Happy 2014?

The new year has started - and so has processing training. I'm really struggling with it. I'm not sure if it's the work or simply the anger I feel at how they have treated us. I am trying so hard to stay positive, but when I keep getting NOPASSED work back, ruining my stats (which count - no grace period at all) and threatening to pull me back into the office losing my telecommuting position, I get angry. Really really angry. Though we processed all day today and I probably got about 30 items done without any NOPASSED so that was a little encouraging. Though 30 items doesn't make my required 'number' so the day was still a bust. 

JP Morgan has an opening for a custom email writer that fits my field of expertise to a T. I actually have all the requirements (experience, Series 6 and 63, knowledge of retirement plans.) My issue is I don't like the way JP Morgan does business - they are always paying huge penalties for cheating or misrepresenting themselves. So, do I stick to my morals and not post for the job and stay miserable at ACI or do I compromise my morals and maybe take a job I would probably enjoy more? I think I am going to finish my resume and submit it just to see where it takes me. Heck, in today's job market, it's a long shot I would even get an interview.

Beginning the research for the Ireland trip in May and discussing the Disney Cruise with George and Breezy in October. There are silver linings in my world.

Should Old Aquaintance

The last day of 2013 - and it is quickly coming to an end. Spent the evening taking Piper to see Frozen; she sat and watched the entire movie. I was really surprised as I expected her to get up and start roaming halfway through it. She did an excellent job. Then we picked Shawn up at home and off we went to the China Buffet for dinner. George and Breezy have picked Piper up and Shawn is asleep on the sofa downstairs. I am wondering if 2014 is going to be as good as 2013 - it's been a very good year.

 

Merry Christmas

Another Christmas has come and is slowly slipping away into the night. The day started off rough - Shawn backed out of our Christmas Eve movie night. I guess I need to let that tradition die - every year it's pulling teeth to get him to agree to go; so not worth it. The only holiday tradition we had, too. Took me several hours today to move past the anger and rejection.

George had mentioned us visiting with him this afternoon. I sent a text a few days ago to lock down a time and he never responded - so we didn't go. I get tired of always being the one to follow-up. He didn't send a text wondering where we were, either. 

I DID have an enjoyable time at the Weissenbachs. They have become my family. Everyone came in this year, including Devin and Alicia (still engaged but no wedding set), Tara and Cody (still dating but no engagement), Abby, Wendy and Todd, Scott and Jenny with their kids and a bunch of hanger-ons. It was a really nice gathering, and we were the first to leave (we both work tomorrow - no one else did!!)

Next week the calendar starts over again - hopefully it will be a good year.

Count Down to Christmas

Not really a lot to report - finally have the house decorated for Christmas; took me an entire week! But it looks nice, smells fabulous and feels warm and inviting. 

My Correspondence job officially ends Wednesday. Thursday I report to the office for processing training. I am trying really hard to keep a positive attitude but it's hard. Getting dropped down two pay grades, effectively being told what I've done for the last 13 years has been unappreciated and unnecessary - so easy that a computer can do it. I am planning on spending the winter months lining up my ducks so in the Spring I can venture forth to see what might be out there for me. I really liked writing letters, too. 

The weather has turned sour. Snow is on the ground, the temperature is frigid and the wind biting. The cats are restless to get out - until they get out; then they want back in! Bailey can go only so far before he gets ice and snow in his paws and stops walking - then I have to carry him home. I hate winter.

Some sad news - Snicker Doodle has gone to his new hopefully-forever home. The lady worked with Shawn for about three weeks (she's already quit) and was in need of a kitty. She seems to be the exact person I was praying God would send - but it still killed me to say good bye to Snicker. I hope he is happy with his new Mama. I'm pretty confident he is.

That's all I have to report - signing off.

Bye-Bye, Snicker Doodle

Snicker Doodle went to a new Momma today. A lady Shawn works with recently lost her 19 year old cat and agreed to take Snickers. She is exactly who I asked St. Francis to send but it still broke my heart to have to say good bye. I gave her my number and told her to call me if she decides she can't keep him - begged her not to just abandon him. And now Shawn is trying to convince a barkeep to take Checkers. He honestly doesn't care about how his actions hurt me to the core.

I have one more week of Correspondence work and then I head to processing training. I am trying so hard to keep a positive outlook on this - look at it like a new adventure. But I am so dreading the change. 

Going to the Weissenbachs' for Thanksgiving. I would rather stay home and veg in bed but.... Shawn gets what he wants. Wonder if they will have turkey this year.

I'm in a rotten mood.

Home Again - For Now

I can't believe it but Maui is over - what a great time was had....once we made it there! About two hours into the flight from Phoenix to Maui (putting us an hour over the ocean), the pilot came on to say we had to turn back and return to the mainland because the windshield had just cracked. Then he said we were going to drop to 10,000 feet 'just in case the window blew out', drop the flaps and landing gear to burn fuel and head to Phoenix rather than a California airport because we were too heavy to land. The LONGEST two hours of my life! I seriously thought I was going to die that day.

Then three days into the vacation, Shawn and I were sitting at the oasis part of the inn (a lovely location, by the way!) when we heard what sounded like a car crash on the highway right below us. Shawn went to investigate only to find it wasn't a car crash at all - it was a 10-passenger plane making an emergency landing! Amazingly, no one was hurt. When it came time to head home, I was nervous about getting on the plane - I'm glad I have several months before my next trip! 

Count Down!

Counting down to Maui! A week from now I will be settling in at the Weissenbachs for the night before our big trip - very excited! We are going zip lining, on a helicopter tour, on a dinner cruise, hopefully to watch the sunrise over the volcano (currently closed to visitors because of the government shut down) and hours and hours of lounging on the beaches of Hawaii. I'm going fat, but I'm going!

I am also going to see Wicked at the Music Hall before we leave. Very excited about it, even though Shawn is less than pleased. It's on a Tuesday and God forbid we do something on a Tuesday evening. I will need to make it a point to do the driving so he won't have as much to fuss about. I've been wanting to see this show since I first heard of it years ago. (If Shawn backs out he will ruin yet another Hawaiian trip for me, too.)

Expecting a few packages with Christmas gifts any day now. What is it about October that has me spending, spending, spending? I do it every year. Guess with Christmas around the corner, vacation and pet wellness visits, it puts me in a spending mood. I will have to pay the piper (and the credit cards) in November and December (and January and February!) Oh, well.