2011 FEELING OFFICIALLY OLD!!

I qualified for Medicare, turned 65 in March and am feeling older than I have ever been before. Makes sense because that statement is true for every day I wake up.

We had a hard winter and I cannot remember a time when we reached low temperatures in the 30's and 40's during a winter and they stayed low all winter. We were glad we had installed a new system to give us air conditioning that also can supplement our oil heat. Worked fairly well, but

 with four units located in only 4 rooms of the 17 rooms plus large hallways in this place, it was a cold winter with use of lots of blankets and layers of clothing!  The guy who came to talk with us about the unit Bob wanted installed really tried to talk him into a more conventional heating system. One to be installed in the attic that would have provided air to just the upstairs and cost more than this one which has two units upstairs and two down. The one we purchased does an excellent job of removing the humidity in the hot humid summer months and that is what we wanted. They installed them and then we had problems and they finally came and discovered a wire was installed incorrectly. The units had ice caked on them and I believe some damage was done when they froze up. Still need to get them back over here once again to check them out. The one in our bedroom helped to keep it warm all winter. But the den, even with the new windows in that room, was pretty chilly. I bought a set of gas logs and we need to get them installd in the den. We also will need to keep on replacing windows to have less drafts in the winter.

I still have my job, but am working with an awful lot of new fresh out of college lawyers. We are merely relieving each other and do not ever work together in the office at the same hours. Things are calming down from all the turmoil, but I am learning that the newer youngsters, who make me feel like a dinosaur. Including my new Chief Magistrate who just started April 1st, they are all so young. I bet maybe 26-30! Younger than our kids are. Most of them complain about how things are and seem to think they need better hours, more pay and more time off than allowed. In my opinion they should find other jobs. Our offices require coverage twenty four hours a day seven days a week. They are thinking we should be allowed to choose which shifts we work. Got news for them I would rather stay on the shifts, as I am used to them. But if we choose, as our youngest member in the office wants to, my former Chief stepped down to a vacancy in our office and I have 25 years and he has at least 15 so we will say it has to be by seniority that we choose which shift we want and I have already told John he can take the day shift and I will take 4-12 and then the lawyer can take all the midnight shifts~!

I did take off from Feb 19th until March 21st this year. More time than I have ever taken off consecutively. I went to Indianapolis to be with Tonya, our daughter, while she underwent two surgeries to remove her thyroid. They found a small cancer in the left side and then went back to remove the right side and found a very tiny amount of cancer there also. She has seen a specialist in endocrinology and he says the cancers are so small that his feeling is she does not need to take the radioactive iodine treatments and will be fine. She will have to take medication the rest of her life. But she is doing well. I sure enjoyed my time with her though both of us were mostly resting. Had some nice mealst together and I got to know her three "kids" who she calls Moodles... Poodles she got while living in Mexico. First the Mommy.. Bonnie. Then Cocoa who became the Daddy. Tobby is their first baby. He ended up being much larger than either of them. Way taller than either of his parents. When I got home and saw Jacque he seemed very short and looked as if someone had pushed his legs into his body compared to them. While I was up there I helped Tonya take the dogs for their check up and vaccinations. They all got a flu shot. Not log after I got home apparently Toby got sick and he developed a disease that caused his body to not be able to produce red blood cells. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) Some of what I read indicates that maybe Toby had a weak immune system and the vaccination may have brought on this problem. Sadly they tried hard to get him better but Tonya had to make that very difficult decision to allow him to have some peace and he died. This is Tonya and her three kids on a swing they have out back. We had a few days nice enough to enjoy being outside. Toby is the larger one next to Tonya. She and Ismael are really grieving badly they miss him so much.

      

I had to be at the office Easter Sunday and missed Rob and his family came over for dinner. I had baked a ham and Bob fixed the sweet potatoes and green beans and put the rolls in the oven Kathy brought fresh corn on the cob and they hall had a nice meal. Then Aaron's friend Rebecca helped Kathy with an Easter Egg hunt for the girls and Bob said they had great fun running and finding the eggs.  We actually have wild bunnies living in the hedge and yard and the girls get excited when they see them.  Glad Rebecca took some photos of the girls for me.

