Update on Bro. Bill
September 26, 2009 | Uncategorized
I am just getting somewhat healthy again after a bout of – believe it or no – mononucleosis. Yeah, that’s supposed to be something you get in high school or college. Once you get it, you develop enough antibodies that you don’t typically come down with the symptoms of the disease again. At least, not “typically.”
For whatever reason, my body decided to go for it, right at age 52. Don’t ask me, I don’t know.
It started with a strep throat infection (something else I hadn’t had in a long time). That apparently provided the opportunity for the Epstein-Barr Virus (which causes “mono”) to do it’s thing, perhaps because the immune system was down from the strep.
I am fortunate in that I have a young woman doctor who is very sharp. She put two and two together, had me take a blood test and bingo, it came up positive for “mono.”
I spent about three weeks sleeping about 16 hours a day. Even still, four weeks after I came down with the symptoms, I get weary very easily. It hasn’t been fun.
I’ve been very much “out of it” as a result, not speaking to anyone or going anywhere. I feel like I’m in sort of limbo with my life. I’m getting better, but still, things are not right.
However, during that time I have managed somehow to keep a couple of potential employers on the line. I went yesterday to Baton Rouge, LA, to have an interview with one of the management team for one of the jobs (it’s here in Houston, though).
No one has been in a particular hurry to hire. It looks like it MIGHT be getting a little better, but it’s hard to tell. the government – esp. the Obama administration – has screwed up the economy so badly with their attempts to “manage” everything, that no one wants to make any rash moves, including hiring any fat salaries, for fear the government will throw them some kind of curve ball. They’ve sucked up so much of the private-sector capital, all in the name of their socialist schemes. It has never been this bad in the history of the U.S. – even during the “New Deal.”
I really hope something comes down the chute within the next week. Hoping and praying, actually.
7 Responses to “Update on Bro. Bill”
GOOD GRIEF, BILL!! We need to know these things, and we can keep names on the temple roles. Actually, I think we pretty much do keep all of our children, and some grandchildren on there most of the time. I’m glad you’re better, but no wonder we haven’t heard from you. Sleeping 16 hours a day doesn’t exactly equal much circulation in social circles. I’m glad you have some hope for some work.
We’ll put your name in the temple on Tuesday. I’m just so grateful that Nancy is employed, and that Buddy has something at least temporary. Lainie…I don’t know. She hasn’t answered my last two calls. She told me that she’s more frightened than she’s ever been.
Where are you, Lainie?
Well, it was strep throat that caused me to go into septic shock last January, and then, of course, I also had pneumonia. Toxic shock is food poisoning, and septic shock is blood poisoning. There’s a big difference. At least, I think that’s the way it is.
By mother on Sep 27, 2009
And yes, the Obama Administration hasn’t even begun to mess this country up. He’s determined to ram through the National Health Care Scheme, and when that happens, we can pretty well consider our Constitution a thing of the past.
It will happen. They have the votes, and the Democrats couldn’t care less about Republican votes. Obama and his cronies have this nation over the barrel. The people have been giving some lame tries at resisting, but I haven’t seen myself out marching anywhere lately. Anyway, it’s going to take a revolution in the strongest sense of the words.
By mother on Sep 27, 2009
good luck on all of it bill, I know its hard. I am just greatful I still have a job
By brenda on Sep 28, 2009
Bill, when will you hear about the job that you interviewed for in Baton Rouge? Your name is in the temple. We’re going to keep it there. You should call the Houston temple, and have your name put there, too. I have a strong testimony about the prayers in the temple. I have the wonderful privilege of being in the Endowment rooms lately, as a follower, or sometimes as a patron, if we’re low on patrons, and the workers have to do it. It’s a shame that more people are not in the temple. We have to cancel sessions sometimes. But I get to be in there and stand in the prayer circle, or be there to hear the prayers, and the spirit is always strong. The Lord listens to the petitions in His Holy House. He appreciates His sons and daughters who take the time out of their busy lives to go there and do that very important work.
The thing that really gets to me are those who go to the temple who have huge health problems. There was one sister in the room last Tuesday that had Parkinson’s so advanced that she could barely dress herself, and she was terribly overweight, but she didn’t let that stop her.
One sister has been coming for years, and she had to bring her oxygen tank with her, so that she could breathe.
Something miraculous must have happened, because when I saw her recently, she didn’t have that tank. I mean, she was WORKING in the temple, not just going there as a patron. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her.
By mother on Oct 1, 2009
Hi, Mom. The job-search continues. I still have two prospects on the string, but it’s just spinning out longer and longer into the indefinite future.
The folks I spoke to in Baton Rouge (as well as here, in the office where I would actually be working) are still interested, although they are not convinced I would be the ideal candidate for the job THEY originally had in mind (I disagree, but oh well…)
However, the guy here, who would be my boss (and seems to be a really nice guy) liked me so much that he’s attempting to change the job description to “fit” me better. I am of course flattered they would be that interested to do that.
The downside though, it that it will probably be THREE WEEKS before he gets the okay to do that. So, three more weeks of unemployment. That will actually extend it out to the FIVE MONTH mark. I never in my wildest imagination ever thought I’d be out of work for that long. It just seems like a bad dream.
I heard Rush Limbaugh on his show this afternoon, remarking as to how this really is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression in terms of the percentage of the workforce that’s out of work or “underemployed”; the estimates are as high as 17%! (I think at the height of the Depression it was something like one-third).
I just don’t know what to think. I can only imagine what a strain this is putting on the Church’s welfare resources. We’ve just begun drawing from the Bishop’s Storehouse – I think we did well going four months without it, and it would have been longer had Bank of America not stolen over a thousand dollars of our money. (Long story).
The second employer prospect – I had a “phone interview” with one of their senior (VERY senior, as in “semi-retired”) engineers in their Baltimore office. I guess it went O.K. I was hoping to hear more from them by today, but so far all’s quiet on that front.
So I just don’t know what to expect. This is uncharted territory for me, and the pessimistic jobless statistics don’t buoy my confidence any. Of course, the Obama-ites are chirping about being “in recovery,” but I seem to remember reading that the FDR administration chanted their slogan about “prosperity being just around the corner” for about eight years.
Sorry to sound pessimistic. I’m sure the Lord will provide. Since I’m more or less back to normal healthwise, I really don’t have a lot to complain about.
Love, Bill
By bill on Oct 2, 2009
Bill, I think you sound extremely optimistic, considering everything that has happened! Julie’s father, Tony Kriner, has been out of work for over a year, unless he’s finally found employment. He’s about your age. MY GOODNESS!! I hope something breaks for you. And I’m so concerned about Buddy, and most especially Lainie, who I keep forgetting to try to keep pushing to get in touch with. It’s always too late every night, before I remember it. I’m spending a lot of time in “my room” reading scriptures lately. I’m so uneducated about the gospel. “My room” is the room at the end of the other hallway. I sleep there some of the time, if I’m restless. And Luis fixed me a little desk, and slipcovered a little chair for me to study scriptures.
This Economy is not “in recovery”. Sorry.
By mother on Oct 5, 2009
I tried a call to Lainie again tonight, but she never answers her phone, and I don’t leave messages. I don’t know what’s happening with her and Casey.
Bill, do keep us posted. I don’t read any good news in our paper everyday…The Deytona Beach News…as far as encouragement about the economy. The dems don’t seem to be caring enough to hide the bad news in this paper.
By mother on Oct 8, 2009