writers or not. Personally, I think that, if someone posts on a writers list that they are wondering if they are a writer, then they have just answered their own question. What these people really want is validation, and to figure out kind of writing they are.

No, that's not a typo. I did say what kind of "writing". I posted about this in a friend's blog comments earlier, but decided I would make a post of my own about it.

Here is what I said in the comment:

ALL of us are WsIP (works in progress). How we write our life stories is entirely up to us. Me? I'm working on a comedy...with plenty of pratfalls, blunders, madcap adventures, and hopefully a few lessons thrown in along the way. Yes, I am a sitcom. LOL

So, what kind of writing are you? Seriously. Think about it. Are you a comedy (copycat!), a drama, a horror flick? Is the kind of writing you are the kind you want to be? If not, can you change it?

So, to answer my own questions, I am a comedy and I am prefectly happy with that. Sometimes I'm a dramedy, and yes, there is even some horror thrown in (aka my husband LOL), but for the most part, I'm a sitcom in the making. If only I could solve all my problems in 22 minutes...


- posted by Kim @ 9:06 PM

 
Just an update..
On things so far...

The apartment is SLOWLY coming together. It's a nice place, but I'm still not convinced it's big enough. I let Lou talk me into bringing the rest of our stuff up here in the next couple of weeks instead of waiting til August when a townhome is available. We'll see if I regret it or not. LOL

Okay, being that I am from West Virginia (read: dark ages) I have never had high speed internet access available to me. One of the first things I did was call to have the cable and Road Runner installed.

Heh..if y'all thought I was an Internet junkie before...

I'm lovin' this high speed thing. I downloaded a 50mb file on 6 minutes, then deleted it. Didn't need the file, just wanted to test the download speed. LOL

Found a couple of jobs that I might apply for. Yeah, I know, I've already quit one job for another one and the ink isn't dry on my lease, but I am going to keep looking for a job that is ME. Haen't started this current one yet, but it can't hurt to keep looking ya know? Plus, I'm liking the fact that FINALLY I live in a place with a job market that enables you to job hop. That's something I've never experienced before.

Other than that, nothing is new. Taylor still isn't thrilled about being here, and I can't get her to venture out of the apartment other than to get the mail and make sure my car hasn't been towed.

Oh yeah...that's something sorta worth mentioning: Parking Round Robin...

We have assigned parking spaces. Mine is #138. Well, in the 10 days we have been here, I have been able to park in my space twice. 2 times! That's it. So, I have to park in someone else's space, and call the office and tell them that someone is parked in MY space. Of course, while that is being taken care of, the person whose spot I am parked in, calls the office and tattles on me. But they have also parked in someone else's space, and that person calls the office to tattle on the person who tattled on me.

This morning when I was taking Lou to work, there were 11 cars with tags on them. That's a whole lot of tattling. LOL The office manager says that she knows parking is a issue and is "looking into it" (Read: Just as soon as I am filing my nails and finish shopping on eBay, I might look into it..or I might just go home early, the Sopranos are on, ya know...").

Anyway, that's about it. Once I've started my new job and am in a real routine, I might get back to some real writing, provided I remember what that is. LOL

I'm off to do something "housewifeish-like". I should finish putting my kitchen together, or go make the bed. I also need to load the dishwasher and clean off the coffee table. Yes, yes...I have a hold lot of house stuff to do...and I'm going to get right on that.

Read: "I'm going to get another cup of coffee and see what else I can download on my high speed connection."

:-)


- posted by Kim @ 7:51 AM

 
This is my first post
from the new place. I think that, once we get everything moved in and unpacked (ha!) it will look pretty good. Of course, there are things I need to buy before this place is homey..such as new chairs for the dinette set, and bar stools for the bar (I've always wanted a bar...I've got my coffee maker up there, and my mug tree and the cow sugar dish and a wonderfully aromatic bowl of potpourri.

Can ya tell I like the bar? LOL

We don't have the computer desks up here yet, so my computer is set up on and next to my coffee table, and I have my keyboard on my lap. This just makes me want a laptop...but I think I'll have to wait for that. Maybe Christmas...(Lou are you READING this?)

Anyway, the apartment might not be so bad. It might have more room than I thought, but it will be hard to tell until we get all the stuff up here.

But lemme tell you the saga (isn't it ALWAYS a saga? LOL) about the trip up here...

