4/10/2016
Last week I had the bright idea, or so it seemed at the time, of trying to do transcribing from home. I had through most of my career, transcribed a lot of things, including multi-person conversations.
I found that there is a whole host of opportunities for transcribing. I filled out an "application" with one company and passed their typing test with a 73 wpm. Apparently, I've still got it! Mother always told me that the reason I could type so fast was that my fingers were so small. I'm not sure that's the real reason. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I've been typing since 1967!!
Practically a dinosaur.
I receive an email last night with instructions of how they want the sample transcription to be set up. I read the style guide and was lost almost immediately. You put a comma here, numbers one to ten written out, don't abbreviate this, but do abbreviate that. The list of requirements for the sample document was overwhelming. At the end of each line put in a time stamp (huh?). All I wanted to do was type what was recorded. I didn't realize that you had to go through all this nonsense just to earn nickels and dimes for each word typed.
I really wanted to earn some extra "pin" money to use for manicures, etc. Even before looking into transcribing from home, I also looked at part-time jobs in offices. The list of duties, all of which I have done at one time or another, sounded daunting to me.
What is clear to me is that I don't have what it takes anymore to work in an office. Okay, maybe that's not true. What I can't do is work in a stress related environment. If I was able to go to an office and work alone on some data entry project, for instance, I think I would be fine. But answering phones, arranging meetings, and all the other required myriad secretarial duties is something I am no longer able to do.
It guess it's true when Jeff tells people that I'm fragile. I forget more than I remember and don't deal at all well with stress of any kind. I'm better off emotionally staying at home and letting Jeff do all the heavy emotional lifting for me.
P
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Saturday
4/9/2016
Apologies for not blogging yesterday. My excuse? I didn't seem to have anything I wanted to write about.
Yesterday, Jeff and I went down to the mechanic to pick up the Blu Ox (truck) who was getting new brakes. Expensive? You bet $$$ - definitely a comma in the price. But what are you going to do? Brakes are really important. They prevent you from hopefully running into things.
Now the Ox needs new tires and they are in Costco now after being ordered. So more $$$ involved in purchasing four truck tires. Once the Ox has new tires and now new shoes, here's hoping that nothing else will need to be fixed, at least anytime soon.
There was mention of snow/rain for today. It's not snowing, but it is gloomy and overcast outside. This would be a good day to put down grass seed - in the hopes that it will rain. But I'm doubting that I'll actually get around to getting this chore done.
This week's Parade magazine was centered around how much people earn. Okay, no big surprise that actors, rich people like Trump and some singers, make really big bucks. On the flip side, there are people who are making $10,000 a year. I wonder how they survive. While we're not in a caste system per se, there are many people who are uber rich and then some, people who have to stretch their money to make ends meet. There is, of course, the middle ground where a lot of us regular folks live. We make an adequate (more or less) salary, have full benefits, live in a nice home and drive nice cars. As baby boomers age and continue to be 62+, most of us are glad that while we abhorred paying taxes, are grateful that Social Security benefits still exist for our generation. It's hard to say whether Social Security benefits will be around for our children. For the 45+ years I worked, deductions were taken out for Social Security, and now as a recipient, I'm glad that I paid in for so many years.
I'm doing my countdown until we leave for the Bahamas. We leave on the 20th and I can't wait. Keeping my fingers crossed that no tropical storm comes through the Bahamas forcing us to shorten our stay.
P
Apologies for not blogging yesterday. My excuse? I didn't seem to have anything I wanted to write about.
Yesterday, Jeff and I went down to the mechanic to pick up the Blu Ox (truck) who was getting new brakes. Expensive? You bet $$$ - definitely a comma in the price. But what are you going to do? Brakes are really important. They prevent you from hopefully running into things.
Now the Ox needs new tires and they are in Costco now after being ordered. So more $$$ involved in purchasing four truck tires. Once the Ox has new tires and now new shoes, here's hoping that nothing else will need to be fixed, at least anytime soon.
