I have not been very inspired since I was one of those poor people who got cheated out of a job due to the bad economy, blah, blah, blah. When what really happened was that the company did not plan for the year very well and spend insanely amounts of money in traveling and hiring people for all these acquisitions that were gonna happen but didn’t. I got cut right before the Thanksgiving holidays that weren’t very holida-y due to being unable to find another job.

 

And so it goes. I was unable to find a job that suited my background. Instead, I took a  Customer Service position offered at an airline company. Hey, I’m not too proud to start over after working myself up for the last 15 years, but dang, the pay sucks.  Let me just say that is really close to nothing. HOWEVER – I do not want to sound ungrateful as there are plenty of people out there making actually nothing. So I do feel blessed to have this opportunity.

 

On a side note, if you have never worked for the airline industry since 9/11 – let me tell you, the hiring process in so freaking complicated, I may feel that I was being hired for a CEO position, if it wasn’t for the reality of the compensation I was offered. I had to do the following:

 

  • Complete a questionnaire online (took over 1 hr),
  • Phone interview in English,
  • Phone interview in Spanish (it’s a bilingual position),
  • View a presentation online,
  • Go to an informational session,
  • Took a typing and math test,
  • Had a face to face interview,
  • Job offer pending successful completion of training
  • Urinalysis
  • Fingerprinting for background check (10 years)
  • Then I have to attend a 3 week training (unpaid unless successfully completed, then they will pay for the hrs attended)

 

SERIOUSLY!!! No kidding, I’m worn out just thinking about it! :-P

 

OK – going back to the unemployment, this situation has actually become our financial ruin. We can’t keep up with anything anymore. But I actually do not feel sad about it. I have felt sad in the past, because we have worked hard to obtain all these really cool material things that are supposed to make us so happy. We are now at less than zero. Simpler times. In stepping back and looking at the big picture, we are mostly grateful that we still have a roof over our heads (although it’s not the same roof we used to have). We are healthy AND have health insurance. We have food on our table (thank GOD for mac & cheese and hot dogs, and all things Walmart brand that are cheaper than name brand… Although I am not downgrading my American sliced cheese. Sorry – I just can’t!). We have clothes, and most of all, I am thankful for being given a fighting spirit that won’t quit looking for a way out of this mess. Uh! I almost forgot: I still have internet access. Dear Lord – Thank you for internet access. I really wouldn’t know what to do if I could not have the internet. That would REALLY suck.

 

But I’m thinking positively and I re-listened to my “The Secret” CD’s and I know my rewards are coming. – JUST BECAUSE I ASK – The Universe will respond to my requests, hopefully sooner rather than later, but they are on their way nonetheless. Hey! Can you blame me? Everybody has to hold on to something! I have Faith, Hope, Religion AND “The Secret” – Ain’t no way but UP from here!!!!

 

J