Happy Father's Day

Ran an ad for Father's Day.

Say Happy Father's Day with a candle or wax melt from (my company). We have fruity, woody, tropical, and musk scents. Check out my shop at (website). No sales.

People seem surprised I love my new job. All I do is sit at a desk and do paperwork. Well, it's a lot better than fetching towels for guests or hearing them complain their A/C is broken.

Had excitement when the visitor dog Ivory was casually laying on an ottoman beside me. My Misty cat whose been living under the sofa came out swiping with a growl and nearly hit me. I strained a muscle in my foot trying to avoid getting scrached. Ivory jumped and I placed a pillow between them. Pet both animals to calm them. No damage to the dog, poor thing.

I splurged on new rainbow colored plastic plates. My old plates are scratched up and looking for new ones in the stores, I never find anything I like. I finally found some I liked and bought them right away. I didn't even care they said Pride on the sticker. No, I am not gay, but I have known many coworkers who are. Even my trainer is too.

Went to the lake park beach and enjoyed myself. Worked on my tan and did some swimming. Did my 2nd night as night auditor and worked Saturday. Next week I work my regular schedule.

Roommate called his father and had a good conversation. Relayed his blessings and troubles and his father advised to work on himself and the girl you need will come. His friend just took away his problem. Roommate laughed at that last part.

Happy Father's Day. I visited mine at the cemetery. I leave a rose with black ribbon then play Taps on my smartphone above his grave. He used to be in the Air National Guard.

I don't believe this

I don't believe this. Roommate finally kicked out the train wreck ex girlfriend and the very next day asked me to play hostess to her and her son cause her 16-year-old son is visiting his mother for 3 weeks. He can't be around her so he will go stay in the homeless camp. And got angry when I said no. I'm not a social worker nor free hotel for his homeless friends. I replied, You just kicked her out and expect me to take her back in and take care of her son eating my food and increasing my water bill with laundry and showers. Hell to the no. He fails to understand my caring for HIM doesn't extend to everybody he knows no matter how much he cares about them.

My work friend brought over some kibble for the dog. Roommate fed dog a can of tuna before she arrived. Hopefully ex girlfriend's mother takes this dog in next week. She's flaky like her daughter.

Now I'm mad

OK, now I am PO'ed. Return from night audit work and roommate left for the homeless camp. After waking up, dog in living room knocked over the gate so locked her in roommate's room with the cat after letting her out to pee. Tonight I go to change the water bowls and replenish the food. Let the dog to pee. I fed the ex girlfriend's cat the last of her food and can't find any dog food anywhere. I invaded my roommate's privacy to look for dog food. When ex girlfriend grabbed her tossed out stuff, she had brought back the dog. I gather the spilled kibble on the dog kennel floor for her and refill the water. I end up giving the dog my chicken and noodles that I had made today for myself cause there is no food for this dog. I checked online for vegetables and give a can of green beans when chicken and noodles was ate up. Dog doesn't like green beans so fed to rabbits outside. When the cat food ran out, the cat would eat my cats' kibble and canned food. I'm broke and now have to feed these animals too. I have the weekend to get caught up, What am I going to feed this dog? A friend from work said they would bring over some dog food. Thank goodness.

Nobody told me there would be days like this

Ex girlfriend arrived with 2 guys. There were busy cleaning the basement for me for all the help I had given them. Yeah, sure. They left with the dog and roommate will be spending the night with them in the homeless camp. Cats get a dog free evening.

Next day, roommate has a panic attack. Returned from the homeless camp to find mail for him. It is an arrest warrant cause he missed court. He asked when it arrived and I answered I grabbed it from the mailbox after he left the night before. He called his lawyer who didn't answer so left a message. He called his father who calms him down having him read the warrant to him. Eventually the lawyer calls back stating it was for someone with his first and last name, but different middle name. Court clerk sent it to the wrong address. Roommate's court date is next week.

Roommate and ex girlfriend must have had a hell of a fight at the homeless camp cause he is tossing her stuff outside again. Front porch this time. He also said one of his friends wanted to move into my basement, the day after I met him and he said he wanted to be friends. He gave me his number, which I never called and then find out THAT was the friend who screwed is now ex girlfriend. I said no. I explained I knew my roommate for months before offering to stay at my place and trust him. I don't trust his friends cause I don't know them. And no, I don't trust my roommate's judgment of charater. Had another one of his friends write me a note saying he thinks I'm attractive and wrote down his number on a piece of paper if case I need company. I never called him and tossed the note away.

Ex girlfriend picked up her stuff towards the end of the day. Roommate wouldn't let her or the 2 guys she brought into the house. I stayed out of it and watched a movie with my dinner.

Oh boy, what now?

Roommate received a phone call from girlfriend's mother asking if her daughter was living in a homeless camp. Roommate replied he doesn't know where she is when not here. Actually he told me she was living in a homeless camp to create an emergency situation to get into public housing. She is on the list for Section 8. So they had another fight and and he again says it's over between them. He did some contract work with now ex's old boyfriend and hopes to get paid soon. He says he is going to buy a tent and moving on with his life. Will see what actually happens. It's ridiculous how many times keep breaking up and getting back together.

Ex Girlfriend shows up at dinnertime to take a shower, change her clothes, and do her laundry. She said she had her own tent in the homeless camp and city wants them to move because of baby owls in the area so land is protected. Next thing I know, he announced to me that she screwed his friend and he was not forgiving them. He was always worried she would cheat on him cause as he explained, That's how she gets rid of boyfriends. She left about 1 AM.

He called someone to find out where this homeless camp was located to drop off her stuff and get a ride to it. He has stuff in their storage unit, but the fee is late again so he has to pay it to get his stuff out. He says he is taking his pending tent purchase to ex's camp cause that is where he feels among friends. Later in the evening he is back with the ex girlfriend. Yes, they are broken up, but he still cares about her. He has red eyes so I know he is on a drug, probably got it in the homeless camp.

New job

Had a short first day. The training manager called in sick so received the tour and introductions. Came home 2 hours later. But I receive a salary so hours don't matter. Going to help with night audit for 2 days. The accounting manager is in Chicago working several hotels so mostly get to know them via email and phone calls. I was offered and accepted the position of Accounting Clerk, but being introduced as the Accounting Manager. Tha would explain my salary instead of hourly wage. My 1st salary job.

Next day got to work with training. A lot of reconciliation and data entry. Then get cash for people and make bank deposits. Typical accounting job. Friday night stopped at my old for a drink at the bar. Gave the new job updates.

Saturday came into work to code invoices and apparently this trainer got behind on things so we are catching up. He said he will scan the invoices on Sunday since we worked 4 hours coding them.

He said on Sunday he scanned the invocies for 4 hours before he got done. Poor guy. He is an Operations Supervisor who stepped into this role when the last Financial Director left. He started at the front desk and helps with guests when we stop by asking if they need change. I told him their night audit was an interesting experience. Valet parking so had to enter those charges, breakfast is paid by guests so no homeless sneaking in for free food, no pool so less kids running around unsupervised causing trouble, and audit was done differently but largely the same. I like my new hotel.

Averted a cat fight. Been putting canned cat food in the bedroom for Bilbo, but tonight there were ants so had to find another spot. Well the visitor cat Lily found the new spot and Bilbo caught her eating his leftovers. I removed the food from Lily and moved it so Bilbo could eat it. Then they growled at each other while I ate a popicle. Then removed Lily to another room to end the stare down. If you wondered, visitor dog Ivory has eaten the dry cat food in bedroom (tonight covered in ants) one night and Bilbo freaked out, hit the bed skirt, and spooked the dog out of the bedroom. Had to lock Ivory in living room cause it was feeding time whereas Bilbo follows me waiting for me to give him the canned food.

Celebrated my brother's birthday after work with cake and ice cream. Everybody was eager to hear about my new job.

End of stress

Took roommate to court and now he is saying he has resitution to pay or go to jail so trial/plea deal is done. Apparently one of his homeless friends thinks I'm attractive. I am not dating a homeless man. If that make me a snobby bitch then I am a snobby bitch. Started my new job and I am so happy to sit at a desk all day and not have to deal with complaints about the A/C not working or get towels for people. I accepted a job titled Accounting Clerk and was introduced as Accounting Manager. I get a salary so no complaints here. I hope I am worthy of the post.

Drama never stops

My poor babies. Came inside from sunbathing to have visitor pets follow me to my room where Bilbo cat and Luthien ferret were napping. Misty is under sofa in living room. Well they jump on the bed which set off Bilbo to hiss. He jumps down to find Luthien to hiss at her. Get help removing the visitor pets out of my room. Pet Bilbo and pick up a shaking Luthien wondering what she just woke up to. All is good now.

So now I have stopped looking for a new job and one less stressor off my shoulders. I reopend 1 of my webistes that has free subscription option. They charge me $16 a month for marketing fees (coupons, email messages to customers, and sale ads). I noticed some people don't like soy wax candles so gave a beeswax option too. I don't want use paraffin wax cause that's from oil and want environmentally friendly candles. There are also apricot, palm, and coconut waxes too. I also thought of opening a separate page for my candle business or maybe even a cat page since my ferret page has only has 80 followers. Decide later.

Went out sunbathing again and cats had a screaming contest and had to be separated by my roommate.

Coworker at old job took me out to celebrate my new job. I got drunk and coworker drove me home. Which means I had to take a Lyft to get my car back. Roommate and girlfriend were amused at my stumbling around. I rarely drink and 2 margaritas plus a cherry Jolly Rancher shot made me drunk. I told my roommate I was so drunk he could ask me anything and get an honest answer. He laughed. Girlfriend was very motherly when I tried to make popcorn on the stove. I noticed a new friend they had over I never met before.

Tonight was the last night at the old job. Gave lots of hugs and promised to stop by once in a while.

Happy Memorial Day

Luthien ferret got poop on her fur so into the bathtub she went. My ferrets hate baths.

