I just finished my shift at work. I’m mooching free Wifi here. Then I have to go to AdventHealth in Altamonte Springs because Rose (not her real name) is in the hospital—again.

She was taken to the hospital via ambulance yesterday while I was still asleep. She left no communication about it, but when I peeked outside to see if we’d received any rain, I saw that she’d left her phone on the cup holder of the folding chair we have next to the front door. So, I’m bringing her phone by.

I’m frustrated and depressed. My job is getting on my nerves. Too many “bosses,” or people who think they entitled just because they are on the bottom rung of management, and are thus, better than the employees who are one step below them. I hate working retail.

I’m working at changing that—harder than usual. Working retail is killing my soul and my body. I have two bad rotator cuffs, messed up toes on my right foot, with a bunion, and I have carpel tunnel in my right wrist. I’m in pain much of the time I’m running a cash register, but I don’t complain about it. Gotta eat and pay bills.

Since Rose is in the hospital, our rent that was due today at 4pm will be late. I told her I wasn’t paying the $50 late fee. She said her Social Security check didn’t get deposited yet. I’m unsure of how she knows this because we don’t have Wifi at home, and she hasn’t had her phone for over 24 hours. I guess, we’ll see if the money is there now, so she can send it to my account so I can get our rent money orders.

I sent our apartment manager a text explaining the situation. We’ll probably have it by Monday, or Tuesday. The manager there has actually been pretty cool since last October-November when we got threatened with eviction. I smoothed the feathers by explaining my leave, Rose’s multiple hospital stays, etc. But, it was still a stressful period that gave me colitis for a full month. I still worked through it. It was painful.

That was about the time I returned to work after being on leave for knee replacement surgery. It was supposed to be three months, not five, but the insurance company my employer used (we have a different company now) made the experience pure hell.

Anyway, I’m glad I got through that. I’m just so ready for things to improve. People tell me all the time that I have such a great attitude. I try. Sometimes it’s very hard.

I know that Rose really needs to stay healthy and stay working, because I’m not getting the money together to get the alternator replaced in my car. I told Rose last month that I could not pay the whole rent. I am still paying the electricity and water. We can’t afford cable, or streaming services. The Wifi is her domain since her phone is bundled with that—it’s $30 a month.

I just want things to improve.