Bad blogger. Bad. Bad. Bad.
I swear I intended to write. I did. But, then I'd log in and have nothing to say. My life seems to be in a bit of rut right now.
I had two weeks of "training" for my work at home job, then I was released to work my heart out on the 18th, after passing three quizzes.
I've discovered that having "no set schedule" is both a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing this past Monday when I came home from work with a horrible headache and wanted to go back to bed. It's a curse right now because it's late Saturday night and I'm 5 hours short of my minimum requirement of 15 for the week. The system was down for maintenance Thursday night so I couldn't work. It was down until 8:00 Friday night so I couldn't work as many hours as I had intended. Trying to get to bed early enough that I'm not dead tired for the day job means that I've restricted myself to only working until 10:00 p.m. on weeknights. Most of the people doing this project have more flexible schedules than I do and seem to be able to work all hours any day.
So, that said, I plan on getting up early tomorrow and knocking out the 5 hours. The work is not hard at all. VERY easy in fact. Point and click. Point and click. Could I do it for 8 hours straight every day? No. Not without my brain turning to mush. The good thing is that on the weekends, I can work an hour, take a break, work an hour, run some errands, work an hour, watch some tv, etc.
My day job is blah. I've developed some resentment for the person who replaced me as supervisor because he has no clue what he is doing and I hate watching things go badly. I keep trying to remind myself it's not my responsibility but I have a certain fiber in my being that can't stand the fact that the team is constantly mucking things up, missing deadlines, calling off, coming in late, dropping calls.... I feel like the only one who cares about our reputation with the client. The guy who replaced me is a nice guy and I'm sure he had no clue what he was getting himself into. He handles everything by ignoring it. It's like if he doesn't acknowledge the issue, he doesn't have to address it. But, as you know, crap rolls down hill, so when he doesn't respond, the client calls me. The client emails me. "You always respond. You always have the answer," they say. The team members do the same thing. They bombard me all day with questions and ask me to help them deal with issues they have. I refer them back to their supervisor. They roll their eyes and tell me that he won't know how to help. When they do go to him, he sends them to me. I've whined to my boss who just shrugs it off and asks me to be a team player. I hate going to work. Hate it. If I thought I could survive only working the work at home job, I'd quit tomorrow.
Abby and I are still getting to know each other. She's still quite wild and some days, I look at her and wonder if maybe I jumped too soon into having another cat. At least once a week, I'll have a moment where I think of Molly and how much I miss her and how I hope I grow to love Abby as much as I loved Molly.
So, that's my life. Twenty some days summed up in a few paragraphs. Hmph.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Days Fifty-Six, Fifty-Seven and Fifty-Eight
On Monday, I had my first "training" class for my new part-time job. Whoever said, "There's no such thing as a dumb question" should be shot. The trainer went over some very basic items -- the minimum number of hours, system requirements, the pay rate, scheduling hours and how to invoice. She had a nifty powerpoint (which she had already sent all of us prior to the training) to cover all of the key points. Sure enough, she got interrupted every few minutes by someone who would say, "I have a dumb question... " and then proceed to ask something she had just explained. The poor trainer would perkily respond, "As I just said...." and then proceed to answer the question. I was annoyed for her. The only thing that kept me from saying, "Seriously? Do you want these people working for you?" was the fact that I was getting paid (or will be getting paid) for putting up with their stupidity for an hour.
