A VERY BAD WEEK

This has been one hell of a week around here. Actually it has been two weeks.
Last week Tom was home because he thought the Semi-truck needed a new barring. He changed it out here at home and then took off with a load headed back east. He got to Spokane and he was feeling a vibration and thought it was the rear end going out, so he had the oil changed in both of the rear ends to see what was going on. The back one was good but the front one was full of metal shavings. Now he has to give up the load and wait till Monday to get it fixed. Monday he finds a rebuilt rear end and has it put in the truck. The guy who did the rebuild put the wrong bolts in and it would not fit in right so he had to wait till Tuesday to get it right. That means he had to turn back a load he was given the day before. Tuesday after the rear end was put in and done right he got another load was heading south with it when he felt the other vibration in the truck. He got to Pasco and had to call the company to give up the load again. He has never had to give up loads or turn them back in all the years he has been driving his own truck.
After getting the rear end fixed he was able to feel the vibration of the transmission. I think the rear end was covering the transmission vibrations. The transmission will take over $5000.00 to fix. That is not a new one either. The rear end was over $2000.00. Last month we had to pay all the trucking taxes and so we don't have any money to fix the transmission.
Everything is changing here fast. We decided to scrap the truck, sell it to a scrap yard. We are trying to buy another truck through a lease purchase program at another company. That means we no longer be on our own and will be working for someone else. That also means that there is no money coming in for a full month. We have just enough money to get the bare amount need to survive.
Change like this always takes three months to fully recover and get back to where we were last month. The bad part is that I don't get the anniversary weekend I was looking forward to, and Christmas in Hawaii is out. That means that the timeshare reservation will go unused unless I can sell that weeks use.
This also means that I can't take my time in finding a job that I really want and get one that will hire me right away. I am hoping to get one at Michael's or maybe JoAnns, if I can't stay home and craft then I can work with craft stuff.
Speaking of craft stuff I have started a baby blanket for a friend who is due in January, and I have some potholders some finished some still in progress. If Tom was not so grumpy I would get out the beads and make some earrings.
I do have some good news. Last night was back to school night and Tom and I went to hear how wonderful our kids are. First is the youngest Kim 6th grade she is in the highest level in her class and finishes her work way before the other kids so she will tutor the slower kids or help out the teacher by doing something else.
Then there is Thomas 8th grade, gpa 3.79 A's in math, reading, science, art, he has two math classes and the teacher can not keep him busy enough and can not let him work ahead because of class room discussions on the subject of the day (stupid reason).
Next is Nicole 10th grade. Her math teacher wants to move her up a level, she is getting A's in reading, business writing and culinary arts, and science.
Some how I got smart kids.

I am smarter than 97.18% of the rest of the world.
Find out how smart you are.

Here are the pics of my basket. I found the camers and had just enough battery power to take these.
Basket: Cedar
Size: 4"x4"
Color: natural and navy cedar, hot pink and purple rafia
Time: about 6 hours

I learned a new craft.
Last saturday my sis and I went to a weaving class from a master weaver and learn how to make cedar baskets. Mine turn out wonderfully but sis got a bit to tight and then to loose. We both started out the same size but hers fits inside mine. I have to find my camera and post pics later. The kids think my camera is for them too and never puts it back so I can use it or they use the batteries up and then I have to get new ones.
The basket weaver told us how to harvest the cedar and then prep it for weaving. We learn how to cut it down to strips and then split it for the warping. We also had to split it into wefts.
I was almost finished when she noticed that I was going backwards. I am right handed but I was very comfortable weaving left handed. I joked that I was in my right mind while weaving. I had trouble binding off because she started it for right hand so I was having to change my way of thinking. Now I want to get some more cedar and weave some more baskets.

All Stressed Out And No One to Choke

Well this afternoon I had a meeting for one of my youth groups and called a brief meeting for the Executive members of the adult overseers. The associated members show up. I guess they thought they could show me that I was not in control and when I did not back down they left mad as hell and threatening to quit and have me thrown out of office. I have the by-laws of the group that backs me up on this that I can call for a meeting and do not have to include the associated members. The person who held my office last year did this to exclude me from the meetings so I was just following her lead. And she was one of the ones not invited. So there. ;p
Why do they think I am stupid and not know what they were doing. I stayed coll and did not say well so and so did it to me so I'm doing it back. I love the youth group and would never do anything to undermine or distroy it in any way, but these other adults need to back off and let go of it. It does not belong to you it belongs to the youth. They don't think the youths should be left to govern themselves they kids need to be told every thing to do and how to do it. BS! BS I say! They did great today doing practice without us adults there to point out the mistakes and such.
AS one stood there telling me that I was wrong and doing harm to the organization and I was selfish and uncaring about anyone but myself I was thinking how lucky he was that I did not go BIKER BITCH ON HIS ASS! No I just stood there and looked him streight in his eyes, bastard you and your wife. The kids don't like you so go away.
And if they saw a tear in my eye it was not because they were right it was because I could not tell them how I really feel about them, it had to come out some how.
Make way for change!

You Are a Ham Sandwich

You are quiet, understated, and a great comfort to all of your friends. Over time, you have proven yourself as loyal and steadfast. And you are by no means boring. You do well in any situation - from fancy to laid back. Your best friend: The Turkey Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Grilled Cheese Sandwich

What Kind of Sandwich Are You?

It's Back To School

Back to school. My favorite holiday.
At 6:30 am this morning the first bus came and took 2 kids away. At 7:45 the second bus came and took the 3rd child away. Next year there will be only 1 bus in the morning.
This afternoon the bus will be here about 3:30 and 4:30 and if my son stays after for football it will be 6:30 when he gets home.
I am glad the summer is over and I can slow down a bit here. Going and going all summer was fun but I need to get some rest.
My wrist and thumb is healing slowly but surely, but still no crafty marathons for me. Just a few hours a day or every other day.
Last saturday was spent in the kitchen putting up pickles. I got quite a few quarts done and have some jars left over to go get more pickles and get them done up. I also got some small jars to make jam. I had some blackberry juice from last year so I don't need to go picking this year. I am going to make some without sugar and some with the sugar added. I missed the peaches because of the cast but next year will be just fine for them. Apple season is just around the corner.
Tom thinks it is time I go back to work and he thinks I can get a high paying job, monday thru friday, daytime hours, after not working for over 13 years.
He says I am spending to much money. I have a budget and I stick to it but never have anything left at the end of the month. I just had to get 2 teens 1 preteen school clothes and school supplies, new shoes for everyone even me.
And they have to eat, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 snacks. If the boy plays football he will need shoes for that too(13 years old and size 11).
Yesterday was 1/2 price day at the thrift stores and the girls and I hit 3 of them. I got the boy a good looking suit and tux shirt for him to wear to his meetings and I got the youngest girl a formal. Loads of jeans for both girls. I even scored 3 bags of yarn, some baby yarn, some wool scraps and 2 spools of very fine weaving yarn. I had to get all 3 bags because they mix it up instead of putting like yarns together, but not bad for just 7.50.
I need to go a write out my resume.