Packing our friend's truck was an adventure. I tried to tell Lou that he was packing it the wrong way, but he ignored me. But I got the last laugh when he had to unload the whole truck and reload it. Hahahaha

Of course, he really got the last laugh, because Lou got to ride in the truck with his buddy. I rode in the car, with it's loaded down trunk..Taylor, a cranky, wailing cat in a carrier, and a dog that just did NOT want to sit still.

It was a LONG 2 hours, that's for sure. LOL

when we finally got here, the dog wandered around the apartment for fifteen minutes...and finally settled down on the couch...my BRAND NEW COUCH!

Ugh...so much for it's pristine condition. LOL Oh well, at least she feels comfortable here. an unhappy dog is a bad BAD thing.

Anyway, once Lou and Jake (our friend with the truck) got here, we unloaded and sat around and talked. Jake is thinking about moving up here too, which thrills Lou, but makes me nervous. Lou and Jake go a long way back..and I've heard the stories. Jake is the kind of friend that "boys night out" ends with a trip to the ER or to the police station to post bail...and sometimes both.

Anyway, I am surrounded by boxes and crates and unpopped bubble wrap, so I guess I will get back to unpacking. I want all of this stuff unpacked when we bring the "big stuff" here.

Later all!
- posted by Kim @ 11:05 PM

 
This is my last post...
from my old home. I'm surrounded by boxes and crates, most of which aren't going with us tomorrow. We will come back and get it when we move to the townhome.

As I sit here, I find myself feeling incredibly sentimental. This is the house that I lived in til I was two...and then again when I graduated from college and Taylor was 2. Lou carried me over the threshold in the kitchen. We started our lives here, and when things went to hell in North Carolina, and we came back to West Virginia, we started to pick up the pieces here.

And now I am leaving it all behind. The notches on the door frame where we measured Taylor's hieght. The crayon "portrait" Taylor created on the wall (that is now hidden by the grandfather clock) that I could never bring myself to paint over. The scratches on the kitchen door that my sweet Fireball made when I didn't move fast enough to let him outside.

I could go on and on...

This house has been both my refuge and the bane of my existance. But no matter how I have felt about it, it has always been home, and I will miss it.

I'll miss the morning sun streaming through the kitchen curtains as I fix my morning coffee.

I'll miss the familar sound of Taylor bounding down the steps, the second from the top and next to last steps giving that familiar (squeak/creak).

I'll miss my lilac bush and the aroma that wafted through my living room every spring morning.

I'll miss the birchwood kitchen cabinets that were hand-crafted by a cabinet maker when my mother was pregnant with me.

I'll miss my front porch, with it's gourgeous view of the Ohio River, and the side yard where I spent hours watching deer, racoons, squirrels and other furry woodland creatures play.

I'll miss the Christmases, Thanksgivings, and Birthday celebrations we had here. I'll miss the euchre games, the D&D marathons, and the Axis and Allies game wars. Most of all, I'll miss the feeling I got when I walked through the door to my littel cottage house, tucked into the hillside in the state that I love.

This house isn't just a dwelling -- it's a part of me, and I know that a part of me will always be with it.

Okay, I'm done whining. The next time we chat, I will be in my new home, starting my new life and making new memories. May I cherish the new ones as much as the old.
- posted by Kim @ 11:09 PM

 
I wish one of you would have told me that...
you needed an advanced degree to use bubble wrap!

I have been fighting with the damn stuff most of the evening. Wrapping bowls is a nightmare! Don't get me started on cups. And then there are the "odd" shaped things like the coffee pot, cassarole dishes, and my cow shaped cookie jars.

I don't know if I will find much joy in popping the bubbles once I've unpacked everything.

Eh, yeah I will.

Tomorrow we pack the car as much as we can and take them to the apartment. I will then unpack everything I take and put it away. Yes, I will. No, really, I mean it. Then when we bring the truck with the bulk of our stuff tomorrow, I won't have as much to unpack and put away once I return from taking psycho and the cat to the vet.

Quit laughing at me...I'm serious!

Still have a bunch of packing to do, but I am sticking with my master plan and only taking the essentials on this move. We will come back and get everything else after we move into the townhome. There isn't enough room in the apartment for all of our stuff, and I *refuse* to clutter it up the way this house is. I am so adamant about it that I'm actually considering...are you ready...

Doing the FlyLady thing.

Okay...if you don't quit laughing at me, I'm going to stop posting. I mean it...don't make me come back there!

Anyway, it was just a thought.

Well, I'm going to get back to work. One day soon, after we are settled into the apartment...I'll be dreading moving to the townhome...so hold that thought...

One day, after we are moved into the townhome, I'll be dreading moving to our new home.

