Strength
Power
Courage
Conviction
Foresight
Competitiveness
Focus
Resilience
Humor
Love
Which one first?
DISCIPLINE
Monday, September 28, 2009
Awhile
He said he would be awhile.
I never know what that means exactly.
Should I expect him in an hour,
two hours,
a day, a week,
a month?
What is the time measurement of awhile?
I wanted to tell her
she would feel better soon –
it would just take awhile.
I didn’t tell her that. It sounded wrong to me.
What would I answer when she asks
how long is awhile?
When you are in emotional pain
and distress – seconds become days.
Awhile doesn’t help.
I never know what that means exactly.
Should I expect him in an hour,
two hours,
a day, a week,
a month?
What is the time measurement of awhile?
I wanted to tell her
she would feel better soon –
it would just take awhile.
I didn’t tell her that. It sounded wrong to me.
What would I answer when she asks
how long is awhile?
When you are in emotional pain
and distress – seconds become days.
Awhile doesn’t help.
Monday, September 14, 2009
I had to take it down.
I put up a farewell post for a wonderful young man. Then I took it down. Too raw - sorry new one tomorrow.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
People Got Lives
I have discovered through this journey over the last few weeks a few things I heretofore did not truly comprehend. Or to put it in plain language – people got lives – huh, who knew?
Yeah, like when I get up at the fairly decent hour of 8:30 or so – most everyone I know is at school or at work at their desks. Or amazingly already out in the field for the day. And me still in my jammies.
So, I grab my first coffee, do all the obligatory animal rituals and sit down to my connection to the outside world. And nobody’s there. Amazingly enough most of the ever increasing list of blogs I follow haven’t been updated since midnight either. Huh, go figure…It’s like folks got something to do or somewhere to go every day. Without me.
Here I am at home, reading and writing, in my jammies for hours on end. Friends and former coworkers are just going on about their business. Without me.
It is shocking to realize the world does not revolve around one unemployed person, me.
I don’t have the camaraderie of complaint anymore.
I don’t have to get up before the sun.
I don’t have any traffic to fight.
I don’t have an hour commute each way.
I don’t have to fret over what I am going to wear today. The jammie bottoms by daughter makes are quite comfortable for most any activity I care to engage in from my seat thanks.
The coffee always taste good.
The gas station location and price of gas really are not in the forefront of my thoughts now.
My phone is pretty well charged most of the time.
And payday is truly irrelevant.
So, yeah here’s me at my desk, in my jammies, posting to my blog, no worries, except wondering why the dog has gas...AGAIN!! I'm thinking I need more coffee. Hmmm-maybe I need decaf.
Yeah, like when I get up at the fairly decent hour of 8:30 or so – most everyone I know is at school or at work at their desks. Or amazingly already out in the field for the day. And me still in my jammies.
So, I grab my first coffee, do all the obligatory animal rituals and sit down to my connection to the outside world. And nobody’s there. Amazingly enough most of the ever increasing list of blogs I follow haven’t been updated since midnight either. Huh, go figure…It’s like folks got something to do or somewhere to go every day. Without me.
Here I am at home, reading and writing, in my jammies for hours on end. Friends and former coworkers are just going on about their business. Without me.
It is shocking to realize the world does not revolve around one unemployed person, me.
I don’t have the camaraderie of complaint anymore.
I don’t have to get up before the sun.
I don’t have any traffic to fight.
I don’t have an hour commute each way.
I don’t have to fret over what I am going to wear today. The jammie bottoms by daughter makes are quite comfortable for most any activity I care to engage in from my seat thanks.
The coffee always taste good.
The gas station location and price of gas really are not in the forefront of my thoughts now.
My phone is pretty well charged most of the time.
And payday is truly irrelevant.
So, yeah here’s me at my desk, in my jammies, posting to my blog, no worries, except wondering why the dog has gas...AGAIN!! I'm thinking I need more coffee. Hmmm-maybe I need decaf.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Just Don't Feel like it!!
So, I have this rule. If I am going to sit at the computer for hours on end and avoid working or looking for gainful employment, I have to write something – anything. Some days I write four or five blog posts save them in a folder and post them during the week. Some days, I just read everyone else’s blogs and pretend I don’t have time to do my own. Or I use the excuse I can’t get to my keyboard because of this…(which is supposed to be a picture of my daughter's latest rescue. He plops right on my desk in the middle of whatever I am doing and takes a nap! For whatever reason the picture has decided not to leave my camera and join the blog today. Yeah technology is a wonderful thing...) It really is difficult to work around him. We all have something stowed away in the excuse drawer.
