Fri. a.m., 02/27/09

Hello

Clear ice glazes the short sidewalk to my front door & the bottom of the driveway this morning. I want to go outdoors as soon as possible to spread salt. Winter '06-'07 I bought a bag of salt. It's stored on my front porch.

I don't use the front door because it opens with difficulty. I think it contracts & expands. Anyway it doesn't lock with a key. I'm unable to lock it behind me. There's no keyhole. Then there are two porch doors that lead to the kitchen. If I had a job I'd ask a locksmith if it's possible to create keyholes for all these doors.

Squirrels bring so much pleasure to me. At certain times of yr. I watch one chase another one up & down trees. One seems to play hard to get. They are probably flirting before mating.

Yesterday evening I watched "Rain Man" with Dustin Hoffman & Tom Cruise. I borrowed the movie on video from the public library. It deserves all the Academy Awards it received in 1988. Hoffman's portrayal of Raymond is awesome.

I'm going outdoors now. At Food City I'll buy milk, honey, peanut butter, bananas, & tomato sauce/paste.

Bye

Thurs., 02/26/09

Hello

What did I accomplish today? I spent quite a bit of time with my computer. Around noon I left the house on foot to visit two financial institutions, Vt. Labor Dept., the post office, & my public library.

Before watching the 6th & final "War & Peace" BBC video I might play the piano.

Snow fell this morning. Early in the afternoon bank thermometer blinked 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Sky is grey.

Still I'm living without employment & an income.

Bye

Wed. afternoon, 02/25/09

Hello

This is a photo of Castle Geyser in YNP where I hope to spend Summer 2009.

Today I signed YNP forms, walked to the post office, & snowshoed on my lawn. Before bkft. I played the piano. Early a.m. is still my favorite time of day. Early this afternoon vehicles roared by my house constantly. Many have 18 wheels. It's ridiculous. I can't think of any destination in St. Albans & north of the city worth the gasoline.

My justification for ending my job search now is it's the "green" thing to do. Looking for a job requires paper, paper, paper, gasoline, leather, paper, gasoline, & paper. I read a newspaper article about a local woman who hired an assasin to kill her husband or ex-husband. The article mentioned an employer. She has a job! Society accepts d-i-v-o-r-c-e, premarital sex, adultery, & alcoholism but looks down its nose at people who have quit jobs or been fired. If I was an employer I would respect/value an employee who quit because s/he didn't like the job. I wouldn't want to give money to an employee who hated the job but accepted my green with a smile. Most employers today are national & international cos. The dollars are distant. They originate from a source far away from the factory or hotel.

Now I'm going downstairs to watch "War & Peace" video #5 of six.

Bye

Mon., 02/23/09

Hello

Early this a.m. I used a shovel to remove snow in my driveway. This winter a snowplow driver toots his horn if I'm outdoors when he drives by. Municipal & state trucks with plows scrape my st. often during snowstorms & throw snow in my entrance/exit.

I don't know if I want to work at Yellowstone Natl. Park this summer. Seasonal employees are required to live in co. housing with a roommate & eat in employee dining rms. There are many unknowns. A fast food kitchen crew position has been offered to me. Should I accept it?

Unemployed I'm going crazy at home. With a pencil I've completed federal 2008 tax forms. Next I'll tackle Vt. forms. Early in the a.m. I have more energy & concentration to play the piano.

Thank you for dropping by to visit with me.

Bye

Fri., 02/20/09

Hello

A day or two ago I received an envelope in the mail from Yellowstone National Park Lodges/Xanterra offering me a fast food job this summer. The pay is $7.25/hr. Lodging for employees is dorm-style with roommate/s & dining is cafeteria-style. If I accept I'll sell my house, piano, & car.

I've been unemployed since Sun., 01/18/09. Today my spirits are low. Thank goodness for the existence of St. Albans Free Library. Today I borrowed a National Geographic Society video about Yellowstone as well as the first two of six "War & Peace" videos.

This weekend I'll redeem cans & bottles, buy milk & peanut butter at Food City, & play the piano. Next wk. I have a job fair to attend Tues. the 24th.

Now I'm tired.

Bye

Mon., 02/16/09

Hello

Early this a.m. I played Chopin's "Funeral March" on the piano, music written by Richard Rodgers, & "Mefistofele" by A. Boito.

This a.m. I bought some groceries at a So. Burlington supermarket before my appt. at Triad in Williston. I bought a gallon of bleach, 5# bags of w.w. & rye flours, & corn meal. These items are too heavy to carry home &/or not available at Food City.

Triad won't consider me for an assignment because I quit my job at Price Chopper #228 without notice. Triad should include the tag or subtitle "Employs Perfect People Only."

Sunshine was expected today but light snow falls from a gloomy sky.

This eve. I'll watch A&E's "Pride & Prejudice" video #5.

Today is Presidents Day.

Bye

Sun., 02/15/09

Hello

Early this a.m. I played classical music from a Harker's songbook as well as songs written by Richard Rodgers.

Today I washed my shower curtain & liner.

