Impending catfight

We have drama at work and something to gossip about.

OK, Worker A has a blog. Worker B posted a, well, not so nice comment about Worker C on Worker A's blog. Worker C views Worker A's blog for some newly posted pics and reads the comment Worker B posted. Now Worker C is hopping mad and ready to complain to the manager about it. But really, what can the manager do about it when it is not a company website or comapany email? All the manager can actually do is tell his employees to be careful what you post online. We predict a catfight will erupt when Worker B and Worker C work together next.

Gotta be careful what you post. You never know who might be reading it. I try to. Post later. Bye!

Xmas letter

Here is the Xmas letter I sent out to my friends and family with a photo of my cats snuggled in a chair.

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. This year was high adventure in Jordan’s place. At the start of the new year, I was enrolled in a few online dating services trying to find love. Disappointed, I cancelled my subscriptions by mid-January. Even more aggravating was waiting for my friend Julie’s cat to give birth. I was promised my kitten would be born around Christmastime. After Valentine’s Day, on Feb. 22, my Precious was born ( a name from Lord of the Rings) with 6 brothers and sisters. He joined a pit bill named Chopper who thinks he is a cat and 2 kittens from a prior litter, Guts and Tosey, in addition to a family of 4 humans. It was much relief after hearing about how tired Dad was after his radiation treatments. Mom continues to wait for her kitchen addition to be finished.
Spring came with a human addition to our family. Joelle Claire blessed my cousin Tammy’s and newlywed husband Samer’s family of dogs. My baby kitten came home as a trembling tiny shrimp at 2.2 lbs. at our first vet visit. My friend Julie was positive my Precious was a girl, but when I took Precious to be spayed it was discovered she is a him and was neutered instead. Tiny shrimp no more, he is over 10 lbs and still growing. About this time, my second cat Frodo (also a name from Lord of the Rings) was born Apr. 29 with his 4 sisters at an animal shelter. In the meantime, I took Precious over to my sister’s house to play with her cats. One cat hid while the other cat bopped Precious on the head to play as cats do. Alas, when my sister got a new leather chair and Precious’s claw poked a hole in it, he was banished from my sister’s house. I went on the prowl for a playmate for my baby. I volunteered briefly at the Animal Rescue League and joked how tempting it is to stuff a kitten in one’s pocket and run out the door. I wanted to take home every kitten I saw and from this indecision selected another shelter to choose a playmate with a clearer head.

May came to see my niece Abby graduate from high school as salutatorian and receiving many scholarships and awards to study to be an English teacher. Mom reported Dad was cancer free and attending his 50th high school reunion. Is he that old? I announced another season at Living History Farms, this time in the Indian Farm section. Summer brought my nieces Abby’s and Alex’s dance recital. Abby did her senior solo to an Irish jig she created herself. The next day was niece Tory’s softball tournament where she pitched and switched hit. At this time, uncle Marvin came over to attend his 50th high school reunion and brought a picture show of his new house and gardens in Spokane, WA. He visited everyone he could during his stay and I had the privilege of escorting him to the Brooks Family Reunion (Mom’s side).
With Precious banished, I searched online for local animal shelters for new kittens who would be eager to play with another kitten. I found a no-kill shelter and visited 2 hours playing with the baby kittens. There was the litter where Frodo came from and 2 kittens who were found at a construction site. I chose Frodo because he was the biggest and would be available first. In Iowa, an animal shelter can not release any animal until it is spayed or neutered, which occurs when a kitten is 12 weeks old and weighing 3 lbs. I reserved Frodo and waited until I could take him home in August. I went to Milo on the 4th of July to see the parade and later came back to Des Moines to visit my friend Teresa’s barbeque. We walked around a park in Windsor Heights and saw fireworks exploding over Sec Taylor Stadium (sorry…over Principal Park). At the end of July, my sister took her family to Colorado. I came over to feed the cats and water her tomatoes. On the last day the tomatoes were watered twice when a neighbor feared they were being neglected. I collected Frodo right after she left and felt nervous leaving him alone with a pouncing Precious. At the shelter, Frodo shook when I picked him up in my arms, but clung to me when he met Precious. Eventually, Frodo settled into his new home and waved his paw to entice Precious to play. Now, they love to cuddle for naps and groom each other. In the Christmas picture, Frodo is on the left and Precious is on the right. Right before Sylvia’s family came back, my sister Diane and her girls spent the night in her house on the way to pick up Alex visiting my parents’ house in Milo. After church services with my parents, they all came back to Des Moines and we had dinner at a restaurant before meeting my cats.

