Different Zip Code This Morning

Well, my hard work may have paid off yesterday. I got a call asking me to be at an orientation on monday @ 9am with 2 forms ID. Well, I starting thinking about that and it sounds like I may have a job. I will know for sure on monday and it would be a great relief to me to have a job finally. And all of you who have gotten tired of reading my depressing blogs and listen to me bitch about this and that. Sorry, it is unhealthy for me to hold it all in and not vent. So at 4pm, I pulled out of the big town and headed sw and made good time. I had to make a run down here because I left other forms of ID in storage, people get robbed in the city and everything else can be replaced. So, with my last $100, I took a chance and drove down here to pick up what I need to get on 2nd shift this week.

I know that many of you who really know me will be very surprised to hear that I may have found a place where like-minded people gather a couple times a week. While I'm in my storage today, I'm going to see if I can find a couple of my books I've had for a number of years that are used at these gathering.

I decided yesterday that having too much time on my hands to think about stuff is really bad for us all. I'm naturally a deep thinker anyway, but even I was getting way to deep into things.

Everyone have a good saturday.

It's Friday

Well, slept okay and found a place to shower. If you're wondering how I always seem to have battery power on my computer, it's because on one of my road trips I bought a small 100watt roadpro power converter at a truck stop. Best $40 spent in a long time. I don't 'charge' my computer unless I'm going someplace, but sometimes I have to plug it in and turn the ignig key on so I can finish something. Poor thing hasn't had a full charge is a couple of weeks.

Everything in storage, what I need in my car and job hunting. So, I guess that just makes me jobless, not homeless; but days like thursday I feel like both and 10 times more. Up with the sun, ready to go before anything is open and then find I'm waiting around to get stuff done. Strange how we loose drive in the 1 or 3 hours we're waiting for offices to open. I can see why there are so many people who just give up. The difference in schedule. The homeless pull full days of searching, etc and those with homes and jobs only spend part of the day. Not trashing those with homes and jobs, just observing the differences in the schedule. Let me add that I know people who are up before the sun working so they can play later in the day.

Not sure this is good for me, I sure do spend a lot more time thinking about everything.

Its friday and lots going on this weekend. Maybe enjoy form free festivals going on.

New Day

Well, got some sleep and packing car up with all my things this morning. We'll see what the day brings.

PM. I figure after yesterday, it would be good of me to let you know that I'm okay. Reaching out to the county recourses available in hopes to keep me afloat. Got permission to use a physical address up here to put it on my job applications and it was strange putting it on the jobs I applied for today, but we'll see if it helps. Was told of one of the places that is safe to park and that is where I'm at now. Had to move out of the campground, can't afford it anymore. Watching a few families figure out what to do next, one of them driving a Audi TT Quattro. They went so far as to build a HUGE outside kitty pen for their kitty. It's a hike to the potty, but no one will mess with us here. I was told that the cops even roll by to make sure we're okay. Instead of buying dinner, I waited around for my head ache to pass and one of the local outreach programs came by with a bag dinner for everyone who wanted one. Yea, I too one and was pleased to find fresh grapes hiding in the bottom of the bag. The more people talk too about the job market, the more say its bad where I'm currently trying to find work. I guess They haven't looked outside of the area for work, like where I'm from. I checked it again today and there is very little for women to do, but lots for guys to do. This is interesting to say the least.

Mr President, where is the help for those of us who don't get unemployment and only want to work. Why are so many companies Requiring a complete credit check in today's economy when some of them look like doodoo. Please ask the big companies to make it Not a requirement when we apply for work and they're can legally deny us jobs simply by our credit score alone.

It will be good sleeping tonight, had a nice rain today, cooled everything off. The trick in the morning is searching out a cheap or free shower so I can be clean for my duties tomorrow.

