End of Summer Approaches

We had a hail storm that woke me up from my after work slumber. Sounded like someone hammering on the roof and someone throwing rocks at the windows. Look outside to find the hail coming down. Tried to record it, but my smartphone took a minute to turn on. I got the tail end of the hail falling, but missed the heavy downpour that woke me up. It resembled snow falling. Such as life. Missed the family reunion at my brother's house sleeping at home most of the day. I arrived after most people had left. Aunt was celebrating her 80 Birthday. My niece recorded my great-nieces playing in the backyard and shared it with me to see how big they are getting. Had 2 online interviews with prospective employers. Both rejected me later. Had a phone interview with a 3rd company and received another rejection notice. Celebrated my Mom's birthday with siblings at a restaurant. Siblings wanted to go to a fancy restaurant they always wanted to experience. I replied that our mother grew up on a farm and would not enjoy the lobster or calimari they crave. We settled on Ruby Tuesday's and I enjoyed pulled pork and tator tots. We lost a maid and gained a front desk clerk. Front desk clerk worked here before and didn't like the old manager very much to quit as I was hired. Owners decided to give raises to the staff hoping to keep people and get more hired. Took them long enough. Boromir ferret made the Great Escape through the fence into the neighbor's yard, then went through their fence to end up in next neghbor's yard who didn't have a fence so I quickly grabbed him. There was a rabbit bigger than him that hopped away. Another day he made the great escape to take a tour of the front yard and ended up in the neighbor's yard where I coxed him back into our yard before grabbing him. Got 2 schedules that had me working 12 days in a row. After Day 8, I was backing out of my parking space when a coworker decided to park in the spot next to mine. Since I was looking behind me, I failed to view their car in front of me so our fenders bumped into each other. Naturally it was it was all my fault though it could have been both our fault, coworker didn't want to file a police report cause they don't speak English very well, and was told my coworker didn't have insurance. Had to write a claim and take photos for my insurance company on my smartphone while ready to collapse from exhaustion. After 9th work day my mental capacity diminished to the point I couldn't remember my coworkers' names. 10th day was babysitting a coworker doing their first night audit so that was a half day. Felt better after getting some sleep. When I left the 12th day, I told the manager to please don't ever do that again. I got one day off and went back to work again. I pray for another job, but no job ever appears. Then a week after my fender bender, I receive a phone call from my coworker's insurance company which was a surprise for me when they said they had none. I explained my insurance was fixing my car which made the insurance agent happy. It is taking a long time (2 weeks so far) to fix my car and driving the rental car that barely fits into my garage (it's a minivan). Opened the trunk lid and it hit the garage door. Watched the Olympics on TV. My guilty pleasure is the gymnastics. Discovered mosquito larvae in the bird bath. Water was tossed out and replaced so the larvae became lawn fertilizer. Glass storm door got stuck and after kicking the door to unstuck it, the whole glass door shattered. Had a ton of glass to sweep up and brother helped put up the new door I ordered. Celebrated my nephew's birthday at a restaurant and had ice cream cake at my sister's house. I paid for my brother's lunch for helping me with my door. Later, Nephew had to leave for his fast food job. He does the fries and chicken nuggets. He said all the grease in the air is making his acne worse. I offered a housekeeping job at my hotel that would be cleaner environment, and maids get tips. We got a new hotel manager assigned to us. A traveling manager who lives in town thought we were great work team and applied for permanent residency. She was accepted and I hardly ever see her working the overnight shift. Hope she gets to freezer in the marketplace section fixed or replaced so we can sell our ice cream. People seem to not like the idea of us grabbing ice cream from the kitchen for them.

What Part of I'm Broke did you not Understand?

Funny how people have trouble understanding what "I'm broke" really means. It means: I have debt not savings. I work 2 jobs, 6 days a week and barely have enough to pay my living expenses. I'm not lazy, I'm exhausted. I don't have money to spare to pay for repairs, vacations, TiVo, Disney+, Netflix, fast food, or hobbies. I won't be remodeling anything in the near future. I seriously don't care what Martha Stewart would have to say about my boring meals with foods that are all the same color or my lack of themes or color schemes in my decorating. In fact, I seriously don't care what a man would think of my dirty house covered in pet hair cause no man will see it. I can't afford a luxury apartment or posh mansion you wished I lived in so you can swim in a pool for free. I am not buying movies for you to borrow for free. I can't afford a housekeeper to keep my house perfectly clean to your satisfaction. And my yard will never resemble a manicured golf course.