I have really truly been looking forward to the warmer weather. Wishing for Spring to arrive during all our cold Winter days. But forgot all about the consequenses of Spring pollens on my allergies and have been coughing for four weeks since coming back from Indianapolis. Horribly stuffed up with coughing and congestion for several weeks. Have resorted to taking Allegra and using a nasal steroid spray they gave me and it is helping some...but I think I will turn into a cough drop any day now.

Enjoyed the beautiful Spring flowers. Wish they lasted longer!                                                  

I guess I have caught every one up for what is happening with us since Fall. Oh forgot to say Bob is no longer with Vector Industries. He is selling vans or vehicles to those who need spccial handicapped modes of transportation. His being back to straight commission only is a bit scary for me. One would think we could  retire now, but though we are old enough to we are not able to do that yet. Many recommend that we downsize but who the devil would want this huge elephant of a house? Not to mention the housing market makes it a very bad time to sell.

Maybe one of these days when all the unfinished projects are completed I can start a bed and breakfast and retire. I am seriously of the opinion that will not happen during my lifetime.

                

I Have So Much to Be Thankful for !

I've learned that I will be off on Thanksgiving Day! I spoke with our boss on Thursday morning when I was getting off at 8 AM. He was relieving me because someone had reported out. I mentioned while we were talking that it would be nice if there could be a rotation that meant each of us got at least one of the holidays off. He seemed to think it was a good idea. I received an email and he came up with a rotation that means each of us will not only have one holiday off, but two of them! Thanksgiving Day I will be off and Christmas I will work 4-12, I will also be off New Years!

I took a few days off again this week. Rob's visit with Tyler, for this month, was scheduled for this weekend. We were concerned that his mom might not allow him to visit. She had really been angry when the judge ordered a decrease in her child support, because Rob is unemployed. She made such a scene in the lobby of the Courthouse we wondered what she would do next. But Rob did pick him up from school on Friday.

Bob and I went over Friday evening for a birthday party for Tyler. I am having such a difficult time realizing that Tyler is now a teenager!! How can that be? Honestly, it does not seem that long ago I was turning thirteen!

Kathy invited her friend Jennifer who has three boys and she came over with two of the boys Abram and Issac. The kids all had great fun together and Tyler was pleased with his model car..( a BMW from Grandma) and a Lego set and a cute robot bug from Jennifer and two nice games from his dad and Kathy. One for his hand held device and one for the game system Rob has and they enjoy together.

Then on Saturday I attended a baby shower for a friend over in Roanoke. After the shower I went to meet Kathy and the girls at the Mall. Rob had taken Tyler out for some dad and son time. The girls mentioned they wanted to go to the pet store. Turned out they meant the build a pet store!! They had some coupons available that no one told us about when we were in there. So when the girls rode the Christmas train we got three coupons for $5 and then another one for $10 and  took them back for a credit! It was worth it. I watched a couple check out their one little girl.  She had her decked out reindeer, just like one Emily selected, and she was paying as much for that one as we paid for all three. Paid to go back with the coupons!

Was glad the girls each had the one they wanted and even had some accessories. The Build a Bear store was huge fun for the girls. Katelynn choose a black kitty that reminded her of their solid black cat that died this year. Kathy had Blackie ever since she was a little girl and all three of the granddaughters really loved that cat. She was about 18 years old! They all miss her and Katie-bug wanted the black cat to remind her of Blackie. So sweet and it reminded us that little minds remember and miss those who die too. Emily got a reindeer and Hailey got a dog. Both of those require two sets of shoes! Now they are waiting and hoping Santa will bring them roller skates that attach to the shoes. Just too cute.  

Kathy, Rob and family came to Bedford today and she helped me clean and rearranged the living room in order to put the tree in front of the window in the living room. I love the way she has it arranged. Now just a few more decorations put on the tree and I will be done and ready for Christmas!
I appreciated Kathy's help because I was having a hard time getting in the mood to do any decorating this year. Now it is done early and I get to relax and enjoy the Season.

