Day Forty Eight: The parade

I've never been in a parade as an adult. So, since our troop needed an adult for the scouts to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on 5th, away I went with 14 boys and Eva & Andy in tow. After waiting for 3 no shows we took the 1 into midtown and queued up along with about 800 other BSA members. After an hour wait we were off marching.

What a thrill, the route was packed with people and everyone was waving and cheering! The boys hammed up and started high fiving anyone who was willing and generally having a blast. When we finished, they were so happy, many had never been in a parade and they were glad they did this one.

After escorting some of the boys home, I got into my garden and cleared out all the debris from the fall (and a ton of cigarette butts from the college girls downstairs). All the crocuses and daffodils are up, and the grape hyacinths I planted last fall were also peeking out. When I finished, it looked so good!

All in all a good day. Marching to cheering crowds and diggin' in the dirt.

Day Forty-seven: Blue sky, oh my!

Oh boy, the sky is so blue I could sing.

Instead, I plan to head up to Yonkers to see my aunt. After calling her for a half hour, getting a steady busy, I worry. Then I get to the neighborhood. It's a war zone. Streets blocked off with huge old trees lying strewn across the roads. I zig zag around until I get to the foot of her hill and see the gigantic oak in her back yard, still standing majestic as ever. Whew!

My aunt's phone is out of commission but not her spirits. We decide to take a visit to the cemetary to visit my parents. As we're going out the door, her uncles arrive (god bless their 90 year old souls!) also worried that her phone is not working. So back inside we go, coffee for three and some family gossip.

We finally head out and reach the cemetary to find the same devastation there. Huge old trees lying like bowling pins scattered everywhere. But my parents section is untouched and the daffodils I planted last year are peeking out of the soggy earth. There are even a couple of bright yellow pansies that survived the winter and are in full bloom!

The ride home becomes a crawl when an accident shuts down the Sprain leaving us stuck for an hour after my car decides to overheat. After cooling off, I back off the road and head to a station to fill the radiator and head home. My aunt treats me to diner burgers (yum) and we end the adventure promising to do this again (minus the bad stuff) in a couple of weeks.

Funny thing about bad stuff, if you're not alone in it, it's not that bad living through it.

Day Forty-six: Enough with the rain!

Every year I suffer the same ordeal of living through the days of rain that lead to spring then summer. And that's the only thought that keeps me going: spring and summer. But after 3 torrential days I say enough!

It better live up to it's forecast for tomorrow.

Day Forty-five: I finally sell something on Craig's List

What can I say, it's alot of work!!!! But worth it.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Day Forty-four: Oh, and the celebration went well

After getting home from the court drama on Friday, I packed up all my displays for the celebration and Sarah and I headed out to the church. I have to say everything turned out well. Emily's flyer came out great and my display and scrapbook beginnings looked great as well. Everyone brought something: old books, an old uniform and first aid kit from the 1940's, photos, past programs, Troop hats, patches, etc. The Court of Honor and presentations went well, the boys had alot of fun with the merit badge contest and of course the cake and goodies were all consumed in no time.

Old-timers came from as far back as the 50's. One of the scouts, gave me a disk with movies from the 60's. I'll have to get a look at that and decide how we can get that viewed by the Troop.

Hills and valleys, that's my life.

Today was a complete and total washout, and I was pretty washed out myself, so I made some soup and chilled.

Day Forty-Three: Court part deux

Today is Alex's re-appearance in Yonkers for DWI #1. He was supposed to be a good boy and attend his TASK appointed substance abuse center weekly, but did he do this? NO!



And then he decides he's gonna sleep a little late, after all, every appearance so far has gone into the afternoon, so hey, why should he bust himself? On the way there, I tell him in no uncertain terms that if he does not grovel, beg and promise his first born child away (something I should have done a long time ago) he can forget about us harboring him anymore. Anyway, we get there and his lawyer is already in front of the judge with another client and we're barely warming our seats when he gets called.



The judge asks for his TASK report and of course there isn't one, much less a favorable one (which is what he's looking for). His lawyer does some posturing (he's real good at that) and excuses Alex because he's working so hard to help his family pay the rent (what a hoot!). So the prosecutor pipes up that he's a risk, what with the additional DWI and now no cooperation and asks to raise his bail to $1000. The judge just shakes his head and then locks eyes with Alex.



He says to him, "Son, I am not going to comply with the prosecutor's request. I am going to give you 30 days to get yourself a positive report, and if you don't, there will be no bail or fines, you are going to jail. Now go and make sure you show up with that report next month."



I think Alex is finally a little shaken, and thanks me for coming with him. I drop him off at the facility so he can make an appointment for Monday and wait. He comes out all pissy. The director has refused to allow him back and gives him another facility to go to. He announces, "Yeah, and he says I owe him money for the last few times I went, what an ass, that's all he cares about is money"

I don't respond to his tirade and send him silent daggers of disapproval.

We'll see what happens Monday.....

Day Forty-two: In between

OK, yesterday wasn't too bad. I mean, the prosecutor was asking for a misdemeanor and fines over $2000. So considering, it looks like maybe we'll catch a break.

Anyway, I'm doing the finishing touches on the displays for tomorrow's 90th Anniversary celebration for my Troop, so I'm off.

Day Forty-one: We go to court

So today is Alex's appearance in Bronx Criminal for DWI #2, again. I had to take a few days off to steel myself for this one. Last time we waited all day for his court appointed lawyer to show up, who then proceeded to piss of the court clerk and the judge. But, he did get a postponement for today.

After sitting through the morning session with no sign of the guy (his name is Mr. Mechanic if you can believe that, maybe he was working on a car!), we break for lunch (2 under the umbrella) and stroll down to see the progress on old YS. It's about 1/3 dismantled and it just made me sad.

Finally after lunch he comes swirling in. So he has a conference with the judge and prosecutor and they decide to wait and see what happens in Westchester (yes, DWI #1), with his lawyer asking for dismissal if the outcome is favorable.

Gotta love justice, it ain't swift and probably is blind.....

Day Forty: Off again......

Day Thirty-nine: Still off.......

Day Thirty-eight: I'm off line for a while.....

Day Thirty-seven: I sleep late

Whew! Lots going on, so I slept until 10:30 today. Must be a record or something!

Trying for normalcy, I roast our favorite chicken recipe with veggies and herbs. Comes out great! Sarah and I watch 'A League of Their Own' (I cry alot) which makes the day better. That and a hint of light at 6:00 makes us very happy!

Day Thirty-six: Can you spell bankrupcy?

So this is where we're headed. Quite a trip.

But, Allan says, don't worry baby, everything will be all right.

Gotta love him.

Day Thirty-five: It's a blur

Alright. I know. I'm behind on the rent, again. My consolidation payment is due and my hopes of selling the car have been dashed.



I got it. I'm not going to win.

Day Thirty-four: So what have I learned to date?

I've learned that hard work may only net you some backaches and the knowlege that you did it. That investing in possessions won't help you in a time of need. Worry leads nowhere. Money is a dangerous subject in relationships of any kind. Making plans for the future doesn't ensure they will come to fruition, despite any hard work you may apply (see item 1). Counting on a sure thing is impossible, there is no such thing as a sure thing.

And last, being a good person will not ensure happiness or success in your life.

Day Thirty-three: No action

I'm stuck in this terrible place of no momentum. Started when I got chillin recently and I just can't seem to get going again!

Gotta work this out.

Day Thirty-two: Tax (wo)man

Oh yeah, so I told my brother in law I'd do his taxes. Today he shows up with all his stuff and wants to know how soon it will get done. Better than last year when he showed up at 6pm April 15th. So I roll my eyes, and tell him I'll see what I can do.

Ha! I pull out the free Torbo Tax (he's eligible) blow through both returns and efile in 2 hours. Call him up, tell him he's filed and should get his refunds in 2 weeks.

He thinks I'm a genius.

Someday I'll tell him.....

hahahahahaha!

Day Thirty-one: Still chillin'

Hey, I could get to like this. Ok, I did some stuff, cleaned a bit, picked up stuff from Freecycling, but mostly I chilled.

Watched the US/Canada hockey game, great game, US lost but to mighty opponents.

Off day for me, no particular thoughts.

So I say g'nite.

Day Thirty: Chillin'

Today I'm chillin'. Not for lack of heat, don't have that problem. I have a couple of freecycles coming to pick up and I'm flat broke, so even going out for a drive is prohibitive for lack of gas. So I'm staying in and not tackling a thing.

It's a skill I've never had but recently have tried out. It's ok, but I indulge rarely. Spinning like a whirling dervish is more my speed.

But, today I am indulging,

and just chillin'.

Day Twenty-nine: Big Snow

Yay! We easily got 12-15"! I now officially declare that we had a winter!

While shoveling in the morning I scooped up a pigeon buried in the snow, probably on his way to freezing. So my neighbor and I made a little place for him under a garbage pail cover and I brought him some bird seed. By the afternoon, he was looking better and by evening he was gone.

Don't really love pigeons but I couldn't just let him freeze to death like that.

Sometimes little gestures from someone can make a big difference in another person's life.

Day Twenty-eight: Snow, rain, snow, rain, slush, ice, snow

So far it's been an interesting mix of weather and after scraping slush off the front of my place twice, it starts to snow in earnest. That's where I stop, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Day Twenty-seven: Happy Anniversary

Today is my 22nd Wedding Anniversary. Can't believe how fast time has flown. I remember and love the instant I fell in love with Allan, the crinkly feeling I got when we were pronounced man and wife, and all the moments that got us to this point.

We don't make a big deal about it lately and I think we even let it pass last year (well, it wasn't such a great year). So this morning after paying the bills (in and out it goes), food shopping (doing my creative best to save money) and loading the laundry in the car I discovered I had a near flat. I felt so defeated, I mean, c'mon, can't I catch a break??? Sitting in the laundry now, sulking away and the cell rings. It's Allan, "hey Happy Anniversary, didn't want you to think I forgot". So I tell him my tale of woes and he just chuckles and says don't worry about it.

And the sky clears and somehow everything gets a little better.

Tonight we feasted on my $2.99/lb prime ribs, on a tablecloth with cloth napkins and candlelight and we both know why we're still in love with each other.

Day Twenty-six: The bottomless pit

Help! I've fallen and can't get up. That's what I feel like sometimes. If only there were a little box I could wear to help me out of my situation. That would be nice.

Dug into the serious business of cleaning the office. Oh, I know, all the big stuff got organized, but now it's time to clean out.....the files....OH NO:O I'm taking it one shelf/drawer at a time. Actually got 2 done today, generated a whole bag of paper for recycling tomorrow. Don't have a clue why I was keeping half the stuff, and the other half was duplicates of stuff I already have because I can never find anyplace to put stuff, there's no room, so I reprint something because I can't find the first one. So my plan is to ditch all the excess, make room to organize what I have and then when I need to put something away, there will be a place for it.

Until I run out of room. Oh well, keeps me out of trouble.

AI was dreary at best tonight. The ladies really fell short. Even my favorites.

That's all for tonight, maybe tomorrow will be a bit better.

Day Twenty-five: Usefulness

Today I helped a friend. Rather than generate my own usefulness , I became useful. I like that. I have been feeling that my usefulness has become like a forgotten coat in the back of a closet. No one ever digs back there to find it and use it. Only I know it's there and drag it out for my own use.

I need to get my usefulness out there.

