Week 2 of unemployment

Things have been going OK since my layoff, but today I'm having a bit of anxiety.  While I already have a resume, I'm rewriting it based on formats that have been suggested by the outplacement company.  It is a service provided by my former employer.  It's free for 30 days, so I'll take advantage of it while I can.

I know that I know my stuff.  People around me know that I know my stuff, but it's really tough putting your experience (I've been in the working world for 34 years!) in to 2 pages and really impress those that might be hiring me.

I'll get through it, but it ain't easy.

Beginning of the end

So, I learned today of others that were victims of the RIF last week.  Some were not surprising while others were shocking.  I also learned of people that have decided to pack it in and are leaving on their own.  One individual has already given notice and another has already met with a recruiter to help her find another position.

We'll see how things look around there it a few weeks.

UNEMPLOYMENT - DAY 1

Wednesday, July 15, 2015, I was laid off from the job I held for 9 years.  I don't know that the reality of the situation has sunk in yet.  I enjoyed my extended weekend with my family.  Today is the first day I've had time to sit and really think about much.  It was supposed to have been my first day back to work after my mini-vaca.  So this is the first day of the unemployment thing.

I'll be checking in here from time to time just to write my thoughts and maybe ideas.  I will use this as my place to vent.

Wish me luck world.  Prayers are always welcome.

HISTORY, TOLERANCE AND OUR GIANT FAIL

History (from Greek ἱστορία, historia, meaning "inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation")^[2]

noun, plural histories

1. the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.
2. a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account; chronicle: a history of France; a medical history of the patient.
3. the aggregate of past events.
4. the record of past events and times, especially in connection with the human race.

History is history.  No matter how hard we may try, it cannot be rewritten.  We cannot erase actual documented events just because we don’t like them.  By removing these events from the records and history books does not mean that they never happened.

Yes, the Indians (Native Americans) were treated badly, but they weren’t the first ones to suffer from someone “invading” their country.  Columbus may have, as some declare, committed genocide against the Indians, but by ignoring his arrival in America does not mean that what may have happened in the 1400’s did not happen.  The pilgrims did their fair share as well.
    

Yes, slavery in America happened, but they were not the first ones to have been part of a slave/master situation. No human should ever be considered the “property” of another human.  However, that does not mean that those of us alive today should be held responsible and continue to pay for what our ancestors did 200 or 300 years ago.  Yes, my ancestors may have been directly involved, but I am not responsible for the things these people did hundreds of years ago.  I am no more responsible for that than a murderer’s child today is responsible for what their parent did.  On the other side of this, not all black people have ancestors that were slaves.  And not even all that were slaves suffered the atrocities that we know took place.  Some actually thrived and prospered because they came to America as slaves.  Black people need to quit taking the liberty of throwing out the slavery card in order to justify their actions and beliefs.
  

Neither of these issues is pleasant, but I am sick of the country today telling me that I need to be sorry and continually acknowledge these facts as if I had participated in either of these acts directly. 

What we are responsible for is learning from these past issues and continuing to make the world a better place.  This does NOT mean constantly telling people how horrible they are because they do not believe certain things are right, or that they do believe those things are right.  We need to ALL practice the true meaning of TOLERANCE on BOTH sides of the issues.

TOLERANCE

noun

1. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, beliefs, practices, racial or ethnic origins, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2. air, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions, beliefs, and practices that differ from one's own.
3. interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.

What we are not doing is making the world a better and we are not tolerant… myself included. I see this is a giant FAIL.  There are many things in this world today with which I do not agree, but I am not going to be mean, spiteful, and hateful about it.  I may occasionally express my displeasure or lack of understanding, but I am not going to wish harm on someone because of it.  That is not the type of human being I am or want to be.      

This may all seem disjointed (it feels that way to me) but this is all something that has been on my mind.  It is even more so today after a couple of posts I’ve seen (and shared) on Facebook today.  Please… EVERYONE: black, white, yellow, male, female, gay, straight…. EVERYONE … Think about your actions before acting on them.  Respect your country. Respect others.  Respect yourself.

