Friday ...

Oops, I told Amy I'd head right over to Blogger and set up my account.

Guess I'll do that in a few ... lol. One last Multiply blog, for old time's sake. Hehe ...

*****

Went to get my prescription refilled today. On the way it started to snow. Nothing big, a few flakes here or there. Melted as soon as they touched a surface. But definitely the first snow of the year.

Got home to read online that the road commission is laying off half of their employees ... that'll leave only 50 employees to drive the snow removal trucks this winter.

Which means it's going to be one long winter here!!

Add that no one ever remembers (well almost no one) how to drive in the snow ... I'm soooo not looking forward to dodging dodgy drivers on icy roads.

Gonna be fun!

*****

Then I get home to Single Son in one of his talkative moods. And I mean talkative!! LOL! Not something he usually is, that's for sure.

Then again, he was ticked off. See, he more than goes out of his way to be helpful to the Wrecking Crew ... "can you roll me a few packages of cigarettes" they ask (we all roll our ciggies here, it's cheaper) ... "can you sit Grandson for a few hours while I work" asks DIL of him, "oh, I left my laundry in the dryer, can you fold it and put it on our bed" she calls from work to ask Single Son ... yet he took a cookie (without permission) that DIL had baked  and got himself reamed a new arsehole for it. I told him he's a fool for doing *anything* for them, considering the way they take advantage of people!

Then again ... he verified that in fact they are looking for a new place to live. I wondered aloud how they think they're going to get a place, considering his recent truck repossessions they'll need a co-signer to rent - and his never having entered into a rental contract before. I'm NOT putting my name on any legal documents of theirs, and I highly doubt my ex would either.

I wish 'em luck ... they're going to need it.

But they are leaving ... one way or the other, they're leaving ... I'm fed up.

To those of you who have offered a reminder to me should I ever say they can move back a third time ... I told Single Son about your kind offers and he said you'll have to get behind him in line ... he has offered to shoot me should that ever happen.

But it won't ... really!!

And I'll have my blog entries here on Multiply to act as reminders as to why it will never happen.

Oh, that reminds me ... blog ... time to go set up my new blog at Blogger. Amy, you said it's possible to import blog entries to multiply right? I don't wanna forget my multiply buddies, ya know?

Thursday (already)

My, my ... where does the week go?

And here I'm up way too early. I've been up since 5 AM. That's what I get for going to bed early last night. Three or four hours a night is about all I can sleep anymore. This sucks. It's gotta change. I'm sure part of it is stress. Or all of it, who knows?

Weird thing is I try not to stress when I'm awake. I mean, as bad as things have been lately, they could always be worse, right?

It's that silver lining my Gigi (grandmother) taught me to always look for. Okay, so it's a bit tarnished presently ... but it's still there ...

*****

Single Son is up to his old tricks again. Practical jokes ... or serious, it's hard to tell with him.

He was out working in the yard yesterday when supposedly the fool from next door (the one whose yard was hit hard by my recent tree disaster) approaches him. As Single Son tells it, the neighbor asked "who is that old lady that lives in your house", to which dear Son replies "oh, she's just my mom. She's not entirely with it, if you know what I mean, She's pretty harmless and doesn't usually hurt others, but we do lock her in her room just to be safe".

Now, you and I know he was joking around ... the only problem seems to be that the neighbor he was talking to doesn't exactly possess an I.Q. high enough to recognize humor unless it's the Three Stooges.

This is the same neighbor who thought it was up to us to take care of his lawn up to the side of his house, so his side yard when untouched for two years. Hello Dumbass, we're not in the trailer park any more! You are to mow up to the property line, not the side of the neighbors house. Oy! Oh, and he's the neighbor that a few years ago called the cops on us all the time because I had Married Son remove a dangerous branch that hung over our driveway - the tree was on his property ... and he called and called for really piddly stupid things until the cops recognized he was only nit-picking out of revenge and they told him to stop harassing us.

So now they think I'm totally mental. This could be a good thing, really. Maybe now their kids will stay out of my yard or stop slicing golf balls in the direction of our vehicles.

