Planning

So I’ve been looking for a job and wondering how in the world I was going to be able to make it through the summer.  Gift of Angels and Beth have been hounding me to come “home” for our home town’s Centennial celebration up in the frozen tundra.  They had it all planned out.  I could fly into Minneapolis, and Beth could pick me up and take me to GoA’s house, where we would spend a couple days just being the giggling high school girls that we always are when we get together.  Then we would caravan to the “hometown”, and be there for the Centennial celebration, which is sort of like an all school reunion, but not really.  I don’t know the whole planning or naming of it all, but that is what is going on anyway.  Since I missed their class reunion last summer, I was trying to come up with a way that I could actually make it to this one.  Then, of course, my cousins have been planning a surprise party/reunion for my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary.  That would take place the first week of August.  Then, the aunt and uncle decided to rent out their house, sell everything they own, and move South.  So I was thinking the party/reunion was cancelled, so I might just be able to attend the Centennial celebration, and not have to worry about the anniversary celebration.  Then, in their infinite wisdom, the cousins decided they would just have to tell the aunt and uncle about it, and let them know that everyone was going to be in the frozen tundra to celebrate their anniversary, so they had better be there too!  So, we are back to square one, worrying about how I am going to be at the Centennial celebration over July 4th, and then back for the anniversary celebration the first week in August.  Commence freaking out again. 

Mind you, I am trying to figure all of this out, while also trying to find a job, or even some side jobs, to keep the bills paid.

Freaking YOU out yet?  LOL

Of course, I don’t have to mention gas prices are way up, so driving would be more expensive than flying.  So, last week I checked the prices on flights.  Reasonable rates, all considered, but still rather expensive, and I wasn’t certain on my return dates details yet.  Needed to talk to Beth first. 

Procrastinator that I am, I waited to call or email Beth about the details. 

Zoom to last Tuesday.  Realised that I hadn’t even called my best friend in Minneapolis to tell him that I had been bumped from the job in Iraq.  Called him to let him know.  Talked about all that for a while, then he asked me when I was coming up to visit him.  I laughed at him and told him that I had tentative plans for July, AND for August, where I might be coming to/through Minneapolis. 

Pan in on the latter end of the conversation, where he starts talking about the remodel job he wants done on his kitchen, and starts to ask me some advice.  He sends me some emails with details about the remodel of his kitchen.  He explains how the quote of JUST materials was very near his planned budget.  This didn’t allow much, if any for error, OR for labor.  This guy can take a car apart, down to the very last washer, and put it back together, but he is not comfortable with remodelling a kitchen.  So he is asking me advice, and I was going through the quotes, and said that I thought we could do this job cheaper.  Then, the answer to my prayers was granted.  He asked me if it would be possible for ME to come up there and do the remodel job for him, that he would pay me, and I would get free room and board, and he would pay for the trip!  The time frame was perfect!  I can go up just a little before Beth came to pick me up, and go to the Centennial, and then back to Minneapolis, work on the kitchen, go back for the anniversary celebration, and then head back east to resume my job search, hopefully a little closer to the time my real “secret” clearance comes in, and I am ready to start another job.  Also hoping that the job market is a little better and I will be able to find a job a little more easily. 

Doesn’t this sound like a perfect plan?

Read on.