The issue is honestly I don’t feel like looking for a job right now. Every one I try, I get no response or a we weren’t looking for you email. No one is really looking at the resume or reading the cover letter. And I am getting really tired of being rejected. It gets to the point of “why bother?” Ok there is that whole we need the money thing but other than that.
I try to stay positive. I am positive this is going to be a long haul. I am looking for the spin here. How do I turn this into something for me and anyone listening (reading) into a teaching/learning moment? I am not sure what I am going to learn from this. I don’t know what to teach then.
Perseverance is going to be a big one. I know with all the competition out there for every job posted I will be one of maybe 100 applicants. I have to keep at it. I have to write each cover letter independently. I have to rework the resume as needed for each posting. I am not fabricating my work history or experience. I am simply reorganizing with different emphasis as the job description dictates. This is a lot of work. And I get really bored after the first couple of times during the day.
I have a feel now for which jobs not to apply to due to the wording of the posting. I also understand which ones are posted but aren’t really available. Those are the ones where someone within the organization has already been chosen for the job but for the legal process to be followed the job has to be advertised and a few interviews held.
I have been on a couple of those recently. The interviewer is looking at the clock behind your head for the whole 28 minutes, talking to his hands about the organization, and doesn’t ask a single useful question. You leave knowing full well that you just wasted the time, gas and dry cleaning bill to make his records appear compliant. Those are the ones you want to look at the creep and say, “Why did you make me come here? You knew you weren’t going to hire me. Couldn’t we have done this non-interview on the phone? Saved us both a lot of time and money.” But, professional courtesy says you can’t do that. Whatever, hope your “new hire” doesn’t work out…. OK not really but what about my time and expense? It is as important to me as yours is to you Mr. Non-interview Man or Woman. Had one of those recently too.
I broadened my idea of a good job and did more searches with the new criteria. I found a few more possibilities but no more solid responses. It is difficult right now. I know some folks that have been looking for work for months. I am hoping, really hoping it doesn’t take that long. We are not independently wealthy people. We need regular incomes to survive. Hubbing is working as much overtime as they will give him. But, that is so not fair to him. He deserves his days off like everyone else does. He will keep at it as long as he can I know. I just don’t know how long that is. I am concerned for his health and well-being. He works in a high stress field. Downtime is imperative for him as it is for all first-responders.
I will keep looking. And I will try to stop whining so much. I just wish it wasn’t so demoralizing.
On we go!
The issue is honestly I don’t feel like looking for a job right now. Every one I try, I get no response or a we weren’t looking for you email. No one is really looking at the resume or reading the cover letter. And I am getting really tired of being rejected. It gets to the point of “why bother?” Ok there is that whole we need the money thing but other than that.
I try to stay positive. I am positive this is going to be a long haul. I am looking for the spin here. How do I turn this into something for me and anyone listening (reading) into a teaching/learning moment? I am not sure what I am going to learn from this. I don’t know what to teach then.
Perseverance is going to be a big one. I know with all the competition out there for every job posted I will be one of maybe 100 applicants. I have to keep at it. I have to write each cover letter independently. I have to rework the resume as needed for each posting. I am not fabricating my work history or experience. I am simply reorganizing with different emphasis as the job description dictates. This is a lot of work. And I get really bored after the first couple of times during the day.
I have a feel now for which jobs not to apply to due to the wording of the posting. I also understand which ones are posted but aren’t really available. Those are the ones where someone within the organization has already been chosen for the job but for the legal process to be followed the job has to be advertised and a few interviews held.
I have been on a couple of those recently. The interviewer is looking at the clock behind your head for the whole 28 minutes, talking to his hands about the organization, and doesn’t ask a single useful question. You leave knowing full well that you just wasted the time, gas and dry cleaning bill to make his records appear compliant. Those are the ones you want to look at the creep and say, “Why did you make me come here? You knew you weren’t going to hire me. Couldn’t we have done this non-interview on the phone? Saved us both a lot of time and money.” But, professional courtesy says you can’t do that. Whatever, hope your “new hire” doesn’t work out…. OK not really but what about my time and expense? It is as important to me as yours is to you Mr. Non-interview Man or Woman. Had one of those recently too.
