This anniversary is different from others. I have worked in and out of the high tech industry for years. My resume has had me in many different jobs for the last twenty years however; I’ve spent the last seven with my last employer.

We all knew the economy was tough and that it might take a little while to find the next job. Nevertheless, as the days continued, the jobs didn’t appear. How many resumes do you need to send out before your frustration begins to take its toll?

Today’s news that the jobless unemployment claims have risen again is not encouraging. It was hardly unexpected but still depressing. I don’t know the fix for this current situation we are experiencing. I don’t know if there is a fix at all. But, being the optimist I like to think I am, I believe that everything is cyclical and that we just need to wait for the upswing in the cycle.

Unlike many anniversaries, this one will be celebrated quietly. I will try to look at what I have and hope for better times ahead.

6:45 – The wife gently wakes me with a kiss goodbye and reminds me to have a great day.  Got to love that woman who keeps me grounded.  Got to remember her birthday this year…

7:30 – Begin to roll over in bed and contemplate the day.  Not much excitment planned for the day.  Stumble out of bed, head to the shower, inspect the soon to be 50 year old body for damage and aging.  Soak my head for 10 minutes in the shower to shake the cobwebs.

8:00 – I get dressed in shorts and a t-shirt (this is Southern California) and head out the door with the dog to meet with my Coffee Consortium at the patio of the local shopping center.  We all b.s. about the economy, jobs, money, how it was in the day, kids, grand kids (them) and drink our coffee.

9:00 – Head home with the dog after way too many stops.  This dog needs check out every damn bush!  Head upstairs and turn the computer on.

9:10  – 10:30 – Answer email, check cigar websites, update a Facebook status.  Basically goofing around for about an hour.  Then off to serious work.  The job hunt.  I’ve got about a dozen sites I check on to look for the latest in employment.  So far not much luck.

11:00 – 12:00 – Head to the gym and try to work out my frustration that finding a “friggin” job is so difficult.  Probably good for an additional couple of miles on the treadmill.

1:00 – 4:00 – Spend this time writing articles.  It is amazing what you can write about if you put the effort in.  Who knew I could write about allergies and dust mites? 

5:00 – 10:00 – Family time.  Dinner, time to talk with the wife and girls about their days of work and school.  Eventually one of the girls will ask:  

“What did you do today Dad?” 

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? 

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?

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

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?

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…

I know I don’t have a right to complain, after all it’s not like I’m the only person in this situation.  Many of you out there have had to endure much longer than I without it.

I am a man with needs.  I have to have it on a daily basis or I’ll go crazy.  I want it, and I need it soon. 

My wife, bless her heart, is an understanding woman.  She sees that look in my eyes and knows that my yearning is unquenchable.     

I know I don’t have a right to complain, but damn it, it’s been 12 very long weeks!!!

I’ve tried to keep my mind off of it.  God knows the chores I’ve done around this house to stay busy.  I’ve painted almost every room in the house.  I’ve replanted much of the garden.  I am constantly doing the laundry including the wife’s lingerie and panties.  

I’ve tried to blog more.  It seemed more difficult when there was so much being said about all the women who were at the Blog”HER” convention.   

But there is only so much a man can take!  If something doesn’t happen soon, I’m going to be doing more than just howling at the moon.

But, I need a job.  NOW!!!! 

I need to be gainfully employed.  I need a place to go to everyday and drink coffee, and lots of it.  Someplace to talk about last night’s ballgame.  I need a workplace to gossip about other employees and pick on the boss when he’s not looking.  So for the sake of my sanity,

Brother (or sister) could you spare a job?

Leaving a job is not much different than a divorce.  I’ve been through both.  The reasons for leaving in the end don’t really matter, just as it is in a marriage.  It just ends.  This just leaves the good, the bad and the ugly ways of parting company in both situations. 