There was mention of snow/rain for today. It's not snowing, but it is gloomy and overcast outside. This would be a good day to put down grass seed - in the hopes that it will rain. But I'm doubting that I'll actually get around to getting this chore done.
This week's Parade magazine was centered around how much people earn. Okay, no big surprise that actors, rich people like Trump and some singers, make really big bucks. On the flip side, there are people who are making $10,000 a year. I wonder how they survive. While we're not in a caste system per se, there are many people who are uber rich and then some, people who have to stretch their money to make ends meet. There is, of course, the middle ground where a lot of us regular folks live. We make an adequate (more or less) salary, have full benefits, live in a nice home and drive nice cars. As baby boomers age and continue to be 62+, most of us are glad that while we abhorred paying taxes, are grateful that Social Security benefits still exist for our generation. It's hard to say whether Social Security benefits will be around for our children. For the 45+ years I worked, deductions were taken out for Social Security, and now as a recipient, I'm glad that I paid in for so many years.
I'm doing my countdown until we leave for the Bahamas. We leave on the 20th and I can't wait. Keeping my fingers crossed that no tropical storm comes through the Bahamas forcing us to shorten our stay.
P
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Happy Birthday Jeff
4/7/2016
Today, is Jeff's 67th birthday and I will be married to an "older" man for the rest of the year. Scandalous I know!
Forty-one years is a long time, at least by today's standards, to stay married to someone. My Dad was right on our wedding day when he told me that Jeff was a keeper. Dad was right.
All marriages have some good times and unfortunately bad times too. We've seen our share of both. We are proud parents of our amazing sons, Scott and Andy. And, Benjamin is like sprinkles on top of ice cream - simply the best. Being a grandparent is just about the best gig a parent can get.
We've vacationed in Hawaii, drove the boys,which by the way was a long time before movies could be seen in cars to Carlsbad Caverns.
We stayed at Jeff's friend Herschel's trailer out in the desert. Actually, we left the boys there to stay out in the boonies where creepy crawlers (mice/rat/whatever) roamed freely. Jeff and I drove to a motel, because I don't want critter nibbling on my toes!
We've camped at Yosemite Park. We had Jeff's parents trailer that was attached to the top of the truck bed. We saw a lot of interesting things and while technically being in a trailer isn't quite like camping outdoors, I still prefer a room with a roof and running water.
We stayed a few days at Jeff's Aunt Ruby's house in Arkansas - in the summer! We were given the attic to sleep in and a chamber pot to use. With each step heading to the attic, it felt like we were mounting the steps to hell - it just got hotter and hotter. Oh, and try to take a small boy, barely awake to use the chamber pot. Let's just say a lot of laughter was involved during our stay.
Jeff paid for my Dad and I to go to England for three weeks and it was one of the highlights of my life. I had Dad all to myself for three weeks, and he made an excellent traveling companion. I will be grateful to Jeff for all of my days for that special time I had with Dad.
Once living in the East, we eventually started renting out houses at the Outer Banks for a week and later two weeks in the summer. And yes I was still the chief cook and bottle washer, but doing these things at the beach, don't seem to be work.
We flew to the Bahamas in 2012 and had an amazing beach and crystal clear ocean to play in. And we did that for one day and then the rains came. Ultimately, the trip was cut short due to incoming weather that would or could play havoc with a small plane. Luckily, we are flying to the Bahamas on the 20th for a few days. The flight from here to Ft. Lauderdale is long, and we'll probably have contorted bodies when we finally land, but we'll gladly pay this price for a chance to return to the Bahamas. Keeping my fingers crossed that Mother Nature will give us a break this time and allow us to stay the entire four days.
We have mourned the loss of both sets of parents as well as Wendy.
We suffered emotionally and financially through the nastiness that was 2013. For the infliction of pain that I caused Jeff and the family, I am truly sorry. When depression gets an upper hand, as it did in 2013, it's really hard to keep your head above the torrent of despair that washes over you. While I have suffered from depression off and on as an adult, and will likely continue to do so going forward, I'm in a much better place now than in 2013.
Thank you for being my best friend, partner, shoulder to lean on, my memory maker as well as memory reminder, and my biggest supporter. I could not, nor would I want to, take this journey called life without you.