I'm actually kind of excited about the job. It seems easy enough. I will be reviewing "red flagged" ad content and either approving the ad or denying it based on Microsoft's terms of use for advertisements. For instance, there are certain words and phrases that Microsoft has deemed prohibited on their website(s) -- words that deal with terrorism, pornography, illegal drug use, etc. If someone submits an ad for their website(s) that has one or more of the prohibited words, the ad gets sent to an editing queue for review. An editor (me) will then review the ad content and see if the word or phrase really is harmful or if it's safe. If it's "safe", then I click "approve". If it's not, I click "reject". No phone work. No dealing with people. Just me and my computer mouse, clicking away. There is no maximum number of hours and the work is available 24/7. The project will last until the end of October. And I will get to put on my resume that I was an editor for Microsoft's Ad Center, which may impress someone someday, considering I wouldn't mind getting into editing professionally. My work is monitored for accuracy and speed. I have to do at least 875 ad reviews per 15 hours of work. Blah blah blah. I'm not worried. Plus I'm sure I'll get to see some pretty interesting advertisements. :)
On Tuesday, I signed up for a "walking challenge" at work. They are giving us pedometers which we are supposed to wear all the time and then every Monday, log the number of miles/steps we walked. At the end of the challenge (in September), there will be prizes awarded to those with high numbers, along with other prizes and such. What the heck, right? I get some exercise and a free pedometer.
Today, I got an email from a recruiter for a job I interviewed for a few weeks ago that the job has been put "on hold" due to company restructuring. I was disappointed at first, because the job had sounded pretty good -- closer to home than my current job, non-managerial, straight hourly work, salary close to what I'm already making, paid overtime, monthly bonuses, small office staff, and a male boss (no offense to my female friends -- but I work better with male bosses than I do female bosses.) Then, after the initial disappointment, I realized that it just wasn't meant to be at this time and having the job be put on hold now is better than me getting offered it, giving my two weeks' notice and then having the job fall through at the last minute and then be unemployed without any way to file for unemployment benefits because I quit my job.
Now, I'm going to go relax a little. My next training session is Friday night. I have a few 2-hour training sessions spread over this week and next week and then I can start working regularly. I haven't quite decided what nights/days and hours I'm going to work to get in my 15 hours. I guess I'll play it by ear and do a couple of hours a night... and if I feel like doing more, I can do more.
I'm actually kind of excited about the job. It seems easy enough. I will be reviewing "red flagged" ad content and either approving the ad or denying it based on Microsoft's terms of use for advertisements. For instance, there are certain words and phrases that Microsoft has deemed prohibited on their website(s) -- words that deal with terrorism, pornography, illegal drug use, etc. If someone submits an ad for their website(s) that has one or more of the prohibited words, the ad gets sent to an editing queue for review. An editor (me) will then review the ad content and see if the word or phrase really is harmful or if it's safe. If it's "safe", then I click "approve". If it's not, I click "reject". No phone work. No dealing with people. Just me and my computer mouse, clicking away. There is no maximum number of hours and the work is available 24/7. The project will last until the end of October. And I will get to put on my resume that I was an editor for Microsoft's Ad Center, which may impress someone someday, considering I wouldn't mind getting into editing professionally. My work is monitored for accuracy and speed. I have to do at least 875 ad reviews per 15 hours of work. Blah blah blah. I'm not worried. Plus I'm sure I'll get to see some pretty interesting advertisements. :)
On Tuesday, I signed up for a "walking challenge" at work. They are giving us pedometers which we are supposed to wear all the time and then every Monday, log the number of miles/steps we walked. At the end of the challenge (in September), there will be prizes awarded to those with high numbers, along with other prizes and such. What the heck, right? I get some exercise and a free pedometer.
Today, I got an email from a recruiter for a job I interviewed for a few weeks ago that the job has been put "on hold" due to company restructuring. I was disappointed at first, because the job had sounded pretty good -- closer to home than my current job, non-managerial, straight hourly work, salary close to what I'm already making, paid overtime, monthly bonuses, small office staff, and a male boss (no offense to my female friends -- but I work better with male bosses than I do female bosses.) Then, after the initial disappointment, I realized that it just wasn't meant to be at this time and having the job be put on hold now is better than me getting offered it, giving my two weeks' notice and then having the job fall through at the last minute and then be unemployed without any way to file for unemployment benefits because I quit my job.
