Job interview. Nasty neighbor and Nerdiest State is Ohio??

 

Hello! As I mentioned in my last post, Saturday I was busy filling out job applications. Well, I surprisingly received two calls Monday morning. One was regarding a work from home position and the other was a brick and mortar position around Dayton.  I was really excited to move forward with both job potentials to see how each would pan out for me.

 

Up until today, I had been playing phone tag with one girl who was from the brick and mortar place. When we spoke this afternoon, she asked me what hours I preferred and if I wanted full time or part time. I said I preferred part time and would like evenings. That is when she said the hours are from 4:30PM-1:00AM Monday through Friday. It's a 40 Hour work week. I told her I will apply again if that shift becomes a possibility.

 

At 2:00 I had an interview with the company that hires people to work from home. Right off the bat the lady who was doing the interview could not hear me. Ugh!! She called back from another phone, which was a bit better than before... but, the problem still existed. The interview was going swell, I felt confident, then she asked how many words I typed a minute. I said 25. She said, "Oh, for this position you are expected to type 30. I then politely said, "Well, in the job description it says applicants need to type 25-30 wpm. That is why I applied. Well, I thought we had worked beyond that because she kept saying she thought I was a good candidate. She then asked how I type. I explained it was an onscreen keyboard with word prediction (I can save words, type faster) and I explained how my head movement maneuvers the mouse, etc. Well, she then felt the software might not be compatible with the company's software. So, again I'm digging myself out of this assumption she has and trying to explain I have worked for many companies over the past 10 years (even their company) and it's not been an issue. She still felt she needed to escalate some questions to HR. I understood completely, but at the same time I'm worried that just the fact that the software could pose a compatibility issue, is a strike against me. Before we ended the interview she asked me to take a typing test that she would send me through e-mail. I said, "Sure" and I typed 32 wpm. Yay me, but I don't think it will get me any closer to getting this job. She sent it from an email address with a do not reply. :(

 

On a lighter note. Evidently Ohio is the nerdiest state. I got this factoid from the Dayton Daily News!! I thought that was a low blow until I saw some of the titles that the other states earned! Who does this research? and isn't there better things to spend money on?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Troy, Ohio was popular and made it in to an episode of  20/20. It was about a neighbor (A) on one side of the street who didn't get along with the neighbor (B) across the street. It showed scenes where neighbor B taunted his neighbor A with shining an orange light in her windows, he called her a whore, he let his grass and plants grow really long, he painted cruel things on his tree that referred to her son.... I would think that Neighbor A making this squabble national news would only provoke neighbor B????  Click below for the video.

 

http://bcove.me/9u5nuvg3

Manic Monday

Hello readers, I hope you had an enjoyable weekend! :) My weekend was pretty good! I ended up staying home and taking it easy. I filled out some online job applications for customer service representative positions, which ate up most of my Saturday  afternoon. That's ok though, maybe something good will evolve from that?? :)

I am still so fricking discouraged about the money that was stolen! I keep telling myself that it could be much worse! Unfortunately that is only a temporary reprieve. Ugh!! I cannot fathom how someone could be so effing cruel and steal something that was never meant for them. My mind does not operate the same as someone's who thinks it's okay to steal from others!! Unfortunately I have been in company with someone who does and possibly for a very long time. :( Loser!!!!

TGIF, shrimp festival and people who steal

Hi, Happy Friday! :) I hope my blog readers have a great weekend!! I myself don't have a lot going on this weekend. Tomorrow I will be job searching again. Boy, this has been a struggle! It's been a struggle for many people, I know it's not just me. My friend is also drinking from the same cup! He has a college degree in business (I think) and has been job searching since December. Nowadays finding a decent well paying job is like nailing jello to a fricking wall!.

On Sunday I may go to the shrimp festival. Terrapin Moon plays there from 3:30-5:30 so my nursing assistant & I might tag along. We'll see. :)

I learned yesterday that the piggy bank that houses all of our spare change that we have collected over the past few years was stolen!!! Also, a bag of coins that were all ready rolled and counted was stolen also!! It was over 1,100.00! Nothing else was missing. I am 100% convinced it was an inside job. It had to have been someone who knew we had that money and where it was kept. I am so angry! That was what we were going to use to help with kitchen cabinets...I hope karma gets the frickin loser who stole from us!!