I broadened my idea of a good job and did more searches with the new criteria. I found a few more possibilities but no more solid responses. It is difficult right now. I know some folks that have been looking for work for months. I am hoping, really hoping it doesn’t take that long. We are not independently wealthy people. We need regular incomes to survive. Hubbing is working as much overtime as they will give him. But, that is so not fair to him. He deserves his days off like everyone else does. He will keep at it as long as he can I know. I just don’t know how long that is. I am concerned for his health and well-being. He works in a high stress field. Downtime is imperative for him as it is for all first-responders.
I will keep looking. And I will try to stop whining so much. I just wish it wasn’t so demoralizing.
On we go!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Ice Cream and Family
Growing up the family would get together for various reasons to celebrate assorted holidays and birthdays. This is a normal process for many an extended family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, folks you don’t remember ever seeing before or after that day would all gather somewhere and eat, drink and socialize for an afternoon and evening. Folks would bring a “covered dish” to share and the host would provide the main course. And sometimes dessert.
My Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Don had a good sized piece of property with a few buildings on it. I wish I could remember if it was an older farm or just some sheds on the perimeter, but I can’t recall that far back. I am old and they moved from that house when I was very young. I remember the large porch on the front of the house and the large front yard. Us younger kids had to stay close to the house and play in the front yard. I have no idea where the bigger kids went. I think I remember an old barn type building they were allowed to go to. But, I could be wrong. We would go out there for holidays and gatherings because there was a lot of space. In our heyday we were a large crowd.
One of the joys of being out at Uncle Don’s was homemade ice cream. He was quite proud of his flavorful accomplishments from that old machine. You remember those old things. They looked like an old wooden barrel inside a larger barrel-type tub. The tub part held the ice and rock salt. The inner tub held the ingredients. There was a large crank sticking out the one side. They used only the freshest ingredients – milk, cream, fruit, sugar, vanilla and rock salt. Lots of rock salt. And lots of manpower to turn the crank. Or in the case of my uncle’s ice cream – kid power. We all wanted some homemade ice cream. It was so good. And such a novelty. Who knew you could make the stuff at home.
We thought you just bought the box at the grocery freezer section and took it home. Dad would fuss and swear at how hard it was and how difficult it was to get out of the container. We would all wait in the other room until we were called to the table to “Come and Get Your Ice Cream Before It Melts!” Scarff it down, take the bowl to the kitchen and back to the TV. No preparation, no ceremony, no mess, no fun. But, you could make the stuff at home? Huh, never heard of that.
The day would come and we excitedly climb into the station wagon. Food prepared and covered for the trip. Extra pants and jackets in case it got cold, a blanket and pillow for whomever fell asleep on the way home and “go before we leave cuz I’m not stopping till we get there,” from Dad. And away we went. And we had to stop at least once for someone to do what they should have done before we left. “But I didn’t have to go then,” never went over well with Dad.
The day would progress with socializing and more food preparation. The tables were set for the adults and the kids got the card table in the other room with the plastic dinner ware and the mismatched plates. The great thing about Uncle Don’s was the room to run with not a care in the world. And the homemade ice cream. Long after dinner he would set everything up on the front porch and start the hand crank. And in true Tom Sawyer fashion get us kids to finish it off for him. He would make the periodic obligatory visits to check on progress. Add more rock salt every time and tell us we were doing a good job. As it got more solid we would switch off every few minutes because our arms would get tired. After a while you shout out for someone else to take over and you run off into the yard and have fun. Sometimes it was a bit of a stretch to get someone to relieve you. A rousing game of freeze tag had taken over the labor force. But, eventually someone would show up and you would get to join the game is progress. Only to have Uncle Don return and add more rock salt. This process would go well into the evening until at least full dark. The freeze tag had now evolved into flashlight tag. All the while the kids were playing close by and the ice cream was being prepared.
You know it took me years to figure out how smart my Uncle Don really was. He found a way to keep us occupied, near the house and get dessert prepared with very little effort on his part. All these years I held romantic, nostalgic notions and truly fond memories of those gatherings. Only to recently figure out we had been hoodwinked into manual labor.
I wish Uncle Don were still here. I would love to reminisce with him about those days. He would be so pleased with himself.
Miss ya Unca Don – thanks for the memories.
My Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Don had a good sized piece of property with a few buildings on it. I wish I could remember if it was an older farm or just some sheds on the perimeter, but I can’t recall that far back. I am old and they moved from that house when I was very young. I remember the large porch on the front of the house and the large front yard. Us younger kids had to stay close to the house and play in the front yard. I have no idea where the bigger kids went. I think I remember an old barn type building they were allowed to go to. But, I could be wrong. We would go out there for holidays and gatherings because there was a lot of space. In our heyday we were a large crowd.
One of the joys of being out at Uncle Don’s was homemade ice cream. He was quite proud of his flavorful accomplishments from that old machine. You remember those old things. They looked like an old wooden barrel inside a larger barrel-type tub. The tub part held the ice and rock salt. The inner tub held the ingredients. There was a large crank sticking out the one side. They used only the freshest ingredients – milk, cream, fruit, sugar, vanilla and rock salt. Lots of rock salt. And lots of manpower to turn the crank. Or in the case of my uncle’s ice cream – kid power. We all wanted some homemade ice cream. It was so good. And such a novelty. Who knew you could make the stuff at home.
We thought you just bought the box at the grocery freezer section and took it home. Dad would fuss and swear at how hard it was and how difficult it was to get out of the container. We would all wait in the other room until we were called to the table to “Come and Get Your Ice Cream Before It Melts!” Scarff it down, take the bowl to the kitchen and back to the TV. No preparation, no ceremony, no mess, no fun. But, you could make the stuff at home? Huh, never heard of that.
The day would come and we excitedly climb into the station wagon. Food prepared and covered for the trip. Extra pants and jackets in case it got cold, a blanket and pillow for whomever fell asleep on the way home and “go before we leave cuz I’m not stopping till we get there,” from Dad. And away we went. And we had to stop at least once for someone to do what they should have done before we left. “But I didn’t have to go then,” never went over well with Dad.
The day would progress with socializing and more food preparation. The tables were set for the adults and the kids got the card table in the other room with the plastic dinner ware and the mismatched plates. The great thing about Uncle Don’s was the room to run with not a care in the world. And the homemade ice cream. Long after dinner he would set everything up on the front porch and start the hand crank. And in true Tom Sawyer fashion get us kids to finish it off for him. He would make the periodic obligatory visits to check on progress. Add more rock salt every time and tell us we were doing a good job. As it got more solid we would switch off every few minutes because our arms would get tired. After a while you shout out for someone else to take over and you run off into the yard and have fun. Sometimes it was a bit of a stretch to get someone to relieve you. A rousing game of freeze tag had taken over the labor force. But, eventually someone would show up and you would get to join the game is progress. Only to have Uncle Don return and add more rock salt. This process would go well into the evening until at least full dark. The freeze tag had now evolved into flashlight tag. All the while the kids were playing close by and the ice cream was being prepared.
You know it took me years to figure out how smart my Uncle Don really was. He found a way to keep us occupied, near the house and get dessert prepared with very little effort on his part. All these years I held romantic, nostalgic notions and truly fond memories of those gatherings. Only to recently figure out we had been hoodwinked into manual labor.
I wish Uncle Don were still here. I would love to reminisce with him about those days. He would be so pleased with himself.
Miss ya Unca Don – thanks for the memories.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Ways to enjoy that daily commute - or at least not be bored beyond belief
So after driving to and from work for a long time I have developed some ways to keep occupied during the two plus hours of the daily commute. Mind you I don’t vouch for the legality or advisability of any of them. Just entertainment to keep from running down the fool that just cut you off again…
1.Explore new radio stations – you have at least six if not more presets on your car radio. Try the random search function and see what else is out there. Find one you like stick it on a preset for another day. The next time your favored station gets stupid or annoying or is playing commercials pick a preset and listen for awhile.
2.How long can you listen to the radio and not hear a single song – chattering DJs, commercials, traffic reports? My record was 10 minutes.
3.See if you can guess the next exit – how many times have you driven this way? You should now them by now.
4.Find another way home. I had at least four different ways to travel. All got me home under different circumstances. Give it a shot – breaks up the monotony of the drive.
5.How many stoplights can you find on alternate route #4? Definitely not the fastest way home – how long has that Indian restaurant been there anyway?
6.Try to talk to Dear Old Dad for the entire hour. This will depend on the cell signal, the traffic and whether or not you have enough to say to each other. My Old Fart and I were good at it. Sometimes we were still talking as I was walking in the door.
