A Christmas Gift

Back in september, with a newly trained eye for 'car campers' or 'urban campers', I noticed the mini van first off. It would move from time to time, and from a distance, I could see there was one occupant. October, still in it's favorite spot. November, not much change. December, the van had not moved for some time. That was when I decided to be Santa for this person. From a distance, I could see it was a male and being near sighted, I could not see if he was young or elderly or in between. I told a new friend of mine what I was doing and she brought me items that would help keep him warm and a little money to add more. With no real decision on what I was going to do with the money, I waited until the answer came to me before I spent it. Meanwhile, I bought goodies to fill a big stocking, bags and boxes to wrap it all up in. All of it rode around in the back seat of my car for 5 days with great anticipation for Christmas Eve to come so I could drop it off. Finally the day came and after work, I drove over to where this man was staying and grabbed the big bags and walked up to his driver side window. He rolled it down and I told him I was bringing him gifts. Puzzled of course he said; "What am I going to do with these?" and my answer was simple; "They are for you!" Handed him one thru the window, then the next, and finally the last one. I wished him a Merry Christmas and walked back to my car. In the 3 bags were warm shirts, sweat shirts, a warm coat that was never worn and stocking full of goodies. Now, the money was used to buy a gift card for fuel and it was with a card that I had written for him. I'm usually quite good about noting what I have written in cards someplace else, but for some reason, I did not do it this time. I know it was profound in the hopes to lift him from his mind of sadness and possible depression and to lift him to a new understanding of the situation and lessons that are being shown to him that so many are clueless to even being aware of. This man turned out to be much older then I thought and was even more driven to be proud that I picked him as my Santa gift recipient this year. Today, I had to go by where he was staying and discovered he was gone. See, the plates on his mini van were from out of state, up north I think, and he took his chance to get out of our little corner with the new gift of a gas card. He filled his tank and left. Maybe he went home or someplace warm. Anywhere is better then here! Maybe, he can get back on track and enjoy all things that will or can come his way. The Christmas Gift lifted someone up and gave him a better chance, and that pleases me.

Thanksgiving

This is more of an update then anything else. I am working (part time) and its nice to have some funds coming in. It's rather shocking that I put as much gusto into looking for work in the area where my mom is and managed to find something in 3 weeks. I looked on the front range for 7 months and couldn't anything. Something is very wrong with that picture.

Be safe in your travels and enjoy the Thanksgiving Dinner of your choice.

Kitchen Privileges

No matter where you live or how much money you make; One must never forget the good graces of the privileges a Kitchen give you. The USA is one of the richest places on the planet and there are many who can't cook their dinner each night. Many of rich don't even walk into the $80k kitchen they built for the staff to use and that is a real shame. I got to cook my dinner tonight for the first time in five and half months... And it is a glorious thing and be able to cook a healthy dinner that supports one's lifestyle. Not to mention the music being a shuffle and a Christmas song by the Great Bing Crosby comes on... Enjoy what you have, anything could take it from you!

Colorado Floods

This storm surprised us and gave us no warning this was going to happen. Towns are cut off from the world, roads are washed away. These people need help and a lot of it. This won't be fixed in a couple of weeks. It could take up to a year to get back to some kind of normalcy. If you don't want to give money to the normal resources, the farms need hay, the people need building supplies and a mild winter. It is heart breaking the devastation to the infrastructure and homes. People are refusing to leave for a number of reasons. My friend's parents aren't leaving unless they can get their horses ridden out, unable to ride the horses themselves. The scary part is that their free ride out will end soon and could take months to actually get out. My friend's parents can drive out but would not be allowed back in. It wasn't just one mountain river, it was many mountain rivers that flooded and breached banks. This was huge... We will fade from the news shortly, but we will continue to live in it. Please 'like' local fb newspaper pages so you continue to get updates on our situation.

Interesting on the timing of my moving away, just as this happened. In many ways, thankful because I was able to get my stuff out of my storage unit. Or I may have been forced to move all my stuff to higher ground and be camping next to my belonging which would be under tarps and me spending money I don't have to buy big plastic tubs to keep it dry and clean so I could put it back into the storage but more protected. My storage unit flood line was about 16-18 inches high. So, putting everything on pallets wouldn't have lend much of a hand. I would guess that a third of the units have water and mud damage to their belongings. There were other storage businesses closer to the river and all of those have damage.