I hate customer service jobs

I hate customer service jobs. Get someone who makes a reservation in the middle of night and demands their room at 2:30 AM. I am sold out tonight. The res they just made for today is good at 3PM, not 3AM when my guests are still sleeping (I am not yanking guests out of bed to give someone a room). Well had 2 reservations from the day before arriving and I checked them in. Now I am racist cause he's black and this is going on social media. I explained those people had reservations from the night before and I have to honor them past midnight. If their reservation was for yesterday, I would have gladly honored it at 2 AM. But it wasn't, it was made for today and the check in time is 3 PM. They explain they are from New York and unfamiliar with such things. Yeah, I'm sure hotels in New York have check in times too. They scream at me how heartless I am cause they have a little girl and I am throwing them out in the street (not exactly, I let them sleep in the lobby and let them use the public restroom I also let a homeless guy use while they're screaming at me). They were welcome to eat from continental breakfast when they were still waiting for the manager at 6 AM. I texted the manager to come early cause they were still here and not leaving until they spoke to a manager. I began doing my work from the back room to avoid them. The cook came in for breakfast and kept screaming my name at the front desk to tell me things. I explianed I am working from the backroom. Manager came in 15 minutes earlier than usual and I explained the situation. People were much calmer by then and asked for the uber number. Manager even made copies of their cancelations to prove they weren't being charged for them.

Short Staffed and Dollar Short

Always fun to get yelled at by guests comparing my hotel to other hotels in the chain. Can't tell them the maids are working 9-10 hours in a day preparing rooms for arriving guests so they don't have time to service the stay over guests with fresh towels and sheets every day. Manager is even blocking new reservations from being made so the maids can keep up. Can't tell them manager forgot to order sugar packets so we ran out yesterday. I did find a few in the break room and then they refused take them, but will gladly whine how we don't have coffee cause we are out of sugar. Equal is just not good enough. Can't tell them the cook works alone and too overwhelmed to open breakfast an hour early for a sports team. Their extra help is at the front desk, which makes guests complain there is nobody at the front desk when I go help her. Can't tell them since our top manager quit the maintenance guy cannot seem to get the ice machine fixed or anything else fixed, but they have plenty of time to hang around the maids all day. How's your day going.

Happy 4th of July

Working at a car rental I once wished a customer a Happy 4th and they asked the importance of the day. I explained to the Italian tourist that it is our Independence Day. I suggested attending our fireworks display at the Capitol Building that also has the Des Moines Symphony playing music. Days later he returned his car to thank me for the advice cause he enjoyed the concert and fireworks. Took Eowyn ferret to get her stitches removed from her eye removal surgery. I say she is now a pirate. She doesn't like being approached by her eyeless side and turns her to see through her other eye. I wonder if she is going blind cause she follows walls plus crashing into furniture. She poops everywhere so has trouble finding the corners where I place newspapers for the ferrets. Now that she is healed I have to give her a steroid pill crushed and mixed in salomon oil. At first she objected (shook her head), but still licked the salmon oil that tasted weird. After a while, she refused to lick the salmon oil period so had to give up. The water company had asked the public to conserve water due to the current drought and don't shoot of fireworks to prevent grass fires. Funny, I recently viewed mushrooms in my yard. I took my pets outside in the early morning hours when it is cool and they get wet fur from the dew. Had some rain fall enough to make my grass turn green again so I had to get out and mow it. Such as life. Hotel manager quit to go work for a dry cleaner. She was so tired from constantly covering shifts, gettign called at home, doing bookkeeping, going through resumes and interviewing people to have them not show up for their first day (or quit after a week), and had no time to plan her wedding next year (she got engaged on her birthday this year), and she had no time to ride her bike to practice for the upcoming RABRAI ride across the state. The owners sent us a traveling manager to fill in until they assign a new manager. Until they shpw up the Assistant Manager was acting manager. I felt so sorry for her and tried my best to do a good job so she had less to worry about. And now she is gone. I looked her up on social media and apparently she does not want to keep in touch. Alrighty then. Her last day, I had a job interview and had to change my resume to remove the work number of her reference to just list her home phone. Didn't get the job. In fact, I never heard a peep from them at all. With the manager gone, got to start working 6 days a week again. Lots of overtime for me. Good thing 4th of July is on a Sunday. That means parades are on Saturday. I got to view a parade in West Des Moines with my brother and niece at 6 PM before I had to arrive at work at 11 PM. Other parades were at 10 AM when I was sound asleep in bed. Got to sleep all day during the 4th after working the overnight, then stayed home watching TV. Once darkness came, the outside sounded like a war zone and I understood my pets' view when I would normally be out watching fireworks. They jumped and hid under furniture like during thunderstorms, then purred when I petted them. A few neighbors set off fireworks in their yards so I go to see those from my window. Then went to work once the fireworks were done. The streets weren't too busy with cars going home. Post later.

