Not that well. Although I have a short freelance job coming up in the
next week or so, which might make me a good chunk of change. Nothing
long-term, though.

Everyone's doing fine. Licky is still an obnoxious teenager who loves
to harass middle-aged Smudge. She growls, hisses and swats whenever he
comes near her, and I have to come running to chase him off. But with me,
he's a sweet, though slightly skittish, purring love-butt. Smudge stays
on high ground when in the house. And Roxy is still sublimely calm and
patient, and mostly in some zen world of her own, staring deep into
spiritual realms I can only dream of. She is a total sweetheart. And I
wish I had her temperament!! :)

Thanks for asking...

Joyce

I may drop off for a bit because I've uncharacteristically decided to
take a full time job, and while I still have some other lingering part
time commitments.  I've only been taking consulting work for the past
couple of years, and rejecting all full time offers, because they're
less flexible.

Lately though, offers for software development lead positions have
been coming in pretty regularly.  Some friends in other areas of
software management have been reporting the same thing the last few
months, so hopefully, the market is beginning to warm up for everyone.
Anyway, it increasingly looked like the more challenging work were in
permanent positions.

One of the companies that contacted me had an opening for senior
project manager, which sounded different and interesting, so I
accepted that.  So I'm traveling for them for a few days here and
there next month, and doing other miscellaneous things, and may be a
bit out of touch.

Aww heck Pam. Everything is fine, it is sweet of you to ask about everyone.
Sometimes I have to remind myself how lucky I really am. Thankful just to be
*anywhere* and to have friends who care.
I quit working even part-time last April, I just couldn't do it anymore. I'm
afriad I have turned into a bit of a recluse. That's probably the real reason
for the grumpies. I need to get out more.

Sherry

Not well.  It's hard to explain to a potential employer you were let go
after 11 years because, despite medical confirmation, the fairly new manager
b**ch didn't really *believe* you.  This despite the fact that their own
short-term disability case managers certified me for illness twice the year
before (automatically falling under FMLA - Family Medical Leave Act).  AND
despite the fact that the job I was doing could be done from home; I was
able to connect to the network and do the QA testing.  But this same
manager, perversely, expressed the opinion if you're too ill to come to the
office you're too ill to work from home.  Fine, shove a porta-potty under my
desk and put up curtains!

HR didn't tell me I needed my doctor to complete FMLA certification until
November, 2003.  Before I got that paperwork from my doctor I was forced to
sign something saying if I was out sick and didn't have a doctor's note I'd
be fired.  I told them they should have the FMLA paperwork within the week
and I didn't want to sign anything.  I was told sign it today or we'll fire
you today.  So, basically, this only delayed my employment termination by 6
months. (And yes, I consulted an attorney - what they did was a perfectly
legal loophole.)

Trying to hang in there but I'm getting worried.  My unemployment benefits
ran out in November.

I, too, filed a disability claim back in October with Social Security.  I
suffer from chronic IBS and also take medication for depression and social
anxiety and a number of other things.  I doubt they'll approve my claim even
though my doctor is the one who suggested I try for some benefits.

The case worker at the local office was very helpful, friendly and
accessible.  But once the file hit the main office at the state capitol it
was assigned to a real witch.  I got a vague letter from her asking me to
call her.  I did.  She acted like, "What are you bothering me for?"  Uh, you
asked me to call you.  "Oh yeah," (she practically sneered through the
phone), "You *alledgedly* suffer from IBS, depression, blah blah blah."
Yes.  "Are you taking medication for any of this?"  [Did she even READ the
monstrous forms I filled out?  I followed up this phone conversation with a
letter in which I gave her some additional details the forms did not ask
for.]  "And you've only seen the one doctor?  Never seen a psychiatrist?"
(Again, the sneer over the phone.)  No, it was diagnosed as clinical
depression, that's why I'm on medication.  I'd be happy to see any doctor
you wish, but I'm unemployed and have no insurance.  It went on in this
vein, I'm sure you're familiar with the drill.  I did make sure they'd
gotten my medical information from my doctor; she said yes.

The next week I got a letter saying she didn't have my medical information.
Excuse me?  And it was dated 12/2 but not mailed until 12/7.  Why doesn't
she just pick up the phone and call me and follow-up with a letter?  I
verified with my doctor yes indeed, he sent it along with a personal cover
letter which is not required but he felt compelled to do. (Nice guy!)  So I
called her, got voicemail.  I don't understand, you said you had my medical
records.  Please call me so I'll know what else I need to do.  Didn't hear
from her.  Left another message; didn't hear from her.  Grrrr.

