Dear Everyone,

It has been a long time since I have posted.  I apologize.  It has been very difficult for me.  The job that was supposed to go permanent was a victim of the budget cuts by both federal and state governments.  The grant that supported about 75% of their income was cut by 45%.  Since my last day with them (June 24^th):

·         I broke 2 teeth on the way home that day

·         I have worked 5 days in temporary assignments  

·         I have been sending out an average of 10-12 resumes/applications per day

·         I have gone to every job fair I have heard about and only gotten 2 interviews

This is a sad commentary on the economy and how our “recovery” is progressing. 

I’m sad to say that depression has been lurking behind every corner as I see the slower season upon us for my own products.  I am also out of plastic for cutting, out of the 2 most popular sizes, and out of the means to get more plastic and cuttings.  I have been feeling like the budget cuts also caused fate to turn off the light at the end of the tunnel.  Please pray it gets turned back on.

What Have I Been Up To?

Thank you for all the birthday wishes from many of you by e-mail and facebook.

Two weeks ago was my last day at the temporary assignment that was promising to go permanent. This was a job I loved doing. It just wasn't to be after the governmental budget cuts reduced their grant funding by 35%. At that time they called me and the other temp into the office and told us how much they wanted to keep us both on permanently but... However, I understand they just hired a new temp from a different agency (maybe lower rate) and combined both the jobs as one. I would have liked them to call me back (I'm already half trained) even if it were a lower rate. I was still available. Oh well. I sometimes wonder what God has planned that I don't know about yet.

During the two weeks off I celebrated my birthday, helped my friend finish a quilt top (& took it to her favorite machine quilter), and a 2 days temp job wrapping 500 "For Sale By Owner" signs for mailing. I went out to eat most days last week using a different birthday coupon for free meals or as a birthday treat with a family member or friend.

Today I got a new temp assignment for 1 week of data entry that I start tomorrow 8 am. I will try to keep you posted. Not sure what to expect. It is "near the airport" but from looking at the map nothing else.

M is Coming Home Today

This time has been a long 5 weeks.  M is finally coming home today. They think they got his meds in balance.  I pray M takes them all as prescribed and doesn't add anything else.  His cat will be so happy to see him.

I left him a freezer full of home cooked food in individual portions.  He likes my lasagna so I made a batch but layered it into 3 disposable meatloaf pans.  an average person should get 3 servings out of each loaf.  He also has 5 Chicken w/ bow tie pasta, a couple bags of vegetable soup, Marinara sauce, and Alfredo sauce. The soup and sauces came from leftovers throughout the 5 weeks.

Well off to work. 

Long Haul…

Since Easter I have not posted as I promised myself when beginning this blog.  I think my ideal was a bit lofty and yet the goal was there to blog about life… my life. 

M is still in the hospital being cared for and meds tweaked.  We are not sure at this time when he will be able to come home.  Some of the extracurricular things he smoked, drank… etc. may have done more damage to a fast recovery than dreamed of.  It is part of the illness.  When he feels good he wants to “party” and that doesn’t mix with meds.

Mom started out by leaving an upper window open just enough for the cat to be able to get “in & out”  via the roof of the house.  This stopped quite abruptly when I went over to take in the mail on a dark rainy evening when Mom couldn’t.  I noticed something amiss but couldn’t quite put a name to it.  So I grabbed the cat while I double checked all of the doors.  (Don’t know if I was planning to throw the cat at anyone.)  When I got back to the kitchen to refill the food bowl we came face to face with the intruder.  Through his masked he glared at us and then it was a brief second before the last of his ringed tail was outside the window.  Yes, Rocky Raccoon had gained entry from the roof through the open window and was scavenging cat food.  I slammed that window shut and locked it then called Mom to let her know we have to go over daily.

Now Mom goes during the day, lets the cat out and brings in the mail if it is there.  I go after work to let in the cat (mail if necessary).   I’ve been spending extra time playing and being company for him. 

Yesterday was a particularly bad day for M.  His ex-wife and kids live in the NE corner of Oklahoma and she works in a hospital in Joplin.  We are fortunate that when we finally got a return call from her (6 pm Monday), she reported all of the family was alright and the power was back on at home.  She works in “the other” hospital in Joplin but they were busy tending to transferring a large number of patients from the hospital that was hit by the tornado plus any other ER & Trauma patients. 

Please add the people affected by the tornado to your prayers.  The Red Cross, as well as other organizations can really use donations of blood, manpower and funds.  Please do what you can.

Life is Good (right now)

I will be working my last shift at the retail store tomorrow.  Easter was my breaking point.  I got to Mom's to pick her up for Easter brunch buffet with the whole family (M was in full mania).  Knowing the stress of trying to work 2 jobs to be able to maintain my Quilt Patis business coupled with family responsibilities/crisises, I was in tears.  I told her "I just can't do it all any longer."