Love you.
P
Today, is Jeff's 67th birthday and I will be married to an "older" man for the rest of the year. Scandalous I know!
Forty-one years is a long time, at least by today's standards, to stay married to someone. My Dad was right on our wedding day when he told me that Jeff was a keeper. Dad was right.
All marriages have some good times and unfortunately bad times too. We've seen our share of both. We are proud parents of our amazing sons, Scott and Andy. And, Benjamin is like sprinkles on top of ice cream - simply the best. Being a grandparent is just about the best gig a parent can get.
We've vacationed in Hawaii, drove the boys,which by the way was a long time before movies could be seen in cars to Carlsbad Caverns.
We stayed at Jeff's friend Herschel's trailer out in the desert. Actually, we left the boys there to stay out in the boonies where creepy crawlers (mice/rat/whatever) roamed freely. Jeff and I drove to a motel, because I don't want critter nibbling on my toes!
We've camped at Yosemite Park. We had Jeff's parents trailer that was attached to the top of the truck bed. We saw a lot of interesting things and while technically being in a trailer isn't quite like camping outdoors, I still prefer a room with a roof and running water.
We stayed a few days at Jeff's Aunt Ruby's house in Arkansas - in the summer! We were given the attic to sleep in and a chamber pot to use. With each step heading to the attic, it felt like we were mounting the steps to hell - it just got hotter and hotter. Oh, and try to take a small boy, barely awake to use the chamber pot. Let's just say a lot of laughter was involved during our stay.
Jeff paid for my Dad and I to go to England for three weeks and it was one of the highlights of my life. I had Dad all to myself for three weeks, and he made an excellent traveling companion. I will be grateful to Jeff for all of my days for that special time I had with Dad.
Once living in the East, we eventually started renting out houses at the Outer Banks for a week and later two weeks in the summer. And yes I was still the chief cook and bottle washer, but doing these things at the beach, don't seem to be work.
We flew to the Bahamas in 2012 and had an amazing beach and crystal clear ocean to play in. And we did that for one day and then the rains came. Ultimately, the trip was cut short due to incoming weather that would or could play havoc with a small plane. Luckily, we are flying to the Bahamas on the 20th for a few days. The flight from here to Ft. Lauderdale is long, and we'll probably have contorted bodies when we finally land, but we'll gladly pay this price for a chance to return to the Bahamas. Keeping my fingers crossed that Mother Nature will give us a break this time and allow us to stay the entire four days.
We have mourned the loss of both sets of parents as well as Wendy.
We suffered emotionally and financially through the nastiness that was 2013. For the infliction of pain that I caused Jeff and the family, I am truly sorry. When depression gets an upper hand, as it did in 2013, it's really hard to keep your head above the torrent of despair that washes over you. While I have suffered from depression off and on as an adult, and will likely continue to do so going forward, I'm in a much better place now than in 2013.
Thank you for being my best friend, partner, shoulder to lean on, my memory maker as well as memory reminder, and my biggest supporter. I could not, nor would I want to, take this journey called life without you.
Love you.
P
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Clean Carpets!
4/6/2016
On Monday, Stacey shampooed my living room and upstairs hall carpets. Now I have always known that I'm not the best at keeping the house clean - deep cleaning I mean. I still do the dishes, make the bed, stuff like that.
When Stacey started cleaning the living room carpet, the amount of dirty water she pulled out of the carpet was astonishing and horrendous, all at the same time. With Mr. Sam and Maggie, both now senior dogs, we've had our share of dog spots. Why they can't be sick in the kitchen is beyond me, but maybe it's a dog thing.
Stacey changed the water three times before the living room carpet was done. Spots gone - check. Carpet nice and clean - check. The hallway upstairs had a large, and to me, and perhaps only me, an eyesore of a spot. The spot is now gone.
After the living room carpet was cleaned, the house smelled cleaner. Less like dogs. Yesterday while I didn't do as good of a job as Stacey had, I shampooed the den carpet, which is where the dogs spend the majority of their time. I didn't do a great job, but felt satisfied when I saw how much dirt I had gotten out of the carpet.
