Sunday, July 6, 2008

A Sunday News Miscellany

Sunday Funnies: Follow this link to a humorous column entitled "Three Reasons to Ban All Non-Amish Novels", written in the style of Andy Rooney (or, as the main header indicates, Randy Rooney).

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Monday, my mother lost her job due to downsizing at her bank. Two or three other employees were also let go at the same time; more had been fired previously, and more firings are scheduled. She did receive a severance package and some material that will assist her in training for and finding new work. She has a mortgage payment, a car payment, and the same household bills to pay as the rest of us, but she's at peace about it. We believe in prayer, in relying on God to meet our needs, and she says Tuesday, the day after the firing, was one of the most peaceful, stress-free days she's had in a long, long while.

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My brother is in officer training in Montgomery, Alabama. He's so exhausted that his voice fades away on the answering machine, and he's fighting off illness. Seems to me that more is being required of him now than when he was in basic training -- but he was younger then, and unmarried, and life was (perhaps) more of an adventure. This OTS business is only allowing him two to four hours of sleep each night, and his day is strictly regimented. My prayer is that even fragments of sleep will be refreshing and healing, and that he will have strength and mental alertness to do well in all that is demanded of him.

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My father called last night, a little after 9:30, and wanted to know if I wanted my birthday present early. I laughed and asked, "Is it a lawnmower?"

No, he wanted to buy me a stool to use when I'm on the computer (which is sitting on the top of a bookcase, so I can stand; sitting in a cushy chair too long makes me sleepy).

We didn't find a stool that worked, but we ended up getting groceries for his household. He didn't have a written list, and his wife wasn't there, so I hope he arrived home with everything required.

As a result of that late-night foray, I missed Bubba's call.

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I really, really want to turn in my resignation, but I still haven't found another job. Despite the rewards of working with kids, there are a lot of stresses incurred by working with this particular set of "grown-ups" who are anything but grown up in their attitudes and behavior.

Months ago, I posted something on this blog about the search for work. I need a certain amount of income, or I'd pitch everything overboard and work at a department store again, or a fast-food restaurant, something almost mindless in the requirements. If I had more skills, I'd go to work for my dad again, but he needs people who can do construction and remodel work without having to always ask what needs to be done next. I can paint, though, and hammer nails. Mindless work, again.

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Philippians 1:3-6 (New International Version)
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:19-21

20Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

6 comments:

Pappy said...

Dear Randy,
Glad to hear things are going so well for you there. No news is no news. Glad Bubba got that new camera. After reading your Rooney Tunes, I assume he was unable to stand upright and take the palm picture. You on the other hand cannot enjoy sitting. Sounds like another Jack Sprat remake in the offing. Nothing like loosing your job, or retirement to pinpoint the source of years of stress. Sounds like you need to submit those manuscripts. Perhaps a big advance check from a publishing house would help your financial situation. Keep us posted - in the meantime there is no charge for all this useless information. Pappy

Lavinia said...

Who is bubba?

Thanks for this informative post, and it seems that when it rains, it pours. I hope your mom finds something else real soon. Looking for work is not fun, so hopefully she won't be at that too long. As for your brother, I don't know how he keeps his engines running on so little sleep, but again, I hope that regimen doesn't last too much longer.

And your own job search....here's to success and soon!

Meantime, hang in there.....

Lavinia said...

Silly.....now I see, Bubba is your brother.

Keanan Brand said...

Tex - Uh, thanks. (laughing)

Dad called me last night to tell me he had just finished reading the first manuscript; where was the second?

"I'm still writing that one."

"Well, hurry up!"

Guess that's a pretty good recommendation, considering the fact that he doesn't read fantasy, or even much fiction.

Keanan Brand said...

Lavinia - "Bubba" has a couple of uses, first as a slang term for "brother", and second as a Southern colloquialism for just about anyone who lives down here (and it's not always a friendly term).

I'm not sure when the nickname started being used between my brother and me. He usually leaves messages that say, "Hey! This is Bubba," and I use it on the blog to provide him some anonymity. The same for my sister-in-law, who goes by "Bubba's wife", for lack of a better name at this point.

Anonymous said...

ok, here's my thought--sorry to hear about your mom and your brother's trials!
And I know all about the job thing--they're moving in a new manager, and I'm thinking, "wait, that's the job you promised me a year ago!" but they pay well--and it's so hard to find someone else who will pay that well! the eternal dollar! I sympathize with you!
If only we could have all the things we want in our jobs!