An Update; The Penguin's A Chicken, the Mouse and "Senior" Citizens

OK first a general update. I have had a few interviews and tested for some jobs but the results are the same - the job has gone to someone else. Monday of this week I tested for a job which has up to 8 openings which might help except that there were at least 80 people testing to get an interview. In my testing session of about 40 people only 1 looked to be older than me and that's because he was retirement age. Still no extension, no word on if there will be so without a job or extension I am officially S.O.L. as my dad would say. I am still applying and trying hard not to be discouraged but it's not easy.

And then there was yesterday...

I had security doors put on the front and back of the house. I've been keeping the one at the back (kitchen) open at night to let cooler air in. We got another hot spell so I was doing that again. Typically I close it in the morning but the past couple of days I have left it open a long time. Yesterday that was a mistake.

I was going into Chico to meet my friends from my old workplace for a late birthday lunch (yes, my birthday was Tuesday of this week). I had a meeting at 5:30pm so I thought inbetween I would get my mail and go to a movie. I had time. I was watching "CSI" which I had recorded on the DVR the night before. All of a sudden I see scurrying from the kitchen end of the house into the livingroom by the wall and the dvd rack there an extremely unwanted house guest - a mouse! I screamed. A lot. Many times. There are really only 2 things I can't tolerate - snakes and any kind of vermin. When my kids wanted a hamster or gerbil for a pet it was not allowed. Truly, those petrify me worse than snakes.

I had to go to lunch. I didn't know what to do. The darn thing was incredibly fast. It wasn't big at all but I saw it and hated it and was deathly afraid. So I grabbed my stuff and left the house. I went to WalMart before lunch (it was nearby) and bought glue traps. Basically hard plastic or cardboard with glue on it. As much as I hated to waste the gas going home between meetings I did so because I was hoping if I put them down the mouse would get caught on one while I was gone then I could dump it and sleep peacefully.

When I came home the glue traps were empty and I was still petrified. I kept the broom and a flashlight with me and slept on the futon in the Tile Room. I can admit I didn't sleep very well.

This morning I started the coffee in an effort to put it off as long as possible. Finally I turned on the diningroom light for courage as I went down the hall towards the livingroom. I stopped in the hallway by the light switch to the diningroom because I was too afraid to go further. I shone the flashlight down the hall into the livingroom. I had put one of the glue traps in the doorway to the hallway where the Yarn Room, my bedroom and bathroom are located because it had scurried that way before I left for lunch. I had 2 outside my bedroom and 1 outside the Yarn Room. The bathroom was clear as far as I could tell (I had actually been brave enough to go in there). I had put one by the dvd rack in the livingroom because that was where I had seen him scurry into the house. So the hair on my arms went straight up and my skin started to crawl when I saw the glue trap by the dvd rack moving with the mouse attached. Ugh!

I had originally planned that if I got the mouse on one of the glue traps I would use the broom to push it into a plastic bag. Well that sounded good to me. In actuality what happened is the darn thing got attached to the bag with some of the glue. OK. Fine. I decide I'll take it outside that way. I get to the kitchen and as I am unlocking the door the trap falls off the plastic bag, mouse side down. I finished unlocking the door, put my sandals on that I keep by the back door (I am still in my nightgown!) and using the dustpan I scoop the trap and mouse into the dustpan mouse side down.

I have a lock on the sliding gate of my carport. Here I am trying to undo the lock with one hand while the trap is moving around on the dustpan. Creepy, creepy, let's get this over with! The neighbors have a cat who either chased the mouse towards my house or just didn't do the job the cat is intended to do. They also leave their garbage cans in the alley. I opened their garbage can (already 3/4 full!) and dumped the trap and mouse in there. Sadly it came mouse side up and I slammed the lid and hurried back to my carport where I quickly shut and locked the gate.

Now the unwanted guest is gone and I don't have to worry about that one returning. But I truly, truly hate mice. There is a small gap between the bottom of the security door and the ground and I am positive that is how it got in. It was small enough to do that. So I am going to be more careful about leaving the door open for long periods of time.

And now for the bit about "senior" citizens.

I turned 55 this week. Oh gads. Most places have a "senior citizens" discount. Last night at the restaurant I ordered off the senior menu. My meal, including coffee, after adding in tax was still less than just the meal on the regular menu. Considering I am unemployed the discount was welcome, if not embarassing.

I am not a senior citizen. I am not retired. I will never be retired. And without a job or extension in January I will getting rid of what I can from my house, packing what I can in a UHaul and moving in with my mother to let her support me since at that point it will be obvious I am incapable of supporting myself. But if this is God's plan for me as much as I don't want it, I will have no choice.

But I am continuing to apply for anything that pays enough to cover my bills. And praying. And hoping congress remembers that their little deadlines to file for extensions work for everyone except those who are recently unemployed. That would be me.

Time to get back to the job search. Wish me luck. And say a prayer for me, too. Thanks.