Three Dog Night, Celebrate, great way to start a Saturday and close out a good week! and we'll crank it up a bit to get some Saturday work done...here's Credance Clearwater Revival with Looking Out My Back Door.
SO, I had the interview on Monday, got the job offer (dependent on drug testing), went for the drug test on Friday. Now wait and see. In the meantime have course curriculum to study for teaching.
Ken had a good week. His first day back to work in three years was on Tuesday. Needless to say, he's tired and glad this is Saturday. The babies all miss him so much during each day. They're accustomed to him messing with them all day every day.
Ken seems to be taking his work in stride. It's been a challenge to get himself back in work mode, and to reacquaint himself with the skills he has, although he geared up by attending workshops and networking in the couple of months before returning to work. He's been busy this week making order out of chaos, but I think he is truly enjoying it.
Last night we went to Red Lobster to celebrate Ken's return to work and the fact that the docs three years ago said he was brain dead and would not live, and if he did he would be a vegetable. Goes to show, they don't know everything! Neuro doc said it would take a LONG time, and it did, but look where he is today! So, we celebrated. Ken ordered the shrimp nachos with a cup of lobster bisque, and I ordered the coconut shrimp with a baked potato. Ken had an apple martini, and I had my favorite, a sunset passion colada. Yummy.
The big thing of the week was, of course, that Obama's Healthcare got upheld by the Supreme Court...totally devastating to America. I am angry, as are MANY Americans, that this has been illegally shoved down our throats. I am determined more than ever that this man will not be re-elected. We have got to take back this country and reverse the socialism that has been eroding our freedom, and stop the outrageous runaway spending.
Ken had lunch with our friend Chuck Bradley (Republican candidate for District 13). Chuck and Dave know how I feel about Obamarama and his stupidities so were asking Ken how I was doing after the SC's disastrous decision. They were shocked I wasn't on a plane headed to Washington D.C.!
Today its back to doing laundry and getting things picked up/cleaned up. I want to get back to sewing and quilting, and have dolls to work on. And I desperately need to clean off my desk!
Ah ha, I did remember to send birthday card/gift to my daughter. Her birthday is the 1st of July. I will never forget being on cloud nine when she arrived. My first born, my son, was the light in my eyes, the song of my heart, so I was amazed at how this beautiful baby girl was all that as well! I just couldn't get enough of either of them. Can't believe it's been so many years ago. (What's really amazing is that when the second daughter came along 16 months later the euphoria was identical. There's just no way to describe it.)
Ken is now home from the war (Wal-Mart), and as usual he has tales about his shopping adventure. One day he's going to go totally ballistic in that store!! Unfortunately we go there because of prices and because they have everything in one store so he doesn't have to make two stops.
Have a great Saturday. Time to get busy.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Yippee! I got the job at the non-profit organization. I'm excited. It is doing exactly what I've been wanting to do for a long time - helping disadvantaged women learn job skills and impart some of my own experiences along the way. Not a lot of $$, it is after all, a non-profit. But it is probably going to become a full-time situation before year end. BECAUSE, Texas Workforce is going to collaborate with The Ladder Alliance (the non-profit) and we'll be training at least 120 people by the end of the year! And that includes something TLA has never done before -- training men as well. Not at the same facilities, of course. The ladies attend at the safety place, the men will attend at the Texas Workforce Resource Center. I'll teach at both places. And the first class I'll be teaching is keyboarding. It's going to be great. I think all of this is to begin July 9 -- date still to be determined. In the meantime i have to have a drug test...no biggie...we had random drug tests at Lockheed.
I've been doing a lot of family research, trying to tie up some loose ends. Would love to some day get this into some kind of shape for submittal to libraries and online resources.
Yesterday I made Ken watch the ball game in the den while I took his room apart. Vacuumed and shampooed in there. Nasty!!! I made him clean his window, baseboards, doors, furniture. I had lots of help from Lucy last night. She spent just about the entire time with me watching every swipe of the vacuum cleaner and shampooer. Ken put all furniture back today while I went on the interview.
Getting up this morning was HARD. I am not a morning person on my best days, and getting there by 9:30 today was tough. It's going to be worse having to get there by 8 a.m. I think I'll be teaching some classes during the day, some in the afternoon, some in the evenings. Not sure yet.
Ken starts to work tomorrow. He's been getting everything ready for tomorrow so he won't forget anything. He has to take extra meds and pump supplies as well as everything else so he has to make sure he has his act completely together. It will be bad for me because I'm used to him taking care of the dogs, and now I'm going to have to do that. At least until I start going to work.
So, other than fixing a roast and doing laundry, I guess that's about it for now. Nothing to report. We really need to get a life!
I've been doing a lot of family research, trying to tie up some loose ends. Would love to some day get this into some kind of shape for submittal to libraries and online resources.
Yesterday I made Ken watch the ball game in the den while I took his room apart. Vacuumed and shampooed in there. Nasty!!! I made him clean his window, baseboards, doors, furniture. I had lots of help from Lucy last night. She spent just about the entire time with me watching every swipe of the vacuum cleaner and shampooer. Ken put all furniture back today while I went on the interview.
Getting up this morning was HARD. I am not a morning person on my best days, and getting there by 9:30 today was tough. It's going to be worse having to get there by 8 a.m. I think I'll be teaching some classes during the day, some in the afternoon, some in the evenings. Not sure yet.
Ken starts to work tomorrow. He's been getting everything ready for tomorrow so he won't forget anything. He has to take extra meds and pump supplies as well as everything else so he has to make sure he has his act completely together. It will be bad for me because I'm used to him taking care of the dogs, and now I'm going to have to do that. At least until I start going to work.
So, other than fixing a roast and doing laundry, I guess that's about it for now. Nothing to report. We really need to get a life!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Wow, do I really want to give up retirement? I slept 'til almost noon today! Of course I didn't go to bed until almost 3! I really need to get a handle on better day and night handling.
Waking up was nice -- had a phone message waiting for me. I had sent in an application to volunteer for a particular organization because it is near and dear to my heart. This group is in the business of assisting at risk and disadvantaged women with learning job skills, completing GED programs, and learning life skills. I volunteered to teach basic computer skills as well as MicroSoft Office Suite - and any other computer skills they believe necessary. Apparently they got the volunteer application but instead of a volunteer position they want to HIRE me! I have a meeting with them on Monday at 9:30 a.m. That makes my heart sing, because it is exactly the type of position I wanted. Because of my career background as well as my personal background, I believe I have something to offer, and this is a perfect fit. I'm hoping it works out. I know it wouldn't be much $$, but thankfully I'm not really looking for much! And the experience and personal growth will be rewarding.
Yesterday Ken and I went out to dinner at Margie's, a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant on far west Camp Bowie/80 (580?). Ken's family used to go there YEARS ago (at least 45) back when they lived in Western Hills - back when the world was new. It was the first time I had eaten there but even though it doesn't look like much on the inside or outside, the lasagna was wonderful. The only place I've had lasagna anywhere near as good is Olive Garden. Most places taste like yuck.
After dinner we drove around a bit to check out neighborhoods and areas where we might potentially want to live. We checked out Indian Creek, a condo community, of Roaring Springs, and checked out the area around Rivercrest Country Club. As much as we liked Indian Creek, those are going to be a bit pricey. We're just beginning our hunt, but think we have ruled out the Camp Bowie/Westover Hills/Ridglea area. We haven't been able to find condos in the Mansfield or South Arlington area...and the apartments we've seen over there (at our price) are not places where we would want to live. The goal is to downsize, cut back expenses and yet have a decent place to live with enjoyable amenities without the maintenance. We prefer a condo so we can have some choices about what color paint to put on the dang walls!!! And so that we don't have people moving in and out all the time and will know who is living around us.
At some point we are going to put the motorhome up for sale and forget about it. We'll buy ourselves a little trailer of some kind and just be happy with that - or perhaps we'll buy a good tent.
Today, after I received the phone call, we drove over to the location of the organization where I'll be interviewing Monday morning. Easy to find, just lots of traffic between here and there. And how in the world am I ever going to get up early enough to be somewhere by 8 a.m.? Guess I better start practicing.
So much for now...back to cleaning the kitchen before bed. I ran vinegar water thru the coffee pot because it was so nasty the ports were stopped up, so now I have to go clean it so Ken can make coffee in the morning. Goodnight, God bless...
Waking up was nice -- had a phone message waiting for me. I had sent in an application to volunteer for a particular organization because it is near and dear to my heart. This group is in the business of assisting at risk and disadvantaged women with learning job skills, completing GED programs, and learning life skills. I volunteered to teach basic computer skills as well as MicroSoft Office Suite - and any other computer skills they believe necessary. Apparently they got the volunteer application but instead of a volunteer position they want to HIRE me! I have a meeting with them on Monday at 9:30 a.m. That makes my heart sing, because it is exactly the type of position I wanted. Because of my career background as well as my personal background, I believe I have something to offer, and this is a perfect fit. I'm hoping it works out. I know it wouldn't be much $$, but thankfully I'm not really looking for much! And the experience and personal growth will be rewarding.
Yesterday Ken and I went out to dinner at Margie's, a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant on far west Camp Bowie/80 (580?). Ken's family used to go there YEARS ago (at least 45) back when they lived in Western Hills - back when the world was new. It was the first time I had eaten there but even though it doesn't look like much on the inside or outside, the lasagna was wonderful. The only place I've had lasagna anywhere near as good is Olive Garden. Most places taste like yuck.
After dinner we drove around a bit to check out neighborhoods and areas where we might potentially want to live. We checked out Indian Creek, a condo community, of Roaring Springs, and checked out the area around Rivercrest Country Club. As much as we liked Indian Creek, those are going to be a bit pricey. We're just beginning our hunt, but think we have ruled out the Camp Bowie/Westover Hills/Ridglea area. We haven't been able to find condos in the Mansfield or South Arlington area...and the apartments we've seen over there (at our price) are not places where we would want to live. The goal is to downsize, cut back expenses and yet have a decent place to live with enjoyable amenities without the maintenance. We prefer a condo so we can have some choices about what color paint to put on the dang walls!!! And so that we don't have people moving in and out all the time and will know who is living around us.
At some point we are going to put the motorhome up for sale and forget about it. We'll buy ourselves a little trailer of some kind and just be happy with that - or perhaps we'll buy a good tent.
Today, after I received the phone call, we drove over to the location of the organization where I'll be interviewing Monday morning. Easy to find, just lots of traffic between here and there. And how in the world am I ever going to get up early enough to be somewhere by 8 a.m.? Guess I better start practicing.
So much for now...back to cleaning the kitchen before bed. I ran vinegar water thru the coffee pot because it was so nasty the ports were stopped up, so now I have to go clean it so Ken can make coffee in the morning. Goodnight, God bless...
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Short post tonight. Am worn out from "retirement." Been working on the HUGE project I put off until retirement -- trying to get family research in order. I think I'm about to get there -- at least with what I'm planning to do with it. I'm ready to finish what I have, get it documented, split into various family branches, put into manuscript format with copies of pictures and documents, and call it done. It will never be complete but my part will be complete. Hopefully I will have provided enough for someone somewhere to take up the work and continue.
The exciting news of the week is -- drum roll -- KEN GOT A JOB!!! He starts next Tuesday, back working as an accountant. And yes, they know all about his issues. Unfortunately he'll get paid so much that he will probably lose his disability check. But, maybe we can switch that to straight Social Security benefits...we'll see. If it was SS he wouldn't lose the benefit completely, just lose $1 for every $2 he earns, basically he would get 1/2 what he currently receives. ANYWAY, he's excited, and I'm worried about him. He hasn't been able to work in three years and the last thing we can afford is for him to get into a stressful situation and have a major set back.
Ken found out all the particulars about when he starts, how much he will earn, etc., today. So we celebrated with burgers from Sonic tonight.
The same place has my resume...not sure I'm what they are wanting. I am NOT a software programmer. Everyone immediately thinks you are a programmer when you hve had the title of software engineer. But my experience is in software process management, not in programming/coding. We'll see. Ken says for me to not work for a while, but I'm still looking...we need to get more money into savings.
