The Adventures of Being Me

Precious jumped over the fence again and refused to come back over when I grabbed the cat tower. I try to push over the brush pile away from the fence to prevent a rerun of this frustration. All I accomplish is getting my pants dirty. After spending a half hour calling him, I decided to desert him and get Frodo inside. Frodo is by the door ready to go home. I open the door for him and he takes off. Bad cat. Carry him to the door and this time he goes inside. Go back downstairs to get Precious. This time I bring treats (I will use every trick up my sleeve if I have to), and Precious consents to jumping on the tower. I feed treats to get him to the door and finally get him home. Then Frodo had his birthday party. He is 2-years-old today. I got a chocolate cake at the grocery store last night with a lion face. I eat the cake, Precious and Frodo get a can of tuna. Happy Birthday Frodo. Post later. Bye!

Had a car dealership call my manager declaring one of our cars came in via customer to get a new hubcap cause the customer hit a curb. The guy just wanted to give a heads up that the wheels might be out of alignment too. Obviously this is a place a place we frequently take our cars when the people have our number. Coworker hands the customer an accident report to fill out when he returned the car and customer is shocked, but didn't ask how we knew. The coworker couldn't even read his handwriting. I agree, it looks like chicken scratches. The best I could make out was that a car pulled out and he changed lanes to avoid the car, thus hit the curb hard enough to knock off the water cover (I never heard a hubcap called that). He pointed out he replaced the part out of his own pocket. My coworker was positive this guy never had the intention of telling us he replaced the hubcap. How's your day? Post later. Bye!

Took kitties out for their daily walk. They wander around to wooded area by the garages and dumpster. A big chunk of forest has been taken down and a large brush pile is stacked up against the neighbor's fence. I see Precious jump on the brush pile and think nothing of it, until his paws touch the fence railing. I rush over screaming "NO" with tree branches catching my hair, vines tripping my feet on a steep slope, and bushes knocking off my glasses. Precious jumps over just as I finally get to the brush pile. He wanders around in the neighbor's back yard for a while and meows because he can't get back over (his I'm trapped meow is different from I'm over here meow or where are you meow). Now I have to worry about Frodo jumping over too. I shake a branch trying to halt him and he jumps off the brush pile. Our time is up a hour later and I have to figure out how to get Precious back. I can touch his ears and forehead, but can't reach far enough to grab ...

It was just an ordinary day at work when my mom's sister and cousin, and cousin's husband, returned from a trip. I blurted out, See I do work here I wasn't lying. They have seen me at work before. We chatted as they waited for their luggage. Though, I did have a lady asking 20 questions when I had a line of customers. Like, Where are you located, What are your hours, Do you have other locations in this city, What are their hours, How about other cities nearby, What are their hours, What is required to rent a car, Will you take cash, Will you take debit cards, Do I have to have a credit card, How much goes on my credit card, What if my credit card is maxed out, What cars do you carry, Will you have the size I want available in 3 weeks, What are your rates, Do you do a AAA discount, How much is the AAA discount, What is a reservation line, and Why can't I make a reservation with you now (because I have 3 customers standing in front of me). I do wonder sometimes if some p...

Today the kitties got spooked by the very loud lawn mowers enough to run inside. I have been noticing little signs saying "Chemical Treated" and "Keep Off Grass". I wonder if we are not allowed to touch the grass, where are the dogs suppose to pee. I guess the lawn mowers are allowed to walk on the grass. Not that everybody is obeying the signs anyway. Post later. Bye!

After logging off last night, I heard a loud crash with glass breaking in my apartment. I look around to find Precious with his claws on the window screen getting down before I get the chnace to grab the spray bottle. Frodo is sniffing the floor with items scattered about. Go see what is broken. I have a display case that has the shelves layed on rubber plastic stoppers instead of nailed in place. Frodo must have jumped up to sniff the display items and tipped the shelf over spilling my minature tea sets onto the floor. Amazingly, only one tea pot broke. But it is nothing that can't be glued back together. I felt like archeologist trying to piece back the broken tea pot and figured out where all the pieces go. This morning I set off the smoke alarm taking a shower. Once I got all the windows open to let out the steam, the heater kicks in cause it is 50 degrees outside. Post later. Bye!

I was having a good week. Got spring cleaning done, inspection of apartment came on Wednesday morning so didn't have to worry about removing cats, and colored with niece. She has the habit of watching me draw instead of joining me and asked to draw her teacher. I said that I don't know what her teacher looks like. She says, She looks like a teacher. I made her draw her teacher, it looked like Ms. Potato Head. Frodo was reluctant to come in today, but did manage it w/out picking him up. Then I come to work to hear from the manager that we have the prospect of being bought out by the corporate office. Corporate people were present this week to make their offer. I heard the bossman doesn't want to sell, but his father does. Father is technically owner on paper, the son (bossman) is just president of the franchise. The manager said there is nothing to worry about, nobody is getting fired. According to others, there is something to worry about. Like getting paid less, starting c...

