Counting Down

The countdown has begun. I got into the office today and found an email asking me to open a job req to replace myself. At first this felt a little weird and out of place. But then, why should it. It means that in the least they value my job. There are plenty of others who have not been replaced after they left. I have opened many reqs over the last few months and most of them take a few weeks to get approval. I had the req open around 9:30 and it was approved by noon. They want me to train my replacement. I wonder how long it will take them to find someone. They use a temp company to hire, so really they just need to find someone there that they like. I think the next two months are going to be interesting.

Beginning Of Spring

It is actually spring. After the winter that I have had, I couldn't be happier. I don't think that things really change with the seasons. But I am beginning to feel a little hopeful.

I talked to my sister tonight. To be honest, I have some misgivings about moving in with her. She can be difficult. But she seems so excited, and we have some common goals. I want to get in better shape. She wants someone who will walk with her. I love to bake and she needs someone who can help with her catering service. The Cottage Industry laws are fairly lenient there and I'd like to bake cakes and breads to sell at Farmer's Markets as well as my knitted wares. My sister tells me that people really like corn bread there. Who doesn't like cornbread? And I do it well. I might try a YouTube channel, Fat GRITS Meets The Pacific North West. I will live fairly close to a Renaissance Faire. I might try to get into some historical re-enactment. Okay, I know that I'm an old hippie. I admit it. If things don't work out, I can always get a job as a greeter at Walmart. I think...anyway.

Speaking of being an old hippie...Did y'all see the Worm Moon tonight? I didn't take that picture. I don't have a camera good enough to get a good shot. It was just simply astounding. I wasn't able to see any of the other super moons due to clouds. I was so glad that I got to see this one. I told God that the heavens do declare His glory. And the Earth does amaze me with His handiwork. God speaks to me a lot through the world around me. Lately His messages have been loud and personal. I know that some of you don't believe. Just please respect my faith and reality about this. Several years ago I was on my friends porch having my quiet time. I was praying about how I envy birds being able to just get up and fly away when they need to. While I was praying a sparrow came and landed on my knee. It looked me in the eye and then just flew away. I knew it was a message. Well something similar happened again. I was having breakfast in Beverly's kitchen and again praying about how I envied the birds their freedom. This time to build homes in any tree that suits them. When a sparrow flew up and perched on the window sill with pine straw in it's beak. It waited there until we made eye contact and then flew off. It made me feel like everything is going to be okay.

That's all I have. I hope you are well.

Ending of Days

Yes, 64. That's how many days I have left at my current job. I have been here for 19 years and probably would have stayed until 20 years. But the work atmosphere here has gotten so toxic as to make working here an exercise in anxiety. I actually had a panic attack last week and had to leave early. So Friday I went to the retirement website and filled out the paperwork to retire on June 1. When I got in on Monday someone in HR had written me an e-mail explaining why If I retired on June 1 I'd have to wait an entire month to receive my benefits package. I called the only person I know from that department and worked it out with her. Instead of waiting until July as the email said, I will retire on May 15 and begin receiving my benefits on June 1. Then as the joke of the Universe, my supervisor sent a meeting request to go over my performance review. I declined stating specifically that I didn't care. She could bring the papers by and I would sign them. But I have no interest in the meeting. She didn't reply and she didn't bring the papers by either. So far, she is the only one I've told how very much I don't care. The founder of this company, Jim Casey had a reputation for being very fair and open with his employees. He even encouraged them to unionize to insure that they would have someone to negotiate on their behalf. I'm absolutely sure that if he could know the state of affairs now, he'd be turning over in his grave.