Where do I begin??

Wow! So much has happened this month; where do I begin?

Well, to begin with, I am now using my very own, brand new laptop to write these blogs….which means I can sit in my recently air-conditioned bedroom in the comfort of my very own bed to write them!.

Which is kind of where things started……

Turn the dial on the time machine back to June 29th…..

The last time I had air-conditioning was in the 2 story home I lived in back in 2007….Something snapped this year and we started getting unusually high heat early in the season….It’s like we skipped spring and went straight into the hot, humidity of mid summer….What the heck.  I’m working now so why should I lay upstairs in bed sweating?

Target came to my rescue….they had a room size air conditioner for $96….Well, once I had my checking account for over 2 months, I applied for and received a Target Red Debit card….unlike their Red Visa card, the charges are directly withdrawn from my checking account; and I receive a 5% discount on anything I buy…..Since my husband works for Target, I get an extra 10% team member discount…..so before I went to work that Friday, I bought my “cool air” for around $88…..I carried the relief out and had it in my car at work that day when a severe Thunderstorm ripped through our state.

Around 5:30 p.m, the lights in Wal*mart begin to flicker….and all the cashiers and managers knew it wouldn’t be long before the power went out….Furiously we tried to ring up as many customers as we could to get them out of the store before the storm hit…Then all hell broke loose…..the power shut off!  We had 30 minutes of back-up power to continue running registers….we worked in the dark as fast as we could….Very few customers left without what they came for, but some did get stuck with cart loads of things they couldn’t pay for. 

Outside, the storm showed it’s fury.  We had a large tent in the parking lot full of clearance items.  A heavy flower cart went air borne and hit a manager in the head.  The tent ripped, the poles bent and collapsed and merchandise dotted the parking lot.  Potted plants became missiles.  Mulch from around the trees relocated to the sides of the building and the sidewalks.

Inside, all available staff started cover all the open coolers and meat cases with tarps, plastic sheeting and duct tape to preserve any cold air and keep meats, cheeses and vegetables cold.  Then we went to work putting away the 25-30 cartloads of merchandise that did not make it through the checkout lines…..Within the hour, the power came back on an business went back to normal….at least in Wal*Mart……

Outside, the storm ravaged the entire state….over 1 million people lost power….thousands of trees were uprooted or snapped off

 

……cars and homes looked like they had been through a tornado….amazingly, no one was killed in our area. But the worst was yet to come…..Some people would get there power back within hours….but most had no power for days….some even went 7-9 days with no power. My new air-conditioner would sit unopened in my living room for 4 days, and even after I braved going upstairs in the dark in 100 degree heat to put it in the window, it would remain unused for another 3 days before it would feel the electricity course through it’s wiring.

The Fairgrounds became a “camp city” for electric power workers, trucks and Tree trimmers….Portable showers and semis full of bunk beds 3 high along the walls were brought in. The trucks went out early every day and came back late every night…

.

.Slowly lights came on a few houses at a time….sometimes only 3 or 4 per street…Trees were removed from streets, houses, cars and sidewalks and became mulch.

Ice, coolers, batteries, camp lights and oil lanterns were flying off the shelf faster than trucks could deliver them.  Charcoal, lighter fluid, grills and bottled water were snapped up by the cart loads.  The hum of gas operated generators  were the only sound in the night….the only exception was when the sun went down and people came out of their houses to enjoy the cooler (90 degree) temperatures.

The break for everyone was the July 4th parade and Fireworks.  Everyone lined the streets to watch children collect candy, cold bottled ice water and freeze pops.  The churches turned on hoses to keep those in the parade cool along the routes….

Then everyone flocked to the fairgrounds to eat Fair food, ride rides, play games and wait for the fireworks.

my power was out for 7 days….the people across the street were out for 9 days, as were some of the people on the same side of my street just a few houses down….It’s been 21 days and all over the city some trees still remain on houses or on the ground in yards.

Life is slowly getting back to normal.  People flocked to local agencies for disaster relief…..Families with children and the elderly (over 60) received food vouchers to replace what was lost in their refrigerators and freezers….but it was a drop in the bucket for most.

The storm wasn’t the only news….