Not only are we out a large amount of money, but for me...I feel so violated.

Doppleganger and Best dad ever

One can never ingest too much knowledge! Today while watching Kelly & Michael I learned about the word Doppleganger. It is defined as someone that looks like you, but has no blood relationship to you. I have been asked a few times if I have a twin sister who works at a restaurant in Vandalia. I have a twin, but she does not work at a restaurant in Vandalia nor has she ever. My sister and I actually look very little alike. It's funny that there is someone out there that looks more like me than my own twin does. :)

Yesterday I was watching The Talk and it got funny. The ladies were telling their viewers about a Dad who was tired of telling his daughter to change her short shorts and decided to get even one day. It happened when his wife told their daughter to change out of her slutty shorts before they go out to dinner and she said No. The girl's dad left and came back with his own man version of daisy duke's. Best Dad Ever :) I can't help to think if this was my dad wearing some denim short shorts and showing that much leg I'd find myself hiding behind a wig, sunglasses AND the menu. HeHe! In all reality though I think this dad is probably a great dad who wants the best for his daughter! He seems really cool and knows how to have fun!! :)

Relationship hiccups & Saying good bye to summer

Hello! I hope you had a great weekend! This weekend was a nonchalant one for me, but I'm not complaining. :) On Sunday I watched the Eagles/San Diego game, read from an online book called, "Pride and Prejudice" and applied for a job. On Saturday I stayed home and did some things on my computer and Friday night my boyfriend and I got in a big tiff. It's actually still in the air as we have not spoken five words since! I'm not proud of it! I have done a lot of thinking about it and not sure what to do. We both said some awful things to each other and it opened my eyes! I know we aren't  happy together like we once were! We probably stick together because it's easier. It's more convenient. We have a house. We have animals. The thing we don't have is happiness! Oh we also don't communicate! Pft!!! He had a Dr's appointment today about his blood work results. I asked what the doctor said and he said, "Not much" and kept watching the television. He didn't even look at me.

The thought of being single again and starting a new relationship makes me cringe. I won't put the cart in front of the horse just yet, but I do need to start having dialogue with him. I need to see where he wants this relationship to go or if he even wants in it anymore... Anyway....tick tock tick tock

It was a sad hour today as my nursing assistant & I packed up most of my summer outfits and tucked them away in a big plastic tote. :( I now have my sweaters out and ready to face another Ohio Winter. :) Not really, but what can I do about it?? :)

Vertigo - NASCAR

Hi, I hope you are enjoying your week! Today I went to the doctor about my vertigo and dizzy spells. She checked my ears, eyes, breathing, blood pressure and shoulder movement. Everything was fine except I had fluid in my left ear and some build up in both. The medical assistant used an elephant ear wash to clean out my ears and it was awesome!! I also got a steroid injection because of the fluid in my ear and got a prescription for motion sickness. I'd rather not take another medication, but it's only temporary. :)

I watched the Richmond Sprint Car race Saturday night. I didn't think much of Clint Bowyer losing control of his car with 7 laps to go causing a caution, but Steve thought it was odd. He said that there was no debris and didn't really understand the caution. Today it came out that Michael Waltrip Racing attempted to manipulate the outcome of the race by causing that caution. Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex and Brian Vickers got penalized 50 points, which knocked Martin Truex Jr out of the chase and put Ryan Newman in as a wild car participant. Michael Waltrip Racing also got fined $300,000 and Ty Norris, executive vice president /General Manager and spotter for the #55 car got suspended indefinitely. The crew chiefs for these 3 drivers are on probation until December 31st.

That is some dirty racing. It makes me question the integrity of these racers, the crew chiefs and anybody involved!! I'm glad they are getting penalized!!

Happy dump day!

Hello!

My Happy Dump Day is not a typo, it's a reflection on how I feel. I am in a mood! If I could get my hands on the pesky fly that keeps buzzing around me, he'd be toast. Does he know I can't move my arms and that is why he is taunting the F out of me?? It sure feels like it!!

I am angry for another reason, but am going to refrain from posting it for obvious reasons. My Mom always told me not to write anything on paper if I didn't want others to see it. (Something like that anyway). I'm pretty certain documenting my feelings on a public blog falls in that category. :) It just seems like I get f%^ked over by the ones who should always have my back! I despise hypocrites! I'm a firm believer in karma and hold on to hope that said person gets it. I am a good person and have so much forgiveness in my heart. I am getting numbed by being let down and walked on. I know when the time comes and it's my time to go my conscious will be clean. Will yours??

Anyway...

Big Brother tonight made me laugh. Amanda got booted out, which was long overdue!! She is such a bully! On the down side, Elissa also went home (jury house) and that bummed me out. :( She was my favorite and I was hoping she would win.

Happy Labor Day

Hello! Well, the long weekend is winding down and our company will be leaving in the morning. The visit went fast as it always does and that is always the worst part.

Yesterday my nursing assistant, Jean & I went to Kohl's and Walmart. At Kohl's I bought a cute dress for only $7.80 which was marked down from $70.00. :) I have a wedding this weekend and class reunion coming up in a few weeks so maybe I can wear it to one of those events. :)

Tonight we grilled out for dinner and afterwards they played corn hole. I didn't think the games would ever end. ZZZzzzz! We were outside until dark and seeing the little sand bags became a chore! It was especially fun watching Mel and Jean play against each other. :)

Steve and his dad were busy doing odds and ends around the outside of the house today and yesterday. Saturday Jean painted Buddy & Lady's dog houses and Mel put shingles on the top. :) It looks nice and Buddy is sporting a few white stripes on his ear and tail because he didn't allow the paint to dry before he trekked through his dog house! :)

It won't be too much longer before the Fall weather takes over and our warm days are behind us, unfortunately. This weekend I noticed the leaves are coming down heavy and the trees are looking bare. :(

Mumford & Sons, Wright Pat Air Force Base

Hi! Happy Saturday! :) Tonight Mumford and Sons are playing right across town and I'm green with envy! I want to be there so bad and a tad bit salty that I am not. I wonder why they chose a wee tiny town like Troy, Ohio to play??? I think they must have attached a map on the wall, blindfolded someone, put a dart in their hand, spun them around and walah, the person hit Troy. No??? :) Anyway...I will wait, I will wait for you. Hehe!

Steve took his papa bear to Wright Patterson Air Force Base today. I wasn't invited, but that's ok, I didn't want to go anyway! I have been many many times. I used to go with the residents at the nursing home as this was a yearly activity outing. I wish I could say I enjoyed myself, but honestly my mind was focused on the hundreds of stares that my fellow roomies and I captured. The wheelchairs, ventilators, oxygen tanks, moans, grunts and urine bags were like eye candy to the buses and buses of little people gathering around at their teacher's direction. I think us crippled folks were way more interesting than any of the airplanes. I wasn't amused! I remember one little girl in particular. She was so engulfed in me and my apparatuses, she failed to realize her 50 pound body was blocking the whole isle, not allowing anybody to go by her. As I was glaring at this rude little creature my dad was attempting to tell her we needed to get by her. Needless to say he was more tolerant than myself, but he also understood my frustration.

The next year my brother got the ok to take a day off school and went with me. I had not been evaluated for an electric wheelchair; therefore, he pushed me in my manual wheelchair. He pushed me really fast in the wide open area and under the planes, which was a tad bit scary for me. He enjoyed seeing my fear and laughed at me. :) I had more fun this time around because my injury was not as raw as the first time around and it was good to spend the day with my brother. :)

TGIF, Salute the Troops, pictures

Hello! Happy Friday! I hope everybody has a great Labor Day weekend! :) I'm not exactly sure what our weekend holds. We will probably have a cook out with the family and maybe a bonfire, but nothing written in stone. :)  Steve's parents have been busy laying stone in the back yard and adding some flowers and small spruce trees. The dog houses are getting painted and topped with roofing shingles, too.

A few weeks ago I submitted a story about my niece to HLN Robin Meade's Salute the Troops. I did a voice recording early this week and today it was on the air. Tia heard it and was excited. :) If you have a soldier you want to salute, it's easy. Google Robin Meade's Support the Troops and you will get the details.

I have uploaded some pictures to share with you.

Here is a picture of a praying mantis that was in one of the trees in front of our house. My nursing assistant got really close as you can see.

 

The pictures below were taken on Wednesday at my Mom's cousin's husband's house. He and his daughter have beautiful landscaping and tons of flowers around the house. 

