Fireworks and Family

"Think we can finish this game before the guys get the ribs cooked?"

"Sure. Shouldn't take you too much longer to concede to my superior Scrabble abilities."
T A U N T .......12 points

"Right! That's why its almost tied now."

"I'm just setting the trap. Any minute now you'll be under the gun."

"You haven't said much about the library cutbacks? I didn't want to ask you in front of the guys. Don't know how you and Rudy are dealing with it. He knows right?"
Q U E E R Y ......36 points

"Yes, but I'm trying not to dwell on the possibilities of layoffs. Losing my job six years before retirement is not exactly a fun subject."

"You think it's really gonna be that bad?"

"The governor has to cut something from the budget and he seems dead set on it being the libraries. If he passes a new budget without us in it there will be layoffs at CCPL just like at every other library in Ohio." R E A L I T Y ......28 points

"Man that sucks. I can't believe it! What will you do?"
F E A R .....8 points

"Try to live on unemployment and my savings while I wait it out for a while. Just don't know how I'll pay for my health insurance. At fifty nine with only a high school education it'll be hard to find something else."

"You could move in with Rudy couldn't you?"

"We've already talked about that. I don't want to be rescued by him. I think it would be too hard on the relationship. Too soon and too big a stab at my independent lifestyle. Not to mention his." W I S E ........10 points

"You know I'll help you anyway I can." L O V E .......16 points

"I know that. Wendy said I could move in with them too."

"Yeehaw! Built in baby sitter. How cool would that be? What did John say?"

"Ha! He emailed me and said he was praying for me, and that he'd help me polish up my resume." I R O N Y...........10 points

"Oh my God, Ma. That's classic." H U M O R ........12 points

"Yeah. I thought so too. If I need to I could find a roommate to share expenses but that would be risky. Guess I'll just take it a day at a time. See what happens."

"I can't believe this is happening to you after all you've been through and you're so close to retirement."

"Me and a million other baby boomers caught up in this economic shit storm. I just don't want to loose my ability to pay my own bills. I've been independent all my life and I want to stay that way." H O P E ...........16 points

"You will, Ma, you will." T R U S T .......6 points

"The wine is good, the ribs smell delicious, and it's a perfect weekend for a bar-b-que. What more could I want?"

"Here's to your independence , Ma. Happy Fourth of July!"