Xmas or Christmas letter 2010

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. My year started badly with the sudden death of cousin Tammy after 2 ½ months of fighting pancreatic cancer. Then on to the family Christmas at Mom’s house (last one there) where Great Aunt Katie had sent a cd of old photos we watched on TV. Niece Annika loving the Barbie Swan Lake video I gave her decided she wanted dance classes and sister Sylvia found someone to start her at midterm. Soon sister Sylvia’s family cat Scout died from ingesting a toxic substance which lead to kidney failure. Perhaps I was still in shock when my company’s owner decided to sell out and we had to interview to keep our jobs. I was dismissed. I should have won an Emmy for my last day performance pretending nothing was wrong in front of customers I helped. The next day Sylvia took me out to dinner and I entered a drawing for a free week at a local gym to actually win. A couple days I exercised with my friend April explaining my routines based off high school dance lessons. While unemployed I babysat Annika, did sleepovers with her, and removed my things from Mom’s house. Next had Easter with Sylvia’s family and later visited Mom’s chosen retirement home.


After that my uncle Bob died after 2 years in a nursing home from having strokes. Before long Niece Abby graduated college with honors to become an English teacher and Niece Tory graduated high school as Salutatorian to major in Psychology. Cousin Brian and wife Kathryn got us excited when they blessed our family with their son Daniel Brooks. Then it was time to take Mom to the cemeteries, Annika’s dance recital, and Niece Alex’s dance recital. As expert former ballerina I was assigned to twist Annika’s short hair in a bun. It eventually fell out. Annika and I bonded more as her parents held a garage sale and I took her to the beach at Gray‘s Lake in Des Moines. The 4th of July brought a family reunion on Mom’s side where it rained all day. Had to wait for the next day to see fireworks. Soon found out a friend I knew from work, Jackie, had died after a 2 year battle with colon cancer. Next discovered my great aunt Katie died. Mom with her sisters conducted a cemetery ceremony since her funeral was in North Carolina and her casket shipped to Iowa. Better news came when Sylvia and husband Lance left for China to pick up their adopted son Lukas Grant Xinke. While they were away, we held the estate auction removing the last items from Mom’s house and settled her into her retirement home apartment.

Took Nephew Lukas to the zoo for his 6th birthday and he was eager to hold my hand. I had plenty of opportunities to baby-sit the kids taking them to the park and my apartment swimming pool. School started before we knew it and Lukas got accustomed to Kindergarten. Annika in 1st grade is a very good big sister and started dance lessons again, which Lukas enjoys watching. I received my last unemployment check making me dependent on Mom’s generosity to keep me from living in my car. Went to a pumpkin patch with Sylvia’s family and helped Mom list her house for sale with a realtor. My apartment got smoke from a grease fire downstairs causing me to hastily remove my wheezing cats just before a job interview that resulted in another rejection. But finally, after 7 ½ months of searching and interviewing, I got a temporary holiday job as a cashier at Kohl’s. Thanksgiving was eaten at Sylvia and Lance’s house with an extra honor of Annika’s birthday. Sylvia and kids made a Barbie cake together. Christmas soon upon us the family will celebrate it at Mom’s apartment community room. Next year Cousin Brent and wife Shiela are due to have a baby in February. So you all have a Merry Little Christmas and Happy New Year.

Seasons Greetings.
Jordan
Precious and Frodo say Meowy Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. I am thankful for Mom supporting me so I didn't have to live in my car after losing my job. And thankful I found a new job to tqake the stress off Mom. Can't have HER go bankrupt before I get back on my feet.

Tis the time for the usual Christmas threat. Tell me what you want or you get scented soap/lotion/candle set. That always gets a response.

Who says cats are dumb

Who says cats are dumb never met mine. Tonight my Precious laid down on my signed xmas cards and placed a paw over my unsigned pile. Gave attention fest and go back to signing cards. Two paws get placed over my unsigned pile. Another attention fest was in order and I was not signing cards w/out a fight from Precious.

Happy Birthday Niece

Happy Birthday to my niece. Today I will give her gift after school and stay for supper. Big party with Barbie cake and family is at Thanksgiving.

Finally happened

It finally has happened. I get hit with an overdraft fee b/c Mom's checks didn't get deposited fast enough. Well, the bank can wait til payday on Friday to anymore money from me. I had to call Mom twice begging for money this weekend and not eager for a rerun so soon.

Prince Williamand Kate Middleton engaged

Congratulations to Prince William and Kate Middleton. Hope you will be very happy. If I thought they would receive any engagement gifts I would send, but I know they would be thrown away by their staff so I will write it here.

To Kate: Read America's Queen from Sarah Bradford about Jackie Kennedy Onassis. She was a classy lady who learned to deal with the press, public expectations, and yet followed her own heart. Read the book and learn from her.

To William: I remember you, a little fuzzy, but I do remember you as a lost boy after you mother's death and heartbroken when I picked up the phone and didn't know who you were. I still have your mother's 10 pence coin and visited England in 2002. Hampton Court had the most beautiful gardens I've ever seen. The most important words to say in your future marriage are as follows: I'm sorry, I'm scared, and You are the most beautiful woman in the world.

Again Congratulations to you both.

My feet hurt

God my feet hurt. I bet it is the new shoes.

Saw a visitor from corporate at the store this morning. The guy actually said Good Morning to my coworker and I. Most corporate people from past jobs never speak to the riffraff so this was nice. Past jobs the corpoarte visitors only speak to managers, talk about sales numbers, customer surveys, and presentation of things. You are lucky if they reply when you say a simple hello. Usually they just stare at you as if thinking "Why are speaking to me?".

