These are the Days of our Lives

[GzrGldGeo]

Be careful what you wish for. BTW... It is rare I don't work 4 extra hours a day.

[Hellswraith]

Well its been a while since I posted in this thread but I finally know whats going to happen. Im getting laid off sometime between March - May 2010. Thats a known thing that will happen, could be sooner or could be later but it will happen. Frontier Communications is buying out Verizons wireline assests..

Verizon wireline which is the department I work in is going from 40 people to 16 and Im 5 from the bottom so this is assured. Sad really because when I started in 1998 we had 165 people. They've sold all the wireline busines off and wittled it down to a skeleton crew over the past 11 years. In 11 years with Verizon Iv'e gone DOWN in senority as the years passed. At one point around 2002 I had 20 people under me on the senority ladder and now I have 4. The top 8 people on the senority ladder started before I was born in 1971.. Fucking sad that people have no idea how to manage their money and have to work their entire lives at one job.

In 11 years that Iv'e been there Iv'e paid off 3 different cars, 2 motorcycles - working on number 3 , and have no bills except my house and living expenses. And my futile attempt at a money marketing job that got me into a 15k debt. I really dont know how people can fuck up a check book for 30 - 40 years and it pisses me off that Im getting kicked to curb because these Dumbasses wont retire..

END RANT > ok I feel better but I had to get that off my chest and now Im actually happy to lose this job as crazy as it sounds. I cant stand working nights or weekends anymore.. Iv'e worked 9 Thanksgivings, 10 Xmas, 10 New Years Eve's, and basically every other holiday with only a handle of days off. Its going to be so nice being off on the holidays after this year I wont know what to do. Of course Im getting forced to work 8am to 4pm this coming Thurs and Fri and probably Xmas and New Years, but I can guaran godamn tee you all I will NEVER work another holiday again after this job is gone.

Truth be told I hated this fucking job from the start but making $21.50 an hour to start and $28.50 now has kept me in that chair and wasted 11 years of my life. I wont be going back into the Telecommunications business for sure and its time for me to move into something I enjoy doing now. What that is, I really dont know but whatever it is will absolutley be on my terms and conditions next time.

[MLC]

Dave I wish you luck at finding a new career that will let you make a living. I've tried twice to change out of the high tech world and I never could make a living. The happiest I ever was paid a grand total of $6.90/HR as a respiratory equipment technician. I traveled all over the city maintaining equipment that folks needed to stay alive but I was never going to be able to make a living at it. That same job now days still pays less than $10/HR, thats well below the governments established poverty level of $24k a year. I truly believe you cant keep up with inflation or have a chance at getting ahead for anything less than $40k a year. As far as the folks above you not retiring, are they under a pension plan or are they working off a 401k type plan. Current CD's and money market are paying less than 1%, you'd need a boat load of money in the bank to live off of less than 1% interest if you don't have a pension check coming in also. I applaud you for trying to break out with your side company, you cant win if you dont play. Good luck with it all, facing a layoff is not fun. Changing careers and making a living will probably require some sacrifices you haven't foreseen yet.

[GzrGldGeo]

Good Luck to all of us. The future doesn't look too rosy anyway you look at it. Our lifestyles are going to go down. Some will get lucky and make a living or some good money, but those are becoming far and few between. I am sitting here just waiting on the day myself. There is nothing I could accomplish that would assure me a job, NOTHING.

I just hope to keep getting lucky and staying employed until this turns around or we get some real leadership in our country. Neither seems a possibility for a long time out.

I have looked at what it would take to get a AC or Electrical license in Texas so I could go out on my own. The richer have that all blocked now because you have to be doing the work for three years at a minimum. So that would mean working for someone else for 3 years making shit, before you could possibly qualify.

I am not sure which way to turn. Anything selling consumers goods ain't going anywhere quickly cause the have no money nor credit nor job.

Had the Republicans just done their damn jobs none of this would have had to happen. They sold us out.

[MLC]

I hear you George. Everything I've looked at will take 3-5 years before i could make a living at it. Even something as simple as pest control takes 2 years. 1 year working under someone else until you can apply for a license, and 1 year with a license before you can buy the chemicals to go out on your own. I looked into starting out as a pharmacy tech and then schooling for a licensed pharmacist. That idea dies quick. 1 year schooling and 1 year residency(work for free) for a $14/HR job. Then throw in 5 more years of school and another year of residency to become a pharmacist. That pays $45-60/HR here right now but it would take me 7 years to get there that route. I dont have that kind of time. As Roger would say:

"we're fucked"

[GzrGldGeo]

I do wish I had been more vocal as Hells went down that Herbal Life road.

1) It wasn't really my business
2) I had no idea they would get him for 15K

I seriously doubted that was going anywhere, but chose not to voice my opinion. I regret that now.

[FATboy05]

Originally Posted by GzrGldGeo

I do wish I had been more vocal as Hells went down that Herbal Life road.

1) It wasn't really my business
2) I had no idea they would get him for 15K

I seriously doubted that was going anywhere, but chose not to voice my opinion. I regret that now.

Me too, but doubt it would've mattered........everything that's sounds too good usually is
Didn't used to be that way, there used to be such a thing as "The Great American Dream" no mas! I ABSOLUTELY HATE what I do for a living, but no way I can change now, and that really sux
I adopted a saying about AutoZone/Truck Driving in general..........I Love my fucking job, and my job loves fucking me!

[Mominatrix]

Hells man I hope you will start applying and actively seek other employment right now. Like George I too feel bad now. Honestly, I always want to believe the best. I had no idea HerbaLife would stick you for that kind of damn cash. That's just fucking awful and I never saw it coming. I'm so sorry. I changed jobs in August. I wasn't being laid off but I was watching my health go to shit in the job that I was working. The stress was literally killing me. I chose to change positions and loose probably $25,000 to $35,000 a year. That decision has had great consequences for us. We won't starve or go naked but our lifestyle is changing. There will be scars and consequences from the decision. In spite of that I have to admit that we are much happier. I hope you can find something to do that will give you some happiness and a lifestyle you can accept. My Father once told me "Sissy there are people in this world that require much and there are people that require little." For me requiring less will save my life so it's ok. I hope you can find your peace with it all.

[GzrGldGeo]

Well put Tina. I hope to lessen the stress sometime after I lock in retirement next June.