Think we've made up our minds to unload the house...but we're going to go about it slowly. We both want to be somewhere where things are within easy access...want to live close to stores, malls, people, highway access, etc. We are going to start taking some "drives" around the metroplex area to see what areas we like...Ken is totally against Dallas, so that probably won't be where we land. There was a time when we wanted to move to Mansfield so we could be close to the kids and grandchildren, but I guess there's no point in that any more. I miss my kids so much, but I am trying hard not to cry any more.
SO, tomorrow I'm hoping to do something around this place except work on the computer. Getting all this family stuff into the database has been a real chore. I'm ready to sew, or mop floors, or do something! When Ken goes to work next week it means I'll have to do everything myself around here - at least until I find a job.
I was contacted by the airline again today...they are really bugging me to get onboard with them. It's work from home, customer service, but it is a 24 hour a day job...weekends, nights, days, whatever. But, it does have flight privileges. However, I would have to have a space in the house that is totally separate, is dedicated to work, has it's own separate computer, cable internet, and special phone service - all write offs, but still a pain. We have the space to do it, but how tied down to this house do I want to be?
Gotta go - meds and bed are calling. You all have a wonderful night and great dreams.
The exciting news of the week is -- drum roll -- KEN GOT A JOB!!! He starts next Tuesday, back working as an accountant. And yes, they know all about his issues. Unfortunately he'll get paid so much that he will probably lose his disability check. But, maybe we can switch that to straight Social Security benefits...we'll see. If it was SS he wouldn't lose the benefit completely, just lose $1 for every $2 he earns, basically he would get 1/2 what he currently receives. ANYWAY, he's excited, and I'm worried about him. He hasn't been able to work in three years and the last thing we can afford is for him to get into a stressful situation and have a major set back.
Ken found out all the particulars about when he starts, how much he will earn, etc., today. So we celebrated with burgers from Sonic tonight.
The same place has my resume...not sure I'm what they are wanting. I am NOT a software programmer. Everyone immediately thinks you are a programmer when you hve had the title of software engineer. But my experience is in software process management, not in programming/coding. We'll see. Ken says for me to not work for a while, but I'm still looking...we need to get more money into savings.
Think we've made up our minds to unload the house...but we're going to go about it slowly. We both want to be somewhere where things are within easy access...want to live close to stores, malls, people, highway access, etc. We are going to start taking some "drives" around the metroplex area to see what areas we like...Ken is totally against Dallas, so that probably won't be where we land. There was a time when we wanted to move to Mansfield so we could be close to the kids and grandchildren, but I guess there's no point in that any more. I miss my kids so much, but I am trying hard not to cry any more.
SO, tomorrow I'm hoping to do something around this place except work on the computer. Getting all this family stuff into the database has been a real chore. I'm ready to sew, or mop floors, or do something! When Ken goes to work next week it means I'll have to do everything myself around here - at least until I find a job.
I was contacted by the airline again today...they are really bugging me to get onboard with them. It's work from home, customer service, but it is a 24 hour a day job...weekends, nights, days, whatever. But, it does have flight privileges. However, I would have to have a space in the house that is totally separate, is dedicated to work, has it's own separate computer, cable internet, and special phone service - all write offs, but still a pain. We have the space to do it, but how tied down to this house do I want to be?
Gotta go - meds and bed are calling. You all have a wonderful night and great dreams.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Had a wonderful day! Did Nothing! Yea, the luxury of being retired! Did exactly what I wanted to do which was to work on family research!!! SO much to do on it.
Yesterday was Father's Day. No one knows better than me how much it hurts to be ignored on these kinds of days, so instead of buying a card for K. I sent him an email to wake up to yesterday morning advising that the day was his. We were going to go somewhere, do something, and get away from this house. It was his choice where to go.
Ken chose the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, so we went on line and bought tickets to see Titanica at the Omni as well. This was our first visit to the museum since it's renovation a few years ago. SO VERY DISAPPOINTED! It's now nothing but a kids indoor play palace. Very few exhibits, very little to see. None of the many, many windows with exhibits as we used to have. My goodness, it's such a BIG place and so very little in it. We will probably never go back.
We enjoyed the Titanica, but we both commented afterward that we think the James Cameron exploration film is MUCH better. He shows so very much more than what this one does.
Afterward we went to Blackeye Pea for dinner. Yummy. I had the Red, White and Blue salad with grilled chicken with a cup of broccoli cheese soup; K. had the stead and shrimp. All in all it was a relatively good Father's Day.
Just had a text message from Tamara...she and Jason have managed to save a bit of money back and want to go somewhere on vacation and to celebrate their anniversary. They don't drink so thought they might go to Fredericksberg. I told them they would be bored and to go to San Antonio instead. There's lots to do without drinking. So I sent her to look at the SA visitors page and to check out Kayak.com for hotel/motel pricing. They can go to the Alamo and grounds for free, do the river walk for free (they don't have to drink), maybe ride the boat on the river, go to Breckenridge Park, go to the Hyatt to the coffee bar/bagel shop, go to the Mexican Market. And they don't have to stay downtown...they can stay outside of town, drive into town and then ride the shuttles and trolleys. They will have a good time. They deserve it - they work hard.
Not much else going on - we took the day off from job hunting. I just needed a break. Ken has a second interview tomorrow...we'll see how that goes. Yesterday we kinda came to some conclusions about some things we can do to cut expenses. One of them involves unloading this house, but we've been thinking about that for at least 6 years!!! And we think we'll sell the motorhome. We're not using it as we thought we would, and it doesn't appear that we will any time soon. Right now we're paying monthly storage for it plus insurance coverage.
That's about it. Hope Monday was good to you.
Yesterday was Father's Day. No one knows better than me how much it hurts to be ignored on these kinds of days, so instead of buying a card for K. I sent him an email to wake up to yesterday morning advising that the day was his. We were going to go somewhere, do something, and get away from this house. It was his choice where to go.
Ken chose the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, so we went on line and bought tickets to see Titanica at the Omni as well. This was our first visit to the museum since it's renovation a few years ago. SO VERY DISAPPOINTED! It's now nothing but a kids indoor play palace. Very few exhibits, very little to see. None of the many, many windows with exhibits as we used to have. My goodness, it's such a BIG place and so very little in it. We will probably never go back.
We enjoyed the Titanica, but we both commented afterward that we think the James Cameron exploration film is MUCH better. He shows so very much more than what this one does.
Afterward we went to Blackeye Pea for dinner. Yummy. I had the Red, White and Blue salad with grilled chicken with a cup of broccoli cheese soup; K. had the stead and shrimp. All in all it was a relatively good Father's Day.
Just had a text message from Tamara...she and Jason have managed to save a bit of money back and want to go somewhere on vacation and to celebrate their anniversary. They don't drink so thought they might go to Fredericksberg. I told them they would be bored and to go to San Antonio instead. There's lots to do without drinking. So I sent her to look at the SA visitors page and to check out Kayak.com for hotel/motel pricing. They can go to the Alamo and grounds for free, do the river walk for free (they don't have to drink), maybe ride the boat on the river, go to Breckenridge Park, go to the Hyatt to the coffee bar/bagel shop, go to the Mexican Market. And they don't have to stay downtown...they can stay outside of town, drive into town and then ride the shuttles and trolleys. They will have a good time. They deserve it - they work hard.
Not much else going on - we took the day off from job hunting. I just needed a break. Ken has a second interview tomorrow...we'll see how that goes. Yesterday we kinda came to some conclusions about some things we can do to cut expenses. One of them involves unloading this house, but we've been thinking about that for at least 6 years!!! And we think we'll sell the motorhome. We're not using it as we thought we would, and it doesn't appear that we will any time soon. Right now we're paying monthly storage for it plus insurance coverage.
That's about it. Hope Monday was good to you.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
For the past year we've been thinking about getting rid of the land line. Just couldn't quite make ourselves do it. However, we are currently going through everything to see how we can cut back. One way is to get rid of phones and unnecessary tv expenses. So today we got rid of the land line altogether and lowered our Uverse package. Next time we may go all the way down to the basic package on the television!!! I sent an email to my adult children advising that we now have only cell phones. Don't know why I bothered.
Another thing we are going to cancel is our YMCA membership. They take out $50 per month and we never go there. Heck, for that I could get my nails done!!! (lol) Or, pay the water bill.
We also checked into our cell phone service. With these dang smart phones we are paying out the wazoo for service. We had 700 minutes per month with unlimited texting plus internet access on both of them. We tend to use the texting and internet service much more than the actual call minutes. We lowered the minutes down to 550 but didn't give up anything else of the service. We may have to consider doing that. As much as I enjoy my smart phone, I made it thru life without it previously. May have to change to a go phone.
It took us 1.5 hours on the phone with AT&T to get done what we needed to do with Uverse and phone service. Get so tired of trying to handle business with folks who cannot speak English. Finally lucked out with a guy who said he was in Florida - nice to speak to someone we could understand.
We went to "the corner" (Italian Cafe) for early dinner, around 4:30. We knew we were going to buy groceries so didn't want to go hungry. I had Chicken Aristocrat and Ken had Chicken Caciatori. We took what was left of our bottle of Mateus white wine (not very good at all). While waiting for our food I read the label on the back...there is a warning..."Do not open with gas or air pump." That tells me that SOMEBODY somewhere tried that very thing and got hurt!!! How crazy. We had so much food left over that we had to make a run back to the house first because it would ruin in the car in the heat.
Made it to Walmart (trimble). We go there, even though we hate it, because it is close by and we can get everything in one place. First, there were no scooters available. So Ken went down to the other end of the store to try to find one. There was a lady sitting on one but just sitting there not doing anything. Ken asked if she was going to use the scooter. Her response was that she might or might not, but didn't get up. So, we headed out with each of us pushing a cart. I didn't make it too far, told Ken I would have to leave. He went back to see if another scooter had shown up. This time there was an employee sitting on a scooter playing with his phone. Ken asked him if he was going to use the scooter - the fellow told him he was taking his break. Ken asked him to move off the scooter and sit on the bench instead. Fortunately Ken won that one and came back with a scooter.
Takes us a couple of hours to buy groceries because we have to go thru the entire store. But we finally made it out of there without getting into a real fight with anyone, and got it all back home - this time without the ice cream melting. We picked up the ice cream right before we headed to the checkout line, hoping we wouldn't have to spend 30-40 minutes in line. We lucked out and the line was short.
Ken has gone to bed, I'm not far behind. Luci was with me until she heard Daddy and Bennie going to bed, then she fussed to go to bed. She's growing up so much and she has become a full fledged Daddy's girl.
That's about it for today. I can't talk about politics -- Obamarama's latest move granting illegal immigrants the right to stay in the U.S. makes me breathe fire. That man has no respect for the citizens of this nation or the constitution. I just hope and pray that Americans are ready to take back this country come November. Please, Lord, we can't take much more of this socialistic baffoon.
Another thing we are going to cancel is our YMCA membership. They take out $50 per month and we never go there. Heck, for that I could get my nails done!!! (lol) Or, pay the water bill.
We also checked into our cell phone service. With these dang smart phones we are paying out the wazoo for service. We had 700 minutes per month with unlimited texting plus internet access on both of them. We tend to use the texting and internet service much more than the actual call minutes. We lowered the minutes down to 550 but didn't give up anything else of the service. We may have to consider doing that. As much as I enjoy my smart phone, I made it thru life without it previously. May have to change to a go phone.
It took us 1.5 hours on the phone with AT&T to get done what we needed to do with Uverse and phone service. Get so tired of trying to handle business with folks who cannot speak English. Finally lucked out with a guy who said he was in Florida - nice to speak to someone we could understand.
We went to "the corner" (Italian Cafe) for early dinner, around 4:30. We knew we were going to buy groceries so didn't want to go hungry. I had Chicken Aristocrat and Ken had Chicken Caciatori. We took what was left of our bottle of Mateus white wine (not very good at all). While waiting for our food I read the label on the back...there is a warning..."Do not open with gas or air pump." That tells me that SOMEBODY somewhere tried that very thing and got hurt!!! How crazy. We had so much food left over that we had to make a run back to the house first because it would ruin in the car in the heat.
