Say what?

This story is too stupid to make up. So I show up to work Monday morning to start another exciting week (yes, there's some sarcasm in that statement). One of the first things I do when I get to work every day is open up my e-mail. So I opened an e-mail from my company. Let me preface this with how my job works. I am employed by BCE, an engineering company that essentially rents me to the Army Corps of Engineers to do quality assurance on construction projects. So I am not actually employed by the Corps. Anyway, this letter informs me that Monday, that day, is my last day. I'm being laid off. Say what? I print this off and take it to my co-worker, to which he says "say what!?"

We knew this would potentially happen, the contract I am working under expires in May. But we all figured it would be renewed. Perhaps not. Turns out the company I work for is charging the Corps nearly 4 times what they are actually paying me. The Corps has wised up and realized this isn't the best use of tax payer dollars. So they are re-thinking this deal.

So apparently, in an effort to stem the gross expendtiure of money, the Corps told my company they needed to immediately get rid of three people. My name was among the three. So Monday I was told I was done. My company said they were scrambling to fix this and get me back to work, but it would take at least a few days to make it happen. I'd be back next Monday at the earliest. And they would most likely get the contract issue figured out.

So I had Tuesday off. I then decided to make use of an extra ticket on Southwest I had and got a ticket to fly to Dallas to visit Jeff and his family for a few days. I am due to leave Wednesday morning. Tuesday night at 5:30 I get a call from my company telling me they have good news, and bad news. The good news is they want me back tomorrow. The bad news is the contract isn't being renewed, so after May 12th, I don't have a job.

So, now I'm flying to Texas tomorrow. Then when I get back, I go to work for two and a half weeks. Then I hit the unemployment line. Anyone hear of someone getting a job in 3 three weeks these days? Anyone hear of anyone getting a job at all these days? Guess I'll have some free time soon.

To make it more fun, I called one of the guys I work with to tell him I won't be in the rest of the week. He tells me that I wasn't supposed to be one of the ones let go this week, there was a misunderstanding in the main office. So once he and another guy I work with talked to the main guy up there, they realized the mistake and told my company to bring me back. For three weeks.

Whatever.

Catharsis

Back when the family moved to California, I discovered something that helped me get away. Literally and figuratively. And my parents didn't much care for it. Surprise there, huh? We lived in San Ramon, in the east Bay Area. I was in my early 20's, still living at home and working. One day, I decided I wanted to go for a drive. I needed to get away, to clear my head. So I grabbed a few things, including my camera, and I took off. After 4 hours of driving, I pulled off into a parking lot, pulled out the newly purchased cell phone, and called home.

Me: "Hey Mom."
Mom: "Where are you, you've been gone a while?"
Me: "I'm standing on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. It's beautiful up here."
Mom: "Kelli, what are you doing?!!"

And thus began my adventurous ways of grabbing my camera and taking off. No maps, no schedule, no plans other than to purposely get lost and see what I can discover. I have found a lot doing this. I've discovered the coast line along Northern California is beautiful at sunset. I've found the Maine coast line isn't quite as pretty as the Cali coast, but it is beautiful in it's own right. I've found back roads that wind and go on forever. And I've parked and hiked up mountains that take me to the unknown. Most of all, I've discovered that a Honda Civic can drive thru flood waters that come up to the top of the car door, and the car only gets a little wet on the inside (another story for another day). :-)

But the main reason I do this is to let my brain go to neverland. It doesn't have to think about what's going on at that time, it doesn't have to worry about what's coming up. It's allowed a break. It's extremely cathartic to stand on a mountainside and look down over Lake Tahoe and see the beauty that lies in that lake and the mountains that surround it.

Yesterday, I was needing one of those trips. So I did what I haven't done in I don't know how long, and grabbed my camera and took off. I wanted to go to the mountains, but since winter decided to finally start here, I figured that wasn't the best idea. So I headed to the ocean, a tiny fishing town called Westport. It's not quite 2 hours from the house, and the drive goes by quickly. It's nice to have the option of mountains or ocean, either one grabs the mind and relaxes the soul.

As typical with the ocean here, had I not had a desire to stay upright and in one place, I would have been blown to the California coastline. It was beautiful though, sunny and somewhat warm. Here's a few of the photos I took. This one I took just as I got there. I think it's really pretty because the guy is looking off into the unknown. What lies ahead is there for the taking.
This is my favorite one, this just grabbed me when I saw it. I don't know why, it's merely four guys headed into the ocean. Perhaps the simple beauty of it.
This sight made me pause. The snow covered Olympic mountains in the background, it is amazing what God has given us.

The ocean was quite active today, the waves were pretty big. I managed to get the spray off the waves as they crashed. And the four guys heading in to enjoy it.

A few others to enjoy:

Seriously!?

I'm only 34 years old. It is rather depressing to regularly recieve mail from AARP. I have been for years. It was doubly depressing when, last week, I was informed I must now start taking this:




And my trip to the grocery store entailed getting all this:


As if my body doesn't have enough issues, I now have digestion problems. I swear this is someone's cruel way of punishing me for not managing to get through two attempts each on my physiology class and anatomy class at Utah State. I am now regularly looking up what parts deal with what problems, why pain in one location may mean a problem for another part, and how what you put into your mouth affects all those bits and pieces. Anyone need a lecturer on how much fun your body can have with you?

And because I am doing my best to avoid drugs, I'm also learning about all the natural ways you can fix these problems. When I was put on a drug for high cholesterol a few years ago, it about killed me. I had cramps and pain I wouldn't wish on anyone, and I couldn't stand up. All were side affects noted on the paperwork for the drug, but the doctor insisted it couldn't be that. So I quit doing the drug and just started eating better, and low and behold, my cholestrol numbers dropped. Funny thing is, I told the doctor this, and he swore it was because of the drug. Whatever. My body does not like all these fancy "I fix one problem but cause 5 others" drugs, so I'm going the au naturale route. It takes a little effort with reading labels, and doing some research, but I'm learning. Like for instance, licorice tea helps cure ulcers. Peppermint tea helps with digestion pain. Garlic cures many things. Eating plain yogurt with blackberries and nuts provides a good portion of protein and fiber four your day. And so forth.

Now, don't take this to mean I've gone cold turkey off the good stuff. I get tempted every now and then. Like when these ended up in the same shopping cart as the above items:

I'm human, what can I say. :-)