Monday, June 30, 2008

Current Status updated!

Goodness, where do I begin? I have been out of work with this recession, except for 2, four week jobs. I was let go at Netflix last October 22. The recession is so bad here, that finding any accounting jobs is nearly impossible. Each week, there may be one A/P opening in the entire Sunday paper. So far, they have been mostly on the east side, way too far for commuting, especially w/gas at 4.35/gal. I finally got a job in May, and was only there to the end of the month. This time, by my choice, even though we are in dire straights. The position was ok, but the company and people were horrid. The woman "training" me was unbearable! And their work was so slow that I only had 20 hrs/wk. Even with that, I was ill to my stomache just thinking about getting there each day. Finally after Memorial day, I was so sick, I had the worst crushing chest pains. Rod finally took me to the emergency room at Tuality. Hmmm, you know I would never do that, and never have, so that is how bad it was. Nothing wrong with me or my health, so you know it had to be stress. So I let work know at the end of that week I wasn't coming back. That was a very hard choice, I have never quit and really never had any problems getting a job whenever I wanted to either. So in the last month since then, 3 different jobs have come up, and each been filled just as I was being told about them. I am listed w/ Accountants Inc, and Accountemps. The latter never does anything, but the former have bent over backwards for me!
Now we are at the sink or swim stage, leaning toward sinking. Rod has had a couple days work, but no painting either, going on. Whenever I talk to people, I can't believe how widespread the recession is and how many are just as bad off - Including Cheri and her family. I have tapped all my resources, and now am way behind. We have food though, thanks to the local churches, etc. This week if I don't come up with $200, the power will be off for a while. That should be interesting. I have been trying to sell anything I have of any value, that I am not sentimentally attached to, and have not had anything go. Everyone else is doing the same thing! The market is flooded with everything you can imagine, going for nearly nothing......
We are trying to sell Rod's work van, started at 2,000, a month ago, and now down to $600, and nothing still. My little civic is dead and needs parts, we thought the van would sell by now. Joe has a friend buying his car before he goes into the Marines early Sept. He is trying to move his ship out date up to August though.So we have been working on the house, and can't really finish anything. I was hoping that we could get it ship shape to sell, so that I wouldn't have to do a foreclosure. The market is so bad no houses around here are selling either.
So there you have my day to day existance in a nutshell. I was going to be a vendor at a festival in St Paul, to display my photography, but have no way to get there, with no gas. That is sad, but it worked out ok, since it was over 100' yesterday, and today it is 90 with 45% humidity!
There was a charity run in Portland yesterday, and a guy died from the heat. We are such weanies here, when it comes to heat.
It is all very stressful and exhausting, such an odd position to be in, after all these years of taking work for granted.
This month will be the deciding factor. My friend Katie owes me 2,500, and she won't even take my calls or answered a text or email. I was thinking about camping on her doorstep, her parents are well off, even if she is always struggling. She had promised to pay me back now, for 5 years! Pete owes me the same amount, since 1994. He says he hasn't sold the boat, but I wonder. Hmmm, maybe I should find out where that boat is, and we can just have it? LOL He waited too long to sell, and now can't give it away. Or so he says, I asked Joe, and he doesn't know. Joe and Pete spent a day cleaning out P's Wells Cargo trailer, so that Joe could store the stuff he wants to keep. Which really isn't a lot. I'll probably add a couple boxes of keepsakes for him to that pile.
We still have my little RV, and we found a really awesome mechanic that says he can fix her too! She has an issue with starting, someone stole a part and, it's a long story. So if we end up homeless, we still have a roof and a bed. Now if we could just afford gas! LOL
that is all so far.....TTFN

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Let me put into words-a thought or 2

I seem to do better at scratching my thoughts out with a pen and paper. Especially on a gray wet day, curled under my blanket with a miriad of pillows around me. And of course my perpetual cup of coffee, a must from morning till night. Right now I have a bad cold/flu bug, and have slept for nearly 2 days. I find myself browsing the net now - and looking up new places and people. The world is small now. Well, that is until you have to walk somewhere, or your vehicle is broken down.
I love it when my cats or my boxer decide to join me and are so happy to join in the warmth and snuggle time!

I was thinking about my friends and my new job and life in general. Whoa, anything to avoid thinking about bills and finances and the joys of being a home owner....I AM so thankful for that! It is a challenge with an old house though. I have so many dreams, and the older I get the more I want to know! "I have an enquiring mind" is what I always tell people. In short, I am curious about most everything. I don't remember feeling this way, when I was younger and busy raising kids and getting food to the table and baths and bedtime.....

So here I am, starting in a new job of only a month, at the most amazing company! I'm only a temp for now, but hope so much to make that permanent some day. I had worked as a last resort, as a Customer Service agent, from March to the end of October, 2007. That was the hardest job I ever learned to love. The pay is horrid and sometimes the people are difficult. I learned it and excelled, even though it did make me a different person. I was tired, and short and had little patience left at the end of the day. I was let go, for being sick and late a couple of times. How ludicrous, as this was only the week after being given the award for being the CS agent of the month. I was devastated, lost without a way to support myself, and feeling very sorry for myself, after I had tried so hard, and done so well....I thought. I knew it would be for the best, but sometimes it is harder to land on my feet.
I sold my good, new car on Jan. 4, 08 to keep up with bills and it was on the 7th that I was called for the job I am at now. Suffice it to say that I revel in the quiet and order of accounting, doing what I enjoy. It makes me happy.
For now, I have food in the Fridge and a man who loves me deeply, life is good. Nothing in life is easy, but I'm not being toted off in a hand basket yet. My son is nearly 18, has decided he will join the military. This is hard from a Mom standpoint. Joe has been the light of my life, and I am so proud of him. He's been supportive through our life changes.
I have divorced 3 times. This is not how I started out thinking my life would be. Never what I would have planned..... self preservation keeps me going, always moving toward an elusive contentment & joy.
The human condition - as it were. My choices, my road. I am very proud of myself & my son, & the way I stay strong.
Keep moving forward, with
happiness; instead of complacency, bitterness and resignation.

Right now, I have exhilaration and a deep happiness. It is good to be happy again.

Thank you Lord
TTFN
back to my cozy place....trying to get well.