Let Summer Begin

Memorial Day traditionally is the start of summer but here in Florida I think we started about a month ago. You can now wear white shoes and carry a white handbag and wear all those bright colors. I love summer but I hate the heat. Can't we have summer with temps in the high 70's and then it would be absolutely perfect. I know I am dreaming.

Had a great holiday weekend. Barbecued, played cards, did a little scrapbooking with friends and even saw a movie. I even snuck in a nap. What a way to celebrate the holiday. Catching up on posting my layouts.

Trip To Ikea Tday

Jackie and I drove up to Tampa today to check out the new IKEA store. I have been in one since I left Chicago. But let me say Chicago has nothing on the crowds. It was an absolute mob today when we left. We were lucky and got there before it opened so we had a leisurely breakfast and started our tour before the crowds. By the time we left you could not even move in the isles. My only purchase was a 72 inch frame shelf. Can't wait to hang it in my scrap room. Once it is up I'll post a photo.

I want to remember my dad today who spent the majority of his adult life in the Army. I applaud everyone in uniform for keep us safe. Those that have come before us and those who have their feet on the ground today. I pray that you are safe. My flag waves proudly today in your honor.

One Year Today

Today marks one year that I have not seen my grandchildren. I was able to talk to them up until late June. Many of you have asked me if I've had any contact with them and the answer is no. A price has been put on their beautiful little heads. Pay the money or you can no longer see your grandchildren. If you pay it all will be forgiven. What type of parent puts a price on their children. Jim's son Bob told me that if I wrote a check for our entire IRA then I could see our grandchildren. He did not want out home or our car, he said I could keep these two things. But the IRA was to be given to him. I could not give away all of the money that Jim and I worked for and that he wanted me to have. He was very specific about this and had taken care of it legally.

I miss these three little boys so much. Jack, Josh and Lucas I love you and no matter what your parents tell you I love you and want to see you so badly. Someday when you are old enough to find this blog on the Internet you will know that I love you and did not abandon you. You can always call me and I will be there for you. I have sent you cards and letters but in the beginning they were sent back to me so I have saved them for you. I have no idea about the others.

I have put away many of your grandfathers things and someday I'll give them to you. Just know you are always in my thoughts. The last time I talked to you Jack you were crying your eyes out because I could not come see you. This broke my heart and I wanted to hug you so badly. Then the phone was taken from you. I know you hurt to and someday we will be together and I can give you that hug.

More Taxpayer Money

The next three days of training were about the same. Our two leaders had never trained before so they would do one page and then call the office for more instructions. There was no real training just reading from the manual (which we could have done on our own.) Each day was 10 hours long which meant a lot more overtime for each of us. Plus we get mileage for driving to and from the training session. This is unreal. What industry out there pays you for your commute and your mileage. Now remember the commute home is overtime pay. Yeah more money for us and less for the taxpayer. We did a lot of sitting around and not really doing anything. This is the government at its finest. The Census Bureau is part of the Commerce Department. I did learn that. Chow, more layouts tomorrow and the rest of the story.

Wasted taxpayer dollars.

Well my job is over for now. The Census Bureau is done for now. They will probably call us back in the fall. It was fun but very hot to be outside everyday. We identified everywhere people can live and now they can make up their address list. The Census is definitely wasting our money. They are the most disorganized organization I have ever seen. The training was like a comedy show. Neither of our trainers had any idea what they were doing. The first day we filled out 16 forms. So much for the Paper Reduction Act. Then we were fingerprinted. Now this took 4 hours for 17 of us. They had no idea how to do it and kept have to repeat the tests. But they coined a phrase "don't worry you are getting paid" that we would hear a lot in the coming weeks. While they were fingerprinting we wondered outside, read a book and just chatted. WE had to be there at 8:00 but were paid from the time we left our house. Then at 5:00 we were told we had homework to do. They could have told us this at 12:30 and we could have done it while we were sitting around all afternoon. We were told we would be paid 1 hour for the homework time. We left and we were paid for driving home. So we were paid for 10 and a half hours. Two and a half hours of this was at overtime pay. Who thinks we were wasting taxpayer dollars on just this one day. Throughout Sarasota they were training 300 people. That is a lot of wasted taxpayer dollars. But remember, you are getting paid.