I became a “full fledged” Wal*Mart employee on June third after 90 days with the company….The manager has given me extra hours for the past 3 weeks putting me at almost 4 straight weeks of over 38 hours each…

Throw in a baby shower for a niece, a car wreck that killed a third cousin and her unborn child and left the husband in a coma, battered and bruised, unable to bear his own weight for the next 3 months to grieve and try to rebuild his body and his soul…..the death of my husband’s only remaining uncle….and his brother who was diagnosed with skin cancer….My son lost his best friend because of rumors and lies…..another son moved from New Mexico to North Carolina where he now has 2 of his 3 children with him after years of trying to get them….My oldest grandson got a job in Florida, My oldest Grand-daughter, now speaks to me and she got a job in North Carolina because I was able to send her a copy of her birth certificate that her mother wouldn’t give her, and my youngest grand-daughter is now a licensed driver and a High School Graduate..

And football is just around the corner…..I went to the first sign ups,

and I will go to the second day of Conditioning next Tuesday….then it’s practices until August 25th when the first games are held….My store manager has already approved my amended availability to allow me to attend most of the Saturday games before 5 p.m….and told me that when I volunteer for 25 hours a quarter, I can get a $250 donation from Wal*Mart to the team/league.

I have my new spirit wear, and will probably buy more.

The good with the bad…..I will buy the things I’ve always wanted, even if it means putting things on layaway for a couple of months….

I love my job, the hours, the pay, the managers and the people I work with.

But most of all, I love my family and all of my friends, like you….that read my blogs, leave comments, pick me up when I’m depressed, make me laugh, cry with me and laugh with me.

Hugs and Love to all of you!

This is a test

This is a testThis is only a test….

I just bought a new Acer Laptop and I am trying to set up all my accounts, programs, photos, documents and e-mail accounts….

I hope this works…..

I Think I have got it

It’s been so long since I published a new blog and there is so much I can think of to write about….

I could write that I love my new job….I love the people I work for and with, I love the hours I’m getting and most of all I love finally being able to have my own money to spend on things I want.

I could write how excited I am that football starts next Monday.  All year long I wait the arrival  of the Conditioning; because that means practices and games are just around the corner and I will have a reason to push back from the computer and go outside with my camera.  This year, by volunteering a mere 25 hours a season, I can get a $250 contribution to the team from my employer.

I could write about the severe thunderstorm that came through here June 29th and knocked out everyone’s power for up to 0 days.   Mine was only out for 7, but you can’t imagine what a techie like me missed without power….the computer, Facebook, my on-line friends and just being able to upload the photos I took from my camera to the computer.

I will write abut all those things soon, I promise.  But another subject has been weighing on my mind.

Over 2 years ago, my daughter stopped talking to me.  At  first I could see and talk to my grandchildren, but things got worse a few months later and the only ones I could see were the older 2….Then came the revolution….The middle grandson threw a royal fit because he didn’t believe it was fair that the older 2 could see and talk to me and he couldn’t…..He feels as I do…an disagreement between me and my daughter should not effect the relationship between me and the grandchildren.

Eventually, right before they moved to Florida, I was able to have all the grandchildren come and spend time with me….

Then they moved away.

I can’t tell you how many times I have cried since then.  I truly miss them so much.

My daughter’s birthday is July 27th.  Last year I made a special effort to go out, buy her a card, express my feelings for her and even sent text messages to her phone along with sending the card…My hope was that she would at least acknowledge them…..My grandson sent me messages reminding me of her birthday  and I told him what I had done.  I even sent a second message so he could read it and know I was trying to mend things…

Nothing worked.

This year, I am torn between sending her a card and just giving up on the relationship we once had.  She has developed a relationship with the father who was never there her whole life….never paid a dime of child support, never changed her diaper as a baby , wiped a tear or kissed a “boo-boo”…..And for the longest time didn’t even know her birthday or who her mother was!!!  He never knew the grandchildren’s birthdays, never sent a card or a present, never attended a game , practice or school event…..or graduation.

I’m starting to think all my effort to mend things isn’t doing any good and I have been slow taking her hint….She doesn’t need me or want me in her life….So should I just give up and go on with my life without my only daughter??

The problem is,what will my grandchildren think of me if I do give up//….Already they have had less and less contact with me….I know they are growing so fast and have lives of their own…They are busy with work and school and sports….Have they also outgrown me??  Am I now only a source of money for all the things they want but my daughter can’t afford??