Made it to Walmart (trimble). We go there, even though we hate it, because it is close by and we can get everything in one place. First, there were no scooters available. So Ken went down to the other end of the store to try to find one. There was a lady sitting on one but just sitting there not doing anything. Ken asked if she was going to use the scooter. Her response was that she might or might not, but didn't get up. So, we headed out with each of us pushing a cart. I didn't make it too far, told Ken I would have to leave. He went back to see if another scooter had shown up. This time there was an employee sitting on a scooter playing with his phone. Ken asked him if he was going to use the scooter - the fellow told him he was taking his break. Ken asked him to move off the scooter and sit on the bench instead. Fortunately Ken won that one and came back with a scooter.
Takes us a couple of hours to buy groceries because we have to go thru the entire store. But we finally made it out of there without getting into a real fight with anyone, and got it all back home - this time without the ice cream melting. We picked up the ice cream right before we headed to the checkout line, hoping we wouldn't have to spend 30-40 minutes in line. We lucked out and the line was short.
Ken has gone to bed, I'm not far behind. Luci was with me until she heard Daddy and Bennie going to bed, then she fussed to go to bed. She's growing up so much and she has become a full fledged Daddy's girl.
That's about it for today. I can't talk about politics -- Obamarama's latest move granting illegal immigrants the right to stay in the U.S. makes me breathe fire. That man has no respect for the citizens of this nation or the constitution. I just hope and pray that Americans are ready to take back this country come November. Please, Lord, we can't take much more of this socialistic baffoon.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Hello Friday!! Even though we are not working, we still look forward to Fridays. there's just something about the weekends. It gives us a couple of days to rest from the "stress" of looking for work 'cause we know we're not going to do job hunting on the weekend.
Went to a workshop on interview tips yesterday. Ken had a couple of interviews. He thinks one of the interviews is positive. When I got home from workshop he told me the guy was interested in seeing my resume as well because they are loooking for software people as well as an accountant. I keep telling people I am NOT a programmer, I am a project engineer/manager. No one understands that - they just keep thinking I do coding/programming. I sent the guy my resume and attempted to explain it; the response was that he would check what programming languages they are using and maybe I would be familiar with them. ????? I repeat, I am NOT a programmer. I studied programming, I am familiar with program languages, I MANAGE software projects, but there are whiz kids who do the actual programming!!!
Applied for a position with an airline company yesterday -- it's a work from home situation. To qualify one has to have a separate place in the home to work, has to have computer with high speed internet, dedicated phone line, etc. I can make that happen. We don't use the front bedroom anyway. The BIG issue with this is that they want the person to be on call ALL the time - day, night, weekends. That wouldn't be so bad if both K. and I did the job. I'm a night owl. But I figure the whole thing would get old in a very short time!!!
Ah, phone message left today by the airline company...reminding me to complete an assessment that was supposedly sent to me via email yesterday. Unfortunately, did not receive it. Called them back but no one there so left a message. Hope to hear from them again. Not really sure I want the dang job, it's lots of hours days, nights, weekends, just working from home.
Ken went to WIA workshop today. Not sure what he got out of it. Hope something happens for him. We are at the breaking point with one another.
Other than that, today was a wasted day. Ken spent the afternoon fighting to get his computer fixed (virus) and on the phone with AT&T. I spent the afternoon doing my best to stay away from him (as usual). Only thing I did worthwhile was to put in a load of undies in the washer on sanitize.
We didn't cook; we opted to order from The Wok - our long-time area Chinese place that delivers. I always get non-spicy orange chicken and Ken gets the shrimp whatever that he likes. It's been a LONG time since we've ordered it. The place must have changed hands because the food wasn't anything like it was before...not very good. So, back to the drawing board.
Tomorrow I must accomplish 3 things...clean master bathroom, clean kitchen and refrigerator. Then I must go to the grocery store. Oh, must also get graduation card and father's day card, and cards for grandchildren for end of school year. Won't be much, but must be something.
Have sweet dreams...
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Not much today. Went to job workshop/networking, met with WIA counselor. Wasn't sure I would be able to get into the program due to "income." But E. met with three of us after workshop today to get more information, and as it turns out bc I draw SS I'm considered to be on public assistance!!! Now there's a different perspective!!! That means I am AUTOMATICALLY accepted into the program just as if I was receiving unemployment, food stamps, etc. Before E. found that out he had my package on the bottom of his stack because he wasn't sure exactly HOW he was going to present it bc my retirement check is counted as income and throws me over the threshold for the job program! When I told him that on top of that I had signed up for SS because we simply could not make it on my retirement, he got a great big smile on his face and said, "I could just hug you! That takes care of getting you into the program!" And he did. then I told him that one of the main reasons I MUST find a job is because we pay so much in insurance every month and we cannot be without it. And that on top of that I pay so dang much out of pocket on meds due to kidney transplant. He just kept writing it down...said I was giving him exactly what he needed. He asked about Ken's income, and when I told him Ken is on disability he just kept smiling. Oh, yes! that is also considered public assistance!!!
Anyway, the afternoon turned out ok and I'm supposed to hear from the counselor tomorrow morning. In the meantime I have to get my act together and find my SS reward letter to put with my package. And I have to continue to go to workshops. I've also got to get my butt up on Monday mornings and make it to North Fort Worth Baptist Church to the networking meeting that takes place at 9 a.m. every week. I'm hearing this is a really good place to meet and connect, so I'll be heading up there Monday morning. I need to get into the habit of getting up early every day and getting dressed anyway.
Today we had a lady come to the workshop to advise us on how to dress for an interview. I used to do recruiting of college graduates and do the interviews of students attempting to get into TCU's school of business -- I would have counted points off on this lady today (the one giving the advice). Likewise there was a gentleman who gave a talk on how to handle one's self in an interview -- he kept using the word "ain't."
Maybe next week I'll do a deal on intro to computers or something.
When I got home I told K. he desperately needs to get involved in the workshops, and needs to get in touch with E. about getting into this program. I'm hoping to get the training for PMP paid for, along with some computer program classes (SQL, refresher C, C++), maybe Six Sigma, LEAN, etc. The dang PMP classes are about $6000!!! If I can't get that, maybe I can at least get the necessary training required for teaching in the FWISD.
SO, we had hamburgers from Whataburger tonight. Our treat for being good this week with $$. SS check came in today. Doesn't mean we have any $$...after paying everything that needs to be paid we'll be over by about $200, and that's not giving us any allowance for food, gasoline, gifts, miscellaneous...just bills paid. I will have to hold some of the bills back until next week when K's $$ comes in, but even then there will not be any $$ left because house payment has to come out of it! I am SO tired of this!!! We simply cannot dip into savings - but we are considering selling the motorhome we bought in March. Right now it doesn't look as if we have the money to operate it anyway.
Ken has a couple of interviews tomorrow but I don't hold out any hope of him getting anything. Ken refuses to do the things necessary to be considered for a job, so not likely he will ever be hired. We had it out about that today. I've already told him that since I'm having to give up retirement and go back to work (somewhere, doing something) to expect when I do that he is out of here because I will not give up my retirement, support his behind while he sits at home living in my house using electric and water that I provide, eating food that I work for, etc. i did that for 3 years due to his stupidity, and it was time for ME to retire.
No recipes tonight. No music. Just going to bed and trying to stop stressing. Very hard when I'm responsible for everything that happens.
Anyway, the afternoon turned out ok and I'm supposed to hear from the counselor tomorrow morning. In the meantime I have to get my act together and find my SS reward letter to put with my package. And I have to continue to go to workshops. I've also got to get my butt up on Monday mornings and make it to North Fort Worth Baptist Church to the networking meeting that takes place at 9 a.m. every week. I'm hearing this is a really good place to meet and connect, so I'll be heading up there Monday morning. I need to get into the habit of getting up early every day and getting dressed anyway.
Today we had a lady come to the workshop to advise us on how to dress for an interview. I used to do recruiting of college graduates and do the interviews of students attempting to get into TCU's school of business -- I would have counted points off on this lady today (the one giving the advice). Likewise there was a gentleman who gave a talk on how to handle one's self in an interview -- he kept using the word "ain't."
Maybe next week I'll do a deal on intro to computers or something.
When I got home I told K. he desperately needs to get involved in the workshops, and needs to get in touch with E. about getting into this program. I'm hoping to get the training for PMP paid for, along with some computer program classes (SQL, refresher C, C++), maybe Six Sigma, LEAN, etc. The dang PMP classes are about $6000!!! If I can't get that, maybe I can at least get the necessary training required for teaching in the FWISD.
SO, we had hamburgers from Whataburger tonight. Our treat for being good this week with $$. SS check came in today. Doesn't mean we have any $$...after paying everything that needs to be paid we'll be over by about $200, and that's not giving us any allowance for food, gasoline, gifts, miscellaneous...just bills paid. I will have to hold some of the bills back until next week when K's $$ comes in, but even then there will not be any $$ left because house payment has to come out of it! I am SO tired of this!!! We simply cannot dip into savings - but we are considering selling the motorhome we bought in March. Right now it doesn't look as if we have the money to operate it anyway.
Ken has a couple of interviews tomorrow but I don't hold out any hope of him getting anything. Ken refuses to do the things necessary to be considered for a job, so not likely he will ever be hired. We had it out about that today. I've already told him that since I'm having to give up retirement and go back to work (somewhere, doing something) to expect when I do that he is out of here because I will not give up my retirement, support his behind while he sits at home living in my house using electric and water that I provide, eating food that I work for, etc. i did that for 3 years due to his stupidity, and it was time for ME to retire.
No recipes tonight. No music. Just going to bed and trying to stop stressing. Very hard when I'm responsible for everything that happens.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 (Chicken Alfredo Recipe)
Overcast, rainy, quiet day. Finished up PowerPoint assignment that was returned to me with comment yesterday. Got it back today as accepted. That completes certificate requirements for PowerPoint. So did the final quiz, missed one question. Did the training survey, and got the certificates. Yippee! Am now certified. Now to find the Access database disk so I can get that one completed. NO idea where Office 2007 disk is. Must have it around here somewhere since we have everything else of Office 2007 loaded on this computer.
Today I worked on putting my dang Dossier together...fancy word for a 3-ring binder that has my "credentials" in it...like award presentations, promotions, college transcripts, certificates for training completed, and such stuff. Have to take it with me to a meeting tomorrow. I think I'm going to be hired for a job with the State of Texas but am being mum because it might not work out. I have a workshop from 1-2:30 tomorrow and then a meeting at 3. I'll know more then.
I've been really pissy for the past couple of days just KNOWING that I'm probably actually going back to work. It's against my will...I really want to be retired except for some part-time or temporary something or other. I need a little income, but not a lot. And I'm afraid that going back full time will mess up my Social Security check. They hold out $1.00 for each $2.00 earned over a certain amount. Afraid Ken is getting the brunt of my stress over it -- shouldn't be ME going back to work. I've done my part. I should be enjoying a well-earned retirement with no stress, but that's not happening. Oh, well, it is what it is.
Took me a couple of hours to write a 3-page document about my work life, starting with my first job. Dang, they should tell us when we are young that we might need this kind of information some day! It was hard to remember all of that!!!
Made brownies this afternoon -- cheated and used a box mix. threw in what was left of a package of semi sweet chocolate and peanut butter chips. Yummy.
We had chicken alfredo for dinner -- I made alfredo sauce from scratch. Actually turned out to be pretty good. Could have used a salad but alas had no fixings for same! Hopefully tonight the good ol' check will hit the bank, we'll be able to pay some bills, and then be broke again until next $$ hits the bank. Such is life.
I checked out ATT Uverse last night to see exactly what package we have -- man this service is costing us the moon every month! And we don't watch the television that much. First thing that's going to go is the phone - our land line is hooked up thru our computer. Gotta get rid of that, but that's only like $30 per month. then we gotta come down on the TV package - we don't actually watch all the channels available.