It was so beautiful today Frodo hissed at me when it was time to go home. Precious hearing loud truck nearby sprinted to the door with Frodo following shortly behind. Precious is in the door and Frodo walks to the door behind Precious, but then turns around and takes off. Chase him all over the bushes and he makes a weird noise then hisses. He continues his weird noise as I pick him up. When get to the door with Precious looking out the window and he takes off again. Chase him again down the sidewalk and carry him back again. I nudge him towards the door and he goes in. Precious comes out. Then Frodo comes out. Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh. Nudge cats back in and home we go upstairs. Frodo got sprayed with the water bottle for climbing up the window screen. Dusted some more, washed the couch and chair blankets along with the flannel sheets and winter blanket, cleaned the kitchen counters and sink, mopped the kitchen and dining room floor, cleaned a litterbox and replaced litter, and swept the carp...

It is warming up this week to the 70's so opened up the door and windows to clean. Cleaned the windows, mirrors, bathroom, dusted everything, reorganized my bedroom closet, put books away, and grabbed all the unused pet things. I got a spray bottle cause people say it works like a charm keeping pets off the screens. I thought it was cruel and unusual punishment, but cats won't stay off the screens. Sure they get down when I say "Down" or face being pick up and pulled off. But they won't stop doing it like a kid always testing you. I thought of doing it too when outside to keep them off the porches on the ground floor. It doesn't work like a charm, I had to spray them several times to get them off the porches (Precious was worse than Frodo) and they kept going on those porches. Then I sprayed Frodo when his claws gripped the window screen and he hasn't climbed up since. I have the most stubborn cats in the world. Now I don't call it cruel anymore since ...

I come in to discover the troublemaker from yesterday clocked in an hour late today, called the bossman to ask to take off for lunch, and hadn't been seen since. Coworker calls bossman to ask if the guy was given the afternoon off or what. No, just time off for lunch. Coworker tells car washers to call if guy reappears so she can write it on his timecard. Time passes and car washer calls in stating guy just arrived driving his girlfriend's car. He took a 2 hour lunch break and shift is over in half hour. Car washers are mad, bossman is mad, and lots of going back and forth of who said what when. Troublemaker is even upset cause he hasn't done anything wrong and been washing cars like he is suppose to. Everybody leaves and later when the bossman's brother calls for the Sunday morning report of reservations and returns, I ask he how is doing and blurt out, So is this guy getting fired? Then quickly tell him he doesn't have to answer that. He asks why I'm asking an...

Today I come in to find out that the new car washer clocked in, went over to wash one of his children's mother's car in the wash bay with kids hanging out in the back seat, then left for an hour with this woman, still on the clock, and hasn't cleaned a single car rental car. Washing personal cars is only allowed off the clock. Even worse, the bossman's brother walked by and saw this major no-no in the wash bay, but didn't want to yell at him in front of his kids. Later the bossman calls over asking when he left and has my coworker write on his timecard when he was last seen. Then when he came back, he commented how many dirty cars there were in the lot. Yeah, cause he isn't there washing them which puts pressure on the others to pick up the slack. Next, he takes 2 and 1/2 hours to wash a car. The guys average 4 to 5 cars an hour. A car washer spotted him sitting in a car listening to the radio instead of cleaning. Next car takes him an hour to clean. Night shift...

Had a bad day. First overslept and I'm still tired. I think the rain making my allergies act up had something to do with it. So the kitties didn't get their daily walk outside. They were very disappointed. It was raining when I left and still raining when I came back so let them out on the balcony. Then when I come to work, the manager asks about working the closing shift 5 days a week. I guess, I stampered. Sensing my reluctance of direct reply, she asked about closing all 4 days I work. Oh, I can do that w/out a problem. I prefer my 3 days off. When the other closer came in I said, So I hear you don't like closing anymore. No, he is not liking it mainly because of delayed flights and bad info from the airlines. Last night a flight was announced to arrive after our cut off so my coworker went home. It arrived 5 minutes before the cut off so the customer was PO'ed. So the manager calls up the airlines and pays the customer's cab fare to the hotel. I guess the other ...

We had beautiful, but windy, weather this week and it finally warmed up enough today to go out w/out a jacket. Frodo got spooked today when the doors to the electrical meters room swayed open harshly from the assistance of the wind. I shut the doors as my good deed of the day. I even left the windows open all day today. It is just now getting chilly. I have been yanking out matted fur balls out of Precious's fur for three days straight, but today I gave him a break. Sister Sylvia came by to use my computer cause hers is broken. Precious enjoyed the attention of a rare visitor as Frodo hid up on the cupboards. I got a notice of the apartment people raising my rent $20, that took out the excitement of my job raise this year. Sure I could find a cheaper place, but that probably is inside what my coworkers call "the hood". Hopefully I can afford a vacation this year, I need one. My last real vacation (not relaxing on the couch watching movies all week) was to Virginia in 2004...

