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Sir_Cat's Live Journal
Jul. 27th, 2015
04:00 pm - My Information Post
( EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About Me! )
accomplishedDec. 19th, 2010
04:10 pm - Hello all
Yes, I'm still alive. Barely...
Long story short, my employer has cut my hours from 40 a week to 25 a week. That isn't enough to pay my rent, utilities, food, etc. I just filled out paperwork for food stamps and cash assistance to pay my bills. I may also be filing for bankruptcy in the next month or so, as I had to buy a new HVAC system for my mobile home back in August which cost me about $7,600, which I put on my credit card. September is when work slashed my hours, and I've only been able to make one payment to my credit card bill since. (Anyone have $7,600 just laying around that they don't know what to do with? No? I didn't think so, but thought I'd ask anyway...)
Needless to say, Christmas will be pretty much just another day this year.
Anyway, if any of ya'll would like to offer up prayers/candles/good thoughts, etc. for me, they would be greatly appreciated.
In other news, my maternal Grandmother has been in and out of the hospital in PA the past couple of months. Stroke, heart problems, etc. I have no money to fly back for her funeral if it happens anytime soon. Prayers, etc for her as well would be greatly appreciated. And for the rest of the family to help them deal with it all. Thanks everyone.
I'm at my step-mom's at the moment. She helped me with the paperwork, I'll have dinner here later, and she's letting me borrow her computer. Mine is on the fritz, and I don't know if there's a mobile version of this that I can access via my cell phone. I do know there's mobile posting, but I'm not sure right now if it'd be worth it. So I may not be able to respond to any replies right away. My email address should be in my info, though, if anyone wants to contact me.
I think that's all for now. I hope everyone is doing better than I am. Happy holidays to all.
John
depressedApr. 28th, 2010
09:50 pm
I'm home from Philly. I had a good time. The drive there took 4 days, not 3, but no worries. Left Sunday the 18th, hoped to be there Tuesday the 20th but got there about 8:30pm Wednesday the 21st. Got to see a bunch of family before I left today.
Mom moved in with one of her sisters. My Aunt Donna. She's diabetic, and her blood sugar crashed several times while I was there, and that's why mom is now living there. It's a consistent problem. Mom can keep an eye on her now.
We went to see Grandmom and Grandpop K. on Thursday. He's doing much better since I posted last, back to his old self. They were kinda shocked and surprised to see me. I was last there 12 years ago. And we left PA 14 years before that. I look so much like my dad when he was younger :)
Dad, my Uncle Harry and Aunt Mary, and Lori, 1 of my 2 cousins from Montana were there for Grandmom G's memorial service and burial on the 23rd. Along with several long time family friends. My sister and brother-in-law also made it there. And mom of course.
That evening, Chris, one of my cousins from mom's side of the family, and I went down to South St. and got several cheesesteaks which we brought back to my aunt's (his mom's). He and I ate ours, and put the rest in the fridge as it was late and most everyone else had gone to bed. I also grabbed my stuff and moved over to his place as my sis and BIL were staying at my aunt's as well.
Saturday afternoon, I went to a birthday party for a distant cousins wife and 1 of his kids. They're in a branch of my dad's family that spells their name slightly different, and which hasn't been in contact with the other branches in probably 3-4 generations. I've made contact via Facebook with a lot of long lost distant cousins. 2nd cousins and further distant.
Saturday evening, we had a family dinner with several relatives from mom's side of the family. Mom, Aunt Donna and Aunt Leona, grandmom and grandpop, and 2 of my cousins, Chris and Kenny. My sis and BIL had gone down into Philly to sight-see but came later.
Basically relaxed Sunday. Didn't do much of anything I don't think.
Monday was pretty much the same. My sis and BIL flew back to AZ early that morning, and since Chris had to work late Monday and Tuesday, I went back to my mom and aunt's place.
Tuesday afternoon, we went and saw my grandparents again. My Aunt Leona, along with her daughter Shari (my cousin) and her 3 kids came over to see me as well. Later that evening, Chris and I went up to a bar where our cousin Brian participates in an open-mic night. Kenny showed up right after we did. Since Chris and Kenny both had to be at work early Wednesday, we didn't stay late. Kenny left first. Then Shari and her husband Jeremiah showed right before Chris and I left.