Walking in St. Albans Town Industrial Park & on Nason St. today I collected two bags of empty cans & bottles. When I take them to a redemption ctr. on Lake St. I'll ask about employment. I wouldn't mind handling empties if I'm allowed to wear protective gloves.

Early this afternoon I pruned some branches on an ornamental crabapple tree. By removing a lg. one near the sidewalk I hope I have removed the temptation of passersby to pick fruit & blooms.

After I publish this post I'll bring in the shower curtain & liner to hang. Then I'll heat some soup to eat while watching #4 of six A&E/BBC "Pride & Prejudice" videos. The acting is superb. Some of the fictional characters are Mr. & Mrs. Bennett, Jane B., Elizabeth B., Mary B., Mr. Darcy, Charlotte, & Mr. Collins.

Tomorrow I drive to Williston to register with Triad.

Bye

Sat., 02/14/09

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
..........................................................................................................

Hello

Again, I woke up early this a.m. & played on my Roland electronic piano music written by Richard Rodgers for theatre shows. The songs are exquisite. The melodies appeal to me. Now at 4:15 p.m. ET I'm tired. After I publish this post (1) I'll bring bedding on the clothesline indoors (2) make my bed with clean sheets (3) heat soup (4) watch "Pride & Prejudice" video #3 (5) read a few pgs. of "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury (6) sleep.

Today, Valentine's Day, I began to tackle my 2008 1040. I like the process of organizing documents & adding numbers. Last yr. I had three employers (3 W-2s) & received premature retirement distributions. State of Vt. tax forms are complicated. Of course, I can't complete them until the 2008 1040 is completed.

A USPS letter carrier just delivered two envelopes to my house. I didn't receive any valentine cards this yr.

I love Saturdays & Sundays. This Mon. the 16th I have an appt. with Triad Temporary Svcs. in Williston, Vt. Hopefully it will offer me an assignment.

The weather today is sunny & cold.

Bye

Fri. afternoon, 02/13/09

Hello

Overnight the temperature dropped. Today ice coats sidewalks and roads.

This morning I walked to Vt. Labor Dept. (VDOL) on Houghton St. in Saint Albans to compose & print a cover letter. (Chatter in the rm. distracted me.) The Old Mill-Troy, Inc. in the city mixes vitamins & nutrients which are added to animal feed. The plant is in a refitted Agway building. I'd like to be considered for a production job.

This morning I hung two loads of laundry on the clothesline and cooked lentils & barley, separately. After I publish this post I'll make a pot of soup. I'll watch "Pride & Prejudice" video #2 late this afternoon/early evening.

I continue to go to bed early & rise early. This a.m. I played songs from famous operas. They are fun to execute, & the melodies delight me.

Bye

Early Tues. afternoon, 02/10/09

Hello

Last summer I planted a white geranium & white trailing petunias in a tree stump. In the fall I dug up the geranium to grow indoors. Now it has two buds.

The sun is trying to shine. Morning was grey & dismal.

I'm praying for a miracle. I need income (a job) &/or money.

At Food City today I bought bananas, potatoes, & milk. I forgot to buy honey.

People who don't scoop their dog's poop & scratch & throw lottery tickets are on my black list.

Today I have Part B of "The Right Stuff" to look forward to watching. Part A is terrific. The movie won four Academy Awards.

I'd like to purchase a 13/16 spade bit in order to make a boot rack with 7/8 in. thick dowels & two pieces of 2x2 pine cut to 28" lengths. The drill bit size isn't common. The directions are available at www.marthastewart.com Every household in Vt. should want a boot rack. The Green Mtn. State has snow in winter.

I just thought of something to search for on Google.

Bye

Mon., 02/09/09

Hello

I didn't get a car until age 35. I leased four vehicles. I bought the fourth vehicle when the 3-yr. lease ended. Now I drive an '04 Chrysler Sebring convertible. It looks like the one in the photo. Mine is navy blue, too.

I bought it used on 12/26/05. A few days before Christmas 2005 I lost control of my green Ford Focus ZX3 on a mtn. road. The hatchback was totaled. It was raining 12/26/05 so I didn't attempt to put the Sebring top down. The salesman told me the mechanism worked & it was an easy operation. I trusted him.

The weather this morning reminds me of spring. The temperature is below freezing, but the quality of sunlight isn't like December & January.

I'm going to post this blog now so I can listen to a gardening report on North Country Public Radio.

Bye

Sun., 02/08/09

Hello

January 31, 2009 FairPoint Communications acquired Verizon accounts. I've spent several hrs. becoming familiar with FairPoint webmail & "easy mail" & updating my electronic accts.

Temperatures yesterday & today have melted snow in Vt. Today the sun is shining brightly. I took a 45-min. walk in the neighborhood.

Lunch was potato salad, popcorn with raisins, & milk. Potato salad included sweet potato for color & beta carotene.

Soon I'll watch a travel video about Prague before getting in bed. Where is the city located? Tomorrow I'll return three videos & "In a Sunburned Country" to St. Albans Free Library. I was sad to read the last pg. in Bill Bryson's book this afternoon.

I better publish this post now.

Bye