I was having a conversation with Emily last night. As an aside, have I ever told you how nice it is to have adult daughters? It's wonderful. We can talk and enjoy each other's company without me feeling like I have to watch their manners or worry about how they are comporting themselves. I am free to enjoy the lovely women they are.



So, Em and I are talking about our lives and what we are knitting. I mentioned the Pignoli bag I am supposed to be knitting for the client that gave me the painting. Notice the words 'supposed to' in that sentence? I haven't made much progress because it is BORING to knit. And the hardest part about it is that I will have to give it away when I'm done. The young woman admitted that her artwork took "about 15 minutes" to do. I like the painting and am amazed it took only 15 mins.



So, in the back of my mind is the thought that no one said I have to knit the bag and then felt it. I could buy some felt and lining and sew a bag for her.....I was considering it and Emily, my brilliant daughter, suggested the same thing. I could go to JoAnn fabrics and buy some red felt and some cute lining and make a bag. Much less work and just as lovely results. Then if I want to finish the Pignoli bag, at my leisure, I could keep it.



I think that is the plan. I don't mind knitting things that take time or knitting things that I will give away. I guess I mind that it is soooooo boring and I feel like I have to work on it to finish it quickly since she has already given me the painting. This gives me a solution that I can live with.



So, a trip to the craft store (oh the hardships I live with!) will be in order. I hope I can find some nice bright red felt and some arty lining. I think I have about 4 weeks until I see her again so I'l have time.



I am looking for another job. I put my info into career builder today and they gave me 34 jobs in my area! The problem is I'm not sure I want to stay in Human Services. I might like a change but have no real idea what that would be. I know that I want out of here. I adore my supervisor who recently went to bat for me again. It seems that when I requested my time off for my surgery and the followup procedures I didn't file for FMLA (family medical leave act). If you are taking more than 3 sick days in a row, you have to file. I didn't know this. I only knew that if I got my time pre-approved it wouldn't count against me at evaluation time. One of the Directors said she thought I had violated the sick leave policy and deserved to be written up. I was so upset. I got all my time approved and thought I had gone through channels (I even spoke to our HR person beforehand) and now I find out I was wrong. The policy says it's up to the manager's discretion as to whether time is approved or not. She approved it so that should end it. I called the head of HR and he said "you should have filed FMLA" After a long discussion, it ended with him saying that if the time was approved, it should not count. Phew. But I don't need the stress. It makes my stomach hurt.



I've been here for 14 years. You'd think they'd know me by now. Thankfully, I have a supervisor who is a pitbull when she thinks someone has been wronged. You could not have a fiercer person on your side. She's one of the reasons I stay. That and 5 weeks of time off a year. I know that I won't get that anywhere else and I'd miss it.



Stay tuned......