21st floor on in our new residence

Monday, February 8th, Our first day on our own in the Employment Resource Centre - and we have survived!!! I hope we locked everything up o.k.
Luckily we weren't busy with people rushing in for help. But to back up a couple of days. Saturday was a day to do errands, locate some lamps, mirrors, ironing board cover, some garbage containers and so forth. We decided since we weren't going to be here permanently (Grant keeps reminding me that this is just a temporary residence and we aren't going to make it a mini Tajmahall) We agreed that we would first look at Goodwill for these household items. But before we began that quest - we had to locate a vacum repair shop. This we did in search of a new brush roller. As you might guess the vacum repair man tried very hard to sell us a new vacum for only $60.00 more than the cost of a new roller - stating that these plastic rollers only last one year. We explained that we would only need it for 18 months and since I only vacumed once a week and needed it for only one bedroom carpet - the new plastic roller would do us just fine. Sadly he let us go with just an order for a new roller - to be in stock in one week's time. Well, on our "Onstar" to find the one and only Goodwill store. This took us almost downtown - so we thought. Here we purchased two table lamps for our bedroom, a wicker basket for my hair appliances, a kitchen clock and a small end table to put our printer on, $41.00. Next stop to Homesense, we needed a floor lamp, tablecloth for our card table and a few inexpensive pictures to hang on our bare wall in the living room. Again "On Star" since we were part way downtown Toronto the address closest was on Yonge Street. As we crossed a freeway with 17 lanes - we felt like to were probably going the wrong direction. Upon arriving at Yonge Street we decided that we readly didn't want to spend a half hour trying to find parking so we made a legal U turn and headed back toward Etobicoke.
We found a Homesense -one store, part of a HUGE strip mall. Here it looked like there was one of every store in town. The wind was raw and I mean raw. Grant waked across the parking lot to Rona for some wood filler and a can opener and I walked into Homesense. We purchased two mirrors, some carmel popcorn -yum, yum - an ironing board cover and braced outselves for the wind again. Next stop Ikea. This was just across a freeway opposite this huge mall. Oh, lovely Ikea. What did we purchase there - one lively orange garbage can. A very fragile floor lamp and that was about all. By now it was dark and thankfully we were close to our apartment.

Did I mention that the office room in our apartment was painted an intense dark green? No windows and it was dark - I mean dark. We got permission to repaint - soooo I have painted two coats of beige the same color as our living room and kitchen, as well as some sanding and painting a coffee table, end table, t.v. table, and a set of book shelves that are on loan from the Mission home. With this completed and my computer working at last - I am ready to put my full attention to my task - that is - a resource person at the employment resource centre. President Hinckley stated:
"There is nothing quite as invigorating as being able to evaluate and then solve a difficult problem, to grapple with something that seems almost unsolvable and then find a resolution"
Now I wish to leave you with a story from the Welfare Square by Brother Rudd

" Ora " A salesman for Sears Roebuck began to have serious health problems. He had a stroke, a heart attack, and a cerebral hemorrhage that resulted in severe headaches. He was given a medical retirement and spent the next three years pretty well confined to bed. Then on the advice of his doctor that he should get out and meet people and with the blessings of his bishop, he was sent to work at Welfare Sauare. The contact with other people and the service he could render at his own pace and with the pressures off was invaluable to him. His health steadily improved. He did not receive financial assistance - only a few groceries occasionally. His real pay was the feeling of happiness in rendering a good service to others.
This good man worked about 30 hours a week and went to the temple at least once each week. His heart condition bore continual watch, but his severe headaches were a thing of the past. Those who saw him busy working at the storehouse would never realize the condition he had been in before. His quote when interviewed was, "I have made a million dollars worth of friends at Welfare Square." Good night now. Elaine