Archive for the ‘Work’ Category
Feb
18
Posted under
How I See It,
Work
No, I don’t have a bad case of dandruff, or head lice. I’m scratching my head because I am truly confused. I warn you ahead of time, this is my little soap box I’m standing on today. Just need to bitch to the world wide Internet about things.
For those who may not know, I’ve currently been unemployed since last May. For those counting, that’s about 9 months on the payroll of California’s unemployed. Not a happy place for anyone. However, a couple of nights back, my wife and I went to see our tax preparer. Fortunately for us, the news was good. We don’t owe Uncle Sam this year.
However, she told us of a client she has who has been unemployed for as long as I have. This gentleman was offered a “temporary” job for about six weeks. The guy thinking this was a way to get off of unemployment for a time, took the job. While he had been on unemployment his previous salary allowed him to collect the highest amount which is $900 every two weeks. However, after taking the minimum wage job for six weeks, and then refiling for unemployment when it ended, he was told that the State of California looks at your last six weeks of salary and the last 3 months average of pay. He made minimum for those six weeks and because of unemployment the previous 3 months which is consider not a wage, he was offered unemployment of less than $200 every two weeks.
SOAP BOX: Where is the incentive to take a job, any job, when the state cuts your unemployment. It has me personally scared to take just any job at the moment. If the State of California can cut a small wage to even smaller, what is a family to do?
THE CAVEAT: Don’t get me wrong, I don’t wish to stay on the state’s payroll. I’ve always held a job since when disco was still popular (yeah, I’m that old) and not working is driving me (and the wife) a bit crazy. However, I’m not crazy enough to jump at the first job and risk what little I have right now. However, I also know the this won’t last forever and I will soon run out of benefits and need to take that McDonald’s job….
Would you like fries with that?
Jan
11
Posted under
How I See It,
Work
I’ve been contemplating this for some time now. During the holidays I met up with some friends who know of my situation. Out of work and living in the sunshine state. We talked about what I’ve been doing to keep myself out of trouble. I told them basically writing anywhere and everywhere. Of course suggestions of getting a job writing came up.
Again, I had to remind them that jobs are hard to come by at the moment and it’s not like I haven’t been trying. The conversation got onto other things when one of the guys said, why don’t you write about your time looking for a job this past year. Talk about the trials and tribulations of a late 40’s man looking to secure work in a really bad economy.
As a writer this struck me as something plausible. I’m not sure how I will put this together yet, but the wheels in my head are breaking the dust and rust off and it seems very interesting.
Now having the opportunity to live in Southern California and enjoying the sunshine most days, I thought of a title “A Year In Shorts.”
Anybody know a publisher out there?
Dec
23
Posted under
How I See It,
Work
Obviously being unemployed, this doesn’t refer to me. However, I have been in this situation myself (hating my job) and when I saw this I just needed to pass it on. Enjoy….
When you have an ‘I Hate My Job Day’ Try this out:
Stop at your pharmacy and go to the thermometer section and purchase a
rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson. Be very sure you get this brand.
When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed. Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair. Open the package and remove the thermometer.
Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken.
Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice that in small print there is a statement:
“Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized.”
Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times,‘ I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson & Johnson.’
HAVE A NICE DAY; AND REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WITH A JOB THAT
IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE ASS THAN YOURS!
…Remember, if you haven’t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart… Then maybe you should go and work for Johnson and Johnson
Sep
17
Posted under
How I See It,
Work
When I left work several months ago, I took with me the office fish. Yes, I said the office fish. It was a male beta fish that took up residence in the office where I worked.
This fish was the just one of many that my office mates and I had through the years. Some people collect mugs or potted plants. We had our fish.
When I left work the fish became my property – probably because no one else wanted to take him, and no one had the guts to flush him down the sink. So I bundled him up and brought him home. He’s been living in a flower vase on my wife’s dresser ever since.
In a strange way the fish has been my connection to that part of my past. My coworkers and I don’t see each other much. We’ve all gone on to pursue different paths. Some have found jobs; others like me are still searching.
Sometimes we touch base by email, or texting, or Facebook, but that’s about it. And as the months drag on we touch base less often.
So, the fish died yesterday. I found him bobbing upside down and not moving (I could be a detective). I should be happy, one less mouth to feed. No more need to change his water. No stupid puffy fish attitude when I get close to his bowl.
Even so, I’m a bit sad. An empty vase is just a reminder that part of my past is gone and with it a connection to some of the people with whom I spent a better part of seven years.
On the other hand, he was just a fish…
I wonder if PetsSmart is having a sale?
Aug
13
Posted under
How I See It,
Wife,
Work
As you may have read in previous posts I’m going a bit stir crazy. Being unemployed and my wife working summer school this year I’ve found that there are only so many walls in this house to paint.
This is a new situation for me. At first it has been fun, kind of an extended vacation. I thought how cool will this be. Off from work during the summer. Sunshine, beach, shorts, flip flops all day long.
The luster has definitely worn off. And my wife is not happy about it.
I have no interaction with anyone during the day. Other than television or the mailman who will not look me straight in the eye after I asked him to look at a mole I had.
So when she comes home, I smother her with questions about her day, or relate to her my latest blog information or what the dog did interesting that day. She just stares at me with that look of “You will die now if you don’t leave me alone for five minutes.”
This situation is very common. With the economy the way it is more couples are finding themselves with one or both spouses out of work. My friend Dan over at Really Worried Dad sent me an article from the Wall Street Journal the other day. Knowing my situation he thought this might be something the wife and I could use. He was right…
Take a few minutes and read it. The marriage you save might be your own…
