Well…was going to get into the class warfare thing…and I may still do that later but I had something pop into my head this morning that I want to share…of a little more personal note than normal. The news reports yesterday were heavily weighted to one story that hit home for me…about a mechanic who chose to stay on unemployment rather than take 150 dollars a week less from basically minimum wage jobs. The repubs, of course, jumped on this individuals choices as proving their point that unemployment benefits give people an incentive to not work and are a major reason unemployment is so high. Really? I know, I’ve touched on this before but the story of the 50 something man trying his best to survive without giving up everything he worked his whole life for hit so close to home that I wanted to share a little of my story that is remarkably similar.

The problem is, I did everything right…I followed all of the rules…work hard, get an education, save money, raise a family, take care of my health; the things I could control…but the one thing I can’t control, my age, is the one thing that keeps many of us from going back to work…no one will hire a 57 year old no matter what their qualifications. And, I do have qualifications: an associate degree, two bachelor degrees, and a masters degree; graduating magna and summa cum laude…first in my class for the masters in management….and over 100 resumes out in the last month with no responses. It’s disheartening that everything you were taught about life, and that you believed in, has been turned upside down and no longer applies. But I don’t want you to think that this is whining because it’s not…it’s more that I’m confused and haven’t figured out the new order yet. I still have hope that I will, but the weight of slowly going broke, of just idling here while I wait for the economy to improve, takes a toll every day. I long for the times when weekends meant something, the times when I had someplace to go, the times when I had accomplishments to look forward to; I still try to smile every day but it gets harder as this goes on…..

Well…it’s Friday the 13th and I don’t feel that bad today…trying to figure out what to do this weekend since everyone is out of town…again…maybe I should start doing the same….sorry about the no posts yesterday but I did want to go to the beach and I think the relaxing sound of the waves took away all my outrage; an effect that lasted all day…well, that and the fact that I felt really lousy most of the day. I do have a topic coming about the class warfare that is being propagated by the right but it’s not solidified yet…but that one may be supplanted by something else since I am going to get back into my routine and read the 4 newspapers at Kava this morning…so, on that note, I should get going…need to get a note off to T…more later..

Oh, there will also be a Red Wings update at some point today, too…

Well…back from the beach and do feel a lot better after the sun and swimming…and the couple of beers at the Tip along with a burrito…did get a little scorched but not too badly…going to take the rest of the day off to take it easy since the sun takes a lot out of me…and without reading the papers today I really don’t have any outrage worked up yet…maybe later if I see the news on tv…we’ll see…

Well…I was right…I do feel like crap today but it’s my fault and I accept the blame….I think I have to do this from time to time to remind myself that whiskey at home is not a good idea…but the best thing to do to recover is go to the beach…so I’m putting the bike on the back of the wreck and heading out to GH to sit in the sand and go swimming….then over to the Tip for beers and a burrito for lunch if I feel better by then….owwww….so you may hear more from me later or maybe not…

Well…another night of no booze at home but that string will be broken today…feel pretty good this morning but have to go grocery shopping since the freezer is empty and eating an ice pack is not an option. Did get a bunch more veggies from C’s garden and thanks to him for helping me eat more healthy. Don’t think I’ve had this many veggies in my life and I need to get more creative before I get tired of them. Maybe butternut squash with butter and parmesan for lunch today? Who knows…

It’s Wed so out to Ada today and it has to be better than Sunday with the thousands of screaming brats running around…and I predict I’m going to win at pool today…well, I thought that Sunday, too but that didn’t work out too well. I don’t like losing four times in a row…yeah, not really…I think we’re both getting better and that is fun…so, that’s about it for now…not going out on the bike this morning to beat the rain…just don’t feel like it…more later…

Well…long day yesterday but you will be happy to hear that, for the third day, no booze at home…I did go out with G last night and we almost had our first argument in over a year…I think we were both crabby and out of sorts so that should not have been surprising….I think I’m going out for my ride early this morning since there is a heavy fog here and that is always fun on the bike…skipped yesterday and feel kind of guilty about it but I had so much to do that I just couldn’t fit it in…more later…

Oh, did have some outrage yesterday but feel much better today….