Now, I'm going to go relax a little. My next training session is Friday night. I have a few 2-hour training sessions spread over this week and next week and then I can start working regularly. I haven't quite decided what nights/days and hours I'm going to work to get in my 15 hours. I guess I'll play it by ear and do a couple of hours a night... and if I feel like doing more, I can do more.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Day Fifty Five
I spent today indoors. Too freaking hot and humid. When I woke up at 7, it was already 80 and "feeling like" 88 according to the weather man. I don't mind the heat if there is an ocean or pool nearby to dip into to cool off.
Today, I read through 50+ pages of information for my new part-time job -- how to access their website, how to invoice, how to schedule hours, how to use AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) to contact my instructor, etc.
Tomorrow night is my first "training" session. I have 4 more before I can go live, but I do get paid for training.
The project is 4-6 months, 15 hours a week at $11.00/hour, which should give me an opportunity to rebuild my savings and pay down my credit cards. The best part is that I can do it from the comfort of my home and if I don't like it, I can ask to be re-assigned to another project. I'm really hoping this will open doors to a full-time work from home gig.
Today, I read through 50+ pages of information for my new part-time job -- how to access their website, how to invoice, how to schedule hours, how to use AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) to contact my instructor, etc.
Tomorrow night is my first "training" session. I have 4 more before I can go live, but I do get paid for training.
The project is 4-6 months, 15 hours a week at $11.00/hour, which should give me an opportunity to rebuild my savings and pay down my credit cards. The best part is that I can do it from the comfort of my home and if I don't like it, I can ask to be re-assigned to another project. I'm really hoping this will open doors to a full-time work from home gig.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Days Forty-Five Through Fifty-Four
My excuse for not blogging is that I've been on vacation and logging into my computer for any lengthy amounts of time reminded me too much of work. The only computer usage I've done is to update my Facebook status, apply for jobs, check email and maintain my farm in FarmVille. And check my bank balance. I don't know why I did that because it wasn't like magic fairies were going to deposit anything into it.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Each morning, my dear sweet new kitty, Abby, would wake me up around 6:00 wanting some breakfast and to play. So, each morning, I got up like a good mommy and fed her and played with her for about 30 minutes. Then, I put out birdseed and peanuts for the squirrels and she would curl up by the balcony doors watching the squirrels and birds. I would crawl back into bed for a couple of hours and then officially "get up" around 9:00. I'd watch some morning talk shows, game shows, or Law and Order reruns for a few hours. Then, I'd check email, update Facebook, look for jobs and then make lunch. My lunch usually consisted of something quick and easy. One day, I had peach ice cream with fruity pebbles for lunch. Another, I had scrambled eggs with cream cheese melted into it. Another, I had 1/2 of a small seedless watermelon. I have to admit I rather liked doing whatever the heck I wanted whenever I wanted. No work projects. No meetings. No schedule. Then, in the afternoon, I would try to do something "productive". One day, I vacuumed and spot-cleaned the carpets in my apartment. Another, I hauled several bags of magazines to the library for "recycling". I cleaned the kitchen floor. I cleaned the bathrooms. I watered my plants. I did laundry. I washed dishes. I organized the "junk drawer". I cleaned the litterbox. I reorganized the fridge, freezer and kitchen cabinets.
By mid-afternoon, I would take a short nap and then make dinner, watch television, read a book, check email again, apply for some more jobs, tend to my Farmville farm, talk to friends on the phone, play with the cat, rent a video, and then crawl back into bed around 1:00 or 2:00 a.m.
Now, before you think I was a complete slug -- there were some "other" things that came up -- like an unexpected trip to the "urgent care" facility because I was having very very painful cranium pains, blurry vision and a nosebleed. Turned out my blood pressure was high -- which was probably my fault because I hadn't been taking my meds regularly. My friend Janelle and I had lunch and then went on a dolphin watching cruise. I've done them before. It's my way of combining sun, sea and salty air in one trip and getting my tan out of the way. Abby had a vet appointment. I had a dentist appointment. There were some random trips to the store to window shop. I spent one afternoon calling various insurance companies trying to get cheaper car insurance. I also downloaded a bunch of information about my part time job that starts on Monday. I stopped going to therapy. I picked up a pool pass for my apartment complex, in hopes of actually going this summer and cooling off by the pool and possibly meeting some neighbors. Lastly, I firmed up plans with my college friend, Dorrie, who is coming for a weekend visit Labor Day weekend.