After brunch M decided to make the move to go to the hospital for his "tune up" and I decided I needed to assess my life too.

• Retail job:  promises no advancement and highly stressful (IMHO due to constant understaffing and severe lack of communication).
• Temp job:  staff and management wonderful, respectful, communicates well… I feel valued.  Promises opportunity of turning permanent. 
• Quilt Patis:  my passion and has promise as long as I can otherwise support myself in the lean seasons.
• Family:  I love them even though I don’t like the stresses involved… but we are never promised life would be easy… I won’t divorce them.

When it comes right down to it the decision was easy.  I wrote my resignation that evening.  From that moment on I felt relax.   I actually wrote two resignations.  One gave an ending date and the other substituted the date with the word "immediately".  I had plans to switch out letters if there was any trouble with the manager accepting my resignation. There was a little resistance but not to the point I needed to do the switch.

In the two weeks since, I received an e-mail telling me that one of the trade magazines will be doing an article about me and my Butterfly Pincushion Pin Kits.  They also are giving me a Saturday to demo my technique at the Creative Festival in Cincinnati the 3rd weekend in June.  Then today I got 11 of the signed original (finished) butterflies in a local art gallery on consignment.  She priced them at $34.00 each. If you are in Columbus and would like to purchase one and see all of the other wonderful things she is showcasing this is the gallery... Galleria Evangelia, 4269 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio,  614-354-6557, www.galleria-evangelia.com .

So, with the help of prayer and faith the journey continues.

Update on M

After 3 weeks of full manic episode complicated with severe depression and fueled by recreational no-no's (beer, pot & pills of undisclosed origin) M had a grand finale with Easter buffet at a local oriental restaurant.  At the end of the stressful meal he announces "I quit taking my meds over holidays" and then "I'm ready to go in now" (mental hospital).  First they sent him to the medical hospital over night to observe and test to find out what recreational drugs he had taken. By the time I got off work he was back at the mental hospital to get his meds and sleep back on track.

M has been on nearly every form of meds used to treat Bi-Polar disease until they either quit working or start to become toxic to his body.  I worry that they will run out of choices of meds to use.  Even with these worries I am breathing easier knowing he is getting the help he so desperately needs.  I believe in the power of prayer so I welcome any that my readers may offer up.

Taking Care

When I started this blog I promised that I would not use my family member’s names and specific situations.  Yet there are some areas where I am directly affected by their situations.  So today I will bend that promise.

In my family we have battled Heart Disease/Stroke/HBP, AIDS, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Diabetes, and severe Bi-Polar diseases.  Heart Disease/Stroke/HBP and Cancer are the top two killers.  Families tend to think of it as something everyone gets if they live long enough. During our family’s struggle with AIDS was where I learned that to take care of your loved one you MUST take care of yourself first.  That was nearly 20 years ago when he died and I still struggle with the concept of me first.   The Hodgkin’s sufferer has now been in remission 10 years and considered a survivor.

The two that are left are current and chronic. These types of situations are what Mom used to refer to as “the crazy makers” because you feel so helpless to help.  When you are always waiting for the other shoe to drop you are always under stress.

Right now I’m in a good place recovering from the financial woes of the last three/four years but at the cost of fatigue.  I have my “permanent job” at the retail store (averaging 10 hours a week at beginning hourly rate) and I have my “temp assignment” (full time at double the hourly rate of the retail).  All of that to be self-employed at my passionate job… quilting. 

Two of my three remaining siblings are employed full time.  The third (M) is severely with Bi-Polar and truly unable to work steadily.  We all have our responsibilities no matter how M is maintaining… or not.  

M’s psychiatrist once told us all “to maintain is like balancing a bowling ball on the tip of a pool cue stick.”  What he was trying to get across to M is that diet (NO ALCOHOL! and attention to the sugar levels for Diabetes), meds, sleep, and stressors need to be in balance for wellbeing despite the disease.

This time taxes, Easter, being refused for SSI disability (again) and losing sleep due to the other elements are all pushing the bowling ball into the gutter.  On top of that M has been washing the troubles down with beer.  I can’t seem to get through to him.  But Mom always calls on me first for help in these crises and I hate refusing her requests. 

I think caretakers are given their own bowling ball and cue stick.  It is up to us to keep ours in balance while we’re retrieving the toppled bowling ball for our loved one.  This may also mean seeking help for ourselves.  The Wellness Community in our area was very helpful with support groups, education, etc. for the “participants” and “caregivers” related to cancers.  I was in the caregiver’s group and my sibling went to the participant’s group.  It helped us focus, talk out the stressors, and exchange information on new treatments.  There are groups out there for whatever you are battling.  The trick is to find the group that helps YOU.  That way you are better able to pass your cue stick to the group while you help the participant get back in balance.

I have to make sure I sleep and eat right when drafted into the caregiver battalion.

Close Enough?