Finished the latest novel

I finsihed my latest novel so go chekc it out. https://southernbellenovel.blogspot.com/?fbclid=IwAR13Bpls3Cpsw3xcxm4Susjwd2HOTAWW0Yi82S-psyfaGC5L6j0GqgBckYI

Happy Father's Day

Had 2 maids quit and a laundry person left. Finally got my extra refund from IRS from the change in unemployment being taxed. As it so happened, the state return also changed due to the unemployment change so got extra refund from the state too. It all went to pay down the credit cards. Poor Eowyn ferret with the swollen eye had to have her eye removed. Vet said there was a tumor pushing her eye out. He got what he could. He sent the tumor for testing and poor Eowyn has lymphona. I could pay a fortune I don't have to take her out of state for chemotherapy cause vet was certain her cancer would have spread throughout her body. Given he age, she could be dead in a year or two from natural causes so I questioned if it would be worth it. Plus, I work 6 days of week so I don't have time to take her out of state. I elected to make her comfortable, give lots of treats, take her out for freash air, and prepare to let her go. She eats well so she is good so far, just getting accustomed to being blind without her eye and turns her head to see from her other eye still in her head. Vet gave me a steroid to improve her quality of life. A few times she took it mixed with her salmon oil supplement, then outright refused to take it. I finally gave up The city began experiencing a drought and asked the public to conserve water. Hotel apparently refused to shut the sprinklers off at night. Coworker arrived severly late for work stoking a fight in the back room and coworker walked out. New front desk person had their first night alone and it did not go well. They mixed up the rooms and I spent 2 hours rearranging them in the system. You have to kick out the original room assignment before putting someone else in that room. Manager said when they work with the new person, they do well but the second they are alone they can't figure out what to do. Attended a birthday party for my brother and family was happy to see me. Working on Father's Day so can't visit Dad at the cemetery this year. Have a great Father's Day.

Have a Good Memorial Day Weekend

Hire a new maid. The elevator broke down and guests were trapped inside for a couple hours until the fire department rescued them. Had to deliver towels to hotel guests walking the staris cause they didn't want to come down. Poor Eowyn ferret got a swollen eye and had I to go to work so couldn't deal with it right away. Requested a vet appointment sooner than the 2 weeks that were avaiable online. Sent a photo of her eye and got an appointment the next day. Received ointment and antibiotics to give her in hope that it is just an eye ulcer. Eowyn did not like the medication. One day she climbed my shirt and plopped on the floor to remain motionless. Once I tried to give her antibiotic and ointment, she pooped so I know that part works. She gave me a good scare and then I had to leave for work so left her in a pet bed. When I got home she was walking around like normal so glad she was okay. Returned to the vet a week later and her eye ulcer was healed, but the swelling failed to decrease so given a steroid to decrease the inflammation. Worst case scanario, I have to pay for eye surgery to remove her eye. Got my Covid shots completed and experienced no symptons. Hotel manager hired a new night auditor and they took another job. I was so happy to start working 5 days a week again. I am so tired working 6 days of week for the past several months. I miss holidays, can't spend time with my family. My niece and nephew are sad they never get to see me. Working all Memoiral Day weekend. Can't take Mom to cemetries and my sisters have to do it. My hotel doesn't give holiday pay for Memorial Day so it is just another day at work. Have a good three day weekend.

Happy Mother's Day

Boromir has been determined to dig in the flower pot grave of my first ferret Faramir. After 3 years, I'm sure he is all bones now. It was quite emotional viewing Faramir's red burial shroud peeking out of the dirt. I don't know what Boromir smells, but he was scratching the towel I buried Faramir with determination. Also discovered Boromir doesn't like the wind chimes hanging from the gutters. He has visited the neighbor's yard enough tmes to be fearful of his dogs. Good. Hotel manager had to resort to hiring maids through temp agencies to get rooms cleaned. We gained a maid and lost a maid. Crossing fingers for my more staff. I missed Mother's Day caused I had to work and slept most of the day. Heard from my siblings they had a good one taking my Mom out for dinner and a good chat. Post later.