Tomorrow is the last day of my vacation. No sleeping in or staying up late, sadly.
Today, I took a nap and had a work-dream. I hate those. I haven't had one in 8 days. But, the harsh reality of returning to a job I hate is sinking in. I had really hoped to find something better/different while I was on vacation.
In my dream, it was my first day back from vacation and before I had a chance to even log in, my boss pulled me into her office and b*tched me out for something that came up while I was on vacation that the people who were supposed to cover for me weren't able to handle... and instead of holding them accountable, she was blaming me for not preparing them better. She went on and on yelling at me and then ended the brow-beating with "and just for that, I'm sending you to California for a week to work in our new office there."
I woke up with a headache. It's not an unrealistic dream. Now, my stomach is churning and I'm dreading going back to work.
Now, I'm going to go make dinner, watch a movie and try to block out "work" in my mind for a little bit longer. Just a little bit.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Each morning, my dear sweet new kitty, Abby, would wake me up around 6:00 wanting some breakfast and to play. So, each morning, I got up like a good mommy and fed her and played with her for about 30 minutes. Then, I put out birdseed and peanuts for the squirrels and she would curl up by the balcony doors watching the squirrels and birds. I would crawl back into bed for a couple of hours and then officially "get up" around 9:00. I'd watch some morning talk shows, game shows, or Law and Order reruns for a few hours. Then, I'd check email, update Facebook, look for jobs and then make lunch. My lunch usually consisted of something quick and easy. One day, I had peach ice cream with fruity pebbles for lunch. Another, I had scrambled eggs with cream cheese melted into it. Another, I had 1/2 of a small seedless watermelon. I have to admit I rather liked doing whatever the heck I wanted whenever I wanted. No work projects. No meetings. No schedule. Then, in the afternoon, I would try to do something "productive". One day, I vacuumed and spot-cleaned the carpets in my apartment. Another, I hauled several bags of magazines to the library for "recycling". I cleaned the kitchen floor. I cleaned the bathrooms. I watered my plants. I did laundry. I washed dishes. I organized the "junk drawer". I cleaned the litterbox. I reorganized the fridge, freezer and kitchen cabinets.
By mid-afternoon, I would take a short nap and then make dinner, watch television, read a book, check email again, apply for some more jobs, tend to my Farmville farm, talk to friends on the phone, play with the cat, rent a video, and then crawl back into bed around 1:00 or 2:00 a.m.
Now, before you think I was a complete slug -- there were some "other" things that came up -- like an unexpected trip to the "urgent care" facility because I was having very very painful cranium pains, blurry vision and a nosebleed. Turned out my blood pressure was high -- which was probably my fault because I hadn't been taking my meds regularly. My friend Janelle and I had lunch and then went on a dolphin watching cruise. I've done them before. It's my way of combining sun, sea and salty air in one trip and getting my tan out of the way. Abby had a vet appointment. I had a dentist appointment. There were some random trips to the store to window shop. I spent one afternoon calling various insurance companies trying to get cheaper car insurance. I also downloaded a bunch of information about my part time job that starts on Monday. I stopped going to therapy. I picked up a pool pass for my apartment complex, in hopes of actually going this summer and cooling off by the pool and possibly meeting some neighbors. Lastly, I firmed up plans with my college friend, Dorrie, who is coming for a weekend visit Labor Day weekend.
Tomorrow is the last day of my vacation. No sleeping in or staying up late, sadly.
Today, I took a nap and had a work-dream. I hate those. I haven't had one in 8 days. But, the harsh reality of returning to a job I hate is sinking in. I had really hoped to find something better/different while I was on vacation.
In my dream, it was my first day back from vacation and before I had a chance to even log in, my boss pulled me into her office and b*tched me out for something that came up while I was on vacation that the people who were supposed to cover for me weren't able to handle... and instead of holding them accountable, she was blaming me for not preparing them better. She went on and on yelling at me and then ended the brow-beating with "and just for that, I'm sending you to California for a week to work in our new office there."
I woke up with a headache. It's not an unrealistic dream. Now, my stomach is churning and I'm dreading going back to work.
Now, I'm going to go make dinner, watch a movie and try to block out "work" in my mind for a little bit longer. Just a little bit.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Days Forty-Two, Forty-Three and Forty-Four
On Monday, I sent an email to the SPCA complaining about Abby's worm issue. I received a response from the center manager asking me to come in with a stool sample (from Abby, not me) and they'd give me some free de-wormer.
On Tuesday, I went to the SPCA to pick up the de-wormer and gave it to Abby last night.
Today, I got an email from a company I had applied for "work at home" work several months ago, offering me some part-time work. I have gone through several phone and email screenings for work and thought that maybe it wasn't legitimate, despite the interview reviews stating otherwise.
Below is the job description. Sounds pretty interesting... and the pay is decent, too. I can really some extra money and hopefully this will give me something extra each month. The project is 15-20 hours a week for 6 months.
(Company Name Omitted) has entered into a contract with software giant Microsoft. Recently, the Department of Justice approved the combined search efforts of Microsoft and Yahoo!. With this merger, Working Solutions will see a large influx of ad content to review. The combined search content will be reviewed through October. On this program, agents review ad content that will be placed on Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Agents will review and categorize the ad content to assure it meets all Microsoft's criteria and some of that may contain gaming, adult and pharmaceutical information. We are reviewing ads to ensure that any ads with unapproved content are declined from being placed on Microsoft sites, so agents must realize that they may be exposed to adult content on this project.
Two more working days until vacation. I'm soooo ready. I've never been this burnt-out before. I am looking forward to doing whatever the heck I please for a few days.
On Tuesday, I went to the SPCA to pick up the de-wormer and gave it to Abby last night.
Today, I got an email from a company I had applied for "work at home" work several months ago, offering me some part-time work. I have gone through several phone and email screenings for work and thought that maybe it wasn't legitimate, despite the interview reviews stating otherwise.
Below is the job description. Sounds pretty interesting... and the pay is decent, too. I can really some extra money and hopefully this will give me something extra each month. The project is 15-20 hours a week for 6 months.
(Company Name Omitted) has entered into a contract with software giant Microsoft. Recently, the Department of Justice approved the combined search efforts of Microsoft and Yahoo!. With this merger, Working Solutions will see a large influx of ad content to review. The combined search content will be reviewed through October. On this program, agents review ad content that will be placed on Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Agents will review and categorize the ad content to assure it meets all Microsoft's criteria and some of that may contain gaming, adult and pharmaceutical information. We are reviewing ads to ensure that any ads with unapproved content are declined from being placed on Microsoft sites, so agents must realize that they may be exposed to adult content on this project.
Two more working days until vacation. I'm soooo ready. I've never been this burnt-out before. I am looking forward to doing whatever the heck I please for a few days.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Days Thirty-Nine, Forty and Forty-One
The past few days have blurred into one another. I'm trying to recall what I've done.
Today, I went to the farmers market and bought a lot of fresh fruit and veggies. I wish I had a large plot of land where I could grow all of my own fruits and vegetables. Maybe even a few fruit trees.
Today, I went to the farmers market and bought a lot of fresh fruit and veggies. I wish I had a large plot of land where I could grow all of my own fruits and vegetables. Maybe even a few fruit trees.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day Thirty Eight
Had some of the best Asian food ever tonight from a local placed called Forbidden City. General Tso's chicken and some lettuce wraps. Very very tasty. I washed it down with chocolate milk. I have some of the weirdest food cravings sometimes.
Financial place wants a face-to-face interview tomorrow during lunch.
I have nothing else to say so I'm just going to post a photo of Abby and call it a night.
6 working days until vacation. Wish I was going some place fun.
Days Thirty-Five, Thirty-Six and Thirty-Seven
Maybe I should have called this blog "52" for 52 weeks instead of 365 for 365 days. I'd feel less stressed about missing a few days of blogging.
I'm still drinking water. I think I may have lost some weight. My belly isn't as close to the steering wheel as it used to be.
The new cat has worms. Joy. Nothing grosser than seeing a worm crawl out of the cat's butt while you are petting her. So, now I'm learning the joys of deworming a cat and cursing the shelter for not doing it for me. She's still quite high maintenance. She's clingy and hyper. She likes sleeping on my feet, which I do not enjoy. She's also a biter. She thinks she's being playful but it hurts. I'm tired of saying "Abby No" or "Abby Down." I'm suffering through a case of buyer's remorse right now. I keep hoping that she'll realize she is in a stable home and will calm down. I like that she likes me but I also want her to just go away sometimes so I can have some peace. I have to close doors now for some peace, which I never had to do with Molly. A couple of times I thought about calling the shelter and asking if I could trade her in for one of the more passive quieter cats but I don't know that I could stand the look on her face when I leave her. I've also thought of getting another cat to keep her company but I fear she'll kill it when I'm not here. She practically mutilated the toy mice I've bought her.
Had a phone interview today for a part-time job at financial company. I hope they call me with an offer and that it leads to something greater.
Now, I'm off to a therapy session. I think I'm going to fire her. I don't feel like my visits with her are productive. I called the Employee Assistance Program people last night and asked them to find me another therapist. I don't appreciate my therapist's "tough" approach. She just keeps telling me that I'm a smart person and that I know what I need to do and then stares at me as if to challenge me. I was hoping for some exercises or materials I could use to help me be more assertive, less stressed and not worry so much.
I'm still drinking water. I think I may have lost some weight. My belly isn't as close to the steering wheel as it used to be.
The new cat has worms. Joy. Nothing grosser than seeing a worm crawl out of the cat's butt while you are petting her. So, now I'm learning the joys of deworming a cat and cursing the shelter for not doing it for me. She's still quite high maintenance. She's clingy and hyper. She likes sleeping on my feet, which I do not enjoy. She's also a biter. She thinks she's being playful but it hurts. I'm tired of saying "Abby No" or "Abby Down." I'm suffering through a case of buyer's remorse right now. I keep hoping that she'll realize she is in a stable home and will calm down. I like that she likes me but I also want her to just go away sometimes so I can have some peace. I have to close doors now for some peace, which I never had to do with Molly. A couple of times I thought about calling the shelter and asking if I could trade her in for one of the more passive quieter cats but I don't know that I could stand the look on her face when I leave her. I've also thought of getting another cat to keep her company but I fear she'll kill it when I'm not here. She practically mutilated the toy mice I've bought her.
Had a phone interview today for a part-time job at financial company. I hope they call me with an offer and that it leads to something greater.
Now, I'm off to a therapy session. I think I'm going to fire her. I don't feel like my visits with her are productive. I called the Employee Assistance Program people last night and asked them to find me another therapist. I don't appreciate my therapist's "tough" approach. She just keeps telling me that I'm a smart person and that I know what I need to do and then stares at me as if to challenge me. I was hoping for some exercises or materials I could use to help me be more assertive, less stressed and not worry so much.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Days Thirty-Two, Thirty-Three and Thirty-Four
Hmmm.... still trying to get used to having such a vocal and active cat in the house. She wants constant attention. Bought her a cat-tree on eBay. It arrived on Friday. I put it together Friday night. She has knocked it over twice and pulled both dangling mice off of it. She's very rough.
On Saturday, I worked on training her to sleep "on the other side" of the bed instead of on my feet. It works to a degree. If she falls asleep on the other side of the bed, she stays there for awhile. However, if I fall asleep before she does, as soon as I'm comfy, she wedges herself between my legs and traps me and if I try to move, she sees it as an invitation to play.