Day Twenty-four: I Freecycle all day, dinner out

So today, I spent my day freecycling and craigslisting, in search of a computer desk and bookshelves. I was also homesitting, waiting for two pick ups that ended as no shows. Hate that, the stuff's for free for God's sake, at least be on time! Both are rescheduled for tomorrow, if they don't show, off to Unique it will go.

After setting up food for the crew, I'm off to my friend Sara's to watch a documentary on Julia and then a yummy dinner:D Also lots of commiserating about our kids, our lives, the world, all that junk that clutters our minds. Good to offload the junk and upload good food!

Day Twenty-three: Homebound

Today I stay in. Clean, scrub, cook.

Day Twenty-two: We re-do Alex's room

I'm minding my own business (emails, job posts, etc) when Alex announces he's ready to re-do his room, after scoring a new dresser and table on Freecycle. So first we drag everthing out that's in there, dust and vacuum the trim and rug and re-center it, and then we're ready to re-habitate it. We decide to flip the furniture to take advantage of the better plug on the opposite wall. We then weed through the books and ditch about half of them (off to Freecycle) and decide the light wood half shelf in my office is a better alternative (and I score a full shelf unit to further organize my stuff). Then we cannibalize the old chest of drawers that had 2 drawers broken and move the new chest in, along with the old computer set up (an old steamer trunk and storage box) to use until I can score a computer table on Freecycle. Last is the TV on my light wood printer stand (I take the old black one with a missing leg), the new side table and his small chest of drawers (awaiting something from Freecycle that comes along) and voila! we're done.

It's good to move furniture.

Day Twenty-one: Clean the office!

I'm looking for something...whack...jeez! as I climb over the obstacle course I call an office.

OK! That's it, time to round up all this stuff and organize. 4 cases of jars, 2 crates of picture frames, 2 crates of candles and supplies, an old secretary desk needing refinishing, bags of old lace, books, art supplies, an air conditioner, a tub of stuff for the auction, two crates of BSA files, an easel, a tripod, a camp chair, a bag of camping stuff, a tub of Easter decorations, a fax machine, a bag of emergency clothes, Allan's gym bag and a basket of old pictures. And that's the stuff that has no home. There are already shelves, files, tables and a desk filled with stuff.

So, I scout out looking for a place to put all this. Aha! The back stairway closet. I re-shuffle and organize, move out the plant stuff, pots, soil and watering cans. These come back to the office under the plant table. Great. Next all the candle jars, candles and supplies take the plant stuff's place. Then I weed through the frames and ditch about a dozen (they'll get Freecycled) and reorganize the rest into one box. The secretary moves back, partly blocking the plant table but out of the way. The AC gets upended and moved against the wall, decoration box on top, basket of pictures to it's side. The bag of lace (to be laundered next week) goes into the closet, the fax and auction stuff fit nicely on top of the one box of frames and the tripod, easel, camp chair and bag of camping stuff now fit in the previously cluttered corner. The emergency bag goes back into the car and the books get weeded and either put away or into the car for Unique.

Whew! Done.

Day Twenty: Payday

Ok, so every Wednesday is payday. The money comes in, the money goes out, and then some. Oh well.

So, I've now passed my 11th month unemployed. Sheesh! It just seems like I've never ever worked. I can't remember anymore what the routine was like, what I did on a daily basis, what the crises were all about, who I was in my work. I just know who I am now; a slightly accomplished, creative homemaker, waking up every morning with a thought in my head that I'm forgetting to do something as I slog through my routine.

It's either Alzheimers or my mind is hoping to get back to work.

Day Nineteen: More snow, YAY!

As promised, it snows again. So ashovelin' I go. This stuff is real fluffy but wet, and the ground is wet, too, so it just slushes up on the sidewalk. We end up with about 6 inches and it does a nice job of covering up the last snow which had turned all grey and icky.

In between, I spend my time working on the budget (again), trying to cut off anything not essential so we can try to keep ahead of the bills. Wishful thinking. Next stop is selling off anything we don't need. Hello Craigs List.