Haven't Done This Yet

I haven't really vented, yelled and screamed on here yet. I discovered that I must be internalizing my stress more then I thought, because on inspection of my finger nails this morning, I found that the quick has literally pulled away from the nail on 3 fingers. For the first time in my life, I'm facing having no insurance on my car and that is REALLY scary. I've been trying so hard to stop calling my dad for help, I have never enjoyed it. I really don't know what I'm suppose to do to get a job. I mean, I have 5 years in the coffee business from serving coffee to running the business and I can't get a job. Quick math shows that the Baristas make more then the managers do if you include the tips (at the last job I put in for). I'm single, no kids, reliable (& reliable car), good work ethics and my resumes goes into the trash at 90% of the jobs I've applied for. The other 10% are the calls in get to come in for a job interview. So far, I've experienced the main reason for not getting a job is for not living in the town I'm applying for. I don't have a house or car payment, but my basic living expenses. Everything I could pay for with my last paycheck from taxes paid all the bills I could to put them off until August 1st. Well, August 1st is Sunday. Keeping my car legal on all fronts will cost me about $1,000 in August and September. Forget rent, gas, food, etc... I've been trying really hard to keep positive and push forward everyday, but there are somedays where reality hits me in the face like a mack truck. I'm extremely thankful to my lady who is paying me to help her pack her house, that is keeping me afloat as far as campground fees, gas & food. None left over to put aside and I've been forced to eat into my stash of cash some as well. I've been out here over 60 days and not feeling very successful. All the money I had/have waiting for me in the sw is either not going to come or will not come until they feel good and ready. So, that alone is telling me I have no financial future in the sw; no one wants to pay for jobs or no one gives a shit or no one as any money. I think I have to move out of my campground tomorrow out of the purity of being broke again. I'm almost forced to find a coffee job now, just so I can take the deduction on my taxes, the money spent on this deal is sick. All I want to do is cry, this sucks so bad.

Later on. As I was driving to my house packing job, some fucking guys not paying attention, using their mirrors much less the signal started to move into my lane right where I was at, it wasn't until I was standing on my horn did they even look and THEY flipped me off. Piss me off. That pushed me over the edge today. I was within inches of getting my car trashed by some dumb shits moving into my lane. I couldn't go anyplace, I had people to my left and behind me. When I got to my packing job, I had quit crying but she could see I was not having a good morning. So, we're going to catch up this afternoon. I drove by the homeless shelter to see if I could talk to one of the mental health counselors, but they don't answer the door or phone from 10-4pm. I'm too beat up to get anything productive done today.

Even later. Here are a couple of things I saw today to show that even thought I'm falling apart at the seams. While waiting at a light, I was looking down a street into a mobile home park and saw a deer standing between 2 cars looking for someplace to go. It was a nice sight, to simply see one. The other thing was seeing what happens when you don't pay rent. An eviction notice in action, everything in the house was on the front lawn. Ooops! I know I'm not the only one who is having a hard time, but we all have our days, even me. My friend is taking me to her church tonight, it sounds like the right one for me. So, we'll see.

Much much later... :) Church was interesting. Can't decide on one visit, time will tell. Night all. Thanks for bearing with me today. I just couldn't hold it in any longer.

In Need of Everyone's Positive Thoughts

You remember the first interview I had a week ago friday, the one where the guy never called me back. Well, I just applied for his JOB!!! Starting salary @ 26k. Full Time! The same company I had an interview for on July 16th.

Frustrated

I don't want a bs job. I want a job where I can like what I'm doing, because I'm no good to anyone if i hate my job. I don't tend to hide it well. The jobs I loose for silly stuff, the more frustrated I get. I'm tired, beat-up and all I want to do it cry. I've been at this for 2 years and can't seem to find the right mix. I know I'm one in a couple of million who are just like me (or in much worse shape), but it doesn't make me feel any better. Paid for a couple nights at my campground to get me rewired and hope for the best tomorrow.

My car is starting to stress me out. Had a Nissan tech guy listen to my fan and he said the motor could be going out on it. If I turn the interior fan off, I get 25 mpg; if it's on "1" setting I get getting 35/42 mpg; a difference of 55/94 miles on 5.5 gals. Scared to run it, can't afford to not run it. The only way they can fix it is by pulling out the glove box and the labor hours add up right there. I checked, it's not under warrantee, never was. The last time my car had a full check-up was at 25,000 miles, at 55k now. Not neglecting my car, been too broke to get it into the doctor and believe me, me no like that much. Every time I live in the sw, my cars don't get the $$$ attention I've always given them elsewhere.

