High Ho, High Ho… it’s off to work I go…
High Ho, High Ho, it’s off to work I go …
I’ve been missing in action from my blog. My YouTube channel has been keeping me busy. I also started a new book, and it, too, is wanting my attention. But first things first. I need to work off a fine for sneaking through a red light I thought I had stopped at. Shit, those damn cameras at every corner now don’t miss a thing, do they?
TWO HUNDRED and THIRTY DOLLARS. Well, the judge reduced it to 180.00, which mollified me somewhat. I HATE those stupid cameras, especially the speeding ones; those fines are outta sight! See… the thing is, the government doesn’t pay me enough to be old and get traffic tickets too. So, my advice is to obey the laws or put away extra money if you have questionable driving habits. Yikes…
So, working off my fine at Westside Community Centre is not the end of the world. It gets me out of the house AND, bonus, they have day-old bakery products from a well-known, excellent bakery here in the city. Lord knows how I love bread; insert happy face here. Another bonus is that they have a HUGE collection of gently used baby clothes. I have three new great-grandbabies this year.
This is a non-denominational thrift store/church. I’m still not sure what exactly it is, but it is open one day a week, Tuesday mornings. What an amazing place; the volunteers and workers are so friendly and such lovely people. They welcomed me in, helped me adjust, and made me feel like I belonged. Okay, so this is my second sojourn to this wonderful place.
Several years ago, I also had a speeding ticket I had to work off. I started at the Salvation Army store on Circle Drive, which was a disaster for me. The workers there were unionized and not very friendly. I had to ‘clock’ in and out for working, coffee breaks, arriving, and leaving. Everything is coded with coloured paper dots on them, and my job was to go around and collect clothing from the racks with the colour they wanted that day.
It then went into my cart and, when full, was deposited in the back. I was collecting jeans that day. Some were collecting dishes and ornaments, etc. They had bins to receive collected items. I heard someone transferring stuff into a bin, and I also heard dishes breaking! I was not cool with that and told them so. Well… are you ready for this? “It’s all just going to the dump anyway,” was the reply I got back.
I know, I was as surprised as you. All the clothing items went into bins as well and then into a big, enclosed trailer in the back parking lot. From there, stuff was shipped out overseas somewhere; I have no clue. I was more upset with the stuff going to the dump. There was no discrimination, only the colour of that adhesive dot on the item. I was not a happy camper; put the darn price down or give it away!!!!!
My sojourn there came to an abrupt end; I requested a different workplace to work off my fine. I never put my foot inside another Salvation Army thrift store. Yes, I used to frequent them; the government doesn’t pay me enough to be old. Fortunately, my son subsidizes my old age, so I don’t have to be in subsidized living. On the other hand, when it is time to go to a home, he’s already said that it won’t be his. (I think he was joking… right?)
Ah well, getting old sucks and it’s not for the faint of heart. The alternative equally sucks, so I just count my blessings. I finally went to have my hearing checked. I got tired of my kids nagging me, and to be truthful, the sound on my TV has to be turned up higher than usual. What the heck? Hearing aids are not in my price range, though. I’m looking at the cheap ones for under 300 bucks (better than 7000.00).
There is no end to expenses as we age. Even if we own our own vehicle and house/condo/whatever. The taxes and the condo fees and the upkeep and 500 BUCKS to get my headlights glass defogged!!! Are you kidding me? I guess not, and I’ve been trying to save enough money for that. At least my cataract surgery was free, thank God! Why do those stupid headlights fog up anyway? Well… why?
Maybe that’s why I haven’t been blogging; nobody likes a whiner. Well, okay, sorry/not sorry, whining over it. I’m happy with my life, and my podcast/vlog on YouTube is earning me some money. I’m trying to figure out how to make it earn more so I can quit whining… oops, sorry.
Seriously though, life is pretty good for me. I’ve started a second book, and I’m looking at a second podcast, actually, to encompass the blogging part of my life. It will be called my-thirdlife.com on YouTube. What do you think? I’ll screen the videos for whining, ya… right : )
copyright
September 12th 2026
footnote: everything at the Westside Community Centre is free, Tuesday mornings only. (If you need baby clothes, please check this place out).