A Christmas Carol thought

I watch A Christmas Carol every year and always notice Fred is not in Future scenes. Perhaps, not to give away that the dead man who brought so much joy to others was Scrooge. But in small ways, Fred is there. Someone had to paid for the tombstone Scrooge views. Someone had to pay the undertaker, charwoman, and laundress who sold his things to Old Joe. Bob Cratchit is not jobless (and not suddenly rich) and must work for Fred who would have inherited his business and money. Who else does Scrooge have to will his things to? My brain thinks too much. Season's Greetings.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and I could hardly bare it

Not a creature was stirring, not even a ferret

The stockings were hung on the shelf with care

With hopes of St Nicholas soon would be there

The cats and mama in bed taking a nap

Faramir, Eowyn, and I waited with the Santa trap

Visions of red toys and dangling Christmas balls

Filled my dreams of what this Christmas thing befalls

When out on the courtyard there was a loud POP

I sprang from the sofa and saw the cats lollop

Away to the window I bounced like a bunny

Then Faramir and Eowyn smelled something funny

The moon glowing upon the new fallen snow

Covering the paw prints where dogs like to go

When what to my wondering ferret eyes should appear

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer

With a little old driver so bright red and quick

I so badly wanted give that toy a lick

More rapid than Frodo swipes his coursers they came

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Jingles Now Jangles Now Ivy and Holly

On Snowball On Sparkle On Tinsel and Jolly

To the top of the porch to the top of the wall

Now dash away dash away dash away all

As right before Eowyn tooted, the wild flurries whirled

The cats danced with joy and us ferrets twirled

So up to the rooftops the coursers they flew

With a sleigh full of toys and St Nicholas too

And in an instant outside like a lightening poof

We heard the scratching and clawing of each little hoof

As I drew in my head and turning around

Santa came in the door in a single bound

Precious drank the milk so the Santa trap was sprung

Santa ate the cookies and crumbs in his beard were strung

Frodo got him a napkin and Precious got out the back

I took the opportunity to crawl into his sack

His eyes were kind as he scratched my cheek

Faramir and Eowyn stuck in her nose to take a peak

His face was red like a cherry as he went Ho, ho, ho

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow

The stump of a pipe he held in his teeth like a charm

And the smoke blew up to set off the smoke alarm

To unplug the battery he swiftly rushed

Then looked at us and rightly blushed

He was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf

And I squeaked when I saw him in spite of myself

He petted us all and cats rubbed their fur on him

Then we heard a crack of a tree limb

He spoke not a word, but finished his cookies

He filled up the stockings, even for us rookies

Then laying a finger aside of his nose

And giving a nod, out the door he rose

He sprang to his sleigh to his team gave a holler

And away they all flew as we furbabies got taller

But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night

Christmas Letter 2016

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my family and friends. My year started with a temp job as a Bankruptcy Auditor in January auditing mortgage loans in bankruptcy to check if the bank employees are following bankruptcy laws. Let's just say my job is easier when they do their job right. Started college classes again, my last semester (Wahoo!). Did taxes under VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and this time was more of an assistant to the professor than tax preparer. I did a few amended returns (you have up to three years after filing to send in an amended return) and checked my classmates work as required for the class. My two years of experience came in handy. Saw my great-niece for the first time at her baptism. Missed the baby shower from the polar vortex causing weather man to say stay indoors. At eight pounds, the two-month-old baby was still tiny to hold. She just looked at me as if she was thinking, "Who are you?". She learned I sing and kiss cheeks. Then had to share the baby with Great-Grandma who hadn’t met her either. Got a baby fry fish Theia after my female Selene died. Then Theia died after a few weeks. Got another small fish called Tethys. This one was a little older than the fry, but still small compared to the adults. Then after a few months Tethys died and got another fish called Gaia. Gaia is still around, but too small to attract much male attention. My full size female Artemis gets all the boys’ attention. When she grew a very large bottom fin this autumn, I realized Artemis is a boy. Don’t feel like changing the name though. Ferrets were sad they didn't get much of a winter thanks to warm El Nino, they love snow and roll around in it. Didn't get enough snow to dig a ferret tunnel, maybe this winter with El Nina expected. We celebrated ferret Faramir's 3rd birthday making him a middle-aged man. We celebrated Precious's and Frodo’s 10th birthdays making them official Senior cats.

Completed my classes and graduated with honors again earning Payroll Certificate and Income Tax Preparer Certificate. Ah, no more classes. My brain can't handle any more education. Got student loans to pay back now. Attended my niece #2’s Master’s degree ceremony at University of Northern Iowa. Family is so proud of her. Wrote a new story just to stop dreaming about it to put it up on my blog (thechameleonstory.blogspot.com). It is about an FBI Agent going undercover. I know, boring. Attended my sister-in-law’s (don’t know if I’ll ever get used to saying that) bridal shower at my Mom’s retirement community banquet room. Some family haven’t met the bride so it was a good day for us. Attended niece #1's bridal shower at Aunt’s home and took my turn holding great-niece. Went out to the cemeteries for Memorial Day with Mom, both sisters, and a niece #4. Had to explain to niece#4 that some people actually do visit cemeteries on Memorial Day instead of barbeques. Niece #4 wanted to come too since she hasn't seen her grandpa's grave since the funeral before the stone was erected. Had to explain why we place flowers on tombstones and why grandpa had a flag with a holder saying Vietnam. I got a new baby girl ferret: Luthien aged 2 months (from Lord of the Rings). My other ferrets taught her how to be a ferret and learned my routines. She has taken to jumping on the bed in the morning when I wake up. She is one happy ferret. Had a lovely 4th of July with sister #2's family. Attended a parade in Slater, IA and enjoyed lunch in the town park. The games and rides were too young for niece#4 and nephew so we didn’t stay long. Pretty much spent the afternoon watching movies at my sister’s home. Had to play Independence Day for the holiday.

We celebrated two weddings in June. Niece #1 got married and had great-niece as her flower girl. She looked like a princess and ceremony was twenty minutes long (we all loved that). They had a grilled cheese bar with someone heating individual sandwiches for people. Boogied down at the dance with nieces and nephew. Had breakfast with the couple the next morning to watch them open presents and took home some cupcakes. Then after Fifty Years of Waiting, my mother finally got rid of my brother. Brother danced for the very first time (as a kid I would grab his hands and twirl around, but he didn't really move). I again danced the night away with nieces and nephew. Had breakfast with the couple opening their presents and went home. Afterwards, they went to Washington D.C for their honeymoon. I finally was made a permanent resident at my temp job to fill out all the paperwork to get insurance and build up that 401k. I was doing the Happy Dance after six long years working part-time and temporary jobs after losing my good job renting cars at the airport. It’s nice having paid holidays and paid time off again. I like my job and can easily see myself auditing for the next five years. Attended nephew’s 12th birthday party at Johnny’s Steakhouse in Altoona. They had a cut out of Frank Sinatra and had to explain who he was to the younger generation. Went to the Ankeny City Pool with brother-in-law #2, niece#4, and nephew before school started for the kids. Got a nice sunburn to get a good tan. Kids weren’t too happy their sunburns. Had picnic lunch in a park with sister#2 who had stayed home. The next weekend we enjoyed a day at Adventureland Park. Rode the new roller coaster and I thought it was awesome. Had to ride it a second time. Visit got cut short when clouds came in and lightening scared us into leaving the park. We got sprinkled on. Made it out before the downpour came. Didn't get to ride all we wanted, but it will be there next year.

Celebrated my 41st birthday (tell nobody) at Ankeny’s Godfather’s with a buffet with Mom and sister#2’s family. Sister got me a cake with cupcakes surrounding the larger center cake. Mom took me to the car wash because she finally got tired of looking at my dusty dashboard (I never clean the inside of my car). Had a good birthday. Had a visit from brother and sister-in-law with their honeymoon pictures explaining how they mastered the public transportation. My ferret Eowyn celebrated her 3rd birthday making her a middle-aged woman. Lost my male Beta fish Pan. Got him as a baby and he was growing bigger every day, then he died. Got a new Beta male Cronus. Beta fish live 3-4 years so I go through them fast. Cronus is still here. Teenager ferret Luthien at seven months experienced her first Halloween and jack o’ lanterns. I just know she will love Christmas. Celebrated sister-in-law’s birthday with brother and Mom at the Cracker Barrel in Clive. Celebrated niece#4’s 13th birthday at Rock Bottom Brewery in West Des Moines. She loved the purple sneakers I got her since she picked them out last August on a shopping trip in the mall looking for the “Perfect Backpack” for school. Spent Thanksgiving at brother’s house in Fairfield at their new dining room table and used new cookware they received as wedding gifts. Let’s just say it will be a while before they need to buy anymore kitchenware. Did my Black Friday shopping from brother’s sofa on my Smartphone when stores opened on Thanksgiving evening. The family was in the dining room eating leftovers so nobody was looking over my shoulder to see what I got them. Next day on technically Black Friday drove out Aunt’s home to spend the night to have a shorter drive to great-niece’s 1st birthday party on Saturday. Aunt took us Black Friday shopping in a store later in the evening when the crowds dissipated. Since I already bought all my presents online, I shopped for myself and picked out sweaters to wear to work. Next, she took us around Omaha to see the pretty light displays. Great-niece’s party had the extended family at Valentino’s in Lincoln, NE. Visited with my nieces and sister#1, plus took lots of photos of the baby. She is crawling now, pulling herself up, and loved her birthday cake.

This month will be work, work, work. Have to pay off my shopping splurge, you know. Got out all the decorations and Luthien enjoyed all the boxes to play in. My Christmas village on the floor looks like a tornado hit it, but they don’t chew on any wires so I’m happy. I will host Christmas Day dinner for whoever from my family shows up (plans not finalized yet). Extended family Christmas will be in January with practically everybody planning to attend.