Guess that's about all the excitement for today. I need to tear up this place looking for the Office 2007 disk. I'll leave by posting a recipe for how I do chicken alfredo.
1 8 oz block of cream cheese
1 cup half and half (I didn't have any so used 1 can of evaporated fat free milk)
1/2 cup shredded parmasan cheese - all I had was what was in the bottle to sprinkle on pizza - it worked
4 cups or so of diced chicken (I cheat. I buy a bag of the already grilled fajita chicken so I can keep it in the freezer to use when I need it. Used the entire bag. Thawed it out, diced it.)
1/2 cup or so of water
Italian Seasoning
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper
1 tbs olive oil
Package of Spaghetti
Fill up pot with water for spaghetti. Put in about a tsp salt. Add the olive oil. Bring to boil. Add spaghetti, cook 'til done.
While spaghetti pot is coming to boil, melt stick of butter in sauce pan on low heat so it doesn't burn. When just about melted add the block of cheese (cut it up first - it will melt faster). Add all seasonings. Add half and half (or milk) and the parmasan cheese. Turn heat to medium. Stir until all cheese is melted and it comes together like a sauce, about 3 minutes. Add diced chicken. Continue to stir until chicken is heated all the way through - about 5 minutes.
Put spaghetti in pasta bowls, pour on the alfredo and chicken. Serve hot.
Today I worked on putting my dang Dossier together...fancy word for a 3-ring binder that has my "credentials" in it...like award presentations, promotions, college transcripts, certificates for training completed, and such stuff. Have to take it with me to a meeting tomorrow. I think I'm going to be hired for a job with the State of Texas but am being mum because it might not work out. I have a workshop from 1-2:30 tomorrow and then a meeting at 3. I'll know more then.
I've been really pissy for the past couple of days just KNOWING that I'm probably actually going back to work. It's against my will...I really want to be retired except for some part-time or temporary something or other. I need a little income, but not a lot. And I'm afraid that going back full time will mess up my Social Security check. They hold out $1.00 for each $2.00 earned over a certain amount. Afraid Ken is getting the brunt of my stress over it -- shouldn't be ME going back to work. I've done my part. I should be enjoying a well-earned retirement with no stress, but that's not happening. Oh, well, it is what it is.
Took me a couple of hours to write a 3-page document about my work life, starting with my first job. Dang, they should tell us when we are young that we might need this kind of information some day! It was hard to remember all of that!!!
Made brownies this afternoon -- cheated and used a box mix. threw in what was left of a package of semi sweet chocolate and peanut butter chips. Yummy.
We had chicken alfredo for dinner -- I made alfredo sauce from scratch. Actually turned out to be pretty good. Could have used a salad but alas had no fixings for same! Hopefully tonight the good ol' check will hit the bank, we'll be able to pay some bills, and then be broke again until next $$ hits the bank. Such is life.
I checked out ATT Uverse last night to see exactly what package we have -- man this service is costing us the moon every month! And we don't watch the television that much. First thing that's going to go is the phone - our land line is hooked up thru our computer. Gotta get rid of that, but that's only like $30 per month. then we gotta come down on the TV package - we don't actually watch all the channels available.
Guess that's about all the excitement for today. I need to tear up this place looking for the Office 2007 disk. I'll leave by posting a recipe for how I do chicken alfredo.
Chicken Alfredo
1 stick of butter (NO margarine) - I use salted1 8 oz block of cream cheese
1 cup half and half (I didn't have any so used 1 can of evaporated fat free milk)
1/2 cup shredded parmasan cheese - all I had was what was in the bottle to sprinkle on pizza - it worked
4 cups or so of diced chicken (I cheat. I buy a bag of the already grilled fajita chicken so I can keep it in the freezer to use when I need it. Used the entire bag. Thawed it out, diced it.)
1/2 cup or so of water
Italian Seasoning
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper
1 tbs olive oil
Package of Spaghetti
Fill up pot with water for spaghetti. Put in about a tsp salt. Add the olive oil. Bring to boil. Add spaghetti, cook 'til done.
While spaghetti pot is coming to boil, melt stick of butter in sauce pan on low heat so it doesn't burn. When just about melted add the block of cheese (cut it up first - it will melt faster). Add all seasonings. Add half and half (or milk) and the parmasan cheese. Turn heat to medium. Stir until all cheese is melted and it comes together like a sauce, about 3 minutes. Add diced chicken. Continue to stir until chicken is heated all the way through - about 5 minutes.
Put spaghetti in pasta bowls, pour on the alfredo and chicken. Serve hot.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012 (recipe for taco burrito included)
So far a great day. Went to see my favorite doc, Dr. Bernard Fishbach, at Dallas Nephrology Associates. He follows me as one of his kidney transplant patients. So far so good, and it's been 4+ years. Two issues: Prograf levels were not detectable - must be missing dosages...gotta watch that. Clearance level was still good, blood pressure was acceptable, but gotta get more exercise and get the glucose under control.
Went from there to Tx Workforce Commission. Spent an hour checking jobs on their site. Applied for a couple. Hoping something happens soon. I don't know how I am going to be able to get up every morning to be somewhere by 8 a.m., but I am going to have to. God knows no one else is going to help me. Maybe in 2013 things will be different -- I'll turn 65 and be able to apply for Medicare! It is the cost of insurance that is eating our lunch (AND dinner - lol).
Oh, I got my PowerPoint assignment back - said I missed step #10. I know I didn't because I remember doing it. The instruction was a simple, "hide slide #5." Sure 'nuf I pulled up the assignment I submitted and that slide was hidden. So, I saved it again and resubmitted. If it comes back again I need more explanation about the issue. I'm thinking in reviewing what I submitted the instructor accidentally did an "unhide" on that slide.
My back is screaming, and my left hip and left groin area have chimed in to help in the pain. Walking is an exercise in gritting my teeth. I try to walk in to the doctor's office and to Texas Workforce as natural as possible so that no one is suspecting the pain. Sometimes it's really hard to fake it. Today was one of those days. We are supposed to dress as though going to work when we go to the resource office -- today I dressed nicely but I wore my ortho shoes that look like skechers...so comfortable. I hope Drew doesn't discontinue these!
Printed off a DNR form tonight. I need to get that completed, witnessed and notarized. I'm still not sure I want to sign one - but at least I have one printed out to think about.
That's about it for tonight. I'm really stressing right now. I know we're going to be alright. It's been a very long time since I've had to be worried about things like ends meeting!
We made "tacos" tonight -- my kids always told me that mine are more like burritos, but I don't care - I like 'em! I learned this way of doing these back when I was about 21 or 22 from then-husband's sister who learned it from her MIL, Irene Byrd. So, here's how it's done:
Chili Powder - I like lots
Chopped onions - about 1/2
Chopped whatever else you want in it - I use bell peppers as well; some use jalapinos.
Diced Tomato
Salt, Pepper
Garlic - couple of cloves chopped fine or in my case I use garlic powder (and sometimes onion powder as well - shame on me!)
Bean Dip - I use Frito Lay brand (unfortunately DH bought some off brand today)
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Chopped lettuce if you want it - I don't eat it if I can help it - bad for diverticulitis
Corn Tortillas
In non-stick skillet brown ground beef with all the seasonings, garlic (and other veggies other than tomato). If you have taco seasonings, use that. When cooked completely add the can of bean dip and mix well. Cook and mix until heated through.
Place 2-4 tortillas in microwave for 30 or fewer seconds. Put heated tortilla on plate, fill it with meat, tomato, onion, lettuce, cheese and whatever else you want on it. Hubby likes picante sauce on his, along with jalapinos. I don't want either on mine. (I heat only the amount of tortillas to be used immediately because they get cold quickly. Next plate load another bunch of tortillas are heated.)
Went from there to Tx Workforce Commission. Spent an hour checking jobs on their site. Applied for a couple. Hoping something happens soon. I don't know how I am going to be able to get up every morning to be somewhere by 8 a.m., but I am going to have to. God knows no one else is going to help me. Maybe in 2013 things will be different -- I'll turn 65 and be able to apply for Medicare! It is the cost of insurance that is eating our lunch (AND dinner - lol).
Oh, I got my PowerPoint assignment back - said I missed step #10. I know I didn't because I remember doing it. The instruction was a simple, "hide slide #5." Sure 'nuf I pulled up the assignment I submitted and that slide was hidden. So, I saved it again and resubmitted. If it comes back again I need more explanation about the issue. I'm thinking in reviewing what I submitted the instructor accidentally did an "unhide" on that slide.
My back is screaming, and my left hip and left groin area have chimed in to help in the pain. Walking is an exercise in gritting my teeth. I try to walk in to the doctor's office and to Texas Workforce as natural as possible so that no one is suspecting the pain. Sometimes it's really hard to fake it. Today was one of those days. We are supposed to dress as though going to work when we go to the resource office -- today I dressed nicely but I wore my ortho shoes that look like skechers...so comfortable. I hope Drew doesn't discontinue these!
Printed off a DNR form tonight. I need to get that completed, witnessed and notarized. I'm still not sure I want to sign one - but at least I have one printed out to think about.
That's about it for tonight. I'm really stressing right now. I know we're going to be alright. It's been a very long time since I've had to be worried about things like ends meeting!
We made "tacos" tonight -- my kids always told me that mine are more like burritos, but I don't care - I like 'em! I learned this way of doing these back when I was about 21 or 22 from then-husband's sister who learned it from her MIL, Irene Byrd. So, here's how it's done:
Tacos
1 lb ground beefChili Powder - I like lots
Chopped onions - about 1/2
Chopped whatever else you want in it - I use bell peppers as well; some use jalapinos.
Diced Tomato
Salt, Pepper
Garlic - couple of cloves chopped fine or in my case I use garlic powder (and sometimes onion powder as well - shame on me!)
Bean Dip - I use Frito Lay brand (unfortunately DH bought some off brand today)
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Chopped lettuce if you want it - I don't eat it if I can help it - bad for diverticulitis
Corn Tortillas
In non-stick skillet brown ground beef with all the seasonings, garlic (and other veggies other than tomato). If you have taco seasonings, use that. When cooked completely add the can of bean dip and mix well. Cook and mix until heated through.
Place 2-4 tortillas in microwave for 30 or fewer seconds. Put heated tortilla on plate, fill it with meat, tomato, onion, lettuce, cheese and whatever else you want on it. Hubby likes picante sauce on his, along with jalapinos. I don't want either on mine. (I heat only the amount of tortillas to be used immediately because they get cold quickly. Next plate load another bunch of tortillas are heated.)
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Meant to go to church today, didn't feel good. Stayed home, recovered for a while. Ken went to Office Depot, took his laptop and monitor with him...the monitor decided to "quit" on him a couple of weeks ago. He spent yesterday or Friday (can't remember) going back and forth to OD to try to get a new cable for it because that's the message that came up. Never got anything to work. Since our budget will NOT cover a new computer (ha ha), a new monitor (ha ha again), it's either do something about the one he has or do without. So today he took the monitor and computer with him to OD. Sure enough it was the cable - it worked when they plugged it in with the right cable. Problem is, they didn't have one of the cables available in the store for sale. He asked them to sell them the one they used to test his set up - fellow said they wouldn't/couldn't. But, Ken can be pretty insistent and besides, he knows the manager. So his friend, the manager, came back when called and sold him the cable he needed. Now he's doing great -- he has everything all hooked up again and is happy. And I don't have to try to dream up money we don't have.
And speaking of $$. We needed a few things from the store but couldn't spend a dime out of the bank account...we've got $50 left 'til Wednesday and I've got to put gas in the Saturn and go to the doc tomorrow. But we had $18 in Ken's pocket because the original cable he bought at OD the other day didn't work so he took it back...they gave him the refund in cash. I had $2 in my wallet and he took some change with him "just in case." We had put together a list of the few things we needed: 1/2 gallon of milk; one tomato; one box of cornbread mix; one can of pinto beans; one can of chili; small pkg of tortillas; bean dip; juice; hot dogs; grated cheese; 2 2-liter bottles of drinks (store brand diet); and a pkg of fritos (for frito pie). Total came to $20.38!!! We both had many years experience of living on next to nothing so we can pinch a penny hard when we have to. Fortunately we still have meats and veggies in the freezer and pantry so we have plenty until Wednesday. Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to buy more when we DO have money so that there's food when we don't!!
