Dirty Deeds and God's Gifts

 Hmmm...it's been a while. Life has taken some strange turns. 

The new job I took to become a bit less stressed is trying it's darndest to become exactly what the one I left was. I've been in Security or law enforcement in some way, shape or form since 1984. I have very useful knowledge to share. And I'm perfectly willing to share it to make my workplace a smoothly oiled machine.

My employers want me to take on a supervisory position and I DO NOT WANT... I will gladly share my insights, but I will NOT put myself in that position again. There is no extra money nor title in it- they just want someone to be responsible for the site. 

Again- I DO NOT WANT. 

I took this job on second shift- 2p-10p because I wanted a more laid-back phase in my life going forward. I will gladly work extra shifts now and again when needed (of my choice), but I won't take responsibility again for making sure the shifts are covered by being REQUIRED to go in if no one else is willing to do so- I'm sorry, but that seems more like a DEmotion than a PROmotion. 

I will gladly take lead when the company that employs us asks for help with solving an issue, but I won't be anyone's YES Man.

In the words of the Great Danny Glover- I'm getting too old for that ?%#*!!!!!

Then I'm still looking for a new place to live. As before when we were looking- so many scammers!!!!!

When Tax season rolls around again, I'm going to be making some decisions again.

I took in a lodger. I swore when we moved away from the other place that it wouldn't happen again, but one of my son's friends got done DIRTY by his roommates. They trashed the place, didn't help with the bills and then moved out leaving him a huge problem which got him evicted for the crap they did to him.

I felt bad for him- so I had a discussion with him and told him he could stay with us until he got back on his feet IF he helped out with the utilities... I thought $40 a week should be fair. (My power runs about 250-350 a month, water is around 35(jumped to 57) internet is 75 a month... That it- 

I got $90 the first month and nothing the past 2 months. I had a discussion with him 2 weeks ago and told him I needed that money by no later than Sept 27th. He came up with a reason (he needed to pay his auto insurance so he could continue getting back and forth to work. I took that into consideration and said fine- and gave him an extra week. That's the night he disappeared. And we haven't seen him since, so I'm assuming he isn't staying here anymore? But his stuff is still in my basement.  Although before cold weather hits it most certainly won't be. My granddaughter and I started clearing out the basement this weekend in anticipation of decorating for the coming holidays and we have a load of stuff for the recycle center and also for the donation center. If he doesn't come back and get his stuff, it's going too. 

My house is not a storage unit for people who do ME and mine dirty. 

God has Blessed me and he will help me provide what I need. I have Faith.

Other than those few things- life is going well.

I do love being on second shift. It gives me time to spend alone time with my two kids every day before I hie myself off to work and it gives them time away from mama when they do their thing in the afternoons and early evening. 

I pray- a lot. Well, I say I pray- it's more Like I have several conversations with God every day. I don't go to church regularly, my church of choice is about 60 miles away, but I do watch church services online with my daughter who told me about the church she went to... It's the same church I go to when I can. The pastor brings the Word of God to life. I wish all pastors did that. At the end of the service every Sunday, you feel disappointed that the service is over because you want to hear more. 5Point Church in Easley South Carolina. Pastor Dean Herman. Non-Denominational. If you don't (or do) have a church- go...just once. Or watch the service online- just Google 5Point and it will take you to the live service on Sundays.

That's all I got for now. Life just got really busy for a while.

A Short Story...

 Well, went to my Besties last weekend and had such a great time we are going to do it again this coming weekend. 

We didn't do a lot- just went to Hobby Lobby and then went out for a bite to eat and watched movies ...and as besties tend to do- gossiped, corrected the worlds problems and acted a fool. I scored two new chocolate brown Autumn mugs and a few pretty glass icicle ornaments for my bedroom tree, and I saw some really pretty blingy trim I'm going to get to use for maybe garland/maybe hanging ornaments for my tree too.  She scored some beautiful spray garland and her moms birthday gift. 

I'm still working on finding a manufactured housing company that can build my dream home for me. I've figured out the perfect configuration for it and I'm ready to get it done so I can enjoy it and get it paid off before it's too late. 

More later......

Really? Again?

 After the week of working doubles and working on the holiday this week, I was all set to go to my bestie's and enjoy a nice long quiet weekend.

Didn't happen.

We have had this planned since January. Last weekend of August we go to Hobby Lobby and see what we want to add to our collections for the holidays.

Last weekend in August- was at the hospital with Son and taking care of him. (I know he's an adult but sometimes you just need mama to take care of you. Being a parent doesn't end when they turn 18- Heck, I'm almost 67 and I still want my mom when I'm upset or hurting... AND my dad.) Postponed.

First weekend in September- Worked the doubles all week. Didn't feel up to anything except catching up on lost sleep. Postponed.

This weekend, Saturday I took Daughter to have teeth pulled and was planning on going to besties after I got daughter back home and settled in bed. My son and her daughter were planning on taking care of Daughter while I went to besties. Was sitting in car for a few minutes before I headed into the dentist office when I got a call from Bestie. She had a woken up with a horrible sore throat and had an inkling it might be strep again... I can't lose time off work, so she suggested we postpone until next weekend and she figures out if it's contagious. Fair enough- Postponed.

So, this weekend I'm clearing my room and setting it up for autumn. And doing laundry. Blek. 

I'll find something fun to do this weekend if it kills me.

On the upside I'm looking forward to a postal delivery from a sweet buddy beginning of the week and I have my coffee all ready!!!

Life is still SWEET!!!

Normal......for me.

 In my last post Spo commented That he hoped things returned to normal for me asap.

I had to chuckle at that one. 

Honestly, being on that long boring double shift was more relaxing than my "normal" routine (except for that 3.5 hours of sleep thing).

As soon as my feet hit the floor when the alarm goes off, I'm literally up and running.

