Well, lemme see.
Lost job of last decade, and hoped to return to same. Really wanted to go back, as 1) I think I was pretty good at it, 2) Was getting paid fairly well considering the area ($20+/hr and that's w/o a degree), and 3) I really enjoyed some of the friendships I had cultivated over the years. Unemployment. $374/wk.
Had massive heart attack. Flatlined twice on the way to the hospital. Have had two surgeries to put stents in my heart. Am on so many meds now I'm worried about my liver. (Ask Dadsdream, I'm sure he can relate.) Not able to work, so forget unemployment. Disability. $170/wk.
Unemployment now says that they overpaid me by $300, because of the heart attack. Closed claim.
Former employer, the one to which I was hoping to return announced they were closing their doors. When I got there in '99, there were over 500 people there. Now they're all gone. Some to other jobs, certainly not better paying ones. Most have gone on to unemployment. This area is stagnant. Sure, unemployment is down, but the only jobs that have been created in this area (yours too, I'm sure) are part time minimum wage gigs.
Cashed in 401k. Paid off everything I owed to anyone. Including the chateau, so at least that's an expense off our backs. Unfortunately, the 401k counts as income for '09. Hopefully, I had them deduct enough to cover the taxes.
After better than 30 years of leaving the house to go and earn a living, now I'm stuck at home gathering animosity towards those I love the most. Cabin fever will do that I'm told. The realization of this has kept me from killing them so far, anyway.
My Saints were unstoppable for the first 14 weeks of the season, dominating every "superior" team along the way. They were only "superior" in the media hacks' minds. Yeah, they've lost two games in two weeks, but even if they drop another this week, they'll be playing when the vast majority of the league is on vacation. My two desires for my team in the near future are: 1) Heal up, and 2) kick butt. There is no reason why, with a couple weeks of rest, this team cannot recapture the spark and fire they had coming out of the gate at the beginning of the season. In fact, there's my new years wish for everyone here. I wish that this time next year, we're the defending superbowl champs.