Praise at work

I had my quarterly review at my main job last week, and it went extremely well. Our quarterly bonuses are now based on performance, and the top bonus anyone could get was 96 percent, due to the crummy economy. I qualified to get 95 percent, almost the max. Last quarter, I only got 75 out of 100 percent, so it's a significant improvement. I've made a concerted effort to tailor my work to the bonus criteria, making myself more visible, taking on more leadership, being more engaged, etc. And it's paid off...

Financial woes

Well, I sold my house short in June, and I was led to believe that most of my debt would be forgiven. But now the bank (Chase) is coming after me saying I owe them $70,000! I've hired a lawyer, and we may go after the Realtors for negligence for not getting the debt forgiveness in writing. I sure hope I don't end up having to pay Chase all that money!!

Coping with loss

My dad passed away Thursday, Oct. 30, at about 5:30 a.m. central time. He had abdominal cancer. Although I am very sorry he is gone and miss him very much, I am glad he is now at peace, and that he didn't linger/suffer long. I made it to WI in time to be with him in his final moments. Although he was barely conscious when I arrived at the hospice, at about 1 a.m., he recognized my voice when I told him I was there - he opened his eyes and said my name. I will always be grateful for that memory, that he knew I was there for him at the end. We weren't very close in his final years, but hopefully my being there when it mattered most counts for something.

I have many memories to treasure, mostly from when I was a little girl and Dad and I were closest. He took me to baseball games, played baseball and basketball and tennis with me, taught me how to ride a bike and went for many rides with me, etc. All the things that a dad does with his daughter.

He had a very nice funeral/visitation, complete with military honors since he was in the Air Force Reserve. His favorite big band music was played, and there was a video loop showing various pictures of him throughout the years.

Well, other news seems to pale in comparison, but in other news... I got a new tattoo. It is of the sweet Siamese face of my cat. It's on my lower right calf, and it turned out beautifully - even has his lovely blue eyes. When I was in WI for all the upheaval concerning my father, I kept it hidden from my mom. She had enough worries, no need to upset her further. I don't know whether I will ever reveal it to her. Maybe a long time from now, who knows.

Letter-writing phase

I've really been in the mood to write letters lately. I've developed a real enthusiasm for cool stationery. I'm writing to quite a few military members overseas. I've also started sending some letters to my friends instead of sending e-mail all the time. It's costing me a bit in stamps and stationery, but I really enjoy it.

Special day

Oct. 16 was the fourth anniversary of my kitty moving in with me. I'm so glad he did.

I'm trying the Hollywood cookie diet. Four cookies for breakfast and lunch. I'm OK at breakfast, but I need something else light at or soon after lunch. So I guess the diet half-works. Better than not at all.

I'm also trying Dexatrim to see if it actually works. So far, it really seems to be curbing my appetite. Unless it is just a placebo effect.

Having fun in San Diego

I'm visiting some friends in San Diego, and having a blast so far. Last night we went to a club downtown to see a good '80s cover band, and I wasn't driving so I could get good and drunk (but not drunk enough to have a hangover - yay). This weekend we are also going to the Wild Animal Park and a winery. So it will be a full weekend, and one I don't want to end.

Meanwhile, I have decided to be just friends with Mr. NY. We have differing philosophies about how obligatory our chats are, plus I want to give him the option to have kids, and I don't really want them. I thought I would grudgingly agree to have kids with the right person, but I've reconsidered that.

Curiouser and curiouser

Well, the NY situation is getting even stranger. He doesn't appear to be receiving the displeased e-mails I have been sending. He has been e-mailing me all happy and sunshine and light, telling me to have a good day, etc. (And he was disappointed that I wasn't online to chat with last night - ha!) I tried sending a test message from the e-mail address I had been using, and it worked fine. So maybe there is a problem on his end. We'll see if he gets the message I sent from a different e-mail address, just in case. If he's not getting his messages, too bad. I'm not going to call him or anything. Let him get puzzled by my apparent silence and try calling me.

Grrr. Here I had thought I was breaking free of him, and he's just not getting the message - literally!