A bit of drama going on at work right now, and if the latest rumour has any bit of truth to it we're short-staffed: Again. 

I ended up working overtime Saturday night, instead of starting my vacation. I said I'd do it, when my Supervisor asked, simply because I was just so damn happy to not have her try to talk me into not taking all the time I'd requested off. Apparently, and I haven't heard the entire story, just that the it is true that one of the new employees, (the ditzy one), came to work high, got sent home, was called into Human Resources...and, the rumour part of the whole story is that she refused a drug screen and was fired. All my Supervisor said to me, in regards to that meeting in the HR office was that "It's a big mess", with this particular employee. The woman had just filled a vacant Full-Time position too, so we're down another one of those, and there are at least one, if not two, people going off on surgical leave next month too. They can't really count on the Switchboard staff to help fill in the gaps, as they have in the past, either since one of their employees just walked out earlier this month and quit.

When I go back on November 2nd, I'd best not find they've tried to pull the same trick as last year, have me scheduled for overtime I wasn't asked about, or agree to do....I think they learned the lesson about trying to schedule me to work on my weekends off, so I don't believe I'll have to worry about that, but it's going to be ugly around there if they aren't quick about getting the vacancies filled, as I know I'm not the only Full Time employee getting tired of this shit.

Anyway, I've got two weeks to not worry about what is going on at that place, and by God, I'm going to enjoy them!

So, despite the tears of the early morning hours, I had a really good time at the Flaming Foliage Festival this year: Ate lots of stuff that was bad for me, bought a few cools things, finally got to use the tiny deck of Uno cards I carry around in the Just-In-Case pouch in my purse, while my sister and I waited for the parade to start...step-dad, mom and gram waited in the vehicle due to it being a bit 'brisk' that day. I'd like to say my sister and I sat it out due to being made of sterner stuff than they are, but the sad truth of the matter was they were sitting in our step-dad's truck and there was just no room for us.

We sat huddled together, sharing a blanket and playing a games of Uno with cards no bigger than our thumbs.

This morning begins my 3rd day off: So far, so good! The weather is cooperating, after our snowy little interlude at the end of last week.

Sunday I opted not to take a Xanax, which has really been helping me sleep. This, however, meant that I was up most of the day, and when I did finally crash I ended up waking up sometime around 1:30am and was then up until 11:00pm last night.

I'd made plans with my mom for yesterday, since she was coming down to run some errands. We hit the thrift stores, had dinner and then ended up at Wal-Mart looking for a sweater I had seen in the pet section and wanted to get for Oliver, but apparently there are people who stalk this aisle, waiting for the new dog sweaters to be put out, as they were all gone. There were two other designs, but I only liked one of them, and it wasn't the right size.

In the meantime, Oliver is rocking an orange/black halloween hoodie with a skull and crossbones on the back and looking damned adorable while doing so.

I bought mom and I giant chocolate, Fall-themed, cupcakes and we came back to my house and watched Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. Wal-Mart done good in their $5.00 Halloween dvd offerings this year: I bought those, which were sold together as one of the Midnite Movie deals, which I've had my Amazon Wishlist since it was released, and Happy Birthday to Me, which I haven't seen in ages.

Oh, yeah, I have a new pet rat too: I named her Elvira. When we came out of the one thrift store, yesterday, there was still time on the meter, so, mom asked if I wanted to go to the pet store in town.....and I really didn't, because I knew what was going to happen, as I just can't stay out of the rat room!

Anyway, as I was looking in the tanks they have the rodents in, I spotted this one little ratty in a tank all by itself looking at me with the biggest eyes I've ever seen on one, and I just melted. My mom, who is no help at all, asked if the owner would get it out and it turned out it was a female and she was a bit skittish while the owner held her, (but then, as my mom pointed out, the owner seems to be afraid of the rats and holds them by their tails and away from her body), but when I held her she calmed down and let me snuggle her up to my face.

So, yeah, got me a Halloween rat.

