Kicked to the curb!

Remember last week when I mentioned that I was waffling between returning to Imperial NWR or not for next winter?  Well, yesterday, I went in to talk to the refuge manager about returning.  I shouldn’t have wasted all that time weighing pros and cons.  As I entered his office, he got up to close the door.  Not a good sign.  He then told me he had decided not to invite me back for next year.  I have to say that I was shocked.  This is the first time I’ve been told I couldn’t return as a volunteer to a refuge.  I was speechless.  It kind of knocked the stuffing out of me.

His reasoning was that I was not a self starter.  What?  Once I learned what all the duties were in the VC, I think I did them all.  Up until the first of the new year, we did not have very many visitors so there was a lot of down time.  He said he wanted someone that could find things to do.  I don’t know what else I could have done.  You can only clean so much, etc.  I asked for more things to do, but was thwarted. 

When there were no visitors, and nothing left to clean, I resorted to playing solitaire on my I-Pad.  I guess that was a mistake.  I should have just read a book.  That seems to be more acceptable. 

I suppose I could have pointed out the extra things I have done, like the first ever bird tours, but what’s the use?  The man’s mind was made up.  Besides which, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut.  Do I think there are other factors influencing this decision?  Yes, I do.  By what the manager said at the volunteer meeting last night, cuts will be made in visitor’s services and environmental education services to school children.  I feel he wants to cut his volunteer staff down to three couples next year even though there are seven RV sites.  I, of course, don’t have a spouse that can work maintenance…

I may be all wet in those assumptions.  Who knows?  I just needed to vent about this situation.  It sure has made me think about truly retiring and giving up this volunteer lifestyle.   I didn’t sleep very well last night, and today my stomach was still upset.

Luckily today I met Betty and Joe in Yuma for lunch today, and was able to lay some of my troubles on them.  Thanks you two for lunch and a friendly ear!  Guess I’ll just spend the next two months like a ‘lame duck’ working for a boss that thinks I’m under par…

On the way home from lunch, I stopped at the Gonzalez Farm Stand for some fresh broccoli after getting a hair cut.  Got a couple of heads for a buck.  As I handed over my dollar, Mr. Gonzalez said, “ Thank you sir.”

That seems to happen every time I get a hair cut.  I just chuckle.  Then he looked up from the money box, and said, “I’m so sorry, I see now that you are a Ma'am.”  Yep, I do have bazooms!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy