Question of the day..or week..

D r e a m s

Alright Dear Readers, I have updated the blog with the adventures of the Tea party Cats. (If you have not caught it yet, check out Charlie Tuna strikes back)  And I have vented my frustration for this week as well in the last blog. All my dealings are at a stand still, all waiting for vehicle registration to get completed. And that relies on a ride..which unfortunately backed out today due to illness, and I really need to get to the bank...sigh.

So...I am not going to ask a silly question, I am going to post a serious one..give you something to think about.  I have my dreams, and though they seem fruitless at times, I do still dream. It is the one thing that keeps hope alive for me most of the time. What is your dream? The one thing you really would love to have, or do..or experience. ( it does not have to be X-rated-but if that is your dream, alright then.) I will share mine after I hear back from some folks.

Have a good week, hugs to all..
K

Last Day

Today was my last day, at least for awhile on Swing Shift at work. It was nothing special, a typical Monday, and as usual Podium had the brunt of trying to satisfy the demands of the other departments needing Security escorts. John Judy had that lovely job, I was working in Control, sending sympathy his way. There are times when it is extremely frustrating trying to 'fix' problems with limited manpower, and I knew he was having one of those days.  Breaks were took longer to happen, we were short one person, and that is all it takes sometimes.  It is going to feel very strange starting over with a different crew. For one thing, despite the fact that I see most of them when they are coming into start work, I am not familiar with all of their names and faces. When you work in Control, a lot rides on knowing voices, who is calling, to be able to answer their needs. I can see that I will be asking a lot of "what is your name" in the future. That is, if I get to work in Control or Podium. They seem to have an abundance of Podium and Control officers on their shift, and not enough regular officers. I hope..really hope, that I am not a permanent fix for standing post. Been there, done that.

It was relayed to me by a grave shift associate that it is unlikely that I will get a chance to "shadow" the supervisors much, as they are short staffed. This is not making me happy. I know I should be grateful for the chance that is being given to me, but I am leaving a comfortable niche and fear that I may not be moving in the right direction. I know I need the full time hours, but my life will be going topsy turvy to get that. And still..I have had to chase management down just to get the lowdown on what days I will be working, shift hours, pay, etc. There is a real problem with follow up when it comes to paperwork and review there. The supervisors are so busy chasing problems their whole shift that there is no time for administrative paperwork.  I think that is a position that they should seriously consider filling, someone to keep track of employee training, hire dates, review times, etc. Hmm...I could do that...lol. But it is unlikely that they will create a new position. As with most companies, you are forced to make do with what you have, they do not want to pay someone else, even if it makes sense to do so.

Another thing that REALLY bothers me is that they use promotion through the department as an excuse to NOT give yearly increases.  When I became a Podium and Control officer, I lost my increase for being there for one year. Now I am being told that I won't get next years increase either. This is really wrong. If you take the initiative to move ahead and help out, you are penalized for it. It is simply a rich company's way of cutting corners and saving a buck. Everyone who works there works damn hard, there is not a position that I would call easy in the whole place. We are paid less because we work in WV. If most of us wanted to, and could afford the gas and suffer the commute, we could travel to DC to work and make more money.  That the facility is in WV is an excuse to pay less. I encountered this same message when working with the hospital for 15 years in Southern MD. Does it really matter if they are saving you a commute? You are still working your tail off, and they keep making lots of money. I think it is unfair.

I am hoping that my ride to the bank and store comes through, as I am not safe to drive right now, due to registration in WV being held up waiting for a title transfer. I have to get to the bank, the rent is due this week.
I hate the mess I am in right now..it seems like a huge catch-22..cannot do this because of that, and that..etc. Everything is being held up due to the registration issue. Why do electronic transfers take 3 weeks??? it should be instant. I need my car to get things done that are waiting in line..and I am getting impatient.
So I guess...frustration is the word that best applies to me right now..it's really getting to me too.

Good nite..and I did see you R..checking out to see if I am still talking about you?
Not. You've done such a great job of ignoring me..I thought I should return the favor.
Especially since half this damned debt is yours. Be grateful that I am trying to let it go.
K

Charlie Tuna Strikes Back

Early morning mist still hovered low to the ground as the outside market was stirring to life. Three darker shapes swam under the mist, one had a tail appearing over the mist like a gray shark fin. Every so often the leader would stop..pause to get her bearings, and be rear ended by the following two.
A loud 'Clunk!' was heard, which sounded suspiciously like a soup bone hitting the ground. A few murmured growls later the trio continued on, gracefully skirting tables and the legs of vendors setting up shop. The mist was thinning so all three crouched low and long to the ground as to not be seen. Ahead, the sliding of ice being poured onto a display table, and the slap of a luscious tuna being laid out in all it's glory for customers to "ooh! and Ahh!" over. Three noses tipped up visibly wiggling to catch the fragrance. They crept closer..and closer..till a loud snore could be heard coming from under the destined table. The Dog. The slobbering jowl flapping Dog...the feline version of the boogeyman, snoozing and in the way.

The lead cat (Magpie) swirled her head back to stare pointedly at Sassafrass who stood still with the bone still dragging on the ground. Saasfrass's face was a mask of pained concentration, fangs are not meant to carry this big a load. Her breathe coming quickly after all this skulduggery and planned infiltration through the market, she caught Magpie's pointed look and cut her eyes to the DOG curled under the table. Her breathing stopped, eyes grew huge...and she slowly started to back up. Prunella, having no patience at this point ( or ever) lifted one paw and slitted her eyes to glare evilly at the backing Sass, who stopped and gulped. Ears laying back on her head, tail curled under her belly, she slowly crept forward, inching closer to the DOG until she was about one foot away. Aching jaws opened and the bone clunked down onto the pavement. The DOG huffed, smacked his lips and opened one eye starring straight at the frozen Sassafrass.

They say time freezes and everything slows down when you are in an emergency situation. Not so..at least not to the three thieves arched and hissing at the glare of the DOG. An explosion of 'WOOF WOOF WOOF!" and the dog surged forward to attack. (cats are much more fun than a soup bone) Sassafrass back pedaled a giant fluff bail of fur and turned and climbed up the first thing that could take her higher than the DOG. It happend to be the legs of the vendor who was laying more ice on the display, who promptly dropped the ice bucket, whacking Prunella in the head. Throughly enraged, Prunella struck back at the bucket and anything within her radius of stretched claws. Howls, hisses and yells punctuated the open market, a chain reaction of tables tilting, awnings swinging, and all hell breaking loose.

Magpie, master planner that she was, received one good swipe from Prunella's fury, and leaped skyward, landing smack on top of the beautiful tuna. The heavenly sight enveloped Magpie, and time did freeze. She gazed with love at the splendid fishy laid out before her, begging to be taken. Breaking the spell with a shake of her head, mouth open to grab the fish, she chomped down, digging her fangs into the tail of the fish. Nothing happened...not a budge. Pulling backward, and thrusting her hind legs in balance, she tugged...and Nothing happened. Frustrated she tried a different angle..and Nothing. Slowly letting go of the fish she looked up just in time to see a broom swinging towards her to send her sailing through the air, landing on Prunella, still in a berserker frenzy. A loud HISST! And they eyed each other, looked around and flew over the ground to leave the market behind. The sounds of outrage, and furious impotent barking could still be heard as they rounded a fence to head back home. The DOG was tied under the display table, and was pulling with all his might, dragging the table into another display, and dumping the prized tuna over onto the ground.

Not a meow was heard as they met up with Sassafrass hiding under a bush on their way. All three grumbling, tails swishing, and whispering "Your fault!" at each other, all the way home.

Who Hoisted da Fish?

Sitting down to a cup of catnip tea, Magpie, Prunella and Sassafras were plotting a heist of major proportions...the fresh tuna, fragrant aroma wafting from the local outdoor market. Magpie hinted that Prunella had no finesse with her grab and stash plan, and wanted a plan with a little more pizazz. Sassafras, (not a great thinker) asked Prunella to pass the cat cookies. Prunella, offended at Magpie's belief that she was boring was thinking of adding a worm or two to Magpie's cup of tea.
After much glaring and huffy sighs, the three came up with a full proof plan, involving a bone for the guard dog, a loud scream of a stepped on tail, mad running and knocking over of the tables, and Prunella's grabbing of said fish.

Stay tuned...for more misadventures.

Hello...again!

I'm just getting started on the new site, fixing up the page, checking under the hood. I think I would enjoy more interaction between myself and my readers than I have previously had. So...expect me to present silly questions and wait to read your equally silly responses, lol.


This has been an extremely busy weekend at work, short staffed and patron overload. I have one more day left working swing shift, and I know I will be missing my friends a great deal. Most of us have worked together since I started there a year and half ago. I am sure I will make new friends on grave shift, but the transition will be hard for me. Not only do I have to learn new duties, (I welcome that challenge) but I have to get my body attuned to a hugely different schedule as well. I have never been a day sleeper unless I am ill. My Mother would have told you that I stopped taking naps at 9 months of age.( just to drive her crazy!)  I will fill you all in after I actually get started on the new position. A lot depends on me being able to pass Lottery licensing. If I don't pass, I will remain a podium and control officer.


Todays's silly question: What happened at the Cat's Tea party?  I have my version, now I would love to know yours. I shall post tomorrow what went on over the Catnip Tea.  Hugs to all my friends who followed me here, I would be lost without you, and welcome to new readers.


Many thanks,
K