This has been a very odd summer in Southern California... Typically in June we have the "June Gloom" this year it lasted a few days... not the entire month as it usually does.... July came along and the temperatures hit in the 90's a few times but for the most part a warm not hot July -averaging around 78 degrees.... Now August is usually the killer month.. hot hot hot.. This year August - was pretty chilly - many days of overcast skies - cool breezy nights and one day I actually had to wear pants in the evening.... You need to be aware my definition of chilly and someone that lives in place that has the white stuff called snow may disagree... chilly in my world is hovering in the mid 50's at night.... But today August 26 at 4:30 PM - it is 92 degrees - there goes my chilly evening... no pants tonight for me..
Another unusual thing that is happening this year is the bugs... We have ant trails in the backyard like you would not believe.... they are also coming in my house looking for something to eat... they found the dog's food bowl last week... There was a trail that came out of a electrical socket in my office wall - went around my cabinets - behind my door - across the tile - into the bathroom - and into my dogs bowl... No kidding, I have never seen a trail like that before.. Makes my arms and legs itch just thinking about it... and the hornets.... I have counted 7 hornet nests along the roof line of our house - one nest was too high too shoot the poison on so at dusk - I got our hose and boy they really got mad..... I am sure I looked like a lunatic every time I dropped the hose and took off down the street -
1 lb ground beef
1 med chopped onion
1 minced garlic clove
2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup water
1 Tbsp Chili powder
1 4 1/2 oz can chopped olives
1 8 oz tomato sauce
6 flour tortillas - lightly buttered
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Saute beef, onion, garlic in butter - add seasoning, olives, and tomato sauce. Butter tortilla, meat, cheese and three more layers... Last tortilla cover with cheese. Pour water along the edges into bottom of casserole - cover. Bake 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
My friend Jacki from Hunting Fishing and Other Grounds For Divorce gave me the idea for this blog.. A list of 50 things I want to do..... before I die... The list is no particular order - just my thought process - my list tends to change daily, monthly, yearly... and sometimes even by the the hour - minute.. Thank you Jacki! Click on the link to Jacki's The Alaska Woman's blog. Jacki combines wit, laugh out loud humor, compassion, and true sense of self in everything she writes...
My 50 Things.
Go on a mission trip to Africa, The Middle East, and everywhere God leads me.
See both my girls graduate from college
Go to Fiji.
Reenact the scene from Here to Eternity with Dusty (my hub)
Complete a jigsaw puzzle
Go back to Atlantis in the Bahamas and stay in the Michael Jackson Suite
Work in disaster relief
Read the entire Bible cover to cover
Get everything waxed... everything
Write a book
Learn to surf
Spend an entire week getting pampered by a staff of experts
Stop worrying about the small stuff
Stop worrying about the big stuff
Stop worrying.
Laugh more often
Cry more often
Pray more often
Watch my daughters get married - (in a really long time from now)
Hold my first grand baby - (again in a reeeeeaaaaaaallllllllyyy long time from now)
Get a tattoo
Get back my healthy body
Hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim
Take a long road trip with my girls
Take lots of short trips with my girls
Enjoy my family more
Spend more quality time with Dusty
Plant as many seeds as possible for God's Kingdom
Go on a river rafting trip on the Colorado River
Spend a month on a houseboat at Lake Powell
Play at the winners table in the World Series of Poker.
Have the courage to be a better public speaker
To stop holding a particular grudge.
Read a book a week
Adopt an older child
Learn to make a California roll
Learn to make tamales.
Learn to draw
Spend a weekend without any responsibilities and just veg on a raft in the pool
Go to Washington DC with the family
Tell President Obama what I really think of him..
Visit my sister in MA.
Go to New Orleans
Overcome my fear of flying
Stop procrastinating
Start living
Start doing
Rent a RV and travel the entire US - except for a Hawaii - Don't thing a RV will float
This September will be the two year anniversary of my husband being laid off after 23 years of excellent service. I remember the day so clearly... It was 9:50 in the morning - I heard the garage door open as I was heading out to a dentist appointment. I was thinking that Dusty (my husband) might have an appointment near the house and wanted to surprise me and say hi.... I walked to the door and asked him what's up.... His face was white (in shock) and he said "I'm so sorry - I was just fired" My first reaction was that he has got to be playing a joke... Dusty tends to do that... "No, I am serious" He said that the Regional VP called him into his office and fired him.... (we did not know at the time that ALL the VP of Sales like my husband were being fired across the nation.) Dusty's company had been bought out my a Japanese company and they had too many Chiefs working.. The company was losing money... The loyalty for Dusty's previous company's employees were non-existent. What really got my goat is this: Dusty had won Regional Sales Manager of the Year eight months prior - He was promoted to VP of Sales and won the biggest contract in the history of the company for over 17 million dollars... The company had to cut costs and Dusty was a cost.... The sneaky and unethical thing the company did was try to fire Dusty for cause - some trumped up charge that was later proven false - The Regional VP was the guilty party... Dusty had to fight for his 23 years of service compensation package... It was not a contest - the company knew they were trying to pull a fast one to try and save money where they could... Thankfully, after contacting an attorney, the company admitted their bad judgment in so many words.. nothing in writing of course - but delivered his compensation quickly.. It's sad that the company was willing to lie and steal to save a few bucks... I wonder how they sleep at night.
One thing I have learned is that you must be aware of your rights when and if you are terminated... You must have a copy of your employer's handbook - You must keep all your pay-plan paperwork at your home. Commission break downs - letters of praise - anything that you feel is worthy of keeping - because if you are terminated you will NOT have a chance to recover those items... KEEP A SEPARATE FILE AT HOME
During this time, I discovered how much Dusty really needed me. I am a take charge kind of person in a crisis - and Dusty was in shock.. He temporarily lost his self esteem - he was bruised..... He was hurt... He was afraid... For the first time since college he was unemployed... He had a family to take care of... It's funny that I wasn't fearful.... I know God gave me a calm heart - at least I was not afraid.. I had to be a motivator for Dusty - I helped him with his resume - I got unemployment checks coming in - and I researched ways to get a job... Fast. Thankfully, Dusty was back to work within four (4) months - We were the lucky ones... But we also created our own luck by treating the job search as a job....
In today's economy there are more people looking for jobs than there are jobs. The people who are getting hired are the ones who are working the system.. They have contacted as many job sites as possible, they have gotten their resume updated and ready to go - many have hired companies to make them more attractive to potential employers, and they are calling every contact they have made in their entire working life... (This is how Dusty got his current position) If you want to work you must be proactive - you must spend your days making contacts with potential employers and letting friends, acquaintances, and family know you are looking and what you are looking for... Don't be shy - pass out your resume.... Being shy will not put food in your belly..
Below is a bunch of links to help you in your job search - if you need them or maybe a friend, a sister, a brother, or someone you know that is searching. Good luck and God be with you..
