Hello, everyone. I know it's been a while since I've posted anything and it's about time I did just that. Atomicscott, I know you asked for me to keep you posted and that maybe we could get out and hunt together and I haven't done that and I apologize. However, I do hope the offer still stands on maybe getting together for a hunt one day, that is, if I can.
Here's what's been happening since we arrived. I was looking for work and found a job in August and was recently laid off on 1/31/2014 so I'm looking for work again. We had to get both cars registered and since one (mine) is a truck, it cost way more to get it tagged, not to mention the heck of a time I had getting it to pass emissions. The job I had really stunk but I was hoping to have it long enough to find something else but it didn't work out that way. The place had me stressed out completely, I really wanted to just walk out. We arrived in Cali with 2 dogs and 2 cats, then while my wife went with grandpa to North Cali to visit family, I come home from work to find one of the cats dead in the hallway. I had to call my wife and tell her the sad news and then grab a shovel and give her a resting place. This was followed by the headlights on my truck being so bad they hardly worked so I had to buy new headlights and mount them. But wait, there's more. When we left FL, I made peace with my mother. We both knew that things might get tight for a while , but I thought I had a year. Her health had been waning the last few years and knew there was a possibility of something happening but, again, I thought I had at least a year. With that said, in early September I was informed by my aunt that mom wasn't doing so well. Over the next couple of weeks she kept me informed of the ups and downs. Then, on 9/21/2014 at about 3:00 in the morning I get the call, mom has passed. She went quietly in her sleep, of that I'm glad, I heard it was rough up to that point. Like I stated earlier, my mother and I had already made our peace and said good bye just in case. The only ones who understood our good bye was me, my wife and mom (other family was there but clueless). My aunt had asked if I was going to come home before she passed and again after. Given that I had no money, a crappy job (the signs were already there) and apparently being a new hire, you're not entitled to time off for a death in the family. Anyway, my aunt said mom asked about me (us), my aunt asked if I was going to be able to get back. With everything going on I told my aunt to tell mom that I can't promise I can get there and if she feels it's time and she needs to go, then please go , don't prolong it for me. It was a day later when she left. It was a Saturday morn and I had agreed to work that day so I headed off. My boss wasn't there so I emailed him the situation and said I would talk to him about it more on Monday and that I wasn't sure if I was going to try and head home for the services. On Monday, I told my boss that I prolly wasn't going to be able to go home for the services and that's when I was told I wasn't eligible for grievance time yet. Don't get me wrong, he was nice how he went about it, but still. Like I said before about the place, I wasn't upset that I was laid off (or fired, it wasn't clear). Well here we are in in February of 2014. The money we saved so far is running out but we'll be ok for a while. I tried to apply for unemployment on line but it says my case is special and I need to call, but, I can't get a hold of anyone at unemployment, they're not answering their phones. I called a few of the job agencies listed on the EDD site and they all told me that they get this complaint all the time. I was told if I can't apply on line then good luck to ya, you're prolly SOL. Right now my opinion of CA isn't very high, actually, it's pretty low. I mean no disrespect to anyone from here, I really don't. It's just that since I've been here, most of the people I've met have been polite but no where near friendly.
Ok, well, I've gone on long enough and did a fair share of "poor me" and whining. Yeah, I'm aware of it, I got to venting and got carried away. Anyway, thank you everyone. To be honest, the nicest people I've met so far here in CA have been on here and a few fishing forums that also welcomed me to the state. Almost wish this was more of a local club where we could gather cause I know on of two things would take place. Either someone's going to smack me in the back of the head and tell me "waaaa, just man up" or they're going to hand me a beer and just say "dam, son" - both would work. Anyway, thanks.
