2014 can just go - the sooner the better.

My mother died in late August and, since I wasn't sufficiently devoted, my sister has cut me off. Doesn't answer phone calls, mail is sent back unopened.

Work has been stressful. One of the people above me in the organization has taken me as her personal serf. She refuses to review anything electronically, so draft of electronic newsletter, mass emails, and web pages she review ... she prints them out and leaves a mark-up (with unreadable scribbles) for me to correct. She also ignores a lot of her emails. And, just to make this more fun, she tends to approve things to go out (new releases, newsletters, emails) and then, when the final version goes out, starts giving me more edits. Since she refuses to work electronically, she refuses to learn to look up addresses in our database ... and tells me to look it up for her and give her address, etc. Since she insisted she not be given access to the admin. site for our website, any web pages have to be printed for her review ... and, since she doesn't understand how HTML works, I have to explain that, no, it's not possible to do what she wants. She also has a tendancy to go through the website and insist that certain pages be deleted or be significantly changed ... without consulting the people in whose areas they fall. Right now she's insisting that the Board of Directors for 2014 be removed and replaced with the 2015 Board ... because she promised that the 2015 roster would be up on the website by the middle of December (having a temporary page for 2015 that would become permanent in January isn't good enough for her).

To make life complete, my phone died. I'd been nursing my old rotary dial phone along; it's hardwired to the wall (yes, it's old) but a while ago a friend was trying to call me and it didn't ring. I got a new phone and will try plugging it into one of the phone jacks but I suspect I'm going to have to have the place rewired ... which is going to cost. Meanwhile, since I can't get a cell phone signal in my apartment, I have no phone service at home.

I'm just hoping 2015 is better ... doesn't even have to be a lot better.

Oh, man, Toddson, that is a lot. I hope 2015 brings a lot of ease for you.

Oh Todd, that is indeed a lot of suck. Bring on 2105 and may it include many positive changes.

Can you convert to an IP phone? We use an IP phone at home and it works fine. We do have pretty decent internet service. Our cells don't work great in the house either. Haven't had regular wired phone in many years.

well, since I can't get cell phone reception I also couldn't get broadband wireless (I had an account for a while but it was so weak, when I could get a signal at all, that I gave it up). My apartment isn't wired for cable or any phone line except the rotary dial ... so I'm probably going to have to pay to have it rewired, pay more for the new phone service ... and, frankly, my finances are pretty tight. I have a savings account that will probably cover it, but it's annoying.

We do have wireless in the house, but my IP phone and my main computer are hard wired directly to the modem.

I do hope a solution presents itself.

I'm sorry Toddson. Losing a parent is hard. And I'm sorry your sister isn't managing her grief or feelings better. I wish I had more than just comforting words to offer, but I've found in the hard times there's no way around it but to go through it.

I'm so sorry about your mom, Todd. And about your sister.

Could you appeal to your boss' boss, and suggest s/he sit down and explain how the necessities of working in the electronic age mandate learning how to do that in order to continue being employed?

It's a horrible year. And I hope 2015 is a better one.

I am sending small, multiple mailings to my giftee. I am taking small nibbles from this holiday, so as not to drive myself crazy.

Who am I kidding. The crazy train left the station ages ago.

I have my package in the car to go to the post office today. Woo!

This and a tiny package for my SIL and bestee are all I have done. Guess I should get on that.

The house is decorated inside. The tree is done and this that and the other around the rest of the house.

My package will go out in a week or so. Hurray!