Next week is my last at this employer.  I’ve spent the last seven and a half years here and have made some friends.  These are people that I’ve probably spent more time with than my own family.  We’ve seen each other through the good times and the bad.  We know about each others families and have celebrated birthdays, marriages, and promotions.  We’ve consoled each other through bad days of work and the chaos of our home life as well. 

I recently was solicited by one of the programs on National Public Radio about my experiences with the upcoming layoff.  They wanted to know what will happen when I say goodbye to these people.  Will I continue to stay in contact? 

Past experience has been that I will let these people go.  Just as I have in my divorce.  Both experiences are a time to turn the corner.  A new start if you will.  Maybe a chance to see what the “other road” might have to offer.

But like my divorce, I won’t be able to separate completely from these people.  My ex wife and I have two beautiful daughters that we share and raise together.  So naturally our communication continues for their sake. 

Modern technology and the many “social networks” I’m attached to will make it nearly impossible to hid from anyone.  Between LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and email, I’m not hard to find. 

The fish has been a department “pet” for a couple of years.  He’s been one of a long line of fish that our group has nurtured through the years.

At least the fish now has a playmate…

Life has certainly been interesting the last few weeks.  Strange things have been brewing and it makes a man sit and ponder.  Hmmm….

Ouch

On Monday I stopped by the vending machine and bought a box of these  

I admit, I have a really bad sweet tooth and my love for these candy coated black licorice beauties is, wait for it….legendary.

So I popped one in my mouth and felt a crunch that wasn’t normal.  I ended up breaking a tooth.  The back molar to be exact.  Over $400 later I’m the proud owner of my first crown. 

Yeah, you can feel the sarcasm…

Vacation?

The wife and I just finished a week and a half vacation together and we both survived not wanting to kill each other.  This was a practice vacation for when I’m out of work in about three weeks.  Then it will probably be a fairly extended vacation for me.  She’s already got the honey do list going. 

 “What color did you want the kitchen, honey.”

Head Colds

Probably the reason we survived the mini vacation together was because we both were fighting head colds.  Misery loves company, I guess. 

We suffered together, even through Disneyland.

Cigars

I’ve been moving my internet favorites from my office machine over to my home computer this past week.  I had over 20 cigar sites listed, from review sites to on-line stores. 

That’s not obsessive, is it?

Cell Phones

When I leave this job in three weeks I need to give them their Blackberry back.  That means I need to start shopping for a new cell phone.  I’ve been looking and trying to decide what features I need and what I can live without.  Being a techie geek, I want all the bells and whistles, but the practical side is screaming for me to go simple. 

This is going to be tough…

Oldest Daughter

Currently she is in the middle of her junior year at college.  She’s a communications major with the emphasis in Public Relations.  However, for the last year she’s been a writer for the school’s newspaper.  In fact this past semester she was given her own column on the Opinions Page.  She writes with a mature insight and a bit of humor (not unlike her dad) and it has not gone unnoticed.  She was recently asked to consider taking a position as the Editor and Chief for the paper. 

Maybe she should have chosen Journalism instead.

Middle Daughter (Princess)

Starting this weekend she will be involved with a major controversy that has been newsworthy nationwide.  Her high school will be putting on the High School version of “Rent.”  This version is much tamer than the original play but still retains many of the controversial characters.  It has not been staged by many schools as of yet and those that have put it on have had to endure criticism for doing so.  This upcoming performance is not an exception.

The local law enforcement has told the high school that there is several planned demonstration outside of the school.  Reporters from CBS and numerous newspapers are planning to be there on opening night. 

Though I am conflicted with the choice of this show, I am proud of her and her costars for bravely going forward.

Youngest Daughter

Her accomplishments are proudly displayed in my previous post.   

The Bread Winner

My wife who is a private school grade school teacher recently found out that she will be the mentor (leader) for her grade level.  Let’s give a big round of applause for the little lady.  Thankfully they love her there and she loves teaching.  Especially since in three weeks she’ll be the primary bread winner in the family. 

Gulp….