7.Count how many times you pass the same impatient fool in the pick-up. You know the one – he speeds up, zooms around you into the next lane, weaves in and out for a few car lengths and gets stuck in a line cars next to you. Only to start all over again with the same process as soon as he thinks there is a break in the line. Must be tough to be him some days.
8.Count how many times the same dingus cuts you off – read above for description of the dingus.
9.Paint your fingernails. This works well in stop and go traffic. You need a fairly thin and translucent polish too. You can try when traffic is moving at close to full speed but it is a lot tougher. (Recommended only for those who like polish on their nails)
10.Eat your breakfast. Coffee and pastry works well. Bowl of cereal – not so much. You can try the knee steering method in a long line of slow mowing vehicles but the trooper next to you is not nearly as impressed as you would think.
11.Oh and the hot coffee in the travel cup with a lid is the best. The cute ceramic Hawaii mug with the dancing girls not so effective as you are driving down the road. Coffee gets cold and all over your suit. Just keep it in its box and show it off to your coworkers during that morning meeting. They are already jealous.
12.Write your blog posts - in your head. If you can remember the major points and fill in the details when you are actually in front of your computer this works well. Tough to type and drive …
13.Plan how to escape the next meeting without being overtly obvious. Come on, how many times can you have an important conference call scheduled 20 minutes into the meeting? Be a little more creative.
14.Call around for the best price on the new landscaping for the front yard. You see some good examples on the way home – take some mental notes.
15.Make check-up appointments for yourself. Can you remember the dentist’s name?
16.Pull off and try that oil change place that advertises “no waiting”. What else are you going to do for the next 20 minutes – maybe move 20 yards or so?
17.How many people are driving with expired tags today? You will be surprised.
18.Can you get your left leg up in the seat so that you sit more comfortably with your foot underneath you? Careful it falls asleep sometimes. (not recommended for those with a manual transmission – scary ramifications for the sudden stop)
19.Try to ignore the multitude of text messages you are getting from your family and friends. Tough isn’t it?
20.Sing with the song on the radio – like you’re the only one doing this?
21.Plan your next bar-b-que. Is there a new game to change things up a little? Or do we just hang under the one lonely tree and play follow the shade again?
22.And why don’t Tim and Lindsay eat chicken? What else can you make besides burgers and brats?
23.How many people do you see talking on their cell phones in that 5 mile stretch with the heaviest traffic?
Be thankful you have a job and enjoy the time. No job – no commute….
1.Explore new radio stations – you have at least six if not more presets on your car radio. Try the random search function and see what else is out there. Find one you like stick it on a preset for another day. The next time your favored station gets stupid or annoying or is playing commercials pick a preset and listen for awhile.
2.How long can you listen to the radio and not hear a single song – chattering DJs, commercials, traffic reports? My record was 10 minutes.
3.See if you can guess the next exit – how many times have you driven this way? You should now them by now.
4.Find another way home. I had at least four different ways to travel. All got me home under different circumstances. Give it a shot – breaks up the monotony of the drive.
5.How many stoplights can you find on alternate route #4? Definitely not the fastest way home – how long has that Indian restaurant been there anyway?
6.Try to talk to Dear Old Dad for the entire hour. This will depend on the cell signal, the traffic and whether or not you have enough to say to each other. My Old Fart and I were good at it. Sometimes we were still talking as I was walking in the door.
7.Count how many times you pass the same impatient fool in the pick-up. You know the one – he speeds up, zooms around you into the next lane, weaves in and out for a few car lengths and gets stuck in a line cars next to you. Only to start all over again with the same process as soon as he thinks there is a break in the line. Must be tough to be him some days.
8.Count how many times the same dingus cuts you off – read above for description of the dingus.
9.Paint your fingernails. This works well in stop and go traffic. You need a fairly thin and translucent polish too. You can try when traffic is moving at close to full speed but it is a lot tougher. (Recommended only for those who like polish on their nails)
10.Eat your breakfast. Coffee and pastry works well. Bowl of cereal – not so much. You can try the knee steering method in a long line of slow mowing vehicles but the trooper next to you is not nearly as impressed as you would think.
11.Oh and the hot coffee in the travel cup with a lid is the best. The cute ceramic Hawaii mug with the dancing girls not so effective as you are driving down the road. Coffee gets cold and all over your suit. Just keep it in its box and show it off to your coworkers during that morning meeting. They are already jealous.