Where Things Stand Today – November 7, 2012

The Presidential election for 2012 is now history.
 

Each campaign season we hear numbers thrown out about gas prices were this, mortgage rates were this, unemployment was this…etc.  I decided to put somethings down in writing for my own verification in 4 years.  While the numbers I find may not be the real numbers (who knows what’s real and what’s not anymore!), I think this will give me a truer idea of where things stood TODAY versus what they will be claiming in 2016.

I realize that this information is probably as subjective as any candidate’s declaration.  However, hopefully we can return to these same sources in 3 or 4 years and see how things compare.

So here they are, with the source:

Gasoline prices (Denver Metro area) – Regular $3.37 (personal observation); average seems to be $3.46 from GasBuddy 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2011/09/30/2012-federal-income-tax-brackets-irs-tax-rates/

And here is the link to the DoD budget request for 2013

The West is Burning

Here is a map to give you all an idea of how many fires there are in the western part of the United States.  As of last night at 10:30 p.m. there were 13 in Colorado alone.

Be careful everyone!!!

Just Checking in...

Not much going on these days, but thought I would write a post anyway.  Life is feeling pretty good.  There are some bumps in the road (aren't there always?), but I'm loving life.  I don't know that I've really ever felt that way.  


I hope you're finding your way through life and are happy as well.

Half Way Through a Century

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Photos*]  

How do you mark such a momentous day in one's life?  Today is the last day of the first half of a century of living for me.  Tomorrow at this time I will be waking and facing the fact that I am 50 years old.

A year or two ago, based on where my life was, this date might have bothered me tremendously.  Today I'm pretty happy with where my life is and I'm ready to take on the next half-century.

To all those who's paths have crossed with mine throughout my life, thank you for what you have added to my life, good or bad.  I truly believe that all of the events in your life make you the person that you are.  How you choose to use those events is up to you.  You can dwell on the negative and let the bad events ruin your life, or you can deal with them and move forward.  

There are definitely events (and events that never were) in my life that have made me angry or hurt tremendously, but what good does it do me to continually dwell on them?  I am choosing to be happy and live my life to the best of my ability.  With the help of people I love…and that love me, I can be happy with what I have and what I can do.  And I still have a lot of living to do, so here’s to another half-century!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

My dear,

Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent-free in your head.

They don’t pay rent; clean the dishes, take out the trash, or do anything else to make your head-space better by being there.

Do to them what any landlord does to an unruly tenant; KICK THEM OUT! Let go of the grudge.

Falsely yours,

A. Nonymous

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Photos*]

One Week Gone

Well, here we are, January 9, 2012.  How was the first week of your new year?  Nothing too exciting in my week, but nothing traumatic either.

What do you have going on this year?  My big even this year is that I will be turning 50 years old in 39 days!  WOW!  HALF A CENTURY!  I'm not sure I'm ready for that, but it's definitely better than the alternative!!!


Beyond my birthday, we a several family reunions coming up this summer (all in one weekend!!!).  Although I haven't always looked forward to them with much enthusiasm, I'm learning to enjoy them.  Especially after connecting with a cousin at one a couple of years ago who has become a good friend over the last couple of years.

House hunting is still a big thought on my mind, but we'll have to see how the financial market goes.  I'm liking where I'm at with my friend and we seem to have a pretty good thing going.  I don't want to mess up that relationship, so we'll just have to see how things go.

I'm pretty sure that work will present new and hopefully exciting challenges. Our team is regrouping after the exit of the man that was my supervisor from the day I was hired.  We also have a new(er) manager.  He's been with us for about 6 months, but with all of the things going on he hasn't had a chance to really take charge yet.  This will be a challenge for all of us.

So, to all of you, I hope that your first week of the new year was a good one.  I hope that your year is a good and positive one!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Photos*]

I hope that this new year brings you all wonder things and blesses you and your families with happiness. We are facing scary times, but we will endure.