Everyone have a good sunday.

Wrong Address

I didn't get the job because I don't have the right address. Staying 15 minutes away is too far from the store. They hired people who are a few blocks away. This the same fucking problem I was facing in the sw and now I'm facing it here. This totally BLOWS!!!!!!!!!

I Can Not Fucking Believe I'm Still On The Job Hunt!! I didn't get my hopes up, but I was 95% sure I had that job! I swear this stress and total BS will push someone to drink or quit all together or both. I'm so pissed!

Has More Promise

Well, I just had another job interview and this one went way better then the last one. The managers and the owner were there and it had a better feel to it. I would be a shadow employee for a few weeks, all paid and paid 'training' tomorrow night. I get my tips at the end of each shift and not on my pay check. The real shift hours would start next month, but I would get some shift starting next week. BIG SMILEY FACE!!!!!!!! They are zero waste and all their stuff is HFCS Free! The owner made an extra note that he will call me either way, I asked him to please do, and he reinforced that he would. Keep fingers crossed!

Time to go play in the water. My moving lady doesn't need me for a few more hours.

Good Day

Yesterday was an overall pretty good day. Got my laundry done, had an awesome lunch at Bread, got to work a few hours and treated myself to an aged steak and IPA, which was way Yummy.

It's about the little things in life.

Finally!!!

I finally got him on the phone about the job and he totally lied to me. He said that an old employee returned and they're going to hold all resumes. Let me explain why I used such harsh words, he was fumbling around before he said about the old employee and the more he got into it, the more he felt better about it. He was given a job he doesn't have the skin for, so it's easier for him to avoid it all together. It took an email to him boss to get him to answer the phone. Well, I knew I didn't get it, but it really bugged me that he didn't hold up his end of the deal by calling me on sunday. In truth, I'd rather support and work for small independent coffee shops anyway.

Dyslexia Is Fun

I just reread some of my posts and finding little mistakes along the way. All I can do it laugh, because they're so silly and minor. I always read over them about 3 or 4 times before posting and read again once posted, correct anything missed and repost. And one silly wrong key gets through no matter what. The system does turn red if something is spelt wrong, but if the word is correct, but not in context, I don't always see it. Well, I guess I have to make you work a little hard to figure out what I was trying to say when is is used in place of it or if. Or out instead of our, then again our instead of out. Confused yet? Too funny!

Still Waiting

Ya, you read it right, I'm still waiting to hear. I called him this morning, left a message and he has not returned my call. I emailed His Boss curious to hear the out come and reasons for not hiring me. I really need to know so I can fix it (didn't tell the boss that). Especially when he said without me asking "I'll call you either way on sunday!"

I have a new friend and that makes life so much better.

Me prefer to camp and sleep in my tent with showers close by and able to cook my own dinner for a fraction of the price to buy something somebody else made. Last night, I had my stir fry minus the beer and peanut sauce. Oh Well! A single uncooked boneless chix breast and a bag of frozen veggies was $2.50 :) and it was enough food for 2 and I ate ALL of IT!

The job helping someone pack has turned into something to keep me busy most of week and already paid for the hours I've done. If my math is correct, I got more then first offered, and I won't complain one minute. In fact it's enough to house me for 5 more days without spending mine to do it. That is VERY COOL! HUGE stress relief!

Camping

Well, I couldn't stand sleeping in my car one more night so I checked out a campground I found on the net. Its not only cheap, but I may have made a friend to boot. I get to sleep in my tent tonight. Yippy, a good nights rest. They even have a doggy named Ryle and he's a good doggy. I can't tell you why they're camping but it would blow your mind and its not thru job loss. I can't even hint about what happened but keep them in your thoughts as well.

I feel better, camping tonight, tomorrow will start out better. If I can keep from being the mosquitos steak tonight.

Still Waiting

This waiting is really bugging me out. Sure would like some news about this job. Starting the self pitty stuff. Slept in my car again last night.