I also got an email from my middle brother saying he'd received a 7 page
form from them asking questions about my medical condition.  Now, I don't
chat with my brother about my recurring IBS which includes bouts of
diarrhea, nausea; or my depression, etc.  The original application asked for
a family member to contact but also a NON family member who is familiar with
my issues.  They have not contacted my female friend, with whom I *have*
discussed these things.

So I call the witch back ;)  Uh, I haven't seen my brother in almost a year.
He doesn't know how to answer the questions on the form you sent him.  "Well
then he doesn't have to fill it out."  Now why couldn't she have put that in
a note when she sent the form?!  Grrrr.

My long lost, John, had surgery for diverticulitis last week, 12/8.  But I
didn't get to talk with him until Saturday.  Every time I called they said
he was in ICU and there is no phone there.  (Note: he's about 7 hours away
from me.)  I was frantic with worry.  He called me Saturday - they had him
in ICU because even though the surgery was scheduled in advance they didn't
have a room for him!  He's home now - he went home Tuesday.  On Wednesday he
filled a prescription for another antibiotic.  He took a dose on Thursday
and had an adverse reaction.  His lips swelled up and he was covered in red
whelts.  Rushed to the clinic (the hospital is over 50 miles away) and they
gave him something to counteract whatever he was apparently allergic to.
He's okay now but this has not been a pleasant ride.  He said his quintuple
bypass last January was a breeze compared to this.

When we talked yesterday he said he had hoped to get out and pick up a
"little something" to send to me for Christmas but he didn't feel well
enough to drive to town.  I shushed him - don't worry about that!  Stay in
and take care of yourself.  He said he's still going to get me a gift but I
won't get it until after Christmas.  Fer crying out loud, unless it's a
priceless one-of-a-kind item, or a chia pet (!) I'm sure it will still be
there after Christmas :)

Now, through all of this Persia is of course a blessing and a soothing,
calming influence on me.  She purrs when I need it and snuggles when I need
it and plays when I need it and makes me smile.  And Peaches is the most
cheerful, chirpingest (I think I made that word up!) bird I've ever had!

Thanks for asking :)  I needed to get that off my chest.

Jill

My entire year hasn't been awful.  It does have someone named Victor
(not our Victor Martinez) in it who has become one of the best friends I
have ever had.  That's probably the best part of the year.

My father, in spite of trying to die last Easter, is doing just fine
right now - although he does have a bit of the gout in one of his knees
making it difficult for him to walk at the moment.

I've lost 20 pounds in the last few months.  A very good thing.  Partly
due to trying and probably partly due to stress.

My niece who was raped seems to be recovering nicely based on my trip to
Texas.  It was nice to see her.  My sister was getting to where she
might be okay, but...

My mother died on December 8th (I was just there a week before for two
weeks, but she had to wait until I came home!) and totally wrecked
whatever gains she had made.  Now she is just angry about everything.  I
am just sad and in obvious mourning and my best type friend Victor has a
cold so I haven't seen him in a week.  I'm ready for him to be well.
I'm also tired of my relatives picking the holiday season to die.  Last
year it was my favorite nephew who spent the 23rd to the 27th of
Christmas dying.   My father has been given instructions...

If I went by the first half of the year, it was an okay year.  The last
four or five months have really sucked though.  I am eating blackeyed
peas this New Year's Day no matter what.  I don't want another year like
this.

Bridget

still being blamed as far as I know ;)

Grace

I have not yet commenced one, being employed, and thus luckier than many.
But I need to make more money, especially if I'm going to keep having cat
emergencies. (I'm a cat slave with her priorities in line, as you can see.)
I'm sick of being broke all the time.  My job is okay and I like the people
I work with, I've just been doing it for 14 years now, and   am feeling a
need for a change. I just don't know what I want to do instead, and when I
think of starting a career search , all the variables overwhelm me.
Especially when I consider how unfavorable the job market is right now. But
being a public employee in the broke state of California is nervous-making.

