Heatwave Continues

We're on a roll to break the record of 90 degree days.  Since we're forecasted to be in the 90s all next week, if it holds, that ties the record.  I can tolerate the heat, I just don't like it.  Although, given choices between hot and cold, I'll take hot first.  Once I'm cold, I can't seem to warm up.

I went to the interview at 8am with the county on Thursday.  Another panel interview with ten questions, which the three ladies asking alternated asking the questions.  It was a part-time filing clerk position in the HR Dept.  Obviously with 30 years experience, 20 years in a management position, I'm a little over qualified.  It's a job and it will get me in the door, if they choose me of course.

Lots of things I noticed.  I was asked to be there at 7:45 to complete paperwork prior to the interview.  The paperwork would be left in an envelope at the reception desk.  I arrived at 7:40am and checked for an envelope at the reception desk - nada, nothing.  I walked around and found a nice lady named Octavia who helped me looked for the envelope at the reception desk after I explained what I was doing there.  Still, no envelope found.  Octavia called and left a voicemail for Mary who telephoned me on Wednesday and scheduled the interview.  Mary was not in yet either.  Octavia went back to the area where Mary's desk is, I stayed in the lobby area.  Octavia reappeared a few minutes later saying she found someone who knew I was scheduled, they would be with me shortly.  While I was waiting, I noticed people coming off the elevator in t-shirts, jeans, and some in shorts.  I was shocked, I said nothing.

It's 8:10am and "Susan" introduces herself, hands me a clipboard with one sheet of paper on it.  The paper was a release acknowledging drug testing if I was offered a position, along with a question asking if I had worked for the county previously, I checked "No".  Mary arrived about ten minutes later at 8:20am to ask if I was ready (35 minutes after they asked me to arrive with no one to greet me?  Yeah, I think I'm ready!).

Once in the conference room with the three ladies, Denise introduced herself as a HR Manager.  Mary and Susan were there also.  Denise made light of the fact that they were running late this morning.  I acknowledged it was early.  Once their questions were completed, I was given an opportunity to ask some questions.  I have a standard list of five questions I ask.  They said I would be notified within two weeks.  I was surprised to see a lady in the reception area about my age, waiting.  I was sure she was their 9am interview.  If it is meant to be, it will be.

Friday, it was 104 degrees.  Heat warning telling everyone to stay indoors unless you had to go outside.  The heat was dangerous with the index reaching 110 degrees.  John was still off from work.  I did laundry, he did puzzles on the computer.

This morning (Saturday) is our Walking Group meeting.  Our venue was changed from the County Government Center, where we normally walk, to the local indoor shopping mall.  One member had scoped out the mall last Saturday when the weekly walk was cancelled due to heat.  I arrived this morning at our agreed upon 8:30 at the appointed mall entrance, I thought I was the first.  One of the organizers (there are six) Maryann, came from the mall toward the parking lot.  Maryann stated the air conditioning hasn't been turned on yet inside, there was no air movement inside.  This is the second time I met Maryann.  She came once in June to walk with the group.  Pam (our trainer) brought her daughter, and another member Kim arrived shortly thereafter.  Here's the mall entrance where we met.

A couple men showed up a few minutes later to sit on the bench outside and watch women walk by.  It made me a bit nervous.  There has been a report on the news about a man who is using a box cutter to slash young womens buttocks.  He approaches these young women from behind, slashes them and keeps walking, denying it was him.  He has been identified on security cameras and pictures from the security cameras are shown on the news many times.  These guys certainly don't bring any calm to the situation.

Maryann suggested we walk OUTSIDE the mall since it was ONLY 82 degrees and a slight breeze.  I certainly wasn't going to be the ONLY ONE to object, I said nothing.  Off we went walking outside the mall.  I would have much preferred inside, as the temperature was rising, it was humid, and there wasn't much shade from the sun, except when we cut through the parking garage.

Plenty of shade in the parking garage, which we cut through.  As you can see, there is lots of parking available at 9am, still not much open at the mall that early.

The ladies wanted to go to Starbucks inside the mall after our walk.  I declined, I was tired, hot and sweaty.  I wanted to be in front of a fan with a COLD glass of water.  I said I would see everyone next Saturday.

Once home, I enjoyed that cold glass of water with lemon and watched the news.  I defrosted some steaks for grilling this evening.  Again, too hot to go outside to do anything.  I played some computer games and watched a movie.  John played more computer puzzles.  Later in the afternoon, John got the grill fired up for the steaks, they were delicious.  Nothing better than a grilled steak (prepared by Chef John).

There is some waiting time involved in grilling you know!

Make the remainder of the weekend a good one, enjoy!