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Work
Past mistakes mean that we are in pretty bad money trouble. Bad enough that the shop guys are on 32 hour weeks, and the office staff on salary (read: everyone except me) may have to take pay cuts. The owner has also taken himself off the payroll for the time being. So that's been fun. We thought we were out of the woods a month ago, but now we're not selling any new jobs because of the aforementioned mistakes. Last week, I was thinking we were 50/50 to stay afloat...now it looks to be 60/40 in favor of staying in business. That's good, because my mom won't make this kind of money anywhere else and I don't want to see my parents struggle again. They spent so long getting to this point, where they actually have some money, that it would be awful to go back.
For me, I would lose the ridiculous benefits package and the almost entirely pressure-free environment. I show up when I feel like it, am given free reign to do my work as I please, and am generally hassle-free. The money isn't great (I could make this much doing a lot of things), but I'm guessing the lack of stress at work has led to me being in a good mood 90% of the time.
Parents
Speaking of them...my dad's lower back has deteriorated pretty rapidly. He's waiting results from an MRI, but it looks like he'll need surgery similar to the one he had in his neck. The good news is that the recovery time is much shorter, since they don't have to go through his throat and avoid the brain stem. The bad news is that, if he has surgery, he won't be able to build the house he and my mom have been planning and getting a mortgage for. For my dad, I know this house was basically his dream. The community has its own slips, so he could literally drive the boat across the South River to his chair shop and work. If he can't build it this year, I'm not sure if he plans on selling the land or waiting until next year. I do know that they can't fund the whole thing if the current house sells after the bubble bursts. Houses in Crofton right now are being sold for preposterous sums. For example, my parents would be making 175% of their original investment if they sold for what they think our house is "worth". We got that house in 1996. 175% in 9 years? On an old townhouse? In Crofton? It boggles my mind. However, they need that bubble to hold or else the land they bought will have to be sold. Thus, the need to build the house soon. So, we'll see...I do worry about it though. I don't know if they'll get another shot like this one.
Birthday
Good times were had by all. I was accused of stealing a chipwich at the end of the night (the truth was, I was trying to stomp on it because it was not the kind I wanted. I was not trying to steal that chipwich...I was trying to destroy it). I got drunk, but not like last year where it's all a blank that has been filled in by friends. My mom promised to frame my DC United 2004 Champions photo, but never did. This means she now owes me that and my Return of the Dragon movie poster framed. I was given drinks by many, and little else. It was, truly, my first birthday as a real adult (kid birthdays mean presents and a party; college birthdays mean drink till you puke and gifts of cash; adult birthdays mean drinks and taking a day off from work if you've got one to blow).
Past mistakes mean that we are in pretty bad money trouble. Bad enough that the shop guys are on 32 hour weeks, and the office staff on salary (read: everyone except me) may have to take pay cuts. The owner has also taken himself off the payroll for the time being. So that's been fun. We thought we were out of the woods a month ago, but now we're not selling any new jobs because of the aforementioned mistakes. Last week, I was thinking we were 50/50 to stay afloat...now it looks to be 60/40 in favor of staying in business. That's good, because my mom won't make this kind of money anywhere else and I don't want to see my parents struggle again. They spent so long getting to this point, where they actually have some money, that it would be awful to go back.
For me, I would lose the ridiculous benefits package and the almost entirely pressure-free environment. I show up when I feel like it, am given free reign to do my work as I please, and am generally hassle-free. The money isn't great (I could make this much doing a lot of things), but I'm guessing the lack of stress at work has led to me being in a good mood 90% of the time.
Parents
Speaking of them...my dad's lower back has deteriorated pretty rapidly. He's waiting results from an MRI, but it looks like he'll need surgery similar to the one he had in his neck. The good news is that the recovery time is much shorter, since they don't have to go through his throat and avoid the brain stem. The bad news is that, if he has surgery, he won't be able to build the house he and my mom have been planning and getting a mortgage for. For my dad, I know this house was basically his dream. The community has its own slips, so he could literally drive the boat across the South River to his chair shop and work. If he can't build it this year, I'm not sure if he plans on selling the land or waiting until next year. I do know that they can't fund the whole thing if the current house sells after the bubble bursts. Houses in Crofton right now are being sold for preposterous sums. For example, my parents would be making 175% of their original investment if they sold for what they think our house is "worth". We got that house in 1996. 175% in 9 years? On an old townhouse? In Crofton? It boggles my mind. However, they need that bubble to hold or else the land they bought will have to be sold. Thus, the need to build the house soon. So, we'll see...I do worry about it though. I don't know if they'll get another shot like this one.
Birthday
Good times were had by all. I was accused of stealing a chipwich at the end of the night (the truth was, I was trying to stomp on it because it was not the kind I wanted. I was not trying to steal that chipwich...I was trying to destroy it). I got drunk, but not like last year where it's all a blank that has been filled in by friends. My mom promised to frame my DC United 2004 Champions photo, but never did. This means she now owes me that and my Return of the Dragon movie poster framed. I was given drinks by many, and little else. It was, truly, my first birthday as a real adult (kid birthdays mean presents and a party; college birthdays mean drink till you puke and gifts of cash; adult birthdays mean drinks and taking a day off from work if you've got one to blow).