 Owners doing?  Pan has a new purple bandage on his broken leg as of
yesterday, and poor little guy, he's lost a lot of muscle tone in his leg
after only two and a half weeks in bandages. But Dr. McKenzie felt his leg
and says the break is healing well, and that he knows of no other way to
heal a break than with splints.  So Pan is just going to have to hold on for
four more weeks.  In the meantime, he's being treated like a Feline Aga
Khan. (Which naturally, he takes as no more than his due.

Nina and Cesca are in blooming good health, and no matter how often Cesca
tries to convince me she's starving to death, I ain't buying it! She'll turn
into a little brown tabby beach ball, if I'm not careful. But she and Nina
have vigorous chase races after I've gone to bed at night, both their eyes
are bright and their coats are lush.  Nina continues to be the World's
Cutest Kitten (TM) although she doesn't know that soon she'll be old enough
to be spayed.  She turns six months old on the 21st. From the Summer
Solstice to the Winter Solstice! Cesca does not like to be held, but is very
fond of chin and ear scritches, and of anything I might be eating, and might
be induced to share with her.

Eh, it's nice of you to ask. =o) Merry Christmas, and may next year go
better for you than this one has done.

Melissa

More inserted.

So much has happened this year, and I have so many people I've worried,
wondered, and fussed about, but not been nosey enough to ask how or what
they're doing.
CY: I sense a question coming on.

So, question time.  How are the job hunts going?
CY: I'm still self under-employed. A bit of work here and there. I've been
hit by a couple big bills this year. Transmission replacement on two
vehicles, and a furnace replacement comes to mind. Trying to get out of
debt, but I wonder if I ever will.

Owners doing?
CY: presently I'm a free radical. No cat in the house.

Dan,
have you decided whether to stay the trucking route or go into another
career?
CY: I'm not Dan. I've been in locksmithing for 18 years, and just bored to
stupid with it. I'm trying to get into heating and AC. I also enjoy working
on computers, but not sure how to get into that field.

Sherry, how are you doing with
the season grumpies?
CY: I'm not Sherry, but I've got that Christmas Seasonal Depression, and got
it serious this year.

Gracie, are you still to blame for anything
strange that happens on RPCA?  Any hidden events or secrets we should
and/or want to know about?
CY: Well, if I had to scratch my head a bit (in best feline manner) I might
tell you all that I'm taking piano lessons. At the age of 42. I was given a
piano, and a couple friends helped me move it in. Some stupid idiot painted
it pink, and so now I've got a latex pink piano in my living room.

Any Reunions going on in the near future?
CY: Hoping to go see Baha and her family some time soon.

Any lurkers want to come out and join the 12 step catslave program?

Pam S. just nosey as usual

My year sucked!  But not nearly as bad as some I've read here, so I won't
complain, I'll just be glad when it's over.

Hugs,

CatNipped

I can't believe a year has passed. On Friday, I think I mentioned we sang
Christmas Carols at work, and it seemed just a few days ago that I was
standing there, dearly wishing I could just sit down somewhere, and very
grateful the worst of the morning sickness was over. I am very glad
pregnancy is not a permanent condition, I really didn't enjoy it.

And of course, in April, The Yowlet, otherwise known as Cary James Chapman,
was born. People are right, I can't remember much of the birth, and although
I know that it was painful, I can't remember the sensation of pain.

Now, 8 months later, life has changed a great deal, although it hasn't
changed in basic fundamental ways. One of the biggest changes I had to get
used to is that no matter what, I will be waking up before 7am each and
every day, and there will be *no* opportunity to catch up on sleep so
bedtime has to be 9:30pm or I'll feel terrible for weeks (and I used to go
to bed at midnight). And probably 3 nights a week I'll also be waking up
around 4am to pop Cary's pacifier back in because he woke up crying. We have
to look after ourselves better, eat better, sleep better, try to get
exercise (hahahaha) because we have profound responsibilities now. I"ve also
learnt - much against my basic nature - that routines are a pretty decent
replacement for my remembering stuff - I swear that the thing that pops out
after the baby is not the placenta but the mother's brain - I have very much
noticed my capacity to focus on things and remember stuff very diminished.

Going back to work was one of the toughest things I"ve ever done. I howled
my eyes out. Alot. I am jealous of Joel in many ways getting to spend so
much time with our son, but I guess that he's jealous of me getting to get
out of the house and speak to adults during the day. Joel, being the main
carer, got the Post Natal Depression, and is being treated for it through
both meds and hypnosis, and it seems to be working (but he's awful if he
forgets a pill) Either way, though, Cary is the best thing thats ever
happened to us.