Anyway, I now know what prompts people to sell all kinds of weird stuff at flea markets. Who knows, I may end up there myself.

Day Eighteen: Monday, Monday

Here we are, the start of a new work week and I'm not working.

I fear this will go on forever.....

Day Seventeen: The Valentine's Day that wasn't

Rise and shine!

Time to feed the masses again. Then pack up and set out home. I get to haul the garbage (yuk), but luckily Nikki lives nearby so I dump it off in her bin and ride home with the windows open to air out.

Once home, I unpack, wash all the dishes left in the sink, read and respond to the mountain of emails that have accumulated over the past two days and make arrangements to pick up that little drop leaf desk in LIC. So, I ask Alex to help me. When we get out there, I realize that it's a little bigger than I remembered and it weighs a ton! Alex and I struggle getting it to the car and shove it in (after I get about 5 splinters and we break the top piece off). Yikes! It's 3" too long and the hatch won't close. So we bungee the hatch down as much as we can and pray all the way home that it won't slide out. We all arrive intact and Allan helps to get it upstairs.

It was worth it, though. Even though I haven't decided where I'm putting it, and it needs a lot of work, it is exactly what I wanted. Under a horrible staining job I can see the beautiful grain of the wood set in a V pattern and although the drawer pulls need to be replaced, it will be a knockout when I finish with it. I figure about $50 worth of supplies and a lot of elbow grease should do the job. Gotta keep busy!

Oh, and PS, Happy Valentine's Day!

Day Sixteen: The Wintoree

Time to wake up, wake up, wake up. Get Sarah up. Remember all the stuff, pack the car, stop at the bank, get lunch and off we go! We're a half hour behind schedule, but make up time on the Taconic, and arrive ten minutes late.

All in all, everything runs pretty well. We start half an hour behind schedule but seem to work around it. My morning is filled with the Art MB and with the trusty help of Sarah, Dianna and Emily, and the cooperation of my 7 students, we breeze through and finish on time. Then a Camping MB, partially completed. Lunch. More Camping MB's that run in to my cooking time, so we work over the stove. Things are starting to come together for dinner and everyone seems to be right on schedule. YAY!

The 6:00 bell rings and everything is hot and ready to serve. After feeding all 66 hungry folks, we dig in over the sink. After seconds, we end up with very little (which is great!), pack up and start preparing for the 8:30 ceremonies. So out come the cakes and cracker barrel treats to get ready for round 2 of feeding.

By 10:30, I'm pooped and ready for my sleeping bag and squeaky cot.

All in all, a great success, got to see old friends, have a few laughs, help the boys accomplish a lot and celebrate our 100th Anniversary, promotions and one more Wood Badger! Not Bad.

Day Fifteen: Gettin' ready....

Today is the last day to prep for the Wintoree. So far all my Art supplies are packed, meatballs are made, sleeping bags are found. Next, on to the laundromat for the weekly wash (and something to pack in the suitcase). Then home to make the vodka sauce. Pack clothes, Sarah's stuff, the camera, paperwork, pots, pans, utensils, pasta, etc, etc, etc.

Then on to the meeting; last minute check of who's going, who's paid, getting people rides and last minute changes (as always). Then home.

So, all week, we've been waiting for the publication of the actual schedule. After sending our Advancement Chair the last minute cancellations, well, it'll be another hour before he's done. Finally at 10pm it arrives. EEEEK! It's a mess. Forget sloppy, it makes no sense! So, I dig in. By 1am I'm falling asleep at the keys. And I've got to get up at 5:30. I make a grown up decision. Let it be. I print out what I got and go to bed. ZZZZZZZ!

Day Fourteen: Time to dig out!

OK, so I wanted snow! Well, digging out the morning after (with lots of ice) has to be the all time lesson of 'Be careful what you wish for'. Anyway, it's still pretty and the sun came out to help with the work so no major complaints.

