|
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | SWMBO came home near tears this morning from work. The hospital where she works last night cut her (and all the RN's) hours in half. As you can imangine, this impacts us: we are not sure how greatly yet, but we do know that this will prevent us from any extra spending...Had I know this, I would have never bought the TAK from Dave, as I used some money we had saved up to get it...I'm waiting for Fed-Ex as I type...but hindsight is worthless...We had no warning as she did not find out until she was getting ready to leave to come home early this morning...
So, it is very possible that I will be selling quite a few guitars over the next few months...We'll see...
Looks like the "Economic Stimulus" (yeah right) has caught up with us...
On the good side she still has a job for th4e time being...!
So, we'll cinch up and keep going forward...
MM |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | You want CHANGE????
I got your change right here!!!!
Bend Over................
I hope that's not too political. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Mike,
My heart and prayers go out to you and yours. Patty and I went through this two and a half years ago when she was suddenly 'downsized' (aka 'poof') at the hospital, which actually turned out to be a true blessing.
Believe me when I say there are better times ahead. I know it certainly doesn't look like it now and meanwhile you'll 'eat' yourself up. Ya'll just hang in there, my friend! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Beal:
I hope that's not too political. Noper, the new reality! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Beal:
I hope that's not too political. Not at all, Beal. I just HOPE I have some CHANGE left in my pockets when they get done with me... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Don't worry ... we're from the government and we're here to help. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 194
Location: Las Vegas, NV | ...ourselves to your pocketbook... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Mike, So sorry to hear . I feel your pain!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4070
Location: Utah | Mike, I'm sorry to hear of your anxious situation.
My wife is in the health care industry and she is truly puzzled about where all the money goes. It certainly does not go to providers or to provide services to patients. Somebody is getting rich, but not the troops on the front lines. Her private practice has been on the brink of bankruptcy for the last ten years and she has taken yearly pay cuts, as the government reduces payment schedules for services to the elderly. I suppose that hospitals have been in the same cost-cutting mode as every other industry.
Perhaps this situation can be parlayed into some other arrangement for your wife, such as some form of self employment in nursing.
With my reduced schedules, I have decided to fully enjoy and embrace the additional free time. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Wow Mike, that really stinks. If there's anything I can do to help in any way, please let me know. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Four+ years ago I tried to convince my daughter that she should go to nursing school because that was a guaranteed job. SWMBO's a nurse. Fortunately, my daughter is smarter than me. Two of her roommates are nurses who can't find work and Linda's hospital is cutting back. I hope she keeps her job until I get the #47 paid for. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Sorry to hear about your situation Mike. Unfortunately it's all too common no matter what line of work you're in. A year ago our office in Boise had 57 people. We now have 22 and will be 17 by end of the year. Doesn't make your pain any the less.
What the government is doing to this country is absolutely criminal. If they ran a corporation Barry, Geitner and the whole bunch of them would be up on charges and doing time. What they are doing to you and I is no different than what Madoff did to his followers. They bilk us out of billions that we'll never see.
Keep your chin up, the sun will rise tomorrow and with it always comes the possibility of new opportunities. Somestimes it takes a locked door to find out that the window is ajar. Don't start unloading guitars (unless you want to ship me the '48) that's just a knee-jerk reaction that pays minimal dividends. Yes, she's losing half her pay but in return she's gaining that much more time with the children and some would call that priceless.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Don't scare me guys. My work has slowed to half and my wife is a nurse picking up extra shifts to keep us going and get my daughter into college in the fall.
Things are scary right now, but it's also an opportunity to decide where, work-wise, you want to be and how to get there.
While the economy sucks, it's not going to stay that way. It may not boom like it has over the last 25 years, but we're going to get thru this.
Mikey, don't sell guitars. It's a short term fix to a long term problem. We've been downsizing and cutting overhead. When things pick up, I don't want to have to work as hard to make the same profit. I was working 6 days a week and 4 nights a week. I want time for family and music and life.
It's gonna be ok. Now, having said that, I don't sleep worth shit from stress.
My brother says that Obama is a great president. He's the best recruiter the Republican party has ever had.
Ok Al. Vacation? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Yes, that is too bad, Mike and I hope it turns around for you soon. Unfortunately this has been a long time coming and, just as it took time to dig the hole, it'll take some time to dig out. And I agree with Dave - what's been done to this country has been criminal and it's a continuous crime that the middle class will pay for for a long time.
Hang in there - if it's any consolation, you're far from alone. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Hang tough Mike. You and your wife are in my prayers. I'm picking up extra classes and writing whenever I can to make some extra cash nowadays. It seems the harder I work, the further we slide financially. But like everyone is saying, there's ups, there's downs, but there's always another up around the bend. (Let's just pray it's a short bend, but I don't think so.)
