Taking it Easy on Sunday and Catching up With Deb and the Cats!
Of course I’m fine… why do you ask?
Some of you may, or may not have noticed, but I have not been able to blog for a while. I continue to burn both ends of the candle, but relief should be in sight soon. After 5 years of employment, I left my day job to join efforts with someone I had worked with about 10 years ago. While my previous day job had more than its share of stress and issues, including the grueling hour long drive each way, my employers were like family to me and I did not want to be disrespectful by leaving them in a lurch.
That is why I have been burning both ends of the candle – I needed to give them a proper two-week notice to wrap things up for them, but my new job needed me immediately due to an emergency that had unexpectedly cropped up – to compromise, I worked both jobs as best as I could juggle them for the two weeks and as a consequence my personal life that includes my cat stuff, literally took a standstill and I was emotionally, mentally, and physically frazzled at the end of each night.
These are the stares I get in the pitch black morning when I leave for work from the cats. Why is she leaving us again they seem to be saying and when will she come home?
I had hundreds and hundreds of unattended emails and Facebook notifications that fell to the wayside (but, in case you’re wondering, life does go on and the world truly can function without you being bound to your computers and iPhones). I had seven cats who wondered why their human was a walking zombie and I barely knew what day it was anymore. But, that is all over now. Starting Monday, I will have one job again – one that is much closer to home with better hours and a much needed financial boost. My kitties will have their human back in some sort of normal semblance and I also can get back to doing more of what I enjoy – writing about cats.
I also will be getting a much needed break – Thursday I will be leaving for the BarkWorld/MeowWorld (Cat Writers’ Association) Conference and I can’t wait to see all my animal loving friends! It will be bittersweet, however, as we mourn the loss of Lorie Huston, the President of the Cat Writers’ Association but I know she would want us to celebrate her life and the conference, and so that is what I hope we will do.
What do you mean Mom is leaving us? I’ll just wait here by the window for her…
Jazmine has yet to be part of a conference – she does not know what it means when a suitcase comes out of the closet and I have never left her for more than a night. She also doesn’t know what it means for her human to come back from a conference, as in me bringing home lots of kitty swag! As you will recall, all she knows of conferences is that SHE was the actual kitty swag, not toys and treats, when Dan and I adopted her while attending the Global Pet Expo in March. Anyhow, I will be sure to take pictures (albeit awful one’s as Dan will not be with me to take the stunning photos you are all accustomed to) and I will do a write-up to share all the details when I get back.
This was Chris and I back in 2011… we seem normal, right?
On some other completely unrelated news, while most of us will be giving out candy on Halloween, my family members will be doing something else… Watching Wheel of Fortune. Why? Well, because my oldest son, Chris, just so happened to try out for the show months ago and he was actually chosen to be a contestant! His airing is on Halloween night, so you’ll just have to tune in to see how it goes! Unfortunately I will have to watched a taped version when I get back home, but since the show is not live, it really doesn’t matter and I already know the results but have been sworn to secrecy.
Okay… so maybe the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree… I like to wear cat ears, Chris likes to wear Cheez-It’s and it’s not even for Halloween! At least he has good taste… they are SO MUCH BETTER than Cheese Nips!
I am just so happy that he made the show – it has always been a dream of his to be on Wheel of Fortune and now he can check that off his bucket list. He was also selected as Cheez-It Fan of the Month a couple of years ago – another dream of his (could I be more proud?) and the only dream still pending on his bucket list is to be on the show, Big Brother. If anyone can do it, it’s him and I am just so proud of him for pursuing his dreams!
Okay… so I never made it on Wheel of Fortune, but I do have a claim to fame. I won a walk on appearance on the CBS soap, The Bold and the Beautiful, back in 1989. While there, I got to snoop around the studio and saw the Price is Right wheel in a storage lot! Great hair, huh…
So, that’s just a little catch up in my life, oh, other than the weirdest thing ever that I never thought I would ever be saying. I was feeding the cats a couple of nights ago and my phone rang – despite that it was a chaotic frenzy of hungry cats screaming in the background, I picked up the phone. It was the late Audrey Hepburn’s son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer. Doesn’t everyone get a call from Sean Hepburn Ferrer while feeding their cats?
LOL… anyhow, the reason he was calling is because I am doing an article for Cat Fancy Magazine for their 50 year anniversary commemorative issue that will hit newsstands at the end of January, 2015. Basically, they want to highlight a handful of famous people who have been cat lovers over the past 50 years (past and present) and Audrey was iconic for her role she shared with a cat in the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” I just wanted to confirm a few things with him so I could include her in the issue and he was kind enough to call me.
The best part about the call – he could hear the cats in the background and told me the kitties took priority and that he would call me back in a few minutes after they were fed! What a sweet and gracious man!
Lesson learned… feeding seven hungry cats ALWAYS takes precedence over everything else!
That’s it – have a peaceful Sunday everyone and a safe and fun Halloween! Oh, and please feel free to share stories in the comments – have any of you or your family been on TV or won weird awards or anything like that?
