A Quick Update

Here a few items from the Lake Gonebelow news desk to update my few remaining readers:

I’ve been playing Mr. Mom: cooking, baking, dusting, vacuuming, washing clothes. They were already part of my Family resume, but I thought I’d just note it to any interested parties.

The job search is bleak, not surprisingly. I did have an inquiry from a recruiter about an “academic” position, but it would have meant relocating to a different state. Given that there was no relocation assistance, the salary was not that great, and the local real estate market is the pits, it was just not a benefit to do so given my age. Beyond that, I found a grand total of two positions to which I applied.

I’ve ordered some software to update some skills in an attempt to make myself more marketable. If nothing else, I can have fun playing in these programming languages while waiting for the dryer to go off. (See first item.)

I vacillate between hope and despair from day to day. Monday of this past week I discovered that (not surprisingly) the non-profit for who I worked in my past is screwing me with regard to my 403B. We are working on economic alternatives, should I not find a job. None of them are pretty, but I hope at least one path will lead to survival. I should soon start to receive some unemployment. I must soon make some decisions as to whether I want to go the early social security route.

The Wedgwood blue shutters arrived rather quickly a week ago and I surprised myself with my Tim-the-Toolman-Taylor abilities. They look sharp. Of course, yesterday at a local bargain store (“good stuff cheap”), I was surprised to find a whole display of shutters that they had obtained in a buy out: half price of what I paid. Darn! I never thought of that store. I’ll have to explain that to the Society.

I took one of the fasteners to my favorite paint store in our old neighborhood on Thursday. It is a local store and they guys there are the greatest!! I will not buy paint from anybody else. They matched the color perfectly and I walked out with paint for the exterior doors that will cover a hideous, hideous color with one that will match the shutters.

Yesterday I took off the front and side doors, sanded them down, and painted them with the new paint. Even though they are old doors (the originals), they look stunning and, combined with the coordinated color of the new roof and the shutters, they really up the class factor of the curb appeal.

This morning I am feeling all of my macho efforts from yesterday in my back!

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!