A lot more to report now.

 Me and my stupid menopause mouth.

So, being frustrated with the work situation for the past year, not dealing with people and their plants as much as handling warehouse type duties. Looking for product, trying to find pallets of product that were in the system but weren't there... not what I signed on for.

So a week ago I went into the break room to wash my hands and have some food and made the mistake of saying under my breath but loud enough for someone to hear, 'I'm gonna shoot someone'. 

Yeah, bad wording on my part I immediately apologized to the room and went to have food. Next day I get a call from HR that not to come in I'm on LOA due to someone reporting what I said.

They take 'violent acts/words' VERY seriously and given the current social situation and so many shootings I don't blame them. But everyone in that room should have known it was not serious, apparently someone I didn't know well didn't think so.

Corporate HR called and I gave them my end of the situation but apparently my assurances that it was meant in frustration and not serious wasn't enough. So I was terminated as of May 6 for voicing a violent intent. Which if it is made available to future employers, cuts me out of any chance of getting a job.

On the plus side, I got the time off I wanted and frankly I am looking at my temperament and the type of work I was doing and thinking I don't really want to work in that environment anymore. I love helping people and talking about plants and how to take care of them. I don't like having to spend two hours looking for product that we were told had to be on the shelf by the end of the day and not finding it. 

I am four years away from earliest retirement that would get me the best income. If I start that paperwork now, I'll be earning a third of what I was getting working. I have a little over $8k in my retirement fund through work and need a car right now. I could pay for a used car completely with that money (even after taxes) and have enough left over to still survive on for a while. Also if I pull my funds out now it gets taxed, if we lived in Washington state it wouldn't be taxed, neither would SS retirement. Another reason to move there.

I have to call EDD because my password got screwed up and we all know how that's been going for people. Has to be done no getting around it. Jon is getting unemployment still, thankfully and if I can get it as well, we are set for income for a bit. There is a chance that EDD will check with work and get the official reason why I was terminated and... they may not approve me based on 'probable cause' or something like that. Will have to see.

On the plus side, I got my second COVID shot yesterday, yay! Right now I feel a little lightheaded and my arm hurts but that's about it. Jon was knocked down for a day after his second shot (we both got Moderna) but much like when we both got sick end of last year my reaction  may be considerably milder than his.

I called my car insurance and told them I lost my job so that lowered my rate from $101 to $61 for a BIG savings. Now that gas prices are going up I don't have to worry about filling my tank every five days and if I manage a newer car, more mileage savings there.

Spent lunch and on a canyon hike with Amber for Mother's Day. All her family is innoculated and so are Jon and I, and most of my brothers so it's time to get together for a reunion again! Yippeee! Right.

We can't afford moving and a car. but need a new car to be able to move stuff. I've been looking at Honda SUVs, Element, Pilot, CRV like what I have up to a certain year (anything past 2008 is more passenger car),  Mine is a 2001 CRV and a former coworker had a 2006 that still looked very similar. What I like about my car is the short wheelbase which gives it a wonderful turning radius. It's compact, big enough for some cargo and yet can handle city driving and highway well. (Sound like a commercial right?) 

I really want/need a new car. Been looking into that even before I got fired so it's not a case of trying buy something to feel better about the situation. It's now necessary with the AC out and going into summer when it is an absolute necessity in our area. Besides trying to have a conversation on the freeway with the windows rolled down is not cutting it due Jon needing air moving on him in a small space like a car due to his claustrophobia. Which is the other reason for a boxy type SUV instead of a passenger car.

Anywho, I also got some of my beading and knitting things out of storage including all my stuff that was listed on Etsy. I restarted my shop there and let some friends from work know and put it out on Facebook as well. Can't create much though, but can sell what I have. I'm trying to nudge Jon into doing something artistic to give him something else to do other than watching tv and looking for Elvis stuff online. I know he can do something just have to find the right thing.  I'm also watching videos for Blender 3D graphics to try and create objects for Second Life, it's a useful skill no matter what. Still exploring all the options for income and retirement hobbies. Oh I also got another idea for a story to write and been poking at that too. 

I like having a lot of time to do things I always wanted. Just wish I still had the income.

'My shoes are too tight, but it doesn't matter because I have forgotten how to dance.' Which means: I had the money but not the time and now I have the time and not the money.

It will all work out in the end somehow, it usually does.