Love Always,

Jordan

Cats: Precious and Frodo

Ferrets: Faramir, Eowyn, Luthien

Fish: Artemis, Hades, Gaia, Cronus

Birthday party

Had my niece's 13th Birthday party at a local restaurant. They have root beer floats the kids love, well nephew more than niece. Naturally my niece loved my gift since she picked it out last August on a Back to School shopping trip in a mall. She put the shoes on right away. Double checked they still fit, they did. She has suddenly got into Power Rangers so had that on her cake. The family had a good lunch and cake for dessert. Got to update people on my job. I'm permanent now and enjoying the new found benefits. Nephew got his new winter coat dirty to the displeasure of his parents. He wears nylon shirts on a cold day so of course he is cold. Put on a sweatshirt, kid. Nothing else to report.

Post Election thoughts

I know die hard people are still gloating or protesting the election results. Seriously people, you make me glad I'm an Independent and vote for people not parties. In my lifetime we had Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush Jr, and Obama. The pendulum swings both ways and there have been Republican Congresses and Democratic Congresses. We had economic booms and busts, wars and peace times, and we have survived. And if Trump is that bad of a president then I give this hope "Mid-Term Elections". We are going to be okay.

Conundrum

If you dream about someone being murdered, do you tell about it risking people think you're crazy or just chalk it as a weird dream. I am the master of weird dreams. Quite a conundrum.

I went to bed Election Night and drifted off to sleep knowing Mr. Trump will be President. Then I woke up at 1:30 AM. Couldn't get back to sleep cause my brain wouldn't stop dreaming of Mr. Trump with a blood on the left side of his head saying "Help Me, Help Me". Next, I saw him speaking outside at a podium surrounded by crowds, hear a loud bang, and he collapses on his back. And the dream ends. I was awake with a migraine pounding in my head for three hours. I managed to sleep for about a hour before awaking again. The next dream was Trump waving at the crowd as his family got out of their cars by the White House to watch the Parade. He appears to slip on some ice to land on his back, a bang is heard, people look around wondering where the bang come from, and then a loud boom shakes the ground to hear crowds scream. Explosion appears from behind the buildings about a block away. Then I wake up not being able to get back to sleep. I bet I sleep tonight.

Arose when the alarm clock went off and drove to work. Most of the morning I keep visioning the 2nd Trump dream. This time I stand nearby to see if he was just hit or was killed. I don't see his spirit rise from his body like steam out of boiling water so feel good about that. I stand near him to see where the shot come from since nobody on the ground could figure it out. This time Trump's neck holds the bullet on the left side so look to the left. I spy a man in black in a window. I must say that was one heck of a shot, he's nearly a block away. Then someone grabs my shoulder, it is Trump's spirit appearing real instead of a storybook ghost. He asks if I'm the angel who will take him to heaven. I reply, Yes, if you're ready. No, not yet, he wants to know who killed him. I grab his hand and fly to the man in black taking apart his weapon and stuffing it in a drawstring black bag. Trump's spirit is furious he was gunned down by a terrorist (#?@!* bastard is more like his reaction). Man in black leaves the room appearing as if he is carrying a laundry bag in his hand. Next Trump wants to comfort his wife. We arrive at the White House and I leave him with his mourning family. Next we walk with the family during the funeral. Once the funeral is finished, he is ready to go. I take him to heaven. At least the dreaming stopped this afternoon.

Even worse than that, during my daydreaming while I'm trying to do my job, I have a vision of the bombing and a famous journalist is near it enough to get scratched by shrapnel from the building blocking most of the explosion. In the end, nobody is killed, just injured with scratches from broken windows from the sonic boom and pieces of brick/stone from the building. Famous journalist is talking to his TV camera about the parade and the speech the new President made when BOOM comes from behind him (camera catches the explosion). He asks, What was that? Are you okay? to his camera guy. And writing this, my dream changes to him moving across the street so he must take this dream seriously.

And talking about people tampering with my dream, it does change to other people near Mr. Trump getting hit trying to stop possible doom. In his speech, he wears a red scarf, but getting out of the car and waving to the crowds he doesn't have it on (possibly not to give man in black a target). Next I see possible ending where a secret service guy getting hit in the head with bullets with Trump and possibly one of his sons gets hits in the shoulder tearing a hole in his coat (don't worry, it's not son's time to go yet).

So maybe this dreaming was just a warning to stop this possible assassination or a premonition. I've had dreams dancing in a wedding dress and having a baby since last year that have never come true (I can't get even get a date) so I'm not worried about it. Hopefully, it was just a dream.

Wacky dreams

I am indeed the master of weird dreams. Last night I had the most strangest dream ever and now have a splitting headache this morning. Perhaps if I write them down, my brain will stop thinking about it. Now, my weirdest dream ever:

I arrive at a house in the country decorated for Christmas with children and luggage, Princess Diana's boys just after their mother died are here to briefly visit America (I know this is a dream cause I never met British royalty). The house electricity is out. We quickly toss out the food in the freezer onto the back yard deck to keep it from spoiling. We put away our luggage and set the princes up in the guest room. My husband (never been married so this is definitely a wacky dream) carries the princes' bags because they are too heavy for me to lift. Have a very tall and handsome husband so I'm liking this dream. Since the electricity is out overnight, we all sleep in the basement where there is a wood burning stove. So we have a indoor camping trip.

Next morning after cooking breakfast on the wood burning stove, the electricity comes back. I get ready to hostess a Christmas dinner for my husband's family gathering. I borrow my great-grandma's dishes from my grandma (grandma died in 2004) and polish my ancient silverware. The children love my grandma and she enjoys talking to them giving lots of hugs and kisses. She tries hard to remember all their names. There are:

Nicholas Joshua with cerebral palsy who was born early when I was taking a shower in my apartment. Brittany Anne who is Nicky's twin but she was born months later on time. These twins are in preschool. William Allen, Kaitlyn Frances, and Jordan Elizabeth who are toddler triplets.

Later in the dream there arrives a Justin Eugene called Stevie for some reason from a former boyfriend and twins Jacqueline Josephine and Jonathan Robert from another former boyfriend. Justin is in Kindergarten and when he leaves again with his father, Nicky cries hysterically from missing him. Jackie and Jonathan are in preschool. Jackie loves to dance and Jonathan gets disappointed I don't take him shopping cause I always take him shopping when he sees me.

In the dream I was pregnant with twins, a girl we call Margarita Juliet and a boy Dion that we were still working on the middle name for.

I have all the kids clean the house and husband re-plows the driveway with a snow blower for the coming guests. Day of the event arrives. Early in the morning before everyone gets up, I go to the kitchen to pop in the turkey so it is cooked by dinnertime. Have a lovely dinner with a plenty of guests and open presents. I think someone insults my ugly/old dishes and I defend they belonged to my great-grandmother in my apology. At some point I end up crying in the closet cause my mother-in-law hates me and my husband comforts me so I get up to put the triplets down for a nap. After everybody leaves, we clean up the living room and put the toys in the bedrooms. Kids go to bed and I cuddle with my husband in the Master bedroom. And finally, we take the princes to the airport to send them back to London.

It was good dream.

Halloween Ghost Story (true story)

My First Demon Encounter:

Once upon time when I was 6 or 7. A kid living next door to a friend of mine moved away and a new family moved in. This family was grandparents and a grandson from the big city. And they were black in an all-white small town (population 890) in the Midwest so they were bit of a novelty. Grandparents had told the adults they moved here to get away the big city gangs and violence. My sister saw the kid at school. Then the big city kid robbed the sole gas station in town and of course the teenager working the register knew him from school (not too bright of a plan). Everyone in town was shocked. They had been kind to the family since they came, kids invited the grandson to hang out with them, so how could this kid repay their kindness with this behavior. Sister said the kid complained at school how boring we were, it's fun to rob people and spray paint buildings (before the robbery he spray painted a business's wall). Then it happened.

A black woman walked through my bedroom wall while I was playing so I knew she was a ghost. She begged me for help. She explained my imaginary friends told her I can see her. Great. She wanted me to talk to her son. I explained they will think I'm crazy if I knock on their door talking about seeing a ghost (Mom called me crazy seeing people she couldn't see). So this ghost begged for days before I finally caved in. She told me to bring a lemon meringue pie and they would believe me because it's her son's favorite. So I made the pie, though I wasn't allowed to use the electric beaters so my sister made the meringue part. I don't know how I explained making a pie so a ghost will stop bothering me, but she did it. I walked to the house explaining a ghost lady named (I forget her name now so I'll call her Maria) was begging me to help their grandson. The pie and knowing her name did work to make them believe me. They asked me questions about her. When asked how she died, Maria showed me a silver car in a ditch. They said their daughter Maria died in a car wreck. So the grandparents called out their grandson. He scoffed how lemon meringue was white people food. I apologized explaining I was told it was his favorite. The grandfather cut up the pie and offered me a piece. Naturally, I wanted to taste my own pie. I told them about the family who lived her before they did. Their grandson's bedroom was the little girl's room. So after dessert, the grandson and I went into his room. In the corner of the room, I saw my first demon. Very tall with animal face, horns and hooves, all black with red eyes and man's chest, and had black bat wings. I screamed my head off and ran out of the room. Kid was dumbfounded. He explained I just walked in the room and screamed, he didn't do anything to me. I was shaking and stuttering about a monster. Then the demon stood in the bedroom doorway and I ran out of the house.

I asked Maria standing by a tree to help. She refused to go into house. The grandparents asked me to sit on the front porch and the demon looked at me through the window. I said that thing was not there last time I visited the house. I didn't know how they lived in the house with it. Grandfather remembered feeling anger toward his wife and wanted to hurt her that he couldn't explain (he loved his wife and had no desire to hurt her). I said it was the demon talking to him. I relayed Maria's warning how her son needed to stop listening to the demon or his soul will be taken to hell when he gets stabbed within the next year. The person doing the stabbing I saw was surrounded by three demons controlling him so no mercy will come from him. Next, the demon from the window scratched me and stopped me from talking. I felt lit on fire and think I was talking strangely cause the grandparents suddenly got alarmed looks on their faces. Maria disappeared. Then, my guardian angel up showed up and forced the demon to back away from me. I said, Thank you. Grandfather asked what just happened. I made introductions to my guardian angel. Maria reappeared. I said demon was in the backyard now. I told the grandparents my guardian angel was returning Maria to heaven, but she can visit when she wants. I think they felt Maria's cold air in front of them and said their good-byes. I went home.

Soon after, a priest knocked on my door and asked me to draw a picture of the monster I saw in the boy's room. I grabbed my crayons and did my best to describe it. It was first time I heard about angels/spirits of darkness created before time began. Though, I said it didn't have a goat's head, more like a cow. The priest took my picture and left to do his exorcism I presume. The family eventually moved back to the city when the grandfather got cancer to be closer to his son. I received a letter about a year later saying thank you for the warning. The kid did get stabbed, but he survived and the stabber was going to jail. They asked if the cancer grandfather suffered was a punishment from God. I prayed on it and wrote back that it was not a punishment, but God's love allowing the grandfather time to say good-bye (how many people get the chance to say good-bye before death). I never heard from them again.

RIP Pan

RIP Pan. My baby boy growing bigger by the day has died. I don't think I had him a full year yet. He was a beautiful green fish and loved watching the ladies. Then he bloated so bad he could hardly swim. He survived a couple weeks and then was gone. Sang Amazing Grace and buried him in the catnip plant soil. Got another fish Cronus. He is white with red fins. So now I have Gaia the tiny blue female (she is growing but gotta give her some time), Artemis my red female who is almost as big as the males, Hades my red male who ignores Gaia but constantly watching Artemis, and new male Cronus. I catch Gaia flirting with the males (fish soap opera in my home). Hopefully Cronus will give her some attention, but doesn't really look at her.

Got all my Halloween stuff out and celebrated Eowyn's 3rd birthday. Animals got a can of tuna and I ate the cake. Ferrets love frosting and had a helping. Job is going good and we have a new coworker. This one has lots of finance and auditing experience so hopefully won't be quitting for not liking the job ( a few fresh out of college coworkers quit on us for that reason). I rather enjoy it. I look up info and place it on a form, how hard is that?

Hope you all have a great Halloween.

Ghost Story for Halloween (true story)

Some people never believed in ghosts until they saw one. I never had that experience cause I've seen them my whole life. Let's just say I can relate to the kid in The Sixth Sense, though my ghosts knew they were dead and saw each other. My first ghost was my great-grandfather. He looked real with blue overalls and light blue shirt, gray hair, peach skin, everything. But I knew him from his pictures so I went up to him and said hello. I explained I knew who he was and how he was suppose to be in heaven. He replied with a smile how he was here to see me. I chatted with him until he decided it was time for him to go. After he disappeared, I continued playing with my ball as if nothing amazing just happened.

Then it happened again on my swing set. A girl in 19th Century nightgown was walking across my yard (this time she looked like a transparent ghost instead of real). I said hello to her and she seemed surprised I saw her. She pushed me on my swing and man, her hands were cold like ice. I would ask her to stay under my bed when I had nightmares.

Now for My Halloween Story: The Witch

It was an ordinary day as I was changing my clothes. I was reaching the upper rod in my closet via standing on the A/C box on the floor. A woman (transparent ghost) suddenly appeared in my closet. She told me how bad I was and how nobody loved me. I told her people loved me and ran away. She appeared again and again saying nasty things I disagreed with. My imaginary friends (ghost girl brought them to me) refused to enter my house when The Witch was there. They said she bewitched one of their friends who later disappeared. My sister tried to explain to me there was no mean lady in the closet once and then The Witch scratched her. My sister jumped and I explained the lady scratched her. We looked at her arm and guess what, red scratches on her skin. Then, The Witch got out of closet and it started to get ugly. I was reading a book on my bed and she wanted me to light matches. I refused cause I was not allowed to light matches. I felt like a marionette with strings as The Witch forced me to go to the kitchen to light matches. My Mom interrupted me and demanded to know what I was doing. I said I was practicing. Mom asked what I was practicing. I replied that I didn't know. The Witch started laughing as I obeyed Mom putting the matches away. I had visions of my bed in flames that freaked me out. I prayed on my knees at the end of my bed to God for help. The Witch replied she was stronger than My Jesus. The Witch left the room and my Mom screamed. The Witch returned and sat in her closet. Mom said she was ironing and somehow her hand got burned. She didn't know how it happened. I said The Witch made it happened. Naturally Mom didn't believe me.

Next it got worse. My sister was cutting with scissors when her hand slipped to cut herself. The Witch was punishing me because I kept refusing to burn the house down, starting with the bed. Then she was curious about my brother's remote car and possessed me to play with the car. It kept hitting the walls of the hallway so my brother heard it. He yelled at me since I was not allowed to play with his car without his permission. Immediately, she jumped out of me and started laughing as I tried to explain it was The Witch who wanted to play with the car. Finally, The Witch threatened to drown my sister in our pool if I didn't burn my house down. I prayed and prayed before going to bed to find nothing changed. I went to church as usual on Sunday and asked the priest how to get rid of a bad spirit. He advised to pray to Jesus. I explained I already tried that and she says she is stronger than my Jesus. Alarmed, and intently listened to me telling him everything from the accidents to the possessions. I explained I didn't want my sister to drown nor burn my house down. He took me to the baptismal font saying it was holy water. He used the water to make a sign of the cross on my hand and then taught me to make the sign of the cross to bless myself. Sitting through the service, my hand itched like crazy. When service was over, I asked what was in that water and showed my pink hand. Priest then brought my family and me up to the altar. He waved his cross in front of my face to hypnotize me. I woke up with a Bible on my head and a cross in my hand. They said out of nowhere I became afraid of their crosses and I screamed I was surrounded by blue fire that was burning me. The priest explained to my family that I was not possessed, but touched by evil. In my trance I had said The Witch can fly beside our car and standing outside the church (she couldn't enter the sanctuary). Then an angry angel showed up when I was connecting with The Witch to figure out where she came from (Native American shaman living long before Columbus who was upset the white settlers tore up her grave). After seeing the angry angel I was surrounded by blue fire. All my Mom could think to say was "Why can't she just be normal?".

While the priest was talking to my family, I saw two angels float down from the ceiling and land on the altar. They said they were there to answer the priest's prayer. They also said to replace the wire on the cross before it broke. The angry angel was standing in the center of the pews at this time. Then they all flew up and away. The Witch followed me home. To end this story, The Witch tried again to get me to burn the house down and I cried out "Jesus help me. Make her go away. I'm scared.". An angel appeared and took her away (The Witch screamed "No!" as the angel grabbed her). I never saw her again, but for safe measure I hung a cross necklace in my closet until the end of high school. I thought college roommates would think it was weird.

October Birthdays

Happy Birthday to my former best friends Tangela and Rick, and former coworkers Lisa and Glenda. Have a great day surrounded by friends and family.

Remember September

Had a good month. Celebrated my 41st birthday (tell nobody) at a pizza place with a buffet. Brother-in-law requested the TV in the place play a certain ball game. He loves football. Mom took me to the car wash cause she finally got tired of looking at my dusty dashboard. Had the car 16 years and never clean the inside so I wonder why this dust bothered her all of a sudden. Sister got me a cake with cupcakes surrounding the larger center cake. It was covered in fondant pieces which I had to explain to niece they were edible (though taste not so good). Had a good birthday.

Working hard at my new job and signed up for benefits when I could. After 5 months without any insurance whatsoever, I finally got my insurance card in the mail to do a happy dance. Manager said she was interviewing someone this month so maybe getting another team member. They have been busy make temps into permanent workers and putting up balloons at our desks. Made older workers jealous since all they got when hired on was a job. Got a water bottle from the boss too, but it warped in the dishwasher so had to toss it. Oh well.

Brother and his new wife stopped by to show me honeymoon photos. New wife documents everything like a stenographer with a camera. I went to their destination when I was a kid so not overly impressed.

Since stopped taking college classes, student loans are coming due soon. Trying to find ways to save money. Which means good-bye cable TV and hello Netflix. Friends say Netflix is good.

My ferret Eowyn celebrates her 3rd birthday tomorrow. Have to buy a cupcake for her after work tomorrow. Oh yeah, and open a can of tuna. Ferrets and cats both love tuna. Go figure.

Well, nothing else but eat, sleep, work, and pay bills for me this month.

Master of Weird Dreams

I am the Master of Weird Dreams. Last night I dreamt a snake bit my hand, nearly eating my arm, and then wrapped its coils around me like a boa constrictor. At first I was scared of being eaten, then relaxed when figured out the snake was not letting me go or harming me. A friend told me once when you dreams of snakes, a man is coming into your life soon. I hope this means this future man is a keeper and not another one who disappears like a magician. Recently I had a birthing dream for the 2nd time where I was giving birth to a boy and a man with pretty blue eyes wrapped up like a surgeon was patting sweat off my forehead while holding my hand. Baby was named David Lee. Last year I dreamt dancing in a wedding dress in a dark room surrounded by tables of people. Some friends hope they are premonitions of the future, but they never happen so I chalk them up to weird dreams that never come true. My deepest wish come true would be waking up every morning to the same man's face for the rest of my life, but my wishes never come true. Oh well, I will just keep waking up to a cat in my face demanding breakfast. Such as life.

Made it to the Amusement Park

Today we made it to the amusement park that was OPEN. Kids scared of water above their knees refused to visit the water park today. Last week's sunburn didn't help either. Niece will only do the lazy river anyway. Nephew used to like water slides, but now won't go on them. We rode the new roller coaster and I thought it was awesome. We rode it a second time. Visit got cut short when clouds came in and lightening scared us into leaving the park. We got sprinkled on. Made it out before the downpour came. Didn't get to ride all we wanted, but it will be there next year.

