After nearly ten years, I've fired my household helper, Rosy. The last few years the quality of her work has gone downhill. I think it's because of the set up we had. She would come every other Thursday while I was at work. I agreed to this because at the time, she had another house to do in the afternoon. She said she would come early, 8:00ish, and then go on to her other house.
That worked for awhile, but there were times I'd come home to find no work had been done and a phone message waiting for me. There were always excuses but I let them go. Rosy has a daughter she is solely supporting and when it came to things she needed to do with/for her, I gladly stepped aside.
But - - - it's always those buts that get me. As I previously wrote, one day this past summer I came home to find a stranger working in my house. He turned out to be her brother. About a month ago, I rearranged the furniture in my living room to find dust bunnies almost bigger than my cats. I don't think the couch was ever pulled away from the wall for vacuuming. Things somehow didn't get put back after she dusted and things that didn't belong were left behind.
It was a difficult decision because I really care about Rosy, but the dissatisfaction I've been feeling for more than a year takes front seat. I'm not overly fond of cleaning my house myself, but I'll try it. I didn't burn bridges. She said if there were special times I needed help, she would help out.
If I break it down over a period of several days, I think I can do it. I can vacuum the downstairs on Friday evening, while I do the laundry. Saturdays, I can do the upstairs bathroom and vacuum the bedrooms. And on Sunday afternoon, I can vacuum the stairs.
We'll see how it works out.
God bless you all.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
The Loss of a Special Friend.....
My dear friend Karen is grieving the loss of her cat, Grady. Grady had special meaning to me because I had a gray, Maine Coone cat named Grady, short for Graystoke's Blue Mood. Grady left me after only 4 1/2 years. He had an uncurable blood disease and it broke my heart.
Nearly 15 years ago, Karen's young son David, brought home a gray kitten he found wobbling across a busy roadway and begged to keep him. Karen being an animal lover and unable to say no to her little boy said OK and the kitten became part of the family. When Karen asked David what he was going to name his new pet, David answered "Grady", because I really loved Banana's Grady.
Karen was sensitive to the fact that I had just lost my Grady and told David it would be OK with her, but David would have to ask me if it was OK with me. So one sunny afternoon my phone rang and this little 10 year old voice said to me "Banana? This is David and I want to ask you a question". Of course I said yes. I told David that I was honored that he would want his cat named after my Grady.
Yesterday Karen called me to tell me she had taken Grady to the vet because he had lost the use of his hind legs and he was screaming in pain. It appears he had had a blood clot for sometime. In hindsight she recalls that he had difficulty jumping on the bed or couch. She thought it was just old age setting in.
The vet said they could administer blood thinners but it was unlikely he would regain use of his hind legs. They could make him comfortable but she could not guarantee that this would not happen again. He might produce another clot, causing the same problem.
Karen was torn but knew what she had to do. It broke her heart because he had been a part of her family for a long time. She has buried him in a little clearing with her other two family members - Furry Face (a Maine Coon) and Persephany (a black barn cat. I may have messed up the spelling of her name.)
Losing a beloved pet is a very hard thing but I believe Grady is chasing rabbits with my Grady, Jake #1 and Susie#1. There they know no pain and will never grow old again.
Rest in peace sweet friend.
Nearly 15 years ago, Karen's young son David, brought home a gray kitten he found wobbling across a busy roadway and begged to keep him. Karen being an animal lover and unable to say no to her little boy said OK and the kitten became part of the family. When Karen asked David what he was going to name his new pet, David answered "Grady", because I really loved Banana's Grady.
Karen was sensitive to the fact that I had just lost my Grady and told David it would be OK with her, but David would have to ask me if it was OK with me. So one sunny afternoon my phone rang and this little 10 year old voice said to me "Banana? This is David and I want to ask you a question". Of course I said yes. I told David that I was honored that he would want his cat named after my Grady.
Yesterday Karen called me to tell me she had taken Grady to the vet because he had lost the use of his hind legs and he was screaming in pain. It appears he had had a blood clot for sometime. In hindsight she recalls that he had difficulty jumping on the bed or couch. She thought it was just old age setting in.