I need advice….Should I send the card as I always have with a note saying I miss you can’t we still be friends?  or should I just give up and give her time to miss me and hope one day she will???

I don’t know…..

Hugs and Love to all!!!

I’m Tired…..

I’m tired of being the one everyone else depends on….

To do all the work

To do all the photographs

To go to when they need something

To being the “Bank of Mom” (or grandma whichever the case may be)

To do all the shopping or run all the errands

To be the “Taxi” driver

To be the one no thinks about to call or invite out

When will it be MY time??

When will I be the one that everyone wants around just to be around?  To invite out to a dinner or movie?  To ask if there is something they can do for me???  To get something back for all the times I have helped others when they needed it? 

Without thinking twice, I have been the one to offer to help.  I give money out like it was the air we breathe…free and never ending.

I am there with the camera to take all the photos….but I am never in any of them….

I have heard “I will pay you back” so many times….but never received it….yet I still give…

I have taken people to doctor’s appointments, friend’s homes, the store and the hospital…..but if I needed to go somewhere and didn’t have a way, I had to walk.

And I am the one always at home, alone…..No one to talk to….No one to comfort me when I cry for no reason…..No one to tell me I am important to them…..

The only time I hear words of encouragement are from people I have only met through WLS or Facebook….most of them I have never met in person, only through on-line chats….And yet, these are the people who tell me how much I am valued…..

I am Tired……..Tired of thinking that the only way I will be remembered is On-line…..

Hugs and Love to all my Dear friends….

the ones who always think of me…..

The ones who read this

Graduation and car shows….

June 3rd…..

Summer is just around the corner.  The last days of school are here…..County and local fairs are a weekly occurrence now.  Work is keeping me busy with at least 30 hours a week now…and sometimes even more…..

Tomorrow, I will have 30 days remaining of my 90 trial at Wal*Mart and I haven’t had a single problem arise yet….I like my job and the people I work with….I have seen several people be walked out including one that started the same day I did….She didn’t make it 30 days!

I have missed a few things I wanted to go to; The McArthur Wild Turkey Festival, The Oak Hill Festival of Flags, The New Straitsville Moonshine Festival, and the Lancaster Memorial Day Parade…I may be able to attend one day of the Logan Washboard Festival….and if I can find it, I may make it to the Stuebenville Ohio Frontier Days…..

Next Sunday, I have a special trip coming up….The photo club is going on a private tour of the “Wilds” in Zanesville….a privately run open setting of wild animals roaming free….That should be fun…Don’t worry….”Photography Club” means camera will be in tow and all batteries will be charged with extra memory cards in tow…..

I missed my grand-daughter’s graduation in Florida….Not because I wanted to but because she found out at the last minute that they were going to et her graduate; and of course, I was working….That and I really can’t afford any trips right now….never mind one over 855 miles away with gas at almost $4 a gallon….But I have started an account to save for one at a later date.  Mean while, she sent me a photo of her first tattoo. (Before you say anything, I have one, too.) To both of us, they have our own meanings….

Her Tattoo is a symbol of her indecision and suspension between two lives.

Her graduation was bittersweet for her….First, she was graduating without her friends….She moved at the end of her Junior year, starting her Senior year among strangers.  She lived and went to school here for 8 years.  Instead of graduating in Blue with the rest of her close friends, she graduated in Green….in the evening of May 30th…Her friends graduated today at 2 p.m…..It rained at her graduation held outside; the sun shined and a gentle, sometimes strong wind prevailed today for Lancaster’s graduation….

Since I knew many of her class mates here, I decided to attend for her and take photos of some of her friends.

Stephanie (in the back ground) Victoria (also in background) Arianna (with sunglasses) and Shannon, a National Honors Society graduate with Honors

After the caps were thrown into the air, 

the bedlam of finding individuals began….I could only find Arianna who was very willing to stand for an additional photo for her “bestie” who couldn’t be there.

After graduation, I came home and uploaded the photos and  then went to the Fairgrounds with my middle son for a Custom Car Show….

the show was almost over and some cars had already left, but I was still able to get many photos of some nice rides….I hope you enjoy them…..

My son checking out the Fire truck Simon!!!! Is this your car????

Hugs and love to all!

Ouchy!

I need a keeper.

It started out as a simple task…..Raise the storm window, lower the screen to get more air flow into a stuffy, very warm living room.