*sigh* This is really getting bad...

Okay...one day, after we have been moved into our new home (ah ha!), I will look back on this experience...

And be glad it's over.

Take care all!
- posted by Kim @ 12:43 AM

 
Just a quick note...
Yes, I did get the job..it pays more, has better benefits and better hours. I'll let you know more about it after I've been there for a few days.

Now, I am going back to packing up my kitchen. This is a nightmare...so much stuff...but it's not all going with me. Nope. Since we own the house and aren't planning to sell in the near future, I can leave stuff here and either take it with me piece by piece, or sell it, or trash it. I kew this money pit of a house had to have a perk in it somewhere. LOL

Okay..heading back to work. Might get a chance to check in tomorrow, but if not, see ya next week after the cable modem is installed. YEhaa! High speed internet access, here I come.

:-)


- posted by Kim @ 9:49 PM

 
The car needs HOW much work done to it?

Armed with full bellies, and riding high on my interview hopes (and armed with lots of cash) we headed to Columbus to sign our lease and make other arrangements for the move.
Before we left town, we decided to get the oil changed. I'm a firm believer in changing oil and fluids either every three months or 3000 miles...and I had passed the 3k mile mark the week before. (While I commuted back and forth to/from Columbus, I put almost 1300 miles on my car..a WEEK!) while we were getting it changed, one of the guys working on the car asked me if I knew I had an oil leak. I told that yes, I knew and that I had taken the car to three mechanics and two Ford dealerships and NO ONE could pinpoint where the leak was. Mark (the oil guy who is also a mechanic) told me that he thought it was a leaky valve cover, and that the oil was leaking out and running down the exhaust pipe. Then he told me that it would most likely cost $600-800 to have it LOOKED at, and to have the leak fixed (provided someone managed to FIND it!) it could be double that.

Bleh. Sorry, I'm NOT spending $1600 to fix a leak on a car that blue books at not quite double that amount. Nope. Noway. Nuh-uh.


We picked out furniture for the living room and master bedroom, called the utility companies to have things switched over, and mapped out the new apartment. I think we might have a problem getting the living room suit, the dinette set and my office in one room, but I don't think we'll be staying in that apartment for long anyway. Which leads me into...

WHEN will the townhome be available again?

The apartment is nice enough, but it's just over 1000 square feet...which isn't a whole lotta room for three people, two home businesses and a music studio. The townhome is 2400 square feet, three stories, has a garage and a full basement. But there won't be any available til August, and since we can't wait that long to move, we'll have to make do with the apartment for now. At least it has two bathrooms...but the townhouse has 2.5. It also has a price tag of almost $850 a month...which is a whole lot of money, and kinda scary. But, we'll see.

Moving on...

I made an Outback waiter VERY happy!

We left the apartment (I took some measurements for drapes and walked off Taylor's bedroom so I could tell her how much of her stuff she could bring) and wandered around town for a while. Soon we became hungry and decided to get dinner before we headed back to WV. We looked at several restaurants, then decided on the Outback, cuz we hadn't been there for a while and I had a hankering for a big 'ol steak.

So we go to the Outback, and after being seated in three different places (first the patio, but then the weather turned chilly and windy, then in the nonsmoking section (which wouldn't have bothered me too much, but was making my chain smoking husband crazy) the finally at a table in the smoking section), we ordered, got and ate our food. We left the money for the check and tip on the table and left.

When we stopped to get gas, I noticed that I was missing $50. My best guess is that I mistook a $50 for a $5.

UUUGGGGHHHHHH! I HAD JUST GIVEN A WAITER A $60 TIP! Even *I'm* not that generous! So, I'm kicking myself and screaming that I'm an idiot and shouldn't touch money, cuz when I do something invariably goes wrong. Meanwhile, we're driving home in the thunderstorm that drove us from the patio inside at the Outback. Lou hasn't said much during all this, guess he figured there was nothing he could say to make me feel worse than I already felt. When I finally stopped raging, Lou quietly said, "Look honey, it was a boneheaded thing to do, but in the scheme of things, it's not that big a deal. Maybe he was meant to have that extra fifty. Maybe he needed it more than we did."

"So, youre thinking this was just my way of paying it forward? I mean, the money was pretty much a gift from the state...and this might have been my way of giving back?"

"Stranger things have happened, and I've never known you to make a mistake like that with money."

I shrugged and thought about it. Maybe Lou was right. Maybe it did happen for a reason.

"Okay, so maybe your right...but a sign would be nice." I said, more to myself than Lou.

