What's going on...

Hello. Just in case you've been wondering where I've been and what I've been doing. Well, here goes. i'm still job searching, have had a couple of interviews and one phone interview that was going to lead to a face-to-face, but then I got a letter from the company saying they changed their minds about hiring at all.

So, anyway Monday night my brother calls and asks if I will take his daughter, my niece, out for driving lessons every morning and then drop her off where she works (Applebee's). Jamie is 21 and has a learning disability which makes this kind of activitiy very difficult for her. So, we started out on Tuesday morning driving through some quiet neighborhoods so she's not too scared. Not to mention the teacher. Driving up and down the streets was easy for her, but she would get a little nervous going from one subdivision to another, so after going down the wrong side of the road I figured we needed a little work on that part. The only other time I slammed on "brakes" was a stoplight. It was yellow. Jamie was going, not going, going, oh no we're not going. The next day we worked on that too. I hasn't been too bad for me, and I'm getting paid.

Now about that unemployment thing. I would say this to every employer (if any read this) that if your website provides a heading with employment or careers for prospective employees to provide their resumes, then at least have the courtesy to send a reply when you receive one. People are out there looking for jobs and the internet is a major avenue for finding businesses and getting your name out there. So at least let us know you received the blasted resume and just don't have anything at the moment. I have an entire list of companies in this area who just don't seem to get it.

Barn Days at Maymont

Every Spring when the babies are born at Maymont (a beautiful park and animal sanctuary) they host Barn Days for the kids - both big and small. You can feed the babies, pet them, watch Border Collies show off their skill with some of Maymont's more accomadating sheep. There's music, food, hoola hoop contests, a maze for the little ones. It's just a fun afternoon for everyone.

Last Sunday March 19 was the first day with more to come.

This is Jacob holding the bunny while JJ looks on.

Jacob and the leaves

Jacob raking leaves last Thursday evening.

Jacob & mom under the umbrella

Jacob and the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese

My grandson, Jacob, is 2 1/2 years old. He's beautiful with huge blue eyes and eyelashes that would make every woman jealous. He's also very bright and melts my heart. What I really love about him is his sense of humor...he's hilarious. Yesterday evening we decided we would walk to the neighborhood Dollar General to purchase some of those plastic pastel colored eggs to hang on a tree in front of my house. My neighbor has some hanging on hers and every time we walk by jacob feels the need to rearrange them. So, off we go hand in hand. We chatted on the way about the eggs and that we should get some extras for JJ...his soon to be cousin.

When we walked into the store the eggs were the first thing Jacob saw. We picked up two bags and then started looking for some wire to hang them on the tree. We walked up and down the aisles and of course, Jacob had to pick up this and that. He picked up a ball he thought he might like, then put it down because I wanted him to get a smaller more manageable size. This was the first time he had been allowed to wander around a store with only occassional direction from grandma, and was being very well-behaved. I guess he had enough of that, because all of a sudden he saw a big display of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and decided this was going to be his purchase of the day. He picked up a box and when I told him I didn't think we needed macaroni, he took off down the aisle, ran all the way to the end of the store and started running toward me, I missed him, he saw the exit and made a break for it. Fortunately a woman who worked there was coming in and caught him red-handed. We put the box back, paid for our purchases and walked home again.

I love that kid.

Daffodils

Spring is on the way...these were taken on Sunday March 4 in Ashland

'71 GTO on tracks?

Not quite...just looks that way.

More..

Bikes in front yard at outskirts of town....

Purple house

More of Ashland

Ashland, VA

Ashland, Va. The Center of the Universe

I like March. That dark dreary month of February is behind us and Spring is in sight. The days are getting longer and the trees and flowers are budding in anticipation of warmer days. It's an exciting time of year.

We celebrate several birthdays in March also. My son, Mike, was 35 on the 4th. My sister-in-law, Maria, will be well let's just say she's over 40. And, Herman, the elder of the clan will be pushing - lightly- but still pushing 60. Can't believe that one. I remember when 60 was old, but everyday it seems younger and younger to me.

I'm going to try to post a few photos from last Sunday, so keep your fingers crossed.

Job Search - cont'd

Well, another interview this afternoon. This company I found on the way to the grocery store. They are doing a project down the road from me. I saw their sign, went home and looked them up on the computer, emailed my resume and they called two days later. I'm not sure what if any positions they have available but I'm game to try them.

I've been waiting for the other company to call back for my next interview, but so far nothing. My daughter, God bless her, says why don't you call them. I could call them, but if they don't want me then that means hope is gone. This way I at least have hope that they will call.

I'm sure the right job will come along, I just would like it to be sooner rather than later. I've done very well on the interviews so I'm beginning to wonder what the problem could be. I don't want to believe it's my age. I've been around a long time, so it's hard to imagine what the guys think when they see me.

Interview II

Well, I had an interview this morning...another company. It was with a general contractor - I've worked in the construction business almost 20 years now, it's what I know even tho it's an up and down business. The interview went well enough, I was my charming self, he was a man which means he did most of the talking...my daughter says that's to hear himself talk. He wants to do a follow-up interview one day next week...I thought they were in a hurry to hire. But, we'll see.

The Interview

Two weeks ago today I had my first interview (and so far only). It was with a good company, I looked good, presented well, had all the answers and knew the job was for me. When I walked out I felt confident that I had done by very best and could be offered the job. The fellow I interviewed with said he would make a decision in a week or so and I, in my mind, was giving it til Monday before I figured it wasn't going to be me. Well, I'm guessing it's not going to be me, but it would be nice to get a phone call or a letter or even an email telling me that another candidate had been chosen. Not so in today's world. You have to wait until you are dead certain someone else is working in the office you could have had.

I did receive an email this morning from a company I had sent my unsolicited resume to letting me know that currently they had no positions available. Now, that was nice. I don't have to wonder about them anymore...you know, did they get the resume, did it look ok, blah blah blah. That's the way to conduct business.

Tonight I go to dinner at my friend's house and watch Dancing with Stars and hopefully catch up on Survivor. We can't help it, we're addicted. I understand we're having roasted chicken and a surprise for dinner, so I'm looking forward to it.

Unemployed - Part 2

I've been without a job now for about a month. The layoff affected more than 10% of the small company I had worked for over two years. I say Part 2 because this is the second time in four years that I have been laid off. The first company I had been with 17 years, so that was a very emotional departure for me. The latest layoff came out of the blue. We had heard rumblings for a couple of weeks, but nothing happened until one Tuesday morning when one by one we were called into the human resources office and told that our positions were being eliminated immediately. I was home within the hour. We were told to file for unemployment and we would be paid through the end of January. Having learned from my previous layoff, I did file with the unemployment office. It's just one more indignity you learn to deal with.

I think the hardest part of being unemployed for me is emotional. Don't get me wrong, I definitely need the money. The first week isn't too bad, you take care of yourself and look casually for a job...putting your name out there to friends and people you may have been dealing with at the old job, just in case something is available. The next week and the next week involve sending out the resume every single day to everyone you can. If you're lucky you get an interview. If you're really lucky (and good) you get the job offer. Most of the time you don't get the interview, so you keep sending out the resume and hoping you get lucky.

Hello

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. To those of you with your significant other, those of you searching for that special someone and to all of you who have loved and lost. I've been all of these at one time or another in my life. Today, I'm happy being me...for the most part and having great friends and a wonderful family.

Later I'll fill you in on the "bug" part of my life.