Greg called the construction company owner. The owner will finance the water leak repair himself, and I can arrange time payments. The plumber called and his estimate was $550.00 to $600.00. When the handyman's friend called, I told him that I already had someone to do the work.
When I woke up in my own bed after my trip to Albuquerque, I didn't know whether I was dreaming or having a nightmare. Now I know it's a nightmare!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, August 21, 1984
Greg accompanied me to Mom's house to meet with a water meter-reader from the water company. We shut off all the valves inside the house and it's losing 43,200 gallons every ninety days. The grass in the yard is brown and there isn't any dampness. The meter man said that perhaps the connection from the well, which was used before the city annexed the subdivision, is leaking and the water is leaking back into the well. We broke open the lock on the well cover, but the well is filled with dirt, not mud. When I phoned the water company, they said they're going to shut off the water to Mom's house August thirtieth if the leak isn't fixed by then.
I went to the bank to refinance my house, which would actually be a first mortgage, since I originally bought the house on a contract-for-deed arrangement. The bank won't finance my house, but they will put a first mortgage on Mom's house. In order to transfer Mom's abstract from Dad's name to mine is $300.00 'up front', which I don't have.
I called an all around handyman and a plumber for estimates of the water leak at Mom's house. The handyman couldn't find the leak, said he couldn't fix it if he could find it, that it was too big a job for him, but he recommended someone else who will get in touch with me later. The plumber will give me an estimate tomorrow.
I took my diamond ring to a pawn shop to find out how much I could get: $120.00 I called a loan company about borrowing against the cars, Mom's and mine, and furniture. I would rather pawn the jewelry and borrow against the cars than owe on Mom's house. I also don't have $300.00 up front to transfer the abstract.
I called the Tax Assessor's office and found out that if I don't pay the taxes on Mom's house until the twenty-first of October, I will owe an additional $75.00. Sonny and Felicia will owe me $275.00 on the twenty-third of August, which I was going to pay Mom's house taxes with, but I will be putting that toward the plumbing leak now.
I went to the unemployment office to find out what happened to my unemployment check, and they have to reopen my file, so it will be another few weeks before I get an unemployment check. They must be broke, the same as HEAP was.
Greg called a man that owns a construction firm and he went out to Mom's house. He gave me a possible estimate of $429.00. there is seventy-one feet of pipe, three and one-half to four feet deep beneath the ground, where the possible leak is.
While Greg was at work, three of his friends appeared in my pool. Teresa and Stever are fighting. It's more than a three-ring circus here.
I went to the bank to refinance my house, which would actually be a first mortgage, since I originally bought the house on a contract-for-deed arrangement. The bank won't finance my house, but they will put a first mortgage on Mom's house. In order to transfer Mom's abstract from Dad's name to mine is $300.00 'up front', which I don't have.
I called an all around handyman and a plumber for estimates of the water leak at Mom's house. The handyman couldn't find the leak, said he couldn't fix it if he could find it, that it was too big a job for him, but he recommended someone else who will get in touch with me later. The plumber will give me an estimate tomorrow.
I took my diamond ring to a pawn shop to find out how much I could get: $120.00 I called a loan company about borrowing against the cars, Mom's and mine, and furniture. I would rather pawn the jewelry and borrow against the cars than owe on Mom's house. I also don't have $300.00 up front to transfer the abstract.
I called the Tax Assessor's office and found out that if I don't pay the taxes on Mom's house until the twenty-first of October, I will owe an additional $75.00. Sonny and Felicia will owe me $275.00 on the twenty-third of August, which I was going to pay Mom's house taxes with, but I will be putting that toward the plumbing leak now.
I went to the unemployment office to find out what happened to my unemployment check, and they have to reopen my file, so it will be another few weeks before I get an unemployment check. They must be broke, the same as HEAP was.
Greg called a man that owns a construction firm and he went out to Mom's house. He gave me a possible estimate of $429.00. there is seventy-one feet of pipe, three and one-half to four feet deep beneath the ground, where the possible leak is.
While Greg was at work, three of his friends appeared in my pool. Teresa and Stever are fighting. It's more than a three-ring circus here.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, August 20, 1984
Sonny stopped by to tell me that he can't fix the water leak, so, Greg went over to Mom's house, but said that the yard didn't look wet to him. I will check with the water company tomorrow. I went out there too, but didn't see anything amiss either.
I'm going to go to the bank to see about refinancing the house tomorrow too. I don't have the money to pay the taxes and house payment. If I pay the house payment, I can't pay the taxes, and vice-versa. I don't have the money to pay the insurance on Mom's house, nor the Great Gas God bill. I'm so sick of this shit! I am just sick of everything, the houses, the roommates, the parties, no decent job market, everything. The human kids, Steve and Greg, had a houseful of people here again, fourteen people, including myself, with loud music, pizza making, swimming, etc. I am sick of that shit too, let alone the mess from it all.
Sunday, August 19, 1984
I paid the phone bill in the night depository and put $5.00 worth of gas in the car. I wrote a 'thank you' note to Star and wrote one of Mom's relatives a letter.
Sonny finished my roof. Hooray! He said he'd be back to pick up the old shingles, plywood and tar paper, but knowing Sonny, I won't see him again until I go to collect rent and I'll pick up the roofing mess. He told me he is working in a city that is a one and one-half hour drive one way, and thinks he will be laid-off this week. Felicia is working for an auto parts distributor locally, and is making minimum wage, $3.35 an hour.
I'm going to have to skip another house payment this month. My unemployment check hasn't come yet, nor have I been sent a regular form to fill out. Once the unemployment office completely lost any record of me and another time everything was two weeks later than normal. It makes me wonder if they have any money in the bank to pay anyone or are the employees just paid to shuffle papers from one pile of papers to another and back again.
Greg is going to get thirty-five hours work this week, because the other stock boy at the grocery store will be going back to school.
Saturday, August 18, 1984
Property taxes are figured on the 1975 rate, and the city fathers are talking about raising them twenty-five percent. I noticed a difference in property taxes between here and Albuquerque. A $50,000.00 house here would be taxed about $1,000.00, but the same house in Albuquerque would only be taxed $210.00 to $250.00. Dentists are so much cheaper there. Dentures cost $275.00 for both top and bottom plates, but here it's $400.00 minimally. The only dentist in the area who makes false teeth for $400.00 is a retired dentist. You must have a referral from one of his pre-retirement patients, for him to see you about anything. He still cleans teeth and fills cavities if you were his patient before he retired. His largest fee for a cavity is $12.00. For any type of specialty work, you must go to another dentist, whose fees are exorbitant.
The Environmental Protection Agency wants to cut the amount of lead in automobile gas by ninety-one percent, as of January 1, 1986. It would raise prices at the pump. I don't know if my car will run on unleaded gas. It wasn't designed for that. I can't afford to buy another car.
In today's society, eighty percent of families, who would normally be home buyers, can't afford to buy their first home, and if you can't buy your first, you can't buy your second or third either.
In 1980 there was a building slump in Albuquerque and building license fees were reduced, but now there's a record amount of building construction, and the city fathers want to raise the license fee. Raising license fees and property taxes was something that happened here and look at us now. I don't see any new jobs created with those increased fees and taxes here.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Friday, August 17, 1984
Greg caught up on all of his phone bills today, $55.00, but Steve only paid me my $51.00 and then asked to bum a cigarette. I refused to give him one, and I plan to continue to refuse, since I haven't got enough money without unemployment checks to even make a partial house payment. He must be self-supporting from now on. I am very quickly going to be in a bankrupt position, unless I find a part-time job.
I think Teresa and Steve are close to breaking up, even though she still has his ring and he has her bicycle for transportation. She still comes over a lot, but their relationship seems strained.
I would love to be able to afford to live alone this winter, but I doubt if I will be able to. At least this place is easier to keep clean in the winter. If I could afford to turn on the air-conditioning in the summer, this place would stay much cleaner now, and freer of flies and fleas, but I can't. No one else seems to notice or care either, when the pool's open.
Even without making any kind of house payment this month, only eating one or two meals a day, and not paying the Great Gas God, I can only afford some gas money to look for work, if I don't buy pool chemicals.
I picked the garden today and it yielded two servings of green beans, one cantalope, one bunch of white grapes and about twenty tomatoes, which I froze. The watermelon vine and the cantalope vine are dying, but the pumpkin vine is thriving and I have four pumpkins now.