I'm looking forward to seeing what this new year has in store me. I'm ready... BRING IT!

ONLY 4 MORE DAYS...

Voting for this contest ends on 9/22.  Please vote.  Use whatever emails you have (and I know most people have at least 2 if not more!!!).


Thanks!  I know Courtney appreciates the support.

PLEASE VOTE

A young friend of mine named Courtney is trying to win a photography contest.  First prize is a new camera.  If you would like to help, please register your email address(es) and vote for her photo.  If you have multiple email addresses you can register each one and vote once a day per email address through September 22.





Thanks!!!!

HAPPY COLORADO DAY!

A friend of mine found this quiz online this morning, courtesy of the Denver Post. I thought it might be fun to share it here:

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_10035188







In honor of our upcoming Colorado Day, it's time for a quiz: 


1) When is Colorado Day?

2) What is the oldest continuously operating business in Colorado?

3) Where is the most senior water right in Colorado?

4) When did the Colorado River start originating in Colorado?

5) Why is there a big "A" on a hillside west of Fort Collins?

6) Colorado is known as "the mother of rivers." What's the longest of her offspring?

7) In 1995, Ben Campbell switched from Democrat to Republican. But he was not the first U.S. senator from Colorado to change parties. Who was?

8) For whom did Coloradans vote in the 1876 presidential election?

9) What Continental Divide pass in Colorado was crossed by two railroad lines?

10) When did Colorado women get the right to vote?


Answers:


1) President U.S. Grant signed a proclamation admitting Colorado as a state on Aug. 1, 1876, so Aug. 1 was a state holiday for many years. Then it was moved to the first Monday in August. It quit being an official holiday in 1985 when the state made Martin Luther King Jr. Day a holiday.


2) Despite its recent claim, the Rocky Mountain News, founded in 1859, is not the oldest continuously running business. The R&R Supermarket in San Luis holds that title. It opened in 1857 as a general store owned by Don Dario Gallegos.


3) Near the oldest business is the oldest water right, San Luis People's Ditch No. 1, which began diverting water from Culebra Creek in 1852.


4) Until 1921, the Colorado River began at the junction of the Grand and Green rivers in Utah. That year, our legislature changed the name of the Grand to the Colorado. But the Grand lives on in place names like Grand County and Grand Junction. It would be simpler to discuss Western Slope water issues if we'd go back to calling it the Grand.


5) Colorado State University began as the Agricultural College of Colorado when authorized by the territorial legislature in 1870. Students were known as "Aggies," and thus the A.


6) The Rio Grande, at 1,900 miles, is the longest. The Arkansas, 1,459, and the Colorado, 1,450 (90 of those miles in Mexico), come next.


7) Henry Moore Teller represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate as a Republican from 1876 to 1882. He resigned to serve as secretary of the Interior (he was the first Coloradan to hold a cabinet position) until 1885 when he returned to the Senate as a Republican. He was a "Silver Republican" when he started another term in 1897, and became a Democrat for his last term, which started in 1903.


8) Coloradans did not vote in the 1876 election; that year the General Assembly chose the state's three presidential electors, who were Republicans and gave Rutherford B. Hayes his one-vote margin in the Electoral College. It was the only time, until 2000, that Colorado's electoral votes made any difference in a presidential election.


9) The Denver & Rio Grande crossed Fremont Pass from 1881 to 1923, and the Denver South Park & Pacific line operated there from 1884 to 1937. A remnant of that line, from Leadville almost to Climax, operates summer excursions as the Leadville, Colorado & Southern.


10) As of statehood in 1876, Colorado women could vote in school elections, and there was a referendum on full suffrage. It failed. One passed in 1893. Colorado was the second state, after Wyoming, to grant full female suffrage, and the first to do so by popular vote. Don't believe all those "Women couldn't vote until 1920" statements you encounter.