Started working on the Wintoree food, got the meatballs done (all 160 of them) and into the freezer.

Another lackluster day searching for work and off to bed (shovelling and cold air makes for sleepyheads).

Day Thirteen: SNOW!

Bound to happen, odds in our favor, a SNOW DAY!

Ok, so it technically isn't a blizzard as the continuous coverage insists. At least not what I would call a blizzard. But, sustained snow over a 24 hour period equals a snow storm. We netted about 10-12 inches of really wet heavy stuff (shovelling three times over the course of the day I can testify to that). Got out, shot some pix, loved it.

Thanks Mama Nature!

Day Twelve: More of the same and a score

SSDD, but, I did a great score on Freecycle. Got a brand new dresser and side table for the boy. Also found a great little secretary desk and arm chair at the same location which we'll have to go back for. Will need work a bit, but both are real pretty and old (that is, made when people used real wood) so I'll have something to do for a few days! Yay!

Love free stuff!

Day Eleven: Ditto

So, it was a ditto day. No possibilities on the horizon. Oh well...

Day Ten: Hooray for Underdogs!

So, busy today.

Scout Sunday and then on to the kitchen for the traditional Superbowl spread. Buffalo chicken wings (the original recipe), Artichoke dip, Sausage & black bean nachos, Chili, assorted chips, dips and other dangerously fattening food. Oh, and lots of veggies for dipping as well.

And, then the game. The Saints won! 5 point underdogs (hmmmm that number five keeps popping up) and a great game, halftime and commercials (I especially liked the dress down day one- no clue what it was advertising, but a good laugh)

Sometimes, other's success can be an inspiration. Now, how do you translate an onside kick into everyday life???

Day Nine: No snow

So, this is what my life feels like lately. Promised something and then just a big no show. OK, be like that. I can live without the cold, shovelling, salting, scraping windshields and the like. But, what fun is there without feeling a snowflake melting on your face, listening to that special sound of snow falling in the hush of night, the feeling of being bound in your little home, warm and snug against the fierce cold outside? Nothing, believe me.

Day Eight: A Standstill

Ok, so after 10 months, I've come to a standstill.

Will keep you posted.

Day Seven: A walk back in time

In case you didn't know, one of my personal passions is Troop 240, a Boy Scout unit that I have had the pleasure to be part of for the past 10 years. We are celebrating our 90th Anniversary this year and are planning a party at the end of this month.

The Committee has decided to present the Troop with a commemorative plaque, listing all the Scoutmasters of the Troop. Problem is our records are a bit sketchy at best. After calling and asking as many people as we could, it was decided that the Church, our charter organization may have some information in their records. So, today I planned to dig through old files at RPC with my co-conspirator Emily, looking for any Troop 240 history we could find.

It took us about 4 hours, but were successful with a few pieces of history. It was also very interesting to see some of the Church's history as well, which dates back to 1863! We came across some bulletins called 'Here & There' published during 1943-1945 which were dedicated to giving info about the RPC community, both at home and all the 'boys' overseas, fighting in WWII. What a time it was, so much sacrifice, worries, loss.

Puts perspective on everything. Even for this whining grown woman.

Day Six: I apply for a job with The Fund

One of my morning rituals is to get online and check my mail to see if any of my job applications have gotten a response, then I check the websites where I've posted my resume, hoping to see if anything even distantly familiar to my work experience has appeared, just waiting for me to apply. Then I go to Craig's List. Then I get depressed. Sometimes, a job appears that looks interesting/challanging and I apply. Then I get either no response, or worse a polite response that 'although your resume shows extensive work experience we really don't want you'. Then I get depressed.

Today, I was at the bottom of the barrel, Craig's list. Lo and behold, I see an interesting job. Citizen Outreach Director, The Fund for the Public Interest. Basically a canvassing job, but working for groups like the Sierra Club, helping these folks and others to keep our planet clean and safe for future generations. So I go to the application page and fill out about a dozen pieces of information, tell them why I want to work for them and I'm done.

