I said, "Can I ask you a question?"

He said, "You're a bright girl, and you'll go far in this world. But you'll never find a place to park."

Fangtips showing.

To those who thought of me today and called, sent a letter, or posted a note, thank you. Please know you did make the day brighter than it would have been otherwise. To those of you who didn't know, don't know me well enough to care, or were less than enthused by my lackluster response, please don't take it personally. I don't advertise it, and I'm not trying to garner belated wishes. I'm just in a really crappy mood.

I have had better birthdays.

Part II -- The Bad and the Ugly.

Well, I did warn ya this was coming.

The Bad.

The vet hospital I work at, who had told me that when I graduated, they'd move me up to tech, has said they have no positions open unless someone leaves suddenly. However, shortly before I was to graduate, they hired someone who had only been a kennel attendant, and had no schooling, and began to train her as a tech.

...

Yeah. My reaction too. It's a shame, really. I like the place, the people, and the tech pay scale. (Best in the area.) But I didn't go to school for 2 years and bust my butt to stay in kennels. So I have to go elsewhere. Did I mention kennels are full full full right now? Also, I hate beagles.

I thought I'd finally spend a little money, and get a phone that wasn't the basic free model for once. I missed a deal that had been online for the phone I wanted by a day, so decided to try another that was for the same price as the first one used to be. I lost the son of a bitch the next day. Left it on the counter at a store, and someone behind me in line probably walked off with it. Fortunately, I had insurance. Called 'em up. Had a 50 dollar copay. Gritted my teeth, paid it, got a replacement mailed. Tried the phone out for a couple weeks. Hate it. Took it back to the store, since it was within the 30 days I had where I could exchange it. Was told that since it's a replacement through the insurance, I couldn't exchange it, couldn't get a refund, couldn't even trade it in and pay the difference to get the phone I had originally wanted to begin with. I have to eat the phone and the money I spent on it. My options are thus: Live with a phone I hate for 2 years. Close the account, pay $200+ for early cancellation, and open a new account, and pay full price for the phone I want. Reactivate my old phone, and eat the money spent on the new one, as well as keep a useless phone. Do a sneaky trade for a phone with lesser capabilities - that I pay full price for - and then send them the phone, and they credit me the amount I paid for it... thus still leaving me with a lesser phone I don't want, and an inability to exchange/refund/upgrade for 2 years. And that's the best option. I am not a happy camper with them.

The Ugly.

I got a bit of a shock when, after my grandfather went in for suspected pneumonia, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and given 6 months to live. Less, really. He's gone downhill rather rapidly, having to be on oxygen and in hospice care. At first, I didn't think he'd even make the whole month, he looked so bad. But he's rebounded a little. My grandfather's been having some rather good days lately, actually. Well, technically, he's my step-grandfather, but as I never knew the real one, he IS grandpa to me, and always has been. I go spend time with him and my grandmother on my days off.

It's complicated over there, sometimes, but overall, I think it's going as well as it can. I think he's ready to go, and I can't fault him. But oh, I regret not talking to him more, now. He had so many stories I would have loved, but he was never the tale-telling type. I got more out of his brother in one evening than I ever have from him. He's always been a more practical, present day sort. Unfortunately, his memory has begun to fail... I can't ask him all the things I want to know, anymore. When he met my grandmother, what it was like in the navy, his childhood... I've tried. I think I missed out on my grandpa, though at least I've said what needs to be said between us. That's the one good thing about advance warning.

Now, there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. I am on the verge of setting up my new computer. The room is set, I now have my table, and just need to assemble the damn thing. I'm even getting a scanner. Soon, there will be no more excuses not to draw or write or rp for me. ^_^'