However, Single Son needs to realize that not everyone gets his dry sense of humor.

*****

I'm debating if I want to go back to bed for an hour or two, or if I just get up now, get dressed and head up to Target to refill my prescription. I'm thinking of a flu shot, too, but doubt they'll let me get it since I've had a sore throat for the last day or two.

Hmmmm, bed wins ... but only because Single Son just came into my room to tell me he's got to be in traffic court by 9 AM (remember he's a cop, they go to court a lot, LOL) ... and did I need the car before noon?

Election Day

And I'm sooooo glad it's over!

One more nasty political commercial and I would have screamed bloody murder! Don't know about you, but the majority of the candidates here in Michigan were dirty players this year ... only a small handful refused to play that game. Not surprising that they won whatever they were running for ... I think we're all sick of the mud slingers, nay sayers, and creeps who partake in it.

Ah well, we've got, what ... a year? ... until the campaigning for the 2012 elections start. Enjoy the quiet while it lasts!!

I'm happy with the new governor we will have here in Michigan ... Rick Snider, better known as "One Tough Nerd" ... he wants to "re-invent Michigan" ... and from his ten step plan, I do think he is on the right track ... we can't save the "old" Michigan ... but we sure as hell can re-invent it!

I went to vote and DILs dad was a few people in front of me. He asked if DIL had voted yet, I told him I didn't think so. What I should have told him was the conversation she and I had not twenty minutes earlier in the aisles of the grocery store where we bumped into each other ... pretty sad conversation at that. She asked if it was a presidential election ... Hullo?? Are you serious (yes, very) ... and I told her no ... it was a mid-term election (she didn't know what mid-term meant) and that we were casting our votes for the new governor of Michigan. "I don't know who the candidates are, so I guess I won't vote." To which I replied "then don't bitch one word to anyone if you don't like the changes that will be made. Not voting revokes your right to bitch about it".

*****

I've been doing some marathon video viewing. It took me a few days, but I watched the entire boxed set of "Keeping Up Appearances". That's including not only all of the episodes but the extras, the interviews, behind the scenes, and out takes, too.

Tonight I could either have started all over again, OR spent time reading my copy of "Hyacinth Bucket's Book of Etiquette for The Socially Less Fortunate". Yes, I chose to read the book.

I found the "Hyacinth Bucket Book of Cookery" online quite a while back. I printed out all two hundred pages (two ink cartridges later!!) ... and have been browsing through it, too. Some of the recipes sound soooo yummy!

I even ordered the "Hyacinth Bucket's Hectic Social Calendar" book today on amazon.com. I tell ya, those free $5 gift cards I have earned from swagbucks.com sure have come in handy!! Not an hour after I ordered it, the seller shipped it off! I can't wait! I've wanted that book forever ... yes, I'm a Hyacinth addict!! And I bought it for 88 cents (plus 3.99 S&H). What a deal!!

So I guess I know why I've had strange dreams these last few days ... ummmm, nights ... about Hyacinth, her home, and biscuit recipes of all things. American breakfast biscuits, not British biscuits (cookies to us). And that I know the difference shows I'm an addict! LOL!

Now I think I need to see a professional to analyze this addiction I have to all things Hyacinth (besides the fact that my mother possesses quite a few Hyacinth traits).

*****

Geesh, I need a life!!

I still haven't heard from that one company ... Target, by the way ... but from my understanding they do take their time getting back to applicants, especially when it's for seasonal workers (for which I applied). I'm guessing they just don't want to start paying seasonals until just before the holiday season begins. LOL.

In the meantime, I've also applied to about three dozen other retail places. Somethings gotta give sooner or later.

And the sooner the better.

Married Son and I are at odds again. We rarely speak, and when we do it ends in harsh words being spoken. I'm selfish (don't you know) because I demand they pay certain bills in exchange for rent. And of course, I call them selfish because not only is it a fight to get his share of the bills paid - but there's a new (new to them) truck sitting in my driveway. Now, I know he needs a vehicle, but priority says pay the heat bill FIRST (and not saying "gee, Mom, I don't have it this month"). He claims it was a repayment for a debt from a former friend of his, but I really don't believe that.