Adventure that wasn't

Took niece, nephew, and brother-in-law to the local amusement park to find it closed. Is anyone else thinking of National Lampoon's Vacation just now. It is closed because the great number of 14-18 year-old employees start school that day. Niece and nephew's school starts in 2 more days so this never occurred to us. So since their city pool is open until their schools start in 2 days, we go there instead. Had to listen to my nephew complain about everything to the point I told him to "Shut up, we are not going golfing today." Nephew loves golfing. Got a nice sunburn so I will be tan soon. Niece was crying because the only way we get tan is to burn first, sorry honey it's part of being pasty white. Niece and nephew ran into kids from school. Niece had to show us her bravery of dunking her head for 4 seconds. She hates dunking her head. Nephew won't go underwater so we spent much time with the preschoolers kiddie area that is knee high to us. If the water reaches their chest, they freak they will drown and cling to the pool edge. I try to tell they will not drown in chest high water, but their fear outweighs my logic. Lost my sunglasses on the water slide and a ponytail holder swimming in the deep end. Sister said she would call to see if someone turned them in to Lost and Found since I work all day and couldn't get there before they closed. Had picnic in a park with my sister included. Kids are too big for playgrounds so walked by it. After the pool we went home and chatted with my sister. Said my good-byes and went home. Well, nothing else to report.

Happy Dance

I filled out the human resources paperwork to become a permanent employee (I was a temporary employee) and now have to wait for benefits to kick in 90 days. Ugh, the wait.

To the Best Friend Who Abandoned Me

Once upon a time I had a best friend. Actually had more than one in my past, but I am referring to the last one who refuses to speak to me. My last best friend was a he. He was my hero. Many would say I never meant anything to him and certainly mean nothing to him now. I beg to differ. I know things others do not.

1. He was a people pleaser so he said one thing to me, another thing to his gal friends, and yet another thing to his guy friends. So I learned to believe his actions.

2. One of his actions was tricking me into kissing him on the lips in the 6th grade. Someone once laughed how he must have been dared to do it since nobody is capable of loving me. Sorry, but we didn't tell anybody until days later when his guy friends noticed I was looking at him funny and he admitted to his guy friends he kissed me. He also knew who my first kiss was that I told nobody but him (best friend was my 2nd kiss)

3. He got suspended from school after a fist fight defending me. Some kid was pushing me against a wall and I asked him to walk with me to prevent it. The next time I was pushed into the wall, I came to school the next day to find I missed a great fist fight where my best friend shouted "Leave her alone" to the other kid. Longest three days of my life feeling guilty he got suspended because of me.

4. He was terrified to be in love. One of his girlfriends demanded sex to prove his love to her and soon after broke up with him saying he was immature. He was crushed. He cried on my shoulder and crumbled when he saw her walk by. He missed the sex so he became a "player" sleeping around (and yes, I voiced "Does AIDS mean anything to you?" because I cared about him). When he tried to get back up again and asked a girl for date, she discovered his sleeping around to slam the door in his face. He called my house at 11 PM, distressing my Mom why a boy was calling me at 11 PM. He didn't want his mother to see the flowers he had gotten for his date cause then he would have to explain why he still had them. I told him to give them to me at school. I explained to my boyfriend that I was covering his butt. It is what friends do. Afterwards, whenever he fell in love with a pair of bosoms, I suddenly couldn't be his friend anymore cause girlfriend got jealous of me. When he broke up with them, I got to be his friend again. Sure if he said he was madly in love with the whole girl and not just her bosoms, I might have been more supportive in his girlfriend choices. I made any boyfriend I had accept my best friend. There was a difference between best friend and me.

5. He often sat next to me on the first day of school, until he cheated off me to be moved away. Though, a couple teachers did sit him next to me on purpose. He did ask to cheat off me once and I ended up giving him wrong answers so he never asked again. He asked for help with his homework once and I was the first person to inform him that he wasn't stupid. I thought he was smart, but didn't always apply himself to study his books much. He could tell me all about things I have no knowledge about, like football or cars.

6. I remember our break up. He was tired of dealing with my mother who hated him (my mother didn't like anybody I picked out for superficial reasons). His mother didn't like me either. She is a different story. In the end, both tried hard to break us up and they won.

I'm sure he's happily married living a grand life without a moment's thought of me. He was a romantic sweetheart who found it easy to get women since they were constantly throwing themselves at him (I had to explain to him these girls used him as a trophy to show off to their friends), but who knows what he is like now. I on the other hand can't find another best friend who cared that much about me. I wish my former best friend well. And I will cuddle my furbabies who don't care if I'm a big dork.

Pursuit of Happyness for Me

It has finally happened. After 6 long years in part-time and temporary job hell, and after 6 months of working so hard to learn my current temp position, my manager stopped by desk to announce they are in the process of switching me to full time employee. I told her she made my day. 6 years ago I long my good job at a airport car rental and now I'm back were I was. I'm so happy to be standing on my feet again. Get to call my Mom to tell her she can tell her friends her daughter is an official auditor. Relief.

Best Friends Forever

Reading much about people's friends, dearest friends, and best friends make me remember my childhood and high school friends. If any communicate with me it's through social media, I read their posts and they read mine (never see each other face to face). But most won't have anything to do with me (and none of my former boyfriends who are happily married will accept a friend request either). Oh well, nothing I can do about it. I hold no grudge against them (my mother was hard to handle listening on conversations on the phone extension and intercom). I wish them well and just want them to be happy, even if I play no part in their lives. I no longer have the shyness or quirks I used to have (which I shed once I got away from parental control). It would be nice to have a best friend again, if nothing else to have someone to talk to that is not covered in fur. Ok, I'm done feeling sorry for myself. Post later.

Midsummer

Well, midsummer is here. Had a lovely 4th of July with my sister's family. Our mother spent the day doing my sister's laundry. Sister said her husband and kids can do that, but Mom needed to help her daughter. My sister had foot surgery and can't walk for a while. During fireworks, my sister stayed in the car. Mom was disappointed my sister never asked her to come over and help her like she did after her hip surgery. My sister did call me coming home from the hospital to come over to feed her kids dinner. I didn't feel like driving 30 minutes in rush hour traffic just to feel her kids who are old enough to heat their own microwave dinner, sister can order a pizza. But it turns out, our other sister staying at a nearby hotel for job training took the kids out for fast food. Got a lecture from my diabetic niece for having an unhealthy angel food cake for a midafternoon snack. Yeah, I brought this angel food cake with red, white, and blue icing to eat so I am eating it. She did have some cake for dessert after dinner. Pretty much spent the afternoon after the morning parade watching movies. Had to play Independence day for the holiday. 1959 Gidget with Sandra Dee was another (one of my favorites). Had 2 weddings in June. My niece got married (yes, I am that old) and had her daughter as flower girl (a little backwards, but happy ending is the important part). My niece looked like a princess and ceremony was 20 minutes (we all loved that). Niece had a grilled cheese bar with someone heating individual sandwiches for people. Boogied down during the dance. Danced with my little niece (I have 4 nieces) and nephew. Had breakfast with the couple the next morning to watch them open the presents and took home some cupcakes. Then after 50 years of waiting, my mother finally got rid of my brother. His bride resembled those 1870's dresses with bustles, very beautiful. I'm not sure if they are back from their Washington DC honeymoon yet. My brother dance for the very first time (as a kid I would grab his hands and twirl around, but he didn't really move). He said he wasn't going to dance, just pose for the picture. But, he said his bride insisted so he danced a few songs. I'm sure the DJ picked out their music since my brother doesn't listen to hard rock and doubt his bride does either(DJ played Firehouse's Love of a Lifetime). I again danced the night away. Earlier the bride offered her brother for me to dance with (she assured me he was single) so I danced with 1 man. The other man was my nephew half my size. I danced with my niece too. I told her I loved her before she was even born when listening to a song saying I will love you a thousand years(had explain I was excited to hear I going to be an aunt again). Again, had breakfast with the new couple opening their presents and went home. My office is expanding to add 60+ desks for incoming employees. Some start next week and some in a couple weeks. I hope this temp job becomes permanent soon and finally will get paid holidays. Sure it's nice to get holidays off, but I loose money on my paycheck. And health insurance would be nice. I have none since Medicaid cancelled it at renewal time since I make too much money. Medicaid suggested Marketplace. I can't afford their premiums with $5000 deductible for the few months until I can get work insurance (if I get hired on). Then I have to decide whether to cut the cable TV or cut the internet to pay to for it. Got student loans to pay off so strapped for cash to add more bills to my budget. But I'm sure nobody wants to hear about my pathetic troubles. So on a happy note I will end this post by saying I'm looking forward to visiting the amusement park's new roller coaster this summer.

Summer is here

Sorry haven't been posting this spring much. Busy getting homework and working my audit job. April brought rain and more rain and more rain. Celebrated Frodo's 10th birthday. Official Senior Cat now. Worked hard on my 2 classes left until May when took the Final Exam. Final Grads: 2 A's, 1 A-, and 1 Pass (doing taxes for the public was a pass or fail class). GPA this semester: 3.94. Graduated with honors again earning Payroll Certificate and Income Tax Preparer Certificate. No more classes. My brain can't handle anymore education. Got student loans to pay back now.

Wrote a new story just to stop dreaming about it. Put that up on the blog. Attended my future sister-in-law's bridal shower. Apparently she is having four of them. One from her church, one from her hometown friends and family, one from groom's side, and one from her job. Attended niece's bridal shower and took my turn holding my great-niece. I don't think she is having quite so many showers. Groom's family was there and two of her friends were there.

Going out to the cemeteries for Memorial Day. Had to explain to my niece that some people actually go to cemeteries on Memorial Day instead of barbeques. Niece wanted to come to since she hasn't seen her grandfather's grave since the funeral before the stone was erected. But, my sister had other plans for the family. I think they are going golfing. My sister has never visited a cemetery except during funerals. I also visit my Dad's grave on Father's Day.

I got a new baby girl ferret: Luthien aged 2 months (from Lord of the Rings). My other ferrets play with her and teach her where to poop. She has taken to jumping on this in the morning when I wake up. They don't always play with her so I play with her. She is one happy ferret. Well nothing else to talk about.