The only cousin I didn't get to see was Steve. (Brian, Shari and Kenny are siblings, Aunt Leona's kids. Steve and Chris are siblings, Aunt Donna's kids. There's also mom's sister-in-law Aunt Diane and her son Kevin, who haven't been in contact with the family in probably a couple of years. They live in upstate PA. Grandmom K is my mom's and both of aunt's mom, but Grandpop K is my mom's step-dad, and Leona and Donna's dad. Mom also has a half-sister from her dad's 2nd marriage, and she has 2 kids I think, but they haven't been in contact with the family in probably a couple of decades. Anyway...)
My flight home was delayed in it's departure by an hour, but arrived in Phoenix only 40 minutes or so late. A little choppy at times, but a decent flight. My legs are sore though from being cramped up the 5-6 hour flight. I only got up once to use the restroom. Airline seats aren't designed for people with 36" inseams...
Paid $26 for a shuttle bus home, plus $4 tip. Got into the airport about 4:45pm, and home at 6:30pm. Doing laundry, ate dinner, watching tv over my shoulder. Got another load of laundry to do, then bed. Gonna drive up to Vegas tomorrow to hang out with some friends. then come home Saturday. Back to work on Sunday.
I think that's all for now. Hope all of you are doing well. Good night.
tiredApr. 11th, 2010
03:26 pm
Hello all. I'm still alive. Although April is a miserable month for my allergies. Especially with the wet winter we had. Water in the desert is great. The pollen that shows up in April ain't.
First things first, I'd like some prayers, candles, etc. for my mom's step-dad. His health is going bad. Congestive heart failure according to an aunt. I'm hoping he'll hold on untill we get back there. Which brings me to #2...
Mom took early retirement a couple weeks ago and is going to move back to Philly to be close to her family. I'm driving her to Philly and flying back to Phoenix. We leave Sunday the 18th. It'll take us about 3 days to get there. So prayers, etc. for a safe trip are appreciated.
When my dad's mom passed away back in 2005, she donated her body to science. My dad and Uncle recently got her ashes returned to them, and they also plan on going back to Philly from Montana the same week to have a memorial service for her on the 23rd.
I'm gonna stay til the 28th to visit with family back there then fly home. (Still haven't got a plane ticket, not sure if I should get one now or wait til I get to Philly. Don't have a printer cable here anyway to print it out...)
So that's the big news. ( In other news... )
Jan. 1st, 2010
07:15 pm
Happy New Year's all. I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable celebration last night. And I hope everyone had a good Christmas and Thanksgiving as well.
goodNov. 13th, 2009
05:15 am
I have to be at work in ~12 hours. (5pm MST)
Within 13 hours (6pm MST) I'll know whether we go on strike or end up in a lockout or if something happens to avoid both.
I was told yesterday that I will have a job regardless of either. Salaried management and Greeters (I'm a Greeter) will not be locked out with everyone else if a lockout occurs. (Meaning everyone else, union members or non-union members, gets told to leave the building, and all the new hires get called in to try to keep the stores running.)
I have mixed feelings about that. I'm almost wishing I would be locked out with everyone else than to have to deal with all the minimally trained new hires, and the irritated-if-not-pissed-off-customers they're going to generate, in the event of a lockout. I've also heard that Greeters will be used as stockers in the event of a lockout. Been there, done that. Not fun.
Of course I'm really hoping that a strike and/or lockout will be avoided entirely by an 11th hour agreement between the Union and Fry's.
I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst.
Prayers, candles, good thoughts are of course welcomed.
worriedNov. 11th, 2009
04:55 pm
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was signed to end World War 1, the so-called "War To End All Wars".
Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day, is a day to remeber our veterans, and all the sacrifices they and their families have endured to help keep our country safe.
Let's take a moment to remember all our veterans. And if you know any, thank them.
gratefulNov. 9th, 2009
03:05 am
Yankees fans can bite me. Enough said.
