WELCOME!    equuscomitis@hotmail.com

Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Nancy, and I grew up in the village of Menands, NY, just outside of the North Albany line, on the Hudson River. I'm 45, and live with my pets in the Adirondack town of Lake Luzerne, just a few miles from I-87 & Glens Falls/Lake George. I may be changing address in the next month or two, and will work on updating any new information, as it occurs. Bio:

Born: Albany NY, 1960.

Attended Menands School from 1964-1975. Acheivements during this period: During villages 1974 50th year celebration, won the "village motto" writing contest, motto: "Urban-Suburban Village," still used on village stationary, police uniforms, etc.  Softball team won championship in 1972, poem 'Autumn Journey," published in national scolastic magazine, in 1975. Volunteer at mother's library, 1974 (lasted to 1987), special event waitress at Menands VFW 1974-75. Began hobby of antique bottle collecting.

Attended Guilderland Central High School from 1975-1979. Acheivements during this period: Awarded "Outstanding Student" award in Social Studies 1975/76, "Outstanding Student" award in Culinary Studies/Home Economics 1978, Participant in Senior Alternative Experience independant study program 1979, Member school riding club 1978/79,  Miss Colleen 1979 for Menands St. Patricks Club--entailed riding in parade and social functions, Delivered newspapers 1976-77, stablehand at local riding academy 1977-78, short order cook 1977-79. Volunteer: Story hour reader/aide Menands library. In 1979, began independant historical research on Albany Rural Cemetery--entailed personal interviews, extensive reviews of old newspaper microfilms, vertical files, books, etc at state and local libraries, plus extensive note-taking and field notes/photos..lasted 3 years.

Attended Cazenovia College from 1979-March 1980. Acheivements/interests during this period: Studied Horsemanship/Stable & Farm Management 1979-80, member Intercollegiate Riding Team (non-riding member), member Western Riding Club--team member, placed second in yearly intercollegiate club competition, worked as libarary aide at college library, member college theatrical club. Worked as temp for TempPower Albany, NY from March 1980-May 1980. Employed as kitchen help by TWA Services at Old Faithful Cafeteria Yellowstone Natl. Park from June-August 1980.

Employers/interests, 1987-1990: Midas Muffler, Albany, NY as Customer Svce/Secretary 1987-88, Transwestern Publishing (verifying by phone all yellowpage listings in each directory published, avg. 500 calls per day), Worked occaisionally at friend's horse show barn, Secretary of Doctor Who Northeast (fan club for UK TV show) from 1987-89 included: assisting at conventions, won category in art/craft competition, monthly newsletter contributor/short story annual contributor, interviewed by Troy Record & BBC TV morning Breakfast Show. Co-owned "Denver Discount" flea market business with mother--(involved buying, pricing, scheduling, packing/moving, set-up & selling). Began giving talks to senior groups on local history, worked as assistant to tack repair person some weekends, later breifly had professional tack (saddle) cleaning business (6 months), volunteer guide/docent at Natl. Bottle Museum & Ten Broeck Mansion.

1990-95:  Left Transwestern mainly because I also was offered "dream job" as professional groom for a dressage stable. I thought that this was my last chance to work with horses for a living (which I'd dreamed of doing since the age of 4) before I became to old to make this practical.  In early spring of 1990, was literally run over by a horse---okay, I confess, she was really a pony--albeit a rather large one, and injured my  back..was told by physician that if I did not stop working there, I'd be in a wheelchair inside of a year. I took a breif (purely for fun) course in floral design and greenhouse horticulture Around 1992, my mother fell and shattered her leg. I had to stay home and care for her, as she didn't care for the health aide assigned to her. In 1995, mom was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and increasinly became more and more infirm. Occaisionally, I would give lectures to seniors and 4-H youths, about local history and antique saddles/saddle care. Saratoga Couny Fair: entered and won ribbons in : antiques exhibit, floral design and crafts.

1995-present: Moved to Corinth, NY 1995. No car right after we moved, to 1998. Volunteer at Corinth Seniors/Meals-on-Wheels & Adirondack Save-A-Stray. Lady of the Fair, Saratoga County Fair 1997, mom diagonsed with kidney failure in 1996 and becomes more handicapped--begins using wheelchair. Published poem in regional poetry journal in Illinois, employed at Great Escape and Esterville animal shelter. Returned to college in 1999. Participated in International Studies program: Water studies at Northern College in Leeuwarden, Netherlands (2 weeks), with 2 "fun days' in Iceland on return (2001). Also, Egypt trip in 2003/04. Invited to join Phi Theta Kappa honor society in 2002. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theater in 2002, wrote, directed and co-produced radio play in 2002, submitted 10 minute play to college playwriting contest, submitted play to Kennedy Center Theater Festival, Participant in public poetry readings, participant in political activites, Vice-President ACC Archaeology Club, orginated, helped orginize and publicize what is now an annual silent auction for charity, Graduated Cum Laude from college with liberal arts/humanities degree. 