Steve cooked BBQ rabbit and offered me some; I declined. I wondered if it was Happy, the pet rabbit, but I didn't ask.
A famous, no, infamous, car maker has been judged not guilty on all counts of a government cocaine sting operation. It seems that government entrapment and gestapo-like tactics shouldn't be allowed to continue, and I'm glad he was found not guilty. It's not that the car maker wasn't morally wrong perhaps, but I don't think that governments should try to jail all the morally weak people in their country.
Nothing from the unemployment office has arrived yet. If it doesn't come tomorrow or Monday, I'm going to have to spend the gas money, that I could be looking for work with, going to the unemployment office.
I saw in the local newspaper today that one of my ex-bosses and her husband are declaring bankruptcy. The bankruptcy also listed them at separate addresses. This economy does drag you down.
Greg brought a bunch of people home, but it rained, so they didn't get to party in the pool. This house has become one constant summer party and I don't like it, but I don't have much choice either. I need the rent money.
I'm going to put an ad in the paper under 'Situations Wanted' for elderly companion. I have to find some work quickly and it's worth a shot.
Thursday, August 16, 1984
I went to eleven more potential employers today and came up empty handed again. I also pent my last $8.00. $7.00 for gas and $1.00 for stamps to mail five resumes, which is $2.00 ove my budget.
Steve's unemployment check didn't come today, and if it doesn't come tomorrow, I won't be able to pay the phone bill Monday. If I don't pay the phone bill, the phone company is going to charge me another $50.00 deposit. I don't have that either. Every resume and every application for work I've filled out has my phone number on it, and I must have a phone to look for work. I haven't received any word from the unemployment office about my unemployment check either.
I am feeling depressed again and don't know what to do. I've been looking around for something I could sell to make the house payment and phone bill, but I don't have that much left after the garage sale this spring.
I did laundry and dishes, and killed another fifty flies, about half as many as yesterday. I also found another point of entry, besides the back door - Steve's bedroom window. I've closed his door to avoid any more flies coming in through his window into the house. The window is wide open without the screen on it.
Wednesday, August 15, 1984
When I woke up today, the back screen door was standing wide open, no one was home, and there were a zillion flies in the house. I spent the whole day killing flies. Teresa had cleaned the house before I got home from New Mexico, but now it's filthy. There isn't any way to keep it clean with all the people that are in and out, all the time, day and night. Sometimes I just feel like sitting down and bawling.
Greg isn't going to take the job that he had an interview for, because it's door-to-door sales. Steve went to the doctor for something when I was gone, and they billed him for the doctor's fee, which he doesn't have and can't pay.
Tuesday, August 14, 1984
I got up early and got ready for job hunting, got gas in the car, stopped at eleven different places of employment and gave every place my name and phone number, but there were no openings. Now my gas tank is empty and I feel empty.
Steve's new part-time job doesn't seem like much of a part-time job, since he only worked fourteen hours in the last three days. He can't feed, clothe and shelter himself, and afford public transportation back and forth to work on $10.00 net wages a day.
Greg went for a job interview today, but the company just herded ten people into a room for an IQ test and then told him to go to a local hotel/motel chain tomorrow for a job description and briefing.
President Reagon made a faux paux about blowing up the Russian people, and now foreign countries are saying that he is a senile old man, the same as I thought months and years ago. I arrived at that conclusion be comparing President Reagon to my sharp, witty, totally in the present, but sometimes petty, father at the same age as President Reagon. President Reagon isn't any sharper mentally than my Dad was, and maybe not a sharp. I certainly wouldn't have wanted my nation to be at the whims and quirks of the increasingly limited thinking, and increasingly narrow-mindedness of my Dad. He often said Reagon was too old to be President before he died and he was of a similar age, so, I assumed he knew wheat he was talking about.
Steve's new part-time job doesn't seem like much of a part-time job, since he only worked fourteen hours in the last three days. He can't feed, clothe and shelter himself, and afford public transportation back and forth to work on $10.00 net wages a day.
Greg went for a job interview today, but the company just herded ten people into a room for an IQ test and then told him to go to a local hotel/motel chain tomorrow for a job description and briefing.
President Reagon made a faux paux about blowing up the Russian people, and now foreign countries are saying that he is a senile old man, the same as I thought months and years ago. I arrived at that conclusion be comparing President Reagon to my sharp, witty, totally in the present, but sometimes petty, father at the same age as President Reagon. President Reagon isn't any sharper mentally than my Dad was, and maybe not a sharp. I certainly wouldn't have wanted my nation to be at the whims and quirks of the increasingly limited thinking, and increasingly narrow-mindedness of my Dad. He often said Reagon was too old to be President before he died and he was of a similar age, so, I assumed he knew wheat he was talking about.
Monday, August 13,1984
I woke up late, had my coffee, read my newspaper, repaired an imperfect fingernail, too a bath, shaved the hairs on my legs that the wax didn't remove, and washed and dried my hair. I'm going to bed early and look for work tomorrow. Sonny told me to apply for work where Felicia works, because there may be an opening soon.
Steve made a pizza and cleaned the kitchen, while Teresa vacuumed the pool. Greg worked twelve hours today.
Today was the last day I'll be eating pizza for awhile, and after three days straight, I'll be ready for something else tomorrow. The vegetable garden has helped with diversity, but it hasn't been a sufficient amount of food to exist on without losing weight.
Sonny was here this evening. Now, it seems there's a problem at Mom's house. There's a water leak, supposedly in the yard somewhere, and because it's in the yard, the water company won't fix it. Sonny hasn't any idea where the leak is. He said when he finds where it's at, he will fix it, and I can knock it off the rent. I wonder how much this problem will cost me. Sonny is now working full-time as a pressman for a national company that has a branch here. He said he's started putting up the breezeway ceiling tile and he wants to finish it and lay the carpet in the next couple of days, because he has two days off. I wonder if that's true about the tile.
My roommates had all kinds of people over swimming tonight, as usual.
Sunday, August 12, 1984
I touched up my acrylic nails today, gave myself a pedicure and waxed my legs. In other words, I spent ten hours pampering myself today. I will look for work Tuesday. I only have $10.00 to put gas in the car to look for work, so, I'll only be able to go two days this week. I still feel like I have jet lag, and I' still tired.
I checked the pool chemicals and the PH was 60 parts per million, instead of the 100-150 that it should be. I'm not going to add stabilizer, because I would need 18 pounds of it, and I can't afford it. I hope the PH raises by itself. I hardly ever have a problem with it being too low, and I'm wondering why it's low. My guess is that someone dumped a lot of muratic acid into the pool all at once, instead of the one-third gallon per day that's required.
I am worried about money again. I had forgotten about my money problems here, while I was in Albuquerque. The stress and constant financial anxiety here is dragging me down already, again. I feel like Atlas with the weight of the world on my shoulders. My ex-beau took the weight of the world away from me for awhile, the same as Atlas was relieved for a short time by Hercules, but it's back on my shoulders now.
Saturday, August 11, 1984
I slept very well in my own bed last night again. When I woke up, I rolled over and went back to sleep.
The stress of coming home from Albuquerque, and having to deal with all the financial problems again here has left me as depressed as I was before I went, and I've only been home two days.
Steve got a part-time job at a local restaurant. It's a country bumpkin equivalent of a dump, but it's a job. He let his car be repossessed while I was gone, because he hadn't received any unemployment and wasn't able to make a car payment. He should be getting a full unemployment check every Thursday. Greg paid me $50.0- for rent and will pay me $55,00 for the phone bill next Friday.
I spent $20.00 at the grocers buying all the necessary items, except paper towels.
I bought two small pizzas for $9.00, which will have to last me for three days. $3.00 a day s all I allow myself for food, and it isn't enough, but it is more than I can afford. I must pay the bills! I can't keep food at home because Steve eats it, and I can't use food stamps at a restaurant.
I pulled some weeds in the garden, pick a cantalope, three cucumbers, four tomatoes and green beans. The brussel sprouts look great, but the broccoli and cauliflower look sickly. One grape vine is huge, but the other grape vine and the wild grape are just beginning to spread. The elderberries are thriving too.
Friday, August 10, 1984
I woke up early and realized I was in my own bed. I didn't know whether the feeling was a dream come true or a nightmare.
I checked all my mail and discovered that my unemployment check hadn't come, only a form to be filled out. I discovered that my food stamps hadn't arrived either. My bills arrived though. My $80.00 paycheck had come. My phone bill was $94.00, and I owe $34.00 on my Cilco bill. The property insurance bill for Mom's house came. I called the insurance agent and told him I couldn't pay any part of the bill until the end of September, if then.
