I Won! - July 29, 2024 @goldenoakfarm

New Herb garden in the rain

On Monday morning I was up at 4:30AM after not much sleep. I got the post up and the laundry started. My #2 intern was coming for 8AM and I wasn’t moving very fast.

So I got the 2 dozen empty pint canning jars out of the pantry and set up for her to put them away while I finished getting ready.

We left the house at 8:40AM and headed over to the agency. We got there a couple minutes before 9AM. I asked for the QC lady, out on vacation for the week. I asked for the next in line, not in yet, maybe not coming. I asked for my worker, not in, not coming in. I asked for her supervisor, he was in.

North side of house, trying to catch the pretty raindrops on clothesline under little catalpa

After a bit of a wait, he finally appeared and we went into a room. I told him I wanted the authorization sent to the home help company and I wanted a copy of the e-mail doing so.

He told me the authorization had been put up on July 16 so she should have it. That they don’t e-mail individual vendors, and once she found the listing, she was to contact I & R about the worker’s hours/availability and everything would be fine.

So I left, without a copy of the e-mail, and went to the company. She did NOT have the listing, had no access to the listing and proceeded to make 5 phone calls to different people at the agency netting her 4 voice mails and 1 transfer from I & R to a voice mail.

She tried everything she could think of and was stymied at every turn. So I went back to the agency, determined to have an e-mail sent and a copy in hand when I left.

I asked if anyone had come in, and no one had, so I asked for I & R. A guy came down and I told him I wanted an e-mail sent and a copy of it. He said he couldn’t send the e-mail. So I told him I wanted a copy of the authorization and I would hand carry it to the company. He said okay and disappeared, for a good long while.

A woman came down and asked what was going on, so I yet again explained, adding that I was NOT leaving with a copy and an e-mail sent. That this had gone on since December 7th and it WAS ending today.

She said she couldn’t give me a print out, but would send the e-mail and I could watch her send it. She could also send a copy to my e-mail. So we did that and I headed back to the home help company.

She had the e-mail complete with attachment and proceeded to enter it into her system and call my worker to set up hours. He was with a client and would get back to her. She said she’d call me as soon as he called her. So it was finally done! I had won! It had taken 2½ hours and 2 trips to each place but it was done.

We came back home after a quick stop to get my mom a birthday card and my #2 intern left. I ate lunch and got ready to go to the Senior Center for an event.

source

“Jim Armenti (poet) and Dave Madeloni (photographer), in support of Sun On The Muddy a book of poetry and fantastic photos published by Levellers Press of Amherst, perform a short presentation, poetry reading, a few songs and conversation. Books will be available for purchase.

Jim Armenti is a poet, musician, and composer. In Sun on the Muddy he gives us fifty irresistible reflections on the people and objects that make a life. He was born in Ann Arbor, MI, the third-generation product of Italian immigrants. Jim grew up in a household of musicians, his father a classical mandolin player, one sister (of three) a guitar player, another a flute player and everyone a singer. In high school Jim started a band called H&WA, named after the school counselor’s report that Jim is “happy and well-adjusted.” Jim performs with the legendary band, The Lonesome Brothers. He tours internationally with The Young at Heart Chorus, and he constantly writes poetry.

Dave Madeloni is a photographer, educator, and journalist. Early on, his parents strongly encouraged his curiosity and creativity. He immersed himself in the lyrics of great songwriters while capturing images of performers, protesters, and most recently, puddles. For the last forty years, he has also taught and supported young people with social/emotional disabilities, inspiring their curiosity and creativity. In Sun on the Muddy, Dave explores in photos the beauty and meaning found all around us, but not where we ordinarily look.”

source

source

The event was in support of a library for the town the musician lived in. The project had grown from activities started during the pandemic lockdown and grown to become a fund raiser for the library.

The photographer spoke first about how they got started on the project and then showed a short video of his photos set to the musician’s music. Then the musician read from the book of poetry.

The poems in the book had been selected to a theme, that of family events or happenings. It was more like prose than what is thought of as traditional poetry. I enjoyed listening to the stories it told.

Then they showed another video with photos and music and finally the musician sang some of his songs he had written in support of the library.

It was a very enjoyable event. But I was exhausted from the stress of the morning. I came home and was in bed at 2:30PM and slept til 4PM.

On Tuesday my brother and I plan to leave before 9AM to go to my mom’s to celebrate her birthday, the 91st. It will be a long day and I am sure to be exhausted by the time we get home.