Carmen the Garmin

On the way to work today we tried out my car partner's GPS who he calls Gia. She directed us beautifully, even showing where gas stations were coming up and banks, etc. I was anxious to try my own.

I had purchased one myself last night. My search for "what to buy" started with a trip to BEST BUY to check them all out and then a search for the cheapest of what I liked. I finally found the cheapest was to do a mail order from Wal Mart and then I went to Costco and it was the same price as Wal Mart. Wow, saved $100!!

Tonight I tried it out. I had seen a restaurant I like on the way home so put in the name. I was surprised my GP (Carmen, I call her) had me turn right but I thought it must be a "back" way. When I tried to assume where I should go without waiting for Carmen, she immediately said--"recalculating" and gave me new instructions. When she said I was there after I had tried to second guess her about three times and went in circles and I couldn't see it I figured she had really goofed but...it was just that the restaurant had closed at that location and it was not the one I had seen from the freeway. Will try and find that one tomorrow.

After circling so much I was confused as to which way to turn and didn't know my way home but Carmen did, she easily took me home. Since I have been frustrated and "lost" so many times I have decided this is the greatest invention since computers. Every woman should have one for sure!

Sacramento rocks!

I must say this is a plush assignment so far. We are at the Homewood Suites which backs up to the Galleria Mall so it will be a nice way to get my daily walk. Today I walked over to Best Buy to check out the GPS navigators. I decided it is a must for me.

Yesterday Michael picked me up after work in my car (Mitch, Melissa, and Maria brought it down from Chico) and we went to eat and to a movie. It was dark when I tried to find my hotel. It should have been easier than it was but I took the wrong turn off 80 and then went the wrong direction for a long time. I ended up in Rocklin instead of Roseville and couldn't find the way back to the freeway to reorient myself. It is scary.

I have been lost in Sacramento more than once and I think the GPS is the answer. If anyone has a suggestion as to what kind to buy, please let me know. Right now I am trying to find the Garmin 260w for a good price.

Travel Angels

It seems the "travel angels" seem to watch over me. This morning the Shuttle let us off in the wrong place and my bags were too heavy for me to go upstairs and then all the way to the other end of the terminal... Just as I thought I would die a Skycap showed up and put all my bags on a cart. He said whoever dropped us off was lying when they said they had to drop us off there and I shouldn't have to walk that far with the heavy bags. He said he wouldn't take any money but he did, of course, and I loved giving it to him. I have learned how it is in the DFW and usually look for a Skycap but we were late and I couldn't see one.

Then I lucked on to the one guy that had a car and after coming from the airport he took me to Walmart. This is a great place to be in Roseville. Lots of shopping within walking distance and Walmart Super not too far away and only 10 minutes from the office...

I am so glad I am processing in Sacramento instead of talking apps in South Texas, it will be brutal down there for a long time.

Sunday

We have a day off so I found the Bedford Ward, a half an hour away and attended church today. The closer one was Tongan so I found another, however, one of the ward people said I would enjoy going to the Tongan ward because their singing was so beautiful. Next time.

It was a very friendly ward and good speakers. An enthusiastic "missionary to be" going to Mexico City told about working in a Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake when the Prophet came in. The waitress told the Prophet about him so He invited the young man to come sit for a minute. When President Monson learned the boy was to go to a Spanish speaking mission, he told him this story.

He said the Mission President from the MTC called about a boy who was so sure he could not learn Spanish that he wanted to go home. President Monson made a suggestion about a class to send him to the next day and then he should call President Monson again. He said the next day he received the call from the Mission President and he reported that after attending an hour of the Japanese language class the young man was sure he could learn Spanish.

The High Council speaker said that the Stake President asked the question whether they were happy, whether they had joy in their life. He reminded them that life is about the process, about the journey and not just the destination. We should all be happy along our journey and if we are not, well why not???? He said it is "people" not "programs" that are important. I remember that was something we always said in the 70's when I was in the Stake Primary. He said it is relationships that matter, not just the doing. Life is "becoming" not "doing". This relationship thing is what "The Shack" book is all about also. The Savior was all about relationships, not tasks, something I always need to remember.