Cary is now over 10 kilos (sorry, have no idea what that is in pounds) and
is in Size 1 already (one size bigger than he should be at this age). The
books say he's behind in his development in that he can't crawl, or sit up
without support, and he doesn't have any teeth yet. But he's happy, and
alert, has a wicked sense of humour, and cannot stay still or be quiet no
matter what. He's always on the move and if not saying variations of
"bubububub", he has a whole repertoire of growls, meows and squeaks that
we've learnt to understand. He rarely ever cries, and loves meeting new
people (another sign he's not developing at the right rate, he should have
separation anxiety now, according to the books). He can roll around very
well, indeed, gets to places so quickly by a series of rolls and back-flips
and strange "fish flip" on his back, that we have to watch him every minute
these days or he'll be off into something he shouldn't be. So far, he's
killed a box of tissues, and we can't look up anyone with a surname starting
with anything before "Ce" in the phone book.

Joel's father instinct and my mother instinct says all is well, and that one
of the reasons he isn't crawling yet is that he's got such a big head (why I
had trouble getting him out - he was crowning alot, but I couldn't get his
head through the final step) and that thats a great load of weight a little
body has to hold up and balance. We also know that Joel was a very late
developer (he was still growing at 22). He just loves his bouncer though
(strap him in on a baby trap at the end of a big spring, and let him jump up
and down up and down up and down for literally hours at a time) and I
suspect those legs of his will be walking before he crawls - he's been
standing up (with help) long before the books said he should.

His favourite book is "Who am I?", a story about a Fluffy Yellow Chick, and
favourite TV show without a doubt is "Bear in the Big Blue House". Favourite
food so far is Chocolate pudding (surprise surprise) although he hates
anything meat flavoured to the point he just throws it up if you force him
to eat it. So we have a vegetarian in our midst, it seems (I'm *almost* a
vegetarian anyway).

Shmogg can't see the point of hanging around yet another stupid drooling
creature that makes ear-piercing noises, so pretty much spends his day
hanging out on my bed, unless he's being teased by next door's cat. Fluffy
has worked out that if she's prepared to put up with her ears being gummed
and her fur being grabbed by small curious hands, and the occasional high
pitched squeal of delight, Cary's face is often a good source of food. Cary
thinks having his face licked is just the most hilarious thing ever, and
squeals with delight every time he sees Fluffy (and Shmogg, but he doens't
see Shmogg much).

The house, sadly, is even in a worse state than it was before. We got a
dishwasher, but it doesn't seem to work particularly well unless everything
is well rinsed first, and personally if I have to go to the trouble of
rinsing them, I may as well just wash them by hand as it doesn't take that
much longer than rinsing, and certainly takes less time than the machine.
There's always stacks of laundry everywhere, in various states of
processing. I have given up ironing, but the extra loads of little clothes
just seem to accumulate on the lounge chair we don't use and never quite
make it into Cary's room before they've been worn and are back in he dirty
laundry pile. And there are toys simply everywhere. I don't know how anyone
can keep a clean house and a happy baby at the same time.

We've bumped in to some role players that we used to know through the
roleplaying conventions and it seems that us 30-something roleplayers all
decided to spawn in the same year. We are quite sure that babies are chaos
mages (bring chaos wherever they go) and cast wicked and evil spells like
forgetfulness and sleep deprivation on their parents, whilst also casting
enchantment on themselves.  Well, someone has to create another generation
of roleplayers, the numbers are dropping in Australian conventions, and the
next bunch of "munchkins" (young teenage roleplayers) are just not happening
to replace the JAGs (Jaded Old Gamers).

Christmas will be nothing much this year, because he really has no idea what
Christmas is. We've already made sure he likes his Christmas presents so
that the grandparents can see the delight on his face when he "opens" the
presents we've got for him. But we can imagine that if not next year, then
the year after, when he's nearly 3 and his cousin will be 2 and a half, that
Christmas will be great fun and worth celebrating again. I can hardly wait
to play with all his cool toys....

