Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts

Saturday, January 7, 2017

2017 so far.....

Just a quick check in.
This weekend I hope to catch up on my blog reading.
Sorry if I've been absent but I will stop by ASAP.

This first week of the New Year started out very busy
and now is slowing down at work.

I hate to even admit this but the week has not been so great.
I have had to deal with a couple of ISSUES at work that have made me upset.
Things I can't talk about because this is the Internet.
I had hoped that 2017 would have less DRAMA but alas...
Haters gonna hate.

Luckily for me, Doc had my back both times so that made it much easier to deal with.
I found this quote and it helps me to deal -

(source)

Then mid-week, someone in my extended family suddenly passed away.
It's very sad and shocking and...
also something I can't talk about.

I refuse to let this affect my expectations for 2017.
Hopefully this is it for the NEW Year
and all the bad/sad is out of the way.

I'm trying to finish up a "project" that I will reveal soon.
Here's a sneak peek of the WIP's -

Then I'll be doing the Valentines stuff.
Little painted fabric cats.
Some illustrations
and BANNERS! LOL!
(Because Sugar wants banners.)

Yep.

In other news,
Jimmy Chew, the hipster dog.
Trendsetter.
Has been sporting a new style.
A combination Mohawk/Goatee.

Jury is still out on this one.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Work, Poop, Feeling Tired and Jimmy

This week will be a crazy one.
Today was kinda horrible.
I came in to work to find many of the boarders had accidents and then jumped in and on it.
Yep. An old tiny Aussie was waddling around with poopy dreadlocks hanging off his butt. 
A crazy yellow lab who had jumped and spun in it and an elderly sick corgi mix that smeared it all over the walls of his run.
(I actually have a story about that old guy but I'll save it for another day.)
Yep, lots of fun.
So I had to give baths to them all.
That's my duty, not the groomers.
The groomer only "grooms" her own clients.
She will do my boarders but they must call her and book an appointment.
She has also decided that she's too old and tired to bathe large dogs, rowdy dogs or pitbulls. So if they need just a bath, they have to set it up with me.
I only get 25% so it's not a big money maker for me and I have it set up that the money is directly applied to my account.
I figure if I don't have it in my hand, I won't spend it.
Anyway, the funniest part of this whole thing is...
I'm 5 years older than the groomer!
Oh well!

So tomorrow should be an ok day but Wednesday, my half day at work, I have 22 more boarders coming in between 8 to 11 that morning.
Should be interesting.
So as always, Thanksgiving will be packed to the max as well as the weekend.
That's just the nature of the business.
I can feel my throat feeling sore and I'm kinda achy all over but I'll drink some Alka Seltzer cold medicine and get some sleep and I'll be fine.

I need to get to work on my Art.
I've been doing some sketches but to be honest, yesterday I just cleaned the house and then spent some time online and then sort of crashed.
I was on a roll for a while there, creating paintings, and then I got distracted.
I need to organize my time better and make sure  I squeeze creative time in there someplace or I'll be washing poopy butts forever!

I'll leave you with a couple of photos of Jimmy Chew that I took yesterday.
He actually got exhausted from being his rowdy self and he just crashed too.
Yep, Jimmy Chew and I were feeling the same.
 
I... 

Just...

Can't....

Stay.....

Awake.......

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

IT'S GETTING COLD OUTSIDE.


It rained on and off yesterday.
Not hard rain, just drizzles and spurts.
There was a cool wind that started to turn cold.
I worked a double, but it was OK,
not a lot of boarders so I got to spend more one on one time with the dogs

and a big sweet black diabetic cat.
Just a slow day.
Sometimes a person needs that.
A day to take it slow and catch your breath.
I couldn't leave early because of the diabetic cat. His insulin needed to be spaced out.
So when I left work, it was dark and windy.

