Unemployment?? Boy that was a close one...

Today was a super scary day for about 30 minutes. Hubby called to tell me that "Two Speed" (a coworker) just found out that he was laid off and there is rumored to be 15 expected layoffs. Two Speed went into the office to turn in his paperwork and WHAM he was asked into the big office and handed his severance package and told to clean out his truck, with best wishes and a list of hiring companies. There was no warning that this was going to happen, just a simple hello, goodbye kinda day.

I told hubby to let me know how it went for him.

THE LONGEST 30 MINUTES.....EVER!!!

The fear crept in instantly and I was close to tears. If it hadn't been for checking the mail and finding my current package of yarn there, I'm sure I would have broke down in sheer panic. I was already trying to figure out what things will would have to cut and where I could find a job.

The phone rang...Hubby took in a deep breathe (my mind went numb in fear), finally he uttered the words...I still have a job!
OH, THANK GOODNESS!!!! That was all I could say.

Later when the hubs got home he told me who all he knows got cut and why he didn't.

First.. he lost a good portion of his buddies that he runs with and chats with all day. He is very sad over this loss.

Second...he stopped one of the main girls in the office and asked her what the criteria was for keeping his job. She said for him it was mostly because he is in the top 10 of drivers who make the most loads and don't have alot of expense coming out for repairs. Basically saying he does his job efficiently and doesn't tear up is truck doing it. Plus combine that with is safety record (nobody calling in on him for unsafe driving or accidents)and always passing a DOT (Department of Transportation) inspection. Also unknown to the drivers but they have been spying on them all just looking for anything to pin on them... Speeding in the pits, failure to wear safety equipment, taking extra long lunches...just anything really.

All the while he was talking, I was thinking of the story of the Rabbit and the Turtle. Steady and careful vs fast and damaging.

It's just good to know that my hubby is a great truck driver and they value him as an employee...for now.

My "little boy" is down to eight lives left!

One of my favorite of the kittens just gave me the scare of a lifetime! I was going to go back to sitting in my chair and pick up my crocheting again...I had to walk past the front door to do so and I heard momma kitty let out a strange meow. I opened the door t see what was going on.

To my horror the little outdoor end table was knocked over and one of the orange kittens was tangled up in the legs!


As you can see (from the pic I took 2 days ago), this little table has curly legs and the kittens head reaches one end and his hips reach the other end.

I rushed out the door and he was soo wrapped up in those curly legs I was frantic at trying to loosen him. I had to get his head out first and the try to free his hips, as I was trying to free his hips, I saw the look in his eyes. It was a look of "Your too late". I rushed him up to my chest, grabbed the table and threw it towards the garbage cans, ran into the house and proceeded to check him over.

I thought for sure he was dead, his eyes were glassed over and he was like a rag doll in my hands. After quickly rubbing my hands all over his body to see if there was damage, he lifted his head! I can't even relay to you the feeling that washed over me.. relief and joy, mingled with the still present fear and panic.

He was stuck in those legs in such an odd way...The upper leg had his head and his body was bent over the leg to where the metal was pressing on the back of his neck and hips stuck in the opposite direction.

Now that I knew he was alive, I wanted to check his mobility. I put him on the floor and waited to see if he could walk. He did walk but it was only two steps. I picked him up and plopped myself into my office chair. My heart was racing, I needed to sit! I sat here for a good while just stroking him and he finally started showing signs of being more alert.

I took him out to his mother (who had been meowing most frantically the whole time), who promptly proceed to lick him to death as she was leaning on my leg and purring. I stayed outside long enough to be sure he could walk good and to get some leg rubs and swishy tailing from my little boy.

If cats DO have 9 lives, then he's already down to eight! AND I gained at least a dozen new greys!

What a night! I'm worn out from all the excitement, nighty-nite.

Spin Cycle: First Time

The very first time I was allowed behind the wheel of a car (with the engine on), I was 16 and staying with my Aunt. Growing up and watching other kids learn to get their driver's license, drove me crazy. My father would try to throw his logic on the situation, by telling me there was no reason for me to have one till I was 18 and no longer living with them. At the time the issue just flared up the usual "I hate you" or "that is not fair" or even "you are just being mean to me" or old faithful "you're ruining my life". My dad waited till he was 40 to get his, sister still doesn't have hers and brother just got his. So I guess it could have been worse!