The vet said they could administer blood thinners but it was unlikely he would regain use of his hind legs. They could make him comfortable but she could not guarantee that this would not happen again. He might produce another clot, causing the same problem.
Karen was torn but knew what she had to do. It broke her heart because he had been a part of her family for a long time. She has buried him in a little clearing with her other two family members - Furry Face (a Maine Coon) and Persephany (a black barn cat. I may have messed up the spelling of her name.)
Losing a beloved pet is a very hard thing but I believe Grady is chasing rabbits with my Grady, Jake #1 and Susie#1. There they know no pain and will never grow old again.
Rest in peace sweet friend.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Another quiet week
This week wasn't bad. First three days were hectic getting the boss lady ready to go to PA to give her quarterly report to OPM. I worked on her Powerpoint briefing for nearly a week and must say, this is the smoothest one has moved along. Although I took it to the wire, there were very few changes. We printed 20 copies of the 21 page brief and sent her on her way. I had Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday to myself.
Last Sunday was Slavica's birthday so on Monday we had a little celebration for her and one of the admins whose birthday was Monday. We got a big cake, hid it in a corner and with everybody gathered, sang the traditional "Happy Birthday" song. I had bought several garlands, a Happy Birthday sign and a child's paper crown and decorated her office door before she arrived. She does not like attention but I think she was tickled that somebody had fussed. The blabbermouths in the Assignments section ratted that I had done it. :o) She has warned me that my birthday is coming and that paybacks are in order.
While stringing the garlands, I had to step up on a chair and when I lifted my right leg, something snapped. I wasn't able to apply any weight on the leg to stand on the chair. I had to use the left. I did hang all the decorations but by noon, I was in agony. By the time I got home I couldn't get away from it. I couldn't sit, stand or lie down. David paid me my usual Monday appointment and when he arrived he put the table down and I was almost in tears. I said "Please put the table up - I need help now". He said "Oh my gosh, you're in pain". He worked on me for about 45 minutes and did free up the bone on bone pain. but there were a lot of knots in my leg from the muscle spasms. It's been a very long time since I've been that tied up. With David's skill and patience, he has helped me manage my pain for several years now.
Yesterday BJ and I had dinner together and then went shopping. The church mission team is returning to Russia in 3 weeks and I wanted to get some clothes for Lida, my 18 year old 'daughter'. We are corresponding weekly by email. She goes to a free internet cafe to send her messages and I use the online translator to read them. At one point, she asked me if it was true that I had said she was like my daughter. I told her it was true and I felt we had a bond between each other, from the first day I met her. As the messages keep on coming, she is now writing to Mama and that tickles me. My prayer is that she gets a chance for a better way of life than in Ivanovo.
Fall truly is here. There is a stretch of parkway on the way to my office and the leaves are turning now. Yellow, orange and red. Very, very pretty. I want to try to get to the farm market this weekend to find some Nittany apples. I was first introduced to them about 20 years ago by my first AA sponsor. They are crisp, juicy and delicious and always remind me of a new start.
Something must be wrong with me - nothing to complain about again.
God bless you all.
Last Sunday was Slavica's birthday so on Monday we had a little celebration for her and one of the admins whose birthday was Monday. We got a big cake, hid it in a corner and with everybody gathered, sang the traditional "Happy Birthday" song. I had bought several garlands, a Happy Birthday sign and a child's paper crown and decorated her office door before she arrived. She does not like attention but I think she was tickled that somebody had fussed. The blabbermouths in the Assignments section ratted that I had done it. :o) She has warned me that my birthday is coming and that paybacks are in order.
While stringing the garlands, I had to step up on a chair and when I lifted my right leg, something snapped. I wasn't able to apply any weight on the leg to stand on the chair. I had to use the left. I did hang all the decorations but by noon, I was in agony. By the time I got home I couldn't get away from it. I couldn't sit, stand or lie down. David paid me my usual Monday appointment and when he arrived he put the table down and I was almost in tears. I said "Please put the table up - I need help now". He said "Oh my gosh, you're in pain". He worked on me for about 45 minutes and did free up the bone on bone pain. but there were a lot of knots in my leg from the muscle spasms. It's been a very long time since I've been that tied up. With David's skill and patience, he has helped me manage my pain for several years now.