The High Council speaker also told of an experience when he was a new missionary in So. Calif. They stopped at the home of a "surf dude" who answered the door in swim trunks with his hair covering his eyes. The dude accepted the Book of Mormon and a booklet and they told him they would come and see him next week. He said, "Sure" and quickly shut the door. The next week they called again and they said they could see his eyes this time. The Sr Companion asked if they could give him the first discussion. He said, "Sure, but first, will you answer this question? What was that feeling I had when I started to read this book?" He said the young man had been on drugs and a school drop out because his grades were so bad. He was soon baptized, he got back in school and off drugs, then attended BYU, went on a mission to Italy and married in the Temple. He reminded us that it isn't the missionaries that convert members, it is the Spirit.

The Sunday School teacher did a great job. He was a young married - returned missionary and taught in a simple but well-informed manner with a very pleasant convincing spirit. Here again the message was all about being happy with where-ever we are in life, choose the right, avoid pride and don't continually be thinking you will be happy "when"--when you get this, when that, when you are more perfect, etc.

So far I am handling things well, I will "check in" next week and see how frazzled I am then...my biggest problem is not being able to think of a word I want to use. That may be a problem when I have to write up my justifications for a loan approval or denial...

But thank heaven, none of us has to go home to 8 feet of water in our house...

Aftermath of Ike

Hurricane Ike came in a little less than expected but powerfully more damage done in the areas I was in after Hurricane Rita. Beaumont was without power for a month after Rita, this time there is more flooding and damage as well as the power outage. Galveston was inundated with water. Even their precious wall that was built after the flood in 1900 was compromised. They are still searching for bodies. Thousands stayed behind even though their was mandatory evacuation. Of course, the rescues go on with the taxpayers money. And Houston didn't have near the destruction it had this time.

Someone told me the reason people stay behind is they had just run from Gustav on Labor Day weekend and there wasn't much damage and they just can't afford to leave. I understand that except that buses were provided and free places to stay...so you wonder.

So...I think SBA's forward planning was timely and I may be working a bit more than a month.

They were to fly us out on Sunday originally, then thought about getting us out ahead of the storm and finally settled on Monday, so we head for Sacramento tomorrow. I will be at the Homewood Suites behind the Galleria Mall in Roseville--hmm, that sounds dangerous.

Aftermath of Katrina

Today I learned the group of us in training here in Fort Worth are a "test group" to see if the Sacramento office can be used for processing disaster loans while being under the leadership of the Texas office.

It was very interesting to learn of everything that went wrong after Katrina hit and what has been done to make sure all those things never happen again.

Previously the DCMS loan program was built with the idea of being used by a maximum of about 2500 loan officers, now 12,000 can be online at once. Previously they had two scanners in this office, now there are 52.

They had geared up to be able to handle a disaster twice as large as the Northridge, CA earthquake since it was the largest they had previously handled. Then Katrina hit and it was six times as large!

Anyway it is amazing all the work they have done to correct everything that went wrong. We also watched a CNN presentation on the insurance problem with the argument over whether it was the water or wind that caused all the damage--and what the insurance companies would not pay for. It does matter what home insurance company you have and you should understand your policy very well!

I know this news is not as exciting as Maria's news but this is my life...a man told me today he was older than me... I am three months older than him and the oldest one in the group as usual. All the people I used to work with remember me and talk to me though, that is nice.

When Betsy and I went to the Verizon store we giggled at the fact the Verizon man explained the directions to her like I was too old to understand. C'est la vie!

Off to Texas

So I am off to Texas tomorrow for a week and scheduled to be in Sacramento from Sept 14 to Oct 14. Maybe Michael and I can meet for a movie or eat out from time to time. I will be staying in Roseville off 80 and he is off 50 but still not that far away.

Unfortunately that means I will miss the BYU reunion of my sisters from Oct 6 to Oct 14!! I am keeping my air ticket just in case I get sent home sooner.

I was so looking forward to being with my sisters and seeing all the new things at BYU and visiting Amy and Craig in their habitats.

Still, I need the money so what can I do...I will just be grateful if they keep me that long. I will probably be asked to do business loans and my brain is not as sharp as it used to be...we will see.