Yesterday was fun. Watched grown men scream like little girls over a 3 foot falls on the creek yesterday. Most staying on the tub, some leaning too far back and getting flipped over & coming screaming because it's COLD. Yesterday was crazy busy, mostly because it was HOT, even for Boulder's standards.

The main attraction at the creek!


Tubers floating down the river, dogs and kids at play on the bank, 4 guys playing really great music on their drums across the river, and under a tree with their own private beach was a momma duck and 5 duckies. It was an overall pretty nice afternoon. Later in the day, I can't forget about the freedom to inhale or not to inhale mother earth's weed being smoke across the river bank!



A promise of a job and a start date would allow me to get a room so I can get some real sleep.

Art Festival

Just checked out the Art Festival on Pearl and some of the most fabulous artist have their work on display & for sale. If you're ever in Boulder this weekend in the summer time, you can't miss the Art Festival and bring lots of money. Saw some of the most beautiful pieces of art work for sale as high as $8k and Oh so worth it.

People drinking lots of cold drinks and even some coffee (eak) and going without sunscreen. Lots of sick people tonight! I'm doing my best to stay cool. Eating salty chips, lots of gatorade and a new cool rap around my neck. Finally broke down and bought a real OR hat, tired of going without. And yeap, even dogs in toe with their tongue dragging behind them. That makes me CRAZY!

Where to sleep

Morning, there is nothing more discouraging then having to sleep in my car because all campgrounds are full and hotels take a weeks worth of food from my budget. Gurrrrrrr! I got 6 hours and an awesome shower at rec center.

The weather people are calling for 100+ today, keep the pets at home to enjoy the AC while you go play out in the heat or forced to work in it.

Have a good saturday

Fingers Crossed with some fairy dust!

Just left my interview for a possible job. This franchise has been in business longer then Starbucks and thats good with me. I won't know for a couple of days if I get the job, so keep your fingers crossed. I checked on a job I found yesterday and there may be a few hours there, helping someone pack to move. If anyone who really knows me, knows I have plenty of experience in that. :)

Moved out of my campground this morning and will figure our residence later. That place is really nice and shady and a bit expensive, but I need to save on cash a bit. It will be hot today and realllllllly hot tomorrow, so I'll have to find something nice and shady. Shade is the key.

My cute wittle car is starting to make noises, the dash fan seems to be off balance or needs some adjusting, because it noisy and it's vibrating the whole front end of my car. Not too bad, but enough for me to notice once I've turned it off. Me no like! It's 3 years old with 54,000 miles on it.

Yea, TGIF!

What is out there?

As I sit on a bench in the east window at the library, over looking the entrance and the parking lot, I can really observe the people that live in Boulder and use this building. There are numerous homeless, carrying their belongs in their backpacks, driven to get on the web to look for work, email family and see what the day looks like. Some of them have been able to get showers and some not so lucky. All the while I set here and search the web for jobs myself. Can't forget the daily visit from 'LePew' emptying the porta potty in the parking lot. No story telling today, guess I got here after they finished; the lower level is the kiddy area. A few lucky pooches get to come in the library too, it is Boulder after all.

Heat & Rain

Well, the summer heat brings afternoon rains. It finally rained on my tent, it was interesting to see how well it did. Like my little tent. My stuff in my tent is dry, I'm happy abut that. Cooled things right off, good sleeping tonight.

Today was okay, got some work done, but the printer messed up my resumes. I was reimbursed for them and they made copies of them and the copies look like doodoo, so not useable. I was frustrated and hungry, so I left. I'll start over tomorrow. Applied for a few jobs via net, but don't feel very successful today.

Met a couple of nice low key guys at my campground doing a 4 month tour around the US and Mark is driven. He has a real point! Check out his website: www.jobcreation.us & at facebook its "job creationus".
Check it out.

By this time last night, I was in lala land. More like asleep for 2 hours by now. I was beat yesterday, being up all night takes it out of you. My brain goes to a different place for night drives and I can drive for hours, sometimes I usually have to stop someplace so I can rest until I get some sleep. It's like it knows it's roadtrip time, sorta like Kaci did when I was starting the slow process to pack for the trip days and days in advance.