Happy May Day

Had my last day at the tax office. Sink was clogged and printer was out of paper. Apparently the manager was not in any hurry to fix the issues. Oh well, not my problem anymore. Brushed the cats and had enough hair from the brush to make a new kitten. Rescued Eowyn ferret with a ponytail holder around her neck like a collar. Reminded me of the day she was scampering around with a toilet paper tube on her head. Ferret mom to the rescue. Had my heart attack for the day. Got home from work, open the garage door (the hard way by lifting it up), and rustling noise was heard by the garbage cans. All of a sudden, a fluffy brown rabbit with with powder puff white tail jumped out from behind the garbage cans to make a mad dash down the driveway and into the neighbor's yard. I guess I woke Mr. Bunny from his nap. Misty chased her first baby rabbit (relax, bunny escaped into the neighbors' yard). Luthien ferret discovered the dirt under the gate had been scratched away to create a hole she can fit under (I grabbed her tushy and pulled her back through the hole. Nephew got a new job at a fast food place and no longer available to mow my lawn. Have to do it myself. Learned to take my inhaler before going out to mow so don't have asthma attacks during my mowing. Had flurries on the April day I was going to plant seeds in my yard. Had wait to plant them. Had to look up the frost date for my area for some of the seed packets. Lost a hotel maid. Apparently they quit right after they started. Management is getting desperate for workers that they are begging us for referrals. They will pay us $25 if our referral gets hired and $100 if they work 90 days. Sorry, most people I know work in offices or construction sites. I got called into work on my 2 days off cause somebody can't show up for their damn job, again. At least manager was covering one night so I got one night off. My poor manager, a maid and the head housekeeper decided not to show up for work so 1 maid was cleaning 60 rooms. Coworkers are dropping like flies. Sent a text message to the manager asking to have the night auditor job cause I was getting tired of covering the current night auditor's butt, I've done it for months. Manager agreed so I got promoted to night auditor with a raise and stable schedule. It was very hard on my body bouncing from day to overnight hours. Now old night auditor was knocked down to 2 days a week and decided to stop coming to work. Their sob story was their baby mama got arrested for drug possession while their kid was her car so he had to go pick up his daughter. Then human services checked on the kid and he lost his daughter to foster care. He said he was working hard to get his daughter back and suddenly stopped coming to work. No idea what happened to him. Sheriff stopped by the hotel looking for him and I told the officier when he next worked. Then he didn't come to work that night and I had to go fill in on my night off. Don't think he will get his daughter back from foster care anytime soon. Hotel manager started purchasing new teas for our tea station next to the coffee station. We have mint tea, lemon black tea, greeen tea, Earl Grey tea, Chamomille Tea, black Tea, and orange pekoe Tea. I prefer the mint and green teas, don't need sugar. Black teas are a little harsh and need 2 packets of sugar to drink it.

Easter Bunny Trap Story 2021

Me Arriving Home From Work at 7:20 AM: Aaaa!!Thump!! Eowyn: Happy Easter Mom. You will never believe what happened with the Easter Bunnny last night. Me: I can't wait to hear why there is a cat pole string around my shoe. Luthien: Wait, I want to tell the Bunny Trap story. Boromir: Oh, hello Mom. I just enjoying the chocolate eggs we stole from The 🐰 Bunny. Mom: Go on Luthien. Luthien: Well, last night we couldn't find any carrots in the fridge so we used your carrot cake as bait. The plate was too big for a box or carrier so we placed the feather pole string on floor to ensnare The Bunny. Eowyn thought we should offer a napkin. Then The Bunny came inside and ate the cake. Boromir pulled the string to hold The Bunny while Eowyn and I hid chocolate eggs from his basket in the pantry. Next Bilbo and Misty got excited the pink feather was flying around and well, long story short: The Bunny escaped the string and left behind his basket. We got toys, chocolate eggs, and jelly beans. Mom: Very good story Luthien.