Yesterday BJ and I had dinner together and then went shopping. The church mission team is returning to Russia in 3 weeks and I wanted to get some clothes for Lida, my 18 year old 'daughter'. We are corresponding weekly by email. She goes to a free internet cafe to send her messages and I use the online translator to read them. At one point, she asked me if it was true that I had said she was like my daughter. I told her it was true and I felt we had a bond between each other, from the first day I met her. As the messages keep on coming, she is now writing to Mama and that tickles me. My prayer is that she gets a chance for a better way of life than in Ivanovo.
Fall truly is here. There is a stretch of parkway on the way to my office and the leaves are turning now. Yellow, orange and red. Very, very pretty. I want to try to get to the farm market this weekend to find some Nittany apples. I was first introduced to them about 20 years ago by my first AA sponsor. They are crisp, juicy and delicious and always remind me of a new start.
Something must be wrong with me - nothing to complain about again.
God bless you all.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Fall is here, I think
Today was the first cold snap of the season. The weather guessers on Channel 4 said it was down to 32 degrees out our way. It was chilly this morning when I left for the office at zero dark thirty. It was also a great reason to wear my new fall outfit that I ordered on Monday. (All day Fashion Day on QVC)
Work was OK this week. Accomplished a few things and several changes were made in the office. Added a new manager, demoted an old manager......more of the same. Who in the world knows what's going on? I guess the real question is Who cares?
I've been OK this past week. Feeling fine and happy to have heard from Lida, my 18 year old Russian daughter. She has finally started to call me Mama. It tickles me because she is the one who would not accept outsiders or trust the Americans. I am very fond of this gal and hope she has a chance at a decent life. I'd like to see her get out of Ivanovo because the city has nothing to offer. If she continues her education and moves out, maybe to Vladimir, another small city, she can make a decent living. My real wish is that I could bring her here for a visit. If that ever happened, she wouldn't want to go back, I'm sure.
BJ and JC get back from their trip to the Outer Banks. I have missed her.
No more to add this week.
Please note - I didn't complain once. :o)
God bless you all.
Work was OK this week. Accomplished a few things and several changes were made in the office. Added a new manager, demoted an old manager......more of the same. Who in the world knows what's going on? I guess the real question is Who cares?
I've been OK this past week. Feeling fine and happy to have heard from Lida, my 18 year old Russian daughter. She has finally started to call me Mama. It tickles me because she is the one who would not accept outsiders or trust the Americans. I am very fond of this gal and hope she has a chance at a decent life. I'd like to see her get out of Ivanovo because the city has nothing to offer. If she continues her education and moves out, maybe to Vladimir, another small city, she can make a decent living. My real wish is that I could bring her here for a visit. If that ever happened, she wouldn't want to go back, I'm sure.
BJ and JC get back from their trip to the Outer Banks. I have missed her.
No more to add this week.
Please note - I didn't complain once. :o)
God bless you all.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Out Of Africa
Or should I say "Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my"....
My friend David has done me a great injustice. He sent me the link to a site in Africa. It is a waterhole that has a webcam trained on the landscape, day and night. There is something hypnotic about looking at a screen full of nothing, but something may come by any minute. There is sound so you can hear the animals approaching. Of course there are the sounds of the crickets, frogs and hyenas which are just fascinating.
I've spent last evening and the better part of today, watching the animals come and go. I saw some baboons, water buffalo and a lot of different birds. The owner of the site was panning the camera all around so I could see what was in the brush. I was hoping a lion would come along but no such luck.
It's night there now, but I see an occasional hyena wander by and there are still night birds. The prettiest time of day is dawn when the sounds of daybreak fill the air.
Thank heavens we had a lousy rainy day today so I didn't totally miss the day.
Thanks a lot David.
God bless you all.
My friend David has done me a great injustice. He sent me the link to a site in Africa. It is a waterhole that has a webcam trained on the landscape, day and night. There is something hypnotic about looking at a screen full of nothing, but something may come by any minute. There is sound so you can hear the animals approaching. Of course there are the sounds of the crickets, frogs and hyenas which are just fascinating.
