Monday...I hate Mondays...Sundays are nice..no workmen downstairs banging on the walls all day (the landlord's are totally remodeling the downstairs for their grandson to live in...for the last 6 months), no bill collectors calling every five minutes (which is why I hate answering the phone), Sundays usually mean I work my longest hours of the week (only 4 this week, instead of the usual 8 to 10 during the summer), no pressures, no calling utilities,or the bank to straighten out problems.

I still haven't found out if they've reinstated my installment plan at the electric company. I can't get hold of them...was on hold twenty minutes Friday. Told to try late afternoon on Monday, so I will. Keep our fingers crossed, ey? No electric in an Adirondack winter is not a good thing.

Well, dolled myself all up for the interview this morning...housekeeping at a major chain motel. Very lovely people--not my ideal job, and the pay won't entirely support me, but...the only thing I'm going to get in this one-horse town, off-season. Walking to works going to be a right bother, though. It's definately going to hurt--physically hurt...but, nothing I can do but keep going. No choice. None.

Well, a tiny bit of good news: the boss lady is closing the motel cafe this week, asked the employees if they want any food...of course I said yes, I'm no dummy. The old cupboard's looking a bit thin, right now. Also, she said that cheques would be in on Tuesday this week, for some reason the company got them done early--less employees, likely. So, that's also a bit of good news. Tommorrow I'll go into the city to the food pantry...there's two, maybe I can find the other one, and that would be good. The one pantry gives away free bread, which would be great, as bread here in town costs over 2 dollars a loaf!

Guess I'll be eating a lot of boxed macaroni and cheese and eggs and stuff. That's okay, better than going hungry. Not the first time, won't be the last.

Man, I'm so in debt, I'm never getting out from under. It's not like in the U.K., where there's protections for debters...the republicans under Bush have increasingly made it harder for those in debt--harder and harder. Sometimes I don't think they'll be satisfied till they have us all in concentration camps. For a party that touts God and country as it's theme, they sure do have a lot of greed and hardness in their hearts, when it comes to their own people. I'm serious.

But, enough of the dark stuff.

My interview went pretty good...think I may have the job, but won't know for another day or so, yet.

Really hurt like you wouldn't believe, when I had to turn down that job selling saddles. It honestly was like life was giving me the old two finger salute.

When I first started looking for a full-time job last year, at first I began with jobs I wanted...library clerk, customer service rep, receptionist (I just happen to be fantastic on phones), newspapers, etc. Then, after about 3 weeks of no luck, and getting desperate for a job, I began lowering my standards: better retail outlets, asst. mgr. trainee at resturants and retail stores, car salesperson, hospital aide, etc. Another two weeks and lowered my standards way down..I was getting really desperate: dishwasher, commercial laundry, inventory control, home aide, anything and everything..over 250 applications in a bit over two months!

When I first began looking, I was full of confidance...I'd never had problems finding a job before, figured it'd be a cinch to get one now...ha! As the rejections grew, my confidance gradually shrank. Often, I would drive 50 miles to an interview..only to be greeting by skepticism or sarcasim or both. It hurt me...it really did. Made me feel more and more like garbage. I go to the bother of driving a long distance for their lousy interview, and they treat me like dirt when I get there...how would you feel? Is it any wonder I"m not crazy about my country, on occasision? We treat each other like crap..and then why are we so shocked when foreigners treat us that way? World's a nutso place, sometimes, ain't it?

Anyway, I did finally land a job, as the sole office cleaner at a harness racing track/casino in Saratoga, a bit over 30 miles from here. It was a tough, dirty, thankless, and (almost literally) back-breaking low wage job--but, it was a job..and I sometimes didn't have enough to eat, but was able to pay the rent and utilities at least. Then, my car's transmission began acting up...traveling 30 miles with it, was no longer an option...and no money to fix it.

But, through all this, I continued to job hunt..month after month, persuing either jobs that I felt I'd enjoy, or simply jobs that paid a higher wage. I applied for tests for the postal service, civil service, etc. No go. I even applied to be a cleaner at my former college--twice. Twice they rejected me. So much for the old Alma Mater, ey? Fat lot of help they ever were--take your tuition money and run with it...eh, don't get me started with them, now.

So, anyway. Finally. I job offer to do what I love to do best--hang out with horses, saddles--used to be an antique saddle collector, I can name any part of a saddle you point to, and I can design a saddle--not make one--right off the top of my head. (okay, well, I love writing best, but not very good at it...at least not good enough to be employeed in that capacity--too much able competition). Well, here it is...my "dream" job..after 9 months of diligent searching and hoping...and, I have to turn it down for lack of transport. Excuse me while I go find something hard to bang my head against.

Sorry this blog is so depressing...didn't start out that way...let me change the mood a bit:DD

Oh, yeah. Since starting blogging, I've had some real great e-mails and messages...but also a few weird one's.

Here's a small sample of some of the weirder things I've gotten:

Well, I've mentioned the ersatz "David Tennant" who was writing me long nasty notes about my comments about him--which was really weird, as I hadn't said anything bad, that I could recall--was only repeating some things other people were writing to me about...i've no beef with DT whatsoever. Seems like a nice man--but, that didn't deter this psuedo actor...oh well, he did stop, eventually.

And there was the guy who tried to buy a dalek from me.

More recently, there's the guy who started vomiting scripture at me and banging me mentally over the head with his bible...ranting about how I should accept Jesus--didn't know I hadn't...news to me. Managed to block him from sending anything more. Wow! What a trip he was. He was enough to make one become an athiest, just to get away from him.

Oh, here's a good one, made me laugh--before I deleted it. Some person claiming to be from some U.K. newspaper actually offered me a whole five pounds to give him the story of how "Doctor Who Saved my Life." Seems he read my blog headline or something...can you believe that? Wow! Where do these nutters come from? Like some newspaper's going around reading peopple's blogs..yeah, right. And I've a 40 million acre state park I can sell you, too.

I like the guy who tried to sell me contraband Doctor Who videos...yikes! Or how 'bout the guy from Turkey or India or whereever, who actually wants to come over here so I can marry him and make him a legal resident of the U.S...okay, now that's a bit scary.

So, while I adore all my blog friends...some of these others are...making life rather....interesting. Not easily shocked...but some of these nuttier people actually make me feel...normal.