I went to the ADC office to arrange to get my food stamps, and they will be at the ADC office next Wednesday. I put $5.00 in the gas tank, bought two hamburgers, one for lunch and one for dinner, read all the newspapers that had accumulated during my absence, and clipped coupons.
Steve got his unemployment check and paid me $51.00 of his past due rent. Greg's part of the phone bill is $20.00, plus $35.00 in long distance charges.
My roommates had run out of everything without replacing anything: Small and large garbage bags, paper towels, aluminum foil, all cleaning products, laundry soap, bleach and even toilet paper. I feel like I have jet lag again, and I'm not going to go to the grocery store until tomorrow to buy everything.
I was surprised to learn from the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chamber of Commerce that Albuquerque has ten percent unemployment. If they have ten percent unemployment, why aren't houses vacant and boarded up like they are here? Why aren't 'for sale' signs in the yards?
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thursday, August 9, 1984
I got up at 5:30AM, and spent the first hour drinking coffee, trying to wake up. I ate breakfast and dressed after my ex-beau left at 7:00AM. He came back to pick me up at 8:00AM and drove me to the airport. He gave me $10.00, told me to buy myself a couple of beers in St. Louis, put my luggage inside the airport at the appropriate airline, said "Goodbye!", and left. Short, sweet and to the point. It had been a long silent ride to the airport. I think I detected the sound of a sniffle, but I said nothing.
The airport was cold and my fingers and toes started tingling, but the airplane was warm, and I warmed up after boarding the plane.
The first half of the flight was fine, but the last half was quite bumpy, and I wished many times that I hadn't eaten breakfast.
The flight from St. Louis to my area was in a twin propeller plant. I figured if anything went wrong, they wouldn't have too many problems landing that little booger, which isn't possible with a Boeing 727.
Greg and Teresa met me at the airport, because Steve was still mowing the yard, and wanted to have the yard done when I got home.
My male dog was mad at me for leaving him, and took about five minutes before he would have anything to do with me, and then he wouldn't leave me alone. He had lost weight, but he will be alright since I'm home.
The airport was cold and my fingers and toes started tingling, but the airplane was warm, and I warmed up after boarding the plane.
The first half of the flight was fine, but the last half was quite bumpy, and I wished many times that I hadn't eaten breakfast.
The flight from St. Louis to my area was in a twin propeller plant. I figured if anything went wrong, they wouldn't have too many problems landing that little booger, which isn't possible with a Boeing 727.
Greg and Teresa met me at the airport, because Steve was still mowing the yard, and wanted to have the yard done when I got home.
My male dog was mad at me for leaving him, and took about five minutes before he would have anything to do with me, and then he wouldn't leave me alone. He had lost weight, but he will be alright since I'm home.
Wednesday, August 8, 1984
I woke up at 11:00AM and my ex-beau left at noon. I've finished doing everything and packing everything. I am ready to go home.
My ex-beau came home at 6:00PM.
My ex-beau came home at 6:00PM.
Tuesday, August 7, 1984
I didn't wake up 'til after noon today. My ex-beau called and asked if I'd like to go out to dinner with Star and Max tonight, but I told him I had other things to do.
I packed almost everything that I'm going to take home, except the things I'm going to use today, tomorrow and Thursday. I looked up Star's address, because I'm going to write her a 'thank you' note as soon as I get home. I really just wanted the time to relax today, because it may be the last time for awhile. My ex-beau came home about 4:00PM, slept two and one-half hours, then left again. He came home again about 7:00PM and slept the rest of the night.
I packed almost everything that I'm going to take home, except the things I'm going to use today, tomorrow and Thursday. I looked up Star's address, because I'm going to write her a 'thank you' note as soon as I get home. I really just wanted the time to relax today, because it may be the last time for awhile. My ex-beau came home about 4:00PM, slept two and one-half hours, then left again. He came home again about 7:00PM and slept the rest of the night.
Monday, August 6, 1984
One of my favorite movie stars, Richard Burton, died today at a relatively young age, fifty-eight years old.
I am bored! At home I am bored so seldom that I don't even remember a last time. There isn't much to see here, except maybe a gardening and hardware store.
I'll go back to my welfare state, which is a pun for my personal status and my state in the union, and do what I think best.
I am bored! At home I am bored so seldom that I don't even remember a last time. There isn't much to see here, except maybe a gardening and hardware store.
I'll go back to my welfare state, which is a pun for my personal status and my state in the union, and do what I think best.
Sunday, August 5, 1984
We had breakfast at a Mexican restaurant, then drove around before I was dropped off at his home. I changed my nail polish, repaired a cracked and chipped acrylic nail, took a bath, read the Sunday paper, watched TV and relaxed.
I've watched more TV in the last two days than I've watched in the last year at my home, and I'm getting sick of watching TV. I'm looking forward to canning some vegetables from my garden. I will also look for work again and try to get on with whatever life I can achieve back in Illinois. I'm anxious to go home. I've been in a rut, but a lack of finances will put me in that same rut again. This trip has enabled me to get a few dollars ahead and I'll be able to spend some money to look for work. I feel somewhat renewed, although I realize the same old problems will plague me when I get home.
My ex-beau came home drunk. Except for caring about me and my welfare, which has totally selfish origins, I think I bore the hell out of him. He liked an image which, coincidentally, breathed. The image, or the person conjured in his mind, never existed. He never learned to value the person, who created the image, he liked. He views me as a stranger, not as the same person I have always been. He seems to be the main character straight out of one of F. Scott Fitgerald's stories.
I called home to arrange my ride back from the local airport to my home. Greg told me my male dog has lost a lot of weight. My ex-beau has jumped my case every time I called home to talk to my dogs, so, I haven't called home for days, and my male dog hasn't eaten for days either. I'm concerned about my dogs.
I've watched more TV in the last two days than I've watched in the last year at my home, and I'm getting sick of watching TV. I'm looking forward to canning some vegetables from my garden. I will also look for work again and try to get on with whatever life I can achieve back in Illinois. I'm anxious to go home. I've been in a rut, but a lack of finances will put me in that same rut again. This trip has enabled me to get a few dollars ahead and I'll be able to spend some money to look for work. I feel somewhat renewed, although I realize the same old problems will plague me when I get home.
My ex-beau came home drunk. Except for caring about me and my welfare, which has totally selfish origins, I think I bore the hell out of him. He liked an image which, coincidentally, breathed. The image, or the person conjured in his mind, never existed. He never learned to value the person, who created the image, he liked. He views me as a stranger, not as the same person I have always been. He seems to be the main character straight out of one of F. Scott Fitgerald's stories.
I called home to arrange my ride back from the local airport to my home. Greg told me my male dog has lost a lot of weight. My ex-beau has jumped my case every time I called home to talk to my dogs, so, I haven't called home for days, and my male dog hasn't eaten for days either. I'm concerned about my dogs.
Saturday, August 4, 1984
I woke up late. My ex-beau and I went to the grocery store and a health food store. The grocers was the equivalent of the Kroger chain stores, that are located a few miles from my city. We went home and watched TV the rest of the day and evening.
Friday, August 3, 1984
I woke up early. When I got ready, My ex-beau took me to look at more houses. The houses he showed me are gorgeous, but looked cheaply built.
Star, my ex-beau and I, went to a Mexican style restaurant. I ordered red chili sauce on my meal, and my ex-beau ordered green. The green didn't seem any hotter than mine, but had a much better flavor, at least to me. I had a salad and we all had salsa and chips. The food was okay, but I wouldn't give it three stars either. We went to Star and Max's house after dinner. I had a nice time and Star was a terrific hostess. I like Star.
Star, my ex-beau and I, went to a Mexican style restaurant. I ordered red chili sauce on my meal, and my ex-beau ordered green. The green didn't seem any hotter than mine, but had a much better flavor, at least to me. I had a salad and we all had salsa and chips. The food was okay, but I wouldn't give it three stars either. We went to Star and Max's house after dinner. I had a nice time and Star was a terrific hostess. I like Star.
Thursday, August 2, 1984
I woke up at 10:30AM and my ex-beau had already left for work. He came back at 11:30AM and made arrangements to go to a Chiropractor at 3:00:M, then he left. He ended up going to the club, getting drunk and skipped the chiropractor appointment.
I did nothing today, and it felt wonderful.
I did nothing today, and it felt wonderful.