 

They also have a beautiful koi pond with a bridge and lots of greenery.

This is a large barn set back behind the house. The last time I was here, his granddaughter got married and the reception was in the barn. Behind the barn on the left sits a large pond, with a deck and ladder.

Below is a large green house. 

 

Sam's Club, vertigo, pink area

Hello! Today was a busy day! I spent much of the afternoon at Sam's Club with my nursing assistant. I hadn't been in awhile so I needed to stock up on the much needed bulk items. :) I then came home and laid in bed for a couple hours. Unfortunately, my pink area has returned!! It seems like it returns every time company is here! It's frustrating to be back in bed again, but hopefully it won't be long!

I stood for 2 hours this evening, which went well. Standing always makes my body feel better. It stretches my hip flexors and ankles which makes my sciatica pain go away and eases my back pain. :) I have been experiencing uncomfortable dizzy spells recently and I thought being off my  antibiotic would alleviate those, but unfortunately that isn't the case. I am going to make an appointment to see my doctor next week. I have been googling vertigo and it seems most cases are the result of "crystal like substances" in the ear. Ugh! It's so annoying! I will be glad when it's gone. :)

Happy Hump Day, family, more family and e-book :)

Hello! The week is going by fast. Steve' parents arrived early this afternoon. I haven't visited with them much because I had an appointment with my case manager and afterward had a birthday party/family get together to attend on my Mom's side of the family. My Mom's cousin's husband turned 80 today so I went and visited for a couple hours. I got to see my cousins Tawni and Rob and his girlfriend, Stephanie. I also saw my cousins Becky and Marie and of course my Aunt Shirley and the birthday boy Dave. :) Good times. They live on a beautiful piece of land with beautiful landscape and a gorgeous fountain and pond. If I had the luxury of living there, I wouldn't want to leave. :)

Mumford and Sons will be in Troy this weekend. I'm green with envy and kicking myself for not getting tickets when they first went on sale. I can get tickets now, but the price is outrageous. I have a lot more I can do with $200 than go see this awesomely wonderful band! LOL!

My aunt Shirley and Tawni will be camping their all weekend!! I'm glad they get to go and enjoy the music! :)

I started reading a book Sunday called Pride and Prejudice. It was a free download with the Kindle for PC download. I'm on chapter 8 and so far it's pretty good.  :)

Family, wheelchair, flooring

The weekend is winding down and so am I. :) I have not been feeling well and think it may be due to the antibiotics I have been on  to cure a urinary tract infection. I have been light headed, dizzy, tired and nauseous for days. The good news though, I think the infection is gone!!  :) I took my last antibiotic last night, so hopefully my ill feeling symptoms will subside.

Tomorrow the wheelchair guy is coming to hook me up with some new wheelchair parts. I am going to get new tires, new lateral supports and a new back cushion. Woot! :)

Steve's Mom and dad are visiting this week. They will arrive on Wednesday, stay through the 3 day holiday weekend and leave on Tuesday. I'm not certain what's on the agenda yet, but I think they will probably be outside doing odds and ends if the weather is nice. :) There was talk about putting down a new kitchen floor while they are here, but I don't think it will happen....

See, a month ago I was strolling through Menards and found myself in the flooring section. I saw pretty wood laminate flooring that was 50% off. I liked it so much that I went ahead and purchased enough that would fit the kitchen because the sale was over the following Sunday. That flooring has been held against me since day one. He doesn't like it and wants me to return it. Returning flooring that covers a 15'x15' area is no easy task for my nursing assistant. I think he is using this as an opportunity to disagree and be argumentative! Maybe choosing the flooring on my own was a bit selfish on my part, but I have lived with him long enough to know that if we go pick it out together, it's not going to happen anytime soon. Grrrr!

Volunteer, job hunt

Today was a perfect day weather-wise and tomorrow is suppose to be the same. :) This is a pleasant way to end the last full month of summer. :)

Yesterday Steve and I went to the Humane Society. We needed to fill out some paperwork, get "in the system" and get our pictures taken before we can begin to volunteer. It took a couple months to get from beginning to end, but I'm looking forward to finally working with the animals. :) I think he is also looking forward to it, but hasn't actually said so. (He is a man of few words). He grumbled some when I elected him to be the person I volunteer with, but he got through it. Him and I have very little in common, but our biggest commonality is we are both big animal lovers!! Meow! :)

Steve was hired on as a nurse for another client last week. He now works as a nurse two nights a week from 9pm-9am. This will shift around my nursing assistant schedule a bit, but that's okay. This will not only be good for financial reasons, but also to give him more experience as a nurse and hopefully open more avenues for him.

