days_unfolding

Well, there were layoffs at the College, but I wasn't affected. They were at the Normal campus. I know that it isn't my drama, but I was bummed about it because there are people at Normal whom I like. Something did need to be done about our financial situation though.

We have another on-site interview on Monday, and then we'll make a decision about the Library Director. I like the candidate on Monday a lot (although we'll see what he's like in person), and my boss likes the other candidate, so we'll see how this all plays out. I think that either one of them would do a good job. It might be a measure of how stressed that I've been that I wrote "August" on my rent check for this month. August is when the other librarian left.

I desperately need new tires. I've been riding around on worn tires, but they're not going to work in snow, so I need to get some new ones this month. As a consequence, I need to eat cheaply this month. I've been reading up on recipes, and plan to make Turkey Burger Pitas (with yogurt-sesame sauce), Lentil-Quinoa Salad, Pesto Lasagna with Spinach, Beef Stroganoff, and a pot of spaghetti. I also will fill in with "PastaRoni," which is cheap and surprisingly good. Looking at the lengthy list of ingredients that I need, I wonder how much money I'm saving, but I will get multiple meals out of them. I have to be careful though. I've been eyeing Butternut Squash Risotto with Walnuts, but that doesn't sound cheap. Although I suppose that the main ingredient is rice, which is cheap.

The girls (cats) are keeping me sane. Her Royal Highness, the Princess Harlee, is being a bit of a prima donna. She had been pooping outside the litter box, so I gave her a second box. She likes it and uses both boxes, but she also wants them scooped out twice a day. She also has been climbing on me when I snuggle with her. (This started since we moved down here. It blows my mind that a then 13-year-old cat, now 14, will try something new out of the blue.) However, because she never climbed on me before, she never learned to keep her claws in, so I alternate between petting her and lifting her paws to get her claws out of my skin! (Zara also climbs on me, but she keeps her claws in.) As for Zara, I brought out my velour throw to keep warm, and she loves it. One night, I was lying on my stomach dozing off, when I felt a little paw kneading my butt! I cracked up.