Happy Memorial Day. I'm working and will take a walk around the lake park. Then came home to sunbathe in backyard. Ran into a roommate friend who thinks I'm cute. Hope I didn't overwhelm him in my bikini covered in baby oil. I'm not dating any of his homeless junkie friends.

Thank you God

The job I was praying to get just made an offer. More money than I need to just get by so hopefully I get these credit cards paid off. Now I have to turn down the other job I gal from high school offered. I will be an Accounting Clerk doing paperwork at a desk in an office. That will be a huge relief. They insist on 2 weeks notice so old job can have me for another week. Have to wait and see if they give me my unused vacation days. I need the money. Celebrated by walking around the lake park trail and buying a pizza. Roommate wanted to share it with all his visiting friends. My pizza was not that big.

My hotel guests are figuring out I am the wrong person to argue with. I am leaving in 2 weeks so I don’t really care if guests hate me. Just because they think they are special doesn't mean they get free parking in the hotel garage. Room will be charged.

My family went out to the cemeteries on Memorial Day while I slept in bed, then came to work. Yep, working all weekend (no holiday pay). Hope I like my new job better.

At a loss what to do

Ever meet someone determined to self-diagnose their personal problems and you are like: There's nothing wrong with you. Their problem is that they were set up to fail by whatever circumstances they had to deal with. So that left them vulnerable and falling through the cracks to grasp at anyone willing to catch them. That doesn't mean they are crazy.

Believe me I know from experience. Luckily I had a Mom will willing to pay my bills otherwise I would be homeless like my roommate who has nobody else to help him get back on his feet. Family in another state refuse to help him. I knew him for months at my hotel as a security guard. He was a gentleman, protective of me, and reponsible person I never complained about at work. Yes, he took liberties and got caught in the Presidential Suite by the couple still in their wedding clothes I had to move into a Governor Suite with humble apologies that someone was having a party in their room. After he lost his job, he stayed with friends who were homeless living in hotel rooms and/or drug addicts who eventually kicked him out. He is learning that when you hang around the bad kids, you eventually become the bad kid. He did hold a job for three weeks before getting fired for using a racial slur.

People keep telling me to kick him out. He is more a burden than a blessing. He does help around the house and I know how hard it is to get a job when jobless. Three jobs since he graduated high school a couple years ago and still learning to be an adult. His girlfriend's dog and cat are still here two months later when I said 1 week. His girlfriend is a complete train wreck who can't pull herself together. How is she going to help him? He is trying to help her and I try to explain he can't help her. She has dealt with so much trauma he can't fix no matter how good he is to her. If she can't trust herself, she will never trust him. He can't fix her emotional probelms. I wish he would just let go of her. But he is in love, he cares for her and wants me to like her too (not happening). I have my limits on kindness that he needs to understand. I fear what will happen to him if I do kick him out. He called me cause he had no place to go. I offered months ago when I discovered he was living in a hotel with another coworker who was living in his truck that if he needed a place to crash he could stay with me. I thought he could get a job, get an apartment, and move out within a couple months. That didn't happen. I don't know what to do anymore. When he arrived I was a complete mess with migraines and stress from being broke. Looking for a job for a year is very stressful. Just being around me, he changed me to be more aware of my house that was pig sty from working overnights and tired all the time. You could say he woke up Sleeping Beauty. Whenever he leaves, I will miss him.

Roommate had tried all night to contact his girlfriend. He had a panic attack and had to call the police who gave him a card for a crisis center. I asked about the scratches on his arms, did the dog do that. He had been cutting himself during his panic attack. Next he started tossing her things into the backyard, including the pets. He is tired of these games. Then he started crying and I tried to comfort him. After a while he calmed down and thought he overreacted. I pointed out my neighbors can call animal control on me and get cited for animal abuse so they need to come in before it gets hot outside. In the early morning, it was cool. He brings in the animals and her stuff too. I go to bed. When I wake up I heard him talking to the crisis center. He is not handling this "I need space" very well. He's heart broken and I can't fix it. Maybe he is starting to see the manipulator I see. She's using him and using me. When people start pulling away, they don't come back. But roommate stops me from negative talk. And at the end of the day, girlfriend shows up. Roommate apologizes for blowing up her phone. Phone was dead, she was working, no signal, whatever the excuse of the day is. Oh, today is a new excuse: She had a bad day so made up. I swear they keep breaking up and making up that it is becoming ridiculous.

High School graduation

Nephew graduated high school today. No special awards, just a diploma. Got college set up and he has chosen forensic science as his major. He will have to quit his fast food job cause it is out of town. His sister apprently quit college after a semester or two, not sure when she quit but it wasn't for her. She went part time anyway. I told her she can always go back cause I met plenty of 30ish people going to college to get better paying jobs. She works at a consignment shop and wants to be a entrepreneur someday. She works part-time and doesn't pay rent to my sister so wonder what her future plans are, if she has any.

Told family about my new job and hoping the last interview produces a job offer. Apparently my job offer announcement caused confusion. Ok, leaving for a job interview I received a job offer from an interview I did the week before. I am waiting to hear from the last interview. I don't know if my last interview will turn into a job offer or another rejection. I am accepting the job offered unless the last interview offers me a job, then I will take that job cause it pays more. I am sorry employers take so long to make decisions.

New job offer

Thank you God. Went through a video interview for accounting clerk for a hotel. Immediately they wanted an in person interview. I said I was free the next day. Pays enough to get me out of debt so I badly want this job. It is in the back office so little customer service other than receiving direct bill/banquet deposit payments.

Scammers are so funny. Get an email wanting to set an interview and never actually set a time for one. No, they call out of blue which makes me reject the call cause I don't know who is calling. Now, they email me telling me I am not a good fit for their company. How would you know when you never set up an interview with me?

My goodness, God has a weird sense of humor. I am about to leave for my accounting clerk interview and I get a call from one of my past interviewers asking me to call them. That will have wait until I get back. Interview was strange with other people doing it cause interviewer got called away. They will let me know in a couple weeks when they made their decision. Return home and call them. They ask if I am still interested in the office clerk job. Of course, today's interview is no guarantee of a job offer. Now I have to quit my job, take a drug test for new job, and wait for a response from today’s interview that pays more. I don't need more stress. The job offer came from the gal I went to school with. Funny they were never nice to me in high school. This will be awkward.

Heard the newest front desk person has been promoted to the sales department. So coupled with my departure, there are 2 available openings at my hotel front desk. But wait, since I am leaving the newest front desk person will move into my overnight spot. I wonder if this was voluntary or involuntary move into my position.

Started walking around a local park with a lake. I need to exercise and dog kennel in the living room leaves no room to move much. Took me about an hour while taking photos to share on social media. They got boat rentals, bike rentals, beach, fancy bridge that lights up at night, a 2nd bridge leading to a trail going towards downtown area, and concession stands. There a tunnel under the street to get to the other park across the street that has a trail. I saw other trails leading east and north. This city has a ton of trails for bikes, runners, and skaters.

Top manager of the hotel is trying to get me to stay. They offered more money. My problems are not just money. It is the stress of drunk customers, angry customers, homeless stealing from the gift shop and continental breakfast, and overzealous security guards who think the hotel is a fortress. I don't care if a guest smokes a cigarette outside at 3 AM, they are allowed to roam the hotel whenever they like. I don't care if a group of guests are socializing on the patio at 1 AM when nobody is complaining about them except the security guard. And I certainly don't care if guests have friends in their room until a guest complains about the noise. Yes, I have called the police to end parties when guests complain. Plus I work overnight shifts so my family complains they never see me. I am not staying.

Happy Mother's Day

Always love how people threaten to call the corporate office or management when they get mad. Be My Guest! I have zero power over housekeeping and can't help we don't have shuttle service nor valet parking nor maintenance people present 24 hours a day/7 days a week. And I'm sorry we ran out of pillows, blankets, and towels when there are over 300 registered guests staying overnight. Hotel has 234 rooms.

Have a great Mother's Day. I got to miss lunch with my siblings and mother. Then after waking up in the middle of the afternoon, I drove over to my Mom's Assisted Living apartment to give her a blank note card that I wrote "Happy Mother's Day" on. I'm so broke I can't afford to buy her a $5 card.

More drama coming my way

Got 2 more rejection emails. Did a phone interview for a receptionist job and then in person interview for an office assistant job so here's hoping. The manager was someone I went to school with so crossing fingers even though the pay is not as much as I need to get out of debt. My garbage disposal started leaking. I put a towel underneath. Roommate's friend who is a fix it guy looked at it and couldn't fix it. Seals were broken so I had to buy a new one. Friend installed it for me. My brother offered to install it, but the friend beat him to it. At least I didn't have to call a plumber again. Neighbor complained my plastic downspout extenders were cracked and water got into her garagae so had to buy new ones.

In the event I have to sell my house cause I can't afford the increased mortgage payments (house value went up $30,000), I checked around for other housing possibilities. Cheaper houses are garbage and of course value will go up over the years where I get in financial trouble again. Perfect for house flippers. Then looked at apartments and OMG, so many cost more than my mortgage. I found a few cheaper than my mortgage that are a room smaller. I pray I can find a better paying job soon. I have 2 cats and 3 ferrets buried in the backyard and moving would break my heart.

Received 2 more rejection emails. Went to the chiropractor and returned to check my email for someone wanting to set up an interview with me the following week. I find an email announcing an Uber charge on my Paypal account that I use for my candle business this morning at 4:23 AM. I checked my Uber account and the ride wasn't listed so have no idea where this ride transaction took place. Someone must have hacked my Paypal account so that password is getting changed. Had to dispute the charge with the credit card company, who cancelled the card. Sigh. Removed all by one credit cards from the account. My cards are mostly maxed out unless I make a payment to buy something. Can't withdraw cash from the bank when account is overdrawn.

Did a video interview for a secretary job and received a rejection email. Received another rejection from company I never interviewed with. Put away the Easter decorations and got out the summer stuff. It was about time. Since I let go of my drop shipping business, I started to feel less stress and less migraines so feeling more energy. Though it was depressing not making anything to sell. Maybe someone would have bought a wreath or a gnome, or same old not buy anything (at least not from me anyway). People thought the Easter egg candles were so cute but this year not a single sale.

