Dear Xanga Friends,

I'm writing this to let you know where I've been. 

After the incident in July when I had the allergic reaction to medication, I never really got well.  I've had one health issue after another.  I spent weeks throwing up.  I've had trouble sleeping.  All kinds of just not feeling great.  And I've been trying to learn everything I could for my new job.  And the kids have started school, and regularly scheduled therapy, and so on and so on and so on.

I finally saw the Dr last Tuesday.  Most probably I have an ulcer.  I have a prescription for sleep medication.  And I'm hoping that things are going to level out soon. 

There's not too much else to report.  I go to work, I come home, I help the kids with homework, feed them, read to them and then we go to bed.  The most interesting thing going on has been that I just have felt horrible and I didn't want to write about that.  Even talking about it made me feel worse.  I was alternately scared that there was something really wrong with me, and scared that I had become a hypochondriacal whiner in my middle age.   

When I wake up in the middle of the night, I go to Facebook and play Scrabble or Pathwords or some other diverting application game.  I've been in a sort of self-similar pattern where every day I start in a different direction but then wind up making the same movements and ending in the same place - rather like a Fractal.

Last Friday night I took the boys to what has to be one of Albuquerque's best kept secrets.  It's a show at the Museum of Science and Natural History called "First Friday Fractals" and they told us at the beginning that it was the 79th sold out show in a row.  (They do three shows the first Friday of every month.)

I had some difficulty properly embedding the video from YouTube so I'm giving you the link.  You can get a small taste of what the show is like from this, but the colors are much more vivid in the Planetarium and because of the dynamics of projecting onto the dome, at the show a viewer has the sense of being inside the design and moving with it. 

First Friday Fractals

The Fratcal images below were lifted from the web - some are available as posters, so you might like to Google "Fractal" to explore other images and maybe find one you'd want for your wall. 

I called Consumer Affairs. 

I was listened to.

Within 30 minutes the Postmaster for this Region called me back.

I received a really nice apology.

I was told that the person who'd spoken to me so rudely had been "corrected."

And I was assured that any future Express Mail Packages addressed to me, would be delivered TO MY DOOR.

So ... in about three weeks, after the guy has had opportunity to share the joy with his carriers - I'll be having something sent to me Express Mail.  And we'll just see. 

Cool beans.

... I'm thinking of picketing my post office.

I've described my problem before.  Anytime someone sends me an Express Mail package, my postal service provider refuses to bring it to my apartment. 

I had a package that was scheduled to be delivered to me last Saturday.  The carrier is ordinarily here at my apartment complex about 11.  At 10:45 I went to the mailbox area in hopes of meeting him and pleading for my package, but apparently he came early that day.  I'd missed him.

So instead of my package I got a note in my box saying that "Sorry we missed you" with information that if I would call the post office they would ReDeliver the package. 

I called. 

I was told, "We don't have time to deliver to people who live in apartments.  Either you can come in and pick it up or we will return it to sender."

I asked about their hours, realized that there was no way I could get there because I'm at work during those hours every day and because it was Express Mail I was informed that I had until TODAY to pick it up or it would be sent back. 

(Long story short, my boss allowed me to clock out so I could drive over and pick it up so I got my package) but I'm furious.

I've never lived anywhere that the Post Office refused to deliver registered or Express Mail to my door.  When I lived out in the middle of nowhere it was was literally a quarter of a mile from my mailbox to my door - they delivered.  Here where the guy can drive to within a few feet of my door it's "too much trouble".

When someone pays for Express Delivery - shouldn't they at least TRY to bring it to me?

At my mom's house which is also on a rural route the postal carrier will drive into her driveway, get out of his little vehicle, and walk his shorts clad self through many obstacles, past flower gardens, and up the steps to ring her doorbell. 

Here, it's too much trouble. 

I called the national customer service line (800- ASK-USPS) and was first told that someone from Consumer Affairs would return my call within 24 hours.  That didn't happen.  SO I called BACK to the national customer service line and was given the local number for the Albuquerque Consumer Affairs office which I will call tomorrow at some point between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm. 

But at the same time I was given the number I was advised, "It's unlikely that Consumer Affairs will be able to do anything about the policies of your local post office." 

Then what's the point of having a Consumer Affairs Office, I ask you.

And if they aren't able to do anything, who's the next person I should call?  My Congressman?

The US Taxpayer (of which God knows I am one) subsidizes the Postal Service to the tune of about $116,000,000 according to the most recent information I could find.  And keep in mind that money is in addition to the amount of revenue generated by the rates we are charged for the services provided.  

