Sorry I've Been Absent

If anyone who has read my blog on a somewhat regular basis before I apologize for being absent for so long.



I started a new job about the time of my last blog after being out of work for almost six months. It has been hard over the last couple of years for me. The stress level has been high as are my bills. My current job and my last job are and was part-time so many things have been put on credit cards even though I did not want to use them. I got new glasses a few weeks ago that I had to put on a credit card, because I did not have the money to pay for them. It was a good deal though: two pairs (I have bi-focals) for $149.99 plus $50.00 for the eye exam. If I did not need bi-focals it would have been two pairs for $99.99. It would have cost more than that if I just wanted one pair. Crazy I say that it is a better deal to get two pair than it is to get one pair.

I went for an eye exam because I had not done so for 2 1/2 years and my mom was having trouble seeing out of one eye. It turns out that she has cataracts and needs surgery. I paid for her eye exam too. She will have to get another one by a specialist which is $141.00. We still have no idea how much the surgery will cost. She does have medicare, but it does not pay for all of it. Then she will have to go back for another eye exam after the surgery to get new glasses. We are hoping there will be another great sale then.

A couple of weeks ago I got a very bad tooth/mouth infection. I ended up going to an urgent care center for a prescription. It cost me $85.00 for the visit and that included a $10.00 coupon the girl gave me because I do not have insurance. I still need to have the tooth pulled (or should I say cut out). I do not have dental insurance either or a dentist and of course because it is a broken tooth that most of it will have to be cut out it will cost more.

My current job is technically part-time, but I do end up working full-time hours many weeks (without the benefits of insurance, vacations, et cetera). My boss is trying to get me full-time status; since, I am willing to work the hours and even extra sometimes. Hey, when you have bills you work when you can so you can pay them off.

I took the car in for an oil change and had to add an air filter that cost $16.00 more than I planned on spending, but it was in really bad shape. The place I go to actually found me to show me it to see if I wanted it replaced right away. My brother did check it last fall, but I park near bushes and trees at work and I swear some the stuff in the filter looked like seeds and feathers. Crazy birds!!!

I currently work in a gas station/convenience store that is open twenty four hours. We never close not even for holidays.



I have been working on craft items (mostly ornaments) for a rummage/craft show taking place at Festival Hall in Racine, Wisconsin sponsored by The Journal Times on 24 April 2010.

My brother will have original pastels at the fair, my mom has crocheted some lap afghans and towels (the kind with the crochet top). Some pretty colored yarn used on mostly white towels. We will also have board games (used and new) along with Ty (tm) Beanies, other stuffed animals, movie/television themed items (I used to work for Suncoast Motion Picture Company and collected a lot of stuff).

What craft items do not sell will go up on Etsy. My brother's artwork will most likely go on Etsy too, but I might try Artfire and Ebay also. I will be putting things up on my Ebay store too.