New Story

Put up a new story if anyone wants to read it. http://thechameleonstory.blogspot.com/

Happy Spring

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, very busy woman.

Started a job in Jan auditing mortgage loans to check if the bank people are applying funds correctly to the loan. Let's just say my job is easier when they do their job right. Most of the time it's "What are these bank people doing?". But if they did their job correctly all the time, I wouldn't have a job.

Started college classes again. Just finished one (8 week course) so I found time to post this. Doing taxes for poor people and slowing down now. Last week I found myself doing homework instead. Having trouble with one class so tax professor is helping me with it. End of March will stop doing taxes all together. Then will work on finishing 2 classes that end in May.

Saw my great-niece for the first time at her baptism. Missed the baby shower from the polar vortex causing weather man to say stay indoors. Eight pounds, 2 months old baby is still pretty tiny to hold. She just looked at me as if she was thinking, "Who are you?". She learned I sing and kiss cheeks. Then had to share the baby with my Mom who hadn't held her yet either. Had to capture a great-grandma and baby photo. Had a good time talking to family.

Spring weather came so put away winter decorations and brought out Easter. Put away sweaters too. I can drag them back out if temperature gets cold for a day.

Bought a baby fry fish Theia after my female Selene died. Then Theia died after a few weeks. Got another small fish called Tethys. This one is a little older than the fry, but still small compared to the adults. I name my Beta fish after Greeks gods and goddesses. Furbabies get Lord of the Rings names.

Ferrets are sad they didn't get much of a winter, they love snow and roll around in it. Didn't get enough to dig a ferret tunnel, maybe next winter. Cats like the warmer weather, more birds to watch and bugs to catch. Yes, we have bugs already. Must have awoken from their hibernation. We celebrated Faramir's 3rd birthday and Precious's 10th birthday. Precious is officially a senior cat.

Well nothing else to talk about. Post later.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everybody. Faramir and Eowyn tried to capture Santa, but Precious sprung the trap when he drank the milk. And then, Santa walked in the door to tell Faramir he heard what he did to the Easter Bunny so he was lucky to get a present. (The ferrets set a trap for the Easter Bunny and while Faramir was negotiating for more chocolate eggs, Eowyn hid the Bunny's eggs in the closet) So now the cats and ferrets can rest in excitement because I won't let them open their Santa gifts until I wake up tomorrow morning. I got a call from a temp agency about a job possibility and the company will select the people they want next week. I hope I get picked. Crossing fingers. Well, Have a great Christmas. I will be celebrating with my Mom, Aunt, and sister's family.

Christmas Letter 2015

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. Another year of college studies and hopefully be done next spring, my brain is exhausted. Slept in on New Year’s Day since my only job was my work study for an economics professor and no school for a couple more weeks. Went to the family Christmas at Mom’s retirement home banquet room. Did my civic jury duty for a civil lawsuit (yawn). Then back to work and taking 5 accounting classes, I want to graduate as quickly as possible. Then, took Mom to a lunch at a restaurant where my Dad’s cousins were getting together. Had a lovely chat with relatives I never see anymore, thank goodness for social websites. This year we celebrated ferrets Faramir’s and Eowyn’s 2nd birthdays and cats Precious’s and Frodo’s 9th birthdays with cake and canned tuna (ferrets love frosting, cats love tuna). Lost a lady fish Canace after a few months. Lost an old man fish Apollo after 5 years, my first baby fish. Lost another male fish Dionysis I had a year. Got another baby fish named Hades and an adult male fish named Pan. My girls Selene and Artemis love watching and flirting with the new boys. Little Hades is getting big now, but still smaller than the females. Had a March ice storm that covered the city is a sheet of ice. After skating my way to the car and watching my books fly down the sidewalk, I decided to email my professors and stayed home. Had to yell at the cats who wanted to nap on my bruised legs, poor babies. Winter ended watching the ferret-sized snow tunnels melt into water.

Spring came with hosting Easter dinner and egg hunt in my courtyard. Nephew actually won the most eggs for the first time to receive a movie. Niece #4 also got a movie, but Nephew chose his reward first. Got to speak at my professor’s Personal Finance class about life insurance. I won 2nd place in a college poetry contest, I never complain about winning $50. Began my internship at amusement park as Team Leader and learned more things to do. I actually got to tell people what to do. We celebrated my cousin’s daughter’s high school graduation. Took Mom and Sister #1 to the cemeteries to notice a flag at Dad’s tombstone for the first time. Someone must have noticed I put a flag on his stone every year to do that. My spring ended with the announcement that Niece #1 was pregnant. She is a busy woman planning a wedding for 2016, returning to school to get her Master’s degree, working her teacher job, and preparing for the baby. Had to tell the world I’m going to be a great-aunt. Spring ended with the end of the work study and beginning of my internship at amusement park.

Summer was blessed with a raise at the amusement park because of a labor shortage. Who would want to work for minimum wage when they can get more at the grocery or retail stores? I guess that means the Great Recession’s surplus of workers is over. Had 3 job interviews over the summer and received 3 rejection notices. Enjoyed a day at my amusement park with my Sister #2’s family and later took Niece #4 to the water park portion since Nephew refuses to get in the water anymore (had a scare the year before). Attended my cousin’s bridal shower with my Mom and later in the day enjoyed a Tesla/Def Leppard/Styx concert at the Iowa State Fair with Nephew and Brother-in-law. Summer ended with a new job as invoice verifier at healthcare company through a temp agency and beginning another semester of classes, 3 classes this time.

Autumn celebrated Nephew’s and Niece #4’s birthdays, 11th and 12th. They are getting so big I don’t know what to buy them anymore. I celebrated my 40th birthday at a local city park by a river with big bash on a very windy day. Cousin got married in Las Vegas and came home to celebrate a Halloween-themed reception complete with fireworks. Enjoyed the Science Center’s Star Wars family night with Sister #2's family by dressing up as an Episode 7 character and won a Star Wars poster. I won’t know if my character costume is a hero or villain until the movie comes out mid-December. My temporary job ended right before Thanksgiving. I keep sending out resumes. So far got 2 interviews and 2 rejections. Thanksgiving was at my brother’s and his fiancée’s new house. We got our first snowfall the week before and ferrets love jumping around in it. The autumn ended with Niece #1 giving birth to my great-niece.

Finishing up my final exams and decorating for Christmas. We will celebrate the Family Christmas at Mom’s retirement home banquet room again. Next year will be finishing my classes in hopes of a better paying job. Last semester, I promise.

So everyone have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Weekend update

Had a fun filled weekend. Went to the Science Center for Family Night that celebrated Star Wars with R2-D2 and a guy dressed as an Episode 7 villain. He came around without the costume and took our photos with a plastic stick in front of the camera to make it look like our light saber was lit up. They had contests and drawings. I won a Star Wars poster. Niece whined she wanted it, but I said no. It's going on my door when I take the scarecrow down. Niece and I dressed up as Jedi while nephew refused to wear his Darth Maul costume he wore a couple Halloweens ago. Weird kids eagerly dress up for Halloween a couple weeks ago and don't want to dress up for Star Wars. Next, my niece celebrated her 12th birthday at the Cheesecake Factory. She loved her gifts and we had chocolate cake. Got to announce my temp job is ending and the day before Thanksgiving, I will unemployed again. Not too concentrated on job hunting until after finals in a few weeks. Been sending out the occasional resume to never hear a response other than, "We received your resume and if we think you are acceptable, we will contact you." Did hear from someone I interviewed with 2 months ago. They had to tell me they hired someone qualified, but thanks for interviewing. Yeah, after 2 months, I already figured it out they didn't want me. Just keep on sending out resumes until someone calls. Signed up to take classes in the spring to gain 2 certificates and then no more classes. My brain is exploding from all this knowledge I never get to use cause I have no work experience. Niece will be having her baby in the next month so eagerly waiting for Christmas to hold the sweetheart. Very certain she/he will be born by then. I'm going to be a great-aunt. I'm going to be a great-aunt. Well, nothing else to report.

Happy Halloween

Spending my Halloween at home doing homework and watching Halloween specials. Hocus Pocus, It's the Great Pumpkin, and Ghost Adventures tonight. Last night I watched History Channel Monsters series and History of Halloween. Niece and nephew went out with their Mom while their father is running the NYC marathon. Kids thought my Mom or I should come to their new apartment and hand out candy. Had trouble explaining apartments don't have trick or treaters. I heard kids returning in the hallway, but nobody ever knocked on my door. I do have candy since it's a good time to get it (coupons and sales). Next week will change rooms at work. Some group needs out training so moving to another building. Some will go to home office and work. Still working on invoices and figuring out where to send them when they lack information. Yep, that is what I do all day for 8 hours, 5 days a week, Stare at invoices. For the money, I don't complain how boring it is. Other coworkers have left for other jobs, but I'm not looking too hard. I am focused on my associate's degree and passing my classes. Once finals are over, I will be more aggressive looking for work. Temp job lasts until Nov 30 and classes end Dec 10. Next semester I signed up for 3 classes (discovered 4 classes working 40 hours make me flunk everything so dropped a class to lose $300 plus book rental fee). Hopefully will get a Payroll Certificate to move up the ranks. All I have is hope of a better future. Well nothing else to report. I eat, sleep, work, and do homework. Cats feel so neglected.

The Talk with Mom

Called Mom for my monthly begging for money that has been going on for the past five years. I hate asking for money so much that often I will take a cash advance from a credit card in the middle of the month just to avoid asking more than once a month. But rent is due so have to bite the bullet.

She asked how my college classes were going and I neglected telling her that I was close to flunking them. Been doing badly since my migraines increased in frequency causing fuzzy brain. For the past 4 weeks, I have at least one (sometimes 3) each day. Went to doctor to get a med that was too strong and triggered my asthma so had to stop taking it. Found a homeopathic med online that helps with symptoms so getting better. Migraines just won't end for some reason.