Today, I haven't quite decided what I want to do. I'm either heading out to the craft and bookstore, if I feel up to a drive, as my sister asked if I'd do a painting for her and I need a canvas, and there is a book I heard about that sounded interesting, that I might get if I'm able to find it.

If I don't feel up to a drive, I'll just stay here and do a bit of cleaning...I really need to re-organize the cupboard I keep the food storage containers in before there is an avalanche that kills me one day, as I open it to find something to put leftovers in.

Oh, and I still need to get to the Post Office at some point this week, so I should work on getting all the things I need to mail ready to be mailed.

Discovered something interesting the other day, as I was eating the candy apple that my sister bought me off of one of the saucers that came with a set of dishes I had liked, and my mom bought for me at an auction.  I happened to flip it over and noticed that there was a stamp that read "Royal Worcester Fine Bone China" on it.

So, I got curious and did a Google search, and one of the many resultes was this replacement site, where I was able to find my pattern:

http://www.replacements.com/webquote/RW_ABL.htm

I ate ate a candy apple from a saucer that, apparently, sells for $49.99.

I felt so decadent.
 

As I'm still not sure what to do with myself, yet, this morning due to the 'blahs'...decided to drag myself off to K-Mart and check out their Halloween items, and see if I could find another sweatshirt like the one I had to throw away last night.

Unlike Wal-Mart, K-Mart actually had some cool stuff, and the woman working in the Women's clothing department was just putting out the Joe Boxer sweats, and I snagged the replacement sweatshirt I wanted.

I am now, also, the proud new owner of: Black/Purple striped socks with cute little skulls/crossbones printed on them, a 'Mini Jason' from Friday the 13th..when you press the button the 'chee-chee-ahh-ahh-ah' music plays while his head and stabbing arm move and then then you hear his mother telling him "Jason, Mother is talking to you.", (they had a 'Mini Freddy K. too!)...let's see, what else?...a haunted portrait, (the man turns into a vampire and if you press the button on the frame his eyes light up red), and a skeleton bride, (they had the groom too, but I wasn't too crazy about him, or the cotton ball hair they'd glued on his head).

They had a few other things I liked, but I didn't want to spend my entire Halloween budget all in one place.

I bought a kit to highlight my hair too, so I'm sitting here waiting for my hair to finish 'cooking', so that I can rinse it out and then paint my nails black...since 'tis the Season and all.

I was going to go and see Zombieland today, but I have tentative plans to go and see it Saturday with my sister. I say 'tentative', as our plans have a way of falling through at the last minute these days. I want to check out Target's Halloween department too, so, if I don't go Saturday I'll go by myself on Monday.

It's raining here today which, again, explains why it's been so dark all morning. Maybe when my hair is done, I'll go outside and play for a while.

*bounce-bounce*-It's Autumn!-*bounce-bounce*

Cool and overcast here today, and was spitting rain a littler earlier.

I had a celebratory bowl of Count Chocula for breakfast this morning and watched the first disk of Supernatural Season 1.

I, also, made another shadowbox....which is what I spent a few hours doing yesterday.

I really need to start using up all the art/craft supplies I've got stashed up in the attic. So, I dug out a bunch of the monster toys and various other bits of ephemera to play with yesterday. I made six, and had an extra Frankenstein's monster figure to use, and decided to make him his own box today.

I have them all lined up on top of my giant entertainment center, and am considering them Halloween decorations. 

I'm now sitting here trying to decide what to do with myself, since all the chores are done, (seriously!), and I even ventured out earlier and got groceries.

I'm between books and, amazingly enough, don't really feel like reading.

Hmmm

Oh, and I read yesterday that Mtv is planning to do a Teen Wolf tv series, but instead of making it as goofy as the original movie, they are saying it is going to be more along the lines of An American Werewolf in London.

Now, on one hand, I'm intrigued, as there just aren't enough werewolves out there, and An American Werewolf in London is one of my favourite films...but, on the other hand: It's Mtv!

In non-me, or entertainment-related 'news'--I think the noisy folks, across the street, have abandoned their house. They haven't been seen/heard for, almost, a month now and when I came home from getting groceries there was someone from the phone company messing around on the pole in front of the house.