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.

Who can turn the world on with her smile?

Mary Tyler Moore, that's who.  Minneapolis, July 2011

Random shot along a Texas highway

Texas - Great job on your welcome center

I have to say my home state has done a wonderful job of creating a very nice welcome center.  While leaving Louisiana on I-20, we made a stop at this welcome center.  The "Welcome To Texas" sign was actually at the entrance to the center, thus reducing your chances of getting run over by a car flying by and it featured a large Star made of rocks to signify The Lone Star State.   

 

Tree in the middle of the road - Brayton, Iowa

The story of "THE TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD”.  A surveyor was marking the line between Audubon and Cass counties and used a slender cottonwood branch as he walked. When the line was established, he pushed it in the soft earth at the exact point where the lines crossed and where the present crossroad was to be in later years. The switch took root and it has grown into today’s tall and widespread 100 foot tree. 

It took us a while to find this landmark. We talked to several locals and finally ended up going in the right direction, driving 6 miles on an unpaved road.  Quite an adventure. 

Weekend in Louisiana

A few weeks ago I decided to take a drive to Bossier City this weekend despite the fact that I had just come back from another driving trip.  The reason for the drive was primarily to see Chely Wright at Diamond Jacks casino on July 30.  The drive up was a breeze taking only 4 hours but the drive back was a bit harder as we missed our cutoff.  However, we realized that only added about 30 minutes to our time and was not really out of our way.  The most interesting site along the way was an abandonded rest stop on Hwy. 59.  It was really strange looking with a concrete slab and dead brown grass growing over the entrance driveway.  I wish I could have gotten a photo but it went by too quick and I was driving.  Now back to Chely, another great show from her.  Upon taking the stage, she asked how many people have had an alcoholic beverage and 90% of the audience roared.  It was that kind of crowd.  A young man shouted it was his birthday so he came up and Chely sang Happy Birthday to him, then he jumped on stage to give her a kiss.  I cringed a bit at that.  His friend was a bit drunk and shouted throughout the concert.  I think Chely had had enough of him as we all had.  When it got a little ugly, Chely had to call for security to take care of it.  We didn't hear from him again.  Great comment from Chely after singing the I hope you are miserable song.....you know you're in Louisiana when a woman shouts out hell yeah, now pass the gumbo.  Chely met with everyone who wanted an autograph after the show and I was able to get my book signed (thanks SL).  She was very friendly and said to me haven't I met you before and I said yes, in KC last month.  Looking forward to staying home for a weekend, then heading the exact same direction in two weeks to see Melissa (most who know me don't need a last name). 

The kitty who shall remain nameless due to the witness protection program

The Bridges of Madison County

On my recent visit to Iowa, we made a detour by a covered bridge.  Thank goodness for google.  The Imes Bridge is a wooden covered bridge in Madison County, Iowa. Built in 1870, it was originally located over the Middle River. In 1887 it was moved to a spot over Clinton Creek, and in 1977 was moved again to its present site. It was renovated in 1997 for a cost of $31,807.

U2 in Minneapolis

It had been nearly 24 years since I last saw U2 in 1987 on the Joshua Tree tour.  I was excited to get the opportunity to see them again.   A storm was brewing over Minneapolis when U2 took the stage at the TCF Stadium in Minneapolis on July 23, 2011.  They took the stage with the countdown from David Bowie's Space Oddity, very cool entry.  They tore into their massive catalog with I Will Follow, Pride (In The Name of Love), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Vertigo, Sunday Bloody Sunday and a few songs I admit that I did not know.  They paid tribute to Amy Winehouse and dedicated Beautiful Day to Gaby Giffords.  During this song, the high winds and rain started.  Luckily we were on the same level as the club suites and were able to run under cover during the storm.  This prompted Bono to sing a few verses of Singing In The Rain while someone in the audience handed him an umbrella.  Finally the encores of With or Without You, Where The Streets Have No Name and much to my surprise Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me from the Batman soundtrack closed the show.  Of the 58,000 people in attendance, very few left during the storm.  Very fun night. 

The stage which resembled a giant space ship

The giant screens above the stage



U2's entry into the stadium



Me, Holan, Kristie, Steve just before the show started



Melissa Etheridge live in Council Bluff

                                                                
On July 22, 2011 Melissa Etheridge played the Stir Cover amphitheatre in Council Bluff, Iowa.  Holan, Shaunalyn and myself arrived at 4:30 p.m. to secure our place at the stage.  The show was general admission with no seating.  However, we had fan club tickets, and were granted early admission before the general public.  At 6:00 p.m., the gates opened and we ran down the hill and ended up with our arms on the stage for the entire concert.  Show started at 8:00 p.m. and as usual Melissa rocked the house for the entire two hour show.  Great to hear Nowhere To Go again. Congrats to Holan for getting her first guitar pic from Melissa at this show!

Kum & Go?

Did you know there were stores up North called Kum & Go?  I did not

Albert The Bull

I want my first blog post to be about a cute little tourist attraction that I ran across this past weekend while on a wild adventure that started in Kansas, then moved on to Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota.  In a little town called Audubon Iowa, there stood Albert it all it's glory.  Set in a little park, Albert stands 12 feet tall and is made of concrete.  There is a whole story about Albert that I will share later as soon as I find the brochure. Maybe it's the Texan in me but I really liked Albert.  The wisdom of this blog is that there are little things out there that  make you smile so seek them out whenever you can.