Reflections @ 48

Yes, I know a proper lady wouldn't tell her age or her weight! Believe me you don't want to know my weight. Age really doesn't bother me except when I try to do something that used to come easy to me :o)! Of course ask me that again when my 50th birthday is approaching I may have a whole different view LOL. This year my birthday also marks that it has been a year since I lost my job. It was on Friday of this week. I really am concerned about whether or not I'll find a job again. This economy is so scary! Today's Blade (local newspaper) showed the unemployment rates for Lucas and surrounding counties. It showed 13.3% for Lucas county and 14.3% for Toledo, of course that does not even include those who are off the unemployment rolls. Many of the surrounding counties are similar or worse. Ohio and Michigan are very high due to the high concentration of auto worker and manufacturing type jobs for the auto industry. So many businesses are closing up and I don't mean just auto industry type places. I have applied for everything from my Administrative Assistant background to a clerk at the local meat market, veggie/deli market, kohl's, home depot and Hobby Lobby...however that might not be a good place for me to work **grins**. Thankfully unemployment has been extended for this area, but it still isn't a job. Being a mid-westerner I have a strong work ethic and like the fulfillment of having a job. I've also met most of my oldest and dearest friends through working. Not that I haven't met some wonderful friends through blogging, but they tend to be far-flung and it isn't easy to get together and comisserate, oh boy would I love to do that! I do consider my blogging friends, friends not just blogging friends. Hopefully some day we'll have the chance to meet.

Noah got information on getting a class ring. Boy the cost is way higher than when I got mine 30 yrs ago! OMG 30 yrs ago, I just realized that it's been that long since I graduated HS! Hopefully I've talked him into waiting a year. He is working a work study job and gets a small check once a month (of course to him and his bro it seems like a lot). He got his first check this past Sat. He says to me go start an acct so I can have $$. I told him that's not how it works. I said you have to have a state id and some other proof of who you are. Plus it was Sat, so the credit union isn't even open after noon. Yesterday we tried to go get both of the boys state id's, but it was so packed we didn't stay.

Mitch is working on his schooling daily and will be taking the OGT's in just under two weeks. In Ohio you need to pass graduation tests in order to graduate. Most people here are surprised that you do not need to pass a graduation test in Wisconsin to graduate. I hope it goes well for Mitch! There are pre-tests online, so I'll have to have him do them so he can see how it works.

Tim will be starting chemotherapy again tomorrow. He was on a two week break. He has vacation in about two weeks it actually coincides with Mitch's OGT's so at least that'll be nice not to have to get up @ 4:30 to take him to work so I can have the car to take Mitch to testing. He also applied for vacation for the end of July so we can go to my family reunion. I can't wait to see family and Wisconsin again. Of course it'll be difficult because I'll want to see friends in Milwaukee as well as family in NW Wisconsin. It's all be good :).

March is Colorectal Cancer month and if you're interested there is a Cover Your Butt campaign. You can click the link and see what you can do to help support the campaign. It's a worthwhile campaign, I just wish that it would include ages younger than 50. Tim was only 43 when he was diagnosed with rectal cancer. His son will have to start getting a colonoscopy at age 30, that is what the surgeon recommended. Thinking about getting a Cover Your Butt t-shirt, wouldn't that be a hoot? Breast cancer has Save the Tatas! which would be fun to get too, but I think breast cancer has so much more support than rectal cancer or lung cancer.

Today I'm making steak and shrimp with pasta for my birthday supper. I should get going and get that started. Tim wants to drive up to MI for some computer parts he found on craigslist. The great part about that is that there is a Culver's in that city so we can get some frozen custard for my birthday treat! Today's flavor is Just Drummy which means it is vanilla frozen custard with peanuts, waffle cone pieces and hard chocolate. Yum Yum! Not one of my faves, but it'll do because ummm it has chocolate and nuts. I love their chocolate covered strawberry, mint explosion, almond hooray (similar to a mounds bar in frozen custard). Okay enough I gotta get going and get supper started Tim will be home soon from his PA appt. Have a great Wednesday!