New Apartment

Hi All,
Yes, I’m in my new place.  Got here the weekend of Thanksgiving.  Had teens help me move and several people my age.  Those teens can lift things that the rest of us just look at.  I love the teens!!

I’m still unpacking stuff.  Still can’t find things.  Oh someday when I’m looking for something else, the original thing I was looking for will appear.  Right?

I’ve got some sewing to do. A lady from church needs aprons.  Andy needs his jeans mended.  And I have to make Joy & Casey matching PJ bottoms for Christmas.  I don’t have the money to buy presents this year.  I don’t even have the money to put the tags on my car for the 12th.  $85 just doesn’t exist in my budget right now.

Once Sunday arrives, I’ll have to start walking until I can come up with the $85.  I’ve tried to borrow from people, but no one is willing to loan the $85. 

Andy became homeless on Tuesday. For now, he’s staying with me because this apartment is huge and I gave him the bedroom and I’m sleeping in the living room. There is no way I was going to let him sleep in the cold and snow. He has been without work since May.  We’ve gone everywhere to apply.  He’s place over 153 applications for everything from janitor to McDonalds.  Places just aren’t hiring around here.  Found out today that another factory closed here in WI.  In Whiting, the Paper Mill closed.  That’s 1000 more people without work.

Today Andy is going to go to UWPlatteville and see if he qualifies for financial aide so he can get his Masters in Education.  He already has his Bachlors in History, Geography, Psycology and K-12 Education.  If he qualifies, then classes will start for him in January.  He held a 4.0 for 4 yrs.  He was on the Dean’s and Chancelor’s list in 2008.

He wants me to go back to college.  I’m not smart enough for a 4 yr. University.  I can do Tech School, but not the other stuff.  I checked into Medical Coding and Transcription.  It would cost $60 for both classes.  Coding is 17 credits and Transcription is 23.  The classes are online and TV series.  Then I wouldn’t have to travel 40 miles.  Plus, this is something I can do at home in my spare time to earn a few $$$$$.  I can transcribe now.  But I don’t have the Certificate that says so.  I did it for 10 yrs. as a Ward Clerk at Sinsinawa.

I have 25 yrs. in the medical field.  It wouldn’t take me much to get back into the ICD codes and abbreviations.  I know I haven’t worked since Aug. 2010, but that stuff just doesn’t leave the brain.  It’s hidden away in a blank spot right now.

Received 2 Christmas cards this week.  I love words of encouragement.  Put up my Charlie Brown Christmas tree today and my purple lights.  Who needs a big tree.  I will wrap the gifts for the kids that I have.  Gotta go get the play food for the boys and their play kitchen.  Heck I should just use the boxes I have here and revamp them.  The kids would never know.  Maybe I can find a shopping cart somewhere on Freecycle today.

This Sunday is my birthday and the birthday of one of my friends here on OD.  It’s gonna be a busy busy day for me.
I need to be at church at 8:30am for Piano Trio practice.  I’m playing digital Crystal piano and percussion in the piano trio.  Our song is:  "An English-African Carol".  Then at 8;45am the choir is doing a run-thru the Christmas Cantata: "O Holy Night" arranged by Russell Muldern and Sue Smith. I’m the pianist for this 45 minute concert.  Then I have to come home and change into my outfit for UW Platteville Chorale.  Our concert starts at 4:15pm and goes until 8:30pm.  There is also a dinner and a Christmas dance, which I’m not attending.  Then if I get home by 9pm, and I’m not too tired, maybe I’ll watch a movie and drink hot chocolate for my birthday.

Microwave dinged.  My chili is done.  I’m off to eat my lunch and empty a few more boxes this afternoon.

Hugs and Christmas Blessings to each and every one of you.