You have been busy! Congratulations on your new job. Have a wonderful time at Barkworld. I’ll miss seeing you and look forward to your pictures and write up when you get back.
Such a shame you won’t be going, Ingrid. While it is a combination of barks and meows, to me, this time of year means the Cat Writers’ Conference and it won’t be the same without you!
Congratulations on having one job now instead of two. I am so happy to know that you will be at Barkworld!! Safe travels and we can’t wait to see you!
I am looking so forward to seeing you at Barkworld Carma Poodale! That will be one of the highlights of my trip for sure!!
Oh oh , you have been way to busy busy !
Glad you are going to Bark world/Miaow World and meet friends 🙂
XOXO
I’m glad I’m going too, Kjelle!! xoxoxo
WOW! I am tired just reading about everything. Congratulations on your new job, your son being on Wheel of Fortune and on writing for Cat Fancy! Have a great time at the conference.
Dang, talk about busy! Have fun at the conference and pass around a howdy from all of us!
I definitely noticed Deb. Missed your posts. Great news that you got a better paying and closer job. Less travel time alone is reason enough to change jobs. I am sure you will agree my time is precious and worth more to me. So if you managed to get a closer to home and better paying job then you scored. Less travel means less wear and tear on your car and more free time for you!
As always I enjoyed your post. Your Son is a cutie too!!
First of all, we would like to know where you got the first picture of this article : it’s the picture of Mum ! Then, what busy weeks ! But you did it : concatulations on your new job ! Have fun at Barkworld ! Purrs
YAH for things settling down just a little for you! Mom has 1 more month of stress and driving 80 miles a day, we can’t wait! That means she has lots more time to cater to uh we mean take care of us! ~ The HighCats
Oh wow Shiner… that is a LONG drive! So glad to hear the stress level will be gone in a month for your Mom!!
ConGratulations on your new job and your Cat Fancyarticle. I loved reading this entry. You hide your exhaustion extremely well. Hugs
Wowza you have sooo much going on!! OMG!! I got dizzy just reading this! So glad that your worklife will ease up a bit and oh I know too well about having hundreds and hundreds of email and not being able to get to them all. That is me right now! BarkWorld is going to make them back up even more because I am not bringing a laptop there.
That is soooooooo cool about Chris!! Lenny wants me on that show so badly, I am normally pretty darned good. Pls let us know what happened, because being at BarkWorld I won’t be able to see it!
Safe travels and can’t wait to see you! xoxo
WOW!!!!!!! I’m speechless
we are glad to hear things will be settling down for everyone. 🙂 What a great cat guy to let you feed the kitties first. 🙂 Can’t wait to see you in Atlanta!
What a busy time, but it sounds like good things are happening, especially on the job front!And how fun about Chris being on Wheel of Fortune! My father was a contestant on a show that aired Christmas Eve 1999 and phone calls that poured in to my ex-stepmother’s house where I was staying for the holiday for the entire half hour. You’re going to hear from all sorts of unexpected people! I’m looking forward to seeing you again at MeowWorld/BarkWorld very soon!
Sounds like you’re had a SUPER busy couple of weeks. The kittes will be waitin’, in eager anticipation, of your return from your conference and the bringin’ home of the swag.
Purrs,
Nissy
PS. Got my paws crossed for your son on Friday even if the event already has occurred. Crossed paws never hurt at times like these. purrs
Aww… Thank you for the crossed paws! They are always appreciated Nissy!
So glad your work life will be getting a little easier, Deb. Burning the candle from both ends only gets you burned out fast. How cool about your son being on Wheel of Fortune. I hope he did well. I’ll be at BW/MW this year…and look forward to seeing you again.
Sue aka the lady with the yellow hair 🙂
Does being in a commercial count or being on TV while being a scorekeeper for indoor volleyball at the Olympics? I am so looking forward to meeting you in Atlanta. Hugs, Janet
I would say that totally counts and I am thrilled to know you will be at Barkeorld/Meowworld! See you soon!
Also, does it count that my nephew’s wide was a winner on Cupcake Wars and just met Martha Stewart in person and gave her a box of the cupcakes from her store? Guess that doesn’t make me famous, but it is my family.
Deb, I’m so glad you knew you could do what you needed and know we’d be here for you when you were ready. I’m especially happy for you on the job closer to home with better pay! I’m a fan of Cheez-its too!
Thanks for the love!! See your Thursday lol!
…just now reading this Deb. It’s just SO, SO good to see you back in action, and with so much wonderful GOOD NEWS!! Congrats on the new job, can’t wait to get details!! Yes, what a full plate you do have…enjoy the Conference and Congrats to Chris on his Wheel of Fortune appearance, I’m making a note to watch!
WHAT?? You were on the Bold and Beautiful? Good grief woman, that is SO cool!! And I actually love the hair!!
What an exciting phone call!! I just can’t tell you how much I look forward to your article in Cat Fancy…..and your report on the conference. Wears me out just writing all that you’ve got going on….and this is with only one job. You need a cape to go with those cat ears!!