I ended up in a lot of pain, a few choice words , blood everywhere and a mad dash to find bandages.

The other day on my day off I was sitting at the computer with sweat running down me and decided to open the windows….The first one was easy.  It wasn’t until I got to the second one that I decided maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to try it on my own….

Too late!

 

You never know how much you use a finger until you can’t use it…..

“No I’m not trying to give you the finger!  I’m showing you my boo, boo!”

(dang it’s hard to type and play my games like this….not to mention housework…..)

Owwwww! @#$% &*(!@!!! Banged it again!!!!

 

Hugs and love to all!!

friggin fracken cheese and crackers!!!!!

What A Week I’ve had!

Is it over yet???

This has been (excuse my language) one Hell of a week and I am ready for something good to happen.

Last Wednesday was only my second full payday since I started working again….It is nice to have money, but this week has wiped out even most of what I had already saved.

First, I go to Wilmington to pick up my youngest son who had gone down there for a few days hoping to get his truck back on the road.  I had already sent in my renewal for AAA (a road service) as I haven’t been able to afford it for 3 years and thought I may need this in the future…..I didn’t know how soon the future would be….

When my middle son and I got to Wilmington, the youngest wasn’t ready to leave yet, so my middle son and I went to their local Walmart and did a little shopping….things I needed and had put off buying for lack of funds….you know, simple things like razors to shave my hairy legs, etc.

On the way home, we had a flat tire on my car….Luckily I had one of those “Compact” spares in the car, a 4-way and a jack….and 2 able body sons to change it….When I got back home, I went to the local tire store to get a new tire….They wanted $68 for just the tire (that included mounting and balancing)….Not wanting to be totally broke, I decided to go to the local Auto salvage yard instead….There I got a practically new tire ON the rim for only $45.. Then I went home and put it on the car….

The next day, I received news that my Husband’s Aunt Helen had passed away.  She has had many illnesses over the years and had been in and out of nursing homes and hospitals for the past month….but this was a little unexpected as she went down hill very fast….She was 75. She was the youngest sibling, and the last living sibling in the family.  Of all of my husband’s aunts and uncles, I can say I knew her the best.  I have visited her home and am close to her Daughter, grand-daughter and Great-grand- daughter Emily whom you have seen photos of.

On Saturday, while at work, my cell phone fell from my pocket…..into the toilet!

Sunday, on Mother’s day….I went out as soon as the cell phone store and put the down payment on a new Smart phone. It took me from 11 a.m. until I went to work at 5 p.m. to figure out how to work the darn thing….and I’m still not sure of some things!

Monday was the Viewing for Aunt Helen.  Emily was there and within 5 seconds, she had figured out how to get to the camera on my phone and was taking photos and videos, scrolling through the photos and operating it like she had one of her own!!!  Did I mention she was only 2 years old???!

Tuesday was the funeral…..I had already told all the managers at work that I might be late going in because of the funeral, but I still called the 800 number and got Corporate permission to be late.  I told Joyce and Dawn that I would stop by the funeral home after the graveside service to pick up the flowers and photo collages I had made for them and take them to her home for the wake afterwards….

Almost hours late for work, I finally get back into town…..almost…..I have another flat tire on the other side!!  A man stops to help with the tire this time and lets the car fall off the jack on to the concrete drive where I had pulled off the road….but we get the compact spare back on….Only to have more problems before I get to work…Seams like now either an axle or the rotor is bent from the fall as it’s making one heck of a racket….But I get to work okay and no one is mad or upset at me….In fact, they are wondering why I called in after they already knew I would be late!

The next day, I was visiting with Barb and she insisted on loaning me the money for a new tire…..So I go back to the salvage yard and get the mate for the one I bought the week before…..and put it on in time to go to work again….(the racket is still there)

This morning is my Day off…..

My sister woke me up to tell me that last night MY Aunt Helen passed away!!  She had just turned 76 this year.  She had been in an Assisted living Center because she needed help remembering when to take medications, etc. She was the Youngest child in my Mother’s family.

my Aunt Shirley, Aunt Helen and my mother, Margaret. 

They say it comes in 3’s……I’m almost afraid of who will be next….

One thing I do know is this past week has been very challenging, and I am ready for it to be over…..

Is it Friday yet???

 

Hugs and love to all!