They don't think I've noticed, but you'd have to be a total moron to not see that they're sorting their possessions. I mean, really, how hard is it to notice when the sorting/storage tubs are stacked three high in my previously empty hallway?

They do this when they're getting ready to move. I guess it'll save me having to serve eviction notice at the end of the year. But he better pay me what he owes me first!! Or I know I'll never see it again.

But ... there's a lesson in this all. I will not ... I repeat NOT ... ever allow them to move back in with me. I know I said it in the past and broke down ... but no more!! I'm finished. Done. How's the saying go? Screw me once it's your fault, screw me twice it's my fault ... there won't be a third. And there sure won't be ... I'm a slow learner, but I've learned. Really.

*****

Okay, now my headache is back. Single Son put some videos on the network drive ... think I'll go watch either "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" or "The Muppet Movie" ... or maybe ... hmmmmm ... decisions, decisions ...

Wednesday Stuff ...

So the interview went well. It was weird, two parts ... "R" did the first interview, "A" did the second. The first part was nothing more than several questions consisting of "name a time when something happened", that something being a select problem (mistake you made and didn't realize it until afterwards, a team work situation that didn't work well, a situation that arose out of an emergency, etc), how you handled it, and what the outcome was. The second interview was the same - only with a different person asking the same "name a time" questions. Weird. Very weird. You'd think that part A and part B would be different in some ways other than the interviewers.

So, I was told by "A" that I will receive a phone call tomorrow if I got the job, and a postcard in a few days if I am not hired.

Trying to think positive here. It was a pretty good interview ... and even with hiring only so many people (and interviewing prospective employees all day long) ... I feel good. I have a lot of experience, and made sure to mention that "my drawers are seldom off" ... meaning my cash drawers are rarely off balance ... even by a penny or so. Not a lot of cashiers can say that! They usually give a window of error of 25 cents (short or over) ... I never was off by a whole quarter.

"A" did ask an interesting question. "If you had to be over or under on your end of shift balance sheet which would you prefer and why" ... my response was "I'd rather be short. To be over would mean that I shorted a customer his proper change." From the look on his face, I'd say that was the right answer.

"R" seemed to love my comment about "retail is in my blood" ...

So ... I'll know by tomorrow night.

Keep crossing whatever ya'll have been crossing!! Please?!?!?!?

*****

And of course being today's Wednesday Alien calls. Seems she's always calling on Wednesdays to beg for some money. I lost it today. "I don't have a job, why do you think I'd have a ten or twenty to throw your way? Stop asking!! I don't have money for me, and I don't have money for you".

Well, not entirely true, I do have money for me, but it's staying in my wallet!! And I'm sure not going to be giving her any once I am employed. I will be working for me ... NOT for her and that deadbeat she's hooked up with.

But I have to approach this carefully once I am working. I may have to rely on her to get me to work or pick me up if Single Son and I have a car use conflict - which is bound to happen sooner or later. Or, I just thought of this, she can drive Single Son to and from work. Makes no never-mind to me. Just so we both get to where we need to be when we need to be there. Of course, she will get gas money ... but JUST gas money. I'm not paying taxi fares to her!! But that's in the future, right?

And as usual, I have to think about all contingencies. One of my downfalls.

 

Monday

Drats. I had a cute title for today's blog and forgot it by the time I logged on. Geesh.

They say the mind is the second thing to go. I forgot what the first was.

*****

Finally got a call-back from one of the trillions of places I've applied to. Okay, maybe not trillions, but it seems that way ...

I have my interview on Wednesday at 9 AM. But tomorrow (Tuesday) I have to go into the store to their computer kiosk to fill out part two of their application process. The hard part ... the psychological tests. You know the ones ... "what do you do if ... "... you're robbed?" (cooperate) "... if you see someone shoplifting?" (inform loss prevention) "... if you see a store associate take something?" (call a manager and/or loss prevention) ... etc. Only they never make the questions that cut and dry.

Now I'm not a dummy by any measure, but those tests have me questioning my ability to understand the English language by the time it's over. And definitely questioning my sanity, too!

So, I'll keep you posted on the progress this makes. And then I'll tell you who the company is ... I'm not gonna jinx it by saying who it is just now.

*****

I sold another textbook yesterday. Yay! One more down, lots more to go! I went to ship it off today. As I'm pulling into the store parking lot who do I see but the Wrecking Crew coming out of the store. Married Son comes up to where I'm parking and wants to chat for a few minutes. In his hands what do I see but the current edition of "Apartment Guide". Oh, could it be? They're finally looking? He's trying to hide it behind a copy of the truck buyer's guide, but he failed miserably. "Oh, so you're looking to move. When?" "I dunno." "Well make sure you pay me back what you owe me before you do". "Yes, Mother. You're my first priority"

Talk about sarcasm!! He wouldn't know priority or responsibility if it bit him in the arse.

But while we were talking ... DIL and Grandson were off at the back of my car. When I asked Son about when they were moving I swore I heard her say "Not soon enough".

And that's fine. She's not thrilled living here. And we all know how I feel about it, too. The sooner they move the better.

*****

The next two days are supposed to be pretty hairy around here. Storms and lots of high winds of upwards of 60 miles or more. Great. I hate windstorms anymore. I don't think I need to say why, LOL. Gonna be a loooooong few days around here!!

But with the job interview it won't be all that bad.

Right?

Wow, that was QUICK!

On October 15th I ordered that Sidetracked Home Executive book from amazon.com ... and it came today!! That was quick! A little too quick! It wasn't due in until November 8. I thought I had plenty of time to finish reading my FlyLady book before the new book arrived.

Ah well ... I've added it to the head of the queue of waiting-to-be-read books. It's an understatement to say it's a long queue - there's literally dozens of books on that list of waiting-to-be-read books ... and one day I'll actually have the time, peace and quiet to make a dent in it!

*****

So, Mom just called me to tell me about a job opening she'd read about in their local paper. They're looking for "mature, reliable workers". Mature, yup, that'd be me. It's a job in a donut shop. Great, just what I need ... my fat diabetic arse working in a sugary environment like that - talk about the need for will-power, eh? Single Son would love it, though. What's better than a cop having a family member work in a donut shop? One that's on his way into to work, no less. LOL.  I've worked for this company before (Tim Horton's). Not a bad place to work and speaking from experience the desire for sweets goes away after the first few days, LOL ... so tomorrow I go in and fill out an application. Not gonna take a resume with me, just my job history worksheet so I can fill in the app blanks.

Friday ...

Today is Alien's 19th birthday. I was about to call her when she called me, looking for handouts. Money this time. Usually it's food or diapers she's looking to get from me. She didn't say what the money was for, but since I'm short on funds myself, I am not handing out any donations at this point.

We never did find what hit the house the other night. There's a pile of branches on the side of the house that my brother stacked (and is supposed to remove) and from the sound of the thud the other night, it's quite possible it's on that stack of wood (if indeed it was a branch that fell). Since I hadn't memorized what the wood pile looked like, it's quite possible an addition was made to it. LOL.

I was bored today so I googled my house today. Even did a screen capture of it. See??

The yellow box is the approximate line of my tiny city property! Yes, there's a house under all those trees. You can see the black roof there if you look carefully! You can tell by the shadows that those are some tall trees, most 60 feet or more in height. You can even see the dead tree in my backyard if you look super close ... the last major tree to fall - the one from a previous blog.

I mentioned something in a past blog about a cousin of mine getting me involved in that swagbucks search engine. I just cashed in some of my swagbucks for two $5 amazon.com gift cards. Which in turn, I bought a book with. The book should be here within the next two weeks. Hey, I'm not wasting my swagbucks on express delivery. And yes, it paid for my delivery, too. Free books! Can't go wrong with that!!

So ... that's about it from here in my little neck of the woods.

I should probably head up to the grocery store. I need an ingredient for dinner tonight ... pierogi and keilbasa. Seems someone (won't say who) helped themselves to the last of my tub of butter - and I need some for baking pierogi.

