The Search Continues

Inspired by my sister's recent blog on her job search, I thought it might be cathartic to express some of my thoughts on the experiences and challenges of my, thus far, unsuccessful job search and being unemployed for the last 2+ years. On top of that, my husband was laid off Thanksgiving 2012, so there are two of us in search of work and learning to live on our much reduced income.

My sister's observation that the internet is the epitome of a 'black hole' could not be more true! A supremely frustrating black hole, at that. For the last 2+ years, resume after resume after resume has disappeared into that abyss. I've applied for everything from crossing guard to customer service rep to admin assist, to school sec'y, to 'cafeteria lady', etc. At least the resumes aren't lonely, for I wrote and sent a custom cover letter with each one of them. At an EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE estimate of one resume per day, that's over 800 resumes into the 'black hole' over the course of 28 months.

Then there's the NON-internet resume distribution. I switched from a tiny purse to more of a satchel, so I could carry a folder of resumes with me and cold-call whenever I went out, wherever I went. I've shared my resume with hardware, beauty supply, 'dollar', book, clothing, and shoe stores. But I didn't leave out the  insurance, Doctor's, real estate, and city offices, or banks, mfg plants, nursing homes, day-care centers, employment agencies, seeking part-time, full-time, or temporary employment. I've met and had lovely conversations with many enjoyable, interesting people, but still no job and only a handful of call backs/interviews.

I've also learned to be wary of calls from insurance companies 'inviting me in for an interview'. This turned out to be a scam by an insurance agency to sell their high-dollar 'training classes'.

As a result of first losing half our income and then all our income, we are adapting our life style to match our circumstances. We were never big on 'dining out' - in either restaurants or at fast-food, but we've cut out even the rare pizza/burger. Since we're home all day, we have plenty of time to cook and we grill a mean burger (or dog, or brats, or links)  and our home-made pizza is pretty darn good, too. Add to that, I'm trying more new recipes and learning to bake bread.

We're both conservative in regard to clothes, our 'yard-work' clothes, a few sets for hanging out at the house, a set or two for what little shopping we do, a small selection of appropriate business attire for interviewing and - please, please - if one of us gets a job. That's plenty for us.

We've reduced our 'grooming' costs... No barber - I cut Bo's hair. No dog groomer - I trim Whitney's hair. I've given in to a occasional visit to the 'beauty school'  for a cheap cut - just letting it grow is not an option, nor is letting Bo cut it! My weak, flaky nails do miss the salon. Thank goodness for my source for Julep's 'Essential Cuticle Oil' and Perfect Formula's 'Pink Gel Coat'!

We've gotten more acquainted with Salvation Army (applied there) and other thrift shops. No more Tuesday Morning (applied there) or Massage Envy (applied there, too). We combine our few shopping trips to conserve gas. Coupons and discount Rx cards are big players (we've both applied at CVS, Walgreen, Wal-Mart, Family Dollar, General Dollar, Big Lots and Hobby Lobby).

We miss camping at Texas State Parks. Perfect job would be to get paid for visiting, photographing and writing about them! We loved traveling around our beautiful state. We'd really like more visits with the Austin and Lubbock grandchildren and their parents - plus revisit old stand-bys like Graham's Edgewood Market and Bon Ton Vintage.  

We now have plenty of time on our hands, but our two 15+ year old cars and high gas prices discourage such out of town adventures.

Along with the aforementioned adjustments, we also made a major change that brought its own challenges, but with the challenges came unforeseen benefits and joys. 

We'll not give up the search. We'll keep feeding the 'black hole' and sharing our resumes with people we meet in our outings.

This latest 'opportunity' has served to reaffirm:
our deep love of each other, our family, our friends, and our home;
the benefit of keeping our minds open to new possibilities and opportunities;
that brushing dogs and digging in the garden are great therapies;
sharing brings us joy.

March

Each March something always happens to draw me to a video that was made in March of 1997.  In that video, our friend Stan relates what happened to him over 50 years earlier. As a young man in March of 1945, Stan was gravely injured by a German 88mm shell.  In the field hospital, thru a half-conscious daze, he heard one of the doctors say of him, “If God doesn’t touch him, there’s no hope.”