I have no illusions that the carpet will remain uber clean, but for the moment as spring arrives, it is and that's enough for me.
P
On Monday, Stacey shampooed my living room and upstairs hall carpets. Now I have always known that I'm not the best at keeping the house clean - deep cleaning I mean. I still do the dishes, make the bed, stuff like that.
When Stacey started cleaning the living room carpet, the amount of dirty water she pulled out of the carpet was astonishing and horrendous, all at the same time. With Mr. Sam and Maggie, both now senior dogs, we've had our share of dog spots. Why they can't be sick in the kitchen is beyond me, but maybe it's a dog thing.
Stacey changed the water three times before the living room carpet was done. Spots gone - check. Carpet nice and clean - check. The hallway upstairs had a large, and to me, and perhaps only me, an eyesore of a spot. The spot is now gone.
After the living room carpet was cleaned, the house smelled cleaner. Less like dogs. Yesterday while I didn't do as good of a job as Stacey had, I shampooed the den carpet, which is where the dogs spend the majority of their time. I didn't do a great job, but felt satisfied when I saw how much dirt I had gotten out of the carpet.
I have no illusions that the carpet will remain uber clean, but for the moment as spring arrives, it is and that's enough for me.
P
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Sunny and Cold Tuesday
4/5/2016
Yesterday, my daughter-in-law, Stacey came to the house to take me to Hopkins for my "senior well being" appointment. Because of rain being forecasted, we didn't take the convertible. If you have to be in a convertible with the top and windows up, you might as well be in a regular car. Just saying.
My vitals were good. My doctor noticed the weight gain (groan) but didn't mention it - thankfully. The only reason we gain weight is because we: (a) eat; and (b) don't exercise enough. It's not rocket science but something we mortals fight with most of the time.
On our way home, as predicted, the heavens opened up and it rained. At first just those annoying first spots of rain on the windshield that are annoying. But then, someone opened up the flood gates and it rained and rained hard.
Benjamin had spent the day with Auntie Kim and they were swinging on the front porch when we got home. Benjamin curled up in one of the recliners and began watching Sponge Bob Squarepants. I never thought that I would hate seeing another movie more than endless viewings of Shrek, but old Sponge Bob is a close contender!
Today, I'll put away Benjamin's toys and the house will return to normal.
P
Yesterday, my daughter-in-law, Stacey came to the house to take me to Hopkins for my "senior well being" appointment. Because of rain being forecasted, we didn't take the convertible. If you have to be in a convertible with the top and windows up, you might as well be in a regular car. Just saying.
My vitals were good. My doctor noticed the weight gain (groan) but didn't mention it - thankfully. The only reason we gain weight is because we: (a) eat; and (b) don't exercise enough. It's not rocket science but something we mortals fight with most of the time.
On our way home, as predicted, the heavens opened up and it rained. At first just those annoying first spots of rain on the windshield that are annoying. But then, someone opened up the flood gates and it rained and rained hard.
Benjamin had spent the day with Auntie Kim and they were swinging on the front porch when we got home. Benjamin curled up in one of the recliners and began watching Sponge Bob Squarepants. I never thought that I would hate seeing another movie more than endless viewings of Shrek, but old Sponge Bob is a close contender!
Today, I'll put away Benjamin's toys and the house will return to normal.
P
Monday, April 4, 2016
Off to the Doc
4/4/2016
Today, instead of getting my head examined, I'm going to have my body checked over. First, there is the weighing in ceremony, which I detest. If and it's a big if mind you, I was lean and mean, there wouldn't be any dread to stepping on the scales. But, alas, I am short and wide and the scale is not my friend. Sugar isn't either, but oh how I love it!
Other than the scale issue, my vitals should all be normal. At least they have been so in the past. Then there's talking to the doctor and being honest about what aches and pains I have. Jeff wants me to be honest, and not shy away from telling my doctor the truth - ALL the truth! I have a tendency to play down my aches and pains, because I'm always quite sure that they are age related. I am, after all, old(er)!