From about now until 2005, it was not unusual for me to put in 14 hour days/7 day weeks. But I didn't mind, mom hated the thought of a nursing home or senior housing. Began attending Castleton State College in 2003, as a theater/literature major, later changed to public relations/writing. Father became increasinly infirm in 2003, and was commuting between two parents/two colleges in 2004. Co-purchased mobile home with mother in 2001, moved to Lake Luzerne.  Father passed on shortly after my return from Egypt in 2004, Mother passed on in Nov. of 2005. My income drastically reduced (less than half) in late Autumn of 2005. With that, plus a substantial raise in tuition and a reduction in financial aid forced me to drop school. Serious job hunting from Thanksgiving to now. Have garnered an intership writing blogs for CollegeRecruiter.com in Jan., and started working in-between job searches/interviews, for Labor Ready. Good chance I'm probably going to be homelss soon, as my current fixed income won't allow me to pay my mortgage. I'm trying to work something out, but will probably be foreclosed soon. This will not stop me, but the pain of losing my pets will be a challenge to get through. Update: Buyer for trailer--$1000 over what is owed on mortgage, is best deal I can get...and glad of it. May get to keep at least a few cats...3 maybe four..still going to be hurtful though. Moving end of March, flat broke but surviving

Update: Working my cleaning job at Saratoga Harness, have two job interviews with good businesses--sales/customer svce. positions. Not getting much money from Harness job, but disability check puts me close to what my household income was during the summer last year. No luck finding an apartment that takes cats. I will not part with all of my pets. The not knowing what's going to happen to me is pure agony every day. Am overwhelmed trying to pack up house, and hope to find a place, but only have 2 weeks left till I'm literally homeless. I try to keep my spirits up, but it's sometimes hard not to let depression get me down. The cats are important to me, because I am utterly alone at home. They are the only comfort I've had all these months. My friends are trying to help, and I am blessed by that, but they can only do so much...and I'm not so deluded that I believe that someone's going to hand me a place for me and the cats to stay, or think that I'm magically going to win the lottery and buy a home of my own---no, I have no illusions regarding my fate. Yes, I'm terrified of being homeless--but I won't give up until there is no more hope to be had in life...which hasn't totally happened yet, thank God.

Right now, I spend my days/nights writing for my internship, doing housework, packing, reading, playing with my cats, listening to NPR and BBC-2 and e-mailing friends, playing dominoes, euchre and cribbage on the computer and cooking stuff like beef ragout, Italian vegetable stew and cherried chicken over couscous.

And so...here I am. This is the person who is applying for a job with you. Why did I do this? Because too many modern day employers won't even look at you, if you have no recent work history--even though that's absolutely no promise of a good worker. I haven't ridden a horse in 2 years. If you were to lead one up to me right now, I'd have no problem remembering how to ride...so what's the difference, I ask you?  I've been disabled, yes, but my disability has not bothered me for quite a long time now. My ability to juggle full-time caregiving and a full-time college education should be proof that I can work.          What do I want to do?

Would LOVE to work phones, always enjoyed and was good at phone work. I enjoy helping people get what they want, wouldn't mind learning sales, or better: customer service. (am currently taking an online customer service course) I can practically file in my sleep, love to write: memos to press releases, to essays to plays. Especially enjoy anything involved with animals or a charity, or publicity or libraries/research. Not afraid to get dirty or do jobs no one else wants. Like helping my fellow employees, hate jobs where I have to sit around doing nothing, like to keep busy. Update: besides my writing internship at the college recruting website, I'm also currently employed by Saratoga Raceway, but still looking for that ideal job: Desired min. salary: $20,000 yr. OR: can work around my track job, Wed-Fri 9am-1pm and Monday anytime. Desired salary: $8.50 hr. minimum for P-T work.

UPDATE: As of April 1st (or perhaps sooner), I will have a new address. I will be moving to just north of the village of Lake George, NY, in the town of Lake George near interstate exit 22. Truly lovely apartment--with heat included. Will only give me about $200 or $300 to live off of for the month (after bills), but I guess that's not too bad. The job at the raceway is going okay. I have to get rid of 5 of my 7 beloved pets and am very heartbroken. I am still actively seeking an office  position, due to the fact that my physical condition is in danger of going downhill (arthritis/tendonitis and diabetic neuropathy, plus back problem from heavy lifting and frequent body movements--the good news: I'm losing weight again.) Doesn't bother me to sit in a chair or drive a car, so an office job would be perfect--plus that IS what I went back to school for, a CAREER. I've had an offer of a paying writing gig, and another offer of another writing internship, so I must be doing something right--too bad writing doesn't pay much, but I'm not complaining. Submitting another travel e-zine article for consideration. Hope it passes. This one's about tourist attactions in the Saratoga area. The next one will either be about Iceland or Friesland....haven't made up my mind yet. I'm really bored, not having regular access to TV/cable or movies or anything...and I've packed my books and games. My whole life right now is packing and giving my cats extra attention..and squeezing in laundry, errands and cooking in-between. If it weren't for the internet, don't know what I'd do. I dream of someday having just one "normal" day--go out window shopping and eat out and take in a movie, get my hair done. LOL! Haven't had an honest to God haircut in months, and no extra money for movies or lunch--and window shopping's not as fun when you're broke--trust me on this one. I wish I could figure out which two cats to keep... ...making stupid lists of things I want but can't possibly have right now...hey, it's better than just staring out the window at the moon/mountains/highway all night, or the ceiling...had a yard sale Sunday, in-between snow flurries, got $68 bucks and a chest cold/chills--win some, lose some...feel doubly rotten now...Can't wait for all this nonsense I call my life to be over and done with...but I'm still plugging away...what else can I do?