Don't forget about us even if the press moves onto other things...

Flooding in Colorado 2013

This was written on the 14th, but for some reason was never posted. Well, it's all over the news, you can't miss it. It is worse then the press can cover. I'm dry and safe at the moment. The water is never ending. Businesses are lost, roads are washed out, homes are damaged, the water is dangerous to be around or to handle. The local papers have more information about that area. 14 counties have been affected and more to come. SE Wyoming is also dealing with this as well. I would add the few pictures I have, but they wouldn't really mean much unless you're familiar to the area. Your best bet is to check the towns fb pages and local papers for local information. The national news are great for a snippet of information, but only a fraction of what is really going on. On a personal note; I did get my storage unit 95% empty of all things that matter and can't be cleaned. The Big Thompson is what I was running from. I'm hoping to get off the front range today. The normal drive takes me about 90 minutes, I'm expecting this exit to take about 4 hours. Many of the routes are closed due to flood waters. Picking my route and rechecking my information against the plan. Doing a small load of laundry at my friends house (all clothes are dirty) so I can get out of here in clean clothes. I will try to get pictures during my exit if I see anything, there are lots of rivers, but not sure conditions of them. Dry drainage ditches are flowing rivers. We'll see!

Life Changes

Well, three years and three months after my big move to the front range, I'm giving up my effort to dig in and create a life for myself up here; unless a real job offer comes in where I can financially support myself and be a part of something great. I'm headed back to help out my mom and look for work in the non-corporate world and more towards the small business where there is more room for Empowerment within the company. I have made some friends up here in unlikely places and even a few from jobs I've worked. I gave it a good solid run and didn't quit. The frustrating part is all options have run out of time for me and can no longer be waiting for responses from all my applications for possible employment. I guess I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself right now only because I feel like I failed. This job economy really sucks... Well, I'm going to close this and go get some dinner. Thanks for listening and have a good week.

Crash & Burn

Today is one of those days where I don't want to be around others and don't want to be alone. Maybe I'll just go hide today... I have nothing to give others, much less myself. Guess it's time for a crash & burn session... I'm sooooo sick of my current situation and no clue how to get out of it. I never thought I would be in this situation at all, much less still...

Up Coming Birthday

This up coming birthday is different from my 40th. The last 5 years has been interesting, difficult and emotionally challenging at times. In the last 5 years, I've had 7 jobs, only one of which was not a temp or seasonal job. A couple of weeks back, a thought popped into my head that I couldn't give much energy too; Did I waste my summer staying where I am? As I look at a shrinking saving account that I managed to keep without touching for 6 months and the last 4 months it's been getting thinner. I would put some pocket money (leftover unspent in checking account) into it and a few weeks later have to pull it right out. It's unusual for me to be in the library before my shower, but having to get everything financial figured out is priority today. Out of the last 5 years, I've had a solid place to live for only 2 years. The rest of the time I've been staying with friends, short term places here and there or car camping. So, Yeah, I'm really frustrated...

The good parts of the last 5 years is that I've gotten my health under more control and in the last 4 months I've lost some much needed weight and that is allowing me to get into my business clothes again and that is nice. I've met some nice people, built a network of friends and surviving puppyhood of my current kid.

I've been thinking of big things to keep my mind level and moving forward and it helps most of the time. Every once in a while I have a good cry, especially when someone says something and takes stress off of me. Doesn't happen very often, but when it does it's nice.

So, have a good week...

Life Between Homes

Happy August

Just wanted to let you know that I've started a blog talking about just my current situation and awesome & frustrating parts about it. The bog is titled; "Life Between Homes." I have tons of material for it, but will have to get as much on as I can as cool temps and battery power allow. Have a good friday

Costs of Settling for a Job!

One of the things I have observed lately while thinking back over my past employment is how well things have worked out. Let me explain. The jobs I have enjoyed have been challenging and educational in a good positive way. The jobs I settled for (worked it because I had to have a job) had issues of different kinds to the point of being (fired/dismissed/let-go/quit) what ever you want to call it.