For the second time that day, I didn't have to wait very long.

The other end of the rainbow.

The rain had started to subside, and we could see sunlight looming ahead. As we drove over a rise in the road, we saw part of a rainbow.

"Wow, that's one of the birghtest rainbows I've ever seen," Lou said.

"Yeah, it's gourgeous." I said. I really wasn't paying much attention to it, I was still consumed with losing $50 that I could have used for many other things.

"Uh, honey?" Lou said, his voice registering a level of awe I hadn't heard since we saw Pink Floyd.

"What?" I asked scanning the highway for a sign of what caused his awe.

"Look...dead ahead."

"Oh My. GOD."

The rainbow we had been following was now fuly formed...and in full color. It was absolutely BEUATIFUL! I've always been in wonder of rainbows, and I am more than aware of their significance. But this rainbow was even more of a wonder for me because I could see BOTH ends of the rainbow as it spanned the sky.

"This is the first time I have EVER seen a rainbow's full span. That is absolutely incredible," I said, by now the awe in my voice surpassed Lou's.

"You wanted a sign," Lou said. "I think you just got it."

Amen to that.

Okay, that's it for now...the rest I will fill you in on either later today, or when I get home from the interview tomorrow. Oh, and if you leave comments, I will reply to you in the comments box..so check there when you get a chance.

Wish me luck tomorrow!




- posted by Kim @ 11:06 AM

 
Okay, here we go...
Fist fight at the middle school assembly...

This is an incredibly convoluted story, and I really don't want to get into it, so let me summarize: I live in a small neighborhood where everyone knows everything you do...and if they don't know, they'll make it up.

Lou and I went to Taylor's award assembly Friday morning. We sat next to a friend of mine, and while making small talk, she commented that she hadn't seen me around in a while. So, I told her that I've been in Columbus alot lately and was about to tell her why when the assembly started. She looked worried and, seeing how tired I looked, asked "Are you ill?" I shook my head no and whispered that I would tell her about it later.

Do you remember the gossip game we played as children? You know the one: everyone sits in a circle, and one person whispers something to the person next to them, such as "I had grilled cheese for lunch" and then that person whispers it to the next person..and it goes round the circle til it gets back to the original person...and by the time it goes through the circle, "I had grilled cheese for lunch" has morphed into "I killed three people for looking at me."

I guess I should also point out that in my little Payton Place hometown, there are two reasons anyone goes to Columbus: to see the Buckeyes play football, and to see a "specialist" for whatever reason.

It seems that my "specialist" was a rehab clinic. Did you know I had a drug and alcohol problem?

Yeah, neither did I!

I found out when one of Taylor's classmates mother's approached me to offer me "support" while I "worked through my issues". When I looked at her like she was nuts, she told me she had heard about my drinking and drug problems. So I set her straight. And about ten other people after her. That was annoying enough...

This is where the "fistfight" portion fits in.

All of this filtered to the kids. one of Taylor's classmates (male) came up to her and said "gee, if I would have known your mom was such an alkie and druggie, I would have hung out with you more often." She was about to deck him, when her "boyfriend" stepped in and did it for her. we left shortly after that, and as I walked out the door, I said very loudly "Take a good look Taylor, cuz it will be a cold day in hell before you or anyone in this family sets foot through these doors again!"

Anyway, that clears that up. At least for you guys. LOL


That's it...I QUIT!

So, I'm working on less than 4 hours sleep, I have just been told that I am not actually working, but in rehab, and my daughter got into a fight over it all. I'm just a "little" cranky.

Oh, and did I mention I HATE MY JOB? It just isn't for me. between a million screens, and clueless people, I am just swimming in confusion and frustration. So, I was NOT looking forward to heading back to work later that day.

So, I decided that I wasn't going back. My plan was to dedicate all next week to finding a new job, one that wouldn't be as nervewracking but paid just as well. Seemed like a tall order.

Skip ahead a bit...Our check came!

Lou knew that I was not happy with my job and that I was dreading going back. So, we decided we would go out to lunch and talk about possible alternatives. I hadn't told him that I had a plan of my own yet.

We stopped at the house before we went to lunch, and on a lark, I checked the mail. Now, our mail normally doesn't get delivered before 3pm, and it was only 11:30, but as I said, something told me to check it. Sure enough, it had been delivered, and at the bottom of the stack was our relocation check.

YES! Finally..we had the deposits for the utilities and the first month's rent. We had already paid the deposit..and a little bit to hang onto until I found a new job. Now I just had to tell Lou of my plans...

