* SAD NEWS ABOUT CHARLIE *

Ron and I had to say goodbye to our beloved Charlie Thursday evening. We knew it was coming sometime soon, but he went downhill quickly...He hadn't eaten in almost 2 days, but drank water pretty much like normal, went outside always for potty, and was getting up and down the steps okay. But Thursday he began to really look confused and wasn't walking good and the last time he drank any water, he immediately threw it up...just the water.

(He had blood tests about 3 weeks ago and had very serious problems that no one was aware of. He had liver problems, thyroid problems, diabetes and a heart murmur! And he never seemed sick or uncomfortable before then.)

We had an appointment for this morning, so we could see our usual vet, but we didn't want Charlie to have to wait that long, so the clinic fit us in and they were all so kind, just like always.

I told Ron I can't go through this again and don't want another fur baby, and I truly believe it this time.

This was Charlie on his 12th birthday, this past February. 

I love this picture! This was earlier this year. Ron was walking with Charlie, and all of a sudden this stray cat decided he not only wanted to follow them home, he wanted to walk right next to Charlie and look at him as his new best friend! (Have you ever seen something like that?!) I think it's so adorable. Our next door neighbor already had a couple of cats, and she happily adopted this little guy, who she named Lucky!

Below are just a few of my favorite Charlie photos. 

~~~~~

And 2 beautiful quotes. 

* AND THE ANSWER IS "I'M JUST SO SAD" *

The short version about the happenings of the past few weeks, concerning my part-time job that I absolutely LOVED, but I wasn't pleased about, is this: I turned in my resignation on Friday morning. (via email in response to a hateful email I rec'd)

The fact that I'd worked on various blog posts, and then by Friday they were no longer relevant was because I'd written about the ups and downs at work for the past couple of months, and I was hoping for the outcome that I really wanted...but didn't take place.

It's way too long of a story, and actually probably similar to what many employees go through. I gladly took on every new task given to me, whether it was in my "job description" or not. I always kept my cheerful, upbeat attitude.

When I was given a former employee's job duties, without an increase in pay, I didn't ask for a raise since I hadn't been there very long, and thought I'd ask about it when my one-year anniversary arrived, which would've been this November.

Recently my three days a week, six hours a day schedule was changed to only two days a week, and yet I was supposed to keep up with everything I was barely keeping up with! Then I began to be blamed for things/mistakes I hadn't even done (too many people working on the same project) and the last straw was receiving snippy emails.

It got to be that I never knew what kind of personality I was going to be dealing with the days I came to work. And I could tell things weren't going to get better any time soon. So, I felt the need to quit...Life's Too Short, I Don't Deserve This....kind of thinking.

I had to go in this afternoon, Labor Day....kind of ironic, huh?....to get all my personal things because I was told they do not allow people with a financial position to work after they have resigned.

And in spite of all this ...I'm SO SAD! I loved my job. I really liked the people, both employees and customers, and my boss...when she was the way she used to be.

I feel like I lost a part of myself. A part of my identity. I don't even want to look for another job. I feel like I lost my best friend.... I cried all the 25 miles home.