Employment

Everytime I read a newspaper or turn on the news on the television which I try not to do often, there is news about unemployment and none of it is good.

Every day it seems more and more people are losing their jobs. I have been working in the same field, IT for 30 years and I've only been terminated from my job once during my entire career. And that was due to my company merging with another one. I've also quit one job my entire career, so that means I've collected unemployment twice during 30 years.

So many people let go from their jobs at one time and it feels me with apprehension. What are people to do? Where do they go? Experts have said the economy won't improve for at least a couple of years.

A couple in California committed suicide along with their family this week due to unemployment. Apparently there are counselors who are trying to help people cope with losing jobs, homes, and the dismal economy.

This is the worse time in the USA that I've seen during my lifetime. I just wonder when the bleeding will stop. In the meantime I pray to God daily asking him to ease not just my burdens but everyone effected by our dismal ecomony.

History In The Making

I was born in the 50s so that makes me a baby boomer. I grew up on the cusp of the civil rights movement. My parent's weren't active in the movement, but one of my best friend's parents were. I was able to meet the Reverends Joseph Lowery, and C. T. Vivian, and an up and coming warrior Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. Those where the days...

I remember when Dr. King was assassinated in 1968 and the riots that occurred on the west side of Chicago. I believe my mother kept me home the day after Dr. King was killed. The mood was quiet and somber in my house.

I remember the pictures in Jet magazine detailing Dr. King's funeral and how little Berniece cradled in her mother's arms. I was moved that I wrote Yolanda King a letter offering my sympathies. Every year on Dr. King's birthday, I get chills when I listen to his speech, I Have A Dream.

Dr. King's dream came to fruition on January 20, 2009 when Barrack Obama was sworn in as our 44th President. I know, Dr. King was smiling down from heaven. How proud he must have been of America. I think I read in the newspaper that he predicted an African American would ascend to the presidency within 25-40 years of the sixties and he was correct.

Like most Americans I was moved by the historic moment when President Obama took the oath of the highest office in the land. I just hope that America will give our new president the time he needs to bring his plans to reality so that Dr. King's dream will be further fulfilled and America can be restored to it's rightful place as a super nation.

Weather Woes

I live in the midwest, and I absolutely loathe the winter season. Chicago is experiencing a spate of bad weather, the likes of which haven't been seem or felt in twelve years. Today the temperature today was -7 at the highest. The wind chills have plunged the temps even lower.

And to add insult to energy, it's snowed a good 5 feet over the past few days. I need to live in the south, where towns shut down at a dusting of snow. This has been too much for me. I think in a fomer life I must have lived in a warm environment.

The commuter rail hasn't been cooperating either. We had a gun scare during morning rush hour traffic yesterday. Thank God, I wasn't impacted. 1000 commuters at my station were asked to debark the train and searched for weapons.

Then during the evening ride, an Amtrak train derailed, setting back the schedule of many commuter trains. I need a break.

The weather is supposed to be frigid tomorrow too, then we get a break on Saturday and Sunday, but will get more of the white stuff.

As the old commercial said, Calgon will you take me away. preferrably to a warmer climate.

Bring On 2009

I didn't post last Wednesday, the 31st and last day of 2008. I was out celebrating the oncoming new year. I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday I sure did. I was at the Double Tree Hotel bringing in the new year with my husband, sister, and a host of other people. We had a wonderful appetizing dinner, there was dancing, old school style, and my favorite Stepping.

My husband was dressed in a tuxedo, and my sister and I in formal gowns. We looked good, if I might say so myself.

I didn't cook black-eyed peas on January 1st which is a tradition in my family, instead my husband and I went out to dinner.

I am looking forward to 2009 despite all the challenges that may come my way. Like most people, I worry about my 9-5 job, if I'll be let go, my shrinking 401K or retirement account and life in general. The price of gas has been climbing, and I wonder when or if it will become stable.

I don't make new year resolutions because I don't keep them for very long, maybe a couple of months. After a few years of not keeping my resolutions, I decided to use the new year to access my life from the previous year and make adjustments, that seems to work out better for me.

So, let's dig in and embrace the new year, whatever it might bring, which is sure to be equal parts of good, bad, and ugly.