Not much to report. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Night Driving is Stress Free for me...

Well, got to Kenosha at 6am and waiting for the sun to come up, giving my car a break and chilling. If there was cell service up here, I’d have it made.

Let’s see, pulled out at 9:45pm and discovered it’s up hill all the way to the top of Wolf creek. Took 3 hours to reach the gas stop and got 47.2 mpg on the stretch. (Big Smiley Face)!!!

At the base of wolf creek on the east side, I found myself swerving around stuff in the road. Not talking little stuff, talking stuff big enough to trash anything that hit it. The only way to get around this stuff would to drive on the shoulder or down the middle of the road. So, I drove down the middle then turned around to clean it up. What I found is that someone will find they’re missing a side entrance door on a horse trailer, about 10 brushes, a bit, a saddle blanket and other misc. I heard a big truck coming, so I cleared the eastbound side first and finished up westbound side. By the time he got to where I was at, all he knew was I was getting ready to turn around. There was some kind of shelf attached to the door that lifted one side up about 8 inches, which would have caused all the real damage. I wanted to get it cleared so fast it never occurred to get a picture first. Oh well! I saved someone(s) a couple grand in repairs this morning. It would have been pretty ugly! It looked like they had the door locked open and they blew a tire and the tread tore the door right off. It had to have been a dually, because they would noticed everything when they pulled off to change the tire.

Hanging at the edge of city checking the web for a campground that isn't booked this weekend. It's suppose to reach 98 today, so I really want to get settled in in the next hour or so. Tired now, only an hour sleep sense yesterday. Most of this was written earlier then pasted here just now.
***********
It's after noon and I checked into a campground I've stayed at before high in the hills to escape the heat today. I even have an ok signal from my table here. Tent is up and a hard nap taken. Thinking back on my drive last night it was a good one. Even got to take care of some driver who never would have seen the mess in the road if somebody was coming at them.

LD

AKA Learning Disability, which includes Dyslexia among others. A buddy (who about 12) made an very interesting observation today. She asked if LD is the problem and our brains are actually working faster to get the information then most but takes longer to figure it out. So are we actually faster or slower learners?



Thinking!!!!!!!



After much thought about it, my answer was we're faster but more methodical about the information we receive. What do you think?

Read me

Thank you! Have an Awesome Sunday!

edited (added) on 7-12-10
The counter was at triple-6 and wanted to get away from that number. lol

Everyone have a great week! Look for more posts. Hugs

"Nights in Rodanthe"

I've been wanting to see this movie when it first came out and finally got to today. FABULOUS! I love Diane's movies. She sure does pick great movies to get me moving. Thanks for dong another one Diane.

My Rant on the National Unemployment Rate

There is no mention of those of us who are not on any kind of unemployment or even have the option to apply for it. We've been looking for work for the last 2 years as well. Wonder what the numbers would be then if the rest of us where added to the 'national unemployment rate'. Some areas depend on the improvement of the housing market to create jobs and some areas depend on tourist dollars to create jobs. When neither are doing much, everyone hurts beyond measure and not added to the national rate.

I've never been one to think that job security was a living breathing thing; working in one field used to be the norm, but not for everyone. Some want change, learn new things and to the employers, they may see it as someone who isn't stable, which isn't always the case. Here lately, the hang-up can be as simple as not having the right address on the resume when looking elsewhere for work. Without a local address, the resume may not even get read. 90% of the time, a person needs a job in the area they are looking to relocate before they can even find a place to live; proof of employment required (or cash up front)! Stuck and want to get unstuck and can't. Then we see dad's and/or mom's with 4 kids holding a sign on the street corner begging for work so they can feed the kids.

It used to be where if you walked into a business and asked for a job, there were high chances you would get hired. Now, they want a resume and will call if they like you and don't call them. Times have changed! In the 90's, there was work everywhere, anyone could get it they wanted it. The new century brought it a different song, high job loss and less money to be made. I was even forced to close my business early in this century, because cash flow slowed down. I'm not one to blame past or present Presidents, but they haven't done much to help us out either. Now there are those who hate our current lead man, but he is doing his best to get the dollar rolling again. I've spent some time in the city and the money is flowing, from some people more then others, but it is there.

