So here we go....

Day one. I decided that it was time to keep moving forward with learning new technology and new ways of communicating to more people. I'm sure that I will very quickly become a wizard at all the options for creating this blog. I hope to share my thoughts about many topics in the coming months. Some will be funny, some sad, some deep and some will hopefully make you say "What was he thinking?" I will try to protect the names of the innocent until proven guilty. I will avoid legal actions against me by not mentioning specific stores or products if I decide to slam their products or services since I really can't afford legal fees at the moment. I promise to try not to be to corny - I'll leave that to some of my friends. Please feel free to comment. I won't hold it against you, so here we go....

It's Saturday, the sun is shining and life is good. Emo, our dog, is asleep in bed as usual having had his breakfast and the remains of my wife's yogurt cup. We are attending a picnic this afternoon and will be re-uniting with friends we haven't seen for quite awhile. The appetizer is ready so there will be no last minute trauma over that and car is all gassed up for the trip cross county. We have our Green Cards. (for anyone not from the Cleveland area, you HAVE to have a green card to cross the Cuyahoga River,) It should be a really great time.

So, last night I actually had a good nights sleep. It seems that the past few weeks I have sat up in bed in the middle of the night with my mind going a million miles an hour wondering if I will ever find a new job. I was talking with a friend last night about the trials and tribulations of being unemployed. The deep fear that you'll end up saying "Would you like fries with that?" or "Welcome to Wal-Mart". We talked about how we have so many skills that we have developed and nutured through the years but it seems like they are all the wrong skills. We talked about how you can have everything an employer is looking for but you were not able to attend college or unable to finish. (more on this later) We also talked about how the process of finding a job has changed so drastically in the past few years since we both had long tenures with our former employer.

We then started a discussion about the good things that happen when you find yourself unemployed. There is a sense of freedom and tranquility that can occur from no longer having to worry about performing tasks that you really hated. There is a release of tensions from having survived years of constant downsizing and the worry that comes from being in that situation. Then there is the reconnecting with people.

We all have friends and acquaintances that we have lost touch with for one reason or another and since all the job seeker groups and counselors are saying that finding a job is all about networking, networking, networking, I have been reaching out to everyone that I can. It has been a truly rewarding experience.

Then there is meeting new people. I have been attending meetings for two job seeker groups and have started attending networking events. This can be both an uplifting and humbling experience. I have met people who have started, run and sold their own companies. I have met others who speak multiple languages or are fluent in 5 or 6 computer languages while I still struggle with English. I have met people with PhD's in their specialty and former CEO's,CFO's,etc. And I have meet people who have offered their help. I have recieved job leads though none have worked out yet and a few leads I am working on. I have new friends.

Well, I probably should stop rambling on but think I will leave you with one story. I spoke with a gentleman on Wednesday night at a networking event. He had worked for many years for GM and then decided that he should move on. He acquired a position with a company in Canton Oh as an engineer four years ago. Just after moving and starting his position his wife was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She fought for three and a half years before passing on. He had taken the last three months of her life off from work to be with her and help her. After her death he returned to work and three weeks later they let him go.

I was almost moved to tears as he told me his story. I can't begin to imagine the pain he is feeling and the challenge he faces in picking his life back up and moving forward. I am in awe of his strength and courage. And I will pray for him.

So, as I move forward with my day I can only say that for me Life Is Good.