Yowie
(And you can see my typing hasn't improved after having Cary either)

Tanada wrote in rec.pets.cats.anecdotes

Well, I lost my last job on New Years Eve, last year. Went on unemployment
and it ran out in August. Finally landed some spotty part time work
at the end of November, it helps a little bit, but need more hours.
As I reported earlier, Shroder went to the Rainbow bridge.  On the other
hand, one of our sons got married in July. Very nice little wedding. And
of course all the men involved had to wear tuxedos, Black tuxedoes.
including me, the father of the groom. Did I mention it was outside,
in the sun? At 6:00 pm? and that it was the hottest day of the year?
One of the cooler spots around to report temps was reporting 95 F.

Owners doing?
  Pippin's doing well being indoor-outdoor. He does come home with an
occasionaly boo-boo, but they do not appear to dampen his enthusiasm for
going to the Out. He no longer pees in the house, and Fizz leaves him
alone for the most part. Pip just turned 7.

Mithu is his same sweet, terrorist self. My plants are in peril no
matter where I put them.  He enjoys playing with baby toys, while
Catherine likes playing with cat toys. Mithu is almost 6.

Fizz seems to be holding steady. He and Mithu play a lot now. My
sandwiches are still unsafe in his presence. In fact I just lost a half
today when I left it unprotected for a few minutes. Fizz is still my lap
cat, and gives good hugs. Fizz is 5 now.

Yogi is now living with my inlaws in New Jersey. He appears to have
adjusted well and likes to help FIL shave in the morning.

Caroline, are the cats teaching little Catherine to speak in Feline yet?
Catherine does indeed know that cats say "Mao". She is learning (not
quickly enough for the cats) how to pet the cats and not poke, prod or
pull them. The cats have been very tolerant, or when they don't want to
be, are very good at just getting out of the way. No claws or teeth have
been used. Pippin's actually been the most tolerant and will actually
come up to her. Mithu just lies there and takes it, but won't usually
come up to her unless she has his ball in her hand.  Fizz wants nothing
to do with her. She's almost 16 months and at the age where she is
starting to respond to requests and show how much she really
understands.  SHe's learning her animal sounds, and will flap her arms
when she hears the word "chicken".  I could go on and on...

And thanks for asking Pam!

Cheers,
Caroline S.

I actually applied for a new job. as a translator at the Ministry of the
Environment, but I haven't heard back from them so I suppose they
weren't interested. Too bad, it appealed to me much more than working at
the Computer Science Dpt at the university, but it's not as if it's a
big deal compared with the job situation of others here. I have a very
well-paid job, I can prety much set my own hours and I can work at home
if I want to. The subject matter at the Ministry would just have
interested me more.

They are both doing pretty well now. I had the big dental scare with
Frank in the autumn, where I thought he might not make it, but he fought
through, the little trooper. He turned 17 this year, and Nikki is 16. I
watch them like a hawk for signs of age-related troubles and it's a
constant worry, but every day they are with me, I enjoy all the more for
knowing it might not last very many years more. Nikki's asthma has been
acting up lately, but I'm hoping to get it under control with Prednisone.

The big thing that happened with me this year (and it took a long time
and lots of doctors/nurses/labwork/a biopsy to figure it out) was I was
diagnosed with scleroderma or thickening of the skin, apparently caused
by my long-term diabetes. I'm getting phototherapy or light treatment
for it, but don't feel any improvement yet. This is apparently such a
rare disease that it hasn't been researched all that much, and no
treatment is 100% effective.

My year was *supposed* to be my getting healthy year, but it looks
like that will be 2005.  I still haven't stopped smoking or started
exercising, but I've got a quit date of Jan. 10th set.  So I'm looking
foward to being healthier in 2005!

2004 stunk, basically.  Very little good happened, and a lot of bad.
One of the good things was rescuing Arthur and Morganna, even though
Morganna's rescue didn't end up necessarily the way I wanted (still
don't really know).  But at least little Arthur is here, and happy,
and our most horrible neighbors are gone.  All kinds of little
nagging, negative things happened this year, and for some bizarre
reason, I seemed to tick a lot of people off, which isn't typical for
me.  I'm still trying to understand what's happened on that one!  I
ticked people off here, and in another newsgroup, as well as in real
life.  It's a puzzler, since (except to DH -- heh), I'm usually pretty
easy to get along with.  Finances have been tight, and I still haven't
gotten dental work done that I was told two years ago needed done.

But all our babies are still with us, we're still together, we still
have our home, so I guess I can't complain!

But I *am* looking forward to 2005!

Ginger-lyn