Short and Sweet

         In the Church of Jesus Christ there is a meeting in which members of the congregation are encouraged to make their way to the stand to bear their testimonies.  This meeting takes place once a month – usually the first Sunday of each month.  General Conference also falls on the first Sunday of the month and so testimony meeting gets moved to either the last week of the month prior or to the second week (depending on the ward or stake).  In the South Umpqua ward we have held testimony meeting the week prior – except this year.

On March 26 we had stake conference – which is a geographical boundary made of up several wards

April 1 and 2 was General Conference (which is when the meetings are broadcast world wide)

April 9 Easter program

Thus our testimony meeting was not until the 16^th of this month.

          I recall sitting through a many of sacrament meetings as a youth in which testimony meeting especially seemed to drag.  Either a person would make his/her way to the stand and drone on endlessly or else there was such a lull of space in between each testimony that the silence often seemed to account for a longer amount of time.

          There were several things on my mind.  Jaime had made a surprise visit.  I am so grateful to have her so close to home.  I have also grown a lot due to the “Come Follow Me” program in addition to my current living situation – becoming more tolerable I guess and feeling like I have become (and continue to become) a better person as I compare my own faults to the scriptures direction on how to improve.

          During the week I had asked for the Spirit to be with me that I might express my thoughts without detraining from the testimony’s purpose.  Bishop had announced that we keep our testimonies short and sweet – which this ward members seem to be really great at – and there are rarely lulls or distractions like some meetings of my past.

          I mentioned how the “Come Follow Me” program has assisted me with my current living situation and how grateful I have been for the examples each have given me.  I was then prompted to sit down. 

          “But I still have more to say,” I thought.

          I sat down without expressing my gratitude for Jaime and being at a close distance.  And so I am expressing it here.

The Cat We Share

         We have had cats in our yard. 

They come and go.  

Before Jai went to college she would name the cats: 

“Ghost”, “Blanco”, “Midnight”, “Venom” . . . 

all which have vanished over the years.  

Currently there have been two tabbies – 

one yellow and one black and tan.  

Ally calls the black one “Pudding”.  

Her friend, Molly, who lives next door has 

claimed the cat as hers and calls the cat “Muffin”.  

The cat does not live at either house and yet 

both girls have claimed the cat as her own.

         It’s not a farel cat exactly. 

Rumor has it that she/he belonged to a family 

who recently moved but failed 

to take the cat with them.  

I don’t think said family really did 

abandon him/her.  I think the cat is 

well taken care of at different houses 

and tends to hang around.  But what do I know?  

We don’t have a cat as we have two dogs who 

like to torture cats.  

At least our dogs look like dogs.  

The dogs that live at the house next door 

look like two giant wolves.

         Clair has promised Ally that if 

ever they move they can take Pudding 

with them.  Really?

The Latest Scam

           Our son Randy is a safety inspector who makes more money than he knows what to do with.  Recently, Richard has started taking classes in order to become a safety inspector also and has been putting in applications for jobs.  One company texted on Easter Sunday to say they had availability and would like to interview him using the internet.  Okay, I get it.  After 2020 many have relied more upon technology for interviews using zoom or facetime or whatever.  Monitoring a lengthy questionnaire does not qualify as an interview in my opinion.

          I was bothered that the “interview” was to take place on Easter day.  After all, he had just received the text message. Usually one will set up an appointment and not just willy-nilly create a spontaneous message through text. We had gone down to Ashland again as Jaime had left her wallet in the car and figured she would need it before we visit with her in a month.  I think he saw Sunday as just an average day and didn’t seem to care about it being Easter.

          So he decides to do the “interview” which I didn’t really feel good about and would have at least waited until Monday – the fact that the company was willing to compromise any Sunday but especially Easter made it feel like a company would be self-oriented and not care about employees.  I don’t know how many questions Richard had answered before he was asked for bank information so the company could be certain about direct deposit.

          Fortunately, Richard did not provide the “needed” information but instead entered that “by law I cannot provide the information until I have already been working at your company”.  After more prodding on the company’s end, Richard typed in “I will not answer anymore of your questions as both you and I know this is a scam.”

          It infuriates me because not all desperate job hunters are wise enough to stop feeding information.  Just like jobhat – asking over a hundred questions ( including social security number) in their “application” .  When a person is filling out the application he/she/they does/do not yet have the job and does not need to provide social until he/she/they has/have the job. I hate that people will prey upon the weakness of others.  I hope they are all caught and crucified at their own expense and not that of the taxpayer.

          Job Seeker Beware!