Today I just came on the clock when a guy came up wanting to rent a car. He points out he has a reservation. My coworker replies, Oh I didn't know you had a reservation. Apparently, this guy asked my coworker for his price then went to all the other counters comparing rates and decided his reserved rate was the cheapest. Tip: The no-reservation rate is rarely the cheapest price. Then a guy calls up stating the reservation line refused to make him a reservation because our location will probably be closed when he arrives. Probably?? You mean they can't look that up to be sure what our hours are. If they would have attempted to make the reservation it would have gone through (our system forbids making reservations when we are closed). My coworker made a reservation for him. So then the guy calls as he is boarding the plane to ask the price, am I going to be there, and what size of car was he booked for. When he arrived he was so happy to see me. I told him I'm here another 10...

The other day, Precious was naughty. Again he has to sneak over to the dog porch and meowed to rile up the dog there. The dog wasn't even at the glass door until that little bugger meowed. Last night at work, we were all whispering to glance at the guy with a 2 feet tall mohawk walking by. The guy who returned the car said it wasn't a guy, it was a girl, a 20-year-old. Oops, we only caught the back view. This week the bossman is offering free hockey and basketball tickets. He's buddies with the coach of the local basketball team and my coworkers get excited when they drop off their personal cars when the fly out to other cities. How many times do you get the chance to drive a professional player's car to make room for other cars? Needless to say, I didn't sign up for free tickets. Even if I cared they always play on nights I work. Though I am unsure about the where the free hockey tickets came from. We got a new phone cord that is so short it pops out of the receive...

Had my dental appointment today for a thorough tooth cleaning and x-rays. Excellent condition as usual. Gave the toothbrush, dental floss, and toothpaste samples to my sister. I just bought a new toothbrush, prefer mint flavored floss, and don't like the taste of Crest (I think Crest is a guy thing). They said whatever I am doing to keep doing it. Took kitties out after came back and it took 40 minutes to get them back in. Precious dicovered a board elevating him to a fence and I jumped to stop from jumping over. Over the fence was deeper and he would not have be able to jump back over. Then he ran along the fence to find an opening and went into the neighbor's back yard. He earlier found another hole in a fence and climbed through. I had to walk around the fence to discover where Precious ended up. I found the garages and the fence was level with the roof. Well Precious had fun on the roof and crawled back under the hole to meow for my location. Let's see Precious is getti...

They cranked up the volume on the PA system for about 10 minutes to the point of me covering my ears when they started to hurt. My coworker said it felt like her ears were bleeding. Then it went down a notch and few hours later I heard a booming announcement to make them hurt again. Good thing we keep aspirin under the counter for the occasional headache. Let's see, found another cat lady with her girl cat on a leash, Jennifer. Precious investgated the new feline and Jennifer hissed at him so he hissed back. I assured the lady my cats are pussies. Frodo ran off and hid in the bush. Oh, got woken up by someone pounding on the door. At first thought maybe it was a UPS guy, then opened my eyes to darkness to see the clock declaring 3:04 AM. Then heard the fire door shut, footsteps, and more pounding. I wondered if this person was knocking on different doors. I was half asleep so I couldn't tell if this person was at my door or neighbor's door. Precious and Frodo stayed in thei...

Let's see, the new janitor gal at work has started asking a lot of personal questions, like my schedule, my age, where do I shop. She commented how sweet of a person I am when I said I planned to shop for a baby gift for my stupid coworker. So we are getting to know each other. A guy janitor gave me his business card (he paints houses and fences) and stated if I ever wanted to go out for pizza with him, just give him a call. I threw it away. I was so stunned I didn't say anything. He reminds me too much of my father, you know the over 50 type. Last night I said I go straight home after work and he said that was a shame. Sorry there is not much to do in Des Moines at midnight. Then Frodo knocked over my glass of milk on the coffee table. It is just so much fun to clean up spilled milk. Precious is driving me nuts meowing to go out, then comes right back in, and wants out again. Well, better go to bed. Post later. Bye!

After I signed off my computer, I go clean the litterbox and notice a pile of litter on the litter mat. I brush it into the dirt pan to realize (I think Precious) missed the litterbox to pee on the wall, base board trimming, floor, and litter mat. A little did manage to fall into the box. That was so much fun to clean up right before bed. How are you? Post later. Bye!

Yesterday, I put away my winter sweaters and winter themed sweatshirts thinking now that it's April, weather should be warming up. Then today it rained all day and all of a sudden, SNOW!! The flurry kind that melts hitting the pavement. Tell Mother Nature no more snow, please. Post later. Bye!

Not much to say this week. Stepped on Frodo and Precious getting off the couch cause I didn't realize they were under my blanket (I know I should be use to this behavior by now). Went in to get my eyes checked. The nose pads on my glasses are breaking off pieces so need new ones. My left eye is getting a slight adjustment, but my right eye's astingmatism is much worse. The doc warned I might be disoriented when first put them on, that can't be good. I haven't been to the eye doctor for 5 years. At least these glasses last a long time. The new ones are smaller and turquoise. Neighbors downstairs moved out and freaked out the cats passing by on the stairs. Precious helped himself to investigate the open door, but I grabbed him. No more cats called Wine and Liquor. The next day they came back and I assumed to clean up, the lady carried curtain rods downstairs and the guy checked the mailbox. Their baby girl looks about a year old. Oh, Frodo got into the closet as I was cha...