Why Dogs Are Bad For Your Health (Re-Blog)

I will  have a post soon on my job hunting efforts.  Meanwhile, as I listened late last night to the neighbor kids running amok in the street after dark – dodging traffic while riding hoverboards, bikes and scooters, and flying the new toy helicopter over other neighbors’ yards – I was reminded of this post from 2 years ago.  I didn’t realize at that time that the last sentence might turn out to be prophetic.  Enjoy!

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PUPPY CODY AT 6 MONTHS OF AGE

Bad puppy = bad health for puppy’s owner.  I have become an expert.

Cody is now over  7 months old, and thankfully is calming down a bit.  So I guess we’ll keep her (not that there really was ever any doubt in that regard).

After all, the broken foot really wasn’t her fault.  I had her outside on leash and the stupid next-door neighbor gave her 10-year-old son a power saw to chop down an 8’ rose bush running up the side of said neighbor’s house.  As if the noise from the saw wasn’t enough, the rose bush then started toppling toward my house and looked like it was going to knock down my 6′ privacy fence.  Fortunately, said neighbor’s 8’ high trampoline prevented the fall onto the fence.  Unfortunately, the whole event startled Cody, who yanked me off the sidewalk, making me twist my foot and break the fifth metatarsal bone.

Of course, being me, I refused to believe it was, in fact, broken.  We were taking my mother-in-law out for dinner that evening, and I insisted on going anyway.  After hobbling into and out of the restaurant, and barely picking at my food, my husband insisted we take my mother-in-law home and then head to the ER.

The ER was not staffed with the A team that evening.  Even the x-ray tech questioned why an ankle x-ray had been ordered when I clearly was complaining of foot pain.  Sure ‘nuff, an hour later I was returned to radiology for the foot x-ray.  Yep – broken.

BootOn the bright side, I did get a week off work and was given a really cool “designer” boot (see photo) and a brand new pair of really shiny crutches.

However, the velcro on the boot gives me a discernibly crunchy/squeaky gait, which I’ve been told is annoying to some of my co-workers.  Oh well.  Would they rather have continued to cover for me while I rested up at home?  I think not.

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As I said, thankfully Cody is growing up.  The beginning was rough.  I had forgotten just how much work a new puppy could be, and how little sleep the owner gets.  I had forgotten that puppies chew on EVERYTHING, including shoes, books, rugs, and couches.

Thankfully, pretty much everything in my house is old and needs to be replaced anyway.  We learned quickly to remove all breakables from puppy’s reach – although we did at times fail to realize just how high puppy could jump or climb.  And, we had totally forgotten about FRAP (frenetic random activity periods), when puppy goes berserk, runs from one end of the house to the other, jumping on and off furniture and flying up and down steps.  It’s a wonder she didn’t break all four of her legs.

Fortunately, the FRAP times have become sporatic.  But in a way, I sort of miss them.

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CODY AT 7 MONTHS

And thankfully, Cody has pretty much learned that she is NOT sleeping with me, and the battles over who occupies the bed/couch have become rare.  Good thing – now that’s she’s over 40 lbs., she could probably win that battle (but we won’t tell her that, will we?)

 

Yes, Cody is growing up.  She has become loving and cuddly most of the time.  And once my broken foot heals, we will begin to enjoy each other again.

Unless stupid neighbor decides her son needs a rocket launcher.

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I love to hear from my readers.  You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook page, or email me at: cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com

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Images by:   Cordelia’s Mom

Posted in Health, Pets, That's Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

When the Employer Closes Up Shop Without An Exit Plan

FUTree1

Even the trees seem to whisper … oh, never mind

It’s official. My small law firm will be closing its doors at the end of July.

The two [very senior] name partners have decided to each go his own way – and without any regard for the staff.  The staff ranges in age from 45 to 67, and most have been with the firm for 10, 15, 20 or even 30 years.  I have been with them for 18-1/2 years.

Associates and secretaries were told several weeks ago to start looking for other jobs and that there will be no severance pay. Health insurance may or may not continue inasmuch as COBRA does not come into play when an employer disappears.

One attorney and a secretary found new jobs immediately (yay for them!); the rest are searching frantically.

Me?  Well, I’ve been blithely working in silence, content in the knowledge that my boss assured me he would take me along to his new office in the largest law firm in town.