Sunday

Married Son and DIL found a nice little house to rent. They started moving in today. I went over to get the tour of the new place. It's adorable!! It's the prefect starter home!! I'm sooooo happy for them. This is their first place. No more living with parents - either her parents or with me.

It's a two bedroom ranch. Full finished basement. One of the things I love about the house is it's got a fully fenced in backyard. Perfect for Grandson to play in! Lots and lots of shade trees, too!

It'll be Wednesday before they can physically live in the house, though. Seems that the house had been unoccupied for almost a year. The owner turned the water off at both the curb and at the house. When he went to turn it back on Friday the valve in the basement burst as soon as he turned the water on! Water was everywhere! It'll be Wednesday before the plumber can come out to fix it. It'll give them time for moving everything in and have it all set up. They're hoping the basement is dry by next week so they can use it.

A nice organized move. LOL.

And on Wednesday they pick up the two older kittens. Missy Shamira and Shiloh finally have a new home to go to!!

Of course, the place was *trashed*, LOL. Boxes everywhere! The only picture I was allowed to take was of the front of the house. See all the boxes? Twenty of them to be exact, LOL ... that's how many Son and his Brother-in-Law got unpacked today while DIL worked. Many many more to go. That blue thing is his trailer gate.

The Misadventure Continues ...

Went to Best Buy early this morning to pick up the digital converter box that was supposed to arrive at the store overnight.

Notice I say supposed ...

The shipment didn't show up. Or more appropriately the shipment showed up *minus* digital converter boxes.

Figures.
 
It's frustrating. Talk about supply not meeting demand. Geesh. I'm just glad I didn't wait until the last minute. Can you imagine the shortage that'll happen in the last months of this mandatory change-over?

I just hope I find a box (let alone the three or four total I need) before these coupons expire. And the rate I'm going, it'll take me two months or more to succeed in this mission.

Mission: Impossible.

The Misadventures Of A Harried Shopper

No, that's not hairy shopper!

I decided today would be a good day to go buy my digital converter boxes. That should have been my first clue that the day would be a frustrating one - me *wanting* to go shopping!! That never happens. I H.A.T.E. shopping!

Knowing what shopping does for my mood I decided to call around first to find what the stores had in stock as far as digital converter boxes go. I have my mind set on an RCA box ... they have the best reviews from consumers over the other products of similar prices. Anyway ... first store I called they were out. Second store - same story. Tenth store, the same. Grrrrrr!! I'm not sure how many stores I ended up calling, but I didn't think I left out any local stores. Finally I broke down and called Sears. They said they had five in stock! Yippee!! It was literally a two minute drive, so over to Sears I head. Nope, they don't have any either. The clerk had no idea why I was told they had five in stock. Personally I think they were holding inventory for others. And it's not the first time I've called Sears to be told an item is in stock only to get there to be told they're out. And I was not going to drive around to other Sears stores to find my item again! Not at $4 a gallon for gas!! Grrrrrrr.

I leave, frustrated and getting a little mad that Sears did it to me again. Wondering if I'll ever find a damned converter box before my coupons expire. There across the Maul parking lot I spy *Best Buy*. How could I have forgotten they were there? Soooooo ... over I head. The nicest salesman I've seen in ages greeted me with "How are you today, Ma'am". "How I feel depends on if you say 'yes' to my question". I asked if they had any converter boxes in stock. The look on his face was priceless. "Sorry, we don't. But before you hate me, we are getting a large shipment in tonight. Let me see how many boxes we are expecting to come in." And off he went to check the computer. "Ma'am, I have about a hundred of them coming in. I will be more than happy to hide one - I mean - hold one for you until tomorrow when you can come in". OMG!! I'm in love with this salesman! LOL!

He did say that because of demand the store is limiting converter box purchases to one per customer. So hopefully tomorrow I'll have at least one converter box. I'm seriously thinking of dragging both of my sons with me, each with a coupon in hand, so we can get three of them. Mybad. LOL!

And then I wonder what caused me to hate shopping as much as I do ...

Miscellaneous

Just stuff I saw that I like.