Job Search #9 Tuesday, Jun 30 2009

 

Jewels says:    how are you?

 

 Raen says:    Really good. Right now looking through my job search agent e-mails for jobs to apply for. 

 

Jewels says:    ooh ooh! anything interesting so far?

Raen says:    Got a reply from a job I applied to June 8th wanting to know what were my salary requirements. I’ll call that Second Base!
Let’s see if i can hit a home run!  

 Jewels says:    *takes her sport announcer voice*
And here we have player number one, Jeannette, on second base.
So far this year, she’s been known to be actively poking different employers, only to be said no , , , but we know she won’t take no for an answer and so she’ll find some place who’ll truly appreciate her skills and personality.
Second base so far, waiting for a reply from a new employer. Will she hit the ball home?  That’s what we’ll know during the next inning! 

 Raen says:  *begins singing*
^ Take me out to the ball game! Take me out to the . . .^

 

 LOL!  Litterally!

 

< So, dear readers, with friends like this keeping me smiling, how could I NOT be having fantastic days? >

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“Where is the little girl I . . . “ Thursday, Jun 25 2009

In a few short days my youngest, often refered to here as #2 or Mo, will turn 21 years of age.  The age of adulthood and ability to purchase alcohol.  A right of passage.  Some folks say the time goes so swiftly.  I have not found it so.  However the time in my life with my daughters has been good. 

She, her fiance, her sister whom I call #1 and I will gather for a dinner on Friday.  If I cook or we go out will be her call.  Purchased her a small present certain she will be thrilled with it.  A very lucky find!

A very lucky mother to have two successful daughters!

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Backseat Rider #6 – Be Careful! Wednesday, Jun 24 2009

 

This lady did not straddle a motorcycle for over 25 years due to a few spills and some rather nasty road burn.  The scars have healed well and recently I began to enjoy the thrill of motorcycling as a ‘backseat’ rider. 

When you become a rider of any seriousness you become a member of a club.  No colors, no special badges, your ride is your entrance and suddenly you are in a brotherhood of friends.  As you ride other riders nod or grace you with a hand sign in greeting?  acknowledgement?  the secret handshake of riders?  No matter, you know they mean you well on this Hot/Cold/Wet/Humid riding day you are sharing.  It is a wonderful feeling along with the assortment of wonderful feelings mentioned in previous posts.

I was lucky to meet a very good friend, Dl, of MH2 from High School days.  A month after his wife died in January 2009 we traveled there on bike to have lunch at his 10 acre country land.  We discussed gardening, husbandry, his fruit trees, met the neighbors, and of course, talked motorcycles.  He and his brother had been riding since High School and he was talking about riding again.  He was a gracious host, jack of all trades and made this person feel like a long lost friend the first time we met.  Can a woman and a man just be friends?  Dl was one of those rare guys that it was possible.

Subsequent visits had he and MH2 speaking the merits of several types he was looking into so for $100 MH2 sold him a 198? Yamaha that had stayed mostly idle the last few years. The transaction happened this last Sunday, he cooked us steaks on the grill, we picked cucumbers, tomatoes and habeneros out of his garden.  The guys went over the bike and discussed him taking a safety course and Dl inquired about what type of helmets were on the market these days. We had a fabulous time.

This morning, two days later, the call came from Dl’s neighbor whom we had met on our Sunday visits.  Just after 6 PM last night Dl went to pass a vehicle and hit straight on into a minivan.  The lady he hit is in the hospital.  Dl did not survive the encounter. 

Having gone on at length about safety equipment for this type of transport and in Backseat Rider #5 post even spoke about the difference between Trust, Experience and using your Brain.   The only type of safety stuff that would have helped Dl is the basic rules.  In the rush of exhilaration it is easy to forget the smarts your brain has and fill with overwhelming emotion of a moment. This is okay for roller coasters, but on a motorcycle?

Goodbye Dl.   For the rest of you, be safe!

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Stuff Wednesday, Jun 24 2009

George Carlin had a line about how “other folks stuff was shit and your shit was stuff.”  Here I am pairing down my life to a minimum.  The ’stuff’ I have ain’t shit and except for the car it is all paid for!  The car, by far, is the most expensive possession I have at this time.

During the trip to Grammy’s last week my step-sister was over before work on Thursday morning and in a rush to not be late backing out of Grammy’s driveway forgot my car was there.  Crash.  She hit the driver side rear quarter panel, bumper and cracked the rear light lens assembly of my 2008 Toyota Scion. 

Now do not mistake me, I am very proud of this car and there is very little about it not to like,  most of which I have fixed one way or another.  Yet it is only a car and dispite being a little over a year old has 25,000 miles on the odometer.  While being careful with it this 2 door coupe has been used it to tote wood, furniture, ladders, boxes, taken to job sites, over curbs slowly so the thought that it has been ‘babied’ just is not true.  Regardless, it has been kept in good running and looking condition.