So explained to Mom that I dropped a class. Didn't want to and cried myself to sleep feeling like a total failure, but now I can focus more on the other 3 classes. I'm working 40 hours a week invoice verifying so don't have a lot of time to deal with 6 hour long homework I can't understand. Don't get any money back unfortunately so out $400 and have to return the book because it is rented. 4 classes were too much for my workload, but had no idea about workload I would have when signed up for them.

So told Mom what I needed to pay my rent and 1st of the month expenses. My paychecks only cover so much. Told her about my job interview this week as a payroll clerk with a financial services company (my dream job) and hoping this is the miracle I've been waiting for. My temp job is soon coming to an end and have no idea if they want more staff since I was hired on to help with backlog that is recovering to normal workload.

Will enjoy the nice weather this weekend while working on my homework. Post later.

Autumn update

Had a lovely summer working 6 days a week and reporting my lack of progress of finding a new job to the intern professor. Had my resume reviewed by a career councilor and the professor to get complaints how I'm not fabulous. Sorry I didn't graduate Harvard with honors, never held a management job to showcase results of my skills, and worked retail instead of an office. All temp agencies offer is customer service jobs so we no longer speak to each other. I'm trying to leave customer service. Was told by 2 temp agencies they have don't have positions for me now nor in the future. Very hard to explain to people why I'm not good enough for any job, not even entry level office jobs because I don't have 3 years experience. Had a coworker look at my resume who used to work human resources. I'm too old to work (ok, then what should I do for the next 20 years when I can collect Social Security) and my temporary jobs make me look flaky to not be able to hold on to a job. Thanks a lot, you criticize things I can not change. Did you miss the Great Recession when millions people lost their jobs and living in tents by the river? Just because someone looses a job due to a business being sold or closed does not mean they are unemployable, you self-righteous byotches who never applied for unemployment benefits that last 2-6 months.

Anyway, worked 4th of July and never saw my brother and his intended when the visited my nearby sister. Jerk. Even worse, I got discount tickets for them to go to the amusement park I work at to hear from my sister that my brother decided not to go and didn't bother to tell me. This left me with 2 nonrefundable tickets I paid for. Used them to take niece without the rest of her family to the waterpark that nephew refuses to enter (he nearly drowned last year and now fears the water). She hates water slides and scared of the wavepool so we spent the time in the lazy river and eating. After a few hours we walked towards the exit riding on whatever niece chose. This was her big birthday present and will receive a smaller present later when her cold weather birthday arrives.

Interns left to return to college and continued to find a job when my internship ended. Managed 3 interviews and 3 rejection notices saying they hired someone more qualified. Whatever. Planned out my 40th birthday bash my sister insisted I have because she saved her 40th party decorations just for me. None of my coworkers came, only 1 friend out of 5 who said they would come came, and all others that came were the family who come to the family Christmas, 16 guests in all. We ate grilled food and it was so windy I lost a set of salt and pepper shakers. Who knew ceramics flew and broke into pieces? The pink champagne birthday was so fluffy that it fell apart when tried to pick it up. Didn't take a picture of the cake cause it wasn't very pretty, just a hand full of blue flowers and a ribbon around the base that was annoying when I cut it into pieces. I didn't take any pictures party for that matter, tablecloths were whipping around too much to produce a good backdrop. Besides, not a day I really want to remember. The highlight of the day was wondering what happen to an older guest who walked to the rest room. Their legs gave out just 20 feet of the party and covered in diarrhea. Had to take them home to change clothes.

Finally, I had good news to report to my family on my birthday. A temp agency found me a temp job that didn't require an interview. Started it after my party. Called Verifying invoices for the Accounts Payable department. We temps look at invoices and make sure the vendor info, order info, and amount of invoice total is correctly placed in the system. Yes, that is what a I do all day. Very important job because the company changed computer systems and invoice codes so this created backlog that makes the vendors complain the company is not paying their debts. The managers from another babysit us and answers questions we have. And these managers change every week so I'm certain the company will not be keeping us past the assignment term. At least it's work and have to take what I can get.

Nothing else to report. Post later.

What caused the Civil War?

So now there is a movement to remove all signs of the Confederacy from parts of the country that celebrate it as its heritage. Excuse me, what would that accomplish? The Confederacy did exist, its descendants celebrate their heroics, and lives on in museums. I actually love looking at the beauty of old plantation houses and the portraits of the owners who built them. Did the Confederacy represent racism and keeping slavery legal? I have no idea since my ancestors fought on the Union side from Iowa and Kentucky regiments. The South is not my heritage and will leave that answer to the Southern people.

But to the question of "Was slavery the cause of the Civil War?" I would say no. I have a Bachelor of Science in History to receive more information than the watered down version taught in high school history class. My professors with PhDs telling us exactly what they thought and encouraged us in our research to understand multiple points of view. British think American Revolution was a temper tantrum over taxes, while Americans think American Revolution was about freedom from tyranny. So who is right? I'll get to that later.

So what then caused the Civil War? States Rights, Slavery, Economics, or something else?

I think we have to look at the Revolutionary War to find the source of the Civil War. Reading biographies on George Washington and Thomas Jefferson I couldn't help but notice that all the reasons the South split from the Union were present during the Revolutionary War. I told you I would get this.

Grievances of the Confederacy:

1. The 10th Amendment stating any laws not designated by the US Constitution to be determined by the states, called States Rights.

Revolutionary tension: Who's in charge? In the beginning, the founding fathers were not united as we like to think. Some served out of self-interest and get rich out of this war. For many years, the colonies governed themselves from Jamestown's Don't work, Don't eat to Plymouth's Mayflower Compact to Williamsburg's House of Burgesses. The companies that founded the colonies blessed with a royal charter made their own rules how the colony should function so imagine a faraway king suddenly demanding after a war you pay taxes you can't pay because their laws prevent you from minting British coins and all taxes must be paid in British coin. In fact, the Spanish reel cut into 1/8 pieces called bits was the coin of the colonies had in their possession. Remember there were NO BANKS to trade for British coins to pay your taxes.

During the Revolutionary War, representatives fought over who should be the generals in charge of the army because they all wanted the top dog from their state. Besides George Washington, the other contenders were Thomas Johnson of Maryland (later Supreme Court justice), Charles Lee of Virginia who thought he should have been appointed top general and demanded compensation for forfeiting his British landholdings (he was later court martialed from the Continental Army), and Richard Montgomery of New York who died during the invasion of Canada. Once we became a country, Alexander Hamilton wanted a National Bank while others chimed how banks were not part of the Constitution and we should have only state banks.

Civil War settled the question that all National Laws supersede all state laws.

2. Simple economics.

Revolutionary tension: Colonial economies are exploitive in favor of the home country (British, French, Russian, whatever). Raw materials are taken from colonies and sent to the home country. Thus, manufactured goods are sent back to the colonies. That is how the colony economy works. Now, why can't all these colonials make their own manufactured goods? Simple, they are not allowed to. Iron manufacturing in Colonial America was banned so colonists had to buy British made nails, screws, keys, farming tools, and wire. Furthermore, Colonists shipping their raw materials had to pay all shipping costs, custom duties in London, unloading the goods fee, broker fees to sell it, and agent fees to shop for luxury goods like a felt hat that was banned from being produced in the colonies. Worse, what happens when your soil depleted of nutrients fails to continue to produce bumper cash crops (no fertilizers except for manure). Oh, you go into debt with promises of next year's crop will be better.

After the Revolution, industry boomed when America could make what it wanted with manufacturers from iron works to cotton mills. And mint their own coins. The Confederate States had a cash crop economy exploitive from these booming industries. In fact, when repeating rifles were invented and entered the Union army, the Confederates captured some of these supplies, but they didn't have the copper industry to make the casings needed for the cartridges necessary to utilize this weapon.

The Civil War didn't change the economics of the South, slaves who stayed simply turned into sharecroppers. Many slaves did leave for northern cities and founded black dominated neighborhoods like Harlem in NYC. Many slaves went west and became cowboys and gunslingers called Buffalo Soldiers by the Indians. When farm machinery was invented in the late 1800's, it changed the economics of the South and the sharecroppers disappeared by the mid-20th Century. The man who invented the cotton picker and revolutionized the industry was from Texas. Today, the South is more industrialized than it was 100 years ago. Can anyone say Coca-Cola or Texoco?

3. Slavery.

Revolutionary tension: First and foremost, all 13 colonies had slavery. Some founding fathers were repulsed by slave auctions and burdened by taking care of the servants while men in Britain get rich off the slave trade. But that didn't mean they were willing to free their slaves either. Americans believed slavery was pushed on them by the British government getting rich off the import duties of slaves.

After Revolutionary War: In the north, state by state emancipated its slaves and new immigrants supplied the cheap labor industry needed. Many compromises were made about extending slavery into new territories gained in the Louisiana Purchase and Mexican War. The Missouri Compromise kept slavery at the border of Missouri while Bleeding Kansas sought by popular vote if a new territory/state is slave or free.

Now, remember, white plantation owners were not the only ones who owned slaves, nor did the majority of people in the South owned slaves (10%). Indian tribes owned slaves in their territory in Oklahoma and those whites married into the tribes brought in slaves too. 2 tribes (Choctaw and Chickasaw) joined the Confederacy as 'First Battalion of Choctaw Indians' in Mississippi and also held a representative in the Confederate House of Representatives. Free Blacks also existed in the South prior to emancipation and some owned slaves as well, there was a large population of Free Blacks in New Orleans, LA and Charleston, SC. And to complete the thought, only the rich had slaves just like only the rich have servants who live in their house. I cannot imagine why lower class poor white men without shoes would march in a Confederate uniform and die to keep slavery. Slavery only became an issue when generals in the Union army taking over cities started setting the slaves free in areas they controlled. This was not universal. Plus the threat of Great Britain to join the Confederate side encouraged a political ploy from President Lincoln that all slaves in Federally held territories that rebelled against the Union be free (not the slaves in the border states). Later, at the end of the war, the push for full emancipation of slaves was made and gained. In the end, the South had to accept the end of slavery as a condition to reuniting with the Union where all Federal Laws supersede all state laws that suddenly got established. But that didn't mean they had to like it, hence Segregation and Lynching began that the Federal government didn't interfere with until the Supreme Court did in 1954 (Brown vs. Topeka, KS).

