Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Grandma likes to make us worry

This has been a crappy week so far and it's only Tuesday. I got absolutely no sleep on Sunday night, first the bars (which I could hear over the sound of my window fan on high) and then I was so pissed off that my brain wouldn't shut off. Last time I looked at the clock it said 3:54 with the alarm scheduled to go off at 4:17.

Work was work, except that an engineer stopped by my desk to share what he heard from a manager who lives near him with whom he talked over the weekend. What he heard was supposedly the criteria to be used to figure out who is part of the 15% who are going to be laid off. Oy vey...I'm positive, that come August 1st, I shall be jobless and job hunting in southeastern Michigan (not a pleasant prospect considering our unofficial unemployment rate). I felt like throwing up.

I left on time to get to my usual Monday appointment and had a crappy time dealing with morons incapable of driving the bloody speed limit. I got boxed out of making my turn onto the second highway and ended up taking the slow boat to China which had me swearing. I finally get to my appointment (not late) and notice that Maureen's car is not in the parking lot, nor the people who have the appointment before me. I don't really think anything of it, because it's happened before and she had just run to the library. When my appointment time finally came around and it was obvious nothing was happening, I called her cell phone and got her message saying she was called out of town on a family medical emergency. *sigh*

I wasn't able to make my usual trip to Trader Joe's (there isn't one near me) because I had plans to pick the YS up at the car dealership and then go for sushi (which somehow became Red Robin) and it was too hot to leave groceries in the car for any number of hours. This means I'm now foodless, for the most part.

I get to the car dealership and there's no sign of the YS even though she was supposed to be there. I go in and find my friend Irean who I haven't seen in a while (she used to live in my building, but had to move out when her hours got cut at the dealership). She hadn't seen my sister, but I wasn't stressed because we had some catching up to do. When a customer stopped by I called the YS and she said, "How did you know to call me? I was just texting you." Turns out that she couldn't get her truck started (it hadn't moved since January, so not really a shock), and therefore was still at home.

For those playing at home, I've now driven a good 30-40 miles for no reason at all, and I was a good 12-18 miles from home. The YS was worried about Grandma because she had been having trouble breathing and the plan was to get her a dr.'s appointment or take her to the E.R. I was more than ready to just go home with a stop at the beer store. I wasn't needed, so that's what I did. Occasionally I regret living 20 miles from everybody else, but if I'm needed I'll be there. There were at least four people hovering over Grandma yesterday, she didn't need me there.

A few hours later I got a call telling me that Grandma has a blood clot in her lung (apparently came from her leg, made its way through her heart and into her lung - LUCKILY) and they were going to transfer her to the main hospital. I called the main hospital today and they couldn't find her. Turns out there were no beds at the hospital, so she was still in the E.R. They finally got her admitted to the hospital at some point this evening.

Once again, please keep my Grandma (cute and elegant) in your prayers, thoughts, etc. I'm really not ready for her to leave.

Thanks.

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19 Comments:

At Tuesday, 15 July, 2008, Blogger LL said...

Fun day...

Best of fortune on your future. I'm not sure anyone is what I'd call "safe"...

 
At Tuesday, 15 July, 2008, Blogger Fantasy Writer Guy said...

Yikes. Struggles galore. Your night sounds like all of my nights. Noise and thoughts that won't shut off and very little sleep. We must find ways to defeat this. Sleep is critical.

I urge you to focus on the things you can affect and put off your mind the things you can not control. There will be life after Grandma. There will be life after this job is gone. There will be new adventures and new growth. Please do not fear to let things go. That aside, I wish you good luck.

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Grandma, cute and elegant, is in my thoughts and prayers tonight...

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Blogger Jorge said...

It's not hard to figure out who yuo work for, and I know a lot of other folks over there.

I've heard stories of the layoff criteria and it seems like every group I hear about has something different, includeing a secret performance rating that no one knew was in effect blah blah blah...

Obviously I have no insight into your spot, but here's hoping you stay.

If you don't, I'll tell you what I told our friend Jeff when he lost his job last year. Summer is the best time to be out of work. You'll have some time to relax, catch up on your sleep, books, movies, hobbies etc. After a search for a few months you'll likely end up with a better job.

I know it looks bleak, but I promise it will work out.

My best to Grandma. The clot in the lung is something that can be dealt with. I'd expect her home shortly.

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Blogger Jorge said...

Please ignore the typos, I was in a hurry and didn't spell check. Thanks.

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Blogger Scott said...

I will certainly keep your grandma in my thoughts, Kat. It's really hard when things keep happening like that. My grandpa used to go through the most grizzly experiences, but always pulled through. My family used to say he was dying all the time, but he survived a great, great many years before finally giving in.

I saw that you asked a question about where I was working, and I still do work for the Southfield company I was visiting when we met. It's a great place to work.

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Blogger Kathleen said...

LL - Maybe I should become a cow farmer. I have the red hair. ;-P

FWG - I have huge problems turning my brain off at night. All my old tricks aren't working. Thanks...things will work out as they work out, but there is no life after Grandma, unless it's a good 15 years down the road. ;-)

Urs - Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Jorge - It's one of three, but I think you can figure it out since you know where I live. ;-) Yup, secret performance rating...isn't that special? The thought of job hunting makes me ill.

Scott - Thanks for the kind and helpful words. Grandma's a battler, so I have high hopes.

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Blogger LL said...

If you're going to use a phrase like cow farmer... you've got no hope in becoming one. :P

And I don't have red hair... seriously!

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Blogger Evil Twin's Wife said...

I'm sorry to hear about the job worries and your grandma. I'll keep you both in my good thoughts. Thanks for visiting my blog, too. Don't be a stranger. ;-)

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Blogger dr sardonicus said...

I'll keep Grandma in my thoughts and prayers. And you, too.

 
At Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, Blogger fermicat said...

Ugh. I hope you are wrong about your job, and you still have one after August 1. Keeping your grandma in my thoughts.

 
At Thursday, 17 July, 2008, Blogger Fantasy Writer Guy said...

Grandmas can be very very special sometimes. You've reminded me.

 
At Thursday, 17 July, 2008, Blogger Fantasy Writer Guy said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At Thursday, 17 July, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Got my fingers crossed for you and Grandma. Lots of internet love! xxx

 
At Thursday, 17 July, 2008, Blogger Kathleen said...

LL - Whatever. ;-) I looked at the pics again to verify and I'm afraid you have red hair. It might not be carrot top red, but it's definitely in the auburn family and hence, you are a redhead. ;-) I'm a vegetarian, there's very little chance of me being a cow farmer.

ETW - Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. I'm sporadic, but I'll be back.

Dr. - And you are still in mine.

Fermi - Thanks. Me, too.

FWG - I'm going to see mine today. She sounded well yesterday when I talked to her.

Yelayna - Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I hope you're well. I haven't been visiting blogs as much lately.

 
At Thursday, 17 July, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sweetie, you and your grandma are both in my thoughts. XO

 
At Thursday, 17 July, 2008, Blogger LL said...

Pfffft... you can't go by those pictures... :innocent:

 
At Sunday, 20 July, 2008, Blogger fermicat said...

Just wondering how your grandma is doing now. Hope no news is good news.

 
At Monday, 21 July, 2008, Blogger Beth said...

Jesus, that raining/pouring thing is so damned true. Isn't it? I'll keep your grandma and you job situation in my thoughts!

Am I the only gal on the planet who hates sushi?

 

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