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This winter has been strange.  It has had snow, but seems to only snow on my days off, disallowing me to get any work done. It has been weeks since I have gone shopping even for food.

Today is back to work, and the roads seem clear enough. I am out of bread and milk, as usual, but at least I pass 3 grocery stores and a bread store on the way to work, so I have a chance to pick u the essentials before coming home tonight.

I have been spending a lot of time on pinterest, and found a ton of ideas that I want to implement here at my hovel.

There are a lot of talented people out there, and I spend hours there before I even realize that I have wasted the day. I especially want the door that they made into a hall tree. I am thinking of making my bathroom door into this.

I had been away for quite some time....not that I was committed (to an institution), but not blogging. I just started again, and did the update to the system, now I can't figure this out. I seem to have lost all my pictures, have no idea how to find the blogs I followed, and should I get in by chance, I don't know what to do when I get there.
I miss blogging, I miss you all, if you are even out there, because, I am not sure even if this is working the way it used to work.
But in the off chance you are there, give it a bit, and I will figure this out, or figure how to get back to the old system.
Till then, take care...miss you~!

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Winter is officially upon us here in Northwest PA, and although the conditions have not been as bad as usual, have caused enough traffic incidents that I have taken to staying indoors as much as possible. I have been fortunate to have taken vacation time that spanned from December 18th through the 26th, and again January 2,3,4, 12. 13, 14, and today.
But, unfortunately, this has caused me to already mess up on my New Years Resolution to spend more free time with my girlfriends, As of today, I have missed a dinner date, an after Christmas party, a baby shower, and a housewarming party. I have also missed going out twice for fish at a local bar.

So far so UGH!

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Just a few words to let everyone know I didn't fall off the face of the Earth. Today is the last of my days off for this month, and still the couple has not shown up, and I have way too much to do before the kids come home next month.
Today I want to bring down some books before they get ruined, some more of the dishes, the baking pans, the stereo and the printer.
The weather is getting hot and humid, and 2 of my girlfriends just lost their refrigeration because of the strain on the compressor. I just pray every night, because right now I cannot afford another bill.
Everyone should be able to retire at 62, because this old body really wants to just stay home, bake cookies, watch "True Blood", read and play with my dog. To say my get-up-and-go got up and went would be an understatement. But with so much to do, both at home and at work, I can't stop.
, I am still not dressed, so I have to get off this and get my a$$ in gear...talk to you all, later.

Winter

Well, the ol' white stuff is getting pretty deep, and the cold is creeping into my bones. More and more, I find myself hating this weather, and longing for Summer.



I keep looking forward to retirement, when I can pick up and move to a better climate, but every time I turn around, things keep plotting against my plans. At one time, I could look forward to retirement at the ripe old age of 62...but now I have to work to the age of 65.



When I started at Polk, I could retire with full pension after five years of service once reaching retirement age...since then it has gone from 5 to 10 to 15, and is now 20 years, and the new contract will probably move that up yet again.



It is a good thing that I have a burial plot here, because the way things are going, I will more than likely be dead before I can retire.



I do love to look out on the beauty of the season, but more and more, all I worry about is falling and breaking something. Funny how that takes some of the pleasure of enjoying the season and turns it into a real threat.



I have no family here, and most of my friends, are spread out about town, and rarely even call or return calls. Everyone is so tied up with work and family, that they rarely get together any more. Which contributes to the fear of falling that I recently have adopted. But all being said, Winter though beautiful, is a season for the young, when sled rides, ice skating and countless other activities negate the numbing cold that settles into my old bones.

Procrastination

Here I sit, cuddled up on the couch under a quilt and drinking a cup of coffee, berating myself for putting things on the back burner yet again,

Tuesday, I had planned to take the car to the garage for its annual inspection, then run to AAA to renew the registration as they both run out December 31. Going down the hill I realized that all of the sudden...no brakes. I made it safely to the garage, and the nice man gave me a ride home as the repair would take a little longer than expected previously...still no problem, as I had today off and could pop down to update the registration and stay legal...ha ha ha!!

Well, here it is 7:00 PM, and the car still is not done. No way to get to AAA and I have no way to get to work, unless it is done before noon tomorrow, but the way my luck has been running, with a simple inspection turning into a $1000 repair, I am not holding my breath. But at least, there is only 29 hours left in 2009.

This year (2010), everything I plan will be expected to cost more and take longer than I expect, and, will be completed way before the deadline!

Hey, I'm still alive and kicking!

Contrary to what you might have believed, I am here and so far doing fine. Mo got me hooked on Facebook/farmville, and am totally addicted. It allowed me to spend money, without actually spending money. The budget is still not settled, but at least I am getting paid.

