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Yay!Posted on Aug. 25, 2008 at 11:41 AM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI got an A in my info technology course!Leash-training updatePosted on Aug. 22, 2008 at 8:04 AM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkWell, leash-training with Murray had seemed to be going well, but the cheap leash contraption I had bought for him broke, so I had to take it back. I bought him a better-quality cat harness, but it didn’t fit him because he is a big boy. So then I exchanged it for a small dog harness, but the straps were too wide and rigid, and it wasn’t designed for a cat’s physiology, so it was like a strait jacket on him, limiting his mobility - which, of course, totally defeats the purpose. So, I’m going to take that back.
I raised the question, on a couple of cat discussion sites I belong to, of where to find extra-large cat harnesses. Several people recommended something called a “walking jacket” that is more secure and comfortable than a standard harness, and it comes in extra-large sizes. So I ordered one in the biggest size for Murray. It wasn’t cheap, so hopefully I can return it if he doesn’t warm up to it! Cutting back on pet-sittingPosted on Aug. 16, 2008 at 1:17 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI'm going to cut back on pet-sitting, because now that I can't do my online schoolwork at work (due to the company's Internet usage monitoring), that means I have to do it in the evenings at home, after work, and if I do a lot of pet-sitting after work, I get too tired to do the schoolowork. So I asked that I be cut back to weekends, and maybe some cat jobs during the week (cats are less taxing than dogs, since they don't have to be walked or played with vigorously).Speaking of cats, I'm going to try again to leash-train Murray. I found some instructions online, and they detail how to proceed, being very patient. The first time I tried to leash-train him, I went too fast and expected too much out of him. So I probably gave up too soon. I ate some bad melon last night, and so I was sick in the middle of the night. Not fun. It may be a while before I eat canteloupe again. Blinded by the lightPosted on Aug. 12, 2008 at 3:12 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkMy bedroom window in my new apartment faces east, and the sun comes streaming in bright and early, waking me up at, like, 5 a.m. Murray also gets restless when the sun starts lighting up the room, so he tries to get me out of bed early. I had a woman out to give me an estimate on custom-made drapes, and the price was way more than I wanted to spend. So I looked into getting some drapes from Sears and having a handyman come and install them, and that was way cheaper. Within my budget. So, that's what I'm going to do. I ordered drapes with a thermal lining, so hopefully that will help block the sun. And, it may help keep out the heat, which is always a plus in this climate.Favre outPosted on Aug. 10, 2008 at 5:48 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI'm not sure how to feel about Brett Favre being traded to the Jets. He did so many great things for the Packers over the years, but in the end, he was a traitor (even though he claims he wasn't). He badmouthed the team, so that made it impossible for him to come back. I used to think he had a lot of class, but I've lost a lot of respect for him. The team would have allowed him to at least compete for a starting spot, if he hadn't been such a bigmouth.In other news, the shuttle driver who took me to the airport 8/1 told me he had been robbed a couple of times in my apartment complex parking lot. Lovely. Nice to know I can't feel perfectly secure in my own home. Vacation is overPosted on Aug. 9, 2008 at 11:30 AM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI'm back in Arizona after spending a week in Wisconsin. The weather there was pretty nice, though a bit warm and humid a couple days. It was nice to visit with my parents' cat, who used to be mine. When I took a nap one afternoon, he jumped into bed with me and snuggled up with my feet. This is very, very uncharacteristic behavior for him. So it was a nice surprise.
I took a tour of the Medical College of Wisconsin library, to get some idea of career possibilities in medical/academic libraries, where I might want to seek a career after obtaining my library degree. It was a nice visit, and I learned some things.
One evening, I went to dinner with a former instructor from my master's degree (in history) program. It was a nice dinner. Afterward, we drove around a bit in a nearby park so I could savor the lovely foliage, the likes of which we don't have in the Phoenix area. At one point we saw some deer in the park - a mother and a baby. It was pretty neat.
I ate a bit more during the visit than I probably should have, so I need to get back on the diet bandwagon now that I'm back home.
Murray was happy to have me back last night. He spent the night in bed with me, which he hadn't been doing much since we moved to the new apartment (probably because he likes sleeping in my nice walk-in closet, and perhaps because he doesn't like the fact that the air-conditioner blows directly on my bed, making it kind of chilly). I guess he misbehaved for the pet sitter, swatting at her hand when she tried to brush him, and grabbing her leg with his claws out. I hope he didn't hurt her too much! I guess he was just upset that I was gone, and he took out his aggression on her. I hope she'll be willing to come back in the future when I need a sitter!