Wednesday, August 1, 1984
CHAPTER 8, 1984
My ex-beau and I had a lovely time looking at houses.
I repaired my acrylic fingernails and they needed it. Several were cracked and chipped, and the new growth at the cuticle needed to be filled in with new material. They looked nice again.
My ex-beau isn't concerned with anything conservative. I am the one concerned with couponing, utility prices, reasonable priced housing, etc. I didn't put a $150.00 muffler system on my car; one of my roommates rigged a cherry-bomb, glass-pack, type muffler to my exhaust pipe for $20.00. I didn't install a $120.00 battery in my car; I bought a five-year guaranteed $42.55 special-sale battery. I don't buy $3.00 pairs of socks; I don't buy hose at all. I don't buy $15.00 ties; I've spent less than $1.00 on clothes this year. But to my ex-beau, I am a Liberal, although I don't know how anyone could be more conservative in my circumstances than I am. I don't even go anywhere because I can't afford to go, and I'm only here because he's picking up the tab. I realize that he's talking politics and he's right. I can't be a Conservative, when I personally feel and see so much pain around me. The hunger and want I see on my block in my city and on the faces of the people of my town, doesn't endear me to the politics of this country. It especially sickens me that in one of the richest countries in the world, people are going hungry, and with all the cuts in everything, they are getting hungrier.
The Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate, Geraldine Ferraro, has practically called President Reagon unreligious.
My ex-beau and I had a lovely time looking at houses.
I repaired my acrylic fingernails and they needed it. Several were cracked and chipped, and the new growth at the cuticle needed to be filled in with new material. They looked nice again.
My ex-beau isn't concerned with anything conservative. I am the one concerned with couponing, utility prices, reasonable priced housing, etc. I didn't put a $150.00 muffler system on my car; one of my roommates rigged a cherry-bomb, glass-pack, type muffler to my exhaust pipe for $20.00. I didn't install a $120.00 battery in my car; I bought a five-year guaranteed $42.55 special-sale battery. I don't buy $3.00 pairs of socks; I don't buy hose at all. I don't buy $15.00 ties; I've spent less than $1.00 on clothes this year. But to my ex-beau, I am a Liberal, although I don't know how anyone could be more conservative in my circumstances than I am. I don't even go anywhere because I can't afford to go, and I'm only here because he's picking up the tab. I realize that he's talking politics and he's right. I can't be a Conservative, when I personally feel and see so much pain around me. The hunger and want I see on my block in my city and on the faces of the people of my town, doesn't endear me to the politics of this country. It especially sickens me that in one of the richest countries in the world, people are going hungry, and with all the cuts in everything, they are getting hungrier.
The Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate, Geraldine Ferraro, has practically called President Reagon unreligious.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Tuesday, July 31, 1984
My ex-beau misplaced his car keys and turned the house upside-down looking for them. He even accused me of taking and hiding them. He finally found them underneath his bed in the bedroom, where he had dropped them. Then he left, and after his tirade last night and this morning, I didn't care. I don't understand what the big deal is, me not liking most of the people I've met here so far. I'm sure there are plenty of people here I would like. I also didn't know anything about his keys.
The houses I've liked have been in the Indian, Spanish or Mexican sides of town. My ex-beau told me that I could live there. I asked why, but he didn't explain.
The houses I've liked have been in the Indian, Spanish or Mexican sides of town. My ex-beau told me that I could live there. I asked why, but he didn't explain.
Monday, July 30, 1984
My ex-beau took me on a road trip around town. I looked at all the houses and his house is the smallest one I've seen. You can go for miles without seeing a 'for sale' sign.
He took me to an out-of-the-way tavern, but the patrons didn't seem very friendly. Everyone seemed kind of cold and callous. I made the mistake of telling my ex-beau that. It made him mad, so, he took me to his home and left. He came home later and proceeded to throw papers everywhere, because I didn't care for the people I met tonight. Big deal!
He took me to an out-of-the-way tavern, but the patrons didn't seem very friendly. Everyone seemed kind of cold and callous. I made the mistake of telling my ex-beau that. It made him mad, so, he took me to his home and left. He came home later and proceeded to throw papers everywhere, because I didn't care for the people I met tonight. Big deal!
Sunday, July 29, 1984
I didn't wake up until 1:30PM today. I finally felt great for the first time since I left home, four days ago. I unpacked and cleaned up while my ex-beau went grocery shopping. He had fixed me coffee and I relaxed while reading the local Sunday newspaper. There are plenty of jobs advertised here, gobs of jobs. It also showed fruit trees, roses, asparagus and grapes being grown in abundance.
There's one of the most beautiful pine trees I've ever seen in his front yard, and I'm from Michigan, where there are lots of pine trees. I wondered how it would look decorated for Christmas. I didn't see any 'for sale' signs in any yards either. I noticed right away there weren't many insects here, few flies, gnats or mosquitos. It's difficult to imagine not having to keep all the doors closed and windows screened. Maybe that's why my ex-beau calls this 'God's Country'.
His rented, furnished house is darling. It's adobe style and quite roomy with plenty of closets and a fold-out bed in the living room. It's a one bedroom. The only thing it doesn't seem to have is a place for a washer and dryer. It has plaster walls and ceilings, and is carpeted throughout. His rent is $210.00 a month, plus utilities. His gas bill was only $9.99 last month and he runs his 'swamp cooler' twenty-four hours a day for air conditioning. My gas bill in the Midwest is never less than $25.00, and that's in the spring or fall when the air-conditioner and furnace aren't being used.
We went to Max's private club and then we went to a nice Chinese restaurant. We had a great dinner in a private dining room, all by ourselves. The food was great and I had a wonderful time.
There's one of the most beautiful pine trees I've ever seen in his front yard, and I'm from Michigan, where there are lots of pine trees. I wondered how it would look decorated for Christmas. I didn't see any 'for sale' signs in any yards either. I noticed right away there weren't many insects here, few flies, gnats or mosquitos. It's difficult to imagine not having to keep all the doors closed and windows screened. Maybe that's why my ex-beau calls this 'God's Country'.
His rented, furnished house is darling. It's adobe style and quite roomy with plenty of closets and a fold-out bed in the living room. It's a one bedroom. The only thing it doesn't seem to have is a place for a washer and dryer. It has plaster walls and ceilings, and is carpeted throughout. His rent is $210.00 a month, plus utilities. His gas bill was only $9.99 last month and he runs his 'swamp cooler' twenty-four hours a day for air conditioning. My gas bill in the Midwest is never less than $25.00, and that's in the spring or fall when the air-conditioner and furnace aren't being used.
We went to Max's private club and then we went to a nice Chinese restaurant. We had a great dinner in a private dining room, all by ourselves. The food was great and I had a wonderful time.
Saturday, July 28, 1984
Everything went well on the first flight out of Nashville into Denver. My ex-beau only flies completely drunk or stone cold sober. We had five minutes to spare when we got on the airplane at 1:25PM. My ex-beau ordered four beers at once and stayed inebriated during the flight. All was well. About one-half hour before landing, I got motion sickness. It was the bumpiest flight, commercial or private, I've ever been on. I logically know that the bumpiness is caused by hot and cold air pockets, but my stomach doesn't listen to my mind. After un-boarding, we went to a bar in the airport and got a beer. Everything was still okay! We only had about a fifteen minute wait for our next plane connection from Denver. After we boarded our plane, it was grounded for over an one-half hour before we took off. By that time, my ex-beau was a raving maniac. Not Good!
A friend of my ex-beau, Star, was waiting to pick up us at the Albuquerque airport, even though we were over an hour late. We all went to a private club that Star's husband, Max, belongs. I was still too tired to enjoy much of anything. Star dropped us off at my ex-beau's rented house; I crashed and he passed out.
A friend of my ex-beau, Star, was waiting to pick up us at the Albuquerque airport, even though we were over an hour late. We all went to a private club that Star's husband, Max, belongs. I was still too tired to enjoy much of anything. Star dropped us off at my ex-beau's rented house; I crashed and he passed out.
Friday, July 27, 1984
My ex-beau was sorry about last night this morning. He was also a joy to be around. We went to an Amway-style banquet tonight and I understood why he hates them so much now, but the price was right, free, and the food was good.
I also made a complete fool of myself. We were packed like sardines at a table with people seated on both sides. When someone in the middle of the table had to go to the bathroom, theyjust crawled underneath the table to be able to get out. When I had to go to the bathroom and crawled underneath the table to get out, I caught my shoe in the hem of my dress and upset the table. My friend didn't say anything, but he must have been mortified.
