His:
I met with a few marketing folks for lunch last week, some of whom are searching for work, others who have built successful consulting practices. It was great to begin networking so quickly (hats off to Rick for organizing it).
Everyone has been asking for my resume so they can pass it on to a friend or colleague. Well the problem is that my computer crashed about 9 months ago due to a virus and I never really needed it because I used my work laptop everyday. Resume, technology – these are the pieces I didn’t quite have in place when I was let go without any sort of notice.
My wife has a computer (a really nice one!) but I discovered something about our relationship. Though we share a bed, toothpaste, closet space and our hopes and dreams, we’re not so compatible when it comes to sharing a computer. We’re fine with one set of wheels, but we definitely need two monitors and keyboards.
So I spent the better part of the weekend trying to get my computer in order. (Thank you, Michael for helping me wipe the hard drive.) I’m still looking for an updated MS Office Suite to “borrow”. If you have any ideas on how to get a hold of this for free, let me know.
A friend introduced me to a hilarious webtoon series about being out of work. http://www.oddtodd.com/index2.html (Fortunately, the only thing I have in common with this cartoon dude is a receding hairline.)
Blessing #4: Still being able to bust a gut laughing
Hers:
Went into my 8-year-old’s room this weekend and saw piles of books stacked on the floor. His bookshelves were all but empty. I thought he was on another one of his organizing bends and asked what was up. He said matter-of-factly, “I’m going to have a book sale and make money.”
I said, “You can’t do that! You have two brothers who will read those one day!” (Everything that comes into this house gets amortized in triplicate.)
Later, I asked him if he was trying to sell off his books because he was worried about us and he nodded. I hugged him and reassured him we were going to be fine. Besides, books are sacred. All children should be surrounded by books, and the leisure to read their favorites over and over and over again. (Man, how many times did I lose myself in Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret?)
But, hey – feel free to purge the playroom. There’s some major garage sale potential in there.
Blessing #4 – It’s the loss of a job; not a parent, child or dear friend.
It’s amazing when young kids act in such mature ways – matter-of-factly dealing with their anxiety, not wanting to burden you. What a great kid! I bet he felt better for having made the offer, and for having it refused.