Granted, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, as that firm has a reputation for being the worst place to work if you’re not an attorney, and I wasn’t looking forward to parking every day in a City ramp, nor was I happy that I would give up my beautiful office with the door and windows, to move into a cubicle farm.

But at least I wouldn’t be on the street, right?

So, I’ve been working diligently in order to keep in good standing – sure wouldn’t want to get fired before the transfer, right?

While waiting for the official engagement letter from the new firm, I decided to upgrade my wardrobe a bit since the new firm has a “dress code” that is definitely not in alignment with my current business casual (actually, more like grunge casual) duds.  While shopping, I found myself buying outfits that would also be appropriate for a job interview, just in case.

Just in case” turned out to be “damned good thing I did.”

Yesterday, my boss informed me that he probably won’t be able to take me because I “make too much money” (say what?  I haven’t had a raise in 10 years and can barely pay the mortgage!) and the new firm already has plenty of support staff (much less experience, but cheaply paid, and the bottom line rules).

Could I go to that new firm for a decreased salary? Sure, technically – but I’ve worked my ass off to get where I am, and if I’m going to take a decrease in pay, be forced to go back to full-time, be forced into a cubicle, and have to start paying into my health insurance (and maybe have to discontinue my Remicade treatments), it’s sure not going to be in the City.  Jobs in the suburbs pay just as well and have free parking.  And I would no longer have to tolerate my boss screaming at everyone every day – nor would I have to worry about transferring all those active files currently sitting in my office.

May the job hunting begin.  Does networking help?  I guess I’m going to find out.  Wish me luck.

(Meanwhile, if you hear of a job for a top-notch real estate paralegal who has closing and title experience, let me know. Or an office manager job.  Or a job that would incorporate my writing and/or photography.  Anyone want to start funding my travel posts?  That would be way cool.)

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com

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Image by Cordelia’s Mom

Posted in Relationships, That's Life | Tagged , , , , | 89 Comments

In Which Joey Goes to Work

As someone who may be forced into looking for a new job before the end of July, I find this post extremely relevant. I was planning to keep my job-hunting secret, but as many of you know, Not CM let the cat out of the bag (so to speak) earlier this week (did you miss that post, check it out here).

(Comments are closed here – leave comments over on Joey’s site.)

joey's avatarjoeyfullystated

I’m just jumping in and we’ll see where I land. I understand y’all may not want to read a lengthy post about jobs, yet here I am. I don’t blog for you.

Okay, so when I was young and single, it was not uncommon for me to work two or even three jobs at a time. Work all day at school or office, and when available, cold call for insurance guy in the evening. Then on weekends, deliver pizza.

When I was job-oriented, it was a different time. I went to places with signs reading NOW HIRING APPLY WITHIN, filled out an application for employment (this was on paper, we used our hands to write then) and a manager would speak to me, sometimes to schedule an interview, but mostly, people simply hired me on the spot.
I was not special. This happened to most of my friends in the olden days.
On Sunday, you could…

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WHAT TO DO WITH MY BOOBS IN SUMMER?!?

For my female readers, most of whom are closer to my age than that of those store clerks referred to in Kim’s post – and because the title contains the word “Boobs” and is therefore sure to bring in lots of readers who never before knew my blog exists.

(Comments are closed here – leave comments over on Kim’s site.)

Kim Scaravelli | Communication and Voice Strategist | Author, Making Words Work's avatarStuff my dog taught me

brasIn winter, I know exactly what to do with my boobs.

My only decision in the winter is whether to go with the black bra, the white bra, or the beige bra. Spoiler alert: they are all the same bra, just in different colours! My winter bra has comfortable thick straps and soft, seamless cups, and goes on sale at Sears every three or four weeks.

Nine months of the year, I amble along in my comfortable winter bra, giving little thought to my boobs. I don’t bother them and they don’t bother me.

Then summer arrives and suddenly my boobs become a problem.

Shops are filled with halter-style tops, and scoop-necked sundresses, and t-shirts so thin you can spot an outie bellybutton. And twelve-year old salesgirls share pearls of wisdom like “just go braless” or “try a bandeau” or my personal favourite… “Just go next door to Victoria’s Secret…

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