The other house is moving along, but not without complications. The entire house had to be re plumbed, because the pipes had frozen and split, even the meter had to be replaced. All the shutoffs had to be replaced and as of today, the outside faucet and the sink both have a little work to finish. The painting has yet to be started, but half of the new lighting has been installed.

We opted for a roof repair instead of a new roof because of the financial situation, but they tell me that it is good and so far I have not seen any leaks.

I spent a lot of time conversing with a very sweet younger man on line, and we have struck up a sweet friendship, and he has an accent and accents have always made me weak in the knees. But since he is quite a distance away, the Internet is all we have to relate. And at my age, maybe that is for the best.

This month will be the big push at the house. With Winter just around the corner, I need to get in and get a furnace installed. Not that the money situation is any better, but you have to do what you have to do, On the up side, the car will be paid off on the 15th of October, and I can start getting NFG paid so they will connect the furnace.

I have missed you, and promise to take pictures as we progress.

One more thing

More bad news today. I work for the state and although we must continue to work, we will not be paid until the budget is settled. For most of us that live from pay to pay, me included, that unfortunately means that we will quite possibly be living without gas, electric, water, phone, cable, and may loose our cars (the means to go to work), let alone food.

Then to top it off, the house has to be completely re plumbed. Joy of joys.

I have to come up with $2400 in taxes before August 31, and paychecks will stop with the first pay in July.

But it could be worse...at least I am still employed, and I 'm healthy, for the most part. I have a great daughter, good friends , (all in the same boat). For the most part, I am trying to stay positive, but I need to vent.

My daughter is 2000 miles away and they are no better off, and I can't help, and that is what hurts. I would love to be able to help them out, although she won't hear of it. But I can't help feeling like the world's worst mother.

I'm moving home!

I am going to move into Mom's house. There is a ton of work to be done (not as much as on mine), and I just can't seem to get a break with the weather, or scrounge up the energy to get going.

The tenants left it in a terrible state of disrepair, and not all of it is cosmetic. Check out the missing flashing, the state of the yard, and the rusted out railings, just to mention a few.

The painting alone is going to keep me busy for ever. Then the missing ceiling in the dining room, the repair to the living room hardwood floor, removal of the long out-dated paneling, the dangerous improper installation of the hot water tank, the 3 inches of mud in the basement, etc. will keep me in the poor house and in debt for the $2300 in taxes.

WELL, it's a good thing that I am incredibly rich...oh yea, I'M NOT!

I will post pictures of the before and after, soon, but it's going to be while before it's done, so be prepared to check back from time to time.

Mom's house

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I am planning on moving down to my mother's house, sometime in the very near future. The place is in dire need of TLC, but my house is in far worse condition. It is going to take about three years to get the place in shape, and every cent I can spare, but by then I should be able to enjoy getting the outside looking good enough to sell and retire...somewhere warm.

My neighbor is going to buy this place, and tear it down, so I m giving it to him for the price of the land alone. They have been the best neighbors I could have ever have hoped for, so it's a fair trade.

I had a string of terrible tenants, and then a strung of worse tenants, and the laws are against landlords, so getting them out was a hassle. The last set were supposed to be buying on a rent to own thing, and did the worst damage. I'm in a quandary as to where to start.

There is a string of half done projects, terrible ideas, and jerry-rigged repairs they, in their twisted minds attempted.

I plan on sharing some before and after pictures soon, So if you are in need of a good laugh, keep tuned.

Save me from wanna-be's

For the past couple of days, I have been sitting at the hospital with a couple of the individuals. I don't mind sitting, because, it is somewhat restful, and the food in the cafeteria is good.

The reason I decided to do it this time, is a bit two-fold, ie: the pulls are so screwed up and we have a girl who is on light duty, who is W A Y out there.

She believes her daughter was born to cast out demons and her daughter's boyfriend is enjoying being periodically possessed.

I listened to her rhetoric and handed her a total line of bull crap, only to be told that I was correct in what I said. I told her there were 767,256 demons and she stated she knew that I was right...spooky to say the least.

This person has alienated almost everyone she has worked with, and I attract lost causes, puppies, children and alcholics. I just can't abide posers. She tries to tell me some of the most outlandish things, and I'm just not in the mood for her witchy parlor games. I'm about ready to go bad witch on her ass, and I don't need the bad karma.

Well, that's where I stand right now, caught between the demons and the deep blue funk!

As I sit here writing this down, I realize that this is good for a laugh, and I certainly could use a good laugh or twenty! I hope anyone reading this can sympathise with my evasive techniques.

The Pre-dinner Dance

Last Saturday was our annual dinner dance for the individuals at work. We always have a great time, but we do not eat at the dance, because there is just too much to be done to enjoy a meal...and not enough time either.

The individuals eat there, dress for the occasion (sometimes) and have their pictures taken, and socialize with their peers.