Got a new security guard at work who looked fresh out of high school. Will see how long they last. Had a strange call at 3 AM saying they received an email of a reservation they didn't make. Couldn't find the reservation so explained it was a scam email. My business insurance is being cancelled. Got an email to set up an interview and turned out to be a fake company I dealt with before when researching the company online. And apparently my hotel is getting a new freezer and fridge for our gift shop that nobody told me about until they were delivered. How nice.

Happy May Day

Flipped the ceiling fans and turned on the air conditioning. Arranged another interview for a government office. When I saw the email, I screamed so loud I startled my roommate.

No more newspaper delivery. I can't afford it. With 1 ferret, I don't use as much newspaper anymore. Got to go to bare necessities unless I get a better paying job.

Poor Misty has been living under the sofa and pooping in a corner I have newspaper for the ferrets. I started placing food and water under the end table for her. Poor thing. Dog had been here for 2 weeks and I discover I have a visitor cat too. Roommate had been hiding cat in their room and when I opened the door to print a resume for my interview, cat stepped out the door. This is what I get for saying dog could stay for a week. I threatened to take the dog to the shelter cause it is way past the week I allowed. Roommate begged me not to do that cause girlfriend loves the dog so much and would crush her. She just has a dysfunctional family who can't get their lives together. That's all. Shame on me for not understanding that. Who knows when this dog and now cat are ever leaving. Misty will come out and let me pet her. She hides back under the couch when dog or humans enter the room. I am allergic to this dog so need to keep taking allergy medicine and avoid petting it.

Had a good interview who mentioned 2 weeks notice and asked about references. That is a good sign. I know 2 people ready to take over my job when I leave. Got a security guard fired. They hated delivering items for guests and kept turning off their walkie talkie which drove me nuts when trying to contact them. I hate costing people their job, but I was getting tired of that.

Security guard said they thought they saw a homeless man in the kitchen who walked into the break room to vanish. She saw the ghost of the dishwasher who died as I got hired. Funny I never viewed them when I go to the kitchen every night to place a paper with the guest count on it for the breakfast cooks.

Got another interview set up and sensed it was a fake company so didn't go. Closed my online shop again. No sales since January so has to close. Set it to inactive not deleted. Maybe someday I can reopen. The 2nd online shop I deleted the links, birthday club, cancelled coupons and discounts. Never received orders nor sell any gift cards so have to close. My niece who I gave a gift card to for her birthday came by and got a few candles to use it up. My sister paid for the excess amount of her selection. At least they took what I already made and not make new candles. Not much of a sale.

Received 2 rejection emails. I just love it when people say "If you hate your job, then go do something else". Congratulations for getting your dream job. I've tried for nearly a year to do something else. Applied and interviewed to get rejected. Started a drop shipping business and did farmers market plus a Christmas Craft Show that I had to close yesterday. Now tell me again to Go Do Something Else if I Hate My Job. My job is keeping me broke and debt piling up. I have been robbing my IRA account for months paying bills. God must really hate me.

Surprise!

Well since I had an interview the next day, last night I went into roommate's room (my guest room) to print my resume and grab an outfit from the closet. The room reeks of cat poop and there is a cat in the middle of the floor. Confronted roommate about cat in his room when I said no cat allowed. Bilbo will attack another cat going by his behavior looking out windows. He said the cat would be there only one night. I ask how long the cat has really been in his room. He replied, Since the dog came. He was so proud he hid the cat in his room from me for two weeks before I discovered it. He lets it out when I'm not there. She cat is terrified of Bilbo. Misty has taken to hiding under the couch from the dog to the point she won't come out to use her litterbox and pooping in a corner when I have an end table. I had newspaper there cause ferrets like to poop there. I have taken to placing food and water under the end table so she has nourishment.

As cold as this sounds, I hope roommate goes to jail just to get rid of this girlfriend and her pets. She is a manipulative witch and I don't care how much she was abused as child. Just because she uses some of her food stamps for us doesn't give her the right to take advantage of me. Oh yes, I know my roommate is taking advantage of me too. The only difference is I invited him into my home and I never invited her.

Happy Easter

Dog loves cats so gives Bilbo and Misty a sniff to get clawed in returned. I told my roommate my house was a lousy foster home for a dog but they have no other place to take it. Nobody in the girlfriend's family will take it in. Dog loves to watch the ferret but I worry ferret will get hurt cause she is blind and has lymphoma.

Received my house assessment that jumped $30,000. How does that happen in one year? What is that going to do to my insurance part of my mortgage payment? How do I prove my house is worth less? If I don't find a better job soon, I will have to sell my house cause I can't afford the payments. My pets are buried in the backyard so that will break my heart to leave them.

Bilbo got his teeth cleaning and vet had to pull a tooth out. Another $100 I had to pay. I can't contribute to Easter dinner and I always make a bunny cake. I have cake mixes, just not any frosting and no ingredients to make any. I can only afford bare necessities. No soda pop, no meat, no fresh fruit cause they cost too much. Alot of peanut butter snadwiches, pasta, and milk. I drink a lot water now. I also enjoy free food at work.

Did the live reading of the my Easter book on my social media. Only 2 people tuned in. I recorded it so other people could watch it later. think 7 people have watched it. Not the audience I was hoping for. I guess nobody is buying my book again this year. Sniff. Nobody bought Easter candles either. My roommate took me shopping and got some frosting for a bunny cake so made Bunny Cake for Easter dinner with my family.

The ferret and cats did the Easter Bunny Trap with a banana cause I had no carrots nor carrot cake. The Easter Bunny came in and stashed the banana in their basket. They rang the bell on a string so it woke up the animals. The visitor dog chased the Bunny out into the yard and it jumped the fence to get away. The poor ferret and cats didn't get a chance to steal extra chocolate eggs out of the Bunny's basket. Bad dog.

Easter dinner at my sister's house was good and they loved my Bunny cake. Happy Easter Everybody.

Which way is which?

Roommate's girlfriend who had been couch surfing for 9 months has managed to get a hotel room and taking the dog back. I wonder if roommate will move in with her. Not my problem anymore.

Well all that was just a lie. I'm a free kennel and free hotel for the girlfriend. Her dysfunctional family can't or won't take the dog in. Roommate hates me putting his girlfriend down and made me apologize to her. Fine, sorry. She uses food stamps to help us buy food so I have to put up with her. My cats are freaked out by the dog and Bilbo has scratched her nose when dog entered his space. Her crazy family refuses to take in this dog when I am a lousy free kennel and I'm real sorry I insulted her flaky family.

I discover this lie when girlfriend spent the night to ask why isn't she in her hotel room instead using my shower and using my laundry room? Oh, there's no hotel room. My bad.

Volcanic Explosion

Well, roommate just exploded like a volcano at me. He asked me to drive across town to a place he knows will sell him cigarettes being underage. It is also across the street from the hotel he used to live with a former coworker and career criminals next door. Last time we stopped here he viewed his old friend walking across the street and he ducked down to avoid been seen by him. Since he said he had been receiving death threats from his old friends he ratted on, I refused in concern for his safety (and me driving the car). He doesn't care if he gets beat up or shot (he once said his friend had a gun). Yeah, I do care having to watch the whole thing while driving the car he is in. Oh, someone said the couple isn't there anymore so it's safe. And someone could be lying to trap him. Besides he don't need them. It's a good time to stop smoking. He has vapors so he will be fine.

He blows up how he and his girlfriend try to please me. They buy food with her food stamps, clean my house, and do yard work, then one request from him is denied. What does it take to make me happy. Cigarettes keep him calm. I have angered him calling his friends lowlife when I am just as lowlife as them (except I have a job, car, and house, plus a mother to support me when unemployed because don't have an addiction). And why do I care about him so much when I am not his mother. To which I reply, I am not your mother, You are living in my house and I'm paying for everything. He continues on how he hates people trying to control him. I inform him he can leave the house whenever he wants. He stormed out saying he hates people caring about his health. He said he is walking 7 miles to get his cigarettes, shame on me. It was freezing cold outside and ground covered with snow. After a few minutes, he returned commenting how cold it is outside and he was not prepared for that. I least he calmed down.

Happy Palm Sunday

I hate video interviews. Something always goes wrong. Interviewer called my phone and did a phone interview instead. And I did my make-up for nothing. They rejected me. Did another phone interview but I think I are a fake company. Had a hotel guest try to go through an electric revolving door that doesn't work and roped off. After not succeeding in pushing the door, they went open another door.

Had a "only famous on social media" musician stay at my hotel. They were performing at a club somewhere. The security guard was a fan and got their photo with them. I don't have TikTok so have no idea who they were.

Set up a live event on my social media to do a reading of my Easter book hoping for more sales. I only sold 1 book to a coworker last year so hoping to do better this year. Started advertising my Easter egg candles. I am so stressed out from being broke, Boromir dying, and trying to find a new job that I decided not to make any Easter wreaths or gnomes this Easter. Nobody buys anything anyway.

Woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed one morning. I stretched my muscles thinking my body soreness is from lack of exercise. Then soaked my feet in a bath and filed my fingernails. I ate some breakfast and uploaded photos to my social media. Then BOOM, migraine strikes and have to lie down for hours. And have so many household chores to do. Made chicken and noodles to remember Boromir liked drinking the broth to burst into tears. Have to stop making chicken and noodles for a while.

Go through my email to see a package was delivered but never got it. I check the photo of the delivery and it is the wrong house. Called the company and they sent another one. Whew.

My roommate's girlfriend's brother went to jail and they need a place for his dog and girlfriend's cat. I said dog could stay a week, but no cat cause my Bilbo is agrressive towards cats. My cats hate the neighbor dogs barking at them and terrified of dogs. I tried to convince a coworker to take in the dog, but roommate said no.

Went out in my yard and flowers are coming up. At least I have something to look forward to. Bringing out the patio furniture.

