It's Been a Week!

So much going on!

I was robbed in November. A lady I'd hired to do some cleaning took some jewelery. I didn't discover the theft until December, and then only partially. It was January before I realized how many pieces had been taken. I hemmed and hawed about it for about a week then called the police to report the theft.

A month goes by, and I finally got the police report from them to give to my insurance company. I called my agent, and he intimidated me so bad I nearly didn't file the claim. But I had to file the claim!

Another week went by and I finally called them. They were fast, efficient, and downgraded my loss by about $2375, so I have to absorb that much of it. To be honest, that includes my deductible, so the amount of actual loss not covered is about $1375.

So that was story number one. Story number two...

I ordered some cat furniture from a reputable supplier. It was almost $400 for the order, and included two cat trees and one scratching post. One of the trees was 80 inches tall, almost to the ceiling, which I figured would give the cats a wonderful view of the bird feeders and space away from each other.

The items were all shipped separately, from different points of origin. The first never arrived, but the second arrived on Feb 10. I got another e-mail, for the third shipment, and looked into the three shipments.

It turns out that the wonderful, tall cat tree was delivered to someone other than me, left by a front door, with no signature confirmation. The delivery company says they delivered it to me. I'm sure it doesn't help that I had several deliveries that week, and continue to receive items I've ordered - specialty cat products, books, online-only office supplies, and so on. So, they closed the inquiry, and are offended that I would even hint at a mis-delivery.

Too bad. Now, I have to do a chargeback against my vendor. I hate to do that, but the item was the most expensive of the three that I ordered. In fact, the one cat tree that I received was a purchase afterthought because the large cat tree was $100 less on sale!

So, I went to my bank and did the chargeback yesterday. I really hate to do that. I really do. It's a black mark against any merchant when that happens. And it wasn't her fault, but the shipper's. The only mistake she made was allowing the shipment to be made without requiring a signature confirmation.

So much for story number two. On to story number three...

My doctor wanted me to take some allergy medicine because of the drainage I experience every night. She prescribed Zyrtec. It's known to make folks drowsy, so I took a pill at night with my other meds on Wednesday.

I had a very fitful night's sleep, came stark raving awake at several points, and my body seemed to slow down. The next day, I was in a fog all day, and had to slap myself awake during my last class. The drive home was a nightmare!

When I got home, I slept. Nothing but. The phone was ringing off the hook, and I just couldn't talk to anyone. I couldn't get the phone to my ear fast enough. I ended up with six messages on the machine. Two were the insurance company, one from the shipper, and three from friends.

I ended up sleeping till about 8:30. I got up and called two friends back, and it was too late to call the third. I ended up staying awake till about 4:30am and then went to bed. I slept like a log till 10:30 when the alarm went off.

It was now Friday, and I had a lot to do. I went to the bank to do the chargeback, went to the court and did my little research job there, and then went to get tires on the car before the next rain hits. I've not had time for that since I had the money, and it was becoming desparate. I almost hydro-planed during the last rain on Thursday, when I was groggy.

I got home, and forget the diet, I wanted a hamburger! So, I got one of those when it was time to have supper.

Story number four...

During all this, as if my week wasn't full enough, I printed the last of the research I'd done for my book. I organized what had been printed and started printing at home, and finished the job at school. I'm now looking for space to work.

I think I'll clear off the perfectly-good work space I have that's an accumulation of stuff that doesn't belong to me and wasted money. There is a furnace filter that's the wrong size, an older laptop computer, and a collection of stuff that belongs to a friend that moved to CA over a year ago. He want's it shipped to him if he ever sends money. Meanwhile, it's taking up space in my house. If I can get the table cleared off, I'll have a great work space for school work, sewing and other purposes.

Story number five...

Well, there's this mess that's been accumulating around my chair. Things fall and I'm not paying attention, so the mess gets bigger and bigger. Last night, I'd had enough. The reason for the mass purge was that my cat Fluffy, who never pukes up hairballs or anything, got sick. All over the place, repeatedly, and nastily. I had to clean up after her.

She started on a pair of shoes that got tossed yesterday afternoon. She has diabetes, so this is kind of a serious turn for her. She continued into several rooms, and hit the paid bills, computer programs (boxed), office supplies, clothes, and of course, all the stuff sitting around my chair. It was bad enough that the pile was growing, but her getting sick on it was more than I could stand.

So, it's been a very full week. Lots of ins and outs, lots of stuff happening. So much for not getting anything done!

Those pills from the doctor? - not taking them anymore. Once was enough.

Wherever you go, there you are...

I've been having weird "deja vu" experiences lately. Things from the past are suddenly in my face again. It's like I'm doing the same things all over again. Things from 20-30 years ago, not a few months ago.

There are strange, ephemeral, wisps of memory. I'll make a movement, and it will hit...

Very strange!

I have to keep my mind front-and-center, and pay attention to every movement, every thought, every idea, every task. I have to "be mindful" in a very zen way. That takes effort, let me tell you!

Another strange thing is that each time I talk to my neighbor (the one who was here first), I end up feeling anxious, angry, and full of rage. Not the way I want to feel about someone I barely know. It's like the waves of her depression are flowing over me. How can one protect against such a wash of emotion, when one isn't feeling it ones self?

Well, the day is not getting any younger, and I have tasks to do outside the home today.

My phone is still not right, I still have no TV service, and I desperately need to do laundry.

I also have to make copies of the ladies' meeting phone list. I'll be taking that to a service, today. Cheaper in the short run than purchasing ink for my copier, and the group can pay for the copies. I've paid for them myself, in the past, but not right now.

I'm also concerned with a friend I haven't heard from in a week. I think I'll try calling her again today. Maybe I'll catch her at home.

A blessed day off!

I actually have no where to be today. I don't have to work, at work or on the house, and I got to sleep in. What a treasure!

I do have things to do - of course! Laundry, housekeeping type stuff, packing for the move, and a meeting.

I've been deciding which meeting to go to - downtown at noon or tonight. I think noon - I'm missing a headlight and can't have it replaced till next week, so that would be my best bet.

I've gotten all my clothes all dirty and stinky with the work I've been doing at the house, so I need to do a couple of small loads today. I need more change, of course, so I'll pop by the bank after meeting and get a roll of quarters.

I also need more get-well cards. My aunt is in rehab with a broken arm (she's 81) and I started sending her a card a week - for a few weeks anyway. She wrote and told me she loved them and the staff howled with laughter at the cards (laughter is the best medicine) so I need to stop by a dollar store and get about 12 more of them. She will be there for at least another 6 weeks, and these stores are the least expensive option.

Who knows - maybe I'll even get the e-zine done for my site today! That would be a wonderful use of time!