Happy Easter

Got my stimulus check from the IRS. It will go straight to pay off my creidt cards. A car that constantly breaks down and losing my good job a couple years ago really hurt my ceredit cards. Sure I worked my tax place last year, but was employed most of the year until I started my hotel job last September. Bills don't go away when unemployed. Sure the extra unemployment was nice and helped pay the credit cards down. IRS declared an extension to file taxes. Yeah, the tax place is not staying open longing and will shut down as usual and any late comers will have to use our year around locations. Got the news a new tax law removed some unemployment from being taxed. Great, I already got my refund. Had to wait to see if I needed to do an Amended Tax Return to claim my extra refund. Congress, please try to finish your tax laws in December! At least I don't have to do an Amended Return, but have to wait until after the extended tax season to get over with before I receive my extra refund. Took the cats for their annual shots. Bilbo is 20 lbs. and Misty is 13 lbs. If I ever got a chihuahua or yorkie, the cats would be bigger than the dog. Made 2 Easter cakes. One was an egg shaped carrot cake that I took to work and manager got the first piece. Good thing she did cause it was all gone the next day I visited the break room. The other vanilla cake was baked in a bread loaf pan and made into a bunny cake for the family to eat. I got off work at 7 AM so arrived at brother's house in the afternoon. Happy Easter Everyone!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This month I met a new coworker for the tax office. I left when they arrived since we use the same computer (and I'm working 6 days a week due to my other job). Oh, they just worked 8 hours at their other job and working another 4 hours here to close the office. I would hate working 12 hour shifts so to each their own. Apparently someone quit last week without telling the manager and help was needed here. They usually work at another office. My hotel job began serving the hot breakfast again. Head honcho said Covid was over and everything was going back to normal. Ok, whatever you say. The unvaccinated lying in hospital beds would beg to differ that Covid is over. This is my first hotel job and only experienced their prepackaged Covid breakfast so this will be an experience. We even got a new pancake machine (I prefer waffles). My Verdict on My Hotel Hot Breakfast. It's food. Pancakes were a wee flat and hard to cut with side of my plastic fork. Cook said the new pancake machine wasn't making them very big (batter is in a plastic bag placed in the machine). Biscuits tasted like KFC Biscuits and explained to cook my "Summer of Hell" working for KFC between colleges. Eggs are that carton stuff of egg whites without yolks dyed yellow. It felt like eating hard boiled eggs without the yolks. Not restaurant quality, but it's a hot breakfast. Eventually, cook figured out how to do the pancakes so they are fluffy and gotten bigger. Their turkey patty is quite spicy and had to place it in a biscuit to cut some of the spice. Had a basketball team staying at our hotel, which usually means noise complaints from other guests after midnight. Sometimes I do wonder who is worse behaved, the students or the adults. Often the adults are drinking beer in the lobby being loud and obnoxious while teens run up and down the halls. Once a coworker found empty beer bottles floating in the pool. Seriously, who wants to swim in that. A few schools had pizza parties in the pool room where we don't allow food or drinks because we don't want garbage in the pool. Had to be the bad guy. Had several drunk people call in the middle of the night wanting to swim in our pool. Yeah, I prefer not to have to call 911 when your drunk buddy drowns, so no. They even asked if I would call the police if they snuck in the pool room. I replied that was a possibility. I hate drunk people. My Mom got her Covid vaccine shots so her senior living place was opening back up again. Her health has greatly deteriorated watching TV from her couch every day for months. She even developed the beginning of bed sores. She was happy to start exercising and playing cards with the others again. She finally allowed to grocery shop with my sister instead of dropping off her bags. During Covid, I asked family to call my Mom so she had someone to talk to. Some family think her mental state declined as well from not interacting with people. Had our first night of being sold out of the hotel. I don't think tht had happened for a while. Most people are those who are traveling by car cause can't fly on airplanes. They need a place to stop and rest. Worked the overnight shift during Daylight Savings Time. It was fun watching the clock on the computer tonight. 1:57, 1:58, 1:59, then poof, it's 3:00. Got another coworker at the tax place cause they were getting busy. Good thing my hotle coworker came back from his car wreck recovery. His leg was in a brace from being broken, but he was walking. Hotel had to demand a lot of my time away from the tax place, especially after a laundry person quit. Didn't have a St. Patrick's Day parade for my city again. Oh well, had to work anyway. Happy St. Patrick's Day Everybody!

Almost Spring

Had a battle with the tax office toilet and couldn't unclog it with the plunger no matter how hard I tried. Didn't want to get poopy water on my suede boots. Complained to the manager and they put in a ticket to have it checked. Two weeks later, brown sludge is still in the toilet. Complained to manager again (I have complained 2 different weeks about this) and they said parts have arrived to fix the toilet. They said they closed the office and I could go home for the rest of the day. I told friends on social media I'm ready to quit this job if this toilet problem never gets fixed.

Mom wrote a check for my new car. Family keeps saying I'm borrowing so much I won't inherit anything when Mom dies. What can I do? Employers who pay well refuse to interview me and jobs I can get don't pay the bills. What do people want me to do, start robbing banks? Stand on a street corner begging for change (I'll probably would make more money and not pay income tax on it cause it's charity). I'm doign the best I can here. Miracles don't happen to me.

Male Beta fish Ares died. Proably cause I'm so damned tired to clean the fish tank properly the water goes bad. I need to clean fish tanks again and too drained to do it. My poor fish. Celebrated ferret Luthien's 5th Birthday with cupcakes. Tried to earn a gift card by playing video games. That lasted an hour. Boring and so competitive they draiend the fun out. Then games get so hard I can't get past a certain level without spending money or joining some group of players. Gift card app will just have to keep their $5 gift card. I have better things to do than waste my time to get nothing.

