Wow, this economy is a real bummer. Everyone in the nation knows at least one person that has lost his or her job. In my case, the one person I know also happens to be my husband and the sole bread-winner for the household.
Adapting to our new financial (or lack thereof) situation, I've decided to cut back on discretionary spending. No more luxuries like cable TV, salon haircuts or pedicures. I will now only shop clearances and wholesale. No more eating out and only second-hand stores for clothing.
Wait a minute, that's how I've always lived.
The one luxury that I'm having a hard time giving up is the children's private school education, and those familiar with Hawaii public schools understand why. Luckily the current school year is already paid for, but the coming year is quite uncertain.
In the meantime, you will find me on the side of the road holding a sign that says, "Will work for pidgin-free education".
there is no
the end
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Humble Pie Blues
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7 comments:
What??? What happened?? I thought Kiewit was doing awesome?? Did they give you the opportunity to go somewhere else? Now you have me so very worried.
crazy, huh? I thought we were going to be Kiewit lifers, but it was not to be. Every district seems to have it's own atmosphere, and the one we switched to when we came to Hawaii is a little more impersonal than the one we came from. (that's my diplomatic response, call me and I'll give you my candid one.)
I'm ill over this and I don't really know what to write. I was laid off for 14 months after 9/11 and while I grew in many ways because of it, I don't ever wish to do it again and I don't wish it on anyone (well, that's not true actually - oops).
But I will share this, people kept saying (and I refused to believe them) that the best and only way to get a job was through someone I knew. That scared me since I didn't feel comfortable hitting people I knew up for a job and I wondered what people may have thought of me (since I wasn't feeling all that great about me). But after 14 months, I had two job offers and they both came from connections to people I knew. In reality, the person I knew did very little other than let me know the position was available and then recommend to their company that they interview me, that was it. So I say, make sure everyone (I mean everyone) you know knows that you are unemployed. The two people that helped me were the last people I'd think would be able to help. I was helping a ward member move and found out from one of the other Elder's quorum guys that their company was looking for someone. The other was from a friend in another state who had also been laid off (that is the job I ended up taking).
I didn't want to believe that I couldn't get a job on my own, I had been able to before. But I guess when jobs are few, people want to bring in "family" so to speak, rather than roll the dice on an unknown entity. Now that I'm employed, I see the wisdom in that.
The other thing I learned is that it wasn't about me, it never was. I felt I interviewed well and should have got an offer on a few occasions and didn't. And the offers I did get I didn't feel I interviewed very well. The Lord plays into this stuff way more than at least I was giving him credit for. I'm certain that things were going to happen when I had learned whatever it is I needed to learn. He knows our needs and He knows what's best for us. No doubt that it can be really really hard. But in the end, I am a much better person for those challenges and experiences.
I'm not sure that any of this is very comforting, it is still extremely difficult. But growth happens when we're swimming upstream, not when we're coasting down it. The exciting part is that there is an opportunity that will eventually open up and its quite possible that it will be better than any others in the past (in my case it has been, I have the best job now that I've ever had).
Sorry for the long comment but I wanted you to share hope, something that we can never ever lose. Something good will come of this, and it won't last forever.
Please keep posting on your blog. I don't know how it can get any better, it is that good. But I suspect some of your best stuff is soon to come out during these trials :)
I guess you'll have to give up all those Gucci shopping sprees you always go on, not to mention the horse bets.
That's awful!!! We're stressed enough just trying to sell our house in the current economy. So are you thinking of homeschooling? It seems everyone is doing it lately, but I haven't turned to that drastic option yet. Does this mean you might be rejoining the main-landers? Or what was the derogatory term the Hawaiians have for that?
htm, too true, it's all about who you know. The 3 interviews my husband has gotten have all come from ex-co-workers, a "guy we knew", and a former competitor. Hopefully something will come of it. *cross fingers*
Ambie, sorry, but I'm not getting you the baby chihuahua with the pink, leather carrier with rhinestone handles and matching shoes for your birthday like I promised.
Ann, I may consider homeschooling, but not for all of the children. I really, really like dropping them off and driving away in the morning. (I like picking them up too.) Maybe we'll draw straws to see who gets to go to school and who gets to stay home and have mom nag them all day. I'm not sure which they'll prefer.
Amen to HTM. Well said.
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