In conclusion, wiping away all evidence of a Confederacy that offends some, but admired by others doesn't erase it from history. Slavery happened and it ended for a reason. The Confederacy happened and ended for a reason.

Long time no post

Sorry for not posting for months, I've been busy. Homework, Homework, Exams, and spend time with the family. Sister was happy I had weekends off, but never found time to spend with me. Easter was my apartment since my sister didn't want to clean her house. Whatever. Had Easter egg hunt ready and niece doesn't want to do it because she is too old. Yes, let's ignore the fact that she has been pestering my sister for weeks about it. Sister recommended movies as prizes and gave me the money for it. Nephew won the contest gathering the most eggs and ready to pick one of my Rated R movies. Ah, excuse me, I presented the 2 movies my sister said to get to them and he was so excited over Transformers. Now he wants Troy or 300 or Gladiator. No and if he doesn't want it I will send it back. Sister suggests borrowing Happy Potter movies as a reward to him reading the books. I can live with that and he accepts his Transformer movie. Niece doesn't want her movie either cause they taped if off the TV. Sister explain she discarded it in her downsizing so they don't have it anymore. Niece accepts movie. I decided no more egg hunts and no more presents if it's this traumatic for them. Started working at the amusement park again. What can say, I love this job. Worked on Mother's Day so sister took Mom out to dinner. Mom protests spending so much money on her at a fancy restaurant, but they fall on deaf ears. Memorial Day took Mom and sister out to the cemeteries. We got a surprise: My Dad's tombstone had a military flag. They never did that before. Maybe someone noticed the flags I put out every year. End my work study with a bang. Last day was a career fair so took photos and uploaded them to my professor's folder on the computer. He gave me a Hawaiian torch with flowers and leis attached, then an ice cream cake. Since he did so much for me, I painted him a picture of the Des Moines River and a downtown bridge. He loved it. I sent him the photo I based my picture on. He wanted me to stay during the summer, but working 6 days a week at amusement park made that impossible. I told him I would love to come and speak to his personal finance class again. That was so much fun. I talked about life insurance to his class giving a multiple point of view and siding with any sales pitch. What to buy depends on your needs and your objectives to getting it. My main point was that life insurance was not an investment, but a gift for someone else. Signed up for fall classes to get 2 certificates to hopefully help in getting a good job. I don't have to be a millionaire to be happy, just supporting myself is enough money for me. Finished the semester with 5 A's and 1 B. So disappointing to get a B, but I tried my best. Amusement park job evolved into my internship. Have weekly reports and applying jobs. Went to the college career center to receive the same old advice I've heard a million times. Telling me to research the company doesn't help me in interviews and wear a suit impresses nobody. Went to my Dad's grave on Father's day and left a rose with a black ribbon (to copy Phantom of the Opera). Then later went to work. Meeting new people and new interns. Sorry I have to go, but need a year around, higher paying job. Though everybody got raises this year from a labor shortage caused by stores paying above minimum wage. Busy applying for jobs, but no interviews yet. I think it's kinda early since I'm not available right away. Manager keeps asking when my internship ends. I'm sure she can manage without 1 employee until the end of the season. Well outta things to talk about Post later.

Tax clients I despise

Doing taxes for the public again (did this a few years ago) and have to rant for a moment. The tax clients I despise: The ones who keep no records and get mad I can't make up deductions. There is a thing called an audit and I refuse to go to jail for 5 years for a fraudulent return just because you are a cheap bastard. The ones who get mad their college expenses are not deductible. I'm sorry, but a dependent client cannot deduct college credits and I don't care if your friend told you otherwise. College expenses are deductible for independent people and lowers their taxes owed, they do NOT receive any extra refund. You must earn at least $26,500 Single or Married Filing Separately, $27,800 Head of Household, or $29,550 Married Filing Jointly, to receive full benefit of college credits. People who have not filed for years decide to suddenly file this year. Excuse me, why are you here if the IRS is not breathing down your neck for not filing for years. When I send this in, you can count on an audit of your past years lack of filing. People who believe they don't have to file because they don't owe. Read complaint above. You have to file if you earn above the standard deduction and exemption amount, which change every year. If a dependent, then must file if above the standard deduction. This year exemption is $3950 per person. This year standard deduction is $6200 for Single or Married Filing Separately, $9,100 for Head of Household, and $12,400 Married Filing Jointly. People who don't know about deductions. Read the form I copy for your records and you will find a long list of possible deductions. List for those taking Standard Deduction: HSA contributions, paying alimony, student loan interest, retirement contributions, education K-12 and college expenses, moving expenses if move more than 50 miles for a job, and child care expenses. List for those who can itemize beyond the standard deduction: Medical expenses/insurance, long-term care insurance, taxes from real estate or car tags, home mortgage interest, charity donations, and job expenses. People who want larger refunds than last year. If you wish a $5,000 refund, then you must pay $5,000 in taxes in the first place. I can not give back much more than you already paid through your paychecks so change your W-4 or make more money to pay more taxes and thus, get more back. Personally, I rather have money year around than a big check once a year. I think I'm done ranting for now. Post later.

Icy sidewalks

Had a ice storm last night. I go out thinking everything is fine because the ice is clear and can't tell the difference between wet and dry sidewalks. It is all ice as I discover slipping onto my elbows and knees to watch my books fly down the icy sidewalk. No salt anywhere to be seen. Skated to the car and removed wet ice easily. After nearly falling down again and grabbing the car, I decided to stay home. Saw cars go by on the street, but scared of icy driving in the parking lot. Emailed my professors. Spent most of the day sleeping and doing homework. Leg killing me all day and have to tell the cats to get off it when they want attention. Updates: Spent January attending the extended family Christmas where hardly anybody talked to me. I think I'm still ostracized from the family even though they beg me to attend family events just to ignore me. Then when my time at the mall train ended early, I signed up for unemployment. Was denied unemployment since I didn't earn enough to get unemployment. Living off student loans until I get another job. Had jury duty in a civil case. Longest two days of my life. Restarted my college classes and continued learning new things form Economics professor I work for. Working on a survey for professor skills they would like to improve. Apparently professors have to update their skills every so many years. Spent Valentine's Day doing homework, with 5 classes I get a lot. Declined to work the Easter bunny station at the mall cause need my free weekends for homework. Tough decision since I need money. Volunteering as Tax Preparer for poor people at college. I'm good at taxes. Got a 95% on the required IRS test with only reading the book to refresh my memory. I only took the class to learn the software, which is pretty easy. Any client problems (professor checks my work because it is required) are usually software mistakes, with one not knowing Iowa tax law on how car registration is figured because that was not on the IRS test. No college students have come, they are all poor people living in the city. Reached the anniversary of my lost ferret's disappearance. I cried and cried and made a final prayer for her return. Been praying for a year and still missing. I give up praying and accept she is never coming home. Had a new fish die that I had for a few months, a beautiful blue female Beta named Canace. One cat is more accepting of the ferrets, but one still freaks out when they come too near him. Poor ferrets try so hard to get along with the cats. Celebrated a ferret's 2nd birthday and cat's 9th birthday. Niece and nephew are beginning to want to play Monopoly. Apparently they don't play it very much at home so have to go to Auntie's house to learn the rules. Nephew loves Star Wars so have to take him to the movie when it comes out. New Cinderella movie is coming out and may take her to it, unless she is too old for it. She loved Mirror, Mirror. Nephew love Mirror, Mirror cause of the comedy. Normally he hates girly films and likes manly films like Transformers or Cars. Well, nothing else to say.