Soo where was I..
Aunty and I were going down a dirt road from Lancaster, Ca to the next town Rosamond, Ca where she lived. She suddenly stopped right in the middle of the road, she turned and looked at me and said "get over here". We switched places. My first time driving, just the thought of it was thrilling. I slide in under the wheel and I am all smiles. Little did my aunt know that I was smiling cause that is also something I do when I am nervous. I was excited, but scared crazy too!

She drilled me on the things to do, it was an automatic; so that made it a little (I guess) easier. I proceeded to take off and boy did we ever! I hit the gas with a gusto (how was I to know you were supposed to go gently), I slammed on the brakes (as soon as I found them). We were off again but this time I was crawling, scared to give too much gas. Now in all of this, I was trying extremely hard to keep it on the little dirt road. There was ditches on both sides that aunty was screaming about. To tell you the truth I can't remember all that aunty screamed about in that short ten minutes (that might be a stretch of the time).

Lets just say it was over almost as soon as it started. I do recall another car coming at us and aunty was yelling something and I panicked. We switched places super fast and we lived to see another day! I scared aunty and myself, so bad that we were shaking all the way home. Honestly I don't think aunty ever did stop shaking! I bet every time she recalls it, she was nightmares for a week (or more)!

I didn't get behind the wheel of a car for at least another year, I was traumatized!! I eventually did get my license nearly two years later. I bet aunty would have never imagined in that moment, that I was going to end up a truck driver!

Love you, Aunty!!


For more spins, go visit Sprite's Keeper

1998 Grass Fire

I knew it was a good idea to have some posts in draft. Since I am sick, I am going to share one from my reserves.



The year was 1998.

I was working at the local bar (right where it says 181), the day was like any other day. Same old faces and even the same old jokes, but we were all good friends. The customer average was probably twenty on a good day. This particular day we had maybe ten.

Sirens were heard. In our location that was a rarity. Folks were going outside to see what the commotion was about. The sirens were very very close.

My hubby was rounding the corner with our old 64' Chevy pick-up, he had our Rottweilers in the back. I knew instantly at the sight of the dogs, that something was wrong. He screeches up to the doors and hopes out in a panic. He starts unhooking the dogs, in a rush.

I'm yelling over the sirens and highway noise..What's wrong?
He yells back..Fire!!
I grab the dogs and he heads back before I can press for more info.
Just as soon as he is leaving, my bf and her hubby(M) and their dogs arrive.

It was a grass fire, it had started on the corner (Laguna and the yellow line) and it was all most all the way back to our houses (the green arrow).

M took me down the back way (top right of pic) to help hubby. There was still my car, clothes, cat, pics, ect.. to get and knew he couldn't do it all.

The smoke and heat were extreme. What did I find when I got there? My hubby standing there with a garden hose! There was no reasoning with the man, I grabbed all that was necessary and left as I was told.

Back up at the bar, I was in full panic mode. Worrying my fool head off, not just for hubby, but for our house (really it was a really old trailer, but we loved it). I was in tears, shaking and mindless with fear.

It's weird what kind of things get into your brain when faced with danger. Like..if we do lose the house where will we go? Where will the animals go? How will we start over? And so on, and so on..

Thankfully, hubby realized that the wind had shifted away from the house and left the fire fighting to the real fire fighters. He finally made his appearance at the bar a good 2 hours after I had left him with his garden hose. I was soo relieved to see him alive, but then I got mad. How could he leave me for hours (in a state of panic) not knowing if the fire had got him?



Fortunately, the Fire Fighters were able to get it under control and all houses were saved. Some barns didn't make it, but they were old and empty. We were allowed to go back home six hours later.

I tell you this story, cause from time to time hubby and I will recall it with some laughter.
Every time he does something along the lines of stupid, I will say..at least that wasn't as bad as the day you tried to fight a fire with a garden hose!


See yall Monday, Have a good weekend!