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 |
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| It was almost 80 degrees when I got there . I crawled under the desk and found the fan. |
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.
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| He build an Equinox out of this insanely large box. |
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.
So many people needing help. Not sure how you make the decisions of who to help...but those with children should be first I think. It must be difficult. Oh the squirrels and it is good you found your fan. Asparagus takes a couple of years to get going! My brother is getting a few small shoots this year from his planting a year ago. Skunks...yuk...they are such smelly creatures. One time I bought moth balls and put some in small net bags and hung them in the trees to deter skunks. Not sure if it worked or not.
ReplyDeleteWhat difficult decisions you have to make. Times are hard for so many people.
ReplyDeleteSo many people to help and not enough to help with.
ReplyDeleteThe housing costs have gone up so much that a $600 rent is not realistic anymore. A friend of mine complained that his rent was now $1000 per month. He thought rent would be better in our rural area. Rent is often advertised at $1000 /month or more with apartments and houses are often $1,700 and up.
At least our town is finishing up a 65 unit apartment building with income based renting. I don't know how that is done, but it could help some folks in our area. Too many people here live in cars and campers trying to save up enough to rent.
I did try to help my youngest son and his [then wife] on how to budget years ago, but they never figured it out. Two evictions and multiple utilities were turned off.
Sigh.
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ReplyDeleteThere's so much here it's overwhelming--I can't imagine dealing with so much in one week! The charity cases, my god just heartbreaking. I'm sure few of these people feel good about having to reach out like this. How does your church possibly decide who to help? I'm sorry about your twisted ankle and loss of a long-time friend Miss Merry. Again, I'm shocked how often people are dying from ovarian or colon cancer. Your diced ham casserole sounded delish, wish we could've seen it. I hope you have an easier week ahead but I doubt it!
ReplyDeleteSo many sad cases. It has to be so hard hearing all those stories.
ReplyDeleteYou had quite a week and were so busy. Made me tired to read it!
No wonder you didn't do much cooking -- how would you have the time?! That's one insanely crazy week. I admire your work at the charity center but I'm sure it s sometimes heartbreakng and difficult. I hate dealing with banking bureaucracy! I've switched to Coke Zero in the plastic bottles (In Michigan we have bottle deposit for returnables). Sometimes I want to stretch it out or not drink the whole thing, just a gulp or two and it's hard to do that with a can or it goes flat!
ReplyDeleteWow! Again... you amaze me. How you keep up with all that is beyond me. It's wonderful that you do, just not sure where you find the energy. And those needing help, I'm sure that it's impossible to help them all and that too is worrisome. But kudos to you for all of it. Your kindness and heart I'm sure are well appreciated.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a busy life. Rent is ridiculous now. When we were looking at 2 bedroom apartments here before we bought the condo they were around $2200.00 to $2500.00 a month. RENT!
ReplyDeleteAfter we sold our house in Spokane waiting because of Dennis's job and covid to move back here, we lived in our camper at an RV park. Nothing fancy. It was $950.00 a month plus electricity. Much more than it cost us to live in our NEW four bedroom house we just sold. 9The house was paid off.) You must have the patience of a saint and I know your kids must really appreciate you.
I hope this week is calmer for you and I'm really sorry for the loss of your friend.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
You do have a busy life! And as far as I can see, your memory serves you very well. When I began my blog at the end of March after having not blogged for more than 7 years, I did my posts once a week, on Mondays. A few people had suggested I do my posts a little more often, so for the last couple of weeks (I think...my memory sometimes fails me), I began posting not only on Mondays, but now Thursdays as well. Your posts are like a breath of fresh air, and I am very sorry for the loss of your friend. Thank you so much for sharing.
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