I also made a complete fool of myself. We were packed like sardines at a table with people seated on both sides. When someone in the middle of the table had to go to the bathroom, theyjust crawled underneath the table to be able to get out. When I had to go to the bathroom and crawled underneath the table to get out, I caught my shoe in the hem of my dress and upset the table. My friend didn't say anything, but he must have been mortified.
Thursday, July 26, 1984
My luggage wasn't on the bus, but it arrived on another bus one-half hour later. I was getting worried, because every decent outfit I have was in it. I took a taxi to the hotel that my ex-beau was staying in, with the remainder of the money that he had sent me. I called him on the house phone; he came to the lobby and took me to my prearranged room. I was so tired that I couldn't fall asleep until 7:30AM, and then I only slept for six hours. Being overly tired, coupled with being in a strange bed, meant I didn't sleep well either. I felt like I had jet lag.
That evening my ex-beau hurt my feelings and I started crying and couldn't stop. I ended up eating a hamburger and phoning home locked in the bathroom, because we got into a big argument. I even thought about going home.
Wednesday, July 25, 1984
I added the pool chemicals and circulated the water while I read the morning newspaper, and had my two cups of coffee.
I took my male dog to the vet. The vet said he had ear mites and I got medicine for the condition. I came home and gave my roommates instructions about the ear medicine, three drops in each ear for three days.
I talked to my child on the phone. They had to go to court for a hospital bill they owe. The judge ordered them to pay $20.00 a month. If the hospital gets paid, the Great Gas God won't be paid as much, and they are already in hock to Cilco. The judge said that unless it's paid every month, he will order garnishment of their only paycheck. I said not to worry about it, because they owe everybody anyway, and if the hospital bill hadn't landed them in court, another creditor world have. If the paycheck is garnished, they lose the job and go on ADC totally. They'll be no worse off than they are now. At least they won't have to spend already non-existent money on gas and oil for the car to be able to drive to work.
My taxi showed up at exactly 12:50PM, as I had previously arranged. I was off to Nashville, Tennessee. I had two lay-overs during the bus ride, and I got there at 3:30 AM. I felt totally exhausted and needed a good night's sleep. My first lay-over was in Peoria, Illinois, and the second one was in St. Louis at 8:45PM for forty-five minutes. Both the layover cities are just big, dirty cities, with lots of houses for sale or vacant, the same as my town. I bought a bottle of soda pop for seventy-five cents and a small carton of milk for forty cents. I had eighty-five cents left, plus taxi fare. I'm not particularly interested in Nashville, but looking forward to being able to just relax later.
Tuesday, July 24, 1984
I collected the rent at Mom's house, minus $6.00 for roach powder, and I have enough for my house payment this month.
I will have $2.00 spending money left, and needless to say, $2.00 won't buy me enough to eat on my way to Nashville tomorrow. I weeded the garden, while I looked for something to eat on the bus. I raided the cupboards and frig/freezer to put together a lunch for the trip.
I added the pool chemicals and circulated the water.
I packed everything I'm going to take with me, and I'm relieved to have nearly everything done.
Monday, July 23, 1984
A $70.00 care package from my ex-beau, my paycheck, and my unemployment form all came in the mail today. I paid the phone bill.
Sonny came over and told me he will finish the roof tomorrow night. We'll see! I stressed the point that I would be leaving Wednesday, and must have the rent money owed me, to have enough money to buy the roach spray and powder, to be able to spray and powder their house.
I'll take my male dog to the veterinarian tomorrow for his ear problem too.
I didn't get anything accomplished today, because I didn't feel well. I only got the dishes washed and scrubbed the pots and pans, which ruined my manicure. I'll redo it before I leave.
Sunday, July 22, 1984
I gave myself a manicure, since I will be going to a banquet in Nashville. I used the liquid brush-on type of nail product that lengthens your own nails and strengthens them too. They look gorgeous, if I do say so myself. I also gave myself a pedicure and trimmed the calluses on my feet and toes. I dyed my hair and eyebrows, and shaved my legs.
I polished my shoes that I'm taking with me, and decided what I'm going to wear on the long bus trip. I packed as much as I could of the things I won't be using before I leave. I'm getting ready quicker than I expected. I am ready to leave for Nashville tomorrow, even though I'm not leaving until Wednesday.
I have a pumpkin, cantaloupe and cucumber in plain view in my garden. I also have a zucchini and green beans that will be ready to be picked tomorrow.
I'm tired today, because of the window peeper. I didn't sleep very well, nor very long; I ended up napping for about four hours. I told my roommates about the window peeper incident, and both of them told me to wake them up if it happens again. I asked Greg to go outside to see how well anyone could see through my bedroom curtains, and he told me the window peeper had a good view. I have an idea who the window peeper might be, but I'll probably never know for sure. If it's who I think it is, I won't have an incident tonight, because I know that he must get up early tomorrow morning.
My ex-beau phoned and asked what kind of cigarettes I smoke now. I have been using coupons and had a hard time remembering what my regular brand was. He must have thought I was a dumb shit. Maybe it's senility! He says unless I get out from under this stress, I won't be alive in ten years. He told me I'll receive $70.00 in the mail tomorrow for the bus ticket to Nashville. He couldn't get an airline ticket through the company he works for, since this was a spur of the moment thing.
I don't have an adequate diet here, nor money to buy supplemental vitamins and minerals, let alone protein. I haven't been feeling very well lately and believe it's because I haven't be able to afford the nutrients I need. I've aged very fast lately. My new hair growth is so gray, I'm sure a lack of something , maybe selenium, is the reason. A person doesn't fall apart in a short amount of time unless there's an underlying factor, either illness or malnutrition. My teeth, the very same teeth I've spent conservatively $10,000.00 on, are dirty, and I don't have the money to have them cleaned. There isn't any dental aid for anyone over eighteen years old. My child's teeth, that I've spent thousands of dollars on also, braces, retainers, etc., are also in a total state of disrepair now. There has to be some way out of this welfare, unemployment trap. I once said that I was too old to be a hooker, but maybe I take it back. I admire my child for sticking with her husband, but food stamps and welfare would be available without a spouse. "I'm so tired; I'm so weary, pick me up and kiss me, Dearie". This island, that I've lived on for the last fifteen years is in a stage of drought, and the droughts are expected to last at least another sixteen years, and I can't survive on my island anymore. Unfortunately, I am still proud! Although my spirit has been broken through the years by a drought or siege, the next year always produced a harvest, enough for me to store some of the harvest, and enough to last through the next drought or siege, but not sixteen or more years worth.
Saturday, July 21, 1984
My paycheck didn't come in the mail today, and if it doesn't come Monday, I'm in trouble. My phone bill was due yesterday and the phone company is being insistent, since I don't owe them a lot of money anymore, only$25.00. If it doesn't come on Monday, I'll be trying to find out what happened to it.
I gave the dogs a bath, and discovered that my male has an ear infection again or maybe it never completely cleared up earlier this year. It couldn't happen at a worse time, since I'm going to be gone soon. My ex-beau is flying out of the Southwest tomorrow to go to Nashville.
Steve was told at the unemployment office that he does qualify for unemployment benefits, and as of July thirty-first, he will get $51.00 a week. I can't afford to carry him financially if it doesn't happen.
I read the newspaper, napped, watched TV and went to bed, but as soon as I turned out the light, I hard footsteps outside the house in the back yard. Apparently we have a window peeper in the neighborhood again this year.
Friday, July 20, 1984
I swept, mopped and waxed the entryway and kitchen, and vacuumed all the carpet. I vacuumed around the edges of the carpet with a small portable vacuum also.
Steve cleaned the kitchen. Greg had made a mess, as usual, and Steve cleaned it up, as usual.
Steve went to the Salvation Army for some financial help, but the Salvation Army told him that they have run out of state funding and can't help anyone anymore. It's only the middle of July and they are already out of funding!
I treated myself to two restaurant made sandwiches today, because it's my birthday.
Thursday, July 19, 1984
Today was my last day at work, and although I will miss some of the women I work with, I am glad this job is over. After making two-hundred, twenty-five phone calls a day in six hours for the last month, I am thoroughly sick of it.
