Unemployment Update

Marty and I have a rule in our marriage: only one of us is allowed a crisis at a time. It is definitely his turn. However, I loathe to call him "in crisis." I think Marty's more or less "in flux" and has no earthly idea of what to do.  

As of today, Marty has been out of work for one month. Now, to be fair--and I promise even if he recognized this in himself, he wouldn't admit it--the first three weeks of his unemployment he clung to me as if I were a cherished toy he'd discovered in the back of his closet. When I went anywhere, I'd get, "Where are you going? I'll come with you." "When will you be home?" When I was home I'd get, "What are you doing?" "Let me know when you want to go for a walk." "What are you working on?" "Do you want to watch a video with me?" 

I never thought I'd say this, but it was a relief for him to play a video game for an hour. When he wasn't in my business, he was "helping me." He rearranged my kitchen, my linen closet and my dresser drawers. Because I haven't been sleeping, in the middle of the night, I put everything back the way I want it. Only in the past week have I gotten out of the house without causing emotional upheaval--though I ended up having to go on a three mile walk at 1:30 in the afternoon through oppressive humidity when I returned from my errand. 

On the bright side, he's slowly returning back to the man I married. That job had been so toxic he hadn't noticed what the rest of us were screaming from the rooftops. But now he sees how he changed so much in less than four years. Marty smiles again! We laugh as a couple. As a family. Buck said we have "the return of Fun Dad." 

Yesterday, Marty had a second (facetime) interview. From the other room, I could tell it went meh. It wasn't that he did anything wrong, but more like someone on the company's end was trying to figure out how best to use Marty's skill set. When he got off the phone, he said as much. The company has a big customer itching to make changes. and it sounds like Marty might not be the person to scratch that customer's back. 

Also, based on Marty's answers, the hiring manager sounded like an autocratic control-freak. Marty just left a job where this was the case. So, I'm okay if this job opportunity goes nowhere. Or, if this opportunity swerves a different direction perhaps he'll be made an offer which doesn't include working for this autocratic control-freak. Either way, I'm at peace. For now at least. Ask me again if Marty is still in flux come next April. 

Today, he and Buckaroo left for Lafayette, LA (about 5-ish hours from here) to check out an oil worker job fair tomorrow morning. Mostly the job fair is for Buck, but they both brought resumes because one doesn't know what one doesn't know. 

I'm just happy Marty wanted to get out of the house. Polly just came in and said, "Do you hear that? The sound of quiet?" Squee! Yes. Yes I did. 

Little Rock

In honor of the 23rd National Buckaroo Day, yesterday the Sunshine family (and Polly's pal, Sherman) sojourned to Little Rock for the day for an afternoon of Topgolf and dinner at Cheeba Hut. Of all the restaurants the young adults miss in Mesa, Cheeba Hut is probably in the top three. There was a side trip to Bass Pro Shop, a board game shop and Trader Joe's as well--all sanctioned by Buck. I believe he had a good day. I know these moments are soon coming to a close. I'm not ready for it. 

November's Just Around the Corner

There's an election next month here in Bowie County. I've been dutifully doing my online training training so that I can perform my civic duty. While studying for my certification, I ran into this little bit of Texas voter law. 

"Presiding judges at polling places have the same power as district judges to maintain order and peace, including the authority to issue arrest warrants." 

Guess who volunteered to be a clerk at this upcoming election and was volun-told she was going to be a judge? The powers that be really should rethink giving me this much responsibility. 

Bags

The Coronas are celebrating four birthdays this month. This year, every Corona has gotten a custom zippered bag. Oh yes, my pal Valerie, who taught me to sew a few months after I moved here, is also getting a bag (but she's getting the same fabric as Tessa, but hers has a purple zipper). Her birthday is Sunday. Plus, she taught me how to make these. 

When Krissy texted me Sunday, I told her I was busy working on her "super-secret" birthday present. Her response was, "Yay!!!!!" She knew she was getting a bag, but doesn't know Snoopy is on the outside of it. By the way, Snoopy fabric is not easy to find. 