New singlehood websitePosted on Aug. 9, 2008 at 10:32 AM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI recently published http://hubpages.com/hub/Finding-contentment-in-singlehood Murray's eyes looking betterPosted on Aug. 1, 2008 at 10:06 AM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkMy kitty is doing much better today. The drops worked - his eyes were nice and clear this morning, so I didn't give him the drops. I'm leaving town tonight for a week, and the pet sitter is supposed to monitor Murray's eyes and give the drops if they start looking weepy again...Murray's visit to the vetPosted on Jul. 31, 2008 at 12:32 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkMy cat was having some discharge from his right eye (his left eye has always been a little weepy), so I took him to the vet last evening. The vet said he's going to be fine - he just has abnormally "teary" eyes because his eyes are misshapen - they're a bit too small for his head, and they curve up where they shouldn't (and his left eyelid doesn't meet the eye). Plus, his left eye has a scar, probably from a fight he was in while he was a stray - the injury probably accounts for why that eye is always weepy. The vet gave me some eye drops, which are supposed to be administered three times a day, ideally - though I'm going out of town on Friday, and the pet sitter will only be coming once a day, so he'll only get the drops then. But by Friday there should be some improvement, and the drops can be discontinued when his eyes are looking better (and then given again if they start looking "bad" again). It surprised me to learn that Murray has "deformed" eyes, because I always thought he had beautiful eyes! My new cat sitePosted on Jul. 29, 2008 at 2:43 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI started a new cat-related Web site, which can be found at http://hubpages.com/hub/The-cats-meowBirth of a hummingbird - awesome shotsPosted on Jul. 29, 2008 at 12:13 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Linkhttp://community-2.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM/index.html Meanwhile, I had a doctor appointment today, and my blood pressure was down to 100 over 70, so the blood pressure med is working. My thyroid tested normal, so the Synthroid I'm taking is also working. She didn't check my cholesterol, so she ordered a new test for that, which I will take when I come back from my vacation in WI (I'm gone 8/1-8/8). Hopefully that test will show improvement, too. Upgraded to an "A"Posted on Jul. 28, 2008 at 1:50 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkOn our midterm exams for my IT course, we were allowed to go back and correct the items we missed (which was easy, since the system showed the correct answers) - we just needed to find documentation (in our readings/lectures or on the Internet, or wherever, didn't matter) for why these answers were correct. We were able to earn a half-point back on each of the one-point questions. I missed seven questions, so I got 3.5 points back, which rose my grade from 82.5 to 91.5 percent. Which is an A instead of a B. Woo hoo! So I might have a shot at getting an A in that course after all... I had pretty much resigned myself to getting a B. But supposedly the hardest part of the course is over, and hopefully I will be able to get good grades on the remaining assignments; if that happens, I should be able to swing an A. Going back to old docPosted on Jul. 28, 2008 at 12:38 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI've decided that I'm going back to my former psychiatrist, even though he doesn't take insurance anymore. At least I can always count on him, and he has someone to back him up when he's not available. The cost per 30-minute session is $120, which I can afford if it's only every three months or so. I really like this doc, so it's worth the money. I shouldn't have to put up with an unreliable doc just because he takes my insurance. (And there aren't that many docs in my area who do.)Hell on earth is...Posted on Jul. 26, 2008 at 4:24 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link...having to staff a cash register all day when you have an upset stomach and REALLY need to run to the restroom!! I had to leave my register a couple of times - once when there were no customers anyway, and Loss Prevention gave me the OK to go, though nobody was available to cover me, and a second time when I had called a manager over to help with a transaction I didn't know how to do anyway, and I just had to bail. From now on, I'll take my Pepto tablets to work with me on the weekends, like I do on weekdays. Oh well, at least I was able to go home a little early. And despite not feeling well, I had a good day in terms of getting credit applications - got three. I needed one to get my bonus of $4 per app per month (need a total of five in the month, and I had four going into today), and the other two increase my bonus, plus help me move toward reaching my target/goal. Nice to know I have a doc I can count on... not!Posted on Jul. 26, 2008 at 3:23 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI was running low on one of my medications, so I ordered some through the mail-order pharmacy, and it was to be delivered by UPS. Well, the morons at the mail-order pharmacy screwed up and didn't put my apartment number on the shipment, so UPS sat on it for a few days, then shipped it back to the pharmacy. So now I only have a few days' supply left... I called my psychiatrist's office, but he's out of town (of course), and he has no backup for him. Isn't that the dumbest thing you ever heard of? A psychiatrist who has no backup when he's gone, so in case of an emergency, the patient is screwed?? What if I suddenly had a mood meltdown and had to be hospitalized and everything? Anyway, I managed to get a prescription (for 10 days' worth, which should last me until the stuff comes from the mail-order pharmacy - they are re-sending it, though they had to be badgered into doing that... at first they insisted on me getting a new prescription before they would send anything) from my primary care doctor's office. My doctor happened to be on vacation (maybe she's at the same conference as my shrink!). But the other doctor in the office approved it. At least my primary care doc has a backup!! Three-word answers memePosted on Jul. 25, 2008 at 8:36 AM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link"Borrowed" from a user on another blog, customized with (mostly!) my answers (I stole some from her that I liked, too).
