another day in paradise

Well, well, well. This morning I realized I needed to get my meds refilled (a tad late, but hey--I have this add brain that is spotty on my best days) but I forgot to take today's meds. Until now, and my day is almost over--thank goodness. Then I noticed that my atm card is missing. I used it yesterday morning on the way to church. But I cannot for the life of me figure out where I put it. I've got the money, but not the card or transaction receipt. So I decided to go in person to my bank. I grabbed the keys to my "rental" and take off. The bank woman, who was very kind and did not laugh at me, helped me to cancel that card and to order a new one with a new number, which I will get in about a week or so. Since my bank is next door to the grocery store, I decided to pop in there and grab a few things. When I got home, I realized I had left my house key hanging where I put my keys so I don't lose or forget them, which is locked in my house. So I drove down the street to a friend's house, and called the locksmith (who is in our branch) and he and his wife walked down after they ate dinner. After numerous tries to unlock my house, he got it open and now I am sitting here, hoping Tanisha's plane ride was smoother than my day today. This is the second time in a year I have locked myself out of my house.

I think that Marissa & her family may not be coming to visit this summer. I am bummed.

and another thing

I am just posting this because I haven't posted a picture in a long time and I am very bored. That's all. No other reason.

shuckee darn

It is with a heavy heart that I report that I was called by one of the organizations that interviewed me for a job, and I was informed that I did not get the job. Without thinking, I said "Thank you!" and then quickly caught myself and added, "For letting me know." Now I can honestly report that I did not turn down any offers of work this week. Unless someone else calls and offers me a job. The job I really want hasn't started interviews yet. I am not really qualified for the job--no degree--but I am hoping that my experience will weigh in pretty heavily. The next time I have money, in addition to buying a dependable car, I might have to get into school & at least finish my AA degree. I wish I could be a full-time student, but unless a wealthy relative that I don't know about dies and leaves me a LOT of $$$, that will not happen. Since I don't play the Lotto anymore (not that it was a habit before) I can't even count that as a possibility.

The unemployment people talked to me yesterday about the details of my separation from the job from you-know-where. Hopefully, the decision will be in my favor and I will start getting unemployment checks. Soon.

I accidentally spent a few hours reading this late morning/early afternoon reading the BOM. I was reading Sunday's lesson, and I got caught up with the story and finished Alma & Helaman. That Samuel is a chatty guy!

Time for a little walk to the store--I need a little exercise after sitting on my tush reading for so long today. This IS such a hard life, isn't it?

another first

Yesterday I went on my first visiting teaching episode. I am fortunate in that I am being "trained" so to speak, by a former Relief Society president who is known as a real go-getter and very grounded in the gospel. So far we have met with two of our three people. It was fun and seems simple enough. But that might change when I have to step up to the plate and do more than interject comments when appropriate. So far I haven't even been tempted to utter an inappropriate comment--none have entered my overactive mind (at least not when I was visiting teaching).

I just remembered that today is Wednesday and the weekly paper is out, so I need to search the want ads and see if my new job is listed there........

Should be writing a cover letter

Yep, I am applying for another job, and I need to complete all the necessary paperwork before I fax my application in. This is the boring part. Can't I just say "Hey, I think I might like this job and you might like me; let's chat"? Guess not. I moved my printer/scanner upstairs so I can scan more pictures soon.
All is quiet except for the sounds of the clicking of keys on my keyboard, and the wind outside. It's too strong to call a breeze. I would rather be walking on the beach, but I have chores.
By the way, did you notice my new blog layout?

WOW!

I am amazed--Jenna & I talked on the phone for 2 1/2 hours this evening. I can't remember the last time we talked so long. We have pretty much solved all the world's problems, now if someone will just ask for our advice **smile** I hope to get over to her when she has her surgery, but there are a few details to be worked out. Is it bad to hope I DON'T get a job soon?

My older brother Duane called me today; we talked about how much we miss our oldest brother Lee. Duane is having health problems, had a heart attack at 51(he's 56 now) and was wheezing loudly throughout today's conversation due to his COPD. Listening to him describe his life, I became even more grateful for my own life. He was just released from the hospital after getting over pneumonia, and admitted he has not stopped smoking, although he has tried multiple times. I had a very similar conversation with our mother in the fall of 1994, which was kind of hypocritical since I was still smoking then. When she had emergency surgery in January of 1995 for a perferated colon, she was unable to breathe on her own, so they gave her a tracheotomy and put her on a respirator. The respirator was never removed until the night she died, almost two months later, after spending the entire time in the intensive care unit, and being unconcious 99.9% of the time. Duane & I were with her when she died, each of us holding one of her hands. I was with Lee when he died, at his side and telling him it was ok to go. He had cancer and was in a lot of pain. I'm afraid my other two brothers are on their own. Since I plan to live on this earth for a long time, because I have lots to do, I just know I will outlive both of them.

Since I am on this gloomy roll, I may as well acknowledge my son's birthday which is tomorrow, August 4th. He would be 26 this year. Someone told me I can do his work, and we can be sealed when I am able to go to the temple. And I will be able to raise him when we are reunited. That is a comforting thought to hold on to, and yet another reason to stay on my path!

I am sorry to seem so morbid, because I really don't feel that way. Truly, I am so grateful for all of my blessings, being reminded today that I have been smoke free since January 2000, and what a miracle that is! I am sad for my mother and my brother Duane, but they made choices, and could have made the same choices I have made. Recently I was told that I have been blessed with a strong mind, a strong body and a strong spirit. When I compare myself to the rest of my family, I think that statement was more accurate than I believed at first. I know that I am so grateful for my life. I am happy, I love my life, and if I fall out of love with my life, I can do something different. I don't think my mother or my brothers had the same love of life that I have (despite "those days") and I don't know if they ever had dreams to work toward and make come true. I have had a lot of loss in my life, but I have also been graced with so much. I truly feel that most people who have been where I've been do not have the opportunity to live the life I now have. Sometimes I wonder how or why I ever was blessed so much to be able to enjoy the many, many gifts I have received.

Well, enough of my rambling. And my poor grammar & sentence structure. (Sorry Mrs. Gunning) I am off to bed, right after I find a good talk on byutv.com. This morning I learned that Steve Young is LDS. I'm tellin ya--those LDS people are everywhere!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANISHA!!

Happy Birthday to my incredible daughter, Tanisha Nicole! From such a fragile start to the trailblazer she is today...I am blessed. And so is the rest of the world! (no mother's pride here) I love you very much!

I was awakened at 6:29 am (hurray for digital clocks!) this morning by rousing strains of "Down by the Lazy River" sung by the Osmond Family (sharing the stage with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir & the Temple Square Orchestra) on BYUTV.com. It was a part of the Jubilee in Salt Lake City. What a contrast--from sleaze to entertainment that makes me feel good in the space of a few hours. If you would like to see this terrific show, you can find it in the drop down box for the date of August 1, during the times for 6:00 to 8:00, masquerading as Studies of the Book of Mormon, Living Essentials from BYU, and Questions & Ancestors. This is proof of my rather odd habit of listening to Women's Conference talks as I am falling to sleep (or other talks when the subject catches my interest). One of the perks of living alone with the naughty puppies is that I can pursue my eccentic activities without bothering anyone else. So far the naughty puppies have not been influenced by the spiritual messages they undoubtedly hear.