Heaven help me

Yesterday my roommate was arrested for fraud, techically check forgery. When he was living with new friends he met living with a coworker in a cheap hotel and had a falling out with the coworker to move in with this couple. His friend found checks on a sidewalk and he helped his friends by depositing them in his bank account which is how the police traced them to him. Stupid, I know. He was freaking out cause he never had been arrested before. His girlfriend came over and contacted his family for help attaining a lawyer. They refused to help so he has a public defender. I drove him to the station to turn himself in. Girlfriend said to act tough. A friend bailed him out the next day and since I was sleeping, I didn't go pick him up so he took the bus home. I found his mugshot online and copied to to hang a sign with it saying Welcome Home. He and his girlfriend thought it was hilarious. He discovered the checks were not found on the sidewalk cause the owner of the checks is dead. Those checks were stolen and forged. He ratted on his gal friend and immediately was sent death threats from the guy friend with other friends asking where he was living. Now he is worried how he will get a job without a driver's license, little experience, no higher education, and now going to jail. Of course I can't sympathesize much since I've never been arrested.

Great idea

Roommate had a great idea. He and a friend will drive my car to do food delivery. Unsure if it was expected that I drive or his friend. I replied that would alter my car insurance to drive for business purposes. I said no. He refused to apply at my hotel for Banquets convinced he won't get hired after he was dismissed from our hotel as a security guard he he was caught in the Presidential Suite by a couple still in their wedding clothes I had to downgrade to Governor's Suite.

I found out rommate's girlfriend has lost custody of her son. She can't provide for him so the father was given custody. Can't say I was surprised. She has an unstable job and bouncing between friends to spend the night. She has trouble paying for 2 storage units so how can she pay a security deposit and first month rent to a landlord. Then roommate lost his job trying to help her. What did they expect?

Having a bad day

While eating in the living room, roommate gets woken by a phone call. He freaks cause he is being arrested for fraud. When he had a falling out with his coworker living in the hotel room with him, he went to live with the couple next door. Lady shaved his head to the skin and he was so embarrassed he wore a baseball hat for weeks. Well, one of them found checks on the sidewalk and he helped cash them by depositing them in his account. This is how the police traced them to him. He says he felt he had no choice cause at the time he was unemployed and dependent on their charity. Later, they kicked him out. He called his girlfriend who ordered him to call his family to help with attaining a lawyer. They refused to help. I drove him to the police station to turn himself in. Then dropped off the girlfriend across town. I have no money to bail him out. He called a friend who did. He was bailed out by a friend the next day. I found his photo online and printed it to make a Welcome Home sign. He and his girlfriend thought it hilarious. He called me to pick him up but I was sleeping so he took the bus. Apparently, the checks belong to a dead person so they were not found on the sidewalk. He is worried for his future. No driver's license, little experience, been fired twice, and with a conviction, who will hire him? He says he has never been arrested before and completely terrified what would happen. Girlfriend said to act tough and don't cry. He survived and squealed on the lady who he saw at the jail.

Goodbye Boromir

Received a job rejection via text message but no name or company mentioned so I have no idea who is rejecting me. I let the animals sniff Boromir so they understand he is gone. Poor Luthien sniffed him all over, walked around the house, returned to sniff him again, walked around the house again, sniffed him a third time, and finally snuggled in a bag to take a nap. I buried Boromir in the backyard under a concrete bench he loved getting under. My roommate made a cross and nameplate for him. That was so sweet of him. I placed a red carnation on top. Poor Luthien started sleeping in spots where Boromir slept. She misses him.

Then I notice the house is cold. Had to call a furnace repair guy and spend more money I don't have to keep my pipes from freezing. Since it is outside normal business hours cause it's a Saturday, I have to pay an extra $125 plus parts and labor. He tells me my furnace is fine, just needs to change the filter. My problem is someone switched off the circuit breaker to the furnace. That was my roommate. He also said my capacitor is failing so he replaced that. Final bill wasn't that bad. The bad part is my roommate lost his job after 3 weeks cause a coworker got upset he used a racial slur. He was so happy working again and management wanted to promote him to shift lead. Now he is broke and unemployed. I'm just broke and in debt.

RIP Boromir

My roommate called me at work stating my ferret is dead. He was wrestling with the cats and fell down the stairs. After the tumble, he was alive but barely moving. Roommate said it was the first time he saw both cats at the same time. My roommate was with him when he passed. He went into full panic attack demanding I come home right away. I called for security to watch my counter while I went home to find out what happened. I held my furbaby and blew into his nose. No noise. I opened his mouth and his tongue and gums were all red. I closed his mouth and no movement. I moved his paws and no movement. I cried realizing he is really gone for good. My roommate hugged me. I wrapped Boromir in a dish towel and went back to work. The restaurant manager was on the phone with my supervisor trying to check a couple into the hotel. I explained my ferret wrestling with the cats fell down the stairs and we think he died from internal bleeding or a brain hemorrhage. No injuries on the outside that I could see. Ferrets are so fragile. I put my purse back into my locker and checked the couple in. I apologized for making them wait so long. Goodbye my sweet boy.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Had a phone interview and praying hard I get the job. Then when chatting on my interview for five minutes, my landline phone rings, my cell phone rings, and the landline phone rings again. Thinking it was a scammer I look at the caller ID. It was a restaurant I applied at for Birthday Coordinator a long time ago. Perfect timing. Oh well, no message left so no return call.

Got the appointment made for my cats annual vaccinations. $134 each. Plus my accounting software and online store want money and my cards are maxed out. My pets are top priority I have to save for. So to raise funds I advertised green candles for St Patrick's Day as 10% off on my 2nd online shop since first one is suspended from non-payment. Next my accounting software suspended me for non-payment. Then after a week and still no sales, I shut down my 2nd online shop. The only way to get my candles, wax melts, and home decorations is directly speaking to me. One online shop has a free option subscription so will use that for the direct sales. The soy wax candles I made last year are turning white so have been burning them myself. Apparently soy wax only lasts a year or two. Great when I can't sell candles or wax melts.

Had a drunk hotel guest harrassing my female security guards by inviting them to his room when they keep rejecting him. I tried to intervene stating they are not allowed in his room cause it's against the rules and they will be fired. He brushed me off. One guard hid in the back office. He continued to go back upstairs and come back down to follow them around the hotel. I offered to call the police since employers can get sued if they do nothing to stop the sexual harrassment, even from guests. Eventually he stopped coming downstairs so didn't call the police.

Made a Leprechaun gnome to sell for St Patrick's Day. I use a toilet paper tube wrapped in yarn for the hat and attached the yarn beard and wood bead nose. I got black ribbon and jeweled gold ribbon for the buckle. I twisted a green pipe cleaner for a shamrock and attached a rose to the hat. It was so cute and hoped to sell at least one.

Had snow fall again. Probably the last until next winter. Found an ant in my kitchen, it went squish. Finally heard from a gym I interviewed at a month ago and got rejected. Received another rejection from a high school I applied at 2 months ago but never interviewed with.

Made payments for the accounting software and 1st online shop so was ready sell items for St. Patrick's Day offering 10% off all green, gold, and amber candle jars and tins. Then 3 days before the holiday and no orders for anything, I gave my Leprechaun gnome to my Mom. We visited her friend in the nursing home part of the same building Mom is in (she's in assisted living). She also needs hearing aids. Received the acceptance letter for a farmers market I applied at for this summer. I had to tell them that I entered credit counseling and can no longer afford to sell at their farmers market. That broke my heart. I was hoping a different farmers market would yield better results.

Set up a video interview. Started a Gofundme page for my Bilbo's teeth cleaning next month for gingivitis. I pray he doesn't need a tooth pulled, who knows what that will cost. I hate begging strangers for money, but I am desperate. At least Misty's teeth were okay. I know why this happened to these cats and not my other cats who never had their teeth pulled out. The teeth cleaner I put in their drinking water stopped being made during Covid and never returned. I tried other kinds but cats never liked them. Who thought up Green Tea flavor for cats? I finally found a tuna flavor one that they liked but the tarter built up too much trying to find one they liked. Sigh. At least I got the money I needed in 2 days from 2 donors. I think I'm going to cry.

The rain we were getting in the daytime turned into snow in the evening. Wild ride driving to work tonight.

Trying and trying to go nowhere

Rommate got tired of watching videos to learn virtual wholesaling (there's 80 hours). I told him to figure out what he does best and figure out a way to get paid for it. So he decides on woodworking and I bought some sandpaper for him. He grabbed some broken branches and works all day trying to carve out spoons to sell. He asked me to teach him how to make soap when I make candles. When I made a candle, he didn't pay attention so not really interested in that. Just wants easy money that he can do. He carves that wood with my tools until his hands get sore. He took a break and called his friend he worked with at a fast food place. He was a cook there before leaving to do the security guard thing. His friend said he could be a shift manager. Here's hoping.

Oh boy, why me

Spoke to roommate about paying rent since he is raising my water and electric bills. He agreed once he pays off the storage unit his things are in and pay back some friends, he can give me some money. Right after I get home, he calls me to pick him up. He was fired for using a racial slur that upset a biracial coworker who complained to human resources. He was more insulted the coworker called him white, when he is Mexican. Says his grandma is Guatemalan.

Now that roommate can't get a job from the way he was fired, he decided to be self employed. He wants to mow lawns for people using my lawn mower. I said he can use my printer to print some fliers to give my neighbors.

His girlfriend got him excited about virtual wholesaling. She did it for years before her divorce, but apparently it didn't stop her from falling for a rental house scam. Doesn't she not know how to look up property records online for free? Right now she works for a security firm as roommate suggested cause that's what he was doing at the time.