Should have known better. Later, I go back in and start reserching these guys. Seems they chew through 'trainees' pretty regularly and have been cited with unscrupulous wage practices. Anyway, long story short, if they call me for an interview, I will decline. But, now knowing their hiring practices, I probably won't get called as they tend to prey on college students, so that leaves me out.

So that's my 5% lesson today. Live and learn!

Day Five: I recandle

So, after putting this off for a day, I pulled out all my candling stuff and set out to sort my booty of unwanted candles I've collected over the past few weeks. I definitely have a lot of candles!

I decided that I would do the RWB candles first for my Troop (they use them for their Induction Ceremonies). Got the red done and have melted and seived the white. Decided I need to get more blue dye as I only have a couple of old blue ones, so blue will have to wait until I get the dye. I'll start the white tomorrow after the reds are solid (have only 1 taper candle mold that produces 8 candles). And now that I think about it, maybe I'll get another candle mold as well.

Dinner became my next priority and then AI, and that's all folks!

Day Four: I fall down

Uh-oh. I didn't do what I said I would do. Getting off track!

Warning...Danger, Will Robinson...

Ok, I didn't recandle today. But I did clean out my files on the little ole laptop, paid bills (actually just 1), went to the bank, returned a tablecloth, dropped off stuff at Unique and found some great reading, and picked up a Freecycle score (big box of awesome lace trim). Then I came home, shot some portrait pix of me, found a couple of really good relish recipes and made meatloaf.

So tomorrow, I will be recandling from dawn to dusk.

Must.....keep.....to.....schedule.....Must.....not.....become.....house.....potato.

G'nite!

Day Three: I bounce back

OK, so I guess I'll be paying off this tax bill for a while, I just hope they don't put me in irons, or take my first born (although that might actually work for me).

Anyway,

I just realized that probably no one is reading this stuff (per my daughter, the in house expert) which means I have to get out there and advertise, or at least beg and con my faithful and patient family & friends to peek in.

And, I cannot and will not be downed by this latest development. Starting tomorrow I will be re-candle-ing all day. What's that you ask? One of the nifty skills I picked up recently. I recycle candles. I take you worn, used, broken candles and turn them into new, better versions of themselves. I guess you can call me the Lady Liberty of all things wax. Or, The Recandler!

So that's where I'll be. In the kitchen, recandling.

Happy melting!

Day Two: I do my taxes

What made me think being unemployed would gain me a tax refund? Silly rabbit, tax refunds are for rich people who have expensive accountants, not poor unemployed dodos like me.

More tomorrow.

Too depressed.

Day One: I feel forgotten

So, I'm now heading into my 10th month of unemployment, (and heading deeper, deeper into debt). What did it tell me when the traditional 26 weeks got extended in increments of 6 until I'm now 'covered' for 60 weeks? Sure gives me lots of confidence when I apply for a job at half my former salary; and when I get told I'm overqualified, it makes me wish I didn't spellcheck my cover letter.

I am just one of the forgotten 5. That 5% over the national average of unemployment that cropped up this past 2 years. Are you one of them too?

OK, so at first, I kinda liked the open timeslots, freedom from rigid schedules and availablility to my family and friends. In between brainstorming a new resume, digging up connections and signing up on every job website, I cleaned my home like it never was before, organized, budgeted, downsized, donated, sold off, learned skills, visited family and friends, did all the 'if only I had the time' things on my life list and meditated. (Yes, I actually sat still here and there!)

But, to be honest, my family is sick of me, I have nothing left to give away, my donations haven't helped me on my tax return and I have no more items on my wish list. So, technically, I'm bored.

If you're in the same situation, maybe we could get together and start a grassroots effort to bring our boredom to national attention. Or maybe not.

Let me know.

PS, If you're looking for stuff to do, I can probably give you about 6,000 suggestions. Since I've tried all of them, I can even advise the most fun/interesting.