The problem with only blogging once a week is that my memory doesn't go back that far. The other problem is I can't stop talking. And I have a shocking lack of photos. Let's see how I do.
Monday is a long one. It was the day of my church charity board and let me give you a list of circumstances.
Case 1: Husband, wife, child - he is a construction worker with diabetes and a septic foot. They spend as fast as he makes it, she does not work. Sick pay hasn't started. Owes $900 rent for May
Case 2: Husband, wife, 5 kids, her adult brother - homeless, not working found a 2 bedroom trailer but need almost $3000 in security & rent to move in.
Case 3: Undocumented Mom with 3 kids who works in a motel, dad took off and disappeared, hours will pick up with nearby attractions opening, needs $546.42 to be current with rent and utilities.
Case 4: Man missing one leg needs $231 May rent due to buying gas to drive adult daughter to cancer treatment 5 days a week.
Case 5: Mom with 3 kids lives pay check to pay check, $2000 car repair
Case 6: Girl in 20's lost job when store closed. $75 electric bill
Case 7: Mom with 1 son needs $316 rent, I can't remember why
Case 8: Husband & wife in their 50's who can't manage money have $900 electric shutoff
Case 9: Girl with baby needs 784 for deposit to get Metro apartment
Case 10: Husband and wife need 155.45 to pay electric bill
Case 11: Disabled man, let adult son who did not pay expenses move in. Dad paid his court fines. He left but dad now owes $467.55 electric shut off. He was counseled on a budget going forward.
Case 12: Husband and wife short $500 rent
Case 13: Disabled man living with "friends" in a farmhouse. His sister got him qualified for metro apartment across from the city's lake with fishing and down the street from his medical appointments. He is in a motorized wheelchair and can drive himself both places. Needs deposit of $500. Near to sister so she can help him manage.
Case 14: Disabled man with issues, owes water $211, gas $187, electric $188. Has a social worker who is going to try to keep him on track with bills.
Came home and threw a quick supper together so I could make it to my Crime Podcast Club at the library. Another senseless case. We did spend a lot of time critiquing some podcasts who seem to giggle and get off topic.
Tuesday we took a trip to the bank. I handle all our finances and have been doing online banking since Covid and learned that any accounts or investments I have created since then are only in Mr Merry's name. I found this out when I tried to move some bathroom money and needed his signature. So we updated and added me to my own money.
My son and grandsons came to dinner and I used some diced ham from the freezer and made a delicious casserole also using the cream I bought for soup at Easter that I forgot to add.
Later I found out that my long time friend battling ovarian cancer had died the night before.
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Mr Merry with the gingham shirt and umbrella |
Wednesday was a day of rain and one of my grandsons who lives about 45 minutes east of us was playing soccer in our town. We grabbed umbrellas and went to the game. Here are some soaked cousins I rescued from the playground.Our Homeless Task Force met on Thursday morning. I feel like we are not even putting our finger in the dike anymore. The good news (?) is there is some grant money to move homeless families into apartments. The bad news is that the government requires they must meet "Fair Market Value" and determined that is $625 a month in my community. Two bedroom apartments in my community are going for $1000-$1800 a month. And the other bad news is the agencies that receive federal funds (like a homeless crisis worker who works one on one with the displaced) will be defunded if they pass the proposed budget.  |
It was almost 80 degrees when I got there . I crawled under the desk and found the fan. |
Then I went to office hours at the charity. We had 3 previous applications:Case 1: Girl with baby, was working 2 jobs, lost childcare for 2nd job so is doordashing with baby at night. Hours cut at first job now. On waiting lists for metro rent and county babysitter. Needs $775 June rent.
Case 2: 2 men, both on disability $560 behind on rent
Case 3: Mom with 5 kids, Has a good job, barely gets child support just makes it and has expensive car repair. Has eviction for $980
I only had one client, a family with mom, dad and 2 adult children with only a daughter currently working cleaning horse stalls for a neighbor. Another church, who was much more sympathetic than me is paying this months rent and water bills leaving us the electric shut off.
I then went home and made some delicious fried chicken for my son and grandsons for dinner.
This brings us to Field Trip Friday. Earlier in the week I twisted my ankle so a trip to the amusement park was out. We saw skunks on our front porch and back deck so went on a futile search for repellant and ended up ordering it on Amazon. We then searched for a reasonable price for Coke Zero for my husband at four stores. There is no reasonably priced beverages in aluminum cans. I tried to go out to lunch but our partner in crime demanded a lunchable.  |
He build an Equinox out of this insanely large box. |
Today we are behaving like children and went out for ice cream for dinner. On the way 3 deer crossed in front of our car. We did make it to the ice cream shop. Then, as soon as we arrived home, yet another squirrel climbed the guide wire to the transformer in our cul-de-sac and committed suicide plunging the houses after us on the line into darkness. It has taken over 3 hours for the repair crew. I can count at least four other times this has happened and I bet I can think of a lot more instances, too. Squirrels will never learn. We were thinking of driving an hour and a half to go to a dollhouse show, but my ankle still isn't great so that made my decision.
And that was our week. I did not do much more cooking since I can only cook too much and we have been eating leftovers. Tomorrow I plan to grill some steaks and enjoy the fresh asparagus that my ex-daughter inlaw dropped off when she brought her kids over to get breakfast and the school bus. We did plant asparagus for the first time this year in Mr Merry's Victory Garden. I am not sure how many years it will take. He has replanted cucumbers 3 times now.