Stacey has kindly offered to take me to Hopkins. I don't think I, or the rest of humanity, are ready for me to drive in a big city. Auntie Kim is keeping Benjamin. There is nothing worse or more boring than sitting in a doctor's office. Oh wait, there is one other thing that is boring to small boys - shopping! Actual that particular phenomenon also applies to grown men!
Benjamin had one of his front teeth knocked out yesterday while playing. The "tooth fairy" had to remove the tooth from under the pillow and replace it with a dollar. Inflation has gone up so the tooth fairy has to step up his/her game accordingly.
Stacey and I were going to take the new car, but it's not quite warm enough to go buzzing around the interstate with the top down. Some day I am planning on riding in the car with the top and windows down. Can't wait.
P
Today, instead of getting my head examined, I'm going to have my body checked over. First, there is the weighing in ceremony, which I detest. If and it's a big if mind you, I was lean and mean, there wouldn't be any dread to stepping on the scales. But, alas, I am short and wide and the scale is not my friend. Sugar isn't either, but oh how I love it!
Other than the scale issue, my vitals should all be normal. At least they have been so in the past. Then there's talking to the doctor and being honest about what aches and pains I have. Jeff wants me to be honest, and not shy away from telling my doctor the truth - ALL the truth! I have a tendency to play down my aches and pains, because I'm always quite sure that they are age related. I am, after all, old(er)!
Stacey has kindly offered to take me to Hopkins. I don't think I, or the rest of humanity, are ready for me to drive in a big city. Auntie Kim is keeping Benjamin. There is nothing worse or more boring than sitting in a doctor's office. Oh wait, there is one other thing that is boring to small boys - shopping! Actual that particular phenomenon also applies to grown men!
Benjamin had one of his front teeth knocked out yesterday while playing. The "tooth fairy" had to remove the tooth from under the pillow and replace it with a dollar. Inflation has gone up so the tooth fairy has to step up his/her game accordingly.
Stacey and I were going to take the new car, but it's not quite warm enough to go buzzing around the interstate with the top down. Some day I am planning on riding in the car with the top and windows down. Can't wait.
P
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Kites, Tigers and Elephants Oh My!
4/3/2016
Yesterday, Auntie Kim took Benjamin out to the mall to watch the kite flying contest. Later, they went to the circus and had front row seats! How jealous am I? Lots.
When Benjamin came home, his face was painted like a tiger! He loved the clowns driving around in their little cars, the acrobats, the lady being shot out of a cannon, as well as all the animals. Once home, he was reluctant to wash his face, but for the sake of the pillow, I insisted. He did, however, draw a very good looking tiger on the kitchen whiteboard.
We watched some movies (Spongebob comes to mind) and when I told Benjamin it was time for bed, he went up by himself and was all tucked in when I went upstairs later.
Today, Benjamin is going to church with Auntie Kim and they'll do some other activity this afternoon before she brings him home. It's windy and cold today, so it's a good day to be inside.
I've laundry to finish and a kitchen to put to rights. After that, I'll program my Tivo for the week and then might read a book off of my Kindle.
Have a good day.
Yesterday, Auntie Kim took Benjamin out to the mall to watch the kite flying contest. Later, they went to the circus and had front row seats! How jealous am I? Lots.
When Benjamin came home, his face was painted like a tiger! He loved the clowns driving around in their little cars, the acrobats, the lady being shot out of a cannon, as well as all the animals. Once home, he was reluctant to wash his face, but for the sake of the pillow, I insisted. He did, however, draw a very good looking tiger on the kitchen whiteboard.
We watched some movies (Spongebob comes to mind) and when I told Benjamin it was time for bed, he went up by himself and was all tucked in when I went upstairs later.
Today, Benjamin is going to church with Auntie Kim and they'll do some other activity this afternoon before she brings him home. It's windy and cold today, so it's a good day to be inside.
I've laundry to finish and a kitchen to put to rights. After that, I'll program my Tivo for the week and then might read a book off of my Kindle.
Have a good day.
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