So, here is the lesson when looking for your next job and it is not a perfect science, but rather something to keep in mind while on the job search. Let me define "Settled for job." Taking a job with the thought process that you will work it for a year until you land the job you want, but find that while you work this job that you are unable to locate the job you want with the pay you are getting currently. So, you get your head into gear that you will learn more then you already have about the current job/industry/company to move up in the business. As you do the work or seek out the extra training or the necessary information to advance, the job you were just learning to enjoy fully is now gone (by any means). This job could be as simple as delivering pizza to working at a bank or real estate. So, it really doesn't matter what industry you work in or were working in or applying for. The key question to ask yourself when applying; "Are you settling for this job if it is the only one you can get?"

My job history is as colorful as any of you. I've worked everything from washing dishes in a 3 star restaurant to working in a large bank to even owning my own business. The jobs I enjoyed are the ones I learned the most from. Those are the ones I may not have made a ton of money, but were the ones where I enjoyed every second of it regardless. Those are the ones I quit and wasn't dismissed from. I quit those for different reasons; moving across country, going to school or a lateral move to another company that offered new challenges. In my working career, I've worked 18 jobs, (a few in the same industry), and owning my own business. A few of the jobs I completely sucked at and didn't stay long by my own choice. Some of them I stayed at for a year or longer to either to learn as much as I can and enjoyed doing or had no other choice. A few I found myself in by surprise and did my best to learn as much as I can and do the very best job I could. I wasn't always unhappy on these job that I settled for, because I made the best of it so I could get out of bed and get to work on time each day. I made friends, had laughs and learned from everyone around me. The down fall was it was causing health problems from weigh gain to re-injuring knees.

So, once again, I'm hunting for the job I don't have to settle for or be forced to learn to love. My resume is packed full of different experiences and education. There is about $200k between what I really want to do and getting a paycheck. I really really want to run my own business again, but I know I would have to win the lottery to get the funds to make it happen. So, are you settling or are you looking for something you enjoy?

Education, Your Child, Their Future

How is your child's education going? Can she/he write; can you read it clearly? Can they add, subtract without a calculator. Can they multiply up too a certain point without a calculator? They should be able to these by the 2nd grade... Are you, their Parent, helping them with their homework every night or at least looking at it after they are done and help them with their mistakes? If you yell at them for making a mistake, you have just failed them! Don't do that...

If you are thinking that the school is going to take care of all their education needs, you are 1,000% wrong on all levels. By second grade, their penmanship should neat, legible, and show some growth with each completed homework assignment. If you see where they need help, do NOT tell them you will help them later or to figure it out, YOU are Flunking your own Child from the start, at Home... Get off your butt and help them NOW... You are home from work, turn off the computers, put down the cell phones and help your kid(s) with their education and all learning needs. Don't be like the mom I heard today outside a library tell their child that she/he got a book to read yesterday and not going to get one today too... Don't put limits on the learning of your child...

Why I am writing about this is? It's because your child(ren) are our future and you are totally responsible for that little person's education now for their adult life... Everyone complains about the state of the country, from lack of jobs too continues budget cuts. Your little person will either be homeless due to lack of education to not have a bright future or they will be part of the team that will repair where we are today. I see all these little people running around and many of them can't write, do math, comprehend the information they just read and it is a truly frightening thing... I'm being blunt because being nice and polite isn't changing anything!!!!!

So, what are you going to do? Are you going to spend more time helping your child(ren) learn all they possibly can so they can be Awesome, Fabulous, Smart, Fearless, Future Hunting Adults that will make you cry when you see all they've achieved? Or are you going to continue spending more time on your cell phone, computers, planning lunch dates with people and assume your child(ren) are learning enough to lower then average adult life? Well, then, turn off this computer and get to teaching your child(ren) all you can!!!!

Wheat

Wheat Belly

Wheat Bloat

Wheat Wheat Wheat Wheat!!!!!