There was a light rain.
Leaves were swirling a bit but then as it rained more, they would stick to the pavement and make it slick.
I'm glad there wasn't much traffic because I really had to concentrate on the black wet road.
It did seem magical, driving through the night and over the government bridge.
The clanging of metal against metal as I crossed it. The rhythm of it, like a song.
Rolling towards home.
I've been unhappy with my hometown but last night I had glimpses of what I used to like about it.
I liked the song on my radio and I felt peaceful as my vehicle came down road from the bridge into my city.
To the left of me is the renovated building that used to be the Illinois Electric Company.
Now it's pretty, and made into upscale apartments.
Ahead of me I  could see the cars at the stoplight. I'm always cautious at that stoplight because I've seen semi trucks take wide turns into the side lanes before.
Right on clue a huge semi rounded the corner and swung way into the lane.
It barely missed the cars at the light and I think that was because they quickly steered to the right.
The truck driver must have seen how close he came to clipping them because as if in slow motion, I could see him turn hard out of the wide curve he had made.
But that caused him to slide for a moment on the wet pavement towards me.
The side of the truck cab and the huge double tires were right there, in my peripheral vision.
It was just a moment.
A quick instant and he was past me.
I let out my breathe, I hadn't really realized I had been holding it.
Really, my only thought was - I hope this doesn't hurt.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Painted Pumpkins and stuff

Last weekend I worked like a fiend.
I finished up 16 prints and mounted them on painted canvases and then sealed them and took them to work.
I hung several in each exam room and I have even more up front at the reception desk. 
I also worked on painting paper mâché pumpkins. I finished up three so far and also took them into the clinic to sell.



I went out to my booth and it's sold down and I need to replenish it.
I picked up my check while there.
It's my second one. I made rent, paid their commission fee and had a small amount left to buy some art markers.
Slowly my house is emptying out and each month I've been able to pick up some art supplies.
I'm sure some people would say that the amount of time and energy spent, isn't worth it but it's working for me.
To be able to get rid of stuff and have a few dollars to buy art stuff. 

While out at the mall where my booth is, they told me that next month, on Saturday November 21st, is the big Open House.
I guess everyone gets their booths in super shape and they make goodies to give away to customers up front.
Yep, a real social deal.
I usually just scurry in to work on my booth and leave. I'm polite, say a quick greeting but I keep walking.
I notice other vendors stop and socialize at the front counter.
Sigh.
I just want to empty my house and make a few bucks.
But I'll make some sugar cookies and put my booth number in frosting on top.
I can do it, be social I mean.
I don't want to but, I will.
I guess.

Other stuff... I got my dot.com and secured my art name for a shop on Etsy.
I'll share more when I have more to show.

THEN.... A LOT is going on at my day job.
The one girl that was such a problem is gone. I won't go into it here. At least not right now, but I took care of that situation and I also came up with a new plan for work. 
My co-workers LOVED the idea and Doc grudgingly went along with it.
It involves much more responsibility and more hours and in the LONG run it will be for the best. 
I won't bore you with the details right now either because this post is getting overly long again!

And finally, I need to get the front part of my fence up before it gets COLD.
I'm thinking it needs to be this weekend because the forecast is warm and sunny and THAT kind of weather is for sure not to last.

So right now I've got more balls spinning in the air than ever.
But I actually feel OK about it all!
Really I do! because eventually it will all fall into place...
And don't worry! 
I will have the calendar and cards very soon too!
Wish me luck and I'll "see" ya when I see ya!
Xoxo

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

WHY I WORK WHERE I DO and other stuff


Yesterday Twinkle had dental surgery.
She's 9 and her mouth was a horrible mess.
I noticed her breathing like her nose was congested and when I opened her mouth, it was much worse since the last time I had looked.
Most of her teeth were so loose that they wiggled.
Besides it being painful, it could/would increase her chances of infection,
spreading to other areas of her body.
So she went in for a full mouth extraction.
Ultimately, she was left with only 2 teeth. 
Both are towards the front on her mouth and on the same side.
One upper and one lower.
They were firmly in her mouth and in good shape, so they didn't need to come out.
To pull them would not have been necessary and also there was a big risk of them breaking her jaw if they tried.
She's home now.
She's doing well and she's on pain medication and antibiotics.