Happy Birthday Luthien

I finally bit the bullet and got credit counseling. I haven't sold a single candle since January and I bought supplies to make Easter decorations to sell. I hope I sell something soon or I will have to close my shop. I maxed out all my credit cards and can't pay minimum payments anymore. I told my family I didn't know what to do anymore. If I declare bankruptcy, who is going to hire me? I didn't sell any wreaths or gnomes for Valentine's Day. I have two interviews and pray for a better paying job I can't see to get either. I have been trying to get a new job for seven months now, plus run a business, and work a full time job. I am so stressed out and tired that I can't function. Then I have a roommate to take care of. Went to the grocery store and my credit card declined so couldn't get cupcakes for Luthien's birthday. I thought I had room on my card but a autopay took some money so didn't have enough left. My roommate ended up paying for the cupcakes when we went out shopping.

Celebrated Luthien's 7th Birthday. Old lady ferret. She and Boromir loved the frosting on the cupcakes. I shared a cupcake with my roommate. Cats got catnip.

More requests

Heard at work a new engineer is in jail for assault while intoxicated. He was fired. Too bad, he seemed so quiet. Plus the new sales coordinator they hired instead of promoting me is back in jail for violating their parole. Also fired. Then they hired a new sales coordinator. I have 2 interviews this week.

To be supervisor, roommate has to have a driver's license that he doesn't have. He asked me to teach him to drive. Nervous about him driving my fairly new SUV my Mom bought for me. She will not buy me a new one if he crashes it. Plus, what will that do to my car insurance to have a 19-year-old man added on. I said no. I suggested a driving school for adults.

Just another day in paradise

Installed my very first doorbell camera. I had a heck of a time figuring out the diretions. Received help from my roommate's girlfriend what to do to connect it to my phone. It snowed 5.6 inches and Boromir has stopped loving the snow so much. He walks around, digs around, and comes back inside. Guess he is getting old too. Still jumps on Bilbo that Bilbo dislikes and bumps him off. Boromir just wants to play.

Had nightmare guests at the hotel (high school athletic teams hear for a tournament) who pushed my acting skills to the limit. After destroying my hotel, making us run out of towels, blankets, and pillows, upsetting guests trying to sleep by running up an down the halls, treating my coworkers like garbage, drunk parents threatening to beat up my security guard when asked to control their kids, and crank calls from the emergency phones by the elevator: I smile, check them out, offer a receipt, and tell them to have a great day. Customer may always be right, but I hate the nasty ones and glad to see them leave.

Had an interview at a church for office manager that I would love do. I would do the bulletins and news letters, make event arrangements, count and deposit offerings, and welcome new members to the church. I haven't joined a church since moved away from my home church. Maybe I could join this one. Later I was told I was the only candiadate who showed up for their interview, but they still wouldn't give me the job. They have to interview more candiadates before making a decision. I take that as a rejection. If they wanted me, they would have hired me.

Got a security guard fired. Their coworker mentioned they were asleep in a chair at the restaurant. One thing my hotel does not tolerate is sleeping on the job. So I shook the chair they were in to wake them up. I announced I needed receipts delivered. I reported this misbehavior to my manager who complained to the contracted company who dismissed from working our hotel. Found out from the coworker they didn't want to work with another client so they were released from employment. Apparently, they were angry with me for reporting them. Excuse me, sleeping on the job and they expected not to report that. If I am not allowed to sleep then neither are they.

Came in work one day to find a plastic mouse in the office. Apparently the kitchen staff tried to prank the waitstaff. I was told it didn't end well.

Decided to do a reading of my Easter book in hope of more sales. Last year I sold one book to my coworker. I got it out in bookstores as an ebook, but nobody ever buys it. I try.

Interesting conversation

Roommate asked if his girlfriend could stay another night when she had been here for 2 nights. She was asleep at the moment. No, she wasn't. She was wide awake and I demanded she leave cause has been here long enough. My house is not a free hotel for his homeless friends. I received a lecture after I dropped her off downtown near a place one of her friends lives. Roommate was upset that his girlfriend believes I don't like her. Well, that would be accurate. I don't like her or trust her. She is ruled by her anxiety, plus using him and me. I am under no obligation to be friends with her. I think she is manipulative as well as this conversation. Even further he is upset I called his friends lowlife. They are people he cares about. If they are lowlife then so is he. From years of dealing with customers and nieces and nephew for years, I know when I am being played. If I don't kick her out, she will never leave. My kindness has limits and he finding this out. I care about my roommate without social connections to house him until he gets back onto his feet. This kindness doesn't include his girlfriend or friends. He said my judment of people effects how much I care about them. I call it self-preservation. I don't like being used.

His train wreck girlfriend full of bad decisions and unreliable friends is incapable of taking care of herself and he feels a need to take care of her to make up for her bad relationships. But he can't do that depending on my charity.

Naughty coworker

Coworker who claims to be homeless was caught in an out of order room by an engineer along with her boyfriend, daughter, and daughter's boyfriend. She was suspended 3 days and had a meeting to decide if she kept her job. At the meeting, she won them over and allowed to stay in a hotel room for a week.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day. I work as usual. Brought in heart cakes for my coworkers to eat. They seem to get demanding about them. Made some heart sugar cookies too. Gave cats some catnip and ferrets got pink cupcakes that were in Boromir's birthday box. Received my doorbell cameras. Will install my next day off.

Happy Birthday Boromir

My ferret Boromir turned 6 years old today. Got him cupcakes from the grocery store. He loves whipped frosting but doesn't like my version. Happy Birthday Baby! No presents other than a cup of cocoa. He has enough toys.

Working hard

Made a floral wreath to sell for Valentine's Day. Made two more Valentine gnomes. Got to stop teaching the new manager the night audit cause she stopped showing up for work. After no showing up 3 days in a row, she was terminated. Funny how the day before the general manager asked me if she was ready to do the night audit by herself. I said no because she doesn't listen to a word I say and texts on her phone all night. If she thinks she can do whatever she wants on the night audit, she will be getting emails from the accountant about every mistake she makes.

Interesting day

Roommate's girlfriend was woken up today by her new friend's ex girlfriend hitting her with a thrown phone. Ex girlfriend didn't like her being there though she slept on the couch. She left during their argument. Roommate asked me to pick her up and go look at an attic apartment she viewed online. She wanted to view it early in the morning. Roommate explained she was scammed when renting a house during Covid and given the code to get inside. The bank came by upset someone was squatting in their house for sale to kick her out. Since it was a bank employee and not a real estate agent I presume it was a house in foreclosure. Now, girlfriend is cautious about who to trust when renting apartments. He asked what I thought of her and I said she is a complete train wreck to which he agreed. He wants to help her trust men again cause she had so many bad experiences. I don't think he can help her. If she doesn't trust herself, then she will never trust him. Obviously she doesn't learn from these bad experiences if she keeps repeating them.

Well I find out later that they took an application from the landlord, but never filled it out nor return it to apply for the apartment. I naturally had to demand to know why he woke me up at 8 AM to go pick up his girlfriend, drive all over town to see some apartment if they don't have a security deposit to get the apartment. Plus she has an eviction on record so few landlords will be willing to rent to her so apartment has to go under his name. He explained girlfriend just wanted to know if the rental ad was real from her bad experience being scammed. I swear this woman will drive me crazy.

Dropped him off at his job and went to a job interview at a gym looking for a receptionist. Return home and my garage door lock is broken. I had to come in the front door and thought I saw movement, but thought it was the cat. I check the lock from the inside and 2 screws are missing and nowhere to be found. Had to make 2 trips to the home store for parts to change the lock straight away. I panic called my brother to help me when I couldn't remove a part. He put the locking system together for me. He used the bathroom and wonder if he saw the roommate's stuff in the guest room. I haven't told my family about my rommate cause they are overprotective of me. They would freak at strange man in my house. When roommate came home with his manager driving, I asked if his lowlife friends were responsible for this. He denied it, but don't fully believe him based on his facial expression when I told him what happened. Nothing was taken, but then I might have interrupted the burglery. Now I have to buy a camera and fear their return. I switched on the Onstar program so if they do return, the car can be track by GPS. My poor cats who normally greet me were hiding and shaking. Someone was here. Roommate is now upset I called his friends lowlife. I'm sorry, he calls them homeless and/or drug addicts. What am I supposed to call them?

Good news and bad news

Roommate announced his girlfriend was kicked out of whoever she was staying with and needs a place to to stay the night. I okayed 1 night only. My cats are getting accustomed to him being here and they will freak out at her presence. My cats are afraid of people.

Apparently girlfriend was living with her brother with her 2 kids and 2 cats. Brother kicked them all out to move in his new girlfriend. Her kids went to live with her ex husbands and her cats are still with her brother who treats them badly. She moved in with a friend with an elder relative. Well elder relative kicked them both out. She bounced around place to place for months now. After 1 night, she left. She met a new friend roommate has not met yet and staying with him tonight.

Good news is that roommate was hired at his interview at a donut shop. They want to eventually make him shift lead. He was so happy on the way home.

Bad news. Took keys to the store to make copies cause one got bent until it broke and I like having spare keys. Well, new keys didn't fit into the hole so had to return them. Went to another store and they didn't have the right size of blanks to make them. Ok, will have to wait to make new ones.

Meeting with Management on Groundhog Day

Since we have a front desk manager again, we have to have staff meetings. But my manager has stage fright so the General Manager ran the course of the meeting today. Assistant General Manager was surprised we have a uniform closet he didn't know about. My supervisor promised to show it to him after the meeting.

Cliff Notes of meeting: Do your job. Show up on time. Wear your uniform. Write down all guest complaints. Engage with the guests.

Naturally the main complaints from guests are being understaffed and bad housekeeping (like a maid remaking the bed without changing the sheets). Covid is over and we should be back to pre-Covid standards. A renovation for the hotel is planned for September.

Happy Groundhog Day

In other news, my roommate went to an interview and they hired him on the spot. Must be desperate for people. He is desperate for a job. He has personal items in a storage unit and that has to be paid or his unit with all his belongings not in my house get auctioned off. He is so happy it is so good to see him this way.

Tax Season 2023

With my candle business, I got to send in sales tax I owe to the states where I mailed or sold items. Most states have where package was received gets the sales tax while others have a where package was sent gets sales tax. Had to fill out sales tax forms for 2 states. Plus I had to apply for a Tax ID to send in theses forms. Then I to put my income and taxable expenses on my personal income tax forms. Such as life running a business. At least I got a nice refund.

