I is froze

I is froze
First mah fingahs
den mah toes.
Not to mention
mah little red nose.

Damn! Cold. Damn Cold!! When I left work tonight the thermometer on my car read -6 degrees.
Part of my job is checking perimeters and doors, hence my silly remark of being frozen. Not quite used to these extremely low temperatures yet. Colorado's weather never stays anything for long, it's always changing. We had about 8 inches of snow on Christmas and the 26th. Then it snowed some more on Sunday and Monday, and Mother Nature ushered in some very frigid weather. Tomorrow's high of 22 will seem like a much welcomed heat wave.

I heard via the Weather Channel that So Cal and Las Vegas were going to get snow on New Years Eve, I'd hate to be an insurance agent in that region on New Years Day..lol. Fender Benders everywhere.

Wishing everyone a great New Year in 2015.

~K

O.T.

O.T.makes me zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Weird that in my first week they were already hitting me up for over time. Funny that the lady doing the hiring stated "If you have to work over then you will come in later the next day." Oh really? Pardon me if I keep falling asleep while writing this note. I have been asked to work over an average of 2 times a week since I started. And of course I said yes.

The 40 hour week of constant driving makes this gal tired enough. Add more hours onto the day and snowy/icy weather? I'm ready for bed when I clock out.

I like being out on my own. I do not mind the drive. I just want to be awake while doing it.

I know..picky-picky, you cannot have Everything! You silly girl.


zzzzzzz~K

It's the little things

It's the little things that can make my day. With my current job I am frequently alone, which is something that I have always wanted to try in my adult life, be my own boss, for the most part.
Some might think that would make me a lonely person, but that's not the way my mind works. The wheels turn all the time without having to have someone there with me. I travel from office to office, so I do meet people during my shift. But sometimes something unexpected gives my day a happy boost.

Yesterday while visiting one of the Loveland offices something in the sky caught my eye. I have only witnessed this sighting once before in my life, but each time leaves me with a feeling of awe that comes out of my mouth as "Aw! Wow, look at that!" Riding the wind currents (which can be pretty strong here) was a Bald Eagle. Flying over the parking lots and over buildings, he seemed the embodiment of freedom. It was beautiful. But..as my mind works things out.."Hmm...lots of fat geese flying around here too! He might be looking for a Christmas dinner." Lol...

Later that same day, as I was patrolling slowly through another lot in Fort Collins...waddling (and taking their sweet time) was a gathering of those same geese. It brought me another smile watching them strolling ahead of me. (guess they were lucky to not run into that eagle.)

Today as I walked yet another parking lot I saw two large birds in a grassy area. I assumed that they were geese, but when they flew away together I noted that they were Cranes or Herons. I have not seen a crane nor an eagle since I left southern Maryland. Those brief sightings totally made my day.
My father thinks that I am fascinated with the migratory geese who gather in Loveland and the surrounding areas for the winter. Well, I am! I was always happy to see them back east, but they were always few in number, which made me sad that there were so few when at one time there were millions. Out here in Colorado I see hundreds if not thousands each week.

I joke, when I am home and outside, that when they leave Loveland for Fort Collins in a group that they have dinner reservations. When a large group flies back..dinner is over, time for bed. I love that I can see so many of them. Yes, you got to watch out for goose poop in most places, but it's worth it.
It's good that they can co-exist with man here. Loveland and the surrounding areas, are not small. There are a lot of people, cars, homes and businesses. I was afraid that my country days were over.
But..they are not, and that is a very good thing.

Have a g'night,
K

Get set and go!

Tomorrow is the first day of my new job. I'm a bit nervous, a little excited, but mostly happy to
be productive again. My savings are almost depleted, and Christmas looks to be a very simple one.

We have agreed to gift each other with something whimsical. I'm easy..hey, not that way! I meant that anything "Cat" will make me happy. I'm having more trouble thinking up something affordable and whimsical for Dad and De. Dogs and cats are already taken care of, as well as stocking stuffers for the above mentioned two.

The first days on the job will be about training, and I am sure that company policy will be a big one.
Their Surveillance runs Control, unlike the casino where I was past employed. My GPS and radio are my time clock and how they keep track of me as I am 45 miles from home base.

Cannot wait to get a real paycheck again. Things are tight in every way here, even meals. I am getting royally tired of sandwiches. A nice shot of whiskey would have been a appreciated to help me sleep tonight..but Mother Hubbard's cupboard is bare, and beer is not quite the same, lol.

I likely will not be online as much as I have been the past few months. I need a break from that as well, it's getting damn boring. If Santa does hear my wishes a good book (that I have not read before) would be very nice, Santa aside, I am very grateful for what I do have and the chance to begin again.
Christmas service will be especially beautiful this year, I find myself teary when in church, and I am not sure why. Perhaps because it has been missing from my life for way too long a time. Maybe because it reminds me of my past and those that I have lost. Other members of the congregation must wonder why I am so mushy.