I'll bet that if we were to give that same amount of money to FedEx or UPS - (both of whom CAN find my door) that we'd get our mail delivered.

And in the meantime, if you want to send me a package, please don't use USPS. 

... or Naughty Monkily ... something.

I love my new job.  I REALLY love my new job.  I like the company.  I like the people.  I like the work.  It's really nice. 

The new schedule is eating into my online time like you wouldn't believe.  Or maybe you would because you can see how much I haven't been around lately. 

The kids only have a couple more weeks until they head back to school.  So I'm hoping that things will settle down, but past experience being the best predictor of future behavior suggests that my hope is misplaced. 

Anyway, I'm showing up tonight blatantly in hope of getting something from you.  A donation.  Not a big one.  Really.  Just $5 to fight breast cancer.  Our workplace cheerleader announced this afternoon that we will be forming a team for "DenimDay" which is October 3.  Our team is encouraging people to donate $5.  We want to get 100 people signed up and donating to fight breast cancer with a team goal of $500 raised.  Now, if you check out the link I'll be posting here in a few more lines, you'll notice that SOME of the people on the list have obviously donated more than $5 because the fundraiser was announced this afternoon and by the time I left work we already had $300 in our team account.  (And if we meet our goal, the CEO has given permission for the cast of thousands to all wear denim to work that day - ordinarily a BIG no no.  I don't care about the jeans, I just want to see us raising money to fight breast cancer.)

Please think about it, click the link and donate at least $5. 

 http://www.denimday.com/team_page.aspx?tid=221751 

Remember the scene from Ghostbusters when the demon-god from outer space thing told them to "choose the form of the destroyer?"  And everyone was carefully keeping a blank mind and then Dan Akroyd had a thought? 

He couldn't help it and he couldn't get it out of his mind. 

Wellllllll - Many thanks Rainbow - I can't stop singing,

"Her name is Lola,
she was a show girl,
yellow feathers in her hair,
and a dress cut down to there. 
She would merengue
and do the cha-cha
and while she tried to be a star
Tony always tended bar
across the crowded floor
they were young and they had each other
who could ask for more ..."

I was humming it this morning on the way to church so the boys asked what I was singing.  I explained it to them.  On the way home from church ... it came on the radio.  Now its starting to feel like the Stay Puft Marshmallow man.  Regardless of what we tried to think, we can only think ... Lola ...

I mentioned that if we are going to call her Lola we should download the tune.  Michael said, "okay, but you're putting it on YOUR iPod, not mine."

Humph, kids, who told them they were entitled to opinions.

*****
I got the bills from my visit to the ER.  Altogether?  $2,030 to learn that it was the medicine I'd paid $100 for the week before that caused the problem.

*****
So what did I do?  Here I am with my new Lola Victoria Baby.  And my savings account more than decimated (you know that to decimate means to thin by 10% right?).  So what did I do last night?  I bought shoes.  I admit, I love the shoes, they are JUST TOO CUTE, but I also love the brand name. 

Naughty Monkey. 

Don't that just make you smile?  And on the sole they have a Naughty Monkey logo so if you walk on soft sand, or wet cement, someone's behind, or something you'll leave behind a Naughty Monkey imprint. 

My new baby is a Ford Escape.  Although it's an SUV the mileage is better than I was getting in my Sunfire and there's leg and headroom for my boys.  Michael is 5'11" already with more growth spurts coming and Tucker looks like he'll be almost that tall. 

I'm still taking naming suggestions in the blog below. 

She's got to have a name!

(Oh, and I was asked how I know she's a SHE - I looked.)

I love my new job. 

I love the work.  I love the people I'm working with.  I love my boss so much I can't WAIT to give her a Christmas Present. 

I love my new car. 

Yes, I bought a new car.  I know, I know, no one with any financial sense buys a NEW car, but they were offering so many rebates and incentives on this one that I could get a new one for the same price Carmax was asking for one two years old with 24,000 miles on it. 

She doesn't have a name yet ... but she will.  Any suggestions?  I'm kind of leaning toward Agnes ... or Abigail ... or maybe Suzette.  What do you think?

 I've talked about the quilting project I'm a part of that provides a child sized quilt with a matching bag for foster children and other children in need.  (I've recently learned that the agency also servis children who's parent's are in prison and families who are in crisis for other reasons).  Sunday was the presentation day for our quilts at church and as soon as I can arrange it, we'll deliver another "shipment" to "our" kids. 