(Front: Krissy's, Tessa's, Cindy's Back: Valerie's, Joan's)

 

Booyah!

Leon Was Here

Got home from yoga to find the remnants of the tissue box on the floor. Only one Overlord attacks tissue boxes in our house. 

When I started cleaning it up, that beast started attacking me for disposing of his kill. 

All tuckered out from today's shenanigans. 

A Snippet Into the Sunshine Household

Note: I'm not whining, just being present to how life is here on Arizona Avenue. For the most part, we are all in good spirits. In a small-ish Southern town I'm not following the, "life crisis rules" and I think that confuses some people.  

I've been radio silent for the past two weeks. Other than slipping outside for an occasional walk, I've gotten out twice by myself. Once to meet Val for about 30 minutes and once for a dinner party. Edits for the latest book have taken a good portion of my life. Plus, Marty is home. This is a tough season for him and I'm keeping him company--which means watching all sorts of boring intellectually stimulating youtube videos. Our savings has enough to get us by for a few months. However, we aren't spending extraneous money because, well, there's little trickling in. 

As an introvert, staying home hasn't been an issue. As someone who has managed to build a social network, this is a new experience. I remind myself at some point our lives will change and I'll be more social. However, local folks have noticed the radio silence. Yesterday, I got three texts from friends, asking for a proof of life. 

Deb did her, "I missed you at church," which isn't judgy--but her, "are you okay?" 

I was at church. Marty came with me, so we weren't sitting in the middle where everyone might see a new person (Marty) and decide they needed to swarm. Instead, we sat in the back corner, next to this guy who warbled out the hymns, off key, two stanzas ahead of everyone else, like we were singing a campfire round to Blessed Assurance. Given how proud this dude was of his voice, he wanted to make sure everyone around him heard his praise. Honestly, I'm pretty sure Marty was traumatized enough, he'll never be back. (I offered to go to the Catholic church where he could hear his daughter sing, and he said no). 

Deb seems to understand my life is a bit--er, tenuous--and didn't even chastise me about not saying hello before or after service. 

I also heard from Corona Krissy. She said she wished I'd gone to the corn maze last week with the girls. I wished I could have gone too. But, unemployment kind of takes the driver's seat in our lives right now. The corn maze is $30. It's in Shreveport. The gang had dinner prior. I know if I'd gone and passed on food, everyone would have insisted on chipping in for my meal. Nobody would have expected me to pay my cut for gas. I feel like I'd just be a charity case if I went. And honestly, if Marty were working and one of them were in this situation, I wouldn't have thought twice about contributing for their fun. However, I'm not ready to be that girl. 

About 9 last night, I heard from Corona Joan. She just texted to say hi. She also told me that she's crossing her fingers and praying that Marty finds a local job. She wrote, "Though I know I'm supposed to pray for what's best for you, the heck with it. I'm praying for what I want." And that's the text that broke me. 

And So It Begins

 

Roosevelt decided I didn't need to edit.
I needed to hold him for hours on end. At least this way
he wasn't zooming out the door, which he now does regularly. 
 

We got a new roof today. For the record, doggie downers do NOTHING to calm Luna. 

NOTHING!!! 

Because the house was already crowded, Luna was barking every three milliseconds while trying to jump through the window at the roofing crew, and not all of us are tied to a computer optimistically working on edits, I suggested Marty and Buckaroo take a casual jaunt to Little Rock. You know, just to go do something. And what do you know! I managed to remove extra beings to give me a bit of space to work. (Polly is house sitting. Again.)

While Marty was gone, he got his first "Hello Mr. Sunshine, when are you available for a phone call to discuss your qualifications?" communication. Not bad after looking for two and a half weeks.

This particular position is not in Texarkana. I'm not doing a deep dive into the company or area at this time. There are lots of reasons for this. First, my head hurts from the hammering above my head for the past 11 hours, mingled with Luna barks. Second, I don't want to become invested until there's a reason. Third, I'm still hoping one of the two jobs in Texarkana comes calling.