Life, the Universe and everything....
I have been thinking of writing something here for a long time now but every time I have something to say, it's not been happy so I've just kept my mouth shut. I still don't have tons of happy news but figured I should post an update of some sort.
Since my last post, things at work got a little better, I made a discovery that made everyone's work easier and it earned me some respect from my team (and a friend or two) but then it freaked out the big guys and has since been banned 'until further notice. Anyone doing it will receive a corrective action.' So, we are back to the old way of doing things which means programs crashing and loosing network connections and having to reboot every 2 or 3 hours, often while keeping someone on hold as they wait for you to talk them through troubleshooting their technical disaster. Approximately half of the employees (entry level on up through middle management) have been terminated. The rules change every week or two and become retroactive so they could change a rule on Wednesday that could get you fired on Friday for something you did on Monday.
Of the remaining half of the employees, they have been encouraging Voluntary Time Off. When not enough people were taking VTO, they took the bottom 40% ranked employees and cut their schedules back by 10 hours and changed the shifts they worked (even though we have a contract). So, now more people are taking the VTO and out doing other things or finding other jobs. It's like a ghost town at work and every day, you walk in wondering if it's your day to get fired. Not a happy, healthy place to work. Getting my hours cut back has been a disaster for me, too. I've sent over between 80 to 100 resumes and job applications in the past year and have only had 2 call backs and 1 job offer. I have never in my life been unemployed or underemployed for this long. I'm used to finding a good job withing a month or two.
It's not helping that I live in the most financially repressed part of the state with the highest unemployment rates. I'm trying to get out of here as soon as possible. I'm trying different things to make extra cash, such as selling or auctioning everything I own. Unfortunately, I ran into a snag with that plan when my parents garage (where my stuff was stored) was broken into. Everything with pawnable value is gone and what is left (like my Mint on Card Star Trek action figures) aren't mint anymore. I became a bit of a recluse for a few weeks after sorting through it all and finally, after having so many friends ask if I was okay and what happened, I wrote a lengthy letter explaining it and posted it or emailed it to some of my closest friends. I'll share it in the next post *LOCKED* for my friends to see here on LJ. It's not something I want just anyone to be able to read. (I know a few of you who read this don't have Live Journal accounts so if you are curious, just ask me and I'll share. You know how to get a hold of me.)
Oh, and you might notice my icon changed. It's just for a little while. I'm in mourning. I'm not a regular smoker but every now and then I like to buy some Djarum Clove cigarettes and enjoy them. (My icon is a gramaphone needle, the logo for Djarum.) It's an aroma therapy/stress reliever for me. Earl Grey tea is another smell that just calms and soothes me. So, anyway, I've been under a ton of stress lately and with my hour long drive home at night, I decided it would be a good time for some cloves. I stopped in a shop and discovered they've been banned. I had had heard about it was going to happen when I got some in Michigan a few weeks earlier but no one mentioned when or I would have stocked up (though I can't afford it right now, I at least would have gotten a few packs to get me through the next year). I guess all flavored cigarettes except Menthol have been banned. Of course, this ban only applies to 1% of the tobacco sold in the U.S. and primarily affects imported products. In other words, it has little to no effect on american tobacco manufacturers like Philip Morris who actually backed the bill. In addition to banning the cigarettes, the government decided that the Djarum cigar was about . 046 g too light to meet their definition of a cigar and have had them pulled from the shelves pending a lawsuit filed by Djarum. What it boils down to is that you can't find clove anything. If you want clove, you have to make it yourself or buy it online direct from Indonesia where they've been a tradition for a couple of centuries.
While I don't smoke regularly, I am feeling slighted. Clove smokers are NOT typical smokers. They don't go through cartons a week (usually) the way regular smokers do. It's like a wine drinker versus a beer drinker.... imagine being told you can only drink beer or white wine? So, I'm not happy. I even made a t-shirt in protest. http://www.cafepress.com/clovewtf I can't find what I like online so I joined a community here on LJ and have been discussing recipes and today I shall make my first attempt at making my own. Nice thing is I have all the ingredients on my spice rack so the only thing I had to get my hands on was the tobacco. :D Just in case you think that's a tad bit obsessive, you must realize I've roasted my own coffee before and plan on brewing my own wine and beer eventually as well. I like to know things, how to do things and I'm willing to invest my time into creating something of quality. I'm just not that into mass marketed consumer products. *Shrugs* I'm a snob. :P
On a bright note, I think I have a job waiting for me in Vancouver, if I can get there before the positions are all filled. If I can't make it in time then I'll go to Washington, Seattle or somewhere between there and the Canadian border. I can job hunt in Van on my days off. I'm sure I can get a barista job in a matter of days once I get there. With my recent financial setbacks, my move has been delayed until I get my takes back in the spring (unless one of my other endeavors comes through for me). My son and I are only keeping what will fit into my car. We're getting rid of everything we can sell to help pay for the move. (My daughter is currently living with her dad and likes it there)
I will be selling things on eBay to help pay for the move. Hopefully that will turn up something. I'm also helping a friend sell some property so if that goes for a good price, I'll get a nice commission to put towards that savings as well. *fingers crossed*
ÜSFG is going great! I'm really proud of it. It's one of the best things in my life and I'm just thrilled beyond words that it's been so well received.