I thought you'd like to see some photos of the ones I completed this time. 

Our goal was to have 48 sets ready for delivery.  We have 64. 

It feels really good to be a part of something like this. 

* * * * * * * * * *

And speaking of being a part of something to help someone else.  I now have 81,000 credits.  I'm 4/5 of the way to free lifetime.   I am doing surveys as often as they will let me, but many thousands of those credits have been donated by you.  Thank you for helping. 

* * * * * * * * * *

I have a dilemma with my car.  It died yesterday.  Now, there's a chance that it's a dead battery problem.  Or maybe a dead alternator problem.  Or maybe a dead computer problem.  The car is a 2002 model and has almost 100,000 miles on it.  I paid cash for it ($4200) four years ago and haven't had to put in much beyond routine maintenance since.  It was a rebuilt wreck to start with, so it doesn't have any monetary value.  My resources are getting really thin with this business of spending 6 weeks without employment.  Should I put money into diagnosig and fixing this car?  Or use my money as a downpayment on a new (to me) car?

Upside of fixing it - it may last another four years without a major problem thus saving me the cost of monthly car payments.

Upside of buying a car - lower miles, more reliable, and having an installment loan will give me a mix of credit that will raise my credit score so I may be able to get better terms on a house loan in a year or two. 

* * * * * * **  * * * *

Started my new job today.  All I've done so far is orientation but it's made me even more enthusiastic about this company.  They have the best, most family friendly benefits I've ever seen.  AND they have the BEST checking account product in the entire country right now.  www.turbochecking.com  People from all 50 states have these accounts, they are administered online so they are easy, and they PAY you INTEREST.  6.01%.  That's not a typo.  On balances from $100 to $25,000 they pay 6.01%.  Of course there are rules, but they aren't the kind of rules that I can't live with. 

1. Have a direct deposit into the account OR one automatic debit per month.
2. Make at least 10 debit card transactions monthly (excluding ATM withdrawals)
3. Receive your monthly statement electronically.
4. Access online banking at least once a month.

In addition to the 6.01% interest, you get FREE ATM use nationwide (any fees deducted at the time of the transation are refunded at the end of the month.)  1.01% APY on any balance over $25,000.  Overdraft Privilege.  Free Online Bill Pay.

Wells Fargo, it's been nice knowin' ya ... but I've met somebody new. 

Photo taken from the walking path along the Oauchita River, Malvern, Arkansas, July 1, 2008.

It's the season for family reunions.  I hope you are enjoying yours as much as we enjoyed ours!  In the first place, my family is pretty cool.  We have the usual assortment of fruits and nuts that you'd think would just irritate each other, but we all have fun together.  Now it's occuring to me that maybe the ones we wouldn't have fun with just choose not to come, but we also had a pretty good attendance. 

My parents have a 6 acre place just on the edge of town.  They've erected a pavilion in the backyard that covers enough tables to seat at least 150 people.  There are celing fans, a restroom attached to it, and a summer kitchen.  (Although mostly we just use the refrigerator.)  My sister decorated the pavilion with red, white and blue and hung strings of lights around for night-time. 

The permanent features of the backyard include swings, a trampoline, benches in the shade, flowers, and rocking chairs on the back porch.  For the reunion, Mom also rented a giant Slip-n-Slide inflatable for the kids (some of whom were in their 40's) to play on. 

We had game night, at one point there were eight people gathered around playing bananagrams - from 7 to 61 and all were having a blast.  I was kicked out after I won two hands in a row.  We had tables set up indoors with jigsaw puzzles, two or three people would gravitate in, work a few pieces, talk a bit then wander out.  During the reunion we completed three Thomas Kinkade puzzles that way.

We had dinner entertainment, my sisters, cousin Julie, cousin Zoe (Laurie's daughter) and I all sang patriotic songs and favorite family hymns.  We took hikes along the River just down from where my parents live.  And the last afternoon everyone was encouraged to head out to area attractions so they could enjoy some of the other things that Arkansas offers.

A few images from the shindig:

Laurie posing in front of the decorated pavilion.

Julie jumping on the trampoline.

Julie laughing with disbelief that she's been jumping on the trampoline.

The crowd gathers

 
Redneck fireworks.  (I promised I wouldn't put this on YouTube, but I said nothing about a Blog-a-torium )

The youngest attendee - clutching her hotdog in one hand and powdered drink mix-in in the other.  I don't think the mix-in was ever opened, and I don't think she ever actually ate the dog, but she got to have the trampoline all to herself for a while and she was happy with that.