While Ken went to the store I got the "nasty" job of cleaning the hall bathroom! How does a bathroom get so dirty when only two people live in this house???? I don't understand. Oh, well, the hall bathroom is so much easier to clean than the master bathroom - and its next! In the past I kept this bathroom cleaned and didn't let anyone use it - that way I don't have to clean two bathrooms. But now days we keep our bedroom door closed so that Bennie the doxie will stay out of there and off the bed. I'm about ready to go back to reserving this bathroom for times when we have company. Unfortunately it's the bathroom in the house with a tub I can use for my bench. There are lots of days when I feel weak in the mornings - or all day - and have to shower sitting down. I'll think about it. We elected since it is Sunday that we would not cook for dinner tonight - instead we splurged for pizza -- we can get a 2 meat pizza at our neighborhood place that is big enough to feed the two of us and have pizza left for lunch tomorrow for $9+ including tax. Not too shabby - and we had store brand diet cola with it -- wasn't bad at all.
I know I write like we are paupers, but that's because we MUST live within our budget. The last thing in the world we can do is touch life savings at this point. So we work very hard to stay within the funds allocated. Thank goodness MOST of the time is not as tight as the past month has been! Those months with 5 weeks are killers! Add to that the fact that we had to get some things done that were not budgeted, and it made it tough. But it makes us be creative as well, and makes us appreciate the times when we are able to do something different.
Didn't get anything more than the hall bathroom cleaned today. I want to start on the front bedroom this next week. I've been hanging on to some things that I really need to let go...toys that belonged to my children, toys and coloring books and things that my grandchildren used to play with when they would come over once in a while. Since no one comes any more, there's really no point in keeping anything. And it hurts every time I go in there and see them because I miss them so much. The only way I get thru it is to compartmentalize it in a mental box, close the lid, and mentally set it aside. I always kept that bedroom for "when the grandchildren come," but there have been only two times in all the years that any of the grandchildren spent the night. So, I'm thinking about taking the bed out of that room and getting rid of it and turning that room into something useful. Perhaps I'll put a twin bed or daybed in there or maybe move my sewing room into that room. It has a front window and it would be nice to be able to have natural light and see what's going on outside.
I've been looking online at foreclosed homes, at apartments, and at condos. I keep thinking it would be really nice if we could unload this house and move into somewhere with amenities...such as a condo we own or an apartment. That way we could have the pool, etc., and not the maintenance. And then I saw that the maintenance fee is $250 per month on one of the condo units! The nicer ones are not in our town, but located in Dallas, Irving, Plano, etc. Ken and I would love to live somewhere that is closer to stores/shopping/easier access to freeways, etc., but not sure we want to move to Dallas!!
I checked on condo costs in Colorado Springs -- have no idea how we would ever manage to actually MOVE there unless we got rid of everything we currently own. And am afraid if we do move there that son and family will up and move elsewhere and then we'll be stuck there. I hate having to make these kinds of decisions. Problem is, we have GOT to be somewhere where someone will help us. We have NO help where we are. There are lots of things that just don't get done because neither of us can do them -- sometimes it's simple things like changing light bulbs in ceiling lights, or moving a piece of furniture. It gets really frustrating. Our fence needs work - I can't do it. The dang patio cover needs help - I can't do that either and I certainly can't afford to pay for it to be done. Some days I just want to walk out, get in the car, and drive off and leave it all.
The other thing is, we need a smaller place that is easier for me to take care of. The constant mopping and cleaning of all these wood floors is killing me...and it is constant because of the critter children. Always thought I wanted a BIG kitchen/dining area...now I wish I had my little galley kitchen back with its small eating area. Mopping that sucker took me about 3 seconds!!! And those two tiny bathrooms took hardly any time to clean. Guess the "grass" is always greener.
Oh, well, gotta stop complaining and get busy. Need to finish PowerPoint assignment tonight and submit it for review and hope approval. That way I can take the final test and get my certificate.
Take care...hope Monday brings with it a great week for everyone.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012 (Meat Loaf and Cobbler Recipes)
Good intentions went out the door. I slept late - 10 o'clock when I woke up. Fortunately Ken had things done by the time I woke up -- he had taken the rug out of his room to the driveway, soaped it down, rinsed it, and had it out to dry. After I got up he did a first vacuum of his room. I was supposed to do a second "good" vaccuum and then shampoo the room. Hasn't happened. Maybe tomorrow. I checked email, worked the shockwave jigsaw puzzle, checked out Facebook.
Ken has needed a new blind for the longest in the window in the front room we use as his office. The blind has to be cheap - we are penniless. Friend had told us she bought blinds for the entire house for about $5.00 each at Lowes. So we went there. Wasted gasoline, and we had only put in $10 (3 gallons) of gas in the car. The gal at Lowes didn't understand when I said I wanted a CHEAP blind...she wanted to show me all the expensive things...I said no, I wanted to see the cheap blinds. Turns out the cheap blinds at Lowes don't come in the size we need. If we bought a larger (wider) blind they would not cut it down unless it was a Levalor. What the HHHH? Home Depot doesn't treat us this way! So, we went to Home Depot.
At Home Depot we looked around but no one was available - person who works blinds was out to lunch. We didn't see anything we could use at a price we could afford. Finally I asked the youngish lady working the paint counter if there was someone who could help. She asked me what I was looking for and immediately told me they had some discontinued blinds they were selling for cheap. She found one - but it was a 47"x72" and we needed a 42.25"x72". Her response? We can cut it down to whatever ou need!!! She cut it down for us and we went on our way for $20. The difference in customer service is amazing.
Came home, piddled, and then I made meatloaf. I've been making meatloaf the same way since I was a teenager...following the recipe that Mrs. Agnes Wiggins taught me long ago! One lb of ground beef, one sleeve of crushed saltine crackers (NOT oatmeal), chopped onions (and bell peppers when I have them), one can of tomato sauce, one egg, salt and pepper. Put in loaf pan, cover with ketchup, cover with foil, cook at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes. Turns out the crackers we had were not salted crackers but I crushed a sleeve of them and used them anyway. And I had purchased a can of tomato stuff that was supposed to be for meatloaf. I mixed everything up, it looked pretty, I cooked it the appropriate amount of time.
Came time to eat I tasted the meatloaf -- YUCKO, nasty! Those crackers must have been OLD, and that meatloaf sauce was nasty. We ate it anyway - couldn't waste it...and the dogs liked it, that's for sure.
I had also boiled new potatoes and heated up blackeye peas, one of my personal favorites. Ken not so much. He's lucky - I could have fixed butter beans!
While everything was cooking I made a strawberry cobbler...used a recipe I found on line...like my old one better. This one is too juicy and the "dough" didn't cook all the way as it should. I'll do better next time.
I'm assuming Ken got the blind up -- he upset me and I left the room and would not help him with it. Too bad. I am sick of his nastiness to me while he lives here for free without contributing to anything. He has to get a job so that he can pay his way. I've been telling him that for 3 years now...I didn't sign on to support him. Never did. Told him that from the beginning. And now that I'm retired he is bleeding me dry. He needs to man up - I don't care if he works sacking groceries, he's got to do something.
Tonight I finished the last section of PowerPoint training. I already know PowerPoint and the rest of Microsoft Office Suite, because I've been earning a living with software for YEARS as a software engineer. But every potential employer I talk to wants to know if I have certifications!!! So, I'm having to do tutorials and take tests so I can get a piece of paper that says I'm certified. Ridiculous. I don't know what I'm going to do about Access - for some reason it is not loaded on my computer. And of course "no one" knows where the Microsoft Office disk is - because NOTHING is ever put back in the sleeve and put up. At least I've completed Excel, Word, and almost have PowerPoint completed. I've just been watching the videos, taking the quizzes, and doing the required assignments and turning them in. Thus far I've missed 2 questions out of 10 tests. Hopefully I'll find Access soon.
So that's about it for our big Saturday night. Not making any promises, but with any luck I'll get up in time to go to church tomorrow. We'll see. Thinking about going to Everman Baptist. Just going to start visiting churches to see where I think I fit in.
Take care, be blessed. Have a wonderful Sunday.
1 lb ground beef
1 small can tomato sauce
1 sleeve saltine crackers crushed fine
1 egg
1/2 to 1 onion chopped in small pieces
1 bell pepper (I use green) chopped into small pieces
(my secret: I buy frozen packages of chopped onions and peppers)
Garlic or garlic powder (I buy garlic powder to have on hand and buy jars of minced garlic...fresh produce goes bad on me)
Salt
Pepper
Ketchup
Grease or spray a loaf pan...I keep spray on hand
Take off all rings and make sure hands are clean. Put everything into a big bowl and with both hands mix thoroughly. Place in loaf pan, pat down. Wash hands thoroughly with soap. Cover top of meatloaf with ketchup. Cover loaf pan with foil. Place on cookie pan and in oven. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove foil, place back in oven for 5-10 minutes to brown.
Equivalent of 4 cups of fruit - I use frozen or canned. I also mix fruits.
1-1/2 cups Jiffy or Bisquik baking mix
1 egg
2 tbs butter (salted)
3 tbs butter - melted
1/2 cup granualted sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
Pecans or Walnuts if wanted
In 9x13 oblong pan, place 2 tbs of butter and place in oven until melted. Mix fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, granulated sugar, nuts if using, water, and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar together. When butter is melted, move pan around until butter covers bottom of pan. Place fruit mixture in pan on top of the butter. Set aside (not back in oven).
In bowl place the Jiffy (or Bisquik) with the egg, milk, 3 tbs melted butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix and pour or spoon over the fruit in the pan/oven proof dish.
Place uncovered in oven (at 400) for 15 minutes. Turn down to 350 and cook for additional 10 minutes. Cobbler is best if allowed to rest for a while after baking. Otherwise the "dough" will taste doughey.
Ken has needed a new blind for the longest in the window in the front room we use as his office. The blind has to be cheap - we are penniless. Friend had told us she bought blinds for the entire house for about $5.00 each at Lowes. So we went there. Wasted gasoline, and we had only put in $10 (3 gallons) of gas in the car. The gal at Lowes didn't understand when I said I wanted a CHEAP blind...she wanted to show me all the expensive things...I said no, I wanted to see the cheap blinds. Turns out the cheap blinds at Lowes don't come in the size we need. If we bought a larger (wider) blind they would not cut it down unless it was a Levalor. What the HHHH? Home Depot doesn't treat us this way! So, we went to Home Depot.
At Home Depot we looked around but no one was available - person who works blinds was out to lunch. We didn't see anything we could use at a price we could afford. Finally I asked the youngish lady working the paint counter if there was someone who could help. She asked me what I was looking for and immediately told me they had some discontinued blinds they were selling for cheap. She found one - but it was a 47"x72" and we needed a 42.25"x72". Her response? We can cut it down to whatever ou need!!! She cut it down for us and we went on our way for $20. The difference in customer service is amazing.
Came home, piddled, and then I made meatloaf. I've been making meatloaf the same way since I was a teenager...following the recipe that Mrs. Agnes Wiggins taught me long ago! One lb of ground beef, one sleeve of crushed saltine crackers (NOT oatmeal), chopped onions (and bell peppers when I have them), one can of tomato sauce, one egg, salt and pepper. Put in loaf pan, cover with ketchup, cover with foil, cook at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes. Turns out the crackers we had were not salted crackers but I crushed a sleeve of them and used them anyway. And I had purchased a can of tomato stuff that was supposed to be for meatloaf. I mixed everything up, it looked pretty, I cooked it the appropriate amount of time.