On Saturday, I also did some "greening" of my apartment and sorted through months of accumulated magazines to separate out those I truly want to keep and those I can donate. I have 4 cloth bags of those I can donate. I've also decided that I'm not going to subscribe to any more and let all of my subscriptions expire. I can't believe how addicted I am to magazines. All of that trivial information that I read once and forget about. I'm sure I can read many of the big stories online in some format or another.
Today, I printed out cable/internet/phone bill to see if there are any other ways to cut costs. I hardly ever stray past the "regular" stations so I'm going to call them tomorrow to see if I can get about $9.00 in "entertainment packs" removed from my bill. I also decided to take advantage of the dental insurance I've been paying for but never using and called a dentist and left a message for a free cleaning during the week I'm on vacation. I also called a non-profit debt consolidation place for a appointment that week as well, to see if they can help me negotiate a better deal on my credit cards. I'm so mad at myself for having credit cards again. I was totally debt-free in April 2007. Then, I moved here and was fine for awhile -- only had two cards for "emergencies". I used one card to get new furniture for my new apartment and am still paying on that. Then, over the course of the past two years, have added 4 more "low balance" credit cards to the mix, which I've maxxed out when my company reduced our salaries and I needed more $ than what I was making. I've been paying more than the minimum payment but don't seem to be getting anywhere. I had made a nice dent in them but then Molly got sick and after I used up my savings, I started to use them again -- for fuel, groceries, prescriptions. It adds up fast. I spent about $300 a month making payments to unsecured creditors. That's huge. I could be putting that towards savings.
Lastly, I sent an email to my financial advisor to ask that he reduce my monthly contribution to my retirement plan. I am currently contributing about 5% of my net income each month to an IRA but when I opened it last summer, I anticipated a higher raise and bonuses, which didn't happen, and now I'm feeling the loss of that money each month. It's really hard to live off of a salary where you can't earn overtime, can't get a part-time job because of the long hours you work and don't qualify for any bonuses. There's no way for me to generate income right now so I keep working on whittling away at my expenses. I hate this feeling of desperation of not having enough money.
I was supposed to go to a bingo social today but decided I couldn't rationalize the $25 fee. That's gas money... or groceries... so I stayed home instead.
I really wish I could win the lottery. Maybe I should play?
On Saturday, I worked on training her to sleep "on the other side" of the bed instead of on my feet. It works to a degree. If she falls asleep on the other side of the bed, she stays there for awhile. However, if I fall asleep before she does, as soon as I'm comfy, she wedges herself between my legs and traps me and if I try to move, she sees it as an invitation to play.
On Saturday, I also did some "greening" of my apartment and sorted through months of accumulated magazines to separate out those I truly want to keep and those I can donate. I have 4 cloth bags of those I can donate. I've also decided that I'm not going to subscribe to any more and let all of my subscriptions expire. I can't believe how addicted I am to magazines. All of that trivial information that I read once and forget about. I'm sure I can read many of the big stories online in some format or another.
Today, I printed out cable/internet/phone bill to see if there are any other ways to cut costs. I hardly ever stray past the "regular" stations so I'm going to call them tomorrow to see if I can get about $9.00 in "entertainment packs" removed from my bill. I also decided to take advantage of the dental insurance I've been paying for but never using and called a dentist and left a message for a free cleaning during the week I'm on vacation. I also called a non-profit debt consolidation place for a appointment that week as well, to see if they can help me negotiate a better deal on my credit cards. I'm so mad at myself for having credit cards again. I was totally debt-free in April 2007. Then, I moved here and was fine for awhile -- only had two cards for "emergencies". I used one card to get new furniture for my new apartment and am still paying on that. Then, over the course of the past two years, have added 4 more "low balance" credit cards to the mix, which I've maxxed out when my company reduced our salaries and I needed more $ than what I was making. I've been paying more than the minimum payment but don't seem to be getting anywhere. I had made a nice dent in them but then Molly got sick and after I used up my savings, I started to use them again -- for fuel, groceries, prescriptions. It adds up fast. I spent about $300 a month making payments to unsecured creditors. That's huge. I could be putting that towards savings.