We decided to get it all done early so that when Brent and Lori are here we will all have a combination Thanksgiving/Christmas celebration together because Kathy and Rob will be going to her Mom's in Georgia for Christmas. Will be a very quiet Christmas at our house with just Bob, Aaron and I home. Drop by if you are in our area!

Attempt to create a Blog

It is my belief that most of my family is already thinking I talk too much; share too much information with others, and likely are tired of viewing the tons of photos I am always posting. However, I am yet again attempting to communicate with friends and family.

Fall is a beautiful season. So colorful, especially here in Bedford. Living near the Blue Ridge Parkway sure gives us the opportunity to witness the beauty around us as the seasons change. 

This years my porch decor consisted of a few pumpkins and some fall flowers. Also wreaths on front and back doors and a nice Fall doormat at the back entrance.

I was scheduled to work 4-12 on Halloween night, so I missed seeing all our many trick or treaters. Over 700 folks parade up and down the street with kids as well as parents in costume. Sorry but no one took photos for me this year!

I did cook dinner in a pumpkin and left that at the house for Bob, Rob and family who were coming over to help hand out candy to the many who come by Halloween night trick or treating. I had heard, through my Face Book page, of an activity in a City Park near our home and told Kathy about that. She took the girls by there and they got to ride on some ponies, see many cute small animals that were there for a small petting zoo. They also got to make tiny sand art key chains. Emily was excited as the shapes were of various sea animals and her costume this year was Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Hailey was a princess and Katelynn a lady bug. When Kathy brought them by the office she was buzzing around the other two as she knows they are scared of bugs. Isn't Halloween supposed to be scary? But she was really just too cute to scare anyone.

I took a few days off this past week and just enjoyed being away from my office. I love that I now work eight hour days. Still on the rotating shifts, but we stay on the same shift for a month and that seemingly gives my system time to acclimate. I will admit that the on call 12 and 24 hour shifts were beginning to get to me. I have been very blessed that I have been able to maintain my sanity and health with so little sleep for so many years.

There are those who work in our district, over in the Lynchburg office, that want to stay on the 12 hour rotation, I suppose because of the three day breaks. I like the fact that after 8 hours my time for the rest of the day is my own. Unless one works an on call job it is unlikely one can understand how difficult it is. The fact that I no longer have to lay waiting for the phone to ring, calling me out at all hours, seems so much nicer. I do have to stay in the office the whole 8 hours. For me this means I can stay over there and not be running back and forth for 12 or 24 hours when on duty! I like this better.

With only three people to cover an office 24 hours a day 7 days a week we have to have weird schedules. One thing that has occurred in the past few years is technology! We now can do hearings by video. After enduring 2 years of not being able to take any leave... including sick leave! One day after working with the flu and so distraught about not being able to take any time off I spoke to people in Richmond who are the tech experts and recommended that they consider connecting the offices in the counties of our judicial district and then we could cover time for each other.

It was very apparent that they would never hire more people and they really wanted to get this video conference equipment into use. One idea was to have us all in Lynchburg and two or three of us on duty at the same time doing hearings. Hey folks, the sweat shop concept of telephone sales or tech help by phone is simply not a good idea for judicial hearings. Anyhow, they liked my idea. It took a while, and it is still extremely frustrating at times working with all the technical problems that can crop up with the equipment. Such as being in the middle of a hearing and the picture freezes up, or for some reason the lines are messed up and we cannot print remotely. So we have a defendant, under arrest, and an officer waiting (not so patiently) and you can't get the process printed!!  Then you try not to swear on camera or look stupid while you try to unravel how to do the impossible. Also, inevitably it will be very quiet for a period of time and then suddenly all four offices I am covering will want services at the same time! Many nights I cover Bedford, Amherst, Nelson, and Campbell County and the town of Altavista, all at the same time. Anyone arrested during my shift located in that area of the State, or any officer serving a paper on anyone, or any citizen who needed to file a criminal complaint would need to see me.