Came time to eat I tasted the meatloaf -- YUCKO, nasty! Those crackers must have been OLD, and that meatloaf sauce was nasty. We ate it anyway - couldn't waste it...and the dogs liked it, that's for sure.
I had also boiled new potatoes and heated up blackeye peas, one of my personal favorites. Ken not so much. He's lucky - I could have fixed butter beans!
While everything was cooking I made a strawberry cobbler...used a recipe I found on line...like my old one better. This one is too juicy and the "dough" didn't cook all the way as it should. I'll do better next time.
I'm assuming Ken got the blind up -- he upset me and I left the room and would not help him with it. Too bad. I am sick of his nastiness to me while he lives here for free without contributing to anything. He has to get a job so that he can pay his way. I've been telling him that for 3 years now...I didn't sign on to support him. Never did. Told him that from the beginning. And now that I'm retired he is bleeding me dry. He needs to man up - I don't care if he works sacking groceries, he's got to do something.
Tonight I finished the last section of PowerPoint training. I already know PowerPoint and the rest of Microsoft Office Suite, because I've been earning a living with software for YEARS as a software engineer. But every potential employer I talk to wants to know if I have certifications!!! So, I'm having to do tutorials and take tests so I can get a piece of paper that says I'm certified. Ridiculous. I don't know what I'm going to do about Access - for some reason it is not loaded on my computer. And of course "no one" knows where the Microsoft Office disk is - because NOTHING is ever put back in the sleeve and put up. At least I've completed Excel, Word, and almost have PowerPoint completed. I've just been watching the videos, taking the quizzes, and doing the required assignments and turning them in. Thus far I've missed 2 questions out of 10 tests. Hopefully I'll find Access soon.
So that's about it for our big Saturday night. Not making any promises, but with any luck I'll get up in time to go to church tomorrow. We'll see. Thinking about going to Everman Baptist. Just going to start visiting churches to see where I think I fit in.
Take care, be blessed. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Meat Loaf
Preheat oven to 350 degrees1 lb ground beef
1 small can tomato sauce
1 sleeve saltine crackers crushed fine
1 egg
1/2 to 1 onion chopped in small pieces
1 bell pepper (I use green) chopped into small pieces
(my secret: I buy frozen packages of chopped onions and peppers)
Garlic or garlic powder (I buy garlic powder to have on hand and buy jars of minced garlic...fresh produce goes bad on me)
Salt
Pepper
Ketchup
Grease or spray a loaf pan...I keep spray on hand
Take off all rings and make sure hands are clean. Put everything into a big bowl and with both hands mix thoroughly. Place in loaf pan, pat down. Wash hands thoroughly with soap. Cover top of meatloaf with ketchup. Cover loaf pan with foil. Place on cookie pan and in oven. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove foil, place back in oven for 5-10 minutes to brown.
Cobbler - Any fruit flavor
Preheat oven to 400 degreesEquivalent of 4 cups of fruit - I use frozen or canned. I also mix fruits.
1-1/2 cups Jiffy or Bisquik baking mix
1 egg
2 tbs butter (salted)
3 tbs butter - melted
1/2 cup granualted sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
Pecans or Walnuts if wanted
In 9x13 oblong pan, place 2 tbs of butter and place in oven until melted. Mix fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, granulated sugar, nuts if using, water, and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar together. When butter is melted, move pan around until butter covers bottom of pan. Place fruit mixture in pan on top of the butter. Set aside (not back in oven).
In bowl place the Jiffy (or Bisquik) with the egg, milk, 3 tbs melted butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix and pour or spoon over the fruit in the pan/oven proof dish.
Place uncovered in oven (at 400) for 15 minutes. Turn down to 350 and cook for additional 10 minutes. Cobbler is best if allowed to rest for a while after baking. Otherwise the "dough" will taste doughey.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
What a SHITTY day this has been! And I mean that in the literal sense of the word!!! My God, I woke up, sat on the side of the bed to get my bearings before stepping up to head to the first potty of the day, and there it was...one of the dang dogs had pooped in the floor. So, got that cleaned up. Started toward kitchen and there staring at me was dog poop under the piano bench -- and I can tell who did it by the size...little girl Luci. So, got that cleaned up.
I couldn't have anything to eat or drink because I had to go have labs drawn today. So I went to the office and finished the section of PowerPoint training that was due today and got that turned in. Next on the agenda was a shower and head out on errands and to the lab.
So, took a shower, put on my drawers, headed through bedroom to the rocking chair, planning to put on same shorts worn previously because had not had them on but a couple of hours. Got them, padded back to the bathroom, looked down at my feet and I am covered with DOG POOP!!! I looked at the bottoms of my feet and they are covered, looked at the bedroom floor, rug in bedroom, and bathroom floor and it is smeared everywhere. Needless to say, I am screaming!!!! Ken came in, saw what was going on, I had to strip back down get back in the shower, and while I'm doing that he started cleaning floors. We are both pissed off big time because these damn dogs go outside 10,000 times per day!!! No excuse. And they are trained to a pad that is beside the back door as well. I was fit to be tied. Got out of the shower, got my undies back on, sat down on the bed while Ken is mopping/cleaning bathroom. I look down at my left foot and by damn there it is again. I had to clean it off and go get in the shower in the hall bathroom and clean up again.
Then I walked back through the den - have to pass the back of the love seat going to kitchen. I see one of the cats has either crapped, vomited, or peed on one of the towels I keep folded up there. I keep the towel there because they lay up there and I don't want them directly on the sofa or love seat. THIS IS NOT FUNNY, and I am ready to get rid of all animals.
Ken got the mess cleaned up, all floors cleaned/sanitized, dogs punished and thrown outside, and I was finally able to get clothes on. Ken headed to Office Depot to return cables that didn't work on his computer and I headed out to get errands done and get out of this house. Stopped by to see niece Peggy at subcourthouse. Gave her the completed afghan for great niece Katie Jo (her oldest daughter) and got her to sign as witness on the royalties paper from Chesapeake for the gas well in our neighborhood. If we're lucky we'll get a $1.00 - that's what our last check was.
Next I went by the post office and mailed the paperwork to Chesapeake along with a letter to Ladder Alliance volunteering for that organization. I also applied with Catholic Charities today - hoping for a paid position (software/IT), but also willing to volunteer with them. Ken signed up with them a week or so ago.
After the post office I headed to Quest Lab for blood draw and urinalysis. Tech had a tough time getting blood from right arm -- tried about 5 times, finally gave up and moved to the left arm and got it the first try. Yea! Usually it's the other way around.
From Quest I went to Omni Bank. This stupid bank...I've had an account with them for years -- nothing much in it at all. Have at the account since way back in 80's when it was the Carswell Credit Union. There has NEVER been much in it, just a pittance. Now there's even less because they started charging $3.00 per month unless we sign up for e-statements, or are 65 years old, or have x amount of $$ in the account (which we never will). So, I signed up for the e-statements. Doesn't matter to me, I already know there's nothing in that account. The only reason we have kept the silly account open all these years is because the branch is located close to the house and with an account there we can cash bonds and oddball checks (gifts, etc.) that come in from time to time -- saves us a trip to the other side of the metroplex to the credit union we truly use. While I'm there the young lady tells me that my ATM card is so old it will not longer work to withdraw funds. Ok, fine, I need a new one. So she tells me that I will get a new one (takes 7-10 days) but that in the near future there is going to be a monthly charge for using the card - something like $5.00. Then she tells me that I can avoid that charge if I sign up for a "simple" checking account. I didn't sign up for one - I figure when the time comes I'll finally shut down the stupid account and forget about it. The truth is, this little account has always been where I deposited the equivalent of my lunch money, skipping purchasing lunches and taking coke/crackers/something from home. I've always used that little stash to pay for my sewing machine purchases...$5, $10, or whatever...I never pay much for them and then overhaul them. Doesn't matter - I'll put the $$ in a sock (lol). Now that government bonds are handled electronically and no paper bonds are issued, we buy and sell bonds online anyway so don't need a branch close by to redeem bonds.
Headed home. Submitted a resume for a position with another place, looked at email, wasted time. Then Ken and I went to Rosa's for dinner -- cheap food and $1.49 frozen margaritas.
Praying tomorrow will be better. It just has to improve. If I step in dog crap tomorrow somebody in this house is going to get hurt!!!
In spite of it all, I enjoyed this rap flick today: One Minute Sermon
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Poor Maggie. We had to have her back at the vet this morning at 9 a.m. for a follow-up. I am still so very angry with BioSpot. Maggie's healing, but it is slow. At least the hide and hair have stopped sloughing off and she has some hair growing back in over part of it. But it was another $35 bill today. And we have to make an appointment so she can get a medicated bath - Ken and I simply cannot lift her in and out of the tub...and I can't get down on my knees at the tub to bathe her. She has to go for a follow-up checkup in a month. So, yet another bill.
What else today? Not much. We all took a long nap - that was great. I finally woke up when little Luci started complaining. Daddy woke up before us and was in his office...she was trying to get his attention to get her down. She has never learned to use the stools and things that we have for Bennie so she can't get up on furniture or the bed and can't get down by herself. It was 2:37 when I woke up!
There was a particular job that my counselor had spoken to me about and wanted me to go online and enter an application...a government job. So I did. I spent 3+ hours entering information into that dang application following instructions step-by-step. It wanted information for every job I've ever held, all the way back to high school, and every detail about every job. Needless to say mine was too much information so had to go into the overflow text box. I completed the application and hit the submit button and the system failed -- information overload, system could not accept that much information. I had to go into the application and REMOVE all the information from 1982 back to 1966 (lol). I'm not sure what to do about it, but I submitted the application without the information, sent an email to the site contact email, then sent emails to my counselors to explain what happened. We'll see what happens.
I was SO frustrated trying to complete that dang application, and every time I would get engrossed into trying to remember/recall information or inputting the details Ken would show up at my door. It is akin to having a 2 year old child. And no matter how many times I told him not to, here he would come again. The last straw was when he started asking me about fixing dinner. You know, old man, you are 63 years old. If you are hungry, fix yourself something to eat. I was intending to fix chicken thighs tonight so finally just told him how to do them -- put them in the square glass pan, put some bbq sauce and seasoning on them, put them in the oven at 350 degrees for about an hour. Guess he decided if he was going to eat tonight that he better do that. He made mac and cheese to go with it and that's what we had.
We watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Then I came back to my room to try to regroup. The application I completed today indicates that a credit check be done and may prevent employment. If that's the case I may as well give up now. With everything that has happened since 2008 our credit went to HHH in a handbasket. I checked my score via Experian a couple of weeks ago - it's not really pretty, but improving.
For the next hour or so I have to work on PowerPoint training. I have to finish watching videos and doing homework and then complete an assignment. This section has to be completed and submitted tonight.
Have a great evening, pray for us, we are in desperate need of prayer right now for many reasons. How about a little praise tune to close: Thank You Lord, by Don Moen.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Checked bank account...scares me to be living this close to the edge. Thankfully there's food in the house and if we are very careful we may have enough gasoline to get back and forth to where we need to go. My SS check should hit the bank by Wednesday of next week. Until then we have about $124 for prescriptions, miscellaneous, gasoline, whatever. It's been a really long time since I've had to live like this! And I don't like it. Of course if I wasn't paying $918.78 per month for health insurance, and if we count what we also pay for Ken's Medicare every month ($100) that's over $1000 for health insurance per month. That could buy a lot of groceries, gasoline, etc. Right now I need to buy a graduation gift, need to send the grandchildren $$ for completing the school year, etc. Just have to wait.
I'm trying to find a job, but I don't know what to do because no one will grant me an interview much less hire me. We are praying that one of us will find a job quickly. We can't survive much longer the way we are. The stress is about to get us.
10:30 p.m.: I planned to go to a networking workshop at Texas Workforce that started at 1 p.m. today. About the time I needed to jump in the shower to get ready I received a telephone call from a government agency in Washington, DC about the resume I sent May 21 for a position in Fort Worth. The lady liked my credentials and the fact that I'm somewhat familiar with things. Of course as always they have to wait until a proposal may or may not go through for contract. But it was nice to at least have had a first phone interview. She said she is going to pass it to her upper management and recommend me for the job. We'll see.