Fall came too quick and I briefly volunteered at the Governor’s Mansion learning to give tours. My birthday was celebrated at a pizza place with my parents and my sister Sylvia’s family. The same month saw my cousin Brian get married and his bride Kathryn’s bridal shower at my aunt Virginia’s house. The wedding ceremony was sweet and simple inside a little country church on the Waukee side of West Des Moines. I hosted my first and last Tupperware party attended by one friend and the neighbor girls who came to play with my cats. At least my friend and I got all the prizes without playing the games. Hospital visits were in order when my Dad’s cancer returned in another place and Mom’s stomach test went wrong cutting 3 holes in her throat, which got infected. October brought my niece Tory’s confirmation and hearing all about niece Abby’s adventures at college. We discussed potential holiday plans. Sylvia will do the family Christmas this year. I thought of getting a third cat at the shelter where I got Frodo, but my apartment manager only allows 2 cats. I would have a zoo in my home if I had the money and space. No, I do not need Animal Lover’s Anonymous. My kitties experienced their first snow and detest wet paws. I worked Thanksgiving with so much business that the computers went down the next day. At least I had an excuse for not getting my work done. I received copies of my book that I wrote for niece Abby and paid a publisher a small fortune to print for me. Give me $12 and I will send you a copy complete with autograph.
I sent in an article for the opinion page of the Des Moines Register about my volunteer experiences and the editor wished to use it during the holiday season. I will be on the lookout for that this December. My niece Alex will be in The Nutcracker without sister Abby this year. I started my Christmas shopping at the Dollar Store and hope to get my book listed on the popular website amazon.com when my finances recover. Just when I’m broke and have no money from getting my book published, my car needs replacement parts. The kitties love playing with my Christmas village pieces, napping on the fuzzy tree skirt, and pawing at the hanging ornaments on the tree. So far, the tree has crashed once courtesy of Frodo. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Love Always,
Jordan

Nasty

I just read a book called Nasty by Simon Doonan about his long search to befriend the Beautiful People he saw in magazines and realized the real Beautiful People aren't the rich and famous who lack a sense of humor, but his wacky family and friends. How very Wizard of Oz, as he puts. It is a good book. I was under the impression more rich and famous people would be mentioned, but no, only a vague description of celebrities he met at parties. Though he did say he lived next to Nicholas Cage before he was a star, but that is all he says about him. Oh well, it is fun to read about wacky people.

I had brushes with celebrity when a pyschopath who thought we should be a couple and I disagreed ran a kid over with a pick up truck and the trial of the century began, thus I was catapulted into the media spotlight from being his bullied victim. Every talk show host was calling my house promising everything under the sun and any favorite celebrity I liked to meet, if I would just do an interview. I could not handle repeating the trauma the psychopath inflicted with a camera in my face without having a breakdown. How the celebrities and I became friends I am unsure of, they just kept calling me to see how I was doing after the limelight disappeared and everything went back to normal. All I can say with these brushes of celebrity is that they are guarded like Ft Knox, meaning emotional walls to keep gold diggers at a distance. I asked one friend if she ever stops being the public figure with perfect manners, perfect smile, perfect wardrobe, perfect witty remarks to intrusive questions, and just be herself. That broke down a layer off her emotional wall.