Happy Valentine's Day

Had my first day at the tax office. Nobody was there so had to contact manager who told me to get a key at another location. Got inside and was told to finish tax classes to start preparing taxes for clients. Can't get into the programs on the computer. I need username and passwords. Manager can't seem to understand this and simply tells me the password to unlock the computer. Client who made a reservation in the parking lot (sign on door state Appointments Only). Manager told me there was coworker coming at 4:00 and they live a hour away. Explain to client I can't get into the computer (didn't mention I also need to finsih tax classes to do their forms and someone was coming any minute. No coworker arrives and get ahold of the manager who explains the coworker is new and working at another location. I hate it when managers flat out lie to me. Client walks out the door upset there is nobody who can service them. Mentioned this on social media and a hour later manager shows up at the location aware we just lost a client and can't understand why I can't get into the computer to complete the training to complete tax forms for clients. Finally after 5 hours of twiddling my fingers, manager resets my username and passowrds. Finish the training so I can service clients. By closing time, I am ready to service clients.

Heater went out in my car and then the car started overheating to the point I was scared it was going to break down while going home and freeze to death before help could arrive. My antifreeze container has a crack in it and a hose that overheated needed replaced. More money down the drain to fix this piece of junk.

Next big adventure was dealign with a noisy furnace so loud I couldn't sleep. Had it serviced. 10 days later it goes out and not running at all. House temperature is dropping and worrying about frozen pipes flodding the basement. Call company who serviced it and they blow me off. Called another company and they change the motor. More money spent and had to ask my Mom for money to pay my mortgage. I hate askign for more money, but it's either that or be homeless.

Won $50 in a game I played on the internet. Have to wait 3-5 weeks to receive in the mail. Coworker got into a car wreck that required surgery. I get to pick up the slack and work my tax office. Which I gladly do because I need money. Trained a coworker how to do the night audit. Not really heard, just time consuming. Drove through a snowstom to get to work. News was saying to stay home. Can't do that, I have to work or coworker works 16 hours. One work day I realized I forgot to put the clothes in the dryer so wore a moist work shirt to work. Coworker suggested puttign it in the hotel dryer. Did that and after 15 minutes got a dry shirt. Had a polar vortex so cold the animals refused to go outside. Plus the hotel's furance broke down so I brought a space heater form home to keep warm. And only during polar vortexes do ants come into my kitchen.

Made a cartoon figure of myself on social media. Never realized I ugly I looked until I saw myself as a cartoon. My dimpled chin wasn't even an option. I ordered a heart shaped pizza for my Mom to be delivered on Valentine's Day. Car refused to start again so had it towed. The mechanic reprogrammed it saying the ignition was the problem, not a dead battery becasue of the cold. My mechanic (whom I am paying to fix my car) informs me my manifolds are leaking, which will max out my credit cards and I'm better off getting a new car. I can't afford to get a new car. I have plenty of debt that I cannot handle a car loan on top of what I have. Celebrated ferret Boromir's 4th Birthday with cupcakes. For Valentine's Day, I worked the overnight shift and then went to bed when got home. After waking up, I went to my brother's house to help celebrate my sister's birthday (which is two days later). Had cake and orange juice. My family accepted me borrowing money to purchase a new car. Sent my brother to find a good deal. Will see what happens.

Happy New Year

Got a snowstorm right before New Year's Eve with 9.6 inches of snow. I came to work and got stuck in a snow drift at the entrance. I walked to the hotel and told my manager to call the snow plow people cause I won't be the last one getting stuck at the entrance (and 2 more cars did before they came). I got myself out of the snow drift thanks to the shovel in my trunk, drove down the street, and turned around to ram through the snow drift with a fury to make it through. Even though my ferrets love snow, they refused to go outside. I think one made it 20 seconds playing in the snow coming back inside. Baby it's cold outside. Stayed at my hotel until the streets were cleared along with 2 coworkers. Our beds are very comfortable and I enjoyed our hot bedtime chamomille tea. New Year's Eve I drive home from the overnight shift and stop at the grocery store. Leave grocery store to find my car has a flat tire. Drive slowly to the mechanic down the street and get a new tire. I swear I'm cursed. Worked the overnight shift New Year's Eve. I turned on the lobby TV to watch the Ball drop at Times Square (an hour ahead of my time zone midnight). I worked on inventory of our snack shop so at midnight I was either counting the Cheetos bags in the snack shop or in the storage closet. New Year's Day I slept at the hotel for 8 hours and then worked another shift. Then the next day I got called into work because a coworker got into a car accident. I explained that I had spent the past 24 hours at the hotel, I'm exhausted, and politely turned down the extra hours. Poor manager had to work a double shift. Later, I realized I didn't even have clean uniforms to wear if I had said yes. Happy New Year Everybody