Living Conditions part 3

 All the flooring that we had put in had done less than two years ago has been to be replaced.  Once again – are you kidding me?  Just fix the kitchen not the entire flippin’ house.  But no.  Thus were we down to no useable kitchen but had three days possible that the five of us might have to share a toilet.  Oh, no.  That didn’t sit well. Initially the insurance company was going to issue a 28,000 dollar allowance to pay for temporary housing and food that would supposedly last four months.  Four months?  Are you kidding me?  The water damage wasn’t only the floor but ALL of our kitchen cabinets would have to be replaced as well.  What a nightmare.

The insurance company talked Richard into staying in the house rather than use the money on temporary housing (which we had looked into and had come up with pricing) for the five of us (wait a minute – did I say that I had no intentions of sharing a bathroom?  Why couldn’t we just sent away the other three?) which didn’t surprise me.  

I had believed that we would be stuck with the expenses as I had absolutely no faith in the insurance company (and even less now)  The kitchen and lack of counter room has been a problem.  Hated the toilet sharing - but at least it was only a couple of days that we were without toilet and not the going on four months of no counterspace in the kitchen. But nobody was allowed to shower for those two days until Richard and I left to go out of town.  

I told Clair she could take her shower while we were gone and what a fun experience that must have been.  I don't think she realized how claustrophobic one may feel in our poor excuse of a shower (see here) But there bathroom now has a new toilet and are able to use a wider amount of space for their shower.

We picked out some flooring before the insurance had even approved us.  It was on sale.  We had to make a purchase.  I believe the flooring remained in our living room for over a month before it was slowly installed (did I mention that the contractor seems to have a hard time keeping employees?) and had gone down from four days a week to only one and then a few weeks without.  Turns out there was only one guy doing the floors for how many ever projects they have.  I don’t know if other clients are as nice as we are or if the reason employees are quitting is because they don’t need to put up with the abuse that I’m certain they are getting (they are just the messengers doing their job – they don’t choose where the contractor sends them)

Richard is to the point where he is fed up and has been less than pleasant to the workers trying to finish the job that they had personally not started.  I understand his frustration and reminded him not to take it out on the “kids” that are coming in.  I don’t really know how old they are but seem to be younger than the last ones who came out.  I wonder if the company is being sued if we would be able to hop on the band wagon.  We paid for a job that still hasn’t completed (though all of the initial replacement has finally been done - well of the floor that is) 

And then there’s the matter of the cabinets still.  And who knows when that will happen.  Hopefully before Jaime returns home from college but I’m not holding my breath.  The contractor had another call to report a fire damage that had taken place at the cabinet makers.  We thought it bogus as he had lied to us about other situations, but turns out there was a small fire that did some damage to the needed equipment used for finishing (he made it sound as if the entire structure and business had been burned to ashes) and so everybody in line for cabinets is now on back order. (How frustrating for the contractor as well as how many ever clients)

Living Conditions part 2

 Welcome to our 2023 nightmare

kitchen

  

our front room in January

kitchen

we had used the table for maybe six
weeks just to have it all full again.  

no counter room

front room

after the demolition they brought in a laundry sink
which we are still using BTW

front room Jan/Feb

Living Conditions part 1

 Doesn’t appear that I have posted anything about the refrigerator or our disastrous issue STILL at hand. I had created a post about our situation – though not the fridge specifically.  It was posted on February 16, 2023.  I had it up for a day before I took it down.  The title had given away the name of our insurance company as well as their logo smashing a house.  But as they still hadn’t paid anything, I took it down temporarily. 

We have since collected a partial payment which is better than nothing but still not enough and we do plan on changing insurance companies (Richard thought he would save money by bundling, but I was happy with our former company and hope that they will take us back because I really am not impressed with the one that we are with currently) and also have a problem with the contractor – but that is another post of itself.

So let me now take you on the beginning of our “living conditions” journey:

We had purchased a brand new refrigerator probably ten years ago.  When we  moved from West Valley to Myrtle Creek we had brought our fridge with us.  When we lived on Jenny our fridge lived in the garage.  We used it but not the automatic water dispenser as it was not hooked up to the waterline. 

We did hook it up to the hose when we moved to tri city.  With each move that poor refrigerator seemed to take a beating.  We were looking at fridges in August of last year but were having a hard time finding one with the dimensions that would fit the allotted space.  Since the pandemic started companies have stopped making the smaller refrigerators and all fridges that are currently manufactured have are 36 inches wide.  Our allotted space is 34.  And we’d need it even smaller than that in order for the fridge to breathe – which the one we had was not.  That may have been what caused it to fail completely. 

