I'LL TAKE PSYCHIC READING NUMBER THREE, PLEASE

Writing stories about telephone psychic networks wasn't easy. There were a lot of people to interview -- people who felt very strongly about the subject one way or the other and could talk for hours.

But there was a payoff: free psychic readings at the newspaper's expense.

Sure, I'd wondered about those commercials on television. The only thing standing between me and a little fun experimentation was that $3.99-per-minute price tag.

"Keep it short," my boss warned.

I started with a the Professional Psychics of America number. Like four other different numbers I called, it ended up leading to the Psychic Readers Network. I decided one psychic from the PRN pool would be enough.

Barbara answered her line and gave a short speech about the network. Then she broke out the tarot cards and asked my first name and birthdate.

There are only so many topics a girl wants published in the local newspaper, so I decided to ask her about my career future. She told me to tell her when to stop shuffling the deck.

Ends up I have a lot of honesty around me, which is good considering my line of work. The downside is that I like to give a helping hand as much as I can, but not many people like to help me.

Barbara asked what my job was. I told her and asked if I'd be getting a different job soon.

"It doesn't show any changes anytime soon with your work," Barbara said. "Real soon you will be spending a lot of time at work. You're feeling a little unsatisfied. There could be something happening at work in the next two or three months."

The good news is that things will be getting better financially, and I'll be receiving some money in the mail in the next four to five weeks.

It was a so-so reading. The putting in more hours didn't sound too appealing, but the free money sure did!

On to the Psychic Friends Network, PRN's biggest competitor. Rosada answered the phone, asked my full name, birthdate and zip code, and consulted an astrological chart.

"Let's see what the angels are doing with you in this lifetime," she said.

She wanted to be asked a specific question. I asked if I would get a new job out of state within the next year -- the most specific thing I could think of.

Rosada told me I had a lineup of planets that say I'm able to handle challenges. She said that was good because there's no lack of challenge in my life. I agreed.

My planets will be aligned a certain way in November, and I will become restless. That's the time to start looking for another job. She asked what line of work I was in, and I told her.

"I see you having nightmares about your job in the past," Rosada said.

Now THAT'S a psychic reading. She also told me I'd be having some sort of disruption in December, which was a little cryptic for my tastes.

My last reading was in person from Angie Shown. She works for the Psychic Readers Network but offers face-to-face readings just a few blocks from the newspaper office.

Angie used tarot cards, and her reading was right in line with Rosada's. She saw that I would experience some changes for the better, and I would be "increasing monetarily." She said I should stop beating myself over the head about things -- which I tend to do -- and have more confidence in my abilities.

As for my job ...

"You'll be doing the same thing in a different way," Angie said.

So now I'm at a crossroads. Which reading do I chart my life by? Barbara said I would be working longer hours. Rosada said I'd be having a lot of challenges and a big disruption in December. Angie said I should stop beating myself up, believe in my abilities and make more money.

I'll take reading number three, please.