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.

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.

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.

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.