Tom just helped me wash my hair. What a glorious feeling! Sorry, but last Friday's "shampoo in a bag" was not particlarly useful -- the end product felt just as dirty as beforethe nurse "helped".

Found out this morning exactly how much pain the drugs are keeping at bay. Zero to 100 in nanoseconds. Called Tom to see if it was time for my pills (pain & anti muscle spasm) -- he said yeah, almost to the minute. AND I found out they take about 3 minutes to kick in.

Work situation is bizarre -- but then again, always has been. As of my letter of resignation over 3 weeks ago, my last day wa to have been last Friday -- getting one last issue of the magazine to the printer, then setting up the next & training the person they hired. Owner's wife sort of pleaded with me to stay on the payroll a while longer until I could come in & work with her. I left copious notes on schedule, procedure, methods, etcet, of course. Walked them through various things on the phone, too. On Tues. when I called and asked if any questions or anything had arrisen, she said no, but they'd call -- and that Fri., Dec. 14 would officially be my last day. I reminded them that it needed to be to the printer early because of Christmas & asked if the ads were coming n ok & she said, "Oh, I suppose we should start making phone calls..." Both reminder & sales calls SHOULD have started last Thursday -- which means they haven't a clue. And several advertisers only give their changes & new listings over the phone & a lot demand multiple calls to finally send their ad in.

But, ya know what? For the first time in 3 years, I'm not responsible!!! And, quite honestly, I don't care -- I'm safely off that rollercoaster.

Of course the broken arm will complicate my situation w/Employment Security -- already complicated because I quit the job (rather than fall off that rollercoaster) for health reasons (the stress was quite literally killing me) -- and so I'd have time & energy for a full time search for a "normal" or at least less stressful job where I'll have backup, real holidays, real vacation time and not have sole responsibility for what should be a 2-person job (production & sales)

I think my insurance covers me thru 12-31. Haven't seen any COBRA info yet, but doubt we'll be able to afford that rate,

It's all going to work out. Not having to even THINK about that job-from-hell is amazingly relaxing. Everything else will eventually work out just fine and I'm confident of finding the right job at the right time.

Geeze, they say all this stuff builds character -- but I thought was enough of a character as it is!

Wish us luck at being shovelled & plowed out so I can get to my 8:30 am appointment tomorrow with my surgeon. (It's snowing again...still...arghhh!)

Linn