In making my Quilt Patis for the last 15 years (oh my, it’s been that long?) I have always maintained a quality product.   I am very specific about accuracy.  I tell my die cutter “if the die is accurate, I will pay you for it” and he has been great about complying.  He understands the concept of Good Job = $$$. I have kept him because he does a good job. 

On the other hand, I have had to change the distributors who supply my raw plastic sheets.  I would find one that I try to explain the product, its usage and the importance of the accuracy. I am now working with the 5^th distributor over the years.  It has been my past experience that the women sales reps understand and as long as they handle my account I get the accuracy I want and need.  The men who have stepped in on when there is a staffing change have not. 

On my most recent order, my sales rep (female) was on vacation. The gentleman who took care of me was quite genial and assured me I would get exactly what I have been ordering (specs in the file) for the last couple years.  He got it to me in record time (2 weeks instead of the usual 6-7 weeks).  Yeah!

I have to further cut the 8’ x 4’ sheets down a near notebook paper size before I can take it to my die cutter.  While I was cutting the first third of this plastic I’m thinking, “is the cold really changing how easy this should be to cut with the rotary cutter?”  I noticed that a couple of the sheets were thicker and I set those to the side.  I went out and got a digital micrometer and started measuring.  Ha! It wasn’t my imagination.  Not one sheet was the .030” in my specifications even though it was the right type of plastic.  Oddly enough the sheets I could visually tell was too thick were marked in Sharpie pen .030 but were actually .069” when measured.

I started 3 weeks ago with an e-mail of my complaint to both sales reps.  Well, HE is the one who is in charge of correcting the mistake… As of our conversation this morning there is still no resolve.  He does not seem to understand that close enough is not good enough.

I started out trying to equate it with “If you go in for a knee replacement on your right knee and come out of it with the left knee replaced its close enough?”  He would laugh but still there has been no action.  Not sure what I will say the next time he asks if I can’t uses what I have got till he can get more to me.  Perhaps I will equate the close enough to the difference between a vasectomy and neutering… Right organ and great birth control but is it what he thinks is “close enough”? 

Joke’s over

Dental appointment set for a week from Monday.  Unfortunately it is during the work day instead of an evening appointment. Their first evening appointment was mid May. 

First thing this morning I took Kip to the vet to recheck his ear infections.  He still has to get the ear drops and take the antibiotics but he is so much better. Then off to take care of the phone.

Initially the fact my contract was not yet eligible for renewal I had four options. 

1. Purchase a new phone outright for over $500 without renewing the contract.
2. Renew the contract now with the usual phone activation fees plus a fine.
3. Add a new line to the contract for the $9.99/mo more, phone activation fee but no fine for the early renewal.
4. Pay a $350 early termination fee to take my business elsewhere.

I went prepared with print outs from my online search of all other options.  Long story short, I took the renewal option and with logic, print outs, and telling him about my April Fool’s Day.  “So find all the discounts you can,” I told him and he got the fine waived and was able to place it on my next billing.

Life’s April Fool’s Joke

Just as you think everything is looking up and you can breathe fate steps in and throws you a curve ball.  Yesterday I was thinking this paycheck from the temp job put me just enough ahead to pay an extra month on my property taxes.  My hope was that it would all go toward the arrears thereby lowering the monthly amount when they refigure my payments in June. 

This morning (April 1^st) just laughed in my face.   I grabbed a slab of cashew butter on cheap soft white bread (a CB&J since allergies to PB) as I went out the door to work.  As I rounded the corner before entering the freeway I savored my first bite and wondered “what’s that hard thing in the bread?”  I separated it from the rests of the bite with my tongue and spit a pea size piece of tooth into my fingers.  At the stop light I located the back molar from which it came and assessed the damage.  I’m ok to last a few days until I can see a dentist. 

I got to the parking lot of the temp job and pulled out my cell phone to call the dentist.  Well there is a portion of the touch screen that is now dead… I cannot call any numbers with a 5, 8 or 0…“Ok! joke’s over!” I yelled toward the heavens.  I get to the parking lot 20 minutes early each day so I think, “They are only a few blocks away maybe they open at 8 and I can just run in to make the appointment so I can still be to work on time.  Got to the dentist office in 4 minutes… they must open at 9 because no one there.

The estimates I am thinking for tooth if they can just replace the filling and avoid a crown… $200-$250. The estimate for a new phone IF they allow me to renew the contract before it is really time to renew is about the same… The two combined is about $50 - $100 more than I was planning to pay on the property taxes.  The phone estimate could double if they make me purchase a replacement phone at full price and not allow an early renewal.  

Like “nature abhors a vacuum” then “the finance fates abhors extra money”.

HONOR

Since the first day of spring we have had a plummet in temperature and even a couple of snow dustings.  What happened to spring?

Yesterday, I had news of an old family friend’s passing.  Tomorrow I will take Mom with me to the funeral home to pay our respects (I cannot make it to the funeral mass on Monday).  Please pray for JMac’s family, that they may find peace in their grieving process.

