Monday, January 28, 2008

Some may call it pretty

I am one of them, if I am inside looking out, and I do not have to drive on the slick roads.

Yesterday we drove down to Allyn and were concerned about the weather conditions. The "weather man" was telling us to expect snow, but lucky for us the only snow we saw was a very short snow shower while we were indoors late in the afternoon. By the time we left to drive home there were patches of blue sky and the roads were clear and dry.

This morning, it is a different story. There are about 2 inches of fresh snow and I am supposed to drive up the Island to one of my clients home, which just happens to be on an extremely steep road. I have called in and have been told we will delay two hours, but to call into the main office at 11am to see what decisions have been made for travel today. I am not all that happy about driving on steep slick roads and would just as soon stay safely at home.

This evening, MrC had planned on taking me out for my Birthday dinner, but we will put that on hold until the roads are clear.

If you are like us here on Whidbey Island, and HAVE to be out on the slippery roads, PLEASE be very careful, and watch out for the idiots who do not know how to drive in these conditions.



Saturday, January 26, 2008

CATHOLIC SHAMPOO

MrC has some business to attend to off Island tomorrow, which means a very early, 6:30, ferry to catch in the morning. So I leave you with this *chuckle* for Sunday.

While shopping in a food store, two nuns happened to pass by the beer, wine, and liquor section. One asked the other if she would like a beer.

The second nun answered that, indeed, it would be very nice to have one, but that she would feel uncomfortable about purchasing it.

The first nun replied that she would handle that without a problem. She picked up a six-pack and took it to the cashier.

The cashier had a surprised look, so the nun said, "This is for washing our hair."

Without blinking an eye, the cashier reached under the counter and put a package of pretzel sticks in the bag with the beer.

"The curlers are on me."

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side

When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.


After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.


As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book..

"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.


The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.


When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.


"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," he answered.

"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."





Who needs an attitude adjustment?

Monday, January 21, 2008

Having to work sucks

Wow! it is almost a week since my last post, where did the time go? So far, my new job is working out. One of my clients is VERY nice, the other, not so amiable to say the least. But what is nice about this particular job, is that I can elect not to work with a particular person if I so decide, and I am leaning heavily in that direction with the crabby one.
It is a clear cold day and I would just as soon stay indoors, but today, I have a job to do at the "crabby one's" home so I must away, and get ready for the drive up the island to her house.

UPDATE: After yesterday at the "crabby one's" house, I decided no one should be treated with rudeness, insults and condescension. I have declined to work with this person again. I have been around people in serious pain before, but they have always been polite and did not insult me. I think this person has always been this way, and I do not excuse their rudeness, insults and condescension because they are in pain.

This person did mention they have had many new caregivers. Duh!!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Report

In answer to a question from one of my readers.

How's the job going Keewee are you enjoying it?
How's your weather, back here in the UK we are having floods again.

Being the first day on the job as a caregiver, I was pretty much just finding my way around the client's home and and getting to know their routine. Am I enjoying it? I think It is going to be very rewarding and I will enjoy it. Time will tell. Tomorrow I go to a different client's home.

Here on Whidbey Island, the weather has been rather chilly, with the sun peeping through the clouds now and again. Over on the mainland, they have had very cold temperatures, with icy roads to navigate. Driving on icy roads is not on the top of my "fun things to do list" come to think about it, it is not on the list at all.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Friday, January 11, 2008

A new Direction

Don't you just love Maxine? I wouldn't mind organizing my chores as she does, but that cannot happen, especially now I have a new job.
I am going to be a caregiver, working with people who prefer to stay in their homes rather than going into a facility. As we all know, there is nothing quite like Independence and if we don't have to give it up, the happier we will be.
Many years ago I was doing similar work, and found it to be very rewarding so it is my hope nothing has changed and I will feel the same way.



Monday, January 07, 2008

I have been busy

Busy reading books, that is.

This past November, my job was " gone with the wind" so after I returned from my visit to New Zealand to visit my family, I signed up for unemployment benefits to get me by, while I searched for a job.
In the meantime, I have been catching up on some reading, getting some indoor painting done, and a few other chores I had promised myself I was going to take care of.

Living on a small Island has it's drawbacks when looking for employment as there are not a whole lot of opportunities, and I really, really do not want to commute. To commute, means taking a ferry across to the mainland then travelling the busy roads to the job site.
First of all, waiting in a ferry line to board the ferry for the crossing, is so tiresome on a daily basis, and then having to deal with snarly traffic every day, is just not my "cup of tea" At my age, just one more year before I can draw social security, I am looking for a little peace in my life, not adding stress.

This afternoon I have an interview for a job which I think may be just the thing to keep me out of trouble. I will let you know what it is and how it turns out, later on.

UPDATE: my interview went well, and orientation is Wednesday afternoon.



Saturday, January 05, 2008

Hold on tight!

Today, in some places on Whidbey Island, there are wind gusts of 48mph. Around our place the birds are hanging onto the feeder perches for dear life, just trying to grab a few seeds before the wind sends the feeder into carousel motion. The wind chimes are playing a double time unmelodious sound.

And out in Useless Bay the whitecaps are being rushed to the shore by the stiff wind. If anyone plans on being out in this weather, they had better hold on to their hat, or they will be chasing it.
My plans for the day are to fill the couple of thermos jugs with hot coffee, prepare food we can eat if the power goes out, then find an interesting book to read, and cosy down in my favorite chair.

You all have a wonderful day.



Thursday, January 03, 2008

In case you were wondering!

Q: Where can women over the age of 50 find young, sexy men who'd be interested in them?
A: Try a bookstore -- under fiction.

Q: Where can men over the age of 50 find young, sexy women who'd be interested in them?
A: Try a bookstore -- under fantasy.

Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause?
A: Keep busy. If you're handy with tools you can finish the basement. When you are done you'll have a place to live.

Q: What's the best way to increase the heart rate of a 50+ year-old husband?
A: Tell him you're pregnant.

Q: How can I avoid seeing so many wrinkles every time I walk by a mirror?
A: Take off your glasses.

Q: Why should 50+ year-old people always use valet parking?
A: Valets don't forget where they parked your car.

Q: Is it common for 50+ year-olds to have short-term memory storage problems?
A: Storing memory is not a problem, retrieving it is a problem.

Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly?
A: Yes, but mostly in the afternoon. [True-True-True!]

Q: Where should 50+ year-olds look for eye glasses?
A: On their foreheads.

Q: What's the most common remark made by 50+ year-olds when they enter an antique store?
A: "Gosh, I remember these."