I've spent last evening and the better part of today, watching the animals come and go. I saw some baboons, water buffalo and a lot of different birds. The owner of the site was panning the camera all around so I could see what was in the brush. I was hoping a lion would come along but no such luck.
It's night there now, but I see an occasional hyena wander by and there are still night birds. The prettiest time of day is dawn when the sounds of daybreak fill the air.
Thank heavens we had a lousy rainy day today so I didn't totally miss the day.
Thanks a lot David.
God bless you all.
Friday, October 06, 2006
I'm On My Soap Box Today
With the quiet dignity of the Amish tradition, families in Nickel Mines, PA buried their beloved daughters, dead at the hands of an outsider. One of 'the English'.
As these people mourned, they stuck to their traditions and their beliefs, yet what did 'the English' do? They barraged their privacy with TV trucks, cameras and satellite dishes. These sweet people deserve this time to be left alone.
Shame on you Media!!! It's bad enough to see the media blitz when a so called star emerges on the streets of a city. They are nearly run down by photographers' cars and new mothers are cornered like animals in a trap trying to protect their young from prying cameras.
As a society can't they understand that there are some very private things that other people don't want to see?
Let these people alone. I, for one, am embarrased to see how this quiet community was turned into a media parking lot by outsiders.
God bless you Amish families and I'm so sorry for your losses.
As these people mourned, they stuck to their traditions and their beliefs, yet what did 'the English' do? They barraged their privacy with TV trucks, cameras and satellite dishes. These sweet people deserve this time to be left alone.
Shame on you Media!!! It's bad enough to see the media blitz when a so called star emerges on the streets of a city. They are nearly run down by photographers' cars and new mothers are cornered like animals in a trap trying to protect their young from prying cameras.
As a society can't they understand that there are some very private things that other people don't want to see?
Let these people alone. I, for one, am embarrased to see how this quiet community was turned into a media parking lot by outsiders.
God bless you Amish families and I'm so sorry for your losses.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
A little better today
It was a lovely day today. Sunshine and in the 70s. A perfect fall day.
Today at our weekly company meeting, OMNI Cafe, I was surprised to receive a recognition award for a suggestion I had sent in, over 2 months ago. I suggested, that with all the talented people we have on board, we have an annual talent show. I was presented with a certificate, an OMNI pen and - - - you got it - - - a challenge. We can have the show, if I organize it.
I sent out an email company wide saying before I accept the challenge, I wanted to see how many people would be interested in participating. By close of business, I've only receive 4 bites. I'll wait a few more days and then send out a blurb again on Monday. I really think it would be a lot of fun. I said even if we get only 6 people, at 5 minutes performance time each, we have a half hour show and I don't think for the first effort the population will want to sit through more than that.
I hope it works. It has restored my interest in the company.
Oh by the way, I received a bite on one of the resumes I sent out last week. I'll call tomorrow and get more info.
I look forward to this evening. NCIS is on and I get to see LEROY. (Oh be still my heart) YUM.
God bless you all.
Today at our weekly company meeting, OMNI Cafe, I was surprised to receive a recognition award for a suggestion I had sent in, over 2 months ago. I suggested, that with all the talented people we have on board, we have an annual talent show. I was presented with a certificate, an OMNI pen and - - - you got it - - - a challenge. We can have the show, if I organize it.
I sent out an email company wide saying before I accept the challenge, I wanted to see how many people would be interested in participating. By close of business, I've only receive 4 bites. I'll wait a few more days and then send out a blurb again on Monday. I really think it would be a lot of fun. I said even if we get only 6 people, at 5 minutes performance time each, we have a half hour show and I don't think for the first effort the population will want to sit through more than that.
I hope it works. It has restored my interest in the company.
Oh by the way, I received a bite on one of the resumes I sent out last week. I'll call tomorrow and get more info.
I look forward to this evening. NCIS is on and I get to see LEROY. (Oh be still my heart) YUM.
God bless you all.
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