I went on to the workshop - got there about the time it started. I told Juan why I was breezing in. I told him it was a position I found through workintexas.com but it wasn't listed as a job in my field - it was listed as executive something or other rather than project management or change management but the requirements are just about everything I've done and the credentials are exactly what I have. He used it as a "lesson" to the workshop -- don't just look for particular titles.
Later Juan told me to stay after class - he was going to take me to see Eddie. Eddie and Juan work together to place people in some positions...such as actually working for Texas Workforce. Eddie came in and told me he would meet with me afterward. Tonight I had to take a couple of assessments on line and have to get those back to Eddie tomorrow. Then I have a meeting with him next Wednesday. I'm hoping something works out. But, the assessments came out pretty strange!!! After all my years of experience in analytical and engineering positions, the assessments indicates I should be doing something with my music!!! I'm anxious to see how he handles that.
So nothing much exciting. Tonight I fixed smothered pork chops, rice and cheesy broccoli. I took out chicken thighs for tomorrow night and canvassed my Facebook friends for different ways to fix the since I never buy thighs (I buy boneless breasts). Got some wonderful ideas so I know tomorrow night will be good.
Listened to some Ricky Van Shelton music tonight...love to hear that man sing. I especially like this one: Take My Hand
I'm trying to find a job, but I don't know what to do because no one will grant me an interview much less hire me. We are praying that one of us will find a job quickly. We can't survive much longer the way we are. The stress is about to get us.
10:30 p.m.: I planned to go to a networking workshop at Texas Workforce that started at 1 p.m. today. About the time I needed to jump in the shower to get ready I received a telephone call from a government agency in Washington, DC about the resume I sent May 21 for a position in Fort Worth. The lady liked my credentials and the fact that I'm somewhat familiar with things. Of course as always they have to wait until a proposal may or may not go through for contract. But it was nice to at least have had a first phone interview. She said she is going to pass it to her upper management and recommend me for the job. We'll see.
I went on to the workshop - got there about the time it started. I told Juan why I was breezing in. I told him it was a position I found through workintexas.com but it wasn't listed as a job in my field - it was listed as executive something or other rather than project management or change management but the requirements are just about everything I've done and the credentials are exactly what I have. He used it as a "lesson" to the workshop -- don't just look for particular titles.
Later Juan told me to stay after class - he was going to take me to see Eddie. Eddie and Juan work together to place people in some positions...such as actually working for Texas Workforce. Eddie came in and told me he would meet with me afterward. Tonight I had to take a couple of assessments on line and have to get those back to Eddie tomorrow. Then I have a meeting with him next Wednesday. I'm hoping something works out. But, the assessments came out pretty strange!!! After all my years of experience in analytical and engineering positions, the assessments indicates I should be doing something with my music!!! I'm anxious to see how he handles that.
So nothing much exciting. Tonight I fixed smothered pork chops, rice and cheesy broccoli. I took out chicken thighs for tomorrow night and canvassed my Facebook friends for different ways to fix the since I never buy thighs (I buy boneless breasts). Got some wonderful ideas so I know tomorrow night will be good.
Listened to some Ricky Van Shelton music tonight...love to hear that man sing. I especially like this one: Take My Hand
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
My back is S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G! I can't stand, can't sit, can't lie down with any comfort. I have appointment with doc NEXT Tuesday. Have to get labs done between now and then.
Meant to do lots today - go to gym and walk, run by niece's office, got to post office, check on a Singer 99K sewing machine. Didn't get anything done...back is cramping me too much.
I made egg salad sandwiches for supper. We didn't have any chips, so I used Wheat Thins for chips, and opened a can of Pork and Beans. That was about all I could muster. After dinner and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune (we record them), Ken went to the store to get eggs so I could make cookies. While he was gone I managed to clean up the kitchen. When he got back he got out the supplies for me to make chocolate chip cookies. I followed the Toll House recipe -- cookies are ok, but I prefer my other recipe. These have a bit too many chocolate chips in them. And, I spooned the dough onto the cookie sheets just like I do my other recipe, but the Toll House dough spread out way too thin and too big and all the cookies ran together. I had to cut between each one, so although they are good, some of them are oddly shaped.
Ken says we need grandchildren to share in the making of cookies and to share the cookies. We kiddingly talked about trying to find a young couple with children who need grandparents. That would be really nice. We've never truly had grandchildren in our lives -- even when our children came around from time to time. The grandchildren never really came and stayed with us or had much to do with us. It's really hard sometimes, but we finally realized we just were not wanted and there really wasn't any point in continuing to try to be a part of the lives of people who would rather we just drop out of sight. So, we removed ourselves from the situation; at least this way we are not subjected to some cruel behavior.
I remember being at one daughter's home for a granddaughter's birthday party. We went to say goodbye to the grandchildren and were told by all three of them to get out, that no one wanted us there, and that their mother hadn't wanted us to come. It hurt. And then another birthday party when it was made so obvious by a daughter that we were not wanted. If we were in the house, she went outside, if we were outside, she went in. At every occasion it became SO obvious that we were invited out of obligation, and NOT because we were wanted. I just decided enough was enough - parents have feelings, too, and I don't care to put myself in any situation where I am treated so obviously with hate. I still love them, still long to see them, miss them always, continue to pray for them, and wish things were different.
So, what else? Not much! Still job hunting! Ken spoke with someone again today. We had to do some tweaking on his resume late yesterday. That's been done and returned to the counselor. Hopefully we'll hear something soon. Money is VERY tight. I'm going to start working on the training to do substitute teaching in the FWISD. I don't want to, but I need to do something!
God bless, take care of yourselves. Dream happy dreams.
Here's a favorite: Brandi
Meant to do lots today - go to gym and walk, run by niece's office, got to post office, check on a Singer 99K sewing machine. Didn't get anything done...back is cramping me too much.
I made egg salad sandwiches for supper. We didn't have any chips, so I used Wheat Thins for chips, and opened a can of Pork and Beans. That was about all I could muster. After dinner and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune (we record them), Ken went to the store to get eggs so I could make cookies. While he was gone I managed to clean up the kitchen. When he got back he got out the supplies for me to make chocolate chip cookies. I followed the Toll House recipe -- cookies are ok, but I prefer my other recipe. These have a bit too many chocolate chips in them. And, I spooned the dough onto the cookie sheets just like I do my other recipe, but the Toll House dough spread out way too thin and too big and all the cookies ran together. I had to cut between each one, so although they are good, some of them are oddly shaped.
Ken says we need grandchildren to share in the making of cookies and to share the cookies. We kiddingly talked about trying to find a young couple with children who need grandparents. That would be really nice. We've never truly had grandchildren in our lives -- even when our children came around from time to time. The grandchildren never really came and stayed with us or had much to do with us. It's really hard sometimes, but we finally realized we just were not wanted and there really wasn't any point in continuing to try to be a part of the lives of people who would rather we just drop out of sight. So, we removed ourselves from the situation; at least this way we are not subjected to some cruel behavior.
I remember being at one daughter's home for a granddaughter's birthday party. We went to say goodbye to the grandchildren and were told by all three of them to get out, that no one wanted us there, and that their mother hadn't wanted us to come. It hurt. And then another birthday party when it was made so obvious by a daughter that we were not wanted. If we were in the house, she went outside, if we were outside, she went in. At every occasion it became SO obvious that we were invited out of obligation, and NOT because we were wanted. I just decided enough was enough - parents have feelings, too, and I don't care to put myself in any situation where I am treated so obviously with hate. I still love them, still long to see them, miss them always, continue to pray for them, and wish things were different.
So, what else? Not much! Still job hunting! Ken spoke with someone again today. We had to do some tweaking on his resume late yesterday. That's been done and returned to the counselor. Hopefully we'll hear something soon. Money is VERY tight. I'm going to start working on the training to do substitute teaching in the FWISD. I don't want to, but I need to do something!
God bless, take care of yourselves. Dream happy dreams.
Here's a favorite: Brandi
Monday, June 4, 2012
Went to job club/workshop at Texas Workforce Commission today -- getting depressed, don't think I'm ever going to find a job! I'm either over qualified or have NO SKILLS according to all the rejections I'm getting. I'm going to meet with the counselor again one-on-one Friday. Got to figure out some way to overcome the issue. I don't care if I work at the grocery store!
Ken had an appointment today with the counselor over at the re-entry program. He had some work to do on his resume afterwards, but that seems to be coming together. He told the employment counselor about turning down the job located way out by the airport and the guy told him he should NEVER turn down a job. Well, too bad. For $13.00 an hour it just wasn't worth the wear and tear on the car plus the stress of driving that far every day in the traffic. The idea is to have a job that does NOT kill him or throw him back into the emotional/mental state he was in previously.
I dropped the little bitty doggie stuff off at friend Denise's today. She is going to share them with a friend out in Benbrook he rescued a fur baby who was in a horrible situation. Should weigh between 6 and 10 lbs but weighs only 2 - has stunted growth. So the tiny things her baby and mine wore in the beginning can be worn by the little baby. I'm glad to have those back to Denise.
Ken made it to the bank to deposit money made from the sale this weekend - so that will get sent back to Debbi tomorrow with explanation of the sale. There's still a LOT left and I need to do an inventory, but right now I don't care to ever see it again. Cannot imagine why ANYONE would have bought all that stuff in the first place!!!
I've spotted a 99K (Singer) machine on Craigslist located over on the north side of FW - going to call about it tomorrow. It's onloy $40. For that price I can buy it, tear it down to clean an lube and change the wiring. I've been wanting a 99K. they are a 3/4 machine and easy to carry to quilting bees - so 221 jewel of the herd can be left at home!
Been thinking about opening a shop - a sewing shop of all things. Don't know how to go about it, but sure thinking about it! Heaven knows I have the machines for it. Would be nice to have a place for machines, some fabrics, training room with space for tables, etc. Still tossing that around. It's just that dang space rent is so high, and inventory costs so much. Saw the neatest store down at Granbury...would be nice to have something similar here.
Tomorrow have to make a run to the subcourthouse to drop off Katie Jo's afghan with niece Peggy, mail the gas paperwork to Chesapeake, get copies made of the tax return and get that mailed, and must decide whether or not to run to north side to check on that machine. May check into rental space somewhere, too.
Oh, well, nite nite. Maybe tomorrow I'll do something fabulous...like clean bathrooms.
Ken had an appointment today with the counselor over at the re-entry program. He had some work to do on his resume afterwards, but that seems to be coming together. He told the employment counselor about turning down the job located way out by the airport and the guy told him he should NEVER turn down a job. Well, too bad. For $13.00 an hour it just wasn't worth the wear and tear on the car plus the stress of driving that far every day in the traffic. The idea is to have a job that does NOT kill him or throw him back into the emotional/mental state he was in previously.
I dropped the little bitty doggie stuff off at friend Denise's today. She is going to share them with a friend out in Benbrook he rescued a fur baby who was in a horrible situation. Should weigh between 6 and 10 lbs but weighs only 2 - has stunted growth. So the tiny things her baby and mine wore in the beginning can be worn by the little baby. I'm glad to have those back to Denise.
Ken made it to the bank to deposit money made from the sale this weekend - so that will get sent back to Debbi tomorrow with explanation of the sale. There's still a LOT left and I need to do an inventory, but right now I don't care to ever see it again. Cannot imagine why ANYONE would have bought all that stuff in the first place!!!
I've spotted a 99K (Singer) machine on Craigslist located over on the north side of FW - going to call about it tomorrow. It's onloy $40. For that price I can buy it, tear it down to clean an lube and change the wiring. I've been wanting a 99K. they are a 3/4 machine and easy to carry to quilting bees - so 221 jewel of the herd can be left at home!
Been thinking about opening a shop - a sewing shop of all things. Don't know how to go about it, but sure thinking about it! Heaven knows I have the machines for it. Would be nice to have a place for machines, some fabrics, training room with space for tables, etc. Still tossing that around. It's just that dang space rent is so high, and inventory costs so much. Saw the neatest store down at Granbury...would be nice to have something similar here.