Merry Christmas

Took my Mom shopping for Christmas presents and mailed her great-grandchildren gifts in the box I sent mine in. We had some warm temperatures at the beginning of the month, I saw people wearing shorts in December. Then it rained and overnight switched to winter snow. We got a few inches. Had to buy a couch cuase the springs in the old one broke to give me a bad back. Found out a coworker was getting laid off for 6 weeks so hurried up to finish my Christmas treats before their last day. Brought my homemade treats to work for coworkers to enjoy. I brought Almond Bark Pretzels, Fudge, Pink Champagne Cupckaes, Peanut Butter Cookies with a Hershey Kiss, Sugar Cookies, and Gingerbread People. 3 out of 5 containers I held the treats disappeared. Next year I will stop brining treats. I can't afford to keep buying new containers. Made my deliveries of a box of treats to my mechanic, chiropractor, postal carrier, and receptionist at my Mom's senior living center.The governor released soem of the Covid Restrictions so people were happy to eat in restaurants again. Discovered the taste of hot green tea at my hotel front desk job. I rather like this hot green tea, don't even need sugar added. My hotel job gave the Christmas Bonus of a turkey and gift card to a chain store. I got online and ordered myself a new comforter. I put the old one in the ferret room for them to cuddle in. It is a warm blanket, but the padding had crushed down so much I can't feel it. We had a blizzard with 50 mph winds and low temperatures to give us a White Christmas. Worked the overnight shift on Christmas Eve and opened the pet gifts from Santa when I got home. I went to bed for a goo 5 hours to wake up to go visit my brother's house. Spent quality time with brother, sister-in-law, sister, brother-in-law, niece, nephew, our Mom, and our Aunt. They enjoyed my treats. Then at bedtime, I returned to work to work the overnight shift. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Christmas Story 2020

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 Eowyn got more milk in a wag

Luthien gave him a napkin, then Boromir 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

2020 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas to all my Friends and Family.

2020 started with me watching TV and kissing my cats at midnight. The next day I returned to work at the tax place. Killed my fish Achilles Jr while changing its water. I realized later his tank heater was turned off and holding tank water was too warm for him to handle. Heartbroken with a side of guilt. Soon after Leda Jr died. We had such cold temperatures outside that the ferrets and cats refused to go play in the snow. Soon, my lone Beta male fish Aeneas Jr started lying on the rocks. Thinking he was dying I got a male and female fish to put in my empty tanks named Perseus and Andromeda. Two days later, Aeneas Jr perked up watching a new female Beta next door. Amazing how one little fish can change another just by being there.

Ordered the traditional Heart Pizza and brownies to be delivered to Mom on Valentine's Day since I had to work all day. Celebrated ferret Boromir's 3rd Birthday. Sister celebrated her 51st birthday without me since I was working. Our Mom told me all about their restaurant dinner. Celebrated ferret Luthien's 4th Birthday. The Corona Virus arrived in my state and the governor shut down non-essential businesses, organizations, and medical procedures. Next, the St. Patrick's Day parade was cancelled in Des Moines. Mayor of Des Moines and Governor of Iowa declared State of Emergency: So, people were required to stay home, work from home, and only go out for necessities. Places everywhere closed and essential workers pertaining to manufacturing, food, and medical can be open. I did taxes, which is required by the government, so I was considered an essential worker. Mom got trapped in her senior living center not letting them leave so sister had to bring groceries to the receptionist at the entrance. Mom suffered with the center’s gym, pool, and hair salon closed, plus activities canceled and dinner was delivered to their apartments. I asked relatives to call her, so she had someone to talk to. We discovered when they finally let her leave how all the sitting alone in her apartment affected her health.

April 15 the tax sites closed except our year around locations. Sure, they could have kept them open until July 15, but most people had already filed their taxes to make the decision to close the other offices on schedule. I was suddenly unemployed and quarantined. For Easter, I delivered dinner to my Mom since she couldn’t visit us. Spent the holiday alone with my pets eating ham and bunny cake. Spent my quarantine months writing on my stories. Nearly finished another novel about the Civil War era. I got a job interview and received the rejection the next day. Sitting at home, I decided to share my recipes on social media and made various Youtube videos on various topics. Pruned my rose brushes and my only joy (besides my pets) was watching all my flowers grow this spring and summer.

Enjoyed looking at photos of my great-niece's 1st Birthday Party in their living room since they can't go anywhere. She was born on Star Wars Day, so they got a Baby Yoda cake. Mother's Day was traumatic for my Mom since we usually go out to eat. Senior living center finally let them leave the building and I drove up to the front door to have Mom sit in my car for a good half hour showing her photos off my smartphone while holding her gifted flowers and card. Visited my Dad and relatives on Memorial Day with Mom. Visited my Dad on Father’s Day. Lost my female Beta Andromeda. Got a new baby girl named Persephone. Spent the 4th of July at my sister's home cause everything but the fireworks show was canceled. Made smore's over a candle. My male Beta Aeneas Jr died and got a new male fish Ares. Celebrated Mom’s 81st Birthday at my sister’s house.