I called the retail chain where I work on the weekends to see what my schedule was for Sunday.  I was told “You are not scheduled next week.” “All next week?!???  Not even Saturday?”I asked.  This worries me since this IS the permanent job.  Am I getting a vacation I did not ask for or am I getting laid off since they were just bought out.  We recently got a new store manager.  Is he testing how “his store” would run without a different person in each area for a whole week?  Are we getting fired by just not being scheduled?  There are rumors of games, tests & traps being set by this person.  Did I flunk?  If/when I leave any job; I want it to be MY decision.  It would be because I bettered my position at a job… or won the lottery (LOL).

My grandfather was a self made business man as a real estate broker, whose motto was “Doing business by the golden rule.” He did NOT want to get a reputation for doing anything for the greed of lining his pockets.  He wanted the reputation for a fair deal.  By this he got the respect of his workers, customers and the whole community.  Years after his death people were calling Grandma when they were ready to sell or buy again only to be disappointed that he couldn’t represent them.  They always ended the call with a compliment like “L always treated everyone honestly” and/or “with respect”.  This treatment brings customers back every time and garners referrals.  When are the big muckity~muck corporations ever going to learn this?????  It's called honor.  I fear this “golden rule” customer service died with Grandpa and JMac (who was one of Grandpa’s partners).

I honor JMac this weekend for he truly honored my grandfather's ideals and teachings by his continued "Doing business by the golden rule" after Grandpa's death.  I know Grandpa greeted JMac soon after he arrived in heaven... they are probably making plans to play poker or gin rummy soon.

Super Full Moon & 1st Day of Spring …

Today was the 1^st day of spring and it was following last night’s “super full moon.” We often joke about getting very crazy during a full moon and spring break often has the same reputation.  We had an “interesting” day cutting fabric.  We had a lot of odd requests.

I have a couple of prayer requests…

• First, one of our managers lost her fiancé’s father last night after being in a coma about a week from a massive heart attack at 60 years old.  Please pray for comfort during their grief.
• The other is for a regular customer who had a diabetic crisis while I waited on her.  I also noticed a scar from a previous heart surgery.  This one we called the Emergency Squad.  Please pray for her quick and continued recovery.

On the way home from work today, I picked up some seeds for herbs and vegetables.  I have a small sunny area where the herbs grow great in a window box on my stoop’s wrought iron fencing.  Last year I got a few tomatoes, sweet green peppers, and couple of zucchini before the squirrels got them.  In the German Village (historical area of town) the buildings date back to the mid-late 1800’s.  They have small patios or yards so I started planting in window box or patio planters for my vegetable/herb gardening.  

The rest of my space is mostly shady where I have flowers.  Yesterday, I saw the first crocus.  This really signals spring to me more so than a date on the calendar (Oh, and the orange barrels on the highway is another sign).

This is another way to survive… planning ahead & planting edibles if you have the space (no matter how small).  If you don’t have your own space, check into some community gardens or coops in your area.

     The Beatles sang “I get by with a little help from my friends…”  Well, thanks to all my friends’ prayers and help, thanks to the temp agency, and thanks to the shop orders, all of the utilities are current. D in UK: the vultures are shot down for this month. Their young hatchlings have not flown to the mailbox… yet. 

     I am now going to ask for prayers to be sent toward the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit out in the Pacific. 

     Yesterday (at the temp job) I feasted on leftovers from a meeting.  They catered international food to fit the topic of the training. Each course was a different country’s traditional dish. The dessert tray was full of Greek delicacies. This was the best meal they’ve had so far. It is company policy that we can only consume the leftovers at the office. 

      I have to throw away so much food that doesn’t get eaten before it goes bad. That is so difficult for me. Last week they had a soup, salad, & baked potato bar… there are 2 – one gallon zippered bags of soup in the freezer along with another bag of the blanched broccoli. I’ve been telling my co-workers, “break off a chunk of soup and zap it in the microwave.” On Monday, I will mix the few strips of fajita meat with a chunk of the vegetable soup and dollop some sour cream.

Not been taking the posts

You have been waiting a few days for this entry.  Here is what transpired.  I picked up a partial plastic cutting on my way to the temp job on Thursday. That evening I took Mom for her 79^th birthday dinner at my sister’s.  Friday evening was dedicated to “popping Patis” to make up packages for some orders that have been waiting for the new stock.  Early Saturday morning I finished getting the orders ready for the post office. 

When the bank opened, a savings account seemed to be in order for some money just received.  Also, since my pay checks are direct deposited to my checking, I set it up to transfer a good portion of them into the new account.  After all interest adds up eventually.  They had a special account where upon reaching $1000 in the savings the bank adds $50 and if that $1000 stays in the account for a year another $50.  It’s a calculated bet that I WILL at least qualify for the first reward.  If the temp goes permanent I WILL receive the second reward.  Everyone should check their banks for any similar accounts.

