By the way, gentle readers, you are always welcome to leave comments, but please be aware that my hit and miss ablility to find the scroll down bar makes it nearly impossible to scroll down far enough for me to actually see the "comments" section. I am always pleased to see comments, but at present I'm not able to find a way to scroll down far enough to read them--but I will keep trying.

I also am not sure about accessing my e-mail--haven't even had the time to try it yet, as I've been working overtime lately, and also been busy looking for a new day job for January. But I'll get round to it and give it a go, when I can, this weekend, to see if I can get in there to access the e-mails.

The cable company swore up and down that the big muckity-muck from the local tech department would ring me up this morning before work--not holding my breath, but we'll see...I know they broke my monitor--and I think, maybe they know it as well, and are just reluctant to admit it. Big corporations like Time-Warner don't make millions by fixing mistakes, but by ignoring things and just keep raking in the money.

I tried calling the state Public Utility Commission, but the number for them--which the cable company is required by law to provide to consumers---was wrong in the little booklet you get with new phone service. Typical. I finally did find the phone number though and definately plan on using it, if my questions aren't answered to my satisfaction this morning. Time Warner would make an excellent politician---oh, how their reps can dance around an issue without giving an answer. Sadly for them, I have both journalistic and public relations training--and, of course, a small measure of basic common sense. Essentially, I know a snow job, when I hear one. And boy, it's a blizzard at Time-Warner!

Speaking of snow, looks a bit like it, this morning, out there. Another gloomy December day. And I feel lousy this morning--but nought I can do, must go to work, sick or well, snow or sunshine.

I didn't get a chance to go to Social Service tommorrow, and am about to have my electric and gas cut off so I have to take my lunch today and go over there. That's another reason why I'm not feeling well. I'm hoping I won't be cut off. Then I will surely die, once the sub-zero temperatures hit, and come they will, soon or late.

But it hasn't happened yet, so trying not to think too hard about it..but it is in the back of my mind, always.

Boy, people were groucy on the phones yesterday...and on the streets, as well. One guy literally began screaming and cursing at me last night, because I rang him up in the middle of his Christmas party---I swear, if anyone sings "Joy to the World" to me, I'm gonna' belt him right in the mouth, ha-ha.

So, as I said, much as I love Christmas, I've no choice but to simply give it a pass, this year. I'm not being a Scrooge or anything, but seriously, what's there to celebrate for? I'd love nothing better than to have cause to be all happy and cheerful and throw up some Christmas decorations (don't have any, anyway), but what for? There's no money for gifts (I even had to pass up the 5 dollar "secret Santa" gift exchange at the office yesterday), I had to use Christmas cards from 2 years ago--and barely could afford the stamps, Church at Christmas depresses the hell out of me and makes me feel twice as lonely, and the Christmas carols belting out of every radio and the Christmas trees atop people's cars and all the decorations and lights...just make me feel more isolated and left out of the holiday loop. I don't get paid for Christmas day off, and must work Christmas eve, so this year, like last year, Christmas can just go take a hike.

Christmas day will be just a day off, for me, without pay. I will likely spend the day puttering about the house doing chores, and maybe reading or sleeping. Sis is miles and miles away, and doesn't acknowlege Christmas as a holiday anymore, so I likely won't even get a call from her--she didn't call me last year, either. It's too bad the laundromats are closed, Christmas would be a great day for me to catch up with my dirty washing that's been steadily piling up in my closet...hope no one opens the door...they might get hit with an avalance of dirty jeans and sweaters, ha-ha.

Well, have to go. The landlord's real estate agent is showing the apartment building to some potential buyers today, so must make sure the place is all nice and spiffy before I leave for work. Not much to do, really, but tidy the bath and bedroom and kitchen real quick. Just mopped and swept the floors, Sunday morning, and did the dusting as well, so the place doesn't look all that bad. Flame, my little ginger cat, she loves getting company, all of the sudden. It's odd, that. She gets all playful and happy whenever someone comes. The boys...Boots hides in terror--poor baby, and Charlie--well, he's so mellow, you could drop an atomic bomb and he wouldn't care.

I found out last night, that there's a fellow Doctor Who fan at work. This lady saw me on the Doctor Who Online site, and said, "oh I love that show." She's a brand new fan--was channel surfing the cable stations, and found DW on the Sci-Fi channel by accident (sort of like what happened to me, in the early 80's--it was a Sunday, there was nothing on but football (american football, not soccer) and I went to the public television station out of desperation--and found Doctor Who (Tom Baker)--was at first intriqued...then very quickly hooked--which is amazing, becuase outside of Star Wars, until then, I wasn't that big of a sci-fi fan at all==although I remember I liked the Tommorrow People, back in '79 or 80, when those re-runs were playing on a cable channel.

Well, off to work and other things. I wish I had a different life, but wishing doesn't count for much in this world, and I have what I have, so there. Stuck fast in the muck of life, another day in paradise.