Then I had to deal with their "people" who don't like noncelebrities sending non-name brand Christmas presents or calling with the exspectation of directly speaking to said celebrity. I got hit with "She does not wear Target, she wears Gucci" note with my scarf sent back to me via her manager. After a talk on why I didn't send the promised Christmas gift, I sent her the scarf again and saw it around her coat in a magazine picture. I was touched. As for the phone calls. After talking to one secretary for 20 minutes, I heard a friend yell, "Why didn't tell me she was on the phone!" and my phone calls were put through and messages delivered. Next my phone number got blocked when the celebrities nervously gave me their home phone numbers and college roommates repeatedly called the discovered numbers they found while snooping through my things. I learned to give nicknames when I conversed about them to other people so eavesdroppers wouldn't know whom I was talking about.

When first we meet, there was tons of glitter and fascination on how difficult their lives are from mine. Then the glitter faded and I began to see them as real people like me, except few people around them had the courage to tell them the truth. I had a challenge of teaching them to trust and forgive, things they learned not to do to protect themselves from getting betrayed by gold diggers. I no longer hear from those celebrities. Too much stress waiting for their phone calls and dealing with their people. I let them go. I wonder if they ever think of me. I think of them all the time and hope they are happy. Post later. Bye!

Donation

I have officially donated my tight ponytail holders to the cat toy box cause. My cat Frodo keeps dropping them off my bathroom sink and chases them as they slide on the floor. They are covered in dirt and no longer desire to have them touch my hair. Tonight I found one next to the litterbox half covered in litter. I flug it across the room like a rubberband and excited the cats into play mode. Post later. Bye!

Fun day

I had an interesting day at work. The computers went down long before I got there. And they stayed down until 45 minutes before I was suppose to leave. Which means we have to hand write all the contracts to type in the computer later and then announce to all returning that we have to mail their receipts.

Even more fun was the frequent renter from India who lives here badly wanted a receipt for his expense report. Sorry, the computers are down and he can use his total on his contract as his total charges for his expense report. I know I should not think badly about frequent renters or people from other countries, but I hate dealing with the people from India. It is so hard to explain anything to them. I don't know if it is my accent or they don't speak American English well, but I hate explaining things 5 times and they still don't get what I'm saying. Know what I mean?

At least I was allowed to go home as scheduled instead of typing all the contracts and returns and addressing the envelopes to mail out. The manager gets to take care of that tomorrow. Post later. Bye!

Happy Thanksgiving

I have much to be thankful for this year's Thanksgiving holiday season. I am thankful for my cats Precious and Frodo to wake up to. I am thankful for holdiay pay I so badly need right now. I am thankful I'm not with my family during Thanksgiving (ok, just the family members who think I'm wasting my time volunteering and publishing my book: nieces, one sister in Nebraska, brother, and father not included in my resentment). I am thankful my books arrived today. I have 4 friends buying copies. And finally, I am thankful for a long list of email pals to send messages and pics to. I think I counted all my blessings.

Oh, yeah, I am thankful I have my health, my sanity, a warm bed to sleep in, a fridge full of food, stretch gloves to fit my tiny hands, and Sudoku to occupy the slow hours at work. Ok now, I counted all my blessings. Happy Thanksgiving. Post later. Bye!

The burr is out

After 3 days of crawling on my hands and knees to comb out my Precious's burr (he is amazing patient for a cat), I broke down and took him to the vet. After the 3rd day, he got reluctant about me touching his burr spot. The exam rooms were full so they took him to the surgery prep room. I waited in the waiting room and chatted with the receptionist. I tried so hard with a comb, baby oil and toothpaste, and scissors to get this thing out. After I touched a nerve with the scissors, he dodged them. I managed to get slivers and a few seeds popped out, but couldn't get the rest out. A minute and 2 meows later, the vet lady came out with a wad of fur in her hand and asked, "Is this it?" It looked like, it was 3 inches long. They didn't even charge me for it. I take Precious home and later noticed when scratching his belly that there is a hole in the fur. That's ok, I'm sure he feels better. No more burrs since.

Besides Frodo's harness is getting too tight (the poor kitty), nothing else happened this week of importance. Post later. Bye!