Mom was moved into an assisted living place from her difficulty walking and decided not to eat and drink to avoid the going to the bathroom. Well, that sent her to the hospital dehydrated and weak, then got physical therapy at a nursing home, and finally been living with my sister for months. Nephew was happy to get his room back. Mom was worried I wouldn't do her taxes anymore since don't work at the tax place anymore. I said I would do her taxes on a different website.

New order

Hooray! Got a candle order, the first since the Christmas season. I also got a new mold for Valentine wax melts and created a new scent, Strawberry Rose for the new melts. I checked it online and someone thought of it before me. Oh well. Got my first candle sale of the year. New Year is looking bright.

Roommate thought he started a temp job today at a graphic design publishing company. It lasted an hour cause the office didn't know he was coming and I had to go back to get him right after I got home from dropping him off. He called the temp recruiter and got a "My bad, I forgot to tell the hiring manager you were coming". What? That was the end of that relationship with temp recruiter.

Disappointed

Well apparently, there is no landscaping job starting today in downtown as my roommate said he was starting today. I asked about onboarding paperwork every job has workers fill out. He said it was done online. Roommate tried to donate plasma for money today, but was rejected because he didn't have his social security card with him. He just has a photo on his phone of it. I swear this kid is going to wear out my patience like my nieces and nephew do. Plus, I am helping move my Mom into assisted living. She decided being so frail that she would stop eating and drinking to avoid walking to the bathroom. This landed her in the hospital from dehydration. She has been living with my sister's family once out of the nursing home for physical therapy. Nephew is glad to have his bed back. He has been sleeping in the basement.

More night audit training

Got to train my manager how to do the night audit. She was on her phone all night, walked around barefoot, and so passive when having a problem. One issue we had was the security guard calling the city to tow away a car parked in our loading zone at the entrance. I explained the general manager forbids us from calling tow trucks after an incident where one coworker told a guest they could park there for an event and the next coworker came in to have it towed. I asked the front desk manager if she approved the security guard calling for a tow truck that the hotel has to pay for cause the city won't pick it up and have angry guest at the front desk in the morning when they find their car is gone. Manager explained she was informed of the security guard's intentions, but neglected to disapprove of her intended action so the security guard believed she had permission. The front desk doesn't have a number for a tow truck we have a direct bill account with because we are not allowed to call tow trucks. I told my manager she better set the security guard straight and call off the tow truck cause the guard said it was on its way here. Well, manager decided a note on the windshield was a good warning and had guard call off the tow truck. Security guard was furious we were violating our own policies cause there is a sign outside that states TOW ZONE. There is also a thing called customer service that suggests sometimes it is best not to upset the customers paying to be here. Sent an email to front desk workers stating the license plate and the warning given with instructions to tow car away if they repeatedly park out front.

Also got to teach the manager how to sew. Don't they have home ecoonomics classes anymore or at least life skills classes? Gave a brief lesson in sewing a tear in my jacket I haven't had time to fix. Not that hard. Discovered our sewing kit needles are already threaded so skipped the threading a needle lesson.

My manager also took to giving away water bottles to anyone who asked for one. Supervisors were upset nobody is going to purchase of water in the gift shop if she is giving them away for free. General Manager obsessed with raising customer service scores okayed the giveaway. Even better, some people she was giving away bottles to were clearly not guests but homeless people. The backpack and asking to use the restroom then asking about room rates to walk out the door is a dead giveway they are homeless.

Next manager asked me if she moved to another hotel would I follow her. Hell to the no, I would not follow her. She left me weeks ago sitting at the front desk for 5 hours while human resources tried to get ahold of her. I am certainly not working for her at another hotel. I gave her a wimpy "Maybe" in reply.

Roommate requests

Well, I got asked to take in roommate's girlfriend's 2 cats. They currently live with her brother who is a jerk and 1 was let outside by itself. Luckily it was found nearby. In fact, she lived with her brother until he kicked her out to move in his new girlfirend.

I said no. I have an aggressive male cat and male ferret who will attack them. Bad idea.

Then the next day I drove him to a cheap motel to spend the evening with his friends who live there for now. His friends drove him back to my place and when I saw him when I returned from work in the morning, his eyes were bloodshot and he slept for two days so I know he took some drug. I don't know which one, but he was on something. He said he visited a former girlfriend/roommate who is a drug addict, but doesn't want to be an addict. He says she once traded sex for drugs. I replied, Thank you for sharing that with me.

Apparently, he has not applied for a job at my hotel. He is afraid to cause of what happened that caused him to get fired. He fears rejection. Plus my supervisors complained about him sleeping on the job and had a friend in one of the conference rooms while working. I never did complain. The restaurant staff adored him and ask about how he is doing.

Roommate has sensed my ghosts, especially at night. He says my demon keeps talking to him and once said "These are my children", then giving him night terrors. One ghost said "It's not your time".

Niece visit

My niece teaching children in South Korea how to speak English came home for a visit. She brought candy with Korean writing on the wrappers. We don't get these sweets in the states. Bummer. Had a good visit and gave her a candle for her future birthday (in 5 months). Got my first Valentine gnome finished. I hope people like it and sell at least one. Helped a coworker figure out why the printer didn't work. It was unplugged.

Roommate didn't get an apartment today so will be with me for a while. I told him Banquets and the Restaurant were always hiring. He has a girlfriend he has been with since last September. She bounces around friend's apartment to friend's apartment. I gather she is homeless. He said he met her while living in the hotel with with his coworker.

New roommate

Got a call from a former coworker while I was doing the laundry begging to stay with me for a while. After they were fired from my job site, they stayed with friends to eventually be kicked out. He asked a coworker of mine for a place to stay and they suggested a shelter. He slept at his apartment once. I once offered my place to crash if he needed it when I found out he was living in a hotel with a coworker (before then he was living in a tent under a bridge). I picked him up from my work and offered my guest room. Hopefully he will get a new job soon, save for an apartment, and be out of my house back on his feet again. He is a sweet kid with a good heart. I wouldn't trust just anybody around my cats and ferrets.

He said it is just until Monday when he gets an apartment. He has a job application in progress. Even better the Banquets Manager offered him a job. When he worked at my job he was a security guard and a good one too until he took liberties hanging out in the Presidential Suite and was caught by the guests still in their wedding clothes complaining someone was having a party in their room. I had to downgrade them to a Governor Suite with humblest aologies. Hence, he ceased to work at my hotel and fired from the security company.

It snowed

It snowed last night so let the ferrets out to play. Saw neighbor with their snow blower doing our street, which is nice since I have to work. City snow plows usually arrive 24 hours after the snow stops. Getting advertisement photos ready to post on social media to show off my products for Valentine's Day. Working on a ribbon wreath. I hope people like it, it is taking a lot of time to tie all these ribbons. Then made the ribbon strands too long so had to cut them in half to make it look better. Got heart wreath frames online and hope a sell at least one.

Training new coworker

Oh boy, got to train someone on the night audit. I am officially an expert. Don't know how to do a lot of things, but who cares. Even better they were on their phone all night, but at least paid attention when doing the night audit. Better than last summer's night auditor who kept falling asleep and never paid attention to anything I said.

Love late coworkers

Waiting for late coworkers is always fun. This time it was my manager who was late, 5 hours late. I was ready to collapse on the floor from exhaustion and back office people refused to take over the front desk so I could go home. Apparently their kid is sick and they were up half the night them so when they fell asleep, they stayed asleep until rested, then received all the messages asking if they were coming to work today. Crashed when I got home.

Happy New Year 2023

Our new manager said she has puppies to give away. I can't afford a new puppy plus I have a blind ferret so have to consider her safety with a new pet. Looked up on internet about mixing scented oils to make Ocean Breeze and Sugar Plum scents. Next time I go to an event I will make scent jars for them. They smell real nice. Getting ready for Valentine's Day at my candle shop inside my head. I want to make some wreaths and gnomes to sell too.

Spent my New Year's Eve with family having our holiday get together after waking up from working the overnight shift. Watched great-nieces open gifts and chatted with the out of state family members. Then went to work and knew it was midnight when people in the lobby started screaming. I was busy with paperowrk for the night audit. I told the security guard they can relax cause I won't try to kiss them (they're gay and wouldn't appreciated anyway). Security guards had to deal with a lot of drunk people who vomited, peed, and bled on the restroom floor. They refused to clean up broken glass, vomit, or urine, but did clean up the blood. They have their limits. Housekeeping can clean up the other mess in the morning. Returned home to nap before returning to work. Don't get holiday pay but do get a floating holiday, better than nothing at all. Finally caught a cat in the cat tent I got for Christmas. Both cats are too big for it. But perfect for ferrets.

Looking forward for more business from my candle shop without all the start up costs weighing me down this year. Hope for more sales. Maybe make enough profit to pay off these credit cards I used like crazy when I lost a job in 2019. Been looking for a new job since last summer, but nobody will hire me. My family is getting tired of me working the overnight shift cause they never see me when I sleep most of the day. I need to make more money to pay my living expenses and all this debt off. Happy New Year to Me.

Merry Christmas 2022

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Spent Christmas Eve at work and security tried for hours to get a kitten in our garage inside. Animal Control refused to come out and set a live trap for it cause it seemed feral when hissed at my coworker. I am certain it is just scared. They recommended a feral cat shelter for it. 2 coworkers wanted the kitten climbing up car engines for warmth. We never caught it.

Cats and ferrets informed me off their adventures of trying to trap Santa Claus as I came home. Santa Trap got sprung when a cat drank the milk so welcomed Santa like well behaved furbabies. We began the day opening presents Santa. Balls and fuzzy mice were received, but I got the best Santa gift, a new purse. Lit the last candle of my Advent Wreath that I couldn't sell and watched my church service program on my computer. After I woke up, went over to brother's house for dinner and received a cat tent that my ferrets love. Just their size. Also received a salt lamp. Then came home to change and back to work.

