Monday, June 01, 2009

How I Spent My Morning

Last week the Census office here in town downsized while they gear up for the next phase. That phase won't happen till possibly October. So they needed to get rid of a lot of people. We had done a fantastic job of doing the address canvasing. That's where they just go through neighborhoods and note down all the addresses so that we don't skip anyone. We did this in such a fantastic way that we are "victims of our own success." So the address canvassers all got laid off and so did a lot of the office clerks, me included. Friday was my last day. That's the bad news. I don't like bad news! So I'm going to try to maintain a positive outlook. This will be easier if I bring up the good points first.

Because I got laid off for "lack of work" I'm upgraded to "experienced" and eligible for recall, so when they open the other offices around town (probably in September) I should be among the first to get called back to work. This may take anywhere from 3 to 4 months, possibly more (God forbid). I'm also eligible for unemployment, or at least I hope so because I didn't work a whole lot last year. I'll have to go to the Texas Workforce Commission to see how that affects things. If I'm eligible for anything based on last years earnings it may be smaller but anything will help. I'm also able to rewrite the resume to include all the skills I gained from my office clerk position. I ended up pretty much in charge of personnel files, their creation and maintenance. That should help me find a job somewhere. Or perhaps do temp work since I'm a quick study.

So that's the good side of things. Other nice things that happened as a result of this is that I learned of several folks generous spirit. When I mentioned it at church one of my fellow verger trainees told me that if I needed food he and his wife had gift and reward cards at the local store that I could have. That was so sweet of Ron. I feel really blessed by the concern and friendship he exhibited in that offer. Sandi told me that my cats would never go hungry. :-) That was a relief and made me laugh. The office manager, my assistant manager, and my supervisor all gave me promises of references. So I can go into the job search with some really great folk that know and like me saying I'd make a great employee.

So now I have some time to spare. My goals are to find work, take care of me, and use the experiences I've had over the past 4 months to renew my own personal view and enrich my life. God gave me 4 months in an awesome office full of caring and wonderfully fun loving folk to help me grow. It would be a shame to waste that. I've got the phone numbers of several work friends. Some of them are in the same boat I'm in so we can be a support to each other. I was even able to hook one of them up with a fellow church member who needed someone with his unique skills for a possible job. That really lifted my spirits.

I've spent the morning doing productive things around the apartment. The cat box is cleaned. The trash has been taken out. I've started clearing off the desk and found several important documents in the various piles of mail I had stacked upon it's surface. I wrote a nice long email to my friend JS and we are talking about goals and routines. It's a good friend who can help you by being a goal buddy.

I'm also trying to start several small self enrichment projects. These are tentative but I'm hoping to make them fun and useful as well as spiritually renewing. Among the ideas I've had for these projects are: increase my vocabulary, spend more time communing with God, get outside at least once a day, and pick up my guitar again. There are others that will no doubt crop up as I talk about things. JS suggested exercise. My good friend Susan would suggest that too. She is a strong proponent of exercise as a way to manage depression. I figure if I get out for a little bit every day (probably early when the morning is still cool) I'll find myself walking and enjoying it. That's exercise although it isn't very strenuous.

So far this morning I been outside twice and read a little bit of the dictionary. Outside was gorgeous. There was a nice cool breeze, the birds were singing, and the trees are green. One of my neighbors drove past and we smiled at each other. What did I learn from the dictionary? Well, besides the fact that the letter "A" is in a lot of abbreviations and is a word in it's own right, it is also the first letter of aardvark, aardwolf, and abaca (I'm skipping names of people). I knew there were aardvarks. I didn't know there was an aardwolf. Apparently he eats termites and insect larvae. The abaca is a plant that is from the Philippines and the dictionary classifies it with hemp. So there you go, a new animal, a new plant, and a possibly useful word for scrabble if you have 3 A's.

Since I have more time I'll try to blog more regularly. I'll keep you posted on the job search and how I'm doing with the tightening of the purse strings. I'll also let you know how I'm going with the self enrichment projects. And if I find a job. Till the next post, "Have a good day!"

13 comments:

murat11 said...

I'm sorry to hear of your "success," but I'm wishing you well in your new search and all else the summer promises to bring you.

And thanks for the Scrabble nudges...

primavera123 said...

I'm so sorry you lost your job. I'm in the same boat. My self-enrichment project is reading all the literary classics I missed in school. The Odyssey, Great Gatsby, the Iliad, Oliver Twist, etc...

Lee said...

Thanks Paschal! And you're welcome! Which reminds me, I need to do today's reading of said dictionary. :-)

Peace! Hope! & Joy!

Count Sneaky said...

Ah! Yes. Walking. The Count got to take a round or two today with his rolling walker after his back operation.
I did well and my wife is carrying me for a spin in Wal-Mart tomorrow. I am trying to build up strength in my legs so I can walk alone sometime soon. I will never underestimate what a blessing it is to just get up and go.
Enjoy evey day and you will do fine. Meantime, walk at least 30 minutes a day even if you miss the aardvarks and aardwolves. My best. Count Sneaky

Lee said...

That sounds like a worthy goal, Primavera. I picked them up only after my sister read them for her school reading list. I think you'll enjoy them. I'm particularly fond of the greek ones and Oliver Twist.

Cheers!

Lee said...

My good Count, may you have much success in rebuilding those legs! I'll keep you in my prayers and hope to hear of your travels around your neighborhood.

Joy!

primavera123 said...

Lee,
Then I'll hit the Brontes, Jane Austen, Hemingway, Shakespeare...

primavera123 said...

Lee,
Then I'll hit the Brontes, Austen, and Shakespeare. And start my own blog. http://primavera123-inthelifestyle.blogspot.com/

Plenty to keep me busy while job hunting!

Lee said...

Primavera, I want to start with the Austins. Those are so appealing because of all the great movies I've seen them turn into.

Cheers!

Sandi McBride said...

You know, I had to laugh at your "success" comment...I thought exactly that and hesitated to say it...but I know you Lee and you won't sit idle long...it's not your nature!
hugs
Sandi

Lee said...

Thanks a bunch, Sandi. You're right. I only intend to stay unbusy for as long as it takes me to feel in control of my environment. Action is usually the best way to accomplish that so there you go. :-)

Hugs!
Lee

San said...

Lee, that's a bummer about the layoff, but you are so resourceful. May summer be bursting with possibilities for you!

Lee said...

Thanks San! If I had my dream come true it would either be a new job that uses all the new experiences I've gained from the Census stint or a recall to the next Census office with me being chosen as an Office Operations Supervisor (OOS). That would be cool!

Hugs!