Months and months later, recovered and home in Texas, he and other recently returned soldiers, were asked to relate a time in combat when God had touched them.

Years earlier, as a little boy, he’d learned to write ‘funny’ poetry from his grandmother, so he used those lessons to write:

Last night as I sat in my easy chair,

with the Grand Ole Opry on the air,

down in my heart I breathed a prayer,

for I knew a talk I must prepare.

For Mrs. Osborne, bless her heart,

asked me if I would take a part.

Knowing I couldn’t refuse her request,

 I said ‘why sure, I’ll do my best’.

She asked me if I’d try to try to tell,

of some experience I remembered well,

 of how the Lord protected me,

when I was in combat across the sea.

Well, I often think of a three weeks trip,

across the Atlantic on a liberty ship.

As thru the waves those ships did plod,

 I couldn’t help thinking of a mighty God.

Who put the power in Moses rod,

so Israel on dry land could trod.

And when the shores of France came into view,

we all gave thanks, I’m telling you.

There was something we all knew,

we’d see action in a week or two.

Two weeks later, it was like a dream,

we were right up front, where the bullets screamed.

Many a foxhole over there,

was more than once a place of prayer.

Folks back home were praying, too,

that all the boys would make it thru.

All that winter, thru ice and snow,

sometimes morale was kinda low.

But every time we’d meet the foe,

either us or him would have to go.

One day in March of 45, at the Siegfried Line 

we did arrive; our objective was to take the line.

And in this battle I got mine.

Back to the hospital they did take me,

but, I knew the Lord would not forsake me,

and that if my days on earth were o’re,

I knew I’d make that golden shore.

But He saw fit to let me live.

and to Him my thanks I’ll always give.

Then when about three months had passed,

back to the states I came at last.

Rode an airplane flying fast.

Many a time I’ve wondered why,

I didn’t go ahead and die.

But it seemed that He had another plan,

and He’s God and I’m just a man.

So I’m gonna strive to do His will,

and I know His promises He’ll fulfill.

Sometimes when I look about,

seems I might be a missing out,

and I might cause some folks to doubt,

‘cause I don’t holler and hoot and shout,

but I never was one to make a speech,

I know I was never called to preach.

Still in His service I want to stay,

until that glad and glorious day

when I can hear my Jesus say,

“Your job is done, come get your pay.”

When Stan first arrived back in the states, my dad visited him in the hospital. Daddy rarely spoke of that visit; of hugging his dear friend who had come so near death and whose body was still ravaged and emaciated. When he did speak of it, it was thru tears of sorrow at the suffering, accompanied by tears of joy at the eventual victory.

I’m so thankful that God spared Stan. He had been an active partner in introducing my parents before the war, so I’m first of all, grateful for that! But, had he not survived, I would not have had the opportunity to know him. He was a blessing to my life and to many, many other lives with his love, his kindness, his generosity of spirit, his testimony and his humor.

Someday I hope to learn the pivotal
trick, to make that video digital.
Hearing Stan's story in his own way,

is so much better than I can convey.

Trying new things

New projects I've tried lately...

ORCHID
I had always steered away from orchids. After long consideration, I decided to give it a try and last summer I adopted one. It had beautiful blooms that lasted for several months, but then the blooms started to fall off.
Oh, no!!!
I quickly checked the 'net' and found that was exactly what they were supposed to do. What was I supposed to do? Just trim back the stem and wait...
That waiting was the hard part, but I did it and just this week, BUDS!

 
I'm very excited to see these open and am patiently waiting for more buds to be added as the stem grows.


BREAD PUDDING
This is Bo's favorite of any and ALL of the projects/crafts/cooking I have ever done...

The bread (Panettone) soaking up the custard.

 Yummy with either Amaretto sauce or Brown Sugar syrup.  I actually like a little of each!

Left w/Amaretto. Right w/Brown Sugar

Fresh n Hot out of the oven.

 

 BABY LEGS

The next new endeavor as Laura G's fault. I would have never heard of, let alone made, a pair of 'baby legs' if she hadn't posted a link to a tutorial. It intrigued me and also looked like something my sewing machine and I could do. I decided to give it a shot and thought they turned out well. 