Last Thursday my 15 yr old cat Raini went in for her second ear operation.

She's been suffering from a reoccurring ear infection that refused to clear up. 
A little more than a month ago it was bloody and had pus.
And that was after she had just finished 2 rounds of medication! 
Then it came roaring back with a horrible odor.
3 weeks ago she was put under anesthesia and Doc removed growths and filled her ear with an antibiotic treatment.
I left her at work afterwards, in the cat room.
I wanted to keep her away from my little dogs who would want to "clean" her ears.
So 2 weeks later the smell was still awful or maybe even worse.
Everyone that smelled it would gag, it was really that bad.
                          (Here Raini is, giving Vera Wag a massage.)

So last week Doc did surgery again and removed more growth and cauterized inside her ear canal
and treated it again with special antibiotic ear ointment.
A week later, I smell nothing but I'm leaving her at work until the 2 weeks are up again
and she has had her recheck.

Sometimes people question why I stay at the clinic
and sometimes I wonder why I do too
and then something  like this happens...
Yep, in a house full of so many senior pets, I don't see me going anywhere else too soon.
Not yet.

In other news, I'm working on a few projects and I am also going to spend some time fixing up this blog site.
Now that Labor Day Weekend has passed, things should slow up enough for me at work to allow me the time and energy to spend time on some projects!
Stay tuned for that....



Sunday, July 5, 2015

Sunday photo

Another post from my phone!
Still at work, it's a full house here.
I got the radio turned up and the fans on high to block out the fireworks that are going off all weekend. 
Seems to have worked as everyone appears calm and relaxed.
(Except for the ones that are always hyper.)
If I have to work this weekend, at least I'm with dogs!
I'll leave you with a photo of Gracie the Golden Retriever that I took out in the play yard.
Hope you are all enjoying the 4th of July weekend!
Xoxo

Thursday, March 12, 2015

JUST HANGING ON


Just a quick post.
The madness has begun at work.
It's filling up and tomorrow my Boarding area will be at full capacity
and it will stay that way for a week or so.
Also, my only helper, the girl that covers the evening shift, got thrown from her horse and her back and knee are "sprained" but she says she can still work.
I would tell her not to but I can't cover the entire day/night, every single day.
So... I told her to take it slow and if she can't do it to let me know.
If that happens, I don't know what I will do.
I'm supposed to get some help NEXT week but....
OK, I'm not going to think about what might happen because maybe everything will be fine.

So... I might not be posting anything during that time
and just sleeping.

But then again, maybe I will.
Who knows, but just in case I disappear for a bit
you know where I am.

Sidenote: At work I take my lunch by myself.
I usually eat at my desk and look at real estate listings
and then I started to look up cars.
But today I decided to do a little "Art".
Just a little illustration to keep my creative juices going.
I drew this little cat, colored him in and cut him out
and taped him to the edge of my counter.
This is the "cut-out style" I plan to use when I do my "Kanga" book.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

GOOD News and BAD News

Good News:
I sold this painting:

It's been hanging at the clinic for a couple of years.
I almost took it down a few weeks ago and then a woman with two elderly Goldens bought it Saturday!
and the "Smell the Flowers" painting?
Well, it was bought by a friend who now has commissioned me to do small paintings of her dogs.
Yep, good news.
Tammy bought my Doxie painting for a friend and I surprised her with a little illustrated painting of Zeke
because I ADORE Tammy and she loved it.
That made me happy, so that was Good News too.

Other Good news, my water heater that was leaking all over my basement last Sunday has stopped.
Apparently opening up the Pressure Release Valve a few times and then tapping it with a screwdriver 10 times worked.
Hmm. That might be it for the Good stuff but still that's what I'm focusing on!

OK, Bad News:
My little Twinkle had a small seizure this week. 
It's the first as far as I'm aware of and I'm keeping a close eye on her.
I thought she was...6?

But when I got to work and looked up her age, she's 9.

