What did you say about a bowling ball?

Me (L) with Tacumwah.

Time to catch up on my blog. Mommy was busy yesterday shopping with Mommy Bonnie for lighting for the cottage and we didn't get to blog. All the updates are on the Blossom Ridge Farm blog.

So Mommy Bonnie looked at me the other day and said she saw a small head sitting on top of a bowling ball! That was so mean and hurtful, but I have come to expect my mommies to poke fun at my pudginess. I have decided that I am going to ignore them and wear my extra padding proudly!

I like my new collar and have not, as yet, started chewing on it.

Mommy met her son, KJ, at the cottage yesterday. He seemed to like it. He is out of work until at least February and is looking for a new job. He is a cabinet maker for Gulf Stream in Nappanee. Mommy's sister-in-law, Kathy Lynn, is also off work until Jan. She works for Chrysler in Kokomo. The difference is that Chrysler has a union, so Kathy Lynn is still drawing most of her pay where KJ isn't. Times are tough all over and are affecting our family now.

Mommy Bonnie's son, Scott, is in the military, so he and his family are somewhat secure. Mommy's son-in-law, Ty, still has a job in Hawaii, but may need to move to another part of the Big Island to keep his job.

One of Mommy's brothers, Charlie, is a musician and is still working. Her other brother, Conrad, works in a nursing home and doesn't seem to be in danger of losing his job.

Mommy is more convinced than ever that her decision to take early Social Security at 62 is the right decision. She will continue at the library for as long as she can.

Mommy Bonnie's company is suffering from the poor economy. She was going to retire at 62. Then she was hoping to be RIFfed with a nice severance package. Then she was talking about leaving in the spring of '09 because of all the changes her company was making. I don't think she knows what she is going to do at this point.

People who have jobs are holding on to them. People who don't are finding the job market really tight. Mommy sees this at the library. She says more and more people are coming in each week to use the computers to try to find a new job. When she talks to them they tell her they either don't have and can't afford a computer of their own, their own computer is in need of repairs they can't afford, they can't afford internet service for the computer they have. Some of these people are really grouchy and nasty. Others have accepted their situations and are doing their best to pull themselves up. They don't take it out on the library staff.

Mommy has lost several jobs. She worked for an Internet service provider that filed Chapter 13. She loved that job. So then she went to culinary school to learn to be a chef. She got a job in the kitchen of a wonderful Marsh store making all sorts of terrific gourmet dishes. She loved that job. But that Marsh store closed. They she got the job at the library and now they are reducing staff through attrition and who knows what will happen after they bring in all the new self-checkouts next year? Mommy loves this job too! She has been very blessed that she has had many jobs she has enjoyed. She signed up last night for her first online wine class and is looking forward to starting it. She has 3 months to complete it and it will involve her conducting two tastings. She expects Mommy Bonnie may want to join her for those. More on that later. She has the class outline printed and she thinks it will be fun! It is one of the first steps for her new secret project!

~There is no such thing as a free kitten!~