Had a lady come in the store with an exchange. Ok, go get what she wants to exchange and I will do it for her. She returns with the exchange item w/out the original item. Oh, she thought you just switch items and walk out (on what planet does this occur?). No, I scan her receipt, scan the returned item, and scan exchange item to give her a receipt for new item (and not f*** up inventory numbers). Oh, that's how it's done (at every store I been in). She gets the return item and I do the exchange. 

Had another lady walk through the alarm panels with her arms full of stuff and set it off. I ring her up. Oh, she didn't know we had inside tags that resemble a clothing label. And yes, she was walking out the door if that alarm had not gone off. Thieves play stupid or really obnoxious when caught. We know better.

No walk for Precious. He hates rain.

1st 8 hour shift

Did my 1st 8 hr shift today complete with lunch break and 2 snack breaks. This retail job schedules your breaks to make sure you get them. We have a breaker come by when it is busy (new coupon came out in the newspaper so it WAS busy) to give us our breaks. I like this job. Other retail stores let you pick your break between customers. And when really busy or coworkers refuse to cover your area, you often don't get them at all. Or managers scream how you left your area unattended and I defend back I have to take breaks (they dock your pay for break times even if you didn't take them b/c it's illegal not to give employees breaks). I like my store. 

Precious walk

Guy stopped his car to ask to take a photo of Precious on his cell. He is the biggest cat he's ever seen. Yes Maine Coons are the biggest cat breed. He doesn't pose well, but hope he got his pic. People think it's hilarious to see a cat on a leash.

Prohibition on Fast Food

Is it just me or does anyone else think a prohibition on fast food is coming, after all America had it with alcoholic beverages and we all know how that turned out. French fries just might become a controlled substance under control of the FDA at this rate. These people already ruined McDonald's fries I use to love so much, now with the nutritional oil they tasate like garbage. Now they work on destroying the Happy Meal. How will explain to my niece and nephew they are not allowed to eat French Fries with their hamburger?

I want my French Fries. 

Call from sister

With Daylight Savings Time giving me an extra hour of sleep, I still sleep in late and missed my sister phone calls requesting babysitting. I did an overnight w/them on Friday night, give me a break. Neighbor can have a turn. I got my window open and heat off. Precious likes this weather.

Adventures in Babysiting

Got a call from sister asking to pick up the kids from daycare and feed them at my place.You mean like an overnight. Yes, that would be good. She is sick and got off work early to come home. Of couse, she can ready a bag for them and I'll swing by before picking them up. I have leave now so bump off Frodo napping on my lap (he is so cute when he sleeps I hate disturbing him). Sister is on the couch and had not packed anything. She tells me where everything is and gives me food to take. Pack tomorrow clothes and jammies with underwear and socks. Grabbed mac and cheese, vegetables, and snack. Pick kids up. Darn I forgot the sleeping bag. Kids stay in car w/ me taking their school bags inside and grabbed sleeping bag.

Got home and went straight to the Strawberry Shortcake dolls I said I got new. I have only one Shortcake doll and found a couple more only an extra inch taller so got them. Clothes were mostly interchangable. Old tights a little short on new dolls but exceptable. Showed my new kid movies and niece wanted to change her birthday gift to the Care Bear Movie instead of Princess and Frog. I said Grandma took me to this when I was little. I assured her any of my movies can be borrowed and only 1 movie for her birthday. She wondered why it was not wrapped and sitting with the other movies. It wasn't her birthday yet. Her secret gift is way up high in the closet so she will not be getting into it. Made them watch the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving specials to explain the holiday to nephew from China.




When done we watched Bolt, of course. Then Niece saw a human action Peter Pan and wanted that, but Nephew wanted Bolt so Bolt it was. I can put Peter Pan in the suitcase to borrow for the week or two. Nephew had to watch me make their meal though I didn't let him do anything. Baking chicken and mac cheese were not Nephw things. I heated veggies in the micro so he closed the door. Ate their food so Niece got brownie and Nephew gummy treats. Play in the living room with Barbies, keyboard, blocks, and Strawberry Shortcake. Last time they were here I said if they take out toys, they have to play with them so this time, they controlled the urge to drag everything out of the toy box and dresser drawers I keep doll clothes in.



I got on the computer to write on facebook I got the kids overnight and ended up looking at my photo albums until they got bored. Nephew wanted to work the strange mouse and both touched the screen so worked on not doing that. Auntie does the mouse and don't want fingerprints on screen. When movie finished, got ready for bed w/dragging feet. I have a cup and said no throwing water b/c I don't have extra clothes. Nephew said he won't throw water. Read 2 stories and then had to sit on the floor to keep Nephew from laughing, fake snoring, and talking to Niece making her reply. After 30 minutes of my presence and bathroom break, they settled down. Cats came in to eat and rub against me. Nephew petted Precious and remained quiet. Niece thought I should get a bed for Nephew. Sure I can get a bigger one and both can sleep together. She wasn't sure about that. I said Niece can sleep in the sleeping bag and Nephew can have the bed. She wasn't sure about that either. Now all is quiet. Well better go to bed.

Happy Election

Happy Election Day. Go vote b/c the outcome will be determined only by the people who actually do. Polls mean nothing when people never cast a ballot.


I'm so good at telling people what they want to hear. I won't be voting today. I see neither political party with a plan to solve problems, I see a power struggle to win control. Whoever wins or loses will have no effect on me. I will still be broke and working a job that pays about half to where I was before I was let go from my job. I will still be begging Mom for money to just get by. And like last year I will very unlikely buy Christmas presents b/c I'm broke with no savings and no hope of this suffering to end. Every time an economist says the recession will end this or last year, a company discards hundreds of workers and economy just gets worse.