Trees Planted, General Updates

I have my 5 trees planted, now. I got the first 4 in, but they were too deep, so I had to dig them up and raise them. They arrived bare-root, so had to go in the ground right away. I got the 5th tree in a pot, but it was basically bare-root as well. However, it took me a couple of days to get it into the ground.

So, the trees are in, and the asparagus crowns arrived yesterday. I have no place prepared for them. I need to build the beds for the vegetables. The beans I started are taking over the kitchen. The other starts are all showing distress and need to be re-potted into flats with better drainage. I'm not prepared. It may be that this year's garden is a bust. I would like to get the strawberries going this year, though. And I'm really looking forward to some home-grown tomatoes. They taste so good!

I'll do what I can, but I think I bit off more than I could handle for this year. Just getting the perennials and trees in the ground is a great start this year, I guess.

On a completely different subject, work is looking a little better. I don't have a steady job, but my efforts are paying off for internet marketing, cat whispering, and coding sites for better SEO and SEM. If you don't understand the terms, don't worry about it. Just know that my efforts are showing fruit.

I've had to crash-learn several things lately, too. Moodle, Word Press, HostGator, PHP, Javascript, and others. It's fine, really. I needed to learn but didn't have any way to apply it, so didn't push it. Now, I have places for all of that to be applied, so it's sinking in better. It can be overwhelming, and my brain feels like mush after 6 solid hours, but TV is a good diversion, and the biggest problem is that I forget to eat.

I finally passed the Census test with a 100%, so when they begin hiring, I may have a job. I've also applied several other places for full- or part-time employment. I just need something I can count on, so that the bills get paid. The extras can be cut, removed, or ignored.

Money is dwindling, and I have expenses coming up, as usual. I can't really go out and purchase lumber or blocks to build the beds - not even for the asparagus!

I've canceled cable TV. Not a bad thing in the long run. I generally don't have time for it during the warmer weather, anyway. Running around, yard work, and so on. I'm in a 3-year contract on the internet/phone, so the only way to reduce expenses with Comcast is to cancel the TV.

I need to put brakes on the car, and it needs a full tune-up, to keep it running right. I'll do that, if and when the government finally sends the money on the first-time homebuyer's credit rebate. That, and pay my taxes. If there's anything left, I'll schedule the surgery.

On the surgery, I've been having symptoms, yes. It's like having a period, but I'm too old for them. The pain in my lower back is increasing, too. I'm pretty sure there is a growth around my colon/large intestine. The tests show something in that area, but they aren't specific enough to know exactly what. When it all comes out, I bet I'll feel like a million bucks!

I'm grateful, though. I have a breather - time to shift focus. I have enough food, the lights are on, the bills are not late (some are ahead!) and my debt load is very small. The house is new, so anything that's wrong is still under the warrantee.

I'm thinking about renting out my sewing room, too. The rent I receive will help with the house payment and electricity. Since I have the contract on the internet, I can offer wi-fi as a regular benefit. I just need to set-up the room. I'm working on it. That's the room that is a total mess right now. I still haven't unpacked all the boxes, you know.

Well, that's quite an update from an unemployed, but positive person....

Frustration - and Success!

I'm frustrated. With the IRS, my accountant, the system. I was supposed to be getting that first-time homebuyers credit, and things have delayed the funds so far out, that I can't count on them at all. Not a good thing, since they are spent - over half of it on the taxes for 2009! So, what to do??? Nothing.

Can't change city hall after all. Not unless I run for office, anyway.

Success - I've been taking the Census tests to be an enumerator at $12.75/hr. I need a job, and this is a perfect time, since I have no job and no unemployment....

Well, I kept getting the same score. Figuring it was the same section, I have been messing with the answers in that section and not really getting a better score. I took another test yesterday, and finally got the insight I needed. I'm taking it again today, and I'm confident that the 5th time will be the charm. I'll post back later, when I have the results.

The panic in my heart is about my surgery. I know I need it, but now it has to be delayed until the funds come in. I can't pay the Dr. if I don't have money. I called the office, and they are very understanding. If things get unbearable, I'll find a way to pay for the surgery. Six to eight weeks should not kill me - even if it's ovarian cancer.

On another topic completely....

How do I get from where I am, to where I want to be?

I had an interview this week with one of the call-center type places. I knew I didn't want to be there, but also know that without interviewing, I won't get a job. Period.

It was so painfully obvious to both the lady (Brenda) and myself, that I didn't belong there. It was a waste of her time, but it wasn't for me. I needed to see how far I've changed.

So, how do I get from here to there? I'm supposed to be helping folks, consulting, making websites better, improving online commerce. My coding skills are nominal, but improving. It's just the Javascript that I'm on now. I already have the HTML and CSS down. I also looked into the database stuff, for SQL, so I can incorporate the data tables on the pages. I've about got forms and stuff down. While I don't code new flash stuff, I can incorporate it. But all this is self-taught.

Thank you w3schools.org....

