The Clampetts Do NashVegas

Hello, I’m alyson, and I have a poorly neglected blog.  I think about updating this blog all the time, even write posts in my head, but I never manage to type them.  As I type this one, a doctor I met for 5 minutes last month is holding my husband’s life in my hands.  I’m trying really hard not to be afraid, I’ve been very receptive to all the signs God has sent my way.  There was Bon Jovi on the radio as we pulled out of the driveway, and another of my mothers favorite obscure songs on the sound system at last night’s restaurant.   This morning in the waiting room there is a former local newscaster from my hometown on the television, and a very friendly couple from a neighboring home county sitting next to me, having their own private conversation about the little hole in the wall restaurant where I worked for 2 years.  All of these things are making me more comfortable, but I’m still a little afraid.   So, I’m taking my nervous energy to the blogsphere.   

You may remember that my husband was out of work last year for 3 months.  He had a bulged disc, and our chiropractor (whom I trust with my life, btw) tried everything to avoid surgery.  In 3 months he was good as new and back at work.  3 months after going back to work he found himself back at square one.  This time she recommended surgery.  2 months later, we’re finally getting it.  From the best of the best.  Unfortunately, throughout this process J’s FMLA and sick leave was exhausted, and 6 weeks from now, when he is completely recovered, he will begin the process of searching for a new job.  I know I don’t have to tell you how bleak the job market is right now.  Especaially for a man nearing 50 years old.  Nor do I have to tell you how much it sucks paying for back surgery without insurance.    

We found out last week that we had to be checked into the hospital at 5:3o am.  There was much arguing last week about weather or not we would be getting a hotel room the night before.  I argued against, in the interest of saving money.  We found a wonderful compromise in our hospital literature called the “Hospitality House”.   We were referred there by our doctor, and it was decided that if we could get a $20 room, we would stay overnight.  The way it works is, you call at 1:00 on the day of your stay and see if they have any vacancy.  In the event they were full I had found several rooms on priceline under $40.  Of course, at that price, they weren’t anything nice, but I figured I could manage, after all, we would only be there  for 10 hours. 

We called at 1:00 and the hospitality house was full, but they offered to find us a discounted room in the area.  What the heck, I thought.  2 hours and a half dozen phone calls later they put us up here for $55!  The best available internet rate was $169.  This place was amazing!  I felt  like the country bumpkin that I am as I pointed and stood with my mouth agape, and grinned like a little kid as I rode up to the 18th floor on a glass elevator.  We explored the hotel, and I was amazed to see treadmills with built in televisions.   

As I stood at the window of our room, looking down 18 stories to the city lights below, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for what could’ve been.  My dream, upon finishing college was to move here, to live among the hustle and bustle.  I was so ready to do it back then, but life happened.   I met J, and I could never ask him to be that far away from his kids.  So here we are, 10 years, 2 kids, and one fixer-upper in the country later.  Driving to the, “big city” only for special events and medical procedures that we don’t trust our fellow country bumpkins to perform.  And, with the exception of not bringing my camera to document the awesome room, there are no regrets.  NONE.  A statement that I’m sure will be echoed when we leave here this afternoon amid bumper to bumper traffic, and I ponder aloud, “Who in the hell would want to live HERE and fight this every day”!

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Disappearing Act

It’s not your imagination, my posts are indeed disappearing. 

The more I think about the whole, blogging about work thing, the more I think it’s a very bad idea. 

When I first started my blog, I was alright with it.  I was still at old job at the time, and I didn’t worry about getting fired by the owner if I was found out, but times have changed.  I am no longer employed by a small family-owned business where they know me personally.  I am now part of a huge corporation, where I am defined by my social security number rather than my name.  I don’t know if blogging about the events that happen at my current job, good or bad, is allowed, so I’m going to err on the side of caution and not do it.  Jobs in general are hard to come by, and this is a good one that I don’t want to lose.

My Last Day

Today is my last day at current job, and as you can see, I am spending it slacking off, as usual.  Sometimes I wonder why these people are sad to see me go.  If I were them, I’d have fired me long ago. 

I planned to write a long winded post about my (current) job, how I got it, why I stayed with it, etc., but I just don’t have the energy.  There is another hypothetical post, that keeps filling my head, demanding to be typed, which is sucking the lifeblood out of all of my creative forces.  Maybe I’ll type it Monday, when I have unprecidented day off, as the post office is closed.  So, in the place of the hypothetical long winded current job post, I give you the following top 10 lists.

TOP 10 THINGS I’LL MISS ABOUT CURRENT JOB

1. My co-workers.  We’re a small business, and most of us have been here for 5 years or more.  Yeah, I’ll miss em.
2. My complimentary Sam’s Club membership. 
3. Unlimited copier use.
4. The DSL connection.
5. Down time, which I use to play computer games, prepare my Sunday School lessons, read, balance my checkbook, etc.
6. The customer’s.
7. The goodie’s my boss brings in.
8. The relaxed atmosphere.
9. Not having to punch a time clock.
10. The year-end bonus.

TOP 10 THINGS I WILL NOT MISS ABOUT CURRENT JOB

1. Certain obnoxious customer’s.
2. My boss’ winter blah’s, which cause major moodiness.
3. The family drama, I often find myself in the midst of.
4. The downtime. (a double edged sword) I don’t like being bored.
5. The lack of health insurance.
6. The lack of vacation time.
7. The lack of sick leave. 
8. Working primarily with redneck men, who have the maturity level of 3rd graders.
9. Answering phones.
10. The goodies my current boss brings in.  (I know, this is another double edged sword, because I eat too many of them, if I don’t have them, I can’t eat them)

It Worked!

I got 4 rather large pieces of furniture moved last night, all for the purpose of making room for the weight bench.  There’s still some work and heavy lifting to go, but soon we will have a bit of a home gym thing going on in our den with a second-hand treadmill (which still needs to be fixed) and a weight bench.  Yay!

 There was one mishap in the whole moving process though.  When I got home yesterday someone had called from the main office of my new job, and left a message requesting my witholding information.   Upon hearing this message, I could only jump for joy, thinking, holy crap, it’s real!  I really have a new job!  I started writing down the phone number to call the person back, but didn’t get all of it.   I thought I would just replay the message later and write down the infomation. 

Well…….The answering machine sort of got unplugged in all the moving mayhem.  And it’s digital, meaning when it loses power it also loses messages.  I decided that the only option I had would be to call the local supervisor and ask him for the number.  What a way to start my career huh?  Admitting that I am not capable of writing down a phone number.  Fortunately, I had the woman’s name and phone number on the congratulations letter I recieved Saturday, thus allowing me to save a little face.

Fourth Time’s A Charm

I work in a male-dominated workplace in the south.  Therefore, I am often amazed at the sheer stupidity, not to mention sexist nature, of some of my redneck co-workers.  Truly amazed, appalled, and disgusted.

One guy, after recently getting his third divorce was contacted online by his high school girlfriend who lives 5 hours away, and is also thrice divorced.  They met again, and he is now smitten.  According to him, they plan to get married.  He says, “It will be both of our 4th marriages, so it’s bound to work”.  Yeah, that’s logical. 

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, yes, it is this guy.