Christmas Story 2022

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 bookcase with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas would bring toys to share

The ferrets were nestled all snug in their bedspreads

While visions of red balls and feathers danced in their heads

I Bilbo was curled up on Mama’s pillow

With Misty on her feet like a fluffy marshmellow

When out on the lawn I heard a dog bark

I sprang from the bed after viewing a bright spark

Away to the window we pounced in a flurry

The ferrets jumped out of the sheets in a hurry

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow

Covered up the leaves where raccoons like to go

When what to my wandering cat 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 to give that toy a lick

More rapid than ferret bites his coursers they came

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Sparkle, Now Snowball, Now Ivy and Holly

On Mittens, On Tinsel, On Jingles and Jolly

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

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all

As dry leaves that before the snowy hurricane whirl

We kitties danced and the ferrets twirled

The Santa trap had sprung when Misty drank the milk

And the ferrets licked the cookies in a shady bilk

Then, in a twinkling we heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof

As I drew in my head and jumped over a ball

St. Nicholas tripped over the light cord to fall

He crashed to release out a loud yell

And the decorations shook on the wall like a bell

I took the opportunity to explore his sack

And Santa got up to see Misty getting him an untouched snack

His eyes twinkled as Boromir got more milk in a wag

Luthien gave him a napkin, then Santa pulled me out of the bag

His droll little mouth shouted Ho, Ho, Ho

And the hair on his chin was as white as the snow

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

And the smoke encircled up to set off the smoke alarm

Away to remove 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 he petted me in spite of myself

We rubbed our fur on his boots with a purr

Then we heard Mama beginning to stir

He finished his milk and cookies

Then filled all the stockings next to the ferret dookies

Then laying a finger on the side 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 exclaim as he drove out of sight

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night

Christmas Letter 2022

Happy Holidays to all my Friends and Family.

The New Year started with me at my hotel job with a coworker answering phone calls for the hotel shuttle to drive them back from the bar. Next day started putting decorations away. Started a candle business trying to earn extra money and busy making heart shaped candles for Valentine’s Day thinking any leftovers can be sold for weddings the rest of the year. Got all my Covid boosters so I could continue working. We got pounded with 14.3 inches of snow that my front wheel drive SUV didn’t like making turns in and got stuck pulling into my driveway. Neighbor came over to help shovel my tires out to get the SUV into the garage. My dead-end street is always plowed last in the city, usually 24 hours after the snow ends. Watched the Olympics on TV. Celebrated ferret Boromir’s 5th Birthday. Visited Mom for Valentine’s Day and gifted some candles. Celebrated sister’s birthday at her home with her family. Wrote a children’s book for Easter about the ferrets teaching the kittens how to trap the Easter Bunny. I got an Ebook distributed through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Google Play, some Dutch bookstore, and a British bookstore. I sold 1 printed to a coworker all together. No royalty check for me from the publisher this year. Donated 4 candles for an online charity auction and 2 of them sold. I told the pet page holding the auction they can do whatever they want with my donated items that failed to sell.

Applied to 3 farmer’s market for the summer. 2 accepted me but had to turn down 1 explaining with 1 farmer’s market already set was all I could physically handle without any help. Held a fundraiser for a pet page in Ukraine promising $1 for every candle sold until Easter. I sent the pet Patreon account (Youtube thing) a total of $35. They still post updates so still alive. Celebrated ferret Luthien’s 6th Birthday. Went the “The Magic Flute” at the Des Moines Civic Center. Went to the eye doctor for new glasses and they said, “Congratulations, you need bifocals”. It sucks getting old, even worse, getting old alone and few people care about you. After 3 years waiting, I finally took my nephew to the Elton John concert at Wells Fargo arena. Who’s a good aunt? We ended up purchasing the same rock t-shirt. I swear this kid is my twin (it always feels great to rub off my nieces and nephew). Spent Easter at brother’s house with family and it snowed. Was mother nature intoxicated?

Had the return of a Red-Tailed Hawk to my yard’s bird feeder in the spring (they migrate down south during the fall). Had to guard the ferrets when they went out to prevent them becoming lunch. Celebrated Mother’s Day lunch with Mom and siblings. I received a “From the Cat” Mother’s Day card from my sister. Viewed a lunar eclipse at work and made my coworker go outside to see it too. Went to my niece’s high school graduation. She is going to college to learn business management. I told her that if I ever open my own gift shop, she can work for me. IF I ever get there with my new candle drop shipping business. For the farmer’s market I decided to add wax melts which are candles without wicks. Missed my brother’s birthday party due to blocked streets for some marathon competition through downtown and around Gray’s Lake. Won a contest to win new sample fragrance oils from the candle making company I buy my oils from. I bought larger versions of all the samples cause smell so nice. Visited Dad at the cemetery with family. Come into work for the 4th of July to find 2 coworkers quit. Great. 1 quit 3 times so unsure why they keep rehiring them. Missed the fireworks but did see a parade with family. Made a wreath for Mom’s birthday gift and took her to the store to choose flowers. Store was changing locations so everything was 90% off. There is a God.

Had adventures driving the hotel shuttle when drivers decided not to show up for work and not call either. We have flight crews who need to leave for the airport on time or the airline get fined for late departure flights, which screws up their flights the rest of their day. I can’t get last minute cabs so have security watch the counter while I take the flight crews to the airport (2 round trips). One airline contract we lost at the end of November and then the drivers suddenly become more responsible about showing up. Nice. Celebrated Nephew’s 18th birthday. Celebrated my 47th birthday at my hotel restaurant with family (I'm a night auditor). Had my last farmer’s market at Valley Junction. Won’t be doing that market next year, didn’t sell very much to make up the expense. For some reason people keep asking if I am selling soap. My ferret Eowyn died a few weeks short of her 8th birthday. She died while I was holding her. Buried her in the backyard with the other pets. Got fall scented candles ready for the Beaverdale Fall Festival since I missed their farmer’s market. It rained early in the morning so had to bow out. At 1 Valley Junction farmer’s market day, a rainstorm arrived and soaked my stall, so I had to replace 17 paper boxes.

Our new front desk manager quit without telling anyone, so I got 16 hours of overtime that week. Hotel had a Halloween Carnival and I dressed up to run a game booth. It was popular and ran out of toys. Beggar’s Night was great with about 30 kids, usually I get 9. Celebrated cats Bilbo and Misty’s 4th birthday. Participated in an Etsy Cyber Sale offering 20% my merchandise. I received 0 orders. Celebrated niece’s 19th birthday. She loves my candles so much I gave a gift card for $50. Took ferret Luthien to the vet for a swollen 3rd eye. They thought she has lymphoma like Eowyn did. My poor baby. Celebrated Thanksgiving at sister’s house. Had a great sale at my hometown Milo’s craft show during their town-wide Christmas celebration. Sold more there than any suburb farmer’s market day. Good to come home. Strange how I lived in Des Moines and West Des Moines for over 20 years and Milo still feels like home. Got my Christmas decorations up during my extra day off. Then soon after, caught a fever and had to stay home from work for 2 days. Boring! Once the fever broke got work on Christmas chores like putting ornaments and wreaths online to sell and writing cards and letters. Next chore is baking. Christmas will soon be here. Probably be working and visiting brother’s house for dinner later in the afternoon.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Jordan

Bilbo, Misty (cats)

Luthien, Boromir (ferrets)

Good to come home

Applied to be the secretary for the Sales Department and got rejected. Either I wanted too much money or they couldn't give me up as night auditor. Have to look elsewhere for a new job. Had a great at the hoetown Christmas craft show. Met people from school and sold more here than any day at the farmer's market. Go figure. Soon after I got sick with a fever for a couple days.

Happy Thanksgiving

Skunk tried to get into the hotel revolvig door that has been closed for over a year. Luckily it gave up and wandered away.Worked on ornaments for the Christmas craft show in December in my hometown. Celebrated cats 4th birthday (they are littermates). Participated in a Cyber Sale and received 0 orders. Hotel hired a new front desk manager. Hopefully they are better than the last one. Celebrated niece's 19th Birthday. I gave her a gift card for my candle shop. She loves my candles. Took Luthien ferret to the vet with swollen 3rd eye. Possible lymphoma so given steroids. Will see how long she lasts. Worked Thanksgiving so spent a few hours at sister's house talking to the family.

Happy Halloween

Mom got sick at my birthday celebration and rushed to the ER. Had to take my 1st Covid test cause Mom tested positive. My test was negative. Had to wear a mask to work for 10 days as a precaution. Had my last farmer's market days and sold 1 box of tapers. Not doing this farmer's market again next year. Had 2 dogs follow a coworker inside and got them corraled into an office to wait for animal control. They were friendly, but no tags to call an owner. Lost my ferret Eowyn. She had lymphoma for over a year so it was amazing she lived with it for so long. I buried next to her buddy ferret Faramir in the backyard. She died in my arms.

Got fall scent candles and wax melts made for a loval fall festival. Packed the car up the night before. Watched the news and they predicted a rainstorm in the morning so had to cancel. Festival people understood. Bummer. Had niece come over to take photos for ads for my fall scent candles. She loves dressing up in costumes. Applied for another fall vendor sale and was rejected. Our new front desk manager decided not to show up for 3 days in a row so got terminated. I got to work my day off. My supervisor had to work 16 hour shift cause they didn't show up and nobody would answer their phoen to ask to come in. Good riddens to her. Oh, I got 16 hours of overtime that week because the manager decided to quit without telling anybody.

Finally finished my candle catalog. I move at a glacier pace since I have little spare time to get things done. Got my driver's license renewed. Hotel had a Halloween carnival and I won the costume contest. I create a carnival game tossing balls into witch hats kids loved. Scared the cats when I returned home in my costume. They had to sniff my hand before lettign me touch them. Had a good Beggar's Night with about 30 kids. Usually I get 9 kids so this was a happy evening.