I'm intimidated by the folks who have the degrees in computers. I know that my experience counts for a lot, and my self-learning has put me in a position to blow them all out of the water - but I'm still intimidated by college-earned degrees.

Maybe it's a hold-over from mom...

Well, called a fellow about an interview on Monday. Maybe something will come of that...

More Cold~

I'm tired of cold weather! We have 3 springs here - dogwood, blackberry and real spring.
We are heading to the real spring, but the dogwoods aren't blooming yet.

I'm just tired of being cold.

Sick Again - Planting and Landscape, Home Improvements

Yep, again! I'm so tired of this. At least the fever broke overnight.

And the pain on my ovary is really bad right now. I can't wait to have surgery to remove it....

I wonder if the issues I've had are all related to my girl-parts?? The skin issues, the sicknesses and lack of immunity, the fatigue...

I've stopped taking all vitamins and supplements - except the lo-dose aspirin and my prescription meds. I want to see if the fatigue gets worse, in case my Epstein-Barr is flaring up. That, so far, does not seem to be the case. I'm sleeping fine, and everything seems to be OK - except I'm sick again.

I have no appetite at all. I get hungry, but it's more like a habit than a feeling of needing food. This was true even before I got sick again. At least the pre-natal vitamins made me hungry, but that isn't a good reason to eat. I was pissing away all the B vitamins down the toilet.

I haven't napped like I used to - mostly no time, but I have the desire.

Am I depressed? I think probably so - and have been for a while - since I moved just about. I'm overwhelmed with the house. Too much space and responsibility. Too much to do to make it my own.

I got some knobs for the doors and drawers on the cabinets. That will help a lot. I've had a lot of trouble opening the doors. There's no handle or cut-out to make it easy to open them. The arthritis in my hands is getting worse, so this will make it easier as I age.

I need to pull the carpets, too. Clean and hone the concrete, maybe stain it a pretty color. I'll have to use rugs. I can't afford flooring right now. Can't afford the landscape plants I bought, or the planting beds I need, either.

I started a whole tray of plants! Tomatoes, beans, herbs, and such. Anything that took over 75 days to maturity. Anyway, those have to go into the ground pretty soon, too.

Four of my trees arrived Wednesday - bare root. I had to get them into the ground right away. I hired my neighbor's kid to dig the holes (I was sick, remember?) and we (together, yes) got them into the ground. Probably not well, probably too deep, and the soil is all clay chunks (tried to break them up). I watered them in so we'll see what happens. I hope they don't die. I had to prune a couple of them. The other 2 were fine.

My asparagus crowns are due pretty soon - either today or Monday. Those need to go in the ground right away, too. I have pots I can use for them, at least. And my lemon tree and grape vines will also be here Monday.

Well, that's my rambling for today. Happy Birthday to me! Yep, 55 tonight around midnight!

What about This???

I want to put folks to work. Now that I'm unemployed, it's a good time to really get into this.

I have a great GREEN idea!

Take the throw away clothes that they can't sell at thrift stores and make them into rugs, bags, and seat cushions.

I was reading and article in the back-section of Mother Earth News online about frugal living, making do and living on less. One of the ideas was to use everything more than once.

Living on Less

I volunteered at the local Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store while I was doing my "Sweat Equity" for my home. I worked a lot in the clothing department. There was a lot of stuff we couldn't use - clothes that just ended up in the trash. Torn, dirty, stained, and so on. Not that it could be used by someone else, but it truly ended up in the landfill.

Why not use that material and make something useful out of it??? It would keep it out of the landfill, and keep our floors warm and decorate our homes.

Rag rugs sell for a mint! Have you noticed? Even the ones in big-box stores. And that stuff is all new material. It needs to be made: loomed, spending petro-fuel to make it. Why not use something that's already been made?

This whole idea would put 10+ people to work, keep stuff out of the landfill and recycle, and create a usable, beautiful object.

I talked to the head of the thrift store, and he sees no problem. They have to pay to take it to the dump, and this way they actually get to sell it - (a 50-gallon trash bag) to me to make into something.

It supports them, it keeps stuff out of the landfill, makes a beautiful object, gets people working....

About the people - they don't have to be hi-brain folks, but a couple need to be a bit specialized. I'll start by washing all the stuff, to remove any dryer sheets, softeners, cigarette smoke, and pet dander.

I can hire moms at home for a lot of it - making the clothing into strips and braiding it up. That can all be done by moms with little kids at home. They can do it while watching TV.

Sewing the strands together will be a little more specialized. I'll need a couple of heavy-duty sewing machines. Then, I'll need somebody to ship the finished items out to the buyers.

Sales can be handled on the internet or by catalogs. Colors will vary, but fabric content will be matched as closely as possible. That will take a little bit of training. Nothing about this is hard. It gives people jobs. It makes something nice.

Do you think we stand a chance???

I'm accepting rag clothing now, and I'll post a prototype photo as soon as I have a sample made up.