Jury duty experience

Finally got my 1st jury summons. Ugh. Last thing I want to do is sit through a boring trial. Got a delay because I'm a student. So go in and selected for a civil case. Ok, don't have to decide if someone goes to jail. I can live with that. So go through the jury selection and too high on the list to be excused without question. Dammit, dammit, dammit. I tried everything I found on the internet to avoid getting picked and I get picked. The only question I got into was if I was in a civil suit before. I said I had a worker's compensation case. Lawyer said that's not a civil case, that's a worker's compensation case. Ok, so I'm not a lawyer. So receive pens and paper to take notes. My pen doesn't work so grab one out of my purse when opening statements are done. Lunch is coming so hurry and write what I remember to ignore judge speech before leaving. Return and Plaintiff witnesses are questioned. Worst witness testimony I ever heard. Sympathy card of falling down on ice and fracturing a bone was all the Plaintiff had. No evidence of negligence on Defendant's part. Evidence: Plaintiff's medical records of injury, pain and suffering endured, weather reports of prior weeks and day of fall reports, and witnesses of people living at residence community where fall took place who suddenly got amnesia when cross-examined. Go home and return next day. Day two brought the Defendant's witnesses. Better witness testimony, but some memory was fuzzy. Emails and invoices of snow removal given as evidence. Defense strategy was Plaintiff was tipsy when left residence and defendant has no control over Iowa winters. Defendant brought further evidence of a meeting of board of directors in charge of the residence community that took place shortly before the fall addressing complaints brought up by residents. Plaintiff is viewed as causing their own fall. Plaintiff is recalled as a witness. The only testimony offered is the amount of pain and suffering the person endured. That's it, a sympathy card is all they have to offer, no evidence how the Defendant is responsible for the fall, 100% of Woe to Me? Closing arguments given and we don't get the free lunch we were advised of the day before because the judge has some legal stuff to discuss with the parties. So we leave for lunch we have to pay for. Return and give jury instructions. Since we can't give weather a responsibility we can only choose percent of responsibility. Instructions: If Plaintiff is held 50% or more responsible then they get nothing. If Plaintiff is held less than 50% responsible, then amount of money awarded is deducted that percent. We have to determine % of fault and amount awarded, if any. So off to the secluded room to deliberate. We agree both are at fault. Most of us state if we had been the in the Plaintiff's position that we would not have sued at all. We discuss holes and indecision of both parties so much testimony is ignored cause witnesses can't get their stories straight. Elected Foreperson and they suggest and half agree at 50-50 fault, other half is silent. But, oh, Foreperson who suggested 50-50, suddenly reads the Plaintiff gets nothing if we rule 50-50, so they change their mind to 60-40. But, oh, the amount rewarded is reduced 40% if we say that so Foreperson changes it to 80-20. We agree on 75-25 in favor of Plaintiff. Now the money, everybody questions how to place an amount of suffering and pain. Foreperson was once in accident and got a huge settlement, but can't recall what it was. Ignoring the evidence and going by sympathy alone, the jurors balk at me tossing out numbers, 100, 1000, 5000. Half are ready to award the price of a house to the Plaintiff. Ok, I'm not ready to bankrupt a company over a bone fracture so mention that this is not equal to the car wreck the foreperson suffered, it is a fracture injury and got better after physical therapy. Half agree with me and one states Plaintiff can have their medical expenses, but doesn't want to give more than that (I agree with them). We are ignored by the other half wanting to give this Plaintiff a fortune so they never have to work again and question what if the Plaintiff has to have surgery in the future, which was not part of the evidence. Even better, the ones worried about surgery over a fracture are in the medical field. I'm sorry, but if surgery was not suggested in the past 2 years since the fall, I don't think they will in the future. I comment how the Plaintiff has won the lottery with us. I am ignored. So one on my half states the amount of a luxury car, no more than that. That is agree on after they figure of how much the Plaintiff gets after their 25% deduction (by which I might add was something in the instructions we were not suppose to do). I comment how the Plaintiff is getting a jackpot and neglect to mention how much of the Plaintiff award will go to her lawyer (we have no idea if this is a by hour fee or pro bono where they take 40% of the reward)since that should not be a factor either. I am ignored. I mention Defendant can appeal our decision and ignored again. We all agree so we can leave and not return tomorrow. Return to courtroom to give our verdict and state we all agree to it. Go home. In conclusion, I just want to say how people who claim they would not have sued over a similar incident are so eager to give a jackpot to an opportunist who can't get their story straight (we agreed on this), hid evidence (ignored subpoenas so we agreed on this), and suffered a little bone fracture (in the medical records and we agreed on this). Very surreal experience.

Christmas letter 2014

Merry Christmas to my dearest friends and family. My new year started badly losing my job to India. Then, Beta fish Aphrodite died. Next my new ferret Eowyn went missing for a week. Losing hope she would come back, I got another girl ferret named Arwyn for my boy Faramir who had stopped eating. The very next day, I got Eowyn back from the shelter down the street. The three amigos adored each other and pounced each other. Baby Arwyn loved to play with squeaky toys. Soon Disney came out with a new movie “Frozen” based off the Snow Queen and I took niece and nephew to it. Niece became addicted to the movie to drive nephew crazy every time she played it or sang the songs. Faramir celebrated his 1st Birthday. With snow drifting on my balcony, Faramir dug tunnels for the girls. They were quite sad when the tunnels melted. Lost more fish: Calliope, Posiedon, Demeter, and Zeus in rapid succession. My fish reached their old age about the same. I had them about four years. Then lost new baby ferret Arwyn and to date never found her. Cats Precious and Frodo celebrated their 8th Birthdays. Now I have a couple of middle aged men living with me. They still play, but not as much as they used to. Got a job at the local mall at the Easter Bunny studio and Train Station. I took photos and ran the train. A few days I played the Easter Bunny. Had Easter dinner at sister’s house. Later in the month, I got a job at the local amusement park in the cash control area. Met lots of retirees and interns. Attended a niece’s college graduation with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She began her Master’s studies this Fall. Had Mother’s Day lunch at my aunt’s house with my Mom and my sister’s family. Then had dinner with Mom at my other sister’s house. Brother introduced his new girlfriend to us this summer. They visited my amusement park and had a good time. Took Mom and sister to the cemeteries on Memorial Day. Watch my nephew play in a Little League game. He got the game ball by hustling in the last inning. Took sister’s family to my amusement park twice this summer. First time it rained half the time so we had to have a do-over. Second time was very windy and cold. Too much rain this year cooling off the temperatures. Weird, last year we had a drought and this year we have floods. At least I didn’t have to run the A/C as much, animals love fresh air. The family had the annual family reunion at my Mom’s retirement place. We celebrated my Mom’s and Aunt’s birthday. Attended my 20th High School Reunion. Had a good time listening to a band and chatting with fellow classmates. Saw a 4th of July parade in town and watched fireworks at my amusement park. Having no answer when asked, “What will you do when the amusement park closes for the season?” that I researched possible office occupations. I decided to return to college to get an associate degree in accounting. Got an A in high school accounting class so it is something I'm capable of. Using my coursework from last time I was in college, I will simply take my accounting classes and finish in a year. I set up an internship with my amusement park manager and look forward to completing my studies. Hopefully with taking classes as I work, I can earn enough credits to take the CPA exam so I can get a job anywhere. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Lost more fish: Persephone, Thalia, and Hermes after a few months with me. On the plus side, niece got engaged to plan a wedding for 2016. Went to the State Fair and finished the day with a Styx/Foreigner concert in the evening. Nephew loves Styx so only right it be his first concert. Started my college classes and celebrated my birthday with Mom and sister’s family at a fancy restaurant. Went out to a pumpkin patch and corn maze with sister’s family. Niece and nephew were ready for me to buy the biggest pumpkin around. I told them if they could carry it to the car, then I would buy it. Started a work study job as an office assistant to an economics professor. Learning lots from him that will be useful in the future. He loves my creative side full of history knowledge to aid in his online course presentations. Celebrated ferret Eowyn's 1st birthday and missed ferret Arwyn on her 1st birthday. Took niece and nephew out for Beggar’s Night as Frozen’s “Elsa” and the Grim Reaper. Niece had a “Frozen” theme birthday at my Mom’s retirement place and wore her Halloween costume. Started working at the mall with their Santa photo studio and run the train ride again. Meeting lots of people. Spent Thanksgiving at sister’s house. Finally got my Aunt from Omaha over here for a holiday. I have been inviting her years saying she is always welcome and so happy when she took me up on the standing invitation. Extended Family Christmas will be at my Mom’s retirement place. Family loves these conference rooms with a kitchenette. Next year start jury duty before returning for my 2nd semester in college continuing my work study job. I have signed up to volunteer to do taxes for students on campus. I'm actually good at taxes. Then my summer internship starts and finally graduation in August. Hopefully I can find a good job with my growing experience. So I will wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love always, Jordan Harvey Cats-Precious, Frodo Ferrets-Faramir, Eowyn, (Arwyn-MIA) Fish-Apollo, Dionysis, Canace, Selene, Artemis

Autumn update

Celebrated my nephew's 10th birthday in August. In honor of his birthday, he, my brother-in-law, and I saw a Styx concert since he fell in love with the band. It was at the State Fair so after walking around and enjoying rides, we finished the day with the concert. Began my college classes to learn to be an accountant. I celebrated my birthday with my Mom and sister's family in a fancy restaurant. Sister insists on having a party next year to celebrate my 40th birthday. I'm not that old already, am I? One class had a charity project connected to it so helped raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House. I got put in charge of social media and marketing. I'm full of ideas. Went out for Trick or Treating with niece and nephew as Princess Elsa from Frozen and the Grim Reaper. Started a work study job with a professor of economics as his assistant. I'm learning lots from him and he is grateful he picked a creative genius who is an avid researcher. Christmas will soon be upon us and the local mall Santa Station is up and I'm working for the mall again. Will be spending Thanksgiving with family and putting up my Christmas decorations.

Summer update

Not much happening this summer to write about. Took sister and mother to cemeteries on Memorial Day. Went to Dad's grave on Father's Day. Took sister's family to my amusement park where I work this summer to wait out 2 rain storms to shut down new ride. Sister says we will go again in hope new ride will be open next time. New ride was open next time and they got in line. Nephew was too short so I took him elsewhere. When returned to the new ride asking how it was, niece cries how they shut it down due to high winds while they were in line. Have to wait next year. It was so windy that day I bought a jacket from being cold. We visited the water park half and I mostly sun bathed. Niece and nephew played in the water to return shaking from cold. Had a our family reunion and got a heavy cold shoulder. I wrote on a social site how it was good to know how people really feel hearing it from other people to include that when these people loose everything then they may criticize me for borrowing money from mother. I told mother I will gladly move into a tent and live on my grandpa's farm that she owns if it made everybody happy. She rejected the idea immediately. I'm sorry that I cannot force employers to hire me and pay me well. What do they expect me to do for money, start robbing banks? I don't think I would be any good at that and have no desire to go to jail. Attended my 20th High School Reunion. Guy had it has his farm and a band sang in the garage. Had to leave early to get to work in the morning. Got introduce to a prestigious whiskey and liked it a lot. People had to grab the bottle away from me before I puked. I have to share ya know. Took brother and new girlfriend to amusement park. She is full of allergies and phobias. I never seen my brother so happy before it is refreshing. Hope it works out. Worked on the 4th of July so saw parade with sister's family and saw fireworks at my amusement park. They do a good job and we took turns looking out the door for a few minutes to return to working. We all seen fireworks before. Unsure what I am going to do when the amusement park closes for the season, I got to researching office work I could do. I decided to go into accounting and get an associate degree. Hopefully I finish next year (with student loan) and get a job that pays enough to live off of. I told mother I don't need to rich to be happy, just paying my own bills without begging for money would make me happy. Besides, they give me 10 years at low interest to pay it back and student loan interest gives me a tax deduction so boo hoo for me. I hope for the best for me. Still have a ferret MIA and don't think the one who has her is going to turn her in to her microchip can be scanned and facility contacts me to pick her up. It's been 6 1/2 months. All for now.