12.Write your blog posts - in your head. If you can remember the major points and fill in the details when you are actually in front of your computer this works well. Tough to type and drive …
13.Plan how to escape the next meeting without being overtly obvious. Come on, how many times can you have an important conference call scheduled 20 minutes into the meeting? Be a little more creative.
14.Call around for the best price on the new landscaping for the front yard. You see some good examples on the way home – take some mental notes.
15.Make check-up appointments for yourself. Can you remember the dentist’s name?
16.Pull off and try that oil change place that advertises “no waiting”. What else are you going to do for the next 20 minutes – maybe move 20 yards or so?
17.How many people are driving with expired tags today? You will be surprised.
18.Can you get your left leg up in the seat so that you sit more comfortably with your foot underneath you? Careful it falls asleep sometimes. (not recommended for those with a manual transmission – scary ramifications for the sudden stop)
19.Try to ignore the multitude of text messages you are getting from your family and friends. Tough isn’t it?
20.Sing with the song on the radio – like you’re the only one doing this?
21.Plan your next bar-b-que. Is there a new game to change things up a little? Or do we just hang under the one lonely tree and play follow the shade again?
22.And why don’t Tim and Lindsay eat chicken? What else can you make besides burgers and brats?
23.How many people do you see talking on their cell phones in that 5 mile stretch with the heaviest traffic?
Be thankful you have a job and enjoy the time. No job – no commute….
frustration
trying to post the next blog - formatting issues........ swear, swear, scream!!!
I will get it up when I have more time and more patience.
I will get it up when I have more time and more patience.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The downsides of Unemployment
We covered the surprising and the unexpected upsides to unemployment.
Family time, good dinners, working out, cleaner house and more free time – all have been very positive aspects to losing my job.
There are negative points as well. Some are the traditional – some are just ridiculous to imagine. Here we go:
Unemployment is really hard on the fingernails. Really – trust me on this one! The constant cleaning with various chemicals softens nails. Always having my hands in water for the dishes or the laundry or wiping down the bathrooms makes them a peeling mess. I know the lotion thing helps and it does. But, man it is tough on nails. A by-product of the professional life these last few years has been really nice nails. Not so much now. Lotion, polish, filing, trimming – trying to keep the jagged edges from snagging clothes and tearing more of the nail off is hard work. Using them as wallpaper scrapers doesn’t help either. I have trimmed them back and rounded the edges to try and keep them neat and unbroken. I am not happy about it though.
And why does my hair look good now? I have ridiculously curly short hair. All of the sudden this week it decides to cooperate. 40 plus years it has been the bane of my daily routine. This week it looks great! Why?
There is a lot to do around here. We haven’t taken very good care of the house lately. So, I find myself doing those projects that have needed to be done for a long time. I just started taking the hideous wallpaper down in the kitchen. Man it is ugly. But, it was there when we moved in and it is a big kitchen. That is a lot of work taking that down. It is everywhere. Some places it peels off nicely. Some places you need a blow torch and a chisel. I have taken down wallpaper many times. I hate the stuff. I think there should be a law that if you are going to put up wallpaper you have to take it with you when you leave. Hard work and lots of effort are the only ways to get it off. Then I get to clean and prep the walls for paint. I think it will have to be the same color as the sitting room as they run together. Let’s see if I can find that paint color again!!
I don’t have a constant income anymore. I am trying not to spend too much time thinking about that one. Gainful employment is a tough one for a lot of people – not just me. If I think about it too much I make myself a lot crazy. I have a small part-time job and I can keep expenses to as low as possible. Combine trips out – grocery store once a week with a list – use the a/c less – use more natural light and keep the lights in the house off as long as I can. Every little bit helps. That being said I need to open the blinds and turn off the overhead light here in the office.
The four-legged furry people that live here require a lot of attention during the day. Husband says it is just me. They don’t do that to him when he is here alone with them. I am just that special I guess. The gray fuzzy one that crawls all over the desk, blocks the computer screen as he is investigating the contents of the pen cup is a real joy. The constant rubbing and scratching as each in turn come to the desk for my attention is not so bad. The whining and fussing and scratching my ankles when I don’t rub or scratch is enough to make you wish you didn’t ever bring one home. Which is a good point actually. All these rescues were perpetrated by the now college student who is a lot too busy for them all. Hmmm, maybe that was her master plan all along. Save the furry people from eminent demise for Mom to care for in her advancing years. She has been threatened with eviction should she bring one more through the door – any door – any creature.