*imitates the Mask imitating Sharon Stone*
:D
Since my last post, things at work got a little better, I made a discovery that made everyone's work easier and it earned me some respect from my team (and a friend or two) but then it freaked out the big guys and has since been banned 'until further notice. Anyone doing it will receive a corrective action.' So, we are back to the old way of doing things which means programs crashing and loosing network connections and having to reboot every 2 or 3 hours, often while keeping someone on hold as they wait for you to talk them through troubleshooting their technical disaster. Approximately half of the employees (entry level on up through middle management) have been terminated. The rules change every week or two and become retroactive so they could change a rule on Wednesday that could get you fired on Friday for something you did on Monday.
Of the remaining half of the employees, they have been encouraging Voluntary Time Off. When not enough people were taking VTO, they took the bottom 40% ranked employees and cut their schedules back by 10 hours and changed the shifts they worked (even though we have a contract). So, now more people are taking the VTO and out doing other things or finding other jobs. It's like a ghost town at work and every day, you walk in wondering if it's your day to get fired. Not a happy, healthy place to work. Getting my hours cut back has been a disaster for me, too. I've sent over between 80 to 100 resumes and job applications in the past year and have only had 2 call backs and 1 job offer. I have never in my life been unemployed or underemployed for this long. I'm used to finding a good job withing a month or two.
It's not helping that I live in the most financially repressed part of the state with the highest unemployment rates. I'm trying to get out of here as soon as possible. I'm trying different things to make extra cash, such as selling or auctioning everything I own. Unfortunately, I ran into a snag with that plan when my parents garage (where my stuff was stored) was broken into. Everything with pawnable value is gone and what is left (like my Mint on Card Star Trek action figures) aren't mint anymore. I became a bit of a recluse for a few weeks after sorting through it all and finally, after having so many friends ask if I was okay and what happened, I wrote a lengthy letter explaining it and posted it or emailed it to some of my closest friends. I'll share it in the next post *LOCKED* for my friends to see here on LJ. It's not something I want just anyone to be able to read. (I know a few of you who read this don't have Live Journal accounts so if you are curious, just ask me and I'll share. You know how to get a hold of me.)
Oh, and you might notice my icon changed. It's just for a little while. I'm in mourning. I'm not a regular smoker but every now and then I like to buy some Djarum Clove cigarettes and enjoy them. (My icon is a gramaphone needle, the logo for Djarum.) It's an aroma therapy/stress reliever for me. Earl Grey tea is another smell that just calms and soothes me. So, anyway, I've been under a ton of stress lately and with my hour long drive home at night, I decided it would be a good time for some cloves. I stopped in a shop and discovered they've been banned. I had had heard about it was going to happen when I got some in Michigan a few weeks earlier but no one mentioned when or I would have stocked up (though I can't afford it right now, I at least would have gotten a few packs to get me through the next year). I guess all flavored cigarettes except Menthol have been banned. Of course, this ban only applies to 1% of the tobacco sold in the U.S. and primarily affects imported products. In other words, it has little to no effect on american tobacco manufacturers like Philip Morris who actually backed the bill. In addition to banning the cigarettes, the government decided that the Djarum cigar was about . 046 g too light to meet their definition of a cigar and have had them pulled from the shelves pending a lawsuit filed by Djarum. What it boils down to is that you can't find clove anything. If you want clove, you have to make it yourself or buy it online direct from Indonesia where they've been a tradition for a couple of centuries.
While I don't smoke regularly, I am feeling slighted. Clove smokers are NOT typical smokers. They don't go through cartons a week (usually) the way regular smokers do. It's like a wine drinker versus a beer drinker.... imagine being told you can only drink beer or white wine? So, I'm not happy. I even made a t-shirt in protest. http://www.cafepress.com/clovewtf I can't find what I like online so I joined a community here on LJ and have been discussing recipes and today I shall make my first attempt at making my own. Nice thing is I have all the ingredients on my spice rack so the only thing I had to get my hands on was the tobacco. :D Just in case you think that's a tad bit obsessive, you must realize I've roasted my own coffee before and plan on brewing my own wine and beer eventually as well. I like to know things, how to do things and I'm willing to invest my time into creating something of quality. I'm just not that into mass marketed consumer products. *Shrugs* I'm a snob. :P
On a bright note, I think I have a job waiting for me in Vancouver, if I can get there before the positions are all filled. If I can't make it in time then I'll go to Washington, Seattle or somewhere between there and the Canadian border. I can job hunt in Van on my days off. I'm sure I can get a barista job in a matter of days once I get there. With my recent financial setbacks, my move has been delayed until I get my takes back in the spring (unless one of my other endeavors comes through for me). My son and I are only keeping what will fit into my car. We're getting rid of everything we can sell to help pay for the move. (My daughter is currently living with her dad and likes it there)
I will be selling things on eBay to help pay for the move. Hopefully that will turn up something. I'm also helping a friend sell some property so if that goes for a good price, I'll get a nice commission to put towards that savings as well. *fingers crossed*
ÜSFG is going great! I'm really proud of it. It's one of the best things in my life and I'm just thrilled beyond words that it's been so well received.
*imitates the Mask imitating Sharon Stone*
:D