If I do not get the chance to share it before the 25th, I wish everyone who reads my weird little blog a very Merry Christmas and may your New Year be blessed with happiness and joy.

~*Kel

A week of Zero

Zero temperatures that is. It's been quite a while since this gal dealt with frigid air (not frigidere..lol) and nature sort of amazes me. I was all set for an interview in Denver when the first wave of Very cold air and snow blew in. Last week I had been doing yard work in short sleeves and then presto- change-oh!! How do you like the -11 temperatures when you are outside smoking? lol..I did not freeze to death, but it's not very pleasant. It kind of made me realize what lengths I can go to hold on to nicotine addiction. My father was afraid that he would find me frozen to the chair outside his office door, but that did not happen.

I had told myself that I would be quitting, I'm just afraid to quit without some medical help because I know that I will need help..patches for the day and a Xanax at night, at least till I stop wanting to light up. I have No health insurance at the moment.

The interview had to be rescheduled because when I got onto I-25 South ( at 4 degrees F) I could feel my car sliding in my lane only going 25 mph. I could not see me driving 80 miles like that back and forth. I am feeling a bit desperate for a job now. So many applications and no responses. I have two pending possibilities and I AM crossing my fingers that one of them will see what a great worker I can be. Sounds like I am bragging but I come from a generation who does work hard. We expect to be recognized for such as well. I have little patience for people who constantly whine instead of working. (the urge to smack them upside the head is tempting to me.)

We will be moving back to more normal temperatures for this time of year in about a weeks time. As long as there are no more 'polar vortexes' that is. Funny, the image that comes to mind when I hear polar vortex is from the movie "The Day After Tomorrow." In that movie there were hurricane like formations of clouds that pulled sub-zero temperatures down from the upper Troposphere causing everything inside the eye of the storm to instantly freeze. So yeah, I think this new weather word is designed to make people afraid. It's always wise to have common sense in any serious weather situation,, but I think that they use it more for dramatic media effect.

Shoveled today, a good 7 inches of powder is on the ground. Not as heavy to move as the snows we had back east, but damn, it was cold! My cheeks were stinging..my face..not my butt, lol.

OH MY!!

Love,K

Lordy Lordy, look who is not 40

I had to dig for that title, and obviously it was a long shot. Another year on the calendar of my life is approaching on little sneaky feet. No sense running, it will catch up no matter what evasive moves you may make. I'm actually comfortable with my age. I won't in years get any younger, but in my heart I am still young. The passing of the years is what we all do, no exceptions, and as some have mentioned before, it beats not getting older for other reasons, lol.

I have settled in here in Colorado, unpacking is complete, only a couple of items that have not been found after the flurry of packing,driving and unpacking. I have attended several church services, helped with the food for the homeless program, and of course last Fridays Trunk or Treat in the church parking lot. I've also been kept very busy with a large amount of needed yardwork.

Still nothing on the job front, but I am not giving up hope and keep plugging away. I hate to settle but likely will to get needed income to help around here with rent. That means taking a job that is out of necessity and not necessarily what I'd like to be doing. Hitting the bricks this week instead of online applications. I've heard back from a few advising that the position had been filled. Part time is not an option, I need 40 hrs and benefits.

Happy Birthday to me, and thanks to Laura Mae for the only card that was mailed this year. I did not know that Colorado was in a different galaxy, but it seems so. No matter, I do have wonderful folks to share the day with.

Have a good week everyone,
K~*

PS: Note that other cards arrived later and were very much appreciated!

Bits and Pieces

Slowly learning my way around Loveland because it's a bit bigger than what I had become accustomed to. I think that I can find one of the Walmarts and a food store or two. Tomorrow I will have the afternoon to myself and I 'd like to do some more gardening. I plan on an excursion to find a car wash, because Greta the Mazda is still bug splattered from the trip out here. (plus dust from the many construction zones.)

I have applied to varied positions, and as usual it's a wait and see, which I have trouble dealing with. I've applied for security positions, medical secretary, assembler at a printing company, and call center for utilities in the city of Fort Collins. I told you..very varied.

I am now insured in Colorado, the next step will be a driver's license since mine expires on my birthday this year. (that should be a blast) Registering the car will have to fall after that, as I should have approximately 3 months before I can be ticketed. (I hope)

I am expanding my horizons to include micro brews. I have never been much of a beer drinker, but it's either beer or wine, and I really have never gotten into wine. There are a fair amount of smaller breweries around here. Oh! And coming up October 25 there will be a Zombie Crawl in old town Loveland, that should be interesting!

Catch up more later,
~k

PS: I have failed to mention how beautiful it is here. The weather is traditionally fall like, clear bright skies. I actually found the big dipper sitting outside looking at the sky at night. Looking forward to a trip to Estes. We've just gotten in the last few days the first snows on the higher peaks, I could see them today driving through town.