Being suddenly unemployed is a little bit lonely. Having worked for some years with the same ever shrinking group of people a lot of your social time is spent at the job with those same people. Life changes happen and you all share in those. Births, deaths, anniversaries, day-to-day life are all part of your normal work routine. When you are removed from that setting with no warning and with no preparation it is very disconcerting. You don’t have the interaction with your friends/co-workers in which you have become accustomed. You feel left-out. Everyone else is still sharing with each other but not you. I now have to rebuild relationships that have been neglected and try to create new ones. I have relied on work for new relationships. Not sure I remember how to start one now.
I am certain I will find more positives as I go through this journey and more negatives as well. The job market is tough out there. I expect to be traveling this road for awhile.
Family time, good dinners, working out, cleaner house and more free time – all have been very positive aspects to losing my job.
There are negative points as well. Some are the traditional – some are just ridiculous to imagine. Here we go:
Unemployment is really hard on the fingernails. Really – trust me on this one! The constant cleaning with various chemicals softens nails. Always having my hands in water for the dishes or the laundry or wiping down the bathrooms makes them a peeling mess. I know the lotion thing helps and it does. But, man it is tough on nails. A by-product of the professional life these last few years has been really nice nails. Not so much now. Lotion, polish, filing, trimming – trying to keep the jagged edges from snagging clothes and tearing more of the nail off is hard work. Using them as wallpaper scrapers doesn’t help either. I have trimmed them back and rounded the edges to try and keep them neat and unbroken. I am not happy about it though.
And why does my hair look good now? I have ridiculously curly short hair. All of the sudden this week it decides to cooperate. 40 plus years it has been the bane of my daily routine. This week it looks great! Why?
There is a lot to do around here. We haven’t taken very good care of the house lately. So, I find myself doing those projects that have needed to be done for a long time. I just started taking the hideous wallpaper down in the kitchen. Man it is ugly. But, it was there when we moved in and it is a big kitchen. That is a lot of work taking that down. It is everywhere. Some places it peels off nicely. Some places you need a blow torch and a chisel. I have taken down wallpaper many times. I hate the stuff. I think there should be a law that if you are going to put up wallpaper you have to take it with you when you leave. Hard work and lots of effort are the only ways to get it off. Then I get to clean and prep the walls for paint. I think it will have to be the same color as the sitting room as they run together. Let’s see if I can find that paint color again!!
I don’t have a constant income anymore. I am trying not to spend too much time thinking about that one. Gainful employment is a tough one for a lot of people – not just me. If I think about it too much I make myself a lot crazy. I have a small part-time job and I can keep expenses to as low as possible. Combine trips out – grocery store once a week with a list – use the a/c less – use more natural light and keep the lights in the house off as long as I can. Every little bit helps. That being said I need to open the blinds and turn off the overhead light here in the office.
The four-legged furry people that live here require a lot of attention during the day. Husband says it is just me. They don’t do that to him when he is here alone with them. I am just that special I guess. The gray fuzzy one that crawls all over the desk, blocks the computer screen as he is investigating the contents of the pen cup is a real joy. The constant rubbing and scratching as each in turn come to the desk for my attention is not so bad. The whining and fussing and scratching my ankles when I don’t rub or scratch is enough to make you wish you didn’t ever bring one home. Which is a good point actually. All these rescues were perpetrated by the now college student who is a lot too busy for them all. Hmmm, maybe that was her master plan all along. Save the furry people from eminent demise for Mom to care for in her advancing years. She has been threatened with eviction should she bring one more through the door – any door – any creature.
Being suddenly unemployed is a little bit lonely. Having worked for some years with the same ever shrinking group of people a lot of your social time is spent at the job with those same people. Life changes happen and you all share in those. Births, deaths, anniversaries, day-to-day life are all part of your normal work routine. When you are removed from that setting with no warning and with no preparation it is very disconcerting. You don’t have the interaction with your friends/co-workers in which you have become accustomed. You feel left-out. Everyone else is still sharing with each other but not you. I now have to rebuild relationships that have been neglected and try to create new ones. I have relied on work for new relationships. Not sure I remember how to start one now.
I am certain I will find more positives as I go through this journey and more negatives as well. The job market is tough out there. I expect to be traveling this road for awhile.
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