Steve told me that the welfare office told him he wasn't eligible for welfare until September, because he made too much money in June. Huh? He made a whopping $340.00 in the month of June. He went to the ADC office to see about food stamps, and he is eligible, but an individual is only entitled to $76.00 a month currently instead of the previous $80.00 worth. He parked his car on the corner of my lot that is highly visible from two streets and put 'for sale' signs in the front and back windows. He has until the end of the month to sell it, pay $150.00 on the loan, or it will be repossessed. His rent is also due.
I treated myself to a cheeseburger and a glass of milk at a local drive-in restaurant. I don't keep any groceries at home anymore, because Steve eats them. I know that he doesn't have any money to eat until he gets food stamps, but I don't have much either. I don't need to lose any weight, and I am far from overweight.
Wednesday, July 18, 1984
I mailed my unemployment form today to start my unemployment benefits rolling again, since tomorrow will be my last day of work. I hope that my unemployment benefits hold out until I go back to work.
I'm waiting for last week's paycheck to come in the mail, to be able to pay the Great Gas God and the phone company.
The pool is in pretty good shape, and I have had the necessary money to buy the chemicals to keep it that way so far this year. I've picked up enough pool chemicals to last until the eleventh of August. Even with the twenty-five percent discount I got for writing the manager a complaint, stating the store always runs out of pool chemicals, I am broke.
Tonight I finished buying most of the things that I'll need for my trip.
Steve went to the Township Supervisor's office to see if he could get the $144.00 a month welfare amount, even though he has to work twenty hours a month for the township in order to receive it, because the unemployment office hasn't determined whether he is eligible for unemployment benefits. The federal government hasn't forwarded his military record to the unemployment office yet. More bureaucracy!
Sonny still hasn't finished my roof and I am getting disgusted with him. I can't get anyone else to finish it now. I'll never let him do a big project for me again. If I have the money in August , I'd like to paint the outside trim on both houses, but I probably won't have it. It's also possible I won't have the time, if I'm hired for work somewhere.
Tuesday, July 17, 1984
Three women quit at work today; I don't know why.
I came home and added pool chemicals, started the pump for circulation, then cleaned the bookcase in the living room while everyone else went swimming.
The real estate agent was supposed to come over today again, but she didn't show. Maybe she thought she couldn't even sell this house at $22,000.00.
There's some kind of scandal brewing about the Secretary of Agriculture. More people have been replaced under Reagon's Administration than any other in history, even the Nixon Administration.
The Democratic National Convention is on all the regular TV channels, but I don't think that most people care about it one way or another. Since Presidential Candidate Mondale picked a woman, and a woman that I have never heard of, my interest has waned. I don't think he can win the Presidency and we'll be forced to endure another four years of Reagonomics ("Voodoo Economics") I personally will vote for whoever is the Democratic Candidate, but I don't think that it will do any good. I seriously doubt if Senator Gary Hart will be picked for the Democratic Candidate, but I think he would have a better chance of beating President Reagon than Mondale. He's vague enough for the populous to vote for him, I just wish the populous would listen to the actual sentences the candidates say, instead of looking at their wrappers. In other words, Hart is pretty. Maybe everyone should be forced to listen to the candidates on a radio.
Monday, July 16, 1984
My ex-beau is having trouble with my airline ticket. It seems I'll be leaving the twenty-fifth of July on a bus to Nashville, where we'll be for several days, then we'll both fly to his home in Albuquerque, NM.
I picked up some more personal items for my trip at the drug store tonight after work. I came home, did a load of laundry, washed walls and woodwork, washed switchplates and dusted the ceilings for cobwebs. I added the pool chemicals early, so I didn't have to stay awake and wait for them to circulate at night.
No one is home and it's wonderful. There are usually so many people around here, that I just want to escape or run off and hide somewhere. I think of Love often. He is everpresent in my consciousness. In almost everything I do, I wonder if he would approve. I think about Mom a lot too, but believe it or not, I don't know how to put into words what I think about her. I can't believe sometimes how phenomenally changed my life is. I view each day as what will happen today, usually in a negative light.
Presidential Candidate Mondale has chosen a woman for a Vice Presidential running mate. It will hurt him politically. I wonder if he wants to lose the Presidency and likes Reagon's policies in private.
I started my menstrual period today and had cramps all day and last night. I had a free box of pads that came in the mail, and although I always wear tampons, I am wearing the freebies to save money. Actually, I don't have any money.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Sunday, July 15, 1984
I am still considering the appraisal price of my property, and am still in a state of shock to realize that by staying here in the state, county, city and township for the last four years, I have lost $6,375.00 a tear, That's more than it cost me to live here per year. I don't see how on earth I can financially come out, even if I hung on until the year 2,000, and kept putting money in this place. Probably twenty-five percent of our population has moved elsewhere, and all their houses are vacant. The unemployed people with children, who are still here, are being put in subsidized housing, and the houses they once resided in are vacant.
Saturday, July 14, 1984
My ex-beau sent a real estate agent to my house. This house appraised at $47,500.00 in April; it's now worth $22,000.00. I bought it for $13,500.00 in 1969, added a garage, new vinyl flooring in the kitchen, wood flooring in the entry, plush carpet in the rest of the house, put in a bar, put in two driveways and sidewalks, landscaped the yard, totally fenced the yard, put in an in-ground swimming pool, refinished the kitchen cabinets, got storm windows, tore out walls, put in new walls, and added doors and closets with doors. In other words I did everything to a house that could be done almost. I still owe somewhere between $4,000.00 and $5,000.00. When the real estate agent said $22,000.00, I went into cardiac arrest, and that's if I can sell it. Since Mom and Dad's house only appraised a few thousand higher than mine did in 1980, I'd be very fortunate to get $25,000.00 from it. By the time I pay my lender, pay the realtor agent's seven percent fee, and the closing costs, I'd end up with about $40,000.00, if I could sell both of them.
I cleaned the hallway and went to work.
Greg was supposed to add pool chemicals today while I was at work, but he told me when I got home, that he had only added the chemicals an hour before, and then he left. I have to work the day shift tomorrow and get up early, but I had to stay up until the wee hours of the morning circulating the chemicals.
I cleaned the hallway and went to work.
Greg was supposed to add pool chemicals today while I was at work, but he told me when I got home, that he had only added the chemicals an hour before, and then he left. I have to work the day shift tomorrow and get up early, but I had to stay up until the wee hours of the morning circulating the chemicals.
Friday, July 13, 1984
I seriously doubt if this house would sell, and I can't rent it because of the pool. I could never afford to come back here and do $2,000.00 worth of repairs, as I had to do after I rented it before, by trying to live with my madwoman mother. The pool cost an absolute fortune to straighten up, and many months of manual labor to get it back to it's original condition. With all the houses that are vacant, just sitting boarded up, why would anyone buy this one. I consistently spend more money than I have coming in though. Between a rock and a hard spot am I.
Work went well today and I got off early. I came home and did laundry, cleaned the bar, the knick-knack shelves and all the pictures and mirrors. Then I watched TV and went to bed.
Work went well today and I got off early. I came home and did laundry, cleaned the bar, the knick-knack shelves and all the pictures and mirrors. Then I watched TV and went to bed.
Thursday, July 12, 1984
Sonny came over this morning while I was still asleep and told Steve he would finish my roof caps today, but as usual, no Sonny. I'm not upset, because I still owe him money, and will have to knock it off his rent.
I cleaned the bath and finished cleaning the kitchen. I straightened up the rest of the house, even though it's still filthy.
Steve and Teresa bought a rabbit and they named it Happy. Steve made a cage for it and Happy is in the garage. I think it's a girl, but not being an animal sexologist, who knows. I had a female cat once that I thought was a male until she had a menstrual period. I wonder what sex the toad is.
Steve cleaned the garage and hosed down the driveway and pool carpet, while Teresa vacuumed the pool.
Teresa really enjoys the pool. She's hardly ever out of it. I am just thankful that I can count on her to take care of it too. She is going to be adding the pool chemicals while I'm gone. I know that unless something drastically goes wrong with the pool, that it will be in fine shape when I get back. I don't know if she is as conscientious about everything, but I think I can depend on her to take care of the pool one-hundred percent.
I went to the store and spent $19.00, minus $1.00 in coupons, for glass cleaner, bleach and some personal stuff for my trip.
It was a typical day at work.
Since Greg has been here, he's only vacuumed the pool one out of twenty times, literally, and scrubbed the pool twice. He does his own laundry without offering to do anyone else's or the household laundry. He rinsed and dried dishes once, washed dishes once, and has made many messes for Steve and me to clean up.
