I guess maybe I better jump on the bandwagon and ask for purrs like
everyone else. Over the years i have prayed for so many of the group
with RL problems and job hunting and never thought it would happen to
me.

It has been a bad year anyway; but April 15 it all came to a head. I
got ordered to come to the office in the middle of my work day (home
health aide). I was directed into an office with the nurse manager and
the admin super and handed a sheaf of papers and told to read them and
I had until the next Monday to write a plan on how to redress the
points made. I was puzzled; but started reading.

I went into shock with the first point; there were about 10 so-called
infractions listed. As i continued reading I got light-headed and
couldn't make my mouth work. They told me I could go back to work then
and do the paper on the weekend. So I left.

I still had three people to see. I don't know how I was able to
function with this on my mind and not let the client know anything was
wrong. But when I was done, I sat in my car and then started shaking
all over and crying.

I got halfway home and then pulled over and tried to call my son. He
wan't answering. I waited and tried again for 15 minutes. then I told
myself I was going to make a decision for myself, right or wrong. I
read the papers again and then i called up the nurse manager. All I
got was her voice mail.

I was sort of crying while I was talking and told her that this
episode was like a sign; the catalyst I needed. i had been worried for
months about my lower back and my shoulder and the possiblility of
hurting myself and the clients. I told her I was shocked at the
spurious charges she made and was not going to write her paper out. It
was time I got out of the business and so I said, I quit. by then I
was really crying.

When I got home, I had my son read the paper and he blew his top. The
charges were all spurious in one way or another. Some were
misconstrued and others downright lies. Later I talked to a friend
about this and she said it sounded to her like they were trying to get
rid of me.

By Sunday I had calmed down and wrote down notes to each charge.
Monday i went into the office to return equipment and I went to the
nurse manager and went over the charges one by one and rebutted each
charge to her satisfaction and even had written proof for one charge.
It might have helped that Jeff was with me silently intimidating them.
;->

I felt a lot better afterwards; and as I left I felt like a weight was
off me knowing I was done with the company after 12 years of fighting
for every paycheck, among other stressful things.

I signed up with the Pikes Peak Workforce Center for job search. they
had me doing workshops in interviewing and resumes and other things.
they are so helpful. I now have a professional resume and they
referred me to the Womens' Resource Center and Dress for Success where
they gave me a power suit and matching handbag and shoes for
interviewing.

I now want to be a file clerk and office support. Next week I am
taking a class in excel and word processing. i have signed up with two
different temp agencies, hopefully for a little cash flow and
experience while searching for a permanent position.

In the meantime I am almost out of money and have made the reluctant
decision to go bankrupt. I cannot pay my bills; although it grieves me
that my creditors will get the shaft. And yet my son tells me that
they will just write if off as a business loss on income tax so they
won't lose in the long run anyway. Still, I do feel bad about it.

I am hoping a few kitty purrs will help me get a job soon. There is
another temp agency I am planning on signing up with. That should
increase the odds of getting something going.

In the meantime, my back feels better and my shoulder has no more
problems and I am sleeping a lot better. that old job was killing me.
After all, I will be 59 Saturday. The old gray mare, she ain't what
she used to be...!!

--
CATherine