I am still on a job hunt. I mentioned in a previous post about applying for another position with NTI. I haven't gotten a follow up call and it crossed my mind this weekend that leaving a not so pleasant  message on their facebook page could have worked against me!! :( Sometimes I am not the brightest crayon in the box and that would be a prime example!! Ugh!!

Fair and no attractions part 3

Mandy (my nursing assistant)  and I ventured off to the Darke County Fair Tuesday. We met Stephanie (my nurse) there and the three of us pigged out on fair food, looked at the animals, people watched and absorbed the hot sun. :) It was fun.

Mandy & I concluded that both our homes would not be complete until we add a Flemish giant bunny in the mix. They can be litter box trained, they are huge, have big ears and are fricking adorable!! :) Check this link out for more information. Giant bunny :)

While there a young boy took his bunny out of the cage and asked me if I wanted to pet his bunny. He took his bunny and put it under my hand. I smiled at him and told him I wasn't able to pet him myself, but I thanked him and told him he was a sweet boy. :) It's funny how some kids (and adults) will stare at the wheelchair with their jaws dropped and not say a word, but others have no issues and walk right up and feel totally comfortable. :)

Attractions part 3. I have decided not to piggy back on the previous attractions post. It's a sensitive subject to some and I do not want to offend anybody who might have a strong opinion on devoteeism. (Word?) LOL!! I will just say that I have nothing against devotees as I have said. There are certain devotees who have given all devotees a bad name and well, it's really unfortunate.

Attractions Part 2

Hello! My last post was left off with a dot dot dot (....) so today I will talk about part 2 of attractions. :)

I think it's unfortunate we live in a world where people can't be who they are without the fear of being judged and/or discriminated against by others. If people are homosexual and hide behind a persona of someone who is heterosexual, then they aren't being true to themselves or to those around them.

I often hear that gay people come out of the womb being gay and it's not something you acquire later in life. I have heard that persons attracted to persons with a disability (devotees) realize they have the attraction at a young age when they see someone in a wheelchair, or see an amputee, etc. Regardless of when or how the attraction takes place, I believe that everybody deserves happiness and should be able to have an attraction/relationship with whoever they want without being scrutinized! Unfortunately, it's not the way it is right now.

I was very good friends with a guy who was gay. Our parents bowled together, we went to high school together and we spent many weekend nights drinking and partying. Shoot, my sister went to prom with him. Now I'm laughing out loud reminiscing about us double dating on prom night! That is a whole new post!! Anyway...I never knew he was gay despite the fact he was very flamboyant!! When he first told me we were driving to Psychology Class and I about wrecked my truck! He didn't come out in high school because of the back lash he would have received. :(

When I first got the internet while in the nursing home I was introduced to devotees. (Again, persons attracted to those with a disability). I had never heard of this before, but when I did I felt relief. I felt like maybe I would find someone who will not only accept me and my disability, but maybe someone actually who prefers me with a disability. Looking back that logic is very twisted. I was so afraid I would never find love again, that the term devotee was very inviting! I was and still am a girl that needs to have a relationship, I need someone!

To be continued....

The Fair, documentary Fall to Grace, attractions that some find offensivePart 1

It's a beautiful weekend in Ohio! Friday night I went to the Darke County Fair with my boyfriend. We met our friend Maria there and her nurse, who is also my nurse. :) We had a good time, just didn't stay very long. I am hoping to go to the fair again this week because there is much of it I didn't get to see yesterday. I want to see all the farm animals and I can't forget to buy sugar waffles this time. :)

This morning I watched a documentary called Fall to Grace. This was an excellent story and I highly recommend it. It was a story about Jim McGreevey, the Ex Governor of New Jersey who came out and admitted to being gay on national television. At the time he was married to his second wife, Dina Matos and they have since divorced. (No surprise there!) :)

McGreevey has been married twice and has a daughter from each marriage. He now lives with his partner Mark O'Donnell and has changed occupations. He is a spiritual advisor and advocates for women in prison.