I haven't read the "Wheat Belly" book. I haven't spend hours of my time researching it. All I did was I just stopped eating it! The only thing that rings true is that it has been altered beyond where it's no longer the grain we used to consume 50+ years ago... I'm not what you would say Religious about it. I still have those yummy condiments, etc... I've been MSG free, Dairy Free, and HFCS free for years (all 90%). Oh boy is that a change, now I have to remove all wheat & Grain flour products from my life too. I'm sure you're wondering what it is I can have. Well, there are lots, but that is not why I'm writing today. I'm writing to help some of you who is reading everything you can get your hands on.

Heed this two lines; "Just stop eating it for 2 weeks and see how you feel without it? If you feel better, then you can do it the next 2-4 weeks until the body repairs itself can live better without it!"

My clothes are fitting better. My IBS isn't as bad. I live by "feed the cravings," so yeah, I enjoy ice cream when my body needs it and I have a donut or 2 when the body needs the yeast. Living in my car is giving me the opportunity to workout everyday at the rec center and thrilled to see tone that I haven't seen in a long time. So, just make the change with the food and continue to work out or start. I don't go crazy working out, slow and easy burns the calories and build muscles. I've been 90% wheat free for 6 weeks and I can say I don't feel bogged down anymore.

If you really want to know if it's good or bad for you, just stop eating it and see how you feel. Don't do it because it the New Great Thing, do it to see if your body truly can't handle it...

PS. "Gluten Free" is NOT always wheat/grain flour free, so read those labels...

Good Luck!

Saturday Night

Well, I'm not out with friends or curled up on the couch watching movies. I'm watching people pull into a box store parking lot to go spend their hard earned dollars. Doing my best to keep my spirits up and not let my current situation get me down. Did you know I was a few months from buying a house when I lost my job. Now I'm sleeping in my car! There are some great programs out there for 1st time home buyers, but nothing when there is not work = Income. I have temp work lined up here and there, but no solid job offers as of yet. My fuzzy face has been great company and she has adjusted to the new program pretty well. She has her moments when she gives me this look that says "I don't want to do THIS anymore!" and I pat her head and nod in agreement with the words being said as well. The truly depressing part about this whole thing is I want to run my own show and unless I win the lottery, that is never going to happen. I know, I know, Buy a lottery ticket! I need to pick numbers I'm feel good about before I invest money in the state parks each week. Meanwhile, my fellow parking lot campers are arriving and getting the perfect spot for the night. Don't want to park in the same spot every night... However, there are a few that haven't moved in a couple of weeks. This no wheat thing I'm doing is sure forcing me to eat more veggies and fruits, can't cook anyway. But the local grocery stores do have some pretty good daily soups. I get a shower everyday at the local rec center and I even work out. I am in no means giving up on myself or my health. I'm not forcing the issue to stay where I've been trying to dig into for the last 3 years, but don't want to move out of state if I can help it. Battery getting low, better close. Have a good sunday!

Open Eyes & Observation

Well, I'll start by saying that I'm not going to add anything to the chaos this week. The press is doing that.

In short, appreciate what you have around you, pay attention to it and stop thinking that you don't have to do something while assuming someone else will, ei notice something out of place and ignore it instead of call authorities. Be careful out there and watch out for each other on a daily basis; not just when bomb blow or when bullets fly. Before hand... And no extra guns need to be carried to keep more bad from happening, just watchful eyes and quick thinking.

"Life Code" & "Healing Your Aloneness"

What I'm going to write about isn't to toot my own horn or seeking pity from others, only to express myself because I feel I need too. I am this person who is always looking to better myself for me, through different books, observing others, observing myself with others and talking to people who are smarter then I.

I too have been reading "Life Code" and found that I could easily be misunderstand by what he is saying. The key note is that I do struggle with relationships; the reason is I choose NOT to settle! I don't settle for any man just so I don't have to be alone. I don't settle for any friend if it's not equal between us. I don't settle for jobs I've had in the past, but will do my best to learn everything they can teach me while earning a paycheck. I'm a loner because it is safer for me, (I don't want to be all the time), but sometimes choosing not be around someone keeps all of me safe and my morals intact. I'm not a perfect person and I don't know everything; as someone close to me once said; "We are a family of tons of pieces of information, not specializing in just one area!" I want so much to trust people around me and it is earned as well as respect, and when I finally see the true person, then I distance myself from them if I can't trust them, especially if they go against my morals or just plain lack of respect. Be careful not to judge too quickly on what is written, because a person can have one or two of the traits in each section of ten or twelve named and could be wrong to toss them aside. Does that make sense to you? In my case, I struggle with relationships and DON'T seek to hurt someone for self-profit! In fact, I'm protecting myself!