Our ladies are older, and although the theme this year was the 70's, they opted to dress a little more "Today".

They all had a good time, and by the end of the night everyone was exhausted....especially the staff. The staff in our cottage less one enjoyed a pre-dance meal at Primo Barone's and had deserts to die for!

The others all opted for Creme Brulee, but I opted for the Raspberry thing that you can see here.

Just a line to keep in touch

Lately, I have not been posting quite as regularly as I should, because there is not much going on in my life and I have not been at the top of my game.

This is my 3rd day of a 4 day weekend, and the only things I have accomplished are half the laundry and dishes.

Tomorrow I am determined to get a hair cut and manicure, and maybe even wash the "Winter" off my car....yes, I drive a car NOT a broom...as it's hell finding a broom with a handle wide enough to fit my rather large a*s!

As you might or might not know, we got 4 new (to us) ladies for our cottage, and lost one to another cottage. The transition has been going rather smoothly (ROTFLMAO) except for a few minor incidents......like the a*shole in charge figuring we can deal with pica, ocd, runners, behaviors. doing 8 bathes while remaining within 8 feet of one of the ladies (she has bleeding on the brain) feeding,dressing, laundry, stocking supplies going to programs, taking them down for meds x2, and getting in our breaks, all with only 2 staff with a layout that is anything but conducive to allowing you to keep an eye on 10 private rooms 14 bathrooms, a laundry room, kitchen, dining room, computer room, 5 offices, 2 stairwells, an elevator 3 hallways and 2 ramps.

It's frightening at times, because the ladies are like family and if anything would happen to them ...well, it would be hard to take. I have been here over 9 years, and, yes, I have lost a few, but it tears your heart out. This situation of having too few staff, is nerve wracking.

I guess the 4 days off should let you unwind from all the stress, but it doesn't work that way.

Well. that's about all for now, I'll be back soon (that's a threat..er..promise)

Just a thought

I haven't written here in a while, mainly because the weather has been so crappy and depressing that it has been on my mind, and I figure I have written enough about the snow...now if Mother Nature could take the hint and give us some sunshine to brighten our souls, THAT would be something to write about.

I have an extra day this weekend (five days instead of four) and IF the temperature cooperates, I will get some painting done at Mom's house.

I think I will be moving there come Fall, as there are fewer repairs to be made there than here. the tenants, as I laughingly refer to them, have moved out, and it's time to assess the damage.I know that it needs a furnace replacement, and cabinet refacing, and the hardwood floors need refinishing, but the rest will be a SURPRISE.

Happy Wednesday

The name comes from the Middle English Wednes dei, which is from Old English language Wēdnes dæg, meaning the day of the English god Woden (Wodan) who was a god of the Anglo-Saxons in England until about the 7th century. Wēdnes dæg is like the Old Norse Oðinsdagr ("Odin's day"), which is an early translation of the Latin dies Mercurii ("Mercury's day"), and reflects the widespread association of Woden with Mercury going back to Tacitus.

Today is my last (of 2) day off before heading back to work. I slept most of yesterday, I always seen to waste my first day off by sleeping, but then at least, I'm slightly ready to face what's left of the work week. Today, I MUST tackle the laundry. get the trash to the curb, and clean the refrigerator.

I started this day with a cinnamon roll and a cup of Gevalia Cinnamon coffee, read the paper, had another cup of coffee, and made 2 more book thongs. The dishes, few though they might be await, and the laundry is calling. Since I normally work second shift, I have decided I don't have to tackle the housework until 2:45, and that gives me time for another cup of coffee, and a game of chess.

Good Morning World

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It's early, and I have yet to make coffee. It's frigging cold here in Beautiful Pennsylvania, the wind is blowing, the snow is STILL there, but the forecast is for 20 degrees...a real heat spell for January. But yesterday was a truly high note, so today, maybe I'll break down and go to Walmart and buy groceries....and Coke!
The forecast calls for 4 to 6 more inches of snow today and another 4 inches on Wednesday, and yet more on Thursday....Why don't we have snow days for work.

Random thoughts

Here we are 9 days into the new year, and only 350 days until Christmas 2009...so I guess it's time to take down the tree and start on those "New Year's Resolutions". Like most of the people out there, I make and brake them within the first 2 weeks, but someday I will achieve most of the goals I set for myself, and then what?

I should be more like Romeo and just be content with a full tummy and a scratch behind the ear....he shows pure elation with life's simplest pleasures.

I do, after all have a warm place to sleep, plenty of food to eat, one wonderful child, good friends, a fairly secure job, and Romeo.....Life is good!

Personality Test

Okay, you talked me into this test, and I also got a Fred, but what about the others, ya' know, like, Darth Vader and , my personal favorite Eeyore
OH BOTHER...I think I'll just go and mope, not like anybody cares!