This morning, for example, I rolled out of bed- did the morning shower/teeth brush, and hair comb. Then I dressed, went to the kitchen, cleared out the fridge and disposed of all the rubbish in the trash bin. And I washed up all the dishes. 

After that I went downstairs, put on a washer load of bed linens, then went back upstairs and replenished my med tray before I backed the car up to the side porch and loaded 3 trash bags into the back to take off to the recycle center...which I did after feeding all 4 cats. (Nu-Nu, Meepers, Floofy, and EmNem.)-don't ask.)

I drove to the Recycle center, then on the way home I swung by Wally World and picked up a new belt for the Hoover.(Actually, a Bissell, but I call them all a Hoover now after living in the UK for so long.) 

Then I drove home and coming in I noticed my front door autumnal wreath looked a bit on the sparse side, so I stopped long enough to add a few more colorful leaf picks to the arrangement before coming inside and waking my daughter. Soon as she is dressed, I'll be taking her up to my tire guy so she can buy a new tire for her Optima so I won't be the only one with an operational vehicle in the house.

Then we'll come back home and make and eat a sammich before I get changed into my uniform and head back out for my shift at work- 2p-10p. Then drive home, have a glass of sweet iced-tea   and wind down for a half hour  or so before I come to my room, check my email, maybe write a post if anything comes to mind before having another shower and then going to sleep- finally. 

Every day I swear is the same- only with different priorities involved. But always work...... that is my one constant.

I don't mind- usually. Sometimes soon though, I'm going to take a couple days, pack a sleeping bag, cooler of food and water, a fishing rod, and my weapon and go solo camping for a weekend.  That's one reason I want to get my Ranger running again- put the cover on it and a full size mattress (NOT an inflatable one either. HATE those things.) in the truck bed and I can go camping anytime I want to at the drop of a hat. 

Sometimes you just need some time alone to commune with nature and God.

It's Done. For Now. I'm Back!

 Well, since my last post I have been crazy super busy.

On Thursday before last our Site Team leader at work walked out mid-shift. It surprised the heck out of everyone because she seemed happy as Larry with her position there. But at 10:30am she came to the office, dropped off her equipment, got in her car and left the site. 

Apparently, she had gone for a job interview that morning and accepted their offer (she was a few minutes late that same morning).

I sat and though on it about an hour and then texted my account manager and told him I could cover Ery's position the following week to give them time to get a replacement hired. I told him it would be a short-term offer because I hadn't had a vaca in almost 3 years and I just wasn't up to a long-term commitment of consecutive double shifts. He thanked me, told me that that was a long time to and asked if I could cover the next morning as well- as it was a Friday I agreed to do it- I had the weekend to recover and prepare for the following weeks doubles. I had a bit of a shortchange on my pay schedule because of the job change- you know they hold a week back and pay you for the it the following week so the additional shifts would put me back on track with my bills.

I wasn't able to keep my schedule as planned, however. Monday and Tuesday I worked the doubles, but I had to call Mike(manager) and asked could I come in a bit late the next Wednesday. He said of course just let the other first shift guy know. So, I went home, crawled in bed after the double and slept until 10am the next morning. I then got up- opened up my laptop and created a couple of forms we need for the new site before heading into the rest of first shift. 

Just working those two days showed me part of the reason why Ery left. The site documentation is nonexistent and that can lead to some serious consequences. I have been told that they have been requesting documentation forms since we took the site over but for some reason it hasn't shown up yet. So, instead of waiting on forms to arrive I took it upon myself to temporarily fix the problem myself. I created two for patrols and two for Parking ...one a citation and the second a log sheet for the citations issued with Date & Time issued, Make/Model/Color of Vehicle, License Plate Details and a space for issuing officers initials. Repeat offenders have a star asterisk by their name and after 3 citations will be subject for towing.  We have a very limited parking area and although we have an overflow parking area, we are still having to park employees on the grassy areas to accommodate everyone. ALL lanes must be kept clear of vehicles in case of emergencies- the week prior to the double shifts we had a medical emergency and the responders couldn't get thru to the area they needed to because of all the vehicles parked on the curbside. The end of this week we had two and the curbsides were free and clear.  We have a very large Hispanic workforce there and in addition to the citations being worded in English- I have added under each line the Spanish translation for them.  Citations do work when they are prepared properly and fairly.

Anyway, so then I went in to work and finished out the week. Friday, Mike the Manager sent us a new officer and James and I had him trained and ready to take over by half shift, so I clocked out, went to the bank, fueled up the car and paid my rent and was back at the site for my normal second shift hours.

 I averaged about 3.5 hours of sleep between end of second and being back on site for first shift except for Wednesday.

Thankfully- that is done for now. I might work the odd double here and there to fill in for officers taking a vaca or needing a random day or two off, but I'm done with that for now.

Normally this weekend I would be decorating my house for Fall, but not this year. Next weekend I'll be staying at my besties house for our normal monthly Girls Weekend, but I'm pretty sure the following weekend I will be autumn-ing it up at Casa De Camelot. It's already smelling like Autumn... I bought a big Cinnamon Broom for the baker's rack in the kitchen. it smells delicious in there!!!!

So until next time(hopefully I'm back on my normal 2-3x a week posting schedule now)

Yall stay safe and enjoy yourselves this Labor Day Weekend!!!! 

Double Shifts

 Double shifts this week... unless they get someone hired for 1st shift, trained, and vetted. 

Need the extra wages, but my body is already giving me the side eye after only 2 doubles. 

I'm tough... I can do it.

See y'all after the fire is out!! xx

Clayton ..Always In Our Heart. 1983-2007

You are missed. Our hearts are still broken.  The pain never leaves for any of us. 

Til we meet again. xxx Mama, Julie, Frank,