Tomorrow have to make a run to the subcourthouse to drop off Katie Jo's afghan with niece Peggy, mail the gas paperwork to Chesapeake, get copies made of the tax return and get that mailed, and must decide whether or not to run to north side to check on that machine. May check into rental space somewhere, too.
Oh, well, nite nite. Maybe tomorrow I'll do something fabulous...like clean bathrooms.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
A lazy Sunday. We still haven't found a church to attend. We left the church we've attended for years because it no longer preaches and teaches Christ and the Bible, and is run more like a social club than a church. We're looking for a church somewhere reasonably close to where we live that is Bible based, does NOT have a rock band and "praise" team, but has good ol' fashioned hymn and southern gospel music singing. And we're looking for a Sunday School that actually teaches and discusses the Bible. Hopefully we'll find something soon - we both miss going to church.
Didn't do much else today. My back is screaming, in the areas that are immediately over where my native kidneys are located. I will have to check with my doctor tomorrow, probably will have to get lab work done and go from there.
So, I went back to bed about 1 p.m. and slept until 5:37 p.m.! Thankfully Ken didn't care. He watched his baseball game and I got to sleep. Then he made ghoulash (sp?) for supper, and fixed blackeyed peas to go with it. Love those Ranch Style blackeyed peas.
We watched one of the Secret Millionaire shows - seemed kinda fake. Then I watched the show that is about an obese person's life over a year of time. It was ok, but could have been told in much less time than 2 hours.
I skipped going to the quilting bee today. Just needed the day to rest. Tomorrow morning I go to a networking session at North Fort Worth Baptist Church - hopefully that will do me some good. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to an invitation only network session thru Juan Hernandez of Texas Workforce. I need to work on the course materials for him, but I haven't done that yet either. Was too tied up doing the Debbi garage sale.
Ken is still a little miffed with me about the job he turned down early this past week, but I think it was for the best. It was all the way across the metroplex out by DFW airport -- way too far to drive every day and the stress of dealing with the traffic out that way would far outweigh the benefits of the job. Then he had an interview on Friday and I talked him out of going. Why? Because the one thing we've been taught is to research, research, research the company of a potential interview. Turns out the company that wanted to talk with him has claims of fraudulent practices filed against it -- taking money and not producing a product, or not producing a quality product. The last thing Ken needs to be mixed up in is a company like that!
So, tomorrow Ken has an appointment to go thru a mock interview with the service he has been working with the last couple of weeks. If he does well on the mock interview, he will be connected with potential employers. I'm hoping that will work out.
Other than that, I've received rejections from every place I've applied. I'm either over qualified or my skills are too OLD. WTH!!! So, back to the drawing board.
That's it for today. Love and hugs to my children, grandchildren, family, and friends. You are all missed greatly.
Didn't do much else today. My back is screaming, in the areas that are immediately over where my native kidneys are located. I will have to check with my doctor tomorrow, probably will have to get lab work done and go from there.
So, I went back to bed about 1 p.m. and slept until 5:37 p.m.! Thankfully Ken didn't care. He watched his baseball game and I got to sleep. Then he made ghoulash (sp?) for supper, and fixed blackeyed peas to go with it. Love those Ranch Style blackeyed peas.
We watched one of the Secret Millionaire shows - seemed kinda fake. Then I watched the show that is about an obese person's life over a year of time. It was ok, but could have been told in much less time than 2 hours.
I skipped going to the quilting bee today. Just needed the day to rest. Tomorrow morning I go to a networking session at North Fort Worth Baptist Church - hopefully that will do me some good. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to an invitation only network session thru Juan Hernandez of Texas Workforce. I need to work on the course materials for him, but I haven't done that yet either. Was too tied up doing the Debbi garage sale.
Ken is still a little miffed with me about the job he turned down early this past week, but I think it was for the best. It was all the way across the metroplex out by DFW airport -- way too far to drive every day and the stress of dealing with the traffic out that way would far outweigh the benefits of the job. Then he had an interview on Friday and I talked him out of going. Why? Because the one thing we've been taught is to research, research, research the company of a potential interview. Turns out the company that wanted to talk with him has claims of fraudulent practices filed against it -- taking money and not producing a product, or not producing a quality product. The last thing Ken needs to be mixed up in is a company like that!
So, tomorrow Ken has an appointment to go thru a mock interview with the service he has been working with the last couple of weeks. If he does well on the mock interview, he will be connected with potential employers. I'm hoping that will work out.
Other than that, I've received rejections from every place I've applied. I'm either over qualified or my skills are too OLD. WTH!!! So, back to the drawing board.
That's it for today. Love and hugs to my children, grandchildren, family, and friends. You are all missed greatly.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Needs
God on the Mountain
What a day! Today was the first day of a 2-day "estate/garage/whatever" sale we participated in to try to sell stuff for our friend Debbi who moved back to Virginia after being laid off last December. Lots of collector plates (Kinkade and others), Avon Cape Cod red glassware, Neiman Marcus and Hallmark Christmas ornaments, and other stuff. NOTHING was selling. And to top it off, some dang shopper stole my silver belt buckle and my bronze and gold belt buckle. I had them marked for rock bottom price, but no, whoever it was just wanted to be a thief.
Got a call from the vet earlier this week -- Maggie definitely has a fungus set in at the site of where the BioSpot was applied. So, it's medicated baths for her along with a new/different med to fight the fungus. She reports back to Dr. Gumfory on the 7th.
It's been an up and down week for Ken. He had a wonderful job opportunity which would have been full time, and he just about sealed the deal. I told him my opinion of it after sleeping on it overnight. The job only paid $13 per hour, was a very long way from where we live through LOTS of traffic and construction, etc., and I know he would have been totally frustrated within a week. I just didn't think it was a good idea for him to put himself in that situation. He ended up saying no to the job and the recruiter says they will keep him in mind for other positions. I hope so, but the goal is not to find something that is going to be a stressor. Need to find something that will fulfill, not kill!!
Then he had another opportunity come along, but the one thing we've learned thru Texas Workforce is to do thorough searches on companies. Turns out this place, Bright Labs, has LOTS of complaints against it. It is one of those places that provides teeth whitening veneers, etc. Seems they've been accepting orders and upfront money and not providing a product. The whole thing was just a bit shady and the last thing Ken needs to do is get himself into a mess! So, I talked him out of that one -- the whole thing sounded fishy. First of all, it was in a strange place, then you parked your car, went through a wooden gate, went down to the basement, etc. I could just see Ken going and being chopped into tiny body bites so I though he should pass on that one. Now he blames me because he has turned down two jobs this week. He has an appointment on Monday which I think he should keep, so fingers are still crossed.
In the meantime, I've had NO luck! Not a single bite except from a scam agency. Got an email from these "recruiters" about jobs in my field, I sent the appropriate resume, I got a phone call from them, then turns out all they really wanted to do was sell me a resume service for $450. I said no thanks, because I'm working through a counselor already. I'm planning to go to a networking gathering on Monday morning and then to Texas Workforce for an invitation only networking meeting that afternoon. We'll see. I'm about to start crying over it, which is entirely stupid since of course we are not going to starve to death, it's just really difficult right now to make ends meet. A lot of the things that we used to be able to do we simply cannot do any more -- nice gifts for the kids and grandkids, go places like we used to, etc.
Oh, after all this time of having raging blood sugar, yesterday I had a horrible diabetic episode - finally got the glucose level to drop, but it dropped so fast and furiously I had to yell for Ken to help me before I passed out. And oh, dang, I am so sick after one of those. Takes a full day for me to recover. So of course today glucose is riding high!
My niece Lisa is in the hospital. Lisa and I are diabetics who lost our kidneys to this stupid disease. I received a kidney May 9, 2008; Lisa received a kidney and pancreas a year+ ago. She's been fighting rejection a lot since receipt of the pancreas, and is at this time back in the hospital trying to stop rejection. It is a constant battle. As for me, I'm due to go back to the doc on June 11, and I've got to tell him I'm experiencing horrible back pain -- a sign of kidney issues. It's being on a seesaw for the rest of one's life.
I need to get to bed, need to get up early again in the morning so can get over to the house to work the sale again. With any luck someone will have broken into the house and stolen everything out of it!!!
So for now, God bless and keep everyone 'til we meet or meet again.
The Love of God
God on the Mountain
What a day! Today was the first day of a 2-day "estate/garage/whatever" sale we participated in to try to sell stuff for our friend Debbi who moved back to Virginia after being laid off last December. Lots of collector plates (Kinkade and others), Avon Cape Cod red glassware, Neiman Marcus and Hallmark Christmas ornaments, and other stuff. NOTHING was selling. And to top it off, some dang shopper stole my silver belt buckle and my bronze and gold belt buckle. I had them marked for rock bottom price, but no, whoever it was just wanted to be a thief.
Got a call from the vet earlier this week -- Maggie definitely has a fungus set in at the site of where the BioSpot was applied. So, it's medicated baths for her along with a new/different med to fight the fungus. She reports back to Dr. Gumfory on the 7th.
It's been an up and down week for Ken. He had a wonderful job opportunity which would have been full time, and he just about sealed the deal. I told him my opinion of it after sleeping on it overnight. The job only paid $13 per hour, was a very long way from where we live through LOTS of traffic and construction, etc., and I know he would have been totally frustrated within a week. I just didn't think it was a good idea for him to put himself in that situation. He ended up saying no to the job and the recruiter says they will keep him in mind for other positions. I hope so, but the goal is not to find something that is going to be a stressor. Need to find something that will fulfill, not kill!!
Then he had another opportunity come along, but the one thing we've learned thru Texas Workforce is to do thorough searches on companies. Turns out this place, Bright Labs, has LOTS of complaints against it. It is one of those places that provides teeth whitening veneers, etc. Seems they've been accepting orders and upfront money and not providing a product. The whole thing was just a bit shady and the last thing Ken needs to do is get himself into a mess! So, I talked him out of that one -- the whole thing sounded fishy. First of all, it was in a strange place, then you parked your car, went through a wooden gate, went down to the basement, etc. I could just see Ken going and being chopped into tiny body bites so I though he should pass on that one. Now he blames me because he has turned down two jobs this week. He has an appointment on Monday which I think he should keep, so fingers are still crossed.
In the meantime, I've had NO luck! Not a single bite except from a scam agency. Got an email from these "recruiters" about jobs in my field, I sent the appropriate resume, I got a phone call from them, then turns out all they really wanted to do was sell me a resume service for $450. I said no thanks, because I'm working through a counselor already. I'm planning to go to a networking gathering on Monday morning and then to Texas Workforce for an invitation only networking meeting that afternoon. We'll see. I'm about to start crying over it, which is entirely stupid since of course we are not going to starve to death, it's just really difficult right now to make ends meet. A lot of the things that we used to be able to do we simply cannot do any more -- nice gifts for the kids and grandkids, go places like we used to, etc.
Oh, after all this time of having raging blood sugar, yesterday I had a horrible diabetic episode - finally got the glucose level to drop, but it dropped so fast and furiously I had to yell for Ken to help me before I passed out. And oh, dang, I am so sick after one of those. Takes a full day for me to recover. So of course today glucose is riding high!
My niece Lisa is in the hospital. Lisa and I are diabetics who lost our kidneys to this stupid disease. I received a kidney May 9, 2008; Lisa received a kidney and pancreas a year+ ago. She's been fighting rejection a lot since receipt of the pancreas, and is at this time back in the hospital trying to stop rejection. It is a constant battle. As for me, I'm due to go back to the doc on June 11, and I've got to tell him I'm experiencing horrible back pain -- a sign of kidney issues. It's being on a seesaw for the rest of one's life.
I need to get to bed, need to get up early again in the morning so can get over to the house to work the sale again. With any luck someone will have broken into the house and stolen everything out of it!!!
So for now, God bless and keep everyone 'til we meet or meet again.
The Love of God
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