Where is your cell phone? in my purse
Your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/partner?don't have one
Your hair? reddish brown, curly
Where is your father? in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cheesecake? love it - plain
Your dream last night? something about school
Your favorite drink? New Orleans Hurricanes
Your dream car? yellow Ford Mustang
The room you're in? cube without windows
George Bush? WHAT A MORON
Nipple rings? ow no please
Who did you hang out with last night? just my cat
What you're not good at? working with hands
Your best friend? the lovely Lasairan
Student loans? getting higher always
Where did you grow up? in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The last thing you did? wrote an e-mail
What are you wearing? t-shirt and jeans
Tattoo on the lower back? no - on arm
Ketchup? usually no, thanks
Your computer? Sony Vaio laptop
Your life? pretty good overall
Your mood? just fine, thanks
Missing? a significant other
What are you thinking about right now?
nothing in particular
Your car? 2007 Kia Spectra
Your summer? lots of work
Your relationship status? just my cat :-)
Your favorite color? purple, teal, blue
When is the last time you laughed? I don't remember
Last time you cried? I don't remember
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow? I'm always evolving
High school? was a geek
Will work just SundaysPosted on Jul. 24, 2008 at 9:25 AM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkMy Sears supervisor was understanding when I asked to cut back my hours, and I will be working only on Sundays in the near future. (I'm already on the sked for this Saturday, but he will give me Sunday off to compensate.) Meanwhile, my group is putting the finishing touches on the group project (on blogging) that is due in my IT class by 8 tonight. It will be a relief to get that over with. I really hit the wall yesterday - had to go home from work early because I was dead tired, and I needed to rest in bed for a while to get my energy back. I've just been pushing myself too hard, between work and school. So it's a good thing I'm cutting back my Sears hours. Cutting backPosted on Jul. 22, 2008 at 3:06 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkI think I am going to ask my supervisor at Sears if I can cut back my hours and work only on Sundays. I think I might be spreading myself too thin working both Saturdays and Sundays. Even though I like the money I make working both days, it might be tiring me out too much. That is probably why I have made some dumb mistakes. Oh well, my cat will be happy if I am home on Saturdays! A D'oh momentPosted on Jul. 21, 2008 at 11:11 AM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkAt the department store where I work on weekends, I made a money mistake. A woman wanted to make a payment on her credit card, and she gave me a $20. I mistakenly assumed she wanted to pay the full $20 (and she OK'd the amount on the touch pad in front of her). But after the transaction was over, she said she wanted to pay only the $9.80 it showed on her statement. So, not thinking clearly and easily confused, I gave her $10.20 back, but she shouldn't have gotten that money because the transaction "on record" is for a $20 payment. So she'll get extra credits on her next statement, I guess. What I should have done is voided out the $20 transaction (if possible) and done a new transaction for the $9.80. D'uh. I think I was just tired after working all week at my FT job, then working the weekend at the store. Oh well, I guess the store can afford to lose a mere $10, but I hope if my mistake is discovered, I don't get into too much trouble!Bad luckPosted on Jul. 19, 2008 at 9:16 PM - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkAt Sears today, I missed out on two credit applications, just by dumb luck. (They're a big deal - you get a bonus for getting them, and there are goals you're expected to reach.) One came while I was at lunch, and the guy subbing for me got it. Then in the afternoon I was busy with a customer and a coworker happened by and took the next customer in line - and she ended up applying for a credit card. If I hadn't taken lunch when I did, and if that coworker hadn't been passing by, I would have gotten three apps today (I did eventually get one of my own, toward the end of my shift). Oh well, I'll hope for better luck tomorrow. |
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