Today's adventure

Took my cats outside as usual and now I get to try and try and try to removed burrs out of my Precious's long haired cat fur. He does not like laying on his back being very still, but lets me pick at his matted fur a few minutes. He hates being combed so it must be uncomfortable. Post later. Bye!

Aarghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today it is announced that the owner's brother got engaged last Wednesday, their one year anniversary of their first date. She got 1 carat round diamond on a white gold band. Her name is Amanda and she is very pretty. I can't recall if I said congratulations to him. I did beg for details since I have no life or man, just cats. I can be a mature adult and pretend to be happy for someone else's excitement, even when I'm really frustrated at my nonexistant lovelife. I announced I'm getting another cat. OK, I'm done feeling sorry for myself. Post later. Bye!

Election Day

Ah, Election Day is finally here. I won't be voting because I already sent in my absentee ballot weeks ago. Hopefully my vote is counted. I can't believe how some politicians want to safeguard the vote for only people who can prove their citizenship and current address when they go to the polls. Isn't that what a voter's registration card proves? Do they really think illegal immigrants are going to commit voter fraud in order to vote for people who want to deport them back home? That makes no sense to me other than create xenophobia.

A gal at work said she won't be voting because she is not registered here, she just moved here from Florida a while ago. She fails to see the point of voting anyway, nothing is going to change. I can see her point of view. Policitians never change. They raise our taxes because they are incapable of balancing a budget. They sell off public land for businesses to increase property tax revenue. They brag about million dollar raises for teachers, but when one divides that million by the 99 Iowa counties and divide that into all the school districts and count all the teachers in those districts one can call it a pathetic raise. Everyone knows lobbyists control the country with their campaign donations along with the NRA and Christian Coalition who actually care to vote. Businesses will continue to outsource jobs into 3rd world countries to save moeny and so they can pay future immigrants to America next to nothing in both countries. Then on top of all that is the intimidating electronic voting devices that any idiot can figure out how to use. For The Record, my Mom couldn't figure out how to change pads on the Swiffer mop I bought for her. They need to rephrase, "Any idiot can use". At least with electronic voting, we are more widely stepping into the 21st Century, reluctantly, slowly, but surely. My hometown had electronic voting when I placed my first vote in 1994. Post later. Bye!

There's a cat in my pants

I sit in my walk in closet getting ready for bed. I squeeze into my pajama bottoms because the cats have to pounce my feet sliding through the material. So my have my bottoms up to my knees when Precious decides to jump into my pajamas. He sits on my crotch pawing at Frodo playing on the outside. Very awkward situation and I starting laughing thinking that I can't go to bed because I have a cat in my pants. Frodo next starts to bite my feet and I reach over I put my slippers on. Precious is still in my pants. Time to get out. He is scratching my legs while pawing at Frodo attacking my slippers. I get a shoe string to coax him out. He bites the shoe string because doesn't jump out. I poke at him, which leaves me with more scratches on my legs. So I try to pick him up, which is very difficult with the elastic ban around my knees. He meows at my efforts and jumps out. Finally I can put my pants on. Nighty night.

My poor coworker

The other day a coworker called in sick. When he was a kid, he had brain and lung tumors removed and the left side of his face had been paralyzed ever since. I noticed he smile oddly but thought nothing of it. After 20 years, his paralyzed side began to tingle last week. He ignored it so the other day the right side of his face suddenly was paralyzed. Yesterday he had an MRI done and got the results today. Nothing found in the brain. He also has a lump on the back of his neck and an infected jaw. So they did a cat scan today and will find out tomorrow the results. Poor guy. He was even nervous about informing the boss of his problem. Don't worry someone at work told him so he knows this coworker will not be coming in for a while. Post later. Bye!

Guess what

I keep getting messages about my computer cleaning out unused folders. Too bad they don't clean out preprogramed stuff I never use. Guess what, all my documents are now erased, meaning all my stories I have been working on. I didn't realize they were classified as unused folders. I suppose I've been too focused getting my book published that I neglected to write. Have to get out the back up disk to see how much is saved. Post later. Bye!