Then one night it came to attention that anyone in my region who has video equipment might be able to tune me in. That was a fun night.... I was in the middle of hearings and a State Trooper who was attempting to serve a paper on an inmate over in a Regional Jail in Salem, that I did not even know was there, suddenly dialed me up on the video interrupting my hearing! They could at least call first. This was very unusual and out of the norm. But realistically, I have learned that there are over 35 video systems in my region, and if they do eventually get them all connected and allow access to our number to connect with our equipment this could be really fun! Being two places at once is hard. More offices may be available for us to cover, but we can still only conduct one hearing at a time! So far, we only cover the five counties in our judicial district. There should be three of us on duty at the same time in the county offices. However, due to shortages, the promise that someone would always be on duty in each office to cover day shifts, and that always there would be two of us available to the five offices the video covers. has fallen by the way side. Many of my sifts I am covering all five offices at the same time for 8 hours.

They have now passed legislation giving us authority to act in the newly redistricted Regions. So that is coming, they claim only in an emergency, but I see the handwriting on the wall!! Our region 2 covers a huge part of the State of Virginia. All the area in orange.

It is just my humble opinion that a face to face interview is much more professional in our line of work; but hey! I now can ask for vacation and get it!! Here lately, I have endured more aggravation from the complaints I keep hearing from fellow employees, than from citizens who come before me with their complaints.

I took some days off this month and next month, so I would not once again loose my time off. I am fortunate that in 24 years I have only taken about 4 sick days. I may have been sick more than that, but with shortages of staff I went in anyhow. I must be from the old school in the way I view my leave. I don't take sick leave unless I am sick, and if my name is on the schedule I feel it is my duty to show up. One of the newer employees took more days off in the first two months of their working than I have asked for in my whole 25 year career! So I now will ask for my days off! Would you believe someone filed a complaint that I was scheduled to work less days than they were this month!! Well, guess what? It will happen again next month and I am going to keep taking my leave.... I am just as entitled as these kids they are hiring!!

I read more and now. Thankfully I have regained the ability to concentrate that I lost when Rob was in Iraq and was too stressed to be able to read!

I am no longer on call, working at home and feeling resentment when interrupted and called to the office. We cannot take off on Holidays. So unless the schedule rotation puts your day off on the date of the Holiday you have work it. I am scheduled day shift on Thanksgiving. 4-12 for Christmas Day. We are given a day per month off as our Holiday repay day. The boss tries to put that day next to the regular scheduled two days off so that can mean a three day break once a month.

The past two years have been even tougher than usual with my job. They came up with the idea that we would have to have law degrees within ten years or no job. Impossible! For one thing how would I have time to take any classes with the schedule I work? Not to mention the low pay and how could I afford to take any classes. I almost laughed myself to death when they offered us reimbursement for education... six hundred dollars a year!! That would not pay for books!!! Not to mention if I did have a law degree I sure would have better sense than work this job with  it's low pay and horrid schedules.

Well, they grandfathered those of us with experience and then decided last year we had to be re-certified. I took their test and passed it, without the four weeks of training the new hires get at the Supreme Court. When I was hired it was one week of classes there back in 1985. So, I still have my job. Another fellow in my office and one other person in our district were not able to pass and actually lost their jobs. Sadly, I do not think the test proved we know our jobs. Because they both knew their jobs and had done them for many years. Even more sad is the fact that due to all the stress they have put on us, many with experience who were good Magistrates have opted to retire. The State has lost lots of good experienced employees and in this transition period of hiring many young attorneys, some with no life experience, and other practicing attorneys, who seemingly are readily admitting that a Magistrate position is harder than being an attorney, it will take years to give them back good experienced employees like they got rid of or lost.

Not sure how often I will attempt to send a Blog. But I have been able to shed light on how my situation has changed in the past couple of years and I hope I can start feeling less stressed and fearful and will be able to get back to just working and enjoying my job and my life. Sure have had my fellow employees spoiling that for me for the past several years.  Oh, guess who the lawyers are calling to ask questions? The young man in my office that I helped train actually called me his savior. I told him I was not flattered at that statement. He has told others that he thinks I am a walking encyclopedia of information. That he cannot believe it seems I have almost every Statute number in the Code of Virginia memorized. Maybe if he remains in the job for 25 years he will see how that is possible. But my feeling is that most of them will not stay but will use the System as a resume builder. I will wait and see.