The signs were there and we had been looking, but once Biff and his family moved in we had stopped looking – until the second Wednesday in January of this year.  Richard and I were already on our way to the big city of Roseburg when Clair called fearing her position of bearing bad news.  I think she and Biff had the worst of it as they were assigned clean-up duty while Richard and I diverted our plans and ended up at an appliance store that had some dated fridges that were less than 34 inches. 

Most of the items from the fridge itself cook be salvaged and had been moved into the back fridge (the one we had reserved solely for drinks because the fridge itself had only cost 5.00 and so we didn’t know how reliable it would be) but everything in the freezer had been left at a 56+ temperature and had to be thrown away.  They had filled a black trash bag with rotten food.  It makes me gag just to write about it.

A week later our obviously smaller fridge arrived and Richard hooked it up – but couldn’t quite figure out the hose (though he had the ability with the old fridge . . . don’t understand what had happened) thus he called the plumber to assist.  But when the fridge was pulled away from the designated area it was discovered that there was a large area of water damage that had accumulated over the years (probably the source of the initial water damage found in this post) .  https://beneaththewraps.blogspot.com/2022/08/we-are-so-blessed.html

The plumbers called a company that had worked on our house prior to our trip to California.  They worked under the house to restore to being dry.  The insurance company told us that they do not pay for “under the house”; our initial one did.  Anyway, the source of where the water had come from remained unknown until the fridge incident – which was in the opposite part of the house; it hadn’t occurred to any of us to look there as the source.

Anyway, though we felt we had been cheated by the contractor I did like the employees.  We learned that the company had/had a new owner who may not have the experience needed to run the company.  I hear they are down to only three employees.  Everyone else who had worked on our house (and there have been A LOT) have quit.  Lack of communication?  I would highly suspect that has a lot to do with it.  I want our former insurance and their contractors to serve us again.

I never did feel good allowing them to do what they did.  Too late now.  Will post “progress” pictures tomorrow.  Meanwhile . . . well, you’ll see . . .

The Last Two Personalities

 

I understand the need for plans – especially when others are involved – but overall I am a spontaneous gal.  I don’t like to plan.  Plans don’t always go accordingly.  If things are done spontaneously, there is less disappointment on my end.

Scenarios:  planning Jaime’s birthday party around the unpredictable weather – or in the case of her “sweet sixteenth” the pandemic . . .

Activities and events have to be planned out and announced ahead of time to get a good turnout – one would hope.  My jeopardy game (here) was cancelled three years in a row before it finally came to pass 

You book your tickets in advance so that you have a guarantee.  You choose September believing it will be cooler.  Who knew there’d be a heatwave and fires that late in the year?  But you aren’t able to get a refund.  So now what?  There is no plan B.

 

According to Google An assertive person is more calm, confident, and laid-back, while a turbulent person is more anxious, self-conscious, and perfectionist.  I can see why one is 54 and the other 46.  So close.  

I am a lot more organized in a work setting than I am with my personal life.  If I have deadlines to reach I stay on task and endure until the job gets done.  There doesn’t seem to be a lot of spontaneity in the work situation.  

Perhaps that is why I don’t get excited about careers or goals.  Yes, I am ambitious to a degree, but in my personal life spontaneity just seems to work out better than the disappointments of having plans fall through.

52% Feeling

 

I think in many cases the “personality” quizzes are geared towards job/career and not so much “personal” life.  But I seldom ever take a quiz with a job in mind, let alone a career.  Why not just make a career out of uplifting others?  Even if it means one doesn’t get paid.  Money isn’t everything.  Nor does it necessarily equal success.  Not in my book anyway.

There have been many times I have passed up opportunities or advance in promotion when I know that someone else can benefit.  I think putting another’s happiness before my own can make me equally as happy if not more than if I allowed myself to take the reigns. 

One example that comes to mind is when a friend and I had joined a bowling team.  One of the members was a single guy who seemed to be interested in both of us, and I knew she liked him.  I could have gone out with him but thought she might do better in his company.  They were married and as far as I know are still together. 

I do tend to allow my emotions to get the better (or worst?) of me – especially when finances are involved.  I don’t think I’m nearly as sentimental as I used to be – still I do miss items based on sentimentality and not so much financial worth.  I will generally follow my heart over more head – or at least wish that I would.  When I go by my head it generally has a negative effect.

I used to be impatient with others for not understanding my point of view but have gone from tolerance to an almost compassionate state.  I didn’t think I would ever say or feel this, but I know that having Biff and Clair here has been really good for me.  They are different people who think different thoughts, experience different emotions and will never change to my way of thinking or how I feel. 

