So, here’s where I am currently —
Between applications for which I am almost never interviewed, I also applied to be a Census Worker and an Election Judge. I requested working the early voting dates — apparently, I am an alternate for an early voting site, though I have not received any information about it beyond that scrap given when I called last Friday.
I also haven’t heard anything about where I work on Election Day. I did attend 6 hours of training, so I hope they let me work somewhere to get a check that will include my training hours. But as of now, I’m clueless about it.
I was told that the Census training will be March 25-28.
And in the meantime, I have received my IRS refund and applied for my State refund as well, so things aren’t horrible in that way.
I applied today at the county sheriff’s office — civil division. It would be a good job, because I could earn an ok retirement income there in the time before I am officially of retirement age. Fingers crossed. I also applied for a Customer Service position at an agency of Allied Van Lines/Sirva — where I used to work. Either of the jobs would be much better than nothing.
Two weeks ago Thursday I applied for section 8 vouchers. That is, I applied on line last March, and received a “Congratulations, you’ve been selected!” letter, and brought all the documentation it requested to the DuPage Housing Authority. They photocopied everything, and now I’m waiting to hear whether they will give me the vouchers. I understand if they do, I have to find the place that will accept them within 3 months.
I have been looking at places that might work out for that. But mostly, I’ve been waiting to hear, and applying for jobs as per usual.
And then there was Sunday. Oh, I think I last wrote about the Belcher — the woman who would moan like she was in labor, belch like she’d drunk a liter of root beer, fart like… whatever — and swear at you if you complained. She insisted she “didn’t even know” she did it. BUT she only did it from lights out until 11:30 or midnight, when she’d start snoring softly… and then again from 4 am until lights on. I wrote her up over and over again — including times when she threatened me or others, or swore at us (nothing like being called a f&cking fat-assed bitch in a church, huh?).
I asked one of the coordinators whether he’d ever seen my grievances. No, the only grievance he’d been shown was one written by her — when — in the dark — she blocked the way to the bathroom. I asked (told? I dunno) her to move. She told me to go to the bathrooms in the front hallway — I’d probably fit through those doors. I moved, felt unsteady, reached out (still dark) and grabbed her arm.
“LET ME GO!” she shrieked. Honestly, I think the motion and scream might have made me tighten my grip, but I quickly thought, “Hey, you don’t want to do anything to her unless you plan it through and REALLY ENJOY IT...” and I let her go.
That is the single grievance the coordinator had been shown, not the 6 or 8 written by me, not the others written by other people — all on this same woman. That pisses me off.
But, she’s been kicked out of PADS now. Apparently they discovered that she has warrants out for her in all the surrounding counties, is how it was explained to me. So apparently, that first background check was really worthwhile, huh?
So back to Sunday. There’s a woman in PADS I’ve discussed several times, most recently calling her The Bully. Please note — this is NOT to say that there are not other Bullies in PADS. But she is definitely one of the most consistent. She’s the one who calls my ex-ride moocher a demonic disruptor. She’ll say that about anyone who gets on her nerves, but she’s horrible about that woman — which was a big reason why I let her continue to ride with me, even while I knew I would do better without her.
This woman is very large, blonde, REALLY VERY LOUD, wears clothing mostly in black and mostly a size too small — basically, painted on her frequently showing not just skin but (gluch) rolls of fat. She is Muslim, though she’s about as far from the stereotypical Muslim in my little brain — and rarely does a stay at PADS pass by that she doesn’t mention that — usually with a complaint that pork is being served (“I don’t eat pork. *I* LOVE God”) or a statement that something was done “because she’s Muslim.” For example, a volunteer sets down a pad for her, and she backs up without looking, and falls backwards onto the pad. That was done because she’s Muslim, it’s a hate crime.
On Sunday, I walked to the back table at the Synagogue and grabbed a chair from that table. Though I know the Bully tends to go to that table, I honestly looked and thought, well, the ex ride moocher left her ID on the spot next to this one, and this one looks empty, and I KNOW the Bully won’t sit next to the moocher/demonic disruptor, so I should be safe….
As I was walking to the corner where I was planning to sit, the Bully yelled, “Oh, even though I’m Muslim, I GET A CHAIR…” and picked up a chair and brought it to that spot. I said I was sorry, I hadn’t realized… and then as she ranted on about it, I said sarcastically, “Yeah (name), you know me, I hate Muslims...” as I rolled my eyes — and The Bully agreed and then went on and on about hate crimes.
About. a. f&cking. chair. THAT I HADN’T PICKED UP AND BIFFED HER WITH.
She went on for about 10 minutes and it got to the point where I couldn’t stop the tears. I caught someone’s eye and pretended to shoot my brains out. If Only. Honestly, if it could just be f&cking OVER. The coordinator came over and told the Bully to SHUT UP, that I’d apologized, and that she was being unreasonable. The Bully wound herself up all over again, but this time a man who was sitting with his wife corrected her — NO, Barb apologized, and then YOU Brought up being Muslim and she said sarcastically…
And the Bully lied and lied and lied and lied. She is a horrible representative of Muslims between her bullying, lying, etc. If she’s the only Muslim your average PAD volunteer meets, they are going to take away an awful impression.
She walked by me and pointed to the ceiling and said, “That’s a microphone, that will prove me right.” And I said, “Well, if it’s recording, it will certainly have caught everything you have been shouting.”
Later she insisted she was afraid to go to sleep (hate.crimes.hate.crimes) — and yet, she showed up last night at the same site she’d knew I’d be (the only site that allows vehicles) — and I’ll bet she does the same tonight.
So — even if I get one of the jobs I’m hoping for, though I would prefer to stay in PADS and earn some money for a few months, if I can get out with housing vouchers, I think I will do that — as fast and as cleanly as possible — that is, without leaving my contact information with anyone in PADS.