I'm so sick of being poor

[magical thyme]

82. you are not alone

When it's too hot, I keep a bowl of cool water and a washcloth with me. Wipe myself down and then lay the cloth across the hottest part and let the fan blow through.

Make sure you get plenty of 'lytes when drinking that ice water.

I finished going to school for a new career just last year, after mine hit the skids with the high tech crash. I got a job immediately -- and just in time -- and was able to start giving myself little treats a bit at a time. Every time I've managed to save a little, one thing or another that's been on the brink goes. I went through my last winter of school with no backup heat (in Maine). Got it fixed last summer, and it stopped working the first time I tried to use it in a storm. I spent my birthday curled up on the sofa with my dogs under blankets and with glove warmers in my socks, pockets, on my knees, stomach and the back of my neck to stay warm, while the temps dropped to the mid-twenties.

I just had my brakes fixed 2 months ago, and the light started going on again last week. They're looking at it this Friday. I fear for my well pump, my septic, my furnace, and my health. And I need to get the back up heater fixed again.

But the job has turned into a disaster. It pays 25% less than what I was told by an HR rep before I started the program. And I took per diem and gave up all bennies so I could say 'no' to one thing -- night shift. And they are making me work night shift anyway. They were told a couple weeks ago by a consultant to drop one fulltime person and use less per diem. A week later, they hired another per diem, presumably to replace me.

It's killing me a piece at a time, so I'm planning to give notice today and dump this house if it's the last thing I do. My birds can go to a new avian sanctuary in NH. I'm worried about my dogs, though. Jake is a total love but 7 with bad hips and Luna is 4 but is shy and was a stray so can be mouthy and has fear-aggression towards dogs not in his pack.