My next stop was to find a tire to replace the flat and return the spare tire to its reserve status.  Both Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club did not have my size at this time.  They were the closest to the chain store where I work on weekends and now I had to go to work.  

I was originally scheduled for 5 hours but I ended up working 9 hours followed by a 10 hour day on Sunday.  I didn’t mind as much on Saturday because the lady I was scheduled with is now on a portable oxygen tank after being out nearly a month hospitalized with pneumonia and H1N1.  She was going to be closing our department alone.  However on Sunday, I thought it was foolish to schedule me (or anyone) alone for the last 3 hours when they were running a page of about nine 40% off coupons.  This logic fails me.

"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it."

~ Mark Twain

Persevering…

Many of the comments I’ve received from readers compliment me on my attitude.  I don’t always find it easy to be positive about troubles making the ends meet.  There are many people I try to think of when I get discouraged.  The common denominator was perseverance.  These are a few of the people who inspired me.

• My mother who went back to college part-time while being a single mother to 4 of her 5 children and working.  She graduated the year before I graduated high school. (Yesterday was her birthday.)
• My brother who believed I could do ANYTHING. He lived only 30 years but had more adventures than someone living well into old age.
• “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” ~ Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)
• “I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” ~ Christopher Reeve (1952 – 2004, paralyzed in 1995)
• “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” ~ Christopher Reeve, from speech at Democratic National Convention, August 1996
• “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” ~ Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821)

On Getting Food...

Yesterday I received an e-mail from a friend who gave me information about Angel Food Ministries.  I have added the link to their site.  This brought to mind that many of the homeless and near homeless have difficulty with getting quality food and/or help getting aid to get food.

I have known people who have chosen to “dumpster dive” for food.  There a number of reasons this is not the best idea! In Ohio you can apply for “food stamps” to help you buy food at your local supermarkets.  Occasionally you do not qualify for one reason or other.  For me it was a typo on the second letter of my last name in their computers (but I’m dealing with that).

I have actually utilized food pantries, coupons, and some of the churches with sandwich lines or lunches.  Another trick is to do your grocery shopping Saturday or Sunday when they are giving out samples (you know your local store’s sample schedule).  Also meeting a friend for a happy hour that offers the appetizer buffet (though these are becoming fewer and fewer) can curb your food budget.

IF you still feel that dumpster diving is the only option, please follow your common sense along with your senses.  First be aware that many larger grocery and restaurant chains use a trash compacter or they pour bleach or ammonia over food in their dumpsters.  Their reasoning is to make the food inedible.  They are afraid of a mass of law suits if you get food poisoning from spoiled food. 

• Go to a place that does not smell like bleach, ammonia, or totally rotten food.
• Know their trash pickup schedule… that means the following day food is fresher.
• NEVER pick fish, mayonnaise or sour cream based deli items.
• Check the expiration date on any labels… this gives you a clue as to how long it has been there.
• Try for packages that are still completely sealed.
• If the item is supposed to be refrigerated feel the package to see if it is still cool.
• Fruit with a peel is best… sometimes a whole bag of oranges are tossed because of only a couple bad ones.
• ALWAYS wash everything including the outsides of meat packages.  This will get rid of any possible bacteria before further contaminating the food inside.
• Whatever the food use your senses… LOOK at it, SMELL it, FEEL for bruises or sliminess, finally if it passes all of the previous senses you may TASTE a small bite when prepared. At any of these points “When in doubt, throw it out!”

Keep in mind I do NOT advocate dumpster diving! 

First Week …

The first week on the temp job is now over.  I think I did OK.  I hope they think I did OK.  They are a nonprofit organization that runs programs to maintain quality of child care centers.  As I learned my job, when I would ask a question the most common response started with “Really good question…” and then they answered the question.  A technique that reinforced the ideas conveyed.

The big retail chain did not schedule me for today.  The first Saturday I have had off (without asking for it) since I started.  I thought at first they were getting ready to weed out any of the unnecessary staff since the holidays are over. Or the new store manager wants his own people… All the worries that go with the change of routine flooded my brain.

On Thursday, the plastic arrived early.  It seems I was worried for nothing.  God worked in his mysterious ways again.  I cut the plastic from dry wall size down to about notebook paper size before I can take it to the die cutter.  That’s what I did all day today.  I got about a third of it done.  That’s enough to take to the die cutter for the sizes I need to fill backorders.

Day Two …

My first day was fairly easy because of Presidents’ Day.  Today picked up with several meetings.  As Receptionist I have a multitude of tasks.   So much to learn but I seem to be adapting well.

Today we benefited from 2 lunch meetings.  I was allowed to take part in the leftovers.  God truly moves in mysterious ways.  This will hold me over until I get my first paycheck in two weeks.

Thank you.

