For the unemployed or those about to be unemployed

On August 8, I was laid off from my position of 14 years due to workforce reductions.  I guess I will never understand why, but that doesn't matter anymore.   What I hope to do here is give others hope who may be in the same situation or about to be in that situation. 

With an involuntary termination, you may get severance benefits.  Take a day to determine what all those benefits are.  Make sure your employer has your home address for mailing anything.  One problem I had was that my employer had used my work address for my retirement and insurance benefits.  I never authorized that, but somehow my employee file only had my work address. I spent way too much time trying to get that straightened out.  In fact, make sure you employer has your home address now.  

Secondly, determine when your medical/dental insurance expires.  Many times, you will get benefits until the end of the month.  Book all your doctor's appointments and go before your insurance expires.  Ask your employer about other benefits available to you while you are out of work and suggest your company cover the costs for a specified time or until you can find other employment.

Thirdly, enjoy your time off.  Don't waste your time feeling sorry for yourself.  It doesn't do yourself or anybody any good.

It is extremely easy to apply for jobs now.  I used indeed.com, which is a search engine that will pull all open positions in your area.  Others are Monster and Career Builder.  LinkedIn is also a good source for networking and finding open positions.  You can apply for jobs in your home very easily, but companies are moving very slowly these days and in this economy.  Be patient.

Generally, your retirement plans can stay where they are until you have time to think about them. 

To Recap:
(1)  Start using LinkedIn, Indeed, Career Builder or other sites to start applying for jobs.
(2)  Determine what all of your benefits are and make sure everything will be mailed to your home address.
(3)  Determine when your insurance expires and book doctor's appointments as applicable.
(4)  Enjoy your time off.   

Of course every situation is different, but I cannot stress enough to enjoy your time off.  I am happy to say that I will be starting a new job this week, however I wish I had taken my own advice. Every situation is a learning experience.

Stage rush training at an early age-

I am a stage rusher, I admit it.  Apparently I started very young.   My Dad worked for Schlumberger many years ago, and they used to have an annual picnic.  One year, they invited Cadet Don to attend the picnic.  Cadet Don was a character on a local children's television show (real name was Al Eisenmman).  He is sitting on the stage and that is me sitting on the stage next to him.  I'm not sure what I was looking at, maybe I was bored and waiting for the next entertainer to come out on stage.  That is my sister in the red dress.  This experience would serve me well later on in life as I have rushed many stages.  Who knew? 

The Old Days

I thought it would be fun to post old photos.  This is one of my birthday parties, but I'm not sure which year, maybe 10th or 11th birthday.  Present were top row from left:  David, Michelle, Me, Melissa, Kristina.  Bottom row from left:  Brian, Julie (Michelle's sister), and Trent (David's brother).  I hung out quite a bit with David and Trent in my youth, but the others not so much.  Shame I was not nice to Kristina at a slumber party years later, I must admit we put peanut butter in her ear.  No excuse, but I was young. I connected with Kristina on Facebook recently and she is actually a nice person.  Anyway, we all look to be having a good time and notice the cake has a rock band on it, my parents knew me too well. 

Where I could spend hours...

Cafe Du Monde - Original French Market in New Orleans

If you are in New Orleans, I would recommend you visit Cafe Du Monde for something cold to drink (iced coffee was perfect) and their world famous beignets.  I wish I would have noticed that guy's shirt that said "wish you were...."  and gotten "here" in the photo. 

You posted a picture of that cat, I demand equal time

Minneapolis July 2011

With a cherry on top please

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is an 11 acre park  It is one of the largest urban sculpture gardens in the country, with 40 permanent art installations and several other temporary pieces that are moved in and out periodically.



Hanging out on one of the sculptures

Many consider the gardens one of the boldest and most unique displays of art in the country, if not the entire world.