Unfortunately, I took no photos, so unless the young lady who received them posts a pic... well, you'll just have to believe me on the result.

THE NEWEST???
The next 'new interest' can be credited to all the friends that encouraged me to sign in to "Pinterest".
Thanks guys!

What is this newest project?

It involves some of these...

One of these...

Humble cigar box which will be the 2nd to be transformed.

What the first cigar box became...

And that's just the beginning. There are more components yet to be assembled and then it will be...

Mirror, Mirror on the wall,

what will Sheila do with ya'll?

USING THE GLASSWARE
I have lots of bits and pieces of glassware wiling away its time in the dark confines of my cabinets. So I was please to find - again on Pinterest - an idea for putting them to use and freeing up some storage space...

A few over here...

and some others over there.

Last Saturday of Nov 2011.

Had a fun morning with the Lubbock folks...

Olive enjoying a cracker

Pez, please?

Ella hung the stockings with care.

Pez for Ella.

Yummy.

Too cute. Ella, not BoomPa.

Now that BoomPa has put the batteries in the various singing, horn playing, barking, and motor revving Christmas toys,








its time for him to get started on dinner...  chili, guacamole, etc.

Changing Seasons

Getting ready for overall cooler weather in Texas (meaning we'll still have occasional 80 or 90 degree days), entails cleaning, redressing and moving the plants from the patio into the Sun Room. Since the TV weathermen all agree we'll be getting hit by a cold front in the next 24 - 48 hours, I decided today was the day for the plant move.

View from the hall, before.

View from the hall, after.

View from the kitchen, before.

View from the kitchen, after.

T'is done. All that's left is to "sweep" the patio with the lawn blower.

Country Living

For many years now, Country Living has been my favorite magazine. But I am not alone. My mom would always check out the latest issue, there's almost always one on my coffee table. When she found something she liked, she'd take the page[s] and implement the ideas in her home. Her favorite, and mine, was the 'mirror wall' she created using several sizes of mirrors, all framed in black, for her yellow and black bath. 

My hubby, who is a terrific cook, has used several recipes from CL, including this one for Onion Pie.
 

 He's even commented on decorating ideas he likes. ;-/

The newest CL fan is Erica.

She was looking at the October issue, which has lots of Halloween ideas... including the cake/cupcakes I did a couple of weeks ago. 

As she started to fold down a page corner, I gave her some Post-it flags to mark whatever page she liked.

She continued to browse thru the magazine while her mom and I visited 

and 

        when 

                 she

                          had 

                                  finished...

 well, she's at least a fan of the Halloween issue.

A Good Day

Started the day by picking up Kayla for an all day visit.

Kayla and Boompa were 'twinkies' with black tees and red shorts.

After a wonderful Boompa breakfast - Lil Sizzlers, eggs and cinnamon rolls - and a trip to the store, we baked a cake and some cupcakes to decorate with a Halloween theme. Sonia, Alec, Damian and Willow arrived just in time to assist with the decorating.

The decoration was adapted from the fall issue of Country Living Magazine.


Left: cupcakes & chocolate filled chocolate crackers.
Right: Single layer cake.

"Cupcake Graveyard"

The cake and cupcakes were set aside while we had Chili Dogs with the usual accompaniment. Some days nothin beats chili dogs and today was one of those days.

To expend a little energy and maybe burn off a few calories ;-), we had a rousing game of Skip-Bo.

The 'Graveyard Cupcakes' were yummy and very rich. Sonia, et. al. headed out to retrieve Mike from work and Kayla left to prepare for her return to Denton. During the lull I took a minute to arrange this weeks floral bouquet.

The remainder of the Cook clan, who had just returned from their band trip, dropped by to finish up the chili dogs, have a couple of cupcakes, and relax with an adult beverage (or 2). By then it was time to make their way home to prepare for the next week.

Off and on during the day we enjoyed the sound of rain falling on the parched earth. A couple of inches of rain today, plus what fell last night, brings welcome moisture to our north Texas landscapes and lakes.

All in all, a good day.