Preparing for Monday…

Katy and I started with a Vet visit.  We are keeping an eye on a slight heart murmur and avoiding knee surgery… so far.  Then I was scheduled 5 hours at my retail job (next week they only have me scheduled 6.5 hours on one day).  That left this evening to evaluate my business wardrobe to prepare for Monday.  With my weight loss many need to be altered and some are gently loved but no longer liked.  I had heard about an organization called DRESS FOR SUCCESS COLUMBUS. They assists low income women who are seeking employment by providing them with interview and business appropriate clothing, a network of support and career development tools.  I decided that would be the place to trade styles.  I have placed their website in my links.  This is the local branch so check for locations near you if you choose to make any kind of donations.

At this time I am suspending my Daily Tally… hopefully permanently.  We are praying for the temp assignment to become permanent.

Recipe for a Successful Interview

First a special thanks to a MN in Arkansas for the letter and enclosure.  Your words and faith in me are cherished.

My interview was scheduled for Noon today but there was much to prepare a good first impression. 

• Beginning last night I made sure my outfit is clean, pressed (if necessary) and well coordinated.  I had to make some alterations due to my weight loss.  
• Always wear the most professional outfit you own.  You will be told the dress code WHEN you are hired.  It may mean a trip to a thrift shop that has a professional area.
• MapQuest the address of your interview and review it, especially the estimated travel time.  Even if you think you know where you are going.  Print it out and place it in a clean file folder with an extra copy of your resume, any research of your prospective employer, some light reading and all other documents they may request.  
• Early to bed was next on the agenda.  Yawns or bags under the eyes are an interview fashion no-no.
• Wash hair, bathe, brushing teeth go without saying but fine tuning the timing is important.  I do the hair first with enough time that if it tries to be a bad hair day I still have time to try again. 
• A spritz of fragrance is a nice touch.  Be sure it is a clean refreshing scent and not too much.  It is best not to experiment with a new scent.  My budget has dictated I use an inexpensive body mist and only for special events… this counted as a special event.
• I believe makeup should be minimal and again do not try something for the first time.
• Check your map and leave your home at least double the travel time MapQuest estimates prior to the interview.  My map said 25 minutes so I left home 1 hour before.  The goal is to be able to arrive in the parking lot 30 minutes ahead of the interview.  If there is a detour, accident or you get lost you won’t be late.
• Now is when you sit in your car, say a prayer, read your magazine (no stressful material like bills or bank statements) until 15 minutes before the interview.
• Now walk calmly into the office for your interview.  Have your folder but leave the magazine in the car.  This will make your arrival time 10-15 minutes early which is really “on time” when it comes to interviews.  This is also when I pop a tic~tac in my mouth.

I felt good when I left the interview but had to wait for the verdict.  So I went back to J’s house to continue to work on her quilt top.  After a couple hours there I got a call telling me I got the temporary assignment.  I start Monday and if they really like me, I may be offered the job permanently.

Thank you for all the prayers.


Today's Tally:
Friday, February 18, 2011                       
Location:  interview & J’s house
Temp:  N/A
Newspapers sold:   0
Viable job postings:   1
Filled or baiting job posted:   2
Resumes/Job Applications sent:   Interview & Worked on a Commissioned Quilt

Tools for Confidence…

Remember, your job search IS your job.  These are 5 tricks I use to keep my confidence. 

1. Set the alarm, bathe & dress as though you are going to work. DO NOT allow yourself to sleep in because when (not if) you land a job working for someone else you don’t have a problem adjusting to a new sleep schedule.
2. Access your computer for e-mail, job sites, and businesslike needs FIRST.  Facebook, Twitter, and computer games must wait.
3. Keep an eye on your bank accounts online DAILY.  I had an instance of fraudulent access to my debit card last June.  I caught it, contested it and was only inconvenienced about 4 business days while I got a new card.  It nearly wiped out my whole account.
4. Delete all e-mails trying to sell you something UNOPENED unless it’s the weekly grocery flyers.  DO NOT TEMPT YOURSELF. 
5. Use the grocery flyers to economize on your food purchases before you do your shopping.  Don’t buy anything without a coupon unless it is milk, meat, or produce that don’t usually have coupons.  And most important make a list of only the necessary and stick to it.

Don’t look at me as perfect.  These are tricks I try to use daily.  There are times I fall away from these.  There are times I get depressed about the harder times in theses hard times.  Ultimately I will then allow myself a “Pati Pity Party” to last no more than 24 hours.  This is a tip I picked up from Linda Richman’s 2001 book “I’d Rather Laugh: How to be Happy Even When Life Has Other Plans for You” (now out of print but look for it at your library or as a download).

The prayers and networking are working.  Thanks.