Back to That's it..I QUIT

So, we go to lunch. I wait until Lou is eating, and announce that I didn't think I had it in me to go back to my job, and that I wanted to spend next week looking for a new one. To his credit, Lou took the news pretty well.

"Well, you managed to snag that job in three days...including a weekend. I'm sure you can snag another one in a week." Gotta love that guy.

I didn't have to wait that long.

Why my cell phone is a member of the family

I love my cell phone. Since I've had it, I give out that number instead of my home number, cuz, if you REALLY want to talk to me, it's your best shot. It's the only number on my resume right now, since our land line phone won't be on til later this month.

Remember my post last Wednesday when I said I applied to a couple of jobs? Well, while I was eating my salad Friday, my cell phone rang. It was one of the companies I hd applied to. They wanted to know if I was available for an interview later that day. I told them that I wasn't in the area, but that I would be available Monday. So, I have an interview with them at 3pm on Monday. Hopefully, I walk out of there with another job. If not, then I will continue with my original plan. Anyone got any juju left? heh

Okay, that's enough for now...tomorrow, I'll post the rest. Stay tuned...










- posted by Kim @ 1:51 AM

 
Friday
Okay, so that's not much of a title...but there really isn't much more I could add to it. This is what happened (the short version...I'll post details about each thing in a little bit...I'm still trying to absorb it all).

Fist fight at the middle school assembly...

That's it...I QUIT!

We got our money!

Why my cell phone is a member of the family.

The car needs HOW much work done to it?

Ugh..when will the townhome be available again?

I made an Outback waiter VERY happy!

The other end of the rainbow.

Bubble wrap is SOOO tempting!

Intrigued? Good. I'll post the details later. Right now I have to get ready and head to the mall.
- posted by Kim @ 3:19 PM

 
Hum..Guess you all would like an update...
Yesterday was my first day taking live calls.

Yeeeuuugghhhhh.......

The good news is that I survived. The bad news is that I have to do it again.

And again...and again...and again...

That was the most nerve-wracking 8 hours of my life. My shift started at 4:30. I went on my first break at 8:30. I went to lunch at 11:15. I went home at midnight. I didn't get to take my second break, and I wasn't working an extra 45 minutes just to get it. Why did I *not* take both breaks and my lunch at a decent interval, instead of working 4 hours before my first break and going to lunch 45 minutes before my shift ended?

Because, instead of *scheduling* breaks for employees, you have to call the command center and "ask" to go on a break or go to lunch. For example, I *asked* to go on my first break at 7. I was told I could go at 7:30, but didn't get off a call that started at 7:25 til 8:30. Similar experience with lunch. Add to it that we spent 7 1/2 hours of an 8 hour shift 100 deep in queue (ya know when you call customer service and you have to "wait for the next representative"? You're in the queue. Now you know why your hold times can be insane!

So, now, not only am I not sure I *want* to do this job, I'm not sure I *can* do it, since I need breaks and they need to be relatively regular. Otherwise, I'm squirming in my seat (need bathroom break), and my blood sugar is bouncing all over the place.

Breaks and the eternal queue aside, the job isn't bad. As I had suspected, my mind was making the experience worse than it actually was. However, it was still nerve-wracking, mind-numbing (except for the sharp pain shooting through my skull), and downright aggravating at times. When people call and say "my dsl isn't working" and you ask them, "how many lights are green on your modem?" and they reply "what's a modem?", it makes you rethink your purpose on this earth.

Today, I didn't go to work though. Why? Because, a check that was "supposed" to be here over the weekend still hadn't arrived today, so I was outta funds to make the 5 hour round trip. So, I called off today. No big deal. I also applied for several other jobs..so it was a productive day. hee hee

GOOD NEWS
Lou's training class is back on, so he starts training a week from this coming Monday! Hooray! Provided out state check arrives tomorrow (prayer..juju...good vibes this way please!)we can get into our apartment on Friday morning, get the utilities turned on that afternoon (already scheduled), get the furniture delivered on Saturday (it's already set up also, and I'm going to be CRANKY if I have to reschedule)and be officially in the apartment by Monday.

It's going to be a LONG weekend! LOL

Well, that's it. I start the annoying commute again tomorrow (my parents said that if I need cash, they'd float me a loan...and they came to ME..I didn't ask. Amazing, huh?). Anyway, I'll check in later this week and let you know whether I'm sticking it out or running for the hills.

Namaste!
- posted by Kim @ 11:48 PM