~~~
So, that potential strike I mentioned in my last entry? Yeah...6pm Friday is the deadline to sign the new contract or there will be a strike/lockout.
We've been without a contract since Halloween. (It originally expired like a year ago, and has been extended up untill Oct. 31st.) From what I've seen from both the UFCW Local 99 and from Fry's, I don't think either side is telling the full truth about the matter. I think the full truth is a combination of what both sides are saying, plus what they're both leaving out. Both sides are trying to gain backing from employees and customers at this point.
As a Greeter, I am uneligible to join the Union even if I wanted to. So if a strike occurs against Fry's, I will be working.
Both Fry's food stores and Safeway food stores throughout Arizona are negotiating with the UFCW for a new contract. There's a couple of sticking points that the Union will not budge from. Mostly dealing with health benefits and who pays what, as well as raises. And they are pushing for a strike to force Fry's in particular to concede to their demands. (I've heard very little about Safeway so far. I only know they are under the same contract.)
If a new contract is not signed by 6pm Friday evening, the Union will strike against one company or the other. The one they strike against will continue to operate as best it can with non-Union employees, Union-employees who choose to cross the picket lines, and, at least in Fry's case, with temporary replacement workers they are hiring and training now. (Again, I don't know what Safeway's plans are. I've seen the ads in the paper for temporary replacement workers for Fry's but nothing for Safeway.)
The company that the Union does not strike against will be on lockout. Meaning the stores will be closed and locked, and the employees, union or not, will be out of a job, and without a paycheck, for the duration of the strike.
So, if the Union strikes against Fry's, we'll stay open and Safeway stores will be closed. If the Union strikes against Safeway, they will stay open and Fry's will be closed.
So I may be sitting on my ass with no income by this time next week.
I've heard mention of potential violence against Union members who cross the picket lines.
I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst at this point.
Any prayers, candles, good thoughts, etc. that you may be willing to offer up for a quick resolution to this would be greatly appreciated.
~~~
Oh, and we shut the bar down an hour early tonight 'cause there was no one but the bartender, the DJ, and myself (I barback) in the bar at 1am. :/
worriedSep. 25th, 2009
05:10 am
So, Thursday (yesterday) we come to find out that a group of Circle K robbers may very well be casing our store for a near-future robbery. Cops tracked them to our store through a debit card purchase. So now I've got the stress of a potential strike, and a potential (armed?) robbery to deal with, along with the approaching holiday season.
I love my job...NOT.
(How much does a low-profile bullet-proof vest cost these days?)
stressedSep. 23rd, 2009
07:45 pm
Hi all,
So, let's catch up. Thursday the 3rd, I had 0.05" of rain in my gauge, and Saturday the 5th, I had 0.10". It did kinda sorta rain another day, but nothing was in my gauge. It appears that the monsoon is over. Officially it ends at the end of the month, but there's no rain in the forecast.
The past couple of days, it's been very nice late at night and in the early morning hours. We're looking at lows in the 70's tomorrow morning. It's supposed to climb back above 100 from Friday and through the next week. On average we have 109 days of 100+ temperatures. We're at 110 days and will be adding to that through next week. I don't know how many 110+ days we had this summer.
~~~
Fry's may be dealing with a union strike in the very near future. As a Greeter, I'm not eligible to be in the union. I'll be working through any strike that may occur.
~~~
Last week I was on vacation. One I didn't request and didn't want. We're supposed to put our requests in by September 1st, and if we don't, our vacation will be assigned to us. I've never had to do it in years past, even though the same policy was in affect, and was never just assigned a vacation untill this year. I have 3 more weeks available to me, but I'm not sure now when I want them. I was thinking of taking Nov 29th-Dec 5th, Jan 31st-Feb 6th, and July 25th-Aug7th (2 weeks). Now of course one of those weeks is gone. Probably the week after Thanksgiving, which is traditionally a very quiet, slow week at work. So I'll probably have to put my requests in for the remaining 3 real soon. If I still can...
I think that's all for now. Take care all.
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