|
ROLLIN',ROLLIN',ROLLIN'
Things seem to be rolling around here with positivity and speed. Good deal overall. And I haven't offed my landlord yet..another seasonal blessing at its finest!!
The only thing that has gone awry was the fact that we all came down with colds in the same week and a half! Luckily, Alyssa was already over hers and back to just allergies and Gary had suffered through his on the road when Jessica, my little iron horse-who-never-gets-ill, and I were overcome. And then Gary came home for a few days just in time to become chauffeur, chef, and chief bottle washer for Jessica and I! Don't you know he was thrilled!
I think I've stated here previously but the lawsuit money from the accident back in January finally rolled in. I was able to pay the majority(sans $240) of my rental debt off, quite a few outstanding bills and buy a 'few' Yuletide gifts for the girls.
Since both of us lost our jobs back in the spring, only a month apart, we have been struggling through our lovely governement bureaucracy which resulted in being turned down by unemployment, help with housing and finally(this past month) food stamps. Didn't make enough to be on their programs but didn't make enough to survive.
Also age played a large part in the job game. Gary has more than a few years experience as a post office employee, a seasoned trucker, an aeronautic technician, drywall installer and in the construction field. And he is an excellent 'handy man' of sorts that can fix anything from electrical to plumbing and has professional remodeled his fair share of houses. Not a problem in the unemployment game, right? Well this is America; land of the youth driven society. (Unlike when we were seriously considering Scotland whereas he was offered a total of 10 good jobs in a matter of three weeks).
He's never been ill and day in his life with the exception of an occasional cold but he is 52. Which equates to 'hire you? Are you mad?'
So now he's a big bad trucker again hoping against hope that he'll get miles/paycheck this week or next week, etc...
So the change of fortune was needed and the money sure as hell was. I just cannot believe that it has taken us this long to catch up. The girls got a few gifts but we never buy them a lot, even when we do have the money. I spend the year making a lot of items for them, which believe me takes a whole year because a seamstress I'm not! The holidays aren't about how big or expensive the gift is and we refuse to play that game. In fact, in years past we have given them several 'retro' games from our youth that we know will survive the test of time and they still play with them thank you very much. Besides, after friends and family get through with them, a lot of gifts from us would mean that you couldn't get into their small rooms!!
My mother and brother are royalty when it comes to electronics. My own 75 yr old mother is who started them on GameCube(before that they played with my antiquated Atari and Gameboy..the first one). Now they have more electronic toys than thier parents! And then there is my sister, Gary's sister and brother and brother in law and mother and then there's the friends...hell by the time they finish with them if we didn't buy a thing the girls would hardly notice!
This year was the year they actually had to use their allowance and get family members gifts and to make several. It was actually humorous to watch my 11 yo cringe at the thought of buying both a holiday gift and a birthday gift for her sister(whose birthday is Jan 7). You would have thought she was removing a knife from her heart!
I'm sure Alyssa thought it was devastating enough when she gave up half her allowance to the charity box. This is a tradition in our family to give half thier allowance to a charity. As a child, I would put half of my weekly stipend into a brass box shaped bank but I just let the girls divvy up what is left in their piggybanks at the end of the year. Parting with those coins is heartwrenching but the buying of toys and wrapping them for Toys For Tots is another matter. Had to convince Alyssa that she couldn't adorn them with bows and such. Artist at work I'm afraid.
But Mom and Dad got their gift late, by a day anyhow. Which thrills us no matter what day it came! I had talked about moving here. Well it's happening and much quicker than I thought would happen! We're actually buying a house!
Several months ago we decided that the best thing, for the family, would be to move back to Bowie. Now, I'm not thrilled with Bowie but it's not about me and me alone. If I had my choice I'd be in London or Glasgow. But again what..is..best..for..the..family. The girls hate it here and the only true home they've known is Bowie. Their relatives are there and friends are there(more friends than they have here anyway). The school system has proven, time and time again, that it is not advantageous for Alyssa and a small school was definitely needed. A town outside of Bowie called Goldburg combines their Jr/Senior High school into one building and the total amount of students for 6 grades(get ready for this) for the 2005-2006 season....91. A teacher to student ratio of 8!
Wish I had gone to a school like that! My graduation class was 998! So you can just imagine the class sizes!;0)
And we can buy a house. This is the 'not what you know but who know' system at work. Bowie is Gary's hometown and one of his best friends from school and present(they worked together at Boeing) was trying to find a buyer for his mother's house. An older two story home with hardwood floors on a corner lot for only $40,000! We're doing owner finance but can move in without laying down any money. This is not something that would ever occur here in Pilot Point. The smallest and oldest of homes cost, at a minimum, $100,000. A little out of our price range.
So happy holidays to me! And my greatest joy will be telling our nauseous little landlord that he doesn't get another dime!
   and happy kwazaan
| 