Today's Tally:
Thursday, February 17, 2011                       
Location:  J’s house
Temp:  N/A
Newspapers sold:   0
Viable job postings:   0 (1 in Canton & 1 in Cleveland)
Filled or baiting job posted:   3
Resumes/Job Applications sent:   Worked on a Commissioned Quilt

Dilemmas…

As I stated in Monday’s posting, I went for testing at IMPACT.  I arrived early so they put me on a computer early.  I passed and was offered one of the spots in the program.  Remember, this class runs 7 weeks to prepare 15-24 participants to be gainfully employed while providing a small stipend.
During the testing I received a message on my voice mail from one of the temp agencies.  D (my temp coordinator) had submitted my resume for a temp to permanent position.  They want to interview me Friday with the possibility of starting Monday.

I was honest with D about IMPACT.  He was familiar with their program and said he admired me for my initiative.  I asked him, “Did they give a timeline of temping before deciding to offer the permanent position?” and “Knowing me, my past evaluations and the prospective employer, how would you assess my chances at the permanency of the position?”  D didn’t have an answer for the timeline but he thought my chances might be a 9 on a 1-10 scale.

I am keeping an opened mind until I interview.  Then, if I get the offer, I will have the dilemma of following a commitment to IMPACT, or taking a position that right now is still a temp assignment with an unknown duration.

After I got off the phone with D I got another call from a friend (J) who commissioned me to help her with a quilt.  We had picked out the pattern and fabrics before her life got really out of control before Christmas.  This in mind, I felt that we could knock this quilt top out in a couple days.  I had her pick me up and we started this afternoon.  We have a long arm quilter we used for quilting the last quilt top she hired me to do. 

Today I re-sized the design in Electric Quilt 6 to dimensions to fit the wall she intends to hang it.  We coupled the fabrics into the light/medium/dark selections for the blocks.  I made a test block after tweaking the tension on her sewing machine.  Meanwhile she had beef stew cooking in the Crockpot all day.  We ended the day with dinner before she drove me home.

Today I kept thinking of Morton Salt.  They were the ones with the slogan “When it Rains, It Pours.” 

The prayers and networking are working.  Thanks.


Today's Tally:
Wednesday, February 16, 2011                       
Location:  IMPACT Employment Plus offices
Temp:  N/A
Newspapers sold:   0
Viable job postings:   1
Filled or baiting job posted:   2
Resumes/Job Applications sent:   1 & Attended Testing Session & Worked on a Commissioned Quilt

Treat Yourself Daily…

"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated."

—Maya Angelou

We are still the same person we were prior to our “defeats”.  Therefore, the person we are will determine how we refuse to be “defeated”.  For me it is to treat yourself daily.  I know this is a difficult concept to fulfill when you are “financially challenged”.  I am a creative person so I must respect myself enough to continue nurturing that person.  If you don’t, you kill the soul that gives you the spirit to fight your way back.  

You don’t have to abandon the job search, working, and/or education.  You don’t even need to spend money.  I enjoy quilting, art, theatre, cooking and traveling.  All of this does not change.  Ok, I may not be able to travel in person due to costs involved, BUT I can still explore the world via the internet and watching PBS travel shows.  Cooking poses creative challenges but you can go to any of my Friday postings to see how I conquer those.  I am fortunate live in Columbus close to Schiller Park.  During the summer months they have (free) “Shakespeare in the Park”. 

Tonight (after I sell Street Speech) I will go to my monthly quilt guild meeting.  I was voted in as 2^nd Vice President for 2011.  My primary responsibility is to plan the meeting programs and speakers under the help of the 1^st Vice President for meetings up through 2012.  Many speakers have their schedules booked 2 years in advance.  Then in 2012 I move to 1^st VP with a new 2^nd VP.  It is a team position so no one is thrown into the job cold.  It is a good fit since I have tons of friends and contacts in the quilting community.

I am still making quilts and my butterfly pincushion pins (I always have “bug parts” in my purse for these).  I don’t have to purchase much if I use my fabric stash, trade with guild members, good parts of cotton clothing I no longer fit, or go to the Waste Not Center to search their fabric scrap donations.  This is why quitters say, “When life gives you straps, make quilts.”


Today's Tally:
Tuesday, February 15, 2011                      Time:  11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Location:  3^rd and State Sts. (across from the state house
Temp:  31°
Newspapers sold:   1
Viable job postings:   1?
Filled or baiting job posted:   0
Resumes/Job Applications sent:  0  

Exploring One Avenue…

It was a beautiful day at 40° today. You missed my singing on the corner today but I was not playing hooky.  I was taking steps toward becoming employed.  
In this article, I need to discuss IMPACT Community Action.  I met their representatives at a job fair a couple weeks ago.  I put on my “think positive hat”, grabbed my resumes, and went booth to booth.  Like most people I started toward the right side of the room (perhaps instilled by driving on the right side of the road in the USA). After scanning the booth directory I stopped at every booth with job listing for which I have qualifications (and a few I thought I could learn what I lacked).  IMPACT was in the last booth on the left side of the room.  By that time I did start to feel discouraged but I shoved out my hand and shook that of a tall, inviting, beautiful woman saying, “Hello I’m Pati Shambaugh.” She told me about their program “Employment Plus”.

