A Fortnight of Unreality

It’s been exactly two weeks today. Ex-work screwed up last week and neglected to direct deposit my final week’s worth of earned pay into my savings account. Apparently the 71+ hours of accrued PTO I had was also supposed to be direct deposited but that too didn’t make it. Both should go in today. My severance period should start next week, I think. No one was really clear on when it kicked in.

I never realized how much paperwork goes into being unemployed. I got a twelve-page COBRA document, two pages of which had to be signed and returned. Direct deposit for my unemployment was another page that needed signing and returning. My severance contract was thirteen pages of gobbelty-gook that was signed and returned last week. I’m still in the process of changing the profiles on all my professional organizations. Ironically, the AVMA website doesn’t permit you to leave your employer’s name blank. The temptation to fill it in with “I’ve been laid off, you morons” came and went without me actually doing anything unprofessional. I’ll dial their 800 number later this week and duke it out with their IT people then.

This was the week I was to have taken vacation. I had originally hoped to go with the Prof while he visited out-of-state relatives, but I can’t afford it now. With his upcoming sabbatical, he can’t afford to bring me along, though I know he wanted to. My plan was to do some work on the house: finish painting trim in the dining room and living room, start removing wall paper in the downstairs hallway, weed and mulch the gardens (which at this point should be more like Agent Orange the garden and then cover it with concrete). Instead I’ve been running errands, watching television, reading, unpacking boxes, and fooling around on the internet.

If I can find a printed copy of my CV I’ll run into the county seat today and sign up with the state careers office. I anticipate a problem, since they are going to jump on “veterinarian” and immediately start trying to place me in private practice. It’s now over a decade since I got my vet degree, and I’ve spent none of that time in private practice. Neither my skill sets nor my interest lie there at this point. Of course, that begs the question of what I am good for, but that will be a topic for the career counselor and me to banter about when I get there.

I elected not to answer the question on the unemployment application as to whether or not I have a condition that qualifies me as disabled. I honestly don’t know if a heart condition, a liver transplant and/or cancer qualify me as disabled. I certainly can go about my normal business without taking any particularly unusual precautions, but I do need the freedom to go to way too many doctor’s appointments, and I unfortunately should steer clear of certain things that are high-risk to someone who is immunosuppressed. I discussed this with the lawyer a bit, and he recommended that I not mention this during the interview period but make sure my employer knows about it as soon as possible after being hired. It seems dishonest somehow, but I also know that it’s also common sense to follow that advice.

LGS seems mostly recovered from her big adventure in haut cuisine, but there are days I feel she is getting old in front of my eyes. She sleeps most of the time (yes, I know, she’s a cat) and her attitude has gone from observant and playful to blasé. I’d swear her appetite has gone off a bit, but she is starting to gain weight (prednisone). Her vet calls several times a week to get updates; the fact that LGS will sit, beg and high-five on command has captivated the staff at the vet clinic and they all have taken an interest in her case.

In The Prof’s absence, The Warrior Princess is due for her annual exam. I volunteered to take her, so that will occupy some of my Friday afternoon. She isn’t doing badly for an 18+ year-old cat, but she’s hit another slump where she doesn’t want to eat much, and I always worry when that happens. Cyproheptadine usually works well with her, but I’m finding it to be less effective at the moment. I’ve increased her to the maximum dosage, which gorks her out but doesn’t seem to have improved her appetite. We’ll see what the vets say Friday.

Well, if I’m heading into the Career Center I should start pulling my stuff together. This should be interesting.