I cleaned the bath and finished cleaning the kitchen. I straightened up the rest of the house, even though it's still filthy.
Steve and Teresa bought a rabbit and they named it Happy. Steve made a cage for it and Happy is in the garage. I think it's a girl, but not being an animal sexologist, who knows. I had a female cat once that I thought was a male until she had a menstrual period. I wonder what sex the toad is.
Steve cleaned the garage and hosed down the driveway and pool carpet, while Teresa vacuumed the pool.
Teresa really enjoys the pool. She's hardly ever out of it. I am just thankful that I can count on her to take care of it too. She is going to be adding the pool chemicals while I'm gone. I know that unless something drastically goes wrong with the pool, that it will be in fine shape when I get back. I don't know if she is as conscientious about everything, but I think I can depend on her to take care of the pool one-hundred percent.
I went to the store and spent $19.00, minus $1.00 in coupons, for glass cleaner, bleach and some personal stuff for my trip.
It was a typical day at work.
Since Greg has been here, he's only vacuumed the pool one out of twenty times, literally, and scrubbed the pool twice. He does his own laundry without offering to do anyone else's or the household laundry. He rinsed and dried dishes once, washed dishes once, and has made many messes for Steve and me to clean up.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, July 11, 1984
I went to the unemployment office and found out that if I make more than $68.00 a week; I don't qualify for partial unemployment. If I made $67.00 a week, my unemployment compensation would be $35.00 a week, for a total of $102.00 a week. Unfortunately I made $80.00 last week and even though it seems I should be able to draw the remaining $22.00, I can't.
It makes a person want to cheat, since wages are declared quarterly to the government. A person would only have to make sure he had declared his total wages for any particular quarter of the year. It would be helpful knowing when the quarter began, but you could guesstimate. Usually businesses start the quarter at the end of January, but it could be any month. He could declare his weekly pay under the dollar benefit amount and declare one or two weekly pays over the dollar benefit amount in any given quarter, but not consecutively. As long as the amount reported to the unemployment office and figures given to the government by the company for the quarter matched, you'd not have any problems.
I came home from work with a headache, probably caused by the unemployment office, took two aspirin, cleaned out the refrigerator, and added chemicals to the pool. I watched TV until the water had circulated the pool chemicals, then still having a headache, went to bed.
It makes a person want to cheat, since wages are declared quarterly to the government. A person would only have to make sure he had declared his total wages for any particular quarter of the year. It would be helpful knowing when the quarter began, but you could guesstimate. Usually businesses start the quarter at the end of January, but it could be any month. He could declare his weekly pay under the dollar benefit amount and declare one or two weekly pays over the dollar benefit amount in any given quarter, but not consecutively. As long as the amount reported to the unemployment office and figures given to the government by the company for the quarter matched, you'd not have any problems.
I came home from work with a headache, probably caused by the unemployment office, took two aspirin, cleaned out the refrigerator, and added chemicals to the pool. I watched TV until the water had circulated the pool chemicals, then still having a headache, went to bed.
Tuesday, July 10, 1984
I slept in, then went to buy pool chemicals. I washed the dishes; there were lots of them, and I cleaned the stove. Ugh! Even with the self-cleaning oven, disassembling the rest of the stove and cleaning all the parts, then putting it back together, is a pain.
Monday, July 9, 1984
I woke up early, cleaned all my small appliances and the baker's rack that the appliances sit on. I told Greg not to drive Mom's car unless it was an emergency. He has gotten in the habit of taking it all the time. Other people don't realize how much oil, transmission, power-steering and brake fluid it uses, and they could easily ruin the engine or transmission. Greg doesn't realize that his liability insurance wouldn't replace, nor fix, Mom's car if it was in a wreck either.
Saturday, July 8, 1984
I sprayed for cockroaches here and at Mom's house again. I've been seeing the baby woodroaches here, but I haven't seen any adults.
I've looked my house over to see what it really needs to be in good shape. It needs the new water spots in the back bedroom ceiling sealed and painted, a new back door and the outside of the house painted, a total outlay of about $400.00, plus my labor, outside paneling on one peak beneath the roof, the remainder of the bathroom tiles and the new carpet installed in the bedroom.
The ornamental trellis that Sonny and Felicia want will only cost about $20.00, and I already have ivy that will climb it. Felicia has put some paint on layaway, that was on sale, and she wants to paint one of the kid's bedroom. $30.00 will take care of the paint and trellis. She also wants to paint the living room with $20.00-30.00 of paint. She says that one of the walls in one of the kid's bedrooms literally freezes with ice on the inside in the winter. I hope some type of brick caulking will solve that problem, although I haven't seen any big defects in the bricks, mortar or around the window on that wall. I will punt.
Greg borrowed Mom's car for a date, because he only has a truck.
Greg and his date, Steve and Teresa, and Steve's sister and brother-in-law went swimming tonight. I've still not been swimming this year. When it's been warm enough, I have been working or it's rained. Tonight the water is too cold for me. Most of the time it's just too crowded though. I used to love going swimming late at night when it was hot and the humidity was high.
I picked green beans, gooseberries and lettuce. I made a pot of chili to take to work this week. I cleaned my desk and it looks naked.
I started my two week, midsummer, pre-vacation housecleaning. I want to clean everything, except for washing the walls before I leave. I'm sure no matter what I do, my roommates will have a disaster zone here before I get back. Steve is going to get awfully sick of Greg not doing anything around here. I look for fireworks between them while I'm gone. My roommates are the odd couple personified.
I've looked my house over to see what it really needs to be in good shape. It needs the new water spots in the back bedroom ceiling sealed and painted, a new back door and the outside of the house painted, a total outlay of about $400.00, plus my labor, outside paneling on one peak beneath the roof, the remainder of the bathroom tiles and the new carpet installed in the bedroom.
The ornamental trellis that Sonny and Felicia want will only cost about $20.00, and I already have ivy that will climb it. Felicia has put some paint on layaway, that was on sale, and she wants to paint one of the kid's bedroom. $30.00 will take care of the paint and trellis. She also wants to paint the living room with $20.00-30.00 of paint. She says that one of the walls in one of the kid's bedrooms literally freezes with ice on the inside in the winter. I hope some type of brick caulking will solve that problem, although I haven't seen any big defects in the bricks, mortar or around the window on that wall. I will punt.
Greg borrowed Mom's car for a date, because he only has a truck.
Greg and his date, Steve and Teresa, and Steve's sister and brother-in-law went swimming tonight. I've still not been swimming this year. When it's been warm enough, I have been working or it's rained. Tonight the water is too cold for me. Most of the time it's just too crowded though. I used to love going swimming late at night when it was hot and the humidity was high.
I picked green beans, gooseberries and lettuce. I made a pot of chili to take to work this week. I cleaned my desk and it looks naked.
I started my two week, midsummer, pre-vacation housecleaning. I want to clean everything, except for washing the walls before I leave. I'm sure no matter what I do, my roommates will have a disaster zone here before I get back. Steve is going to get awfully sick of Greg not doing anything around here. I look for fireworks between them while I'm gone. My roommates are the odd couple personified.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Saturday, July 7, 1984
I inquired into a part-time job at a nearby tavern and I'll check back when I get back from Nashville and Albuquerque. I've had experience operating a liquor dispenser system, it's close to home and would save me $5.00 a day in gasoline and I could work for less than minimum wage, because of the gas savings.
Sonny and his brother were here today working on the roof. Hopefully they'll finish it completely the next time they come.
I was going to lay Mom's breezeway carpet today, but Sonny hadn't moved the furniture out of the room yet. He said he would lay it next week himself. When he left he took the ceiling tile that go in the breezeway and he said he would put the tile up next week too. Felicia told me the cockroaches seem as bad a they were before I started spraying.
While I was a Mom's house tonight, I realized that the breezeway doesn't have any insulation in the ceiling at all, and perhaps the walls don't either. I must try to do something about that before winter, because Sonny and Felicia want to make the breezeway into their bedroom, and can't if it's not insulated. The breezeway and garage have their own separate furnace, but the thermostat is in the breezeway part. They want to paint the outside of Mom's house, paint the inside, put a vent in their breezeway ceiling, put in a screened-in porch and put up an outdoor trellis. Where on earth will I get the money to pay for it all?
Sonny and his brother were here today working on the roof. Hopefully they'll finish it completely the next time they come.