I placed an application at their office a couple days later.  “They’ll call you in a few days,” replied the building security officer who took the applications.  Honestly, my thoughts were, “I’ve heard that line before.”   I ended up calling the number on the sheet to check on my application after the usual 5 business days.  I was one of 82 invited to the class orientation (only 64 showed up).

You may think I got into the program… not so fast.  The orientation today was informational for both the applicants and the counselors.  We were given options at a few different times to leave or continue.  Those who continued were given a drug test, an interview and a time to return for computer testing on Wednesday.  So, I am not in the program yet, but I am going back.

The important part of this program is that it too is in danger of being discontinued with the Obama Administration’s proposed 50% reduction to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).  Please follow my link to IMPACT to see more specific statistics on their services and how to help keep the funding. 

What does that mean to me personally?  This class runs 7 weeks to prepare 15-24 participants to be gainfully employed, providing a small stipend and help in their other temporary needs during training.  The vote in Washington DC will determine whether this will be their last class and will it be completed with all 7 weeks.

Since this is federal funding it is not limited to the Community Services in Ohio… It will affect services nationwide.  The lack of these services will only increase homelessness and desperateness.  So write, call, email, fax AND text your representatives in Washington DC, asking them to support continued funding for Community Services.  You might ask, “Would you rather support programs proven to turn the downtrodden into income tax paying professionals or supporting prisons to house the ones turning to crime out of pure desperateness?”

Thank you for any help.


Today's Tally:
Monday, February 14, 2011                      Time:  9AM – 3PM
Location:  IMPACT Employment Plus offices
Temp:  N/A
Newspapers sold:   0
Viable job postings:   0 (1 in Cincinnati)
Filled or baiting job posted:   8
Resumes/Job Applications sent:   Attended Orientation, Interview & Drug Testing

On Family and Faith

One of my rules posted yesterday was:  My family will never be referred to by name and only spoken about in direct reference to me.  Today I will outline my family and faith because these are the major elements that make us who we are today.    

Husband – never was one. Not that I don’t believe in them, just never found the right person at the right time.  (Had an offer in the 80’s for a “Sugar Daddy” but didn’t take it.) I will marry for love.

Children – 2 a boy and a girl but both have wet noses, long floppy ears and docked tails. Yes, my mother has “grandpuppies” from me.  Many of you will understand that giving them away is a last option.

Father – deceased (1990)

Step-father – deceased (1989)

Mother – living on only social security & food stamps at 78 on her next birthday in a couple weeks.

Mother’s current husband – several years older than Mom and dealing with “memory issues”.

Brother #1 – (older) unemployed and looking.

Brother #2 – deceased (1992)

Brother #3 – (younger) disabled and fighting to get SSI but keeps getting turned down (too many assets – So he has to lose his house before they will qualify him (a house paid off – just owes taxes).

Sister – (20 years younger) Cancer survivor, working, tremendous help to the family and I feel she has a right to enjoy her life with her significant other.  That means starting a family if they want or not.

Step-Sister (Father’s side) – Married with 2 sons. We have seen each other maybe 3 times since Daddy died.

My faith is Christian based.  I believe in God.  I also believe that Man is arrogant enough to impose individual beliefs upon their God as His traits and teachings when interpreting the Bible.  With so many doctrines and formal religions out there I sometimes wonder if one is the ONE religion to believe in.  Having grown up in a predominantly Jewish community and then taken the class “Non Western Religions” at Otterbein also helped shape this view.  My father was Lutheran; my grandparents took us to a Presbyterian church; and my step-father was Catholic.  This morning I have the opportunity to go to church (not working those hours) and I will go to Trinity Episcopal (downtown Columbus).  This is the church where I feel the spirit.

Many religions teach love, being good towards others, and the teachings of the Christians’ 10 Commandments and The Golden Rule.  So this is how I try to live MY life and not really by a name tag saying “Hello I’m _____________”.  Just as there are many roads (with different names) to get to Cleveland, I believe the name tag is moot.  I believe Christ when he taught “Believe in me and ye shall surely see the Kingdom of Heaven.” Period! 

Like Job in the Old Testament, my current troubles will not sway my beliefs.  So many times when I have truly needed something it has come to me.  This blog is what I believe was meant to come from my experiences.  Without the hardships I would not have been able to attempt to make understand homelessness.  I might have bought into the myths I am trying now to dispel.

Today's Tally:
Sunday, February 13, 2011                      Time:  worked 5.5 hours but also got to go to church
Location:  the retail chain store
Temp:  worked inside so this is not applicable
Newspapers sold:   0
Viable job postings:   0
Filled or baiting job posted:   0
Resumes/Job Applications sent:   0