Last I heard this is a great nation, a nation we can be proud of, and I am. However, the guys/gals who are the sweat behind the big guys/gals are probably being seen as peons, nothing, (forgive me) cheap slave labor. I have the Greatest respect for all who are burning the sweat to provide for their families. Some of the greatest workers who are sometime seen as 'in the way' are those big trucks & drivers out on our highways at all hours of the day. Each and everyone of them is the blood and oxygen in our nation. If they all stopped driving even for 24 hours, everything we know to have on a daily basis would come to a complete and utter halt. It would take weeks to get things back to normal. Just like it does for someone who has had a heart attack, it takes some time before they're back on their feet again. Yet, everyone wants quick results on everything concerning our economy so we can get back to where we were during the 90's. Well folks, this is a new century, we can't go back!. We have to find a way to move forward and get everyone working again and punish those who exploit us and our environment for some quick cash.

Now for my unasked opinion about our filthy rich CEO's & other high executives who are literally living off our blood. Tear down those big nasty energy sucking homes and built something green at no more then 2500 square feet, give up 90% of your income and feed & rehouse these families you have forced out of their homes and put them on the street. We don't have to be a nation of Stuff, we can lower our imports and get back to basics. Retool unused factories back to steele, furniture, and the stuff that is used to create those items needed. Encourage smaller needs to feed the whole family and maybe the whole neighborhood. We as a nation did it for Years and we can do it again. Let's get back to basics so we can pay all our debts, foreign and domestic. With these changes, we can actually put people back to work and lower the known & unknown numbers of unemployed out there.

Let's Have a Parade

Pretty Girls!


Everyone is invited to join!


Lost in the crowd!


No Beer Belly Guys here!

A Few Views of My Childhood

Match Made in Heaven

Night Driving

Driving late at night has so many advantages. For starters, I'm the only one out there for what seems like miles. There is the occasional semi and car, but nothing like traffic during the day. During the day, the stretch from Del Norte to Durango can take up to 3-4 hours, I did it last night in 2 hours doing 60 all the way, expect where posted less. The east side of the pass showed evidence of a wet spring with numerous slides, all of which closing the road until clean up was completed. Normally, I can get from Boulder to Grant in an hour and 10 minutes, yesterday it took 2 hours. Thus the reason for waiting at my stopping point until later on. Got a great 2 hour nap in. Once I woke up, I watched the traffic for a a few to see how thick it was at 6pm and it was back to normal, so I headed out. Pulled into home town at 2:30am, started out at 12:30pm, with 6 hours of various breaks along the way. Driving at night allows me to think, where driving at day forces me to avoid assholes on the road who have to be first at any cost. Driving at night isn't without its issues, one fool pulled out to pass the car in front of him with NO clue how close I was coming at him. I went from 68 to 35 in a short period of time to avoid dying, I wasn't too happy about it. Those driving big fancy vehicles really do think they own the road. So, those driving a road at night for the first time ever, if you aren't sure, Don't Do It! all-in-all, it was a nice drive once the everyone stopped for the evening. There are more chances to see different wild life at night, I saw 7 deer, one skunk, a what could have been a fox. Kept my eyes out for some elk, but didn't see any. One deer jumped across the road and went for what he thought was flat ground, when he fell about 5 feet into the ditch. It took him a second to get back on his feet, but he continued on. Not much else to report about my travels.

Update

Well, moved out of hotel this morning and on my way back to sw. The roller coaster on the local route was putting me to sleep, so I pulled over for a break. This kind of sleep coffee is no help. Good thing I left when I did, the rv's are right behind me. I have a planned stopping point in abut 20 miles, if I can make it! I didn't get much sleep last night, only abut 6 hours. I figure to get some sleep and head out when its lonely out there. Have no plans is playing with half the state tomorrow. I got a call from one of my job apps and they said they're going to look at the resumes for positions I applied for next week. Which is good. So we'll see!