I was going to lay Mom's breezeway carpet today, but Sonny hadn't moved the furniture out of the room yet. He said he would lay it next week himself. When he left he took the ceiling tile that go in the breezeway and he said he would put the tile up next week too. Felicia told me the cockroaches seem as bad a they were before I started spraying.
While I was a Mom's house tonight, I realized that the breezeway doesn't have any insulation in the ceiling at all, and perhaps the walls don't either. I must try to do something about that before winter, because Sonny and Felicia want to make the breezeway into their bedroom, and can't if it's not insulated. The breezeway and garage have their own separate furnace, but the thermostat is in the breezeway part. They want to paint the outside of Mom's house, paint the inside, put a vent in their breezeway ceiling, put in a screened-in porch and put up an outdoor trellis. Where on earth will I get the money to pay for it all?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Friday, July 6, 1984
The company, that hired the agency that I work for, has changed policies. Each agency employee gets a transcript of their mistakes at the end of each week now. The job is such a high-pressure job anyway, without worrying about past mistakes or future mistakes. It's completely automated and it's hard to keep up with the computer. It isn't as much fun as the first time I worked for them, because only four of the original employees came back this time, and the new group isn't nearly as much fun or upbeat. The company has also changed it's system of mailing, and my area now has the most refusals, instead of the least.
Greg junks things, furnaces, air conditioners, etc., and makes spending money that way. He only works part-time at a grocery store. He pays me promptly every Friday when he gets paid and replaces everything that he uses of mine, plus he's gone a lot, but he does no work around the house.
Steve, in comparison, only works on his own special projects, uses my materials, which I have learned to buy only when I need something, and then, only in small quantities, including cigarettes, but he will vacuum, sweep floors, do dishes, clean the kitchen and garage, and mow the lawn.
My ex-beau sent me a Sunday newspaper from his adopted city. It has more sections than I have fingers, thumbs and toes. It has six pages of help wanted ads, and many of them are jobs I could do or have done.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Thursday, July 5, 1984
I cut the carpet for Mom's breezeway today.
I only worked four hours today, but I'm tired anyway.
I only worked four hours today, but I'm tired anyway.
Wednesday, July 4, 1984
Greg brought home a scrap of carpet that is very nice. I am going to put it in the breezeway at Mom's house.
It's the fourth of July and I can't afford to go to the fireworks! I can see some of the aerial displays from my house, but not any of the ground displays.
It's the fourth of July and I can't afford to go to the fireworks! I can see some of the aerial displays from my house, but not any of the ground displays.
Tuesday, July 3, 1984
According to the New England Economic Reviews, 26,500,000 people experienced some unemployment in 1982. That's twelve percent instead of the nine and seven-tenths percent the government figures flaunted in 1982. Almost an equal amount of people either found work or completely disappeared from the unemployment rolls, but nobody knows which.
Work is a drag now, and is becoming more and more of a drag. I'm not sure why, except it is so monotonous.
Work is a drag now, and is becoming more and more of a drag. I'm not sure why, except it is so monotonous.
Monday, July 2, 1984
Today was a scheduled day off from work, and except for a slightly queasy stomach, I'm back to normal.
I bought the tile for the breezeway ceiling at Mom's house. I got them for $35.00, but they're twelve inches instead of sixteen inches. Sonny, my tenant, said he will put up the tile and the pine lattice, which will make the ceiling look like a dropped ceiling, for $30.00. The lattice strips, varnish, wood filler and nails will cost about $35.00 , but I won't be able to buy the lattice strips until next month, if then. I'll knock $30.00 off their rent for putting up the ceiling and lattice work.
I paid $75.00 for the rest of the roofing materials needed to finish the roof on my house. I will knock $110.00 off Sonny and Felicia's rent for finishing the remainder of my roofing job.
I will only clear $135.00 from the rent on Mom's house this month. I am already $13.00 in the hole this month. To be able to financially make it this month, I decided I'm not going to be able to pay Cilco, our Great Gas God.
I weeded the garden and discovered a bumper crop of fleas around my grape vines. I borrowed back the bottle of flea spray that I'd given to Grandpa, my neighbor, and sprayed them.
I went to a free clothing charity and found a dress, skirt and blouse that I can take on my trip, plus two pair of slacks and another blouse to wear to work.
I washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.
Teresa vacuumed the pool and Greg, Steve and Teresa went swimming.
I can't help thinking about some of the things my ex-beau said. Wouldn't it be nice to have car insurance, hospitalization and money in the bank, instead of wondering about how I'm going to buy the next roll of toilet paper or roach spray this month.
I bought the tile for the breezeway ceiling at Mom's house. I got them for $35.00, but they're twelve inches instead of sixteen inches. Sonny, my tenant, said he will put up the tile and the pine lattice, which will make the ceiling look like a dropped ceiling, for $30.00. The lattice strips, varnish, wood filler and nails will cost about $35.00 , but I won't be able to buy the lattice strips until next month, if then. I'll knock $30.00 off their rent for putting up the ceiling and lattice work.
I paid $75.00 for the rest of the roofing materials needed to finish the roof on my house. I will knock $110.00 off Sonny and Felicia's rent for finishing the remainder of my roofing job.
I will only clear $135.00 from the rent on Mom's house this month. I am already $13.00 in the hole this month. To be able to financially make it this month, I decided I'm not going to be able to pay Cilco, our Great Gas God.
I weeded the garden and discovered a bumper crop of fleas around my grape vines. I borrowed back the bottle of flea spray that I'd given to Grandpa, my neighbor, and sprayed them.
I went to a free clothing charity and found a dress, skirt and blouse that I can take on my trip, plus two pair of slacks and another blouse to wear to work.
I washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.
Teresa vacuumed the pool and Greg, Steve and Teresa went swimming.
I can't help thinking about some of the things my ex-beau said. Wouldn't it be nice to have car insurance, hospitalization and money in the bank, instead of wondering about how I'm going to buy the next roll of toilet paper or roach spray this month.
Sunday, July 1, 1984
CHAPTER 7, JULY
I still have a very queasy stomach today, and I don't feel okay, but I did drag myself out of bed to do chores. I vacuumd the pool, even though it took me all day to vacuum it. I weeded part of the garden intermittently between vacuuming, more to sit and rest than anything else. I also did the laundry and finished sewing and repairing clothes for my trip to Nashville. I accomplished quite a bit without doing anything really strenuous.
The leaders in this area said that maybe the area will come back financially by the year 2,000AD, but not as strong economically as before the"recession" By that time, I may have been on welfare and without toilet paper sixteen years and I will be fifty-six years old, too old to personally recover. My ex-beau called and told me to expect a package this week. He bought me some blue jeans, and I dearly need them. We talked about how I could get free here. He is going to check with an accountant to find out how I can keep all the money from the sale of the houses here. He is also going to try to arrange for me to go from Nashville to his home in the Southwest, and then ten days later, he will fly me home. Maybe he can help me get out of this welfare trap, since I don't know how. He knows I can't afford clothes, vitamins or food for that matter. It'a been so long since I've driven a nice car, although I didn't feel strange driving a nice car ten years ago. He can't understand why I've had such rotten luck. I'll definately look into prices of houses and everything else in the Southwest. He said that I should sell everything at any cost, just to get rid of it, because this area is down the tubes.
I still have a very queasy stomach today, and I don't feel okay, but I did drag myself out of bed to do chores. I vacuumd the pool, even though it took me all day to vacuum it. I weeded part of the garden intermittently between vacuuming, more to sit and rest than anything else. I also did the laundry and finished sewing and repairing clothes for my trip to Nashville. I accomplished quite a bit without doing anything really strenuous.
The leaders in this area said that maybe the area will come back financially by the year 2,000AD, but not as strong economically as before the"recession" By that time, I may have been on welfare and without toilet paper sixteen years and I will be fifty-six years old, too old to personally recover. My ex-beau called and told me to expect a package this week. He bought me some blue jeans, and I dearly need them. We talked about how I could get free here. He is going to check with an accountant to find out how I can keep all the money from the sale of the houses here. He is also going to try to arrange for me to go from Nashville to his home in the Southwest, and then ten days later, he will fly me home. Maybe he can help me get out of this welfare trap, since I don't know how. He knows I can't afford clothes, vitamins or food for that matter. It'a been so long since I've driven a nice car, although I didn't feel strange driving a nice car ten years ago. He can't understand why I've had such rotten luck. I'll definately look into prices of houses and everything else in the Southwest. He said that I should sell everything at any cost, just to get rid of it, because this area is down the tubes.
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