The diversity in our household right now is less than ideal but somehow has created a sense of peace and acceptance.  Be lying if I said I was totally happy with the situation.  I would still like my own space but have come to realize that they are more important.

Richard will often turn the TV on to Maury or some other related show where people argue in front of the camera.  I don’t enjoy watching people argue or take pleasure in other’s misery.  It isn’t funny.  It’s sad and pathetic.  I don’t support that kind of behavior.  And yet there are many in the nation who thrive on it.  The disrespect between others boost ratings.  Violence is fun to watch.  I don’t get it.  It either upsets or disgusts me. 

I do tend to allow my emotions to control me more than I control them, but I am learning.  I hope that through the experiences that I am currently experiencing that I have become a better person than I was last week or last month – surely I am a better person than I was a year ago.

I tend to let the weather control my mood also.  I don’t know how to change that one.

81 Observant

 

Next is 81 observant.  That seems to fit the Introvert portrait as far as I can tell.  I may be intuitive to a small degree but overall I am not. I have become aware that not one size will fit all and what works best for one situation may not even apply to another.  I think this post provides some good insight as to the difference between observant and judgment 

I do enjoy going to art museums for a short time.  I enjoy some works while others do not appeal to me.  I don’t enjoy discussing “what this piece means” or “abstract and balance and all whatever else there is”.  I like art for the eye appeal not because of one’s (artist included) interpretation.  Just let me enjoy with my eyes.

However I do find myself wondering about why certain lyrics were written or what meaning a song has for the author.  Usually I will like a song based upon the music before I even know what the words are. I don't know why I am willing to explore lyrics that I hear as opposed to what I see.

I am more comfortable being observant than intuitive.

Personality on Hold

          I have posted only two of six thoughts on the personality quiz that I took.  Thus I have four to go but will wait before posting the next as today is Jai’s birthday.  We had her spring break.  It was good to have her home.  We played a few games with one another.  Sadly not with the entire family as our house is in disarray and has been for the entire year due to water damage and contractor delays (which really is another post within itself) and thus lack of room. 

Jaime had actually had to resort to sleeping in a bed rather than on the floor which she seems to prefer. No floor space in the room that started out as the office but houses Ally’s possessions.  Jaime will need her own room come summer and it doesn’t appear that the others will be leaving anytime soon.

Jaime spent her last weekend with some friends at a lake house near Reedsport.  She did not return until after three.  Richard and I loaded her up and drove her back to Ashland.  It started snowing before we returned to Myrtle Creek.  Hit a few pockets of snow and slowed traffic on our return in the dark.  I would have suggested to just stop off somewhere for the night but I have a doctor’s appointment in half an hour.

I know at least four people who have birthday's today.  I only went to Jaime's wall for a personal greeting and posted a gif for all four on my wall tagging each of them.  First day of no mask wearing in the Oregon health care (at least for now) 

87% Introverted

     Popularity was never important to me, but I wasn't thrilled about being bullied.  I guess I did okay as an outcast and perhaps that is what shaped me from lacking the desire to be social.

A strong lean toward being introverted came as no surprise to me.  I have always preferred being alone or in really small groups.  I have never really been one to strike up conversations – especially with the unknown though my role in the RS presidency has pushed me out of my comfort zone.  I find that I do enjoy greeting people and getting to know them – like the speed friendship activities. 

I don’t enjoy large groups.  I don’t initiate activities.  I avoid leadership roles – though I have become more comfortable with taking charge . . . well, maybe not.  For instance, if I am asked to teach I make myself a conductor and ask questions that I pray will lead in a direction other than myself.  I don’t normally enjoy drawing attention to myself.

One question asked if I had had an exhausting day would I like to wind down with a social activity.  To me that is NOT winding down.  Give me a book.  Give me YouTube.  Give me my kindle. Give me a deck of cards so that I might play solitaire. I would prefer no people if I’m trying to wind down. 

Diving Into Another Speculative Truth . . . . maybe

 

Biff sent one of those personality quizzes to Richard who in turn sent it to me.  His given personality was/is Advocate and mine came out Adventurer.  Apparently there are 14 more.  I was not surprised by the results of either one of them. 

Many of the same statements you either agree with, disagree or remain neutral.  The results indicate your introverted level compared to being extraverted, being observant as opposed to intrusive.  Those two fields were obviously one way or another for me – without my even taking the quiz. 

Everything else was about neutral for me.  Feeling over thinking (in other words relying on my emotions over my brains) prospecting over judging which actually surprised me as so often I have been a conclusion jumper and do tend to judge others unfairly.  Turbulent as opposed to assertive. 

April starts tomorrow.  I plan to detail the five areas just a bit more based on comments and how I leaned and why.