Keep at it. And sincerely, best of luck. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | You know, it's not a fun thing, but this is probably the defining economy of our lifetimes, every bit as much as the depression was for our parents and grandparents. When we finally get thru this (and the government is not helping at all) things won't be like they were before, but they will be fine.
We're gonna be ok. Ulcers and all.... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | OK, with the camel's nose in under the tent on this post, I never thought I would live to see ...
... the camel shit in the tent!
Mike, ya know I'm here for you and yours! 
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Hey My Friends (you are all my friends) thanks for the chin up...Beal, ya made me crack a rib...lol
I know we're going to be fine...I'd talk about the faith aspect BUT...I think we've seen AL's graces today with this and I don't want a 'cation right now...lol
The Big news is that I am not going to have a fire sale on Guitars...I do not need to do that in the forseeable future...but I do have one or two I may let go of...However, my "big guns" are staying put for now (sorry Professor)...
I do really appreciate this group of folks...you are all a blessing in many ways and together we can overcome much...
Violetta appreciates the sentiments as much as I do...we're fortunate to have each other and as Dave said, it is a blessing that she will have more time for the kids and sleep (although probably not at the same time...lol)...
Onward and Upward!
MM
BTW: Dave, FedEx delivered...check the post about the Tak.... :D ;) :rolleyes: :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Bugger Mike. Hope things turn out well. I wouldn't blame your Government too much, this is a world wide phenomenon which has been brewing for many years. The good news is that the Chinese (who are the major creditor for all your debt) can't afford to let the US go bust, because then they won't be able to get their money back.
I think we're all in for a few years of high unemployment rates. I think your wife will be alright in the long run (we need health care) but I pity people like Al who are dependent on selling a discretionary purchase. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | I must say .. Sorry to hear .. , oddly enough ,over here we`re experiencing that same weird phenomena , WEIRD yes , in that on TV , they`re telling us that we`ve .. " knicked the corner " .., things are looking up , we are no longer in jeopardy ,.. followed by how many have been " freed " to enter Alternative possibilities , i.e , locals handed over their jobs to workers from surrounding countries , somethin`t` do with "..Rules of freedom of movement within the European Union " .. , causing many to abandon a grand lifestyle , after all , who needs fruit everyday , ... we `re not poor , but we did go down appr. 16.000 Usd pr. year ..
Vic
.. pick-pockets seem t` be doin well tho`.. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | I hate that for y'all Mike. But, I know some about you and V and your early life trials (there has been worse) and have no doubt that this is just a small bump in the road for you.
Keep the faith, it defines y'all! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4070
Location: Utah | Originally posted by FlicKreno aka Solid Top: how many have been " freed " to enter Alternative possibilities [/QB] When a large corporation I worked for was looking to save $, they had a great idea. Just as you might save money by saving on energy (reducing your use of it), they decided to save money by saving jobs. Meaning, reducing jobs!
So my boss told me that my job had been "saved" by the company, and I was free to enter alternative possibilities! I wasn't fired, but my position had been eliminated. If I could find another position in the factory I was welcome to stay. :rolleyes:
And thus I found the alternative possibility of being on unemployment along with several hundred thousand other defense industry workers at the end of the 80's. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Just had dinner with some neighbors and friends. He had worked since high school for a building materials company. Now it's in bankruptcy and he is one of the largest creditors. His retirement will be shot to hell. I blame all of us who lived on debt and the assumption that we could borrow against our houses for our cars, kids to go to expensive colleges, TVs, and you name it. As soon as Americans get back to work building, we'll be fine. May take years and the next generation may have to realize what it's like to be poor, but we'll get there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I hate that for y'all Mike. But, I know some about you and V and your early life trials (there has been worse) and have no doubt that this is just a small bump in the road for you.
Keep the faith, it defines y'all!
Yes we have and yes we will! May be time for the book... :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I blame all of us who lived on debt and the assumption that we could borrow against our houses for our cars, kids to go to expensive colleges, TVs, and you name it. As soon as Americans get back to work building, we'll be fine. May take years and the next generation may have to realize what it's like to be poor, but we'll get there. Mark - you hit the nail on the head. Hopefully we can teach our kids to live within their means. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Couldn't possibly agree more, Mark. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Based on an article in this month's edition of Money magazine, there are only two sectors of industry expected to increase in employment opportunities (by about 3%) in the next year. One of those two sectors is health care services. Of course, this may vary from region to region, but hope it helps, Mike. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 335
Location: Reisterstown, Maryland | Sorry to hear of your trouble. I could start ranting but I'd rather not get a 'vacation' and I am known for my rants. (though not here) And here I thought there was a shortage of nurses.
I'll Keep you and yours in my prayers
Anita |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 715
| Hi Mike:
I am sorry to hear of your troubles. Mark was on-spot with this one.
Michelle |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 715
| Originally posted by ladylaw:
Sorry to hear of your trouble. I could start ranting but