Visited the local amusement park with sister's family to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. Celebrated my nephew's Sweet 16 at a restaurant with family and met their newly adopted dog. Visited the local living history museum with niece and sister. Left my phone on top of the car so lost the photos and videos I took that day. Next day we had a Derecho, which nobody but meteorologists knew such a term existed. Picture this: I came inside from feeding the birds. Cats had refused to come outside. Next thing I know the front yard pinwheel is spinning like crazy and boom, a huge gust of wind shook the trees. Then pow, the electricity went out and the sirens wailed. Garbage cans fell over with loud thud. Next came the downpour like a hurricane. Electricity flickered back on and off again. After a long wait, the rain moved on and I came outside to take photos with my camera since I left my smartphone on top of my car at the museum. Neighbors were all gazing at the tree that fell on the power line, thus knock out the electricity for the whole block. Plus, it blocked the entire dead-end street so nobody could get in or out. One neighbor wondered if we had a tornado. One house had a gutter come off while another had a tree fall on their garage. Luckily, no damage to my house. Spent the day without electricity and can't call anyone from cordless phones needing power. Ate my Popsicles and ice cream bars, drank the milk before spoiling. Played games alone and read a book when too dark to play games. One good thing was I could see the stars at night from all the neighborhood streetlights out.

Next morning a neighbor wanted to leave so he chain-sawed the tree blocking the street to make room for a car. I drove to the museum to collect my phone that shattered and bought a new one at the mall. Then went to Target for candles and a non-digital phone with a cord that doesn't need electricity (yes, they still make them) so I can call people. Grocery stores and gas stations were sold out of ice to keep food in fridge cool so stored my food at my sister's house who had electricity. 5 days without electricity was endured before the power came back to my block. Ate a lot of crackers and peanut butter sandwiches. Recharged the smartphone in the car at night. Retrieved my food from my sister's house and greeted my brother with his wife visiting my sister this week. On a good note, my marigolds were starting to bud, and miniature roses were still blooming.

After the derecho branches were carried away, I had family over to enjoy grilled food. Got a call for an interview at a hotel as a desk clerk and got hired right before my birthday. Celebrated my 45th Birthday with family at my sister’s house. Lost my Beta fish Perseus and got a new one named Poseidon. Had a phone interview for a payroll job. Got another interview at a car dealership registering license plates. After 3 years of planting morning glory seeds, I finally got one to bloom. Celebrated ferret Eowyn 6th Birthday. Halloween during Covid, I set out candy and stickers inside in a bowl outside. 16 packets disappeared with 4 groups of kids stopping by. No costumes allowed for my new job so wore cat ears with a black mask with embroidered cat face on it. Covered exposed skin with silver and black cream eyeshadow. After Election Day, celebrated cats Bilbo and Misty’s 2nd Birthday. Missed niece's 17th Birthday Party. I got off the overnight shift at 7 AM and slept through the party at home. Visited her the next day to give my gift to her. Spent Thanksgiving Day working to put up the hotel Christmas Tree in the lobby and brought dinner for the coworkers to eat since we can't have a potluck due to Covid. Coworkers enjoyed my homemade food. After work, went over to sister’s place. Took niece and nephew out Black Friday shopping. Intended to stop by my Mom's to put up her Christmas Decorations, but Covid halted those plans when the senior living center stopped allowing visitors. Great-niece celebrated her Fifth Birthday via livestream at home. Took Mom shopping for her grandchildren since we don’t like her driving anymore. Brother and his wife are hosting Christmas Day diner at their new house.

Have a Wonderful New Year. Praying 2021 is much better than 2020.

Jordan

Cats: Bilbo, Misty Ferrets: Eowyn, Luthien, Boromir Beta fish: Persephone, Ares, Poseidon

Deck the Halls

Great-niece celebrated her Fifth Birthday via livestream at home. Next fall she will start Kindergarten. How fast kids grow up. Had to buy new icicle lights for my roof and a couple new lawn ornaments to replaced the old stuff no longer working properly. Worked on my tax classes once got all my decorations aroudn the house up. My Mom says I have too many decorations. Gotta take Mom shopping (for my sister's kids) and perhaps since I can't come up to her apartment and she is too crippled to haul out the boxes, I'll give her some of my decoartions in a sack she could easily put out. Then have to write my Christmas letter, send out cards, bake treats, and deliver treats. I think for Chritmas Day, I'll set out treat bags for my coworkers to gather what treats they want and hopefully won't steal my containers this time.