I'm trying really, really hard to have a good attitude. I've got a healthy family, a job that I love, a home on 5 acres, air conditioning that works and a well. But it's getting harder and harder to stay positive.
Work has been really stressful recently. We've been incredibly short staffed- it looks like tomorrow there may be only 2 of us to cover 7 units in the hospital... far, far from ideal. Even though I love my job, it isn't easy, especially when we're super busy.
The weather has been another stressor- as I know it has been for many, many, many people. I added it up. Since May 7th we have had 2.95 inches of rain- and almost half of that in May. Since the beginning of June we've had just 1.3 inches- most coming in tiny dribs and drabs- not enough to really soak into the ground. And the heat has been miserable. I'm not sure what the official high was today but it was into the upper 90s here again and humid with a dangerous heat index. Driving home this afternoon we were appalled by how bad the neighbors' corn looks- curled up and beginning to turn that sick gray-green color. We've got burn bans in effect and one town nearby has begun asking for voluntary water restrictions. I hear stories of people selling off their herds because they don't have anything to graze and not enough hay to feed them. All of this just makes me a bit sick to my stomach. We eat quite a bit out of the garden but we aren't dependent on it for our livelihood- for which I'm grateful- we would never survive if that was the case. (but then, I try to tell myself that if we were dependent on the garden I probably wouldn't be working outside the home so would have more time to give it the attention it needs) So far our well is holding out- but I can tell you, this was a bad year for us to decide to do landscaping and plant lots of new shrubs that now need watered regularly. Of course, hindsight is 20/20. And I really couldn't resist the $10 plum tree, even if it lists a bit to the West.
But, we've got our health, our land and our dreams. We will survive. We will be able to afford food when the inevitable price increase because of the drought hits.
Add into the mix getting ready for the beginning of school in a few short weeks, never ending housework, Justine getting ready to head off to college, bills, depending on others to finalize vacation plans, dealing with inconsiderate people, not enough time to myself, family members and/or coworkers in crisis and a jerk of a rooster and you've got a recipe for a funk which I'm fighting.
I'll be fine- just needed to vent a bit- thanks for listening.
I hear you about the lack of moisture and excess of heat; it's just doing a number on our fruit trees, bushes and garden as well as stressing the animals.
ReplyDeleteYou could always make rooster soup! Like in a solar oven.
I have a feeling that someday Magnus will meet with an unfortunate 'accident'. Maybe the jerk rooster will become jerk chicken- I've heard it's quite tasty.
DeleteI hope rain comes for many people soon.
I posted about this very thing last night. I thought for sure we were going to get rain. We didn't. Better stock up on food. It's going to get pricey. But you are right. You have your health. Nothing more important than that.
ReplyDeleteCindy Bee
It's been rough all around. I know I'm not alone in this boat but there is little comfort in that. We too had an evening where it clouded up but then it didn't rain... sigh.
DeleteIt's hard to stay positive with so much stress surrounding you. Plus you have a very stressful job. The heat and the drought are enough to drive any sane person over the edge. I keep going back to Mama Pea's post to put things in perspective. Luckily, I can come home after a stressful commute in the heat and humidity and whine to my dogs. Unluckily for them, they have to listen. Hang on - it's got to break eventually. The weather, that is.
ReplyDeleteI hope it will break soon. But we've got three days in the low 100's forecast for the next few days. blah.
DeleteI had to vent yesterday too, it makes you realized all the things you are dealing with at once. And it sounds like you have a lot--hang in there!
ReplyDeleteWe got a wee bit of rain this morning! Not enough to do much, but I am trying just to enjoy the smell and that it's only going to be 90 today, instead of 100. :)
Sad when we think of 90 as cool. We only hit 88 yesterday and it was heavenly!
DeleteRegardless of how "good" we have it compared to others (past or present), our daily stesses DO truly create pressure we have to deal with on a daily basis. And this is what wears us down. You always do a great job of putting the positive spin on everything, and that makes it possible to keep going. Hubby and I have been reminding each other a lot lately about being appreciative even when we get overly grumpy and grouchy and the heat and humidity is so thick you have to peel your underpants down to go to the bathroom. (TMI?)
ReplyDeleteI thinking your self-proclaimed "whining" is just letting off necessary steam. Even while doing it you point out all you have to be thankful for. We all need to remember that if a pressure cooker can't let off that little stream of steam, it will explode. ;o}
Thanks Mama Pea! I do generally try to focus on what's going right in my life but sometimes it's just hard.
DeleteAnd I hear you on that humidity thing.
You need a huge hug. I hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteI think that the heat has been getting to a lot of people and though we haven't had much more rain than you, I see the corn is struggling along up here, not curled, not yet. I do know that the cost of hay is going to skyrocket (as passed along by a local farmer) so that is going to be hard on a lot of farmers. We will survive though as you say.
Thanks for the hug. I could handle the heat better if things weren't burning up with the drought. It's tough to watch big trees struggling. Even though I know that the ones dying are probably the ones that had something wrong with them to begin with and this has just pushed them to the edge. I pass by several trees on my way to work that look like they're dying and that can't be good.
DeleteThe heat this summer is relentless all over the US - so I figure, if you have a garden you have a right to whine. They were showing corn in Iowa that is of no value even though it has ears, they are void of hardly any kernals and the plant itself it stringy looking - so your self-proclaimed whining, is perfectly in your rights as a woman on 5 acres with a garden and hot chickens!! ...debbie
ReplyDeleteSome of the corn near us doesn't look too bad- but then you pass by another field where it looks awful. And none of it is very tall. I do feel sorry for our neighbors- it's going to be a tough year.
DeleteHang in there. I feel so bad for the rural areas, including my state, in drought and with fires. I also worry about what this will mean for US in terms of coming food prices? We don't eat beef much, but what about grains, beans, etc? I'm stocking up and canning more this summer. We all do what we can...
ReplyDeleteI think the price of everything will be going up. This drought is tough on more things than corn. I, too am trying to stock up more this year.
DeleteIt feels wholesome some how to see and read others are stressed to the max and still hanging in there by hook or crook,not sure if that's a "good " or "bad " saying lol
ReplyDeleteI worry about lots of things. But, I also try to not let it get to me too often. I can't change the weather, I can only change my attitude and how I'm going to respond.
DeleteWhine away, we all have times like that! All of a sudden we have more than our share of rain, I wish I could share it with you because in this heat and wet, we are loaded with mosquitoes. I dread the days where I have to worry about the kids leaving for college... :(
ReplyDelete