Happy Birthday to Me

Got the day off to celebrate my borthday with my family at my hotel restaurant. Family liked my fancy hotel, though menu was a little short with only a few items listed. Have to get a new driver's license to discover Covid rules are still in effect and made permanent. Have to make an appointment to renew my license. Earliest appointment was in October. Sigh. At least I had a good birthday party.

Summer fun

Taking bets every day a certain coworker who is always late will show up. If they are less than 2 hours late, then I am happy. Human Resources is fuming I am still there when they come in to work when I should have left by then, but what can I do? More farmer's markets to sell my candles and wax melts. Had someone tell me that my display candles smelled so good. My display candles are unscented. For some reason people keep asking if I'm selling soap. OK. Celebrated Mom's birthday by making a wreath for her. I took her to a fabric store that was changing locations so got a good deal. She loved her wreath. Had a school supplies drive at work. Began driving the hotel shuttle van cause drivers can't be bothered to show up for work. I'll take the tips. Had a driver quit 3 times. WHy they kept rehiring them, I don't know.

Quit my job in the middle of the night after receiving an email from the unreliable manager who left my cash drawer empty of $5 bills that they want to discuss my negative emails after our meeting today with a supervisor. Excuse me. I am driving the shuttle van repeatedly cause drivers don't come in and don't call. I am practically the only one restocking the gift shop. I am burned out working 10 days in a row. I am staying 2 extra hours longer when my coworker is late. I'm left without $5 bills in a cash drawer with no way to find more at 11 PM. And when I complain about I am told my email is unprofessional and disrespectful to my coworkers. I had enough of this crap. I spent the night restocking everything and got a call early in the morning asking me not to quit. No apology, just don't quit. Well, my quitting cancelled the meeting. Supervisor arrived to work from lack sleep cause my quitting cause people to call them to try to talk me out of quitting. He didn't say anything, just stared at me. I didn't have it in me to tell him off (he's not the problem) so I said I would stay. If I had a new job in line, I would be leaving.

Mom went to the hospital for dehydration so no longer can be left alone. Great. Working 6 days workweeks indefinately and Mom gets upset I don't visit her. I'm a night auditor so sleep all day. When do I have time to visit anyone? I did get in 1 visit when she was recovering in a nursing home. Applied for a front desk job at a hotel and was rejected. Funny, I have a former coworker working there. Had to call the cops on a birthday party from noise complaints. Then security convinced me to let the registed guests stay, but everyone else leave. I think there was some fraternizing with the guests that is forbidden. Had a rainstorm hit the farmer's market and everything at my stand got soaked. Had to buy new boxes to replace those that fell apart.

Happy 4th of July

Busy doing farmer's markets and I have way too many candles to put up every day. Wish I could sell more. Had 3 interviews for bank teller jobs and every one rejected me for whatever reason. I have customer service and cash office experience so how I am not qualified because I don't have bank experience. Missed my brother's birthday party from a marathon competition blocking the streets and then had trouble gettign to work from another event blocking more streets. Sigh.

Got accused by the accountant of being a thief. Explained there are 2 security cameras at the front desk if they wish to know who the real is. Coworker thinks it's the new manager who's stealing money. But we don't have access to the cameras. Won a contest and sample fragrance oils from this company I buy fragrance oils from. Visited my Dad at the cemetery.

Come into work on the 4th of July to find 2 coworkers quit. Great.

Memorial Day Weekend

This month witnessed a lunar eclispe at work. I made my coworker go look at it since it was a beautiful red color. Doing farmer's markets the first two weeks each month. I couldn't afford to do the whole season. Got a phone interview and in person interview for a auto repair shop. They didn't hire me cause I don't love cars. Alirighty then. Went to my niece's high school graduation. We got a new front desk manager for my hotel job. She is both unreliable and full of excuses. Promised a coworker money to help move them from another city. They never got paid. Will see have long they last. Donated candles for a charity auction. Half of them sold. Hope they don't return the unsold ones.

Visited cememteries with family.

Happy Mother's Day

Had a wonderful lunch with Mom and my siblings. I gave her a necklace a friend made. Sister gave me a Mother's Day card from the cat. How sweet. Last week I did my first Farmer's Market selling my candles and newly made wax melts. Sold a few and received a lecture from some old woman how burning candles is toxic for animals. I looked it up online and it says parrafin wax or essential oils can harm pets. Mine have neither.

Happy May Day

Once I completed my Easter Sunday candles order, I totaled my candles solde between St Pat's Day and Easter to donate $1 for every candle sold that time period to a hedgehog owner in Ukraine. I donated $35 to their Patreon account. Hedghog owner is still posting photos and videos so they are still alive. Safe is a relative term being safe one moment and then have to rush to shelter when air raid sirens go off. I hope this war ends soon. Supervisor had surgery and a coworker quit, but waited until supervisor returned before leaving.

Received notice that I was accepted to a 2nd farmers market and asked for stall fees to be paid. I spent so much already for 1 farmers market and have little time to make candles for 2 farmers markets. I barely have time to do my yardwork. I had to decline. Cut 12 inches off my hair for the warmer spring that finally arrived after a tons of rain.

Had an interview that was a disaster. Owner wanted a manager to run 5 pet projects while I was applying for entry level accountant. Had a visit from a red tailed hawk I think was here last year. Pets rushed inside when it screeched and soared over a neighbr's yard. Don't want them to become lunch. Decided to make wax melts in addition to candles. Someone who sold Scentsy was interested in my wax melt selection. We will see if they actually buy some. I decided to cease applying for jobs for a while. I need to focus on my farmers market candles. Who would hire me with a side gig commitment until September? I checked the sales on my Easter book and so far, no reported sales of my ebook on the publisher site. I want to cry. I try so hard to make money and I just get more debt.

Post later.

Happy Easter

Reading my month end report of my candle web page, I noticed I didn't sell one single candle the entire month of March. I went to my social media begging people to buy a candle. I had Easter egg candles, an Easter book, and was tryign to raise money for a Ukraine pet page. Being poor sucks when you have no power to make the world a better place. You want to help someone, but can't cause I have nothing to give. I have debt, not riches. I work my butt off to barely get by let alone pay back loans and rising credit card bills due to my candle business. It costs money to make money. Nothing is free. My farmers market wanted a deposit to hold my spot. I have to buy wax, candles jars and tins, boxes, and labels. I have to supply my own stand buying a canopy, table, display, signs, and shelf labels. Several social media friends bought candles to help me out. They said they loved their candles, but won't write a product review so strangers finding my page know I am a real business who delivers their product.

Took cats to the vet for their annual shots. Bilbo is fat at 22 lbs. and Misty is 15 lbs. Have to cut down on the food. Once I got my Easter book on my website for sale, I discovered my ebooks was available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Google Play. I'm an author, in a bookstore. Hope I sell lots of ebooks to pay off my debts. Sold one print copy to a coworker for their granddaughter and even signed it for them. Having difficulty seeing small print the past couple years, I got my eyes checked. The eye doctor said, "Congratulations, you need bifocals". So got new glasses and bifocals aren;t that bad. I just to hold my paper a certain way to read it. "Received great news. After 3 years waiting for the Elton John concert, I got an email tellign it was on in a few days. Told my nephew who had to change shifts with someone to go. We had a great time close to the stage. I parked in my hotel's parking garage and took the shuttle back and forth. Who's a good aunt?

My hotel got so desperate for workers they held a hiring event in the ballroom. No new front desk people, but hired a new shuttle driver who lasted 1 day. Got to work on Easter cakes for my family and coworkers, which means I had to take a break from making candles. Had a good Easter eating lunch with my family since I have the weekend off. Even better, it started snowing. Nautrally had to take photos and videos. Then I receive an email alert how I have a new candle order that wasn't there the day before.

This year's Easter Bunny Trap story is:

Scuffle in the darkness: Umph, get off me naughty animals!

Luthien: Hurry Eowyn before he gets loose.

Eowyn: Oh no, I hear ferretmom's footsteps.

Ferretmom: What is going on here?

Untie Easter Bunny who hops out the door.

Ferrets and Cats trying to act innocent: Happy Easter.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Celebrated sister's birthday at home. Wrote a children's books about the ferrets teaching the cats how to trap the Easter Bunny and self-published it. I chose the Ebook distribution option so other bookstores can sell it in their shops. I hope someboy picks it up. Won't receive author royalties immediately cause the bookstore has to report the sales to the publisher first, which they do monthly or quarterly. Sigh. Donated some candles for a charity auction comign in the spring. Hopefully I can get my business name out there. People don't buy when they don't know you exist.

Hotel manager came up a way to increase customer satisfaction sorces: A game room for the athletes arriving for the wrestling tournament. This led to a trashed room, broken chandliers, and torn open ping pong balls. If manager wanted to help customer satisfaction scores, they could have spent the money they did on the game room fixing the heat customers keep complaining about, or fixing the housekeeping who leave guets room doors open and don't clean them properly (dirty carpet, trash in waste basket, dirty vents, missing tolietries, unmade beds). Engineers replaced thermostats on one floor, but not other floors.

Working hard to complete my candle collection to be considered for a farmers market. I applied for 3 in local area so hope someone accepts me. I have to get my business name out. Started a funraiser to help a pet page I follow based in Ukraine. I pledged $1 for every candle I sell between now and Easter. I got cartons to do 6 Easter Egg candles. I hope people want Easter egg candles. Celebrated Luthien's 5th birthday with cupcakes. Cats got some catnip. Wet to the local production of a 1920's version of "The Magic Flute" by Mozart. It was in German with English subtitles. I enjoyed myself.

We got a thunderstorm in early March complete with tornado that killed 7 people in the next county. The next day we had snow. Mother Nature must be on drugs. Coworker told me I could take my yard pinecones and make fire starters to sell. I never heard of a fire starter pine cone. Had to look that up to do those this summer. Received my acceptance letter to sell at a local farmers market. Now have to make candles to sell, but how many do I make? Got my 5 copies of my Easter book in the mail to post them on my web page. Hopefully somebody wants a print copy of my book and not just the Ebook avaialble at book stores. Happy St. Patrick's Day. May you find a McD's with a working Shamrock Shake machine.