59 A lull in the storm

Today I decided to be wealthy.

I went through my various unemployment debit cards and bank account and was a bit happier than I was before. (Lesson #2--Take responsibility for your money.)  My husband continues to get service calls, so it looks like this month we'll pull through.

I got two applications done, one handed in, and the other one proof-read. I also got a phone call to see if I'd be able to substitute again next week, for two days.

I should have had both done yesterday, and handed in then, just because sometimes, time is a factor in the decision to hire. I still have the Park and Rec one to do.

And I got the official brush off from the library; it came in my email this time. Save them the trouble of mailing out a card.

I looked on the internet about the air scent company; it looks like a good company, but one that I would expect the owner to save more money by doing the stuff himself.  I haven't called back--I don't trust something about it.  I need to talk to Tina (the one who recommended me) about it.

Today I decided to be wealthy.

47 Paperwork fills the day

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Today I worked on finding and making copies of the documents I need for NeighborImpact's verification for us to be able to stay in the house a bit longer. I went to the library and to the copy shop.  I also went to a gym to find out about fees, and one of the companies I applied to on-line had a job come open here, and I needed to go to the library and use a computer to update/complete the job application.

Right now, I appreciate not having an outside job, as I'm able to work on the verification documents.

I found all but four of them, which are dated the same two months, so I suspect that they're together, in some strata of papers from January and February.

Bedtime now. I'll look tomorrow.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Day 41 Tonight I went to an event

Today I decide to be wealthy.

I didn't get much sleep last night.  I snore, and that keeps my husband awake who then keeps me awake, and finally I went down and tried to sleep on the futon couch, and had a cat keeping me awake.  I tried putting it outside, but the other one came in, so I was exchanging one for the other.

I went to the school and shelved books for a short while, and got a few groceries, cleaned up the kitchen a bit--we're expecting company tomorrow afternoon. My husband had work today.

I paid $100 on the hospital bill, on-line, using my unemployment card. I didn't get a confirmation number, but then, it didn't come off the card, either. The morgage company sent a letter, saying that they hadn't received last month's payment.  That's still being covered by OSHI, as far as I know.  We've been turning in the paperwork.

The library had it's "Novel" event tonight, and I went to it.  Wealthy people go to events all the time, especially cultural ones, where there's food and drink.  The were little tiny slider sandwiches, chopped up fruit, some cheese (I took a chunk of brie), and stuffed mushrooms.  While I sitting on a chair, eating, one of the library staff came by.  She'd been on the interview committee the one and only time I'd been interviewed for a library job, and it was she who met with me afterwards at my request and informed me that I didn't come across as a "go-getter." 

I complimented her on the party, and she complimented me on the color of tee-shirt I was wearing.  I told her that she always looks stunning and the conversation went into flattery.  So now she'll probably pitch my application.

Everybody in Bend dresses out of their closet, which is to say that I wasn't dressed any worse than anyone else, except people who have my type of skin on their necks and the same amount of flab on my arms cover them up.  People wore blue jeans of different vintages, all worn, and very few women wore nice dresses.  One young woman wore a dressy outfit of different shades of silver and grey, including a scarf shawl that had shining silver threads running through it, and carried a silver pocketbook.  A child, probably about nine years old, wore a purple fedora and carried a classical Madi Gras clown mask, which he held in his hands and would hold up to his face as if to hide behind it.  (I guess he was a boy.)

I met a couple of people there, one I stood in line with,  Toni, who is involved with the Quiltworks, and a couple whose names I've seen around town--Blankenship.  They were now retired, and he wanted to sit while his wife went to the front to see what the book would be.  Afterwards, I met a woman who lives in my neighborhood and is also in the neighborhood association.

The book?  Rules of Civility.  The follow-up events will start in April, which gives most people time to read a copy before then.

It was very nice, to be in the library, in the evening, surrounded by so many people and so much cheerful energy.  It was very nice to return home, too.  My husband is still at work, and I still have more to do to get ready for tomorrow.

Today I decide to be wealthy.




Book of Mormon lesson:  Last night.  I was reading about the wars, the sons of Helaman, and thought about how to get out of my financial mess.  There was one group of soldiers who had gone off to 7escort prisoners, who returned in the nick of time to help turn the tide of a battle.  Alma 57:17.  Things didn't happen the way that they'd planned, but things turned out fine.  I hope that things will turn out fine for me too.

Day 40 Library application deadline was at 2 p.m.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

I got the application in to the library for Materials Services Specialist, which is a fancy name for book shelver.  The job description included being able to twist, bend, reach up and lift up to 30 pounds and manipulate a two tier library cart.  I have been applying to the library for jobs ever since I was fired from Fred Meyer. It seems that there is a job opening every eight months or so.  I've had one interview, and the rest of the time, my applications result in a post card that says that the position has been filled.  This one, though, because of my more recent work experience, which involved twisting, bending, reaching up and lifting heavy materials, seemed made to order for me.

I didn't realize that the position would involve Sunday work, working during Sacrament meeting.

If I get the Touchmark job, I'll have worship time on Sunday, as they'd adjust the schedule, so they said, and if I work at Touchmark, there would be a wider variety of stuff to do, including sewing, shoveling sidewalks, etc.  I'd also be paid less.

Actually, all this is speculation, as I don't have an interview with the library (yet), and Touchmark hasn't called me back with a job offer.  And what if Touchmark offers me a job, and I take it, and the library calls me for an interview and there's a time conflict?   And what if Park and Rec calls with a job? (Preferably not the midnight to 6:30 a.m. one.)

Can I make things any more stressful in my imagination?  Will reality be as I imagine it, or worse?

Back to the library application.  I've had two weeks--two weeks--to work on it, and I was doing the resume and cover letter and application starting on the day before yesterday, and did the essays today.  My middle daughter called to say hi, and asked how I was doing, and I almost started crying because I was stressed out about the essays.  There are five questions about my experiences with customer service that have to be answered.  "Describe your experience, education and/or training in customer service."  "Give an example of an excellent customer service experience and one that was ineffective.  Explain why one was excellent and the other ineffective."  "Give examples that demonstrate your ability to work independently with minimal supervision." And there were two more.  She and the ward employment specialist helped me as I sent them copies on-line of what I was writing, and they proof-read and sent them back.  It took four hours to do the essays, not counting getting up at 2 a.m. to jot down some notes.  Why do I do this to myself, to wait so long?  I could have been doing them on Facebook with the girls and friends last week.

And then the printer started printing purple ribbons and streaks on the papers.  I had my two pages of essays, I needed one copy of each page for the application, and I prayed and got one copy each for each page, streak and ribbon free.

The application had a cover letter, resume, the application itself, and additional page of work experience, a signed approval for criminal background check (all which I had ready last night) and the two pages of essays.

I got the whole thing to the library office ten minutes before dead line. The receptionist went through the papers, saw what was there, said it was complete, and thanked me for bringing it in.

And then I wept with relief and gratitude on my drive home.

Today I decide to be wealthy.