And now you can celebrate Colorado Day, whenever it is.


Ed Quillen (ed@cozine.com) is a freelance writer, history buff, publisher of Colorado Central Magazine in Salida and frequent contributor to The Post.

Pretty cool

My friend Jami posted this on her blog today.  I thought it was pretty cool and wanted to share it here.


Enjoy!

40 Years Ago This Week

I occasionally read a blog that is done by Wayne Osmond's wife, Kathy.  She posted yesterday that it was 40 years ago this week that ONE BAD APPLE hit #1 on the US Charts and stayed there for 5 weeks.  I'm posting the YouTube video as well as a link to Kathy Osmond's post.

Miscellaneous

I have received links to some pretty cool things lately.


Here are a few of them:


Frazil Ice @ Yosemite

Laurel and Hardy meet Carlos Santana

Surprise!

Happy New Year

The holiday season has come to an end.  Tomorrow it's back to work and for many, if they don't go back to school tomorrow, they will sometime this week.  

For the most part my holidays were good.  Had a nice Christmas at my sister and brother-in-law's house.  Christmas really is more fun with a child to watch.  The excitement and joy can not be matched.

It was good to have the family all together again.  Ashleigh was with us this year.

I normally do not really like New Year's Eve, but this year was spent with a great friend, and some (hopefully) new friends.  We had a nice evening.

I hope that 2011 will bring many wonderful things to you and your families.

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

This is another one that I got via email.  I've seen it several times before, but thought it was worth sharing.




 Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new... She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. 

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before...  "Leave me alone," he growled.... 

To his amazement, the woman continued standing. 

She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked. 

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." 

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.  

"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked. 

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" 

The officer scratched his head.  "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." 

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!"  Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.  "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it." 

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner.  It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table.  "What's going on here, officer?" he asked.  "What is all this, is this man in trouble?" 

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.  

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." 

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin.  "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."    

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"  

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."  

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" 

"What business is that of yours?" 

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." 

"Oh."  

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference."  She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" 

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."  

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."  

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."  

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. 

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."    

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently...  "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes.  "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." 

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly.  He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. 
 
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything.  Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days.  It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." 

Jack lit up with a smile.  "Now I remember," he said.  "I was behind the serving counter.  You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."  

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it.  I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right." 

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. 

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up.  Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office."  She smiled.  "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you." 

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."  

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said. 

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And thank you for the coffee." 

For My Crafty Friends

A friend of mine forwarded this to me in an email.  I thought it was pretty cool so I thought I would post it here.

Here is a money saver.

Don't throw out your old magazines, do some green crafting with them. Having a lot of patience and time you can create this amazing-looking multi-looped gift bow. Magazines have never been so crafty until now.

Materials:

• 1 magazine page (or 8 ½ x 11” paper of your choice)
• Small hole punch (or a sharp object for poking a small hole)
• 1 metal brad
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Cut across the magazine page to make nine 3/4 to 1 inch strips. 
   
   
    
2. Start with one strip and make a loop at one end.
   
   
    
3. Turn the strip and make a loop at the other end.
   
   
    
4. Use the small hole punch (or sharp object ~ be careful!!) to make a hole through all 3 layers of paper. 
   
   
    
5. Place the brad through the hole. 
   
   
    
6. Repeat with the remaining 8 strips. (I find it best to hold the prongs of the brad between my teeth while I loop the next strip, but do whatever works for you.) 
   
   
    
7. Open the brad to hold all the strips in place. 
   
   
    
8. Attach your finished bow using double sided tape. 
   
   
    

Related Projects

Seed Paper Flowers

Handmade Paper "LOL" Card

"Love You" Note Card and Envelope

DECEMBER 7, 1941…

…"a date which will live in infamy".

Let us not forget those that lost their lives on this day 69 years ago. Nor should we forget those that survived. They made sacrifices as well.

Thank you to all the Veterans of that era as well as those that fought in other conflict, and those still serving today.

God Bless America!