He said that coming out was the best decision he ever made.  He can now be himself and not pretend to be someone he isn't. It makes me think about those individuals who have attractions to not only persons of the same sex, but have attractions to someone with a disability or someone of a different race, etc. They  feel like they have to hide their attraction because others might view it as sick or twisted. It's really sad!

I will pick this up another day.

Happy Hump Day, Alexandra hiding her food and job

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my friend Leslie. Her step daughter had a volleyball game so we went to the High School and watched the junior varsity team play for a while. I had always enjoyed attending her older daughter's soccer games and her son's basketball games and football games while they were growing up. Now that they have graduated and started families of their own, the occasion to watch their games was no longer there until Leslie remarried and gained a new daughter. :) So, now I get to watch and enjoy the games for a few more years. :)

I have learned that Alexandra likes to cover her food. When she first came to live with us I kept noticing clumps of dog hair in her food bowl. I then saw her try to paw at a folder that was laying by her dish. I asked her foster Mom if she was aware of why Alexandra was doing this. She said it was because Alexandra was covering the food for her babies so the other foster kitties wouldn't eat it. Well, today my nursing assistant showed me this. (Picture)

She covered her food with a post it note that was on my standing frame next to her bowl. :) God love her.

Yesterday I got an email from NTI letting me know they had another job posted that I might be interested in applying for. I read up on it, expressed interest and applied. I was recently disappointed with NTI for not following up with me about a previous position I was told I got. I ended up leaving a message on their facebook page showing my dissatisfaction with them. In two days someone left me a voice message about my comments on their facebook page and wanted to clear up any confusion I had. I called back and spoke to a nice lady who said the job was put on hold. She apologized that nobody made me aware of that and talked to me about my ticket to work.

Miami Valley Music Fest and Left Foot

Hi! :) This weekend was definitely a fun filled one. I spent Friday evening and all day Saturday at the Miami Valley Music Fest!! The MVMF is an annual event that is held to raise money for charity. It's held at the Eagles Campground  and thousands come out to camp and spend the weekend chillin', drinkin', dancin', singin' and god knows what else! :) Definitely a great time! The weather was perfect!! Terrapin Moon has performed there for the past 4 years and I hope they are invited back next year!

Today I watched a movie called "My Left Foot" and I highly recommend it. It's about a man with cerebral palsy who paints beautiful pictures with his foot. Not only that, but he grew up in a time that individuals with a disability were segregated and treated unfair. The movie makes me realize how having a disability now is much more "acceptable" than it was many years ago. Sometimes when I go out people come up to me and say "You're an inspiration" or "Good to see you out" or "Can I pray with you" etc. I usually respond with a thank you (or no, thank you regarding a prayer) and a smile, but I often wonder why people say the things they do. Maybe they have a loved one who has/had a disability in an era that persons with disabilities were segregated?

Here is the story  line..

Christy Brown is a spastic quadriplegic born to a large, poor Irish family. His mother, Mrs Brown, recognizes the intelligence and humanity in the lad everyone else regards as a vegetable. Eventually, Christy matures into a cantankerous writer who uses his only functional limb, his left foot, to write with. Written by Reid Gagle

Here is the link. My left foot

Plato's Closet, Kohl's and Lady & the vet

Yesterday was an eventful day! Lady got a bit too aggressive with kitty and ended up getting scratched in the eye. :( It was a good thing that she already had a vet visit scheduled for today because of a chipped tooth and a yearly check up and shots. We just added that to the list of things to check. She has a scratch that needs treated with an ointment. She got her shots, heart worm blood test, heartworm pills for a year, nails clipped and we get to leave the tooth as is for now. :)

Jean, the girls and I went to Plato's Closet yesterday. I had never been before, but I will definitely go back. I love that place! The clothes are nice and reasonably priced. I bought a cute summer blouse that will go well with a number of things I own. :) Each of the girls found a bunch of cute clothes to bring back to Pennsylvania with them. :)

Today we went to Kohl's and browsed around and then went to Petco. It was a good day. :) I realized I need a new wardrobe and a sugar daddy to support it! Hehe! Kidding! Kohl's has a lot of home décor that I would love to have, but it's so expensive compared to Walmart. :)