I've also been reading "Healing Your Aloneness" and that has been a true eye opener for me. Why it took me 20 years to find the book, I'll never know, but it is helping me to better understand what makes me tick. Which is what I've been working so hard in my life to figure out or simply get a better idea. I had to reread pages 5-10 at least three times before I could get through it without crying. Not saying I was, but only that was what I was shown from those on how the grown-ups were taught by their grown-ups. I've lost my place in the book, but it is a slow read if one is serious about self discovery! Between "Life Code" and "Healing Your Aloneness," I have some work to do.

I'm aware that the world lives around "First Impression's Don't Lie." I'm the reverse, I think first Impressions are as fake as a credit card!!!!!! They're an act out of nerves and remembering to breath! As I get ready to car camp, it will give me more time to work on what matters and maybe even have a real "Haha" moment that I can really move forward in my life!

Update

Well, not much to write about today. Halfway through March and aggressively on the job search. I'm finding that some companies I will work for are requiring you to start the app process by connecting the company with your facebook, LinkedIn, etc accounts. And I have to say, I don't agree with that move by them. I'm a very private person and have no intention of giving any employer access. I don't even have it listed where I work, when I am working, why would I give them access. Anyway, I move onto the next idea and decide that applying online for jobs shouldn't need to be the primary way to apply for jobs. Why can't we get back to basics and hand them our resume and tell them we are interested in working for their company? All of the companies are looking for highly experienced people and will only pay them 30k a year to start. Well, I have many skills and need 30k to start. What's the word, Conundrum! Getting ready to car camp while I continue this job search and it will be good for me, I can clean up my diet and lose some weight and live by my own means. This time around I'll have a cold-wet-nose with me to keep me company. Lots of time at doggy parks to keep her value up with me! If you know what I mean! Well, have a good St Patty's weekend and be safe out there!

New Month

Well, a new month is here and with time to see what it brings. I agree with something I read recently; "Goodbye February you piece of shit!" LOL Maybe the itchy foot will ring true!

Enjoy What You Do Fully

Looking in the mirror is something we do daily if not several times a day. But liking the person looking back is so few times enjoyed. Didn't realize how unhappy I was where I was. In only a couple of days, my skin is clearing up and the color is looking better. It was really nice to see that this morning. I enjoyed my job, but it just took me awhile to see the stuff on the side and caused me so much stress. When I was in high school, I took the power from everyone I knew in not worrying about what they thought of me. It is what saved me from certain demise. I discovered yesterday that I was expected to worry about what others thought about me and since I refused; well things didn't work out. If I really needed to spend valuable energy on what others thought of me in order to stay employed, I would have been gone long ago. So, a note to all you bosses with employees, if you expect your staff to worry about what you think of them, they will hate you and quit. If they're doing their job to the best of their ability and the customers are happy, don't make them stress about what you think of them. Appreciate them and what they bring to the table. Life is too short to stress over how others see you and feel you should change all of you who you are in order to be employed. You've Got to love what you do or its so not worth it. Someday, I will find that special task that I truly love and do it for the rest of my days. Smile, the sun came up today!

The Curve Ball

Well, after 16 months, almost to the day, I'm out of work again. Sucks doesn't come close! I won't miss getting yelled at by pissed off customers who think they're entitled to treat the person on the phone like we're a piece of shit. I'll miss the friends I made. I worked with a great bunch of people. From a former CSR person, be nice to the person on the phone, even if you're pissed off... They'll help you if you give them a chance and it will go faster if you don't scream at them...

Happy 2013

How are you going to write the next five minutes of your future? Just like the person next you, this minute is new for them just as it is for you!!!! You make the choice to get out of bed, you make the choice what to wear, you make the choice to what to have for breakfast, etc...