We
have another “Extreme Heat” warning.
Last
time the temperature did not get as
hot
as they said it would. I don’t think it
will
today
either though last time I think there
really
was moisture in the clouds whereas
today
has been smoky and now the skies are
white
and the mountains are hidden.
I
can smell the smoke through my window.
Yuch!!
Roland’s boss had told her staff – “whoever has vacation coming up, take it now.”
Roland took off the last weekend in
July and returned on Tuesday. Meanwhile
he received an email from the school that everyone outside of Utah will be laid
off on September 6. It’s not a big
surprise for us. We have known for some
time that he could be laid off any day now. At least now had an idea of when.
Roland returned and worked a day and
a half when his boss asked if he had any sick leave. Roland told her yes and she told him to take
them off starting then. Monday was his
first day of sick leave and his last day of employment. Everyone was let go. So now what?
To be honest, he seems a lot more
worried than I. He’s been applying for
other jobs all along but felt a blow. I
wasn’t surprised. He’s putting in for
unemployment which seems to be more work as he has to report in each week and
file the “paper work” each time.
He feels like he is applying for the
same jobs over and over again and getting frustrated with lack of
communication. Welcome to my world,
babe! But God has a plan for us. I honestly believe that. He does not look at the situation with the
same eyes of faith that I do. We’ve
survived on less. We’ll be okay.
I have called dozens of companies
that are withdrawing automatic payments to either change banks or cancel
altogether. No more TV entertainment but
we will keep the internet. How else will
we be able to apply for jobs? I changed phone carriers – again – although for
the most part I think I would do okay without a phone. But that’s another post. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Job hunting is frustrating. They say there is not discrimination with
hiring seniors or someone with a masters.
But there is. We’re getting up
there in years. We’re not as spry as we
were when we were 20 but we have grown in ways that the younger generation has
yet to experience. We’ll see up ahead eventually. The pandemic is not over. I think we may be better off if we are not working.
The airport is within walking
distance.
Each
year we can hear the helicopters .
Some
are looking out.
Most
appear carry buckets that appear
to
be half the size of the helicopter.
Each
year the chopper noise increases –
or
seems to anyway.
More
than it did in 2019 when
the
fires were so close and in
2017
when the entire state
was
on fire. We were surrounded
by
smoke from every direction and
wouldn’t
have been able to safely
evacuate
as every direction had
fires
burning. Even last year.
Smokey
skies can sometimes make for
amazing
sunsets. I would rather not have
the
amazing sunset and have no smoke.
Bless
the firefighters who risk their lives
to
keep us safe.
 |
| Here is one that Jenna took |
Would you believe that I finally joined the world of touch screen phone? I changed my plan – or rather my carrier who does not support flip phones. I went with them on a whim. It will save us almost 10 dollars a month – which isn’t huge. But if I can save 5 dollars here and 10 dollars there, it adds up. Before you know I have save us 45 dollars not to mention the subscriptions to various things which adds up as well and before you know it I have removed over 100 dollars of unnecessary luxury spending.
So I now have a touch screen but have
learned that the automatic machines at the other end of the line don’t recognize
my pushing numbers. Oh, that is so not
cool. I am already annoyed with
automatic machines as it is. So
impersonal. How many jobs have been
replaced by machines? A company does not
have to pay wages to a machine.
`I like when the machine appears to
be as frustrated as I am and connects me to customer service. But this machine did not give me customer
service. It said that I would have to
try again. I can’t yell at the
machine. Well, I can, but it doesn’t
have voice recognition. That is why I’m
punching numbers. My touch screen gives
me exactly two seconds to tap on something or the screen disappears. AHHHHHHHH
https://www.happify.com/hd/5-things-
you-can-do-if-feeling-overwhelmed/
I have had many ideas – some which I
have jotted down but no complete thought.
It doesn’t seem to be a priority.
Whatever Roland is doing takes priority over anything that Jenna and I
may have planned. Right now it’s the
back room – which is important. But I
also believe know that he needs to take breaks.
He’s taken Jenna to Roseburg a few
times which has given me opportunity to blog and either a nap takes priority or
else I just haven’t been motivated to write.
He gave me the assignment to paint the trim while they’re gone, but I can’t
find a paintbrush. Nor do I wish to
spend my time looking for one the entire time they are gone. I did put up some masking tape around the
door trim – at least I put in some effort, right? They are going to Lowes and I did put in a
request for more paint brushes.
Disposable ones would be nice.
Anyway the room is coming along. Perhaps it will be ready for Christmas? That would be cool. I will be sure to post some progress pictures
later on.
I have been able to locate 3 cameras and 5 chargers. Unfortunately only one of the chargers will accept on of the batteries. Thus I have been using a camera that Roland had purchased for Jenna during her sophomore year. I have noticed the streak found across many of the pictures I've taken. I tried to clean the lens but have learned that there are three scratches on the lens. I took a picture of a white napkin and discovered the three scratches make a smile face. How weird is that?
