Desert Diva

It’s Labor Day Weekend.  There’s something about the arrival of September that makes me sad.  In many places, the weather has already started turning cooler and the signs of summer are all but a memory. 

I was going to take a mini-trip over the weekend, but there is rain forecast all around the area.  Who wants to sit in an RV in the rain?  So, I’ve decided to stay “home” and sample the festivals in the area.  Hatch has their famous Chile Festival, Hillsboro has the annual Apple Festival, and of course the Harvest Wine Festival.  However, the weather may or may not cooperate. 

On the way home from work yesterday, a trip to Albertson’s found gasoline at $2.77 per gallon.  I bought some steaks, rented three movies, and ended up talking on the phone to a friend for over an hour during a rainstorm. 

The school district that I work for settled upon a “distribution” of the 5.5 percent pay increase that the state mandated.  It seems other districts gave their employees an “across the board” increase.  However, to save money my district “averaged” the increase which apparently was legal.  Previously, some employees were going to realize less than 1 percent (at the top of the pay scale) while others (new employees) were going to see more than the 5.5 percent.  Finally, through arbitration no employee will receive less than a 3 percent increase.  However, it seems that all administration employees received a 5.5 percent raise.

September is here and the days are growing shorter.  We laughed at work yesterday about the “rule” that you couldn’t wear white shoes after Labor Day.  (Who wears white shoes these days anyway?)  The carefree days and the gentle rhythm of summer are quickly drawing to a close.  I suppose I’m an “endless summer” type of person.

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