My poor step-sister was all a-fritter with with regret and apologies.  I laughed and hugged her saying, “I ya didn’t want me to visit, just SAY so!  Ya did not need to bang up my car!”  She laughed and then cried.  In response the only reasonable thing to do was tell the truth, “Sister, it is only a car!  Are you okay?”  She was amazed!  “I HAVE INSURANCE!”  to which the only reasonable response was, “Oh, I trust you!  I know where your Momma lives!”  Still feeling badly but not quite so shaken she went on to work.

Having insurance she filed a claim that day and today the car went into the shop for repairs.  The repairs will cost around $1,500 and of course her insurance will pay.  When the Scion is returned it will be in good shape ready for the next 25,000 miles!

It is amazing how when you have things you take care of yet keep in perspective the important things such as life, limb and mental stability, the stuff does not weigh you down.

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Backseat Rider #5 Tuesday, Jun 23 2009

A few months back at the end of a post there was a mention of riding gear. Today, as the temperature capped out at 102°F in Houston Texas I ordered the jacket that will allow the liners taken out leaving mesh and protective plates for summer riding.

My brother-in-law has purchased a Harley and will take riding classes next week. It has been at least 20 years since he has ridden! The classes are essential. I am glad for him and hope we can team up for a ride sometime in July.  I’ll not  ride two-up with him for a while.  Do I trust him?  Absolutely.  But in this case, brains overcomes trust.  He must reacquaint himself with handling the bike in all situations one-up again first. 

No, there has been no Backseat Riding with MH2 for more than a month for between my trips, his work, his trips and life in general there simply has not been time. It will prove to be a very hot summer, but overall I am looking very forward to riding Backseat again despite the heat.

Hope the roads you travel are smooth and the sights breathtaking!

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Game On! Tuesday, Jun 23 2009

Through the blessing of ex-Lee the gaming computer is up and running.  Though the last week I have been away, I have been in game just a few times!  Leveled up (level 19 after 5 actual playing years) and invited to The Hillcountry Texas Meet in August.  It will be hot!

Game has been grant fun!  I was going to attend an event two Saturday’s ago and let the event coordinator know it.  This was the in charcater post he placed:

* new note is appended to the bottom *

Potential performers — I’ve received a notice from the ever lovely, entirely famous Miss Raen — founder of Monday Night Madness and patron saint of bards — stating that she will also throw something in as the Grand Prize. If that doesn’t bring you out tonight, you should be clubbed over the head with a lute.

F.S..

Other than  that, the whole scheme of Avlis is amazing still.  Good times
 

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Traveling is a … What?!? Again?!? Wednesday, Jun 17 2009

     There has been on my heart the need to visit Grammy before I start work.  Since securing a position seems a few weeks (*hopefully*) away, there is no time like the present!  With this in mind and RudyDog as my companion, off to the land of middle Louisiana I go. 

     But wait!  What of the new hobby?
     Glad you asked!  MH2 loaned me his Zumo GPS, and while not a handheld, does work cordless and leads me close enough to find most caches.

     RudyDog and I traveled just a hair nigh of 300 miles yesterday stopping along the way to try to find caches.  A limit was put on the search along the travel plan to within 1/2 mile of the major route road for this first major caching trip. Most times RudyDog makes a great distraction for what Geo’s call muggles (after the Harry Potter series word for commoners) who might wonder what that woman is doing over ~there~.  Remember, he is just 6 lbs.  

     Found 8 caches, 1 park was closed for renovation and 2 others were “Did Not Find”.  One of the DNF had someone close by so snooping more than I had pretending to have RudyDog do his business was getting obnoxious.   The other is a micro-mini on a statue.  I arrived there at 10:00 PM and though well lighted and accessible, even using my mini-flashlight, the find was elusive.  I think the security guard thought I was nuts gawking up close to that statue in the middle of the night.    

     Late as it was, tired, dirty, sweaty and did I say tired?  Instead of frightening Grammy arriving at the wee hours of the night a hotel room in Alexandria, Louisiana was gotten.  Hot shower felt good!   RudyDog got one too!  Throughout the day he was dragged walked through all sorts of terrain.

