Busy Days

Many, many things keeping this family very busy lately.
Number 1 son will enter his Science Fair with an experiment and explanation of Gel Electrophoresis on Thursday. He has done a good job and been more involved this year than any other year previous. I hope he will at least get an Honorable Mention. This will encourage him - and right now, I feel he needs that. He seems to be putting forth more effort but still not quite what I would wish. And the things that I think should come natural to him by this age do not. I think most of that is simply because he chooses not to. He would much rather focus on the fun things in life. (insert motherly dragon scowl here).
Number 1 daughter is putting forth more effort towards her schoolwork in the last two weeks than she has put in all 12 prior years total! I really am getting very excited to see the second marking period report card. If the progress report was any indication - this should be the best report card EVER.
The man has been fighting his demons - not the prior ones.... This is a bit different. Unfortunately for him, this is 1929.... the stock market has claimed a victim. This has sent him spiraling down into the depths of a depression from which it is very difficult at best to ressurect oneself. All the kings horses and all the kings men have not been able to even put one piece of Humpty back together again. And so, I have sent him to 'reinforcements'.....
I am grateful that I have a job and have been handed the opportunity to straighten out my own financial 'house'. This will enable me to carry my little family through.
And then, there is work........... in addition to all the normal hysteria, we are in the midst of the great transition. And so the 12 hour work day has become extended.............

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Today, I believe, was a very important day in history. The inauguration of our first mixed-race president. And a young one at that. I feel more hopeful than I have since that horrible day in 1963.......... I hope that God and good advisors will lead President Obama to do great things for this nation. I believe he has some wonderful ideas - ideas that he has given great thought as to how to accomplish. This is more than I have seen any other presidential hopeful do. And as jaded as my great age has allowed me to become, I truly do believe he wishes to hear what the people say and think - not ONLY what other politico's opinions are and the voices of the various .
However, I must sadly note that, in visiting the website he set up for the citizens of this country to air their ideas and suggestions (can't remember the name - but Laoch kindly listed it in one of his blogs), I saw that the most popular idea put forth was the legalization of marijuana. While I endorse that wholeheartedly - FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES, I found it very disheartening to note that it had the most votes up by the people. I do not know whether that is because of wonderful communication within the groups whose function is to make this happen or if that is truly how the majority of visitors to this website feel. I would hope that it is the former as the latter would indicate that the citizens are unaware of the plight of our economy, of the forces still dying in Iraq needlessly, of the many children who despite a food surplus are still starving, who despite an enormous education budget - are still illiterate, and the skyrocketing costs of healthcare making medications and care unaffordable for many, of ever-growing unemployment numbers.............and the list goes on and on.
Somehow, when put up against all these things, legalization of marijuana seems small indeed.
In any event, I wish for our new President faith and courage to stand for and stand up for all that he believes and the energy to see all the things he wishes to do through to completion.
May he have a blessed and productive 4 years in office.

Economics 101

Now this is how a business SHOULD manage the current economic struggle.

A Repost

This is a repost from my other blog. Apparently, the vast majority of my circle has defected to blogger due to spam, unfriendlies, and difficulties with MSN making significant and frequent changes. I am not sure whether I will make this my permanent home or not at the moment, however........ for the time being.........

Things often happen that we don't plan. And often do not want. And do not look for.

They happen for a reason. And sometimes, it takes awhile to see that reason and understand it.

It has been a very sad Christmas season in my work group. Less than 50% of us were outsourced - meaning we have jobs. 55% of us were surplussed - which means we do not.

I was among the fortunate few to be outsourced. Thus, my wish to go to work for someone else has been fulfilled - but not in a way that I chose. At first, I was, admittedly very angry about that. This was not MY choice. Now that I think back, perhaps that is why things worked out the way they did - with me being angry enough about my position to accept working for another company - in fact - to pursue it wholeheartedly. This was, perhaps, preparation for this outsourcing.

I did see the writing on the wall - I knew this was coming - although it was not the reason for embarking on a job search. However, I did not see it coming until next year about this time as there was one VERY BIG point which I did not factor into my equation. Once this factor was presented, I realized that the timing was correct.

Needless to say, no one in my work group felt very Christmas-y. Our parties were not well-attended. Some just fizzled out completely. One of the worst parts about this is that, as outsourced people, we remain in our jobs. Thus we will be working side by side with the people who have no jobs for the next few months while they desperately search for jobs within and without. The lucky few next to the condemned. Many of whom have small children they must support.

Understanding how businesses run - with fiscal years and reporting divided up into 4 quarters and the end-of-year being December 31, of course all businesses make a made dash for the best finish right at the end of the year. Which makes December the biggest month for layoffs. One would think, with the majority of the world celebrating some sort of spiritual holiday at this time of year, that some caring business owner might have considered moving the end-of-fiscal year to another quarter - thus avoiding the layoffs at a time of year when depression and suicide are NORMALLY at high rates. It seems strange to me that this has never been considered or implemented.

Now, for the good.... Yes there is much good. This was a blessing in disguise. It turns out that I will actually retire from my current company. Thus, I must figure out what to do with my pension. I have, at 50, the ability to use that in many ways. My current situation leaves me going from week to week - paycheck to paycheck - like many. And in debt enough that it is strangling me. When I divorced, I carried the financial burden of that move. As well as starting out with nothing. I took the kids bedroom sets and my kitchen pots and pans and my clothes and personal items. EVERYTHING ELSE I left. Some things, like couches and chairs, were donated - God bless my good friends with large hearts! Much - dishes, refrigerator, washer, dryer - I needed to purchase. Thus, I have racked up a debt which I am struggling to repay - along with the medical expenses for this year (getting kids into counseling and medicated ........sigh). Turns out that I am allowed to take the medical from the new company - which is significantly more manageable - and, when I truly retire from Corporate America - I will be allowed to return to my former company's medical plan....not good financially - but, ANY medical insurance is better than none at all. The savings from the new companys medical plan will allow me to put some $ into a 401K for the first time. I will most likely access a portion of the pension in what I believe (yes - I am consulting a tax person first) is a tax-free manner - to be able to give my daughter some money toward her college education. I believe that I will be able to do the same for my son when his turn comes in a few years. Also turns out that I can take a chunk of the pension and repay my debts - leaving me debt free for the first time in many, many years. This, however, will come with a 10% 'early retirement penalty'. But, I believe that will be well worth the penalty for the effects that will have a few years down the road.

Needless to say, this has been a very, very busy and stressful few weeks for all of us! The first two months of the year also promise to be very busy and full of decision making, and I hope, promise?

On the KID front:

Number 1 son is now 14. Doing so-so in school - but, with promise for the New Year. He has not been in treatment for long so it is hoped that continuation with bring about more positive changes.

Number 1 daughter - OHMYGOSH! This mothers heart is just SWELLING with pride! So, she was in Chemistry - and even in treatment, it was just not for her. So, two weeks into the SECOND semester, she switched to Physics. PHYSICS, PEEPS!!!!!!!!! She managed to COMPLETE ALL the work from the first semester AND catch up to all the work from the SECOND semester - and the progress report came home with a B+!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!! She is ON HER WAY to HIGH HONORS! Its what we ALWAYS knew she COULD do, she just needed some help! She has an A- in PreCalc, and A+ in English, Marine Science, and her Independant Study!!!!!!!!!!! This girl is HOT!!!!

I am off to unbury my car from the snowstorm yesterday.

Catch ya later!