Grandma and Elizabeth

Grandma had been looking forward to yesterday for a good while. My friend Cindy has her 7-year-old grandson Alex with her this week and we planned to take her grandson and my granddaughter to see Toy Story 3.

I had to go to the Unemployment Office yesterday for a review. They look at the list of places that you have applied to for work and update any other information. My appointment was for 1:30 PM, the time we needed to be at the theater. So I went on Wednesday morning, but I was told I had to come the DAY of my appointment; I couldn't reschedule.

So I met Dana at the Atlanta Bread Company at 7:30 AM and was hugged by an excited little girl. I had planned to fix Elizabeth grits, which she loves, but getting up at 6 AM to get a shower, feed the pets, and WAKE UP was a little tough. So I took her an individual bottle of Sunny D and two Land o' Lakes cheese square - her favorite. She is not a big breakfast eater, so she was thrilled. We arrived at the unemployment office about 7:50 AM.

When we parked, she asked me what doctor I was going to see. I told her that I wasn't going to see a doctor. This place helped people who didn't have a job to find a job and I was going to see someone for just a few minutes. She said that she would help me find a job, too. I gave her some paper and she proceeded to interview me.

Remember that she is only 5 1/2 years old, but she asked me some really good questions. She wanted to know what kind of job I wanted; what I liked to do; what I did at my last job; why I wasn't there anymore. When I told her that the company ran out of money to pay me, she asked, "You mean no one works there anymore?" I told her that I only worked part-time, about 24 hours a week, and that they had to let me go. She asked me if I liked my boss; if I got along with the other people; what I liked to do. I told her that I liked to be busy and she said that was a good thing and she was going to write that down. She really had some good questions, but Grandma tired of that game long before she did. Ha.

Thankfully, we were out of there by about 9:15 AM. I found out that I will receive my last check next week! On Tuesday of next week I have to apply for an extension of benefits. I had thought I was already approved for a year, and I have been looking for a job. In fact, it's depressing when you think a job is just right for you and you don't even get an acknowledgement that you applied. God will provide. I hang on to that promise.

Elizabeth and I went to Books-a-million to meet Cindy and Alex. We got there first. We walked around and looked at books, especially the tables and tables of marked down books. We were hoping the children could play with the train in the children's area but we discovered that it was no longer there. Bummer! They enjoyed looking at some of the books and getting to pick out one to buy. Elizabeth thought it was neat that they had benches you could sit on.

We left there and arrived at the Olive Garden right at 11:30 AM. I was starving; the yogurt I ate at 7 AM was long gone. The children both love salad and breadsticks so we ordered kid-size drinks for them and water for us. Cindy was planning on pasta for supper so she ordered grilled chicken with vegetables and I ordered spaghetti and meatballs - the lunch size. It was so good! Since Ken is gluten intolerant, sometimes I really crave pasta, which he cannot eat.

The children were good, even though Alex was a little testy with Mimi. I need to remind Cindy today that even though she would never have allowed Ashley to behave the way Alex did, that she is not the one from whom he learns all the attitudes he displayed yesterday. Even Elizabeth noted his behavior. We had about 30 minutes to play with before the movie, so we went by Gigi's. Elizabeth loves to go see my Mom.

Then we went to the movie. We all love the previews. Grandma was so tired by the time the movie actually started that she slept through half of it. Disgusting, isn't it? Ha. Too bad; I needed that catnap. The movie ended at 4 PM and we headed home. Elizabeth was excited to see Grandpa. She watched cartoons and I chilled on the sofa in the office; I think I also dozed a little. Dana picked up Elizabeth about 6:40 PM. I had already fixed her some mac and cheese and chocolate milk.

Yes, I was in bed by 9:30 PM. I slept like a rock!

Cassie