     This Geocaching is NOT as simple as drive up, sign a log and leave.  These things are very cleverly hidden!  Woods, walls, fences, parking lots, cemeteries, etc.  I found myself often standing or walking away to gaze at the spot things were *supposed* to be before actually finding the cache.  Every find had me laughing or giggling.  Most of the finds were common containers camouflaged or not.    However, some of the unique ones:
     A glued glass vial to the underside of a fence post topper.  My first unique cache find and the first of this day!
     An owl, the type you put on the roof or fence or post to keep birds away, hanging RIGHT at the entrance to a public place with a hole cut in the bottom.  Pop out the plug and therein was a baggie with the log to sign.  Very clever.  Glad I got to this one after office hours!
     A magnetic key holder under a pay phone.

**Looks at clock** 
Later this morning RudyDog and I will do a few more between here and Grammy’s.  I am looking very forward to spending a day or three with her!  After all this caching, kicking back at Grammy’s with her laid back style and comfortable home in the country will be a pleasure. 

    Who am I kidding?  It has ALL been a pleasure!  I hope your days are as well!

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Traveling is a joy Monday, Jun 15 2009

After the whirlwind of fixing up The Room a friend of mine had a baby on the other side of Texas.  What some folk call “West o’ the Pecos”.  Picking up the big sister and granddad, back to the Big Bend area I went. 

     First stop was Odessa where my friend and daughter were in the hopsital.  Drat!  it’s sideways.
That night was getting big sister accustomed to the water in the pool!  She’d never been in a hotel before. 
     Big sister took a picture of me as we traveled.  

  

Once Mom and daughters were situated at home it was time to leave the family to get some rest.  So off I went to scout the Big Bend area, this time turning my attention to the Fort Davis area.  Mentioned once before about Waymarking (waymarking.com) and finding things to log.  This trip I logged 5 items.  Here is one under the heading of Smokey The Bear! 

My Hero Smokey

This is on top of Mount Locke where the McDonald Observatory is.

All in all a great trip.  Glad my friend and family are doing well.  And I REALLY LIKE Fort Davis, Texas.

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Not always up – Monday, Jun 15 2009

Must admit that this time last week found me down in the dumps about the work situation, or lack thereof. 
But enough was enough, called my friend Karen and we had lunch on Wednesday.  Thursday I had dinner with Mandy who had been down in the dumps for a different reason.  Friday Karen and I went to a comedy show at a local church.

Need to stop there.  A co-worker gave her these tickets.  So there we are, two middle aged *cough* white women sitting in a beautiful setting full of various aged black folk.  The only white folk there!  The music and message was great but the style was like you see in a movie of a black revival.  Needless to say, WE HAD A BLAST!   The folks there were fantastic and friendly.  The comedian, Coco, was funny.  I must admit though, the Pastor’s wife who did the introductions was funnier!  Karen and I laughed, sang, ate and chatted the night away.

Saturday found me doing work about the house, finishing up this and that, then going to M2’s Houston Choral Group’s summer recital.  The Houston Choral Group has been mentioned here before and the music extravaganza is fantastic.  My good friend MSquared, whom I have known some eleven years, has become one of the main men singers there.  In this picture, he’s the man on the right.

Singing "Silhouettes"

Yesterday, Sunday, RudyDog and I did a bit of Geocaching, walked almost a mile in the park, had an ice cream then home for a shower.  We found 1 of the 3 caches we searched for.  All three were a second try.  This is not as easy as it seams at first, but very sweaty hot sticky fun.  On the way home from the park there is an ice cream store called Brewsters.  I ordered a soda and a single cone at the drive through (remember, sweaty hot sticky = smelly) and the lady working there ask, “Would you like a complementary doggie ice cream?”. It is about a 1/4 scoop vanilla in a small cup with a miniature dog bone on top.  RudyDog does NOT like the bone but LOVED the ice cream!  The rest of the evening was spent doing paperwork and filing.

Efforts have been renewed and seeking alternative methods to landing a job.  “If you keep on the road you are on, you will get where you are heading!”   Yep, time to figure out something new.

Along with the task of job search there is one last item to accomplish before full time employ occupies my time.  I need to visit my step-mom, Grammy!  This week at some point RudyDog and I will travel through the piney woods of the Texas / Louisiana Toledo Bend area to the cotton belt of Louisiana and stay a day or three with Grammy.  I cannot mention how excited I am to take this trip!

About a year ago Lee sent me a comment about me going and doing whatever I wanted to do.  Funds are tight but I find cheap things that really make me smile.  When opportunity knocks, the I peep through the door port with a positive attitude.   At the time he said that I felt a bit guilty.  Now I do not feel guilty at all.  If I do not enjoy life NOW, then WHEN?

So here is hoping you find joy in your days!

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Prep, Primer and Paint: #D Sunday, Jun 14 2009

The Room is near complete.  Only decorating and minor items need be done.  Those 9″ square canvas?

 

                                                           

Things are well and I can honestly say The Room is 98% complete.  Small decorating issues is all.  It is very functional and quite comfortable to be within.  

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