Lastly, I sent an email to my financial advisor to ask that he reduce my monthly contribution to my retirement plan. I am currently contributing about 5% of my net income each month to an IRA but when I opened it last summer, I anticipated a higher raise and bonuses, which didn't happen, and now I'm feeling the loss of that money each month. It's really hard to live off of a salary where you can't earn overtime, can't get a part-time job because of the long hours you work and don't qualify for any bonuses. There's no way for me to generate income right now so I keep working on whittling away at my expenses. I hate this feeling of desperation of not having enough money.
I was supposed to go to a bingo social today but decided I couldn't rationalize the $25 fee. That's gas money... or groceries... so I stayed home instead.
I really wish I could win the lottery. Maybe I should play?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Days Twenty-Nine, Thirty and Thirty-One
Yes, I've been slacking again. Sorry.
Trying to adjust to having a hyperactive kitty in the house. She kept me awake until 3:00 a.m. Monday night, exploring everything and getting into everything. I'd start to doze off and hear a crash and have to go see what she was into. She likes knocking things over and looking at me like, "It just happened, I swear." She is going to think her name is Abby No or Abby Down.
Tuesday night was a little better. I went to bed at 10:00 and she jumped up on the bed with me. I held her close to my side and rubbed her forehead and ears, calming her down. She felt asleep beside me with her head on my pillow. She slept for about an hour. Then, sometime during the night she discovered the joy of sleeping on my legs and feet. Fun for her. Not so much for me.
Last night, I was exhausted from having a headache all day at work and went to be around 8:30, while it was storming outside. She fell asleep beside me and seems to enjoy cuddling. She woke me up at 5:30, ready to play. She has this gray furry mouse that she carries around by the tail and she whacked me in the head with it a couple of times. I got up and played with her then while she was distracted, went back to bed for another 30 minutes or so.
Today, I had another therapy session. It makes me nervous how she keeps encouraging me to get fired. "Don't worry about it! You'll get unemployment, medicaid and food stamps. You can apply for assistance." Um, and if I don't qualify? Then, what? (sigh) My "free" sessions are over now. I think I may try to find someone else. I am not really getting anything out of the visits. The last time I went to therapy, the therapist would give me homework assignments to do so that we could explore issues and feelings. This lady is determined for me to do something at work to "have my voice heard" and get fired. She seems to think that getting fired will empower me. Guess she's never had to worry about paying rent or having a car repossessed.
Trying to adjust to having a hyperactive kitty in the house. She kept me awake until 3:00 a.m. Monday night, exploring everything and getting into everything. I'd start to doze off and hear a crash and have to go see what she was into. She likes knocking things over and looking at me like, "It just happened, I swear." She is going to think her name is Abby No or Abby Down.
Tuesday night was a little better. I went to bed at 10:00 and she jumped up on the bed with me. I held her close to my side and rubbed her forehead and ears, calming her down. She felt asleep beside me with her head on my pillow. She slept for about an hour. Then, sometime during the night she discovered the joy of sleeping on my legs and feet. Fun for her. Not so much for me.
Last night, I was exhausted from having a headache all day at work and went to be around 8:30, while it was storming outside. She fell asleep beside me and seems to enjoy cuddling. She woke me up at 5:30, ready to play. She has this gray furry mouse that she carries around by the tail and she whacked me in the head with it a couple of times. I got up and played with her then while she was distracted, went back to bed for another 30 minutes or so.
Today, I had another therapy session. It makes me nervous how she keeps encouraging me to get fired. "Don't worry about it! You'll get unemployment, medicaid and food stamps. You can apply for assistance." Um, and if I don't qualify? Then, what? (sigh) My "free" sessions are over now. I think I may try to find someone else. I am not really getting anything out of the visits. The last time I went to therapy, the therapist would give me homework assignments to do so that we could explore issues and feelings. This lady is determined for me to do something at work to "have my voice heard" and get fired. She seems to think that getting fired will empower me. Guess she's never had to worry about paying rent or having a car repossessed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)