So this mental denial on my part made me look up all my pets ages
and apparently 3/4ths of them are 9 or older.
Not that age really matters or anything but, well...you know.
Kinda tugged on my heart a little bit.

Other Bad News, I haven't been called for that space yet
and maybe that's not bad because Lily and I stopped in last Sunday
and we noticed that the vendors with the nice cards is gone and that the wall of paintings has changed too
and all the photography is marked half-priced
and the new vendors are all collectibles and antiques
and....well, I guess I'm not disappointed at not being called.

Oh, and the last of the Bad News.
One of my part-time workers had given notice and her last day is next Saturday.
My other part-timer started her 6 week surgical medical leave this weekend,
so that leaves just me and my one part-time girl.

Good News though. She's a hard worker and I can count on her.
Bad News, for all of March, neither her or I get a full day off.
I might get some half days but the fact remains that I won't have a complete day away.
So....You might not hear from me much in March.

But the Good News is....
I'll still be painting and I'm working on a project that I'm excited about and will reveal when I'm done!
Yep. Good News.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

NO MORE DOGS! or CATS.

Thank god this week is over.
Of course it's just the beginning.
But Spring Break always hits hard at the kennel.
I had dogs and cats everywhere.
Friday morning as I was trying to get dogs outside and back in and feed and medicated,
several owners showed up to pick up their dogs early.
One of the receptionists offered to run the dogs up front for me.
She was racing back and forth and I was loading her up with their food and supplies 
and then another receptionist starting paging me.
She had more dogs coming in.
So the receptionist ran back more dogs and it was a mad house.
She finally stopped and looked at me and said
"I have no idea how you are able to do this every day!"
"Neither do I" I replied.

At the end of the day, my kennel worker showed up to take over.
She stated how tired she was of doing "all of this".
She does it four times a week
for 4 hours intervals.
I told her that I was tired too
and that I do it all week for 9 hours shifts.
But I reminded her that at least we worked with animals
and didn't have to deal with people.
She agreed, it was a better situation.
I left out what I was thinking,
That I'm 35 years older than her, so I didn't really want to hear how tired she was.

Yep, I hate to say this but it is REALLY getting to me.
Maybe it's the stressful situation happening here at home right now
that makes me so tired of it all.

I feel like my home has turned in a old dog nursing home.
I mean, I knew this day was coming but
I don't know...
Anyway, the other night as Ruby stood all wobbly at the water bowl,
she fell over
so I stood her back up.
and over she went again,
so I set her back up
and down she went.
I lift her up again and
finally she had her footing.

Later that night, after everyone had been out for their final nightly potty.
Claude just stood at the bottom of the three steps.
Staring at them and then at me.

It was like he needed a running start
and he just couldn't do it.
As I started to go get him, he walked away and circled around
and with great effort, hurled himself up the steps.

The next morning I let everyone outside and then when they were finished, I called them back inside.
Button was pacing back and forth along the fence.
She's totally blind now but usually knows her way around.
But she was confused out there and although I called out to her
she just turned around and listened, not sure where to go.
I went out and picked her up.
I reassured her and her tail was wagging like crazy.

And then there's Rosie.
Older than dirt.

Just two random snaggleteeth left on bottom of her mouth.
She's doing fine
but very quirky.
She has to walk against the walls
or along the furniture to go room from room.
She even squirms under the china hutch to get to the laundry room
rather than walk across the floor, out in the open.
Maybe she's not so dingy after all.
Maybe it's self-preservation.
After all, packs of dogs are known to take out the weakest link.
Although I would never leave her alone with the bigger dogs
where that could be a threat.
but she is very old.

So, I'm tired.
Which is why I recently turned down a Maltese dog.
I love Maltese's.
My first "little" dog, my first small rescue was a 10 yr old Maltese.
and this one is only 9 months old and deaf.
He's a boy dog. So there would be the potential of a leg lifting hassles.
Not all male dogs do that but some do.
But I don't have the energy
I'm trying to share info with them about deaf dog rescue.

So, no more animals are coming home with me.
Which reminds me
I need to do a post about my newest cat
that I got a couple of months ago.