It was Mom’s 90th birthday yesterday. I think she had a good one. I surprised her by asking a couple of aunties, uncles, and cousins if they could stop by to wish her a “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”. It worked out great because everyone showed up at different times and kept her busy all day. She also go calls from my sister, niece, nephew, uncle from the mainland, good family friend, and video from my cousin and girls in NYC.
I say her day was filled with happy birthday surprises. Here a few pictures from the day.
Birthday Gifts
You only turn 90 once so I decide to make her two birthday desserts–Mixed Berry pie and Chocolate cake. Share with all her visitors.
Mixed Berry pie recipe adapted from Midwest Made’s Big Bold Blueberry pie; Ina Garten’s Beatty’s Chocolate Cake Recipe
On top of being quarantine, I’m now furloughed till July. No work, stuck inside with my folks, I need to do something to keep me busy.
I’m a little sad but I think I’m okay. Be handling big changes in my life for the past 3 years and I think this one is small by comparison. But this has been my biggest worry as I get older to get laid off. Especially now that I moved my home base and my connection are all on the east cost.
Disqualified
04.29.20
It’s 3 weeks into my furlough and just receive a disqualified claim. I’m feeling sick to my stomach at the moment as I’m on hold with UI.
I’m trying to be positive but this feels so hard. I’m trying to be creative and productive but some days all I want to do is lie on my bed and watch bad Youtube about dumpster diving. I’m sure there are thousands of people out there in the same position as I am and are being productive. And I wish that it will come my way.
In the meantime, I decided to take Thursday off to go food/necessities shopping. When to Costco and used my new senior status to for kupuna (senior) hours
The sea of silver
Progress?
05.01.20
I’m on hold again. When I got through last time, they told me I had to file in NJ. Then I email my HR person and she said no, HI and gave me an insurance number. So I wait 226 calls to the same number. Then a friend reached out to with 2 new numbers and I go in on the second number. I wanted to cry.
Now I sit and wait and test my patience being on hold.
Got through and spoke to Craig, a volunteer who was calm and reassuring. He took my information that I got from HR and said he thought this would help. He took my number just in case they needed to call back for more information. He said to check my status on Monday if everything is good then it will show a change. If not, UI will be calling me back.
They didn’t call me back. I emailed them the same information I gave Craig and I guess I’m stuck on the phone with UI tomorrow.
Projects to keep me sane
Patchwork quilt
So with this good news, I thought I’d stop whine about unemployment and shows what on my plate for a new project. I’m putting out there that I’d like to finish it by the end of my furlough (2 months and 9 days).
I think these are local Hawaiian fishestesting half triangle pattern
Arne and Carlos Quarantine Knit-a-long
I started this at the beginning of this project at the beginning of the quarantine. It’s the Arne and Carlos Quarantine Knit-a-long. Arne and Carlos are Norwegian knitwear designers that have a podcast. It’s a project color work project of different square designs.
I’m not that great at color work. But these have gotten me to have better tension and my floats (on the back side of the work) are looking much better, not a jumble of string.
Totes, Project Bags, Box Pouches . . .
Since my machine has come out of hibernation, I start putting together totes with the scraps I have and fabric I’ve been thrifting. Most of it’s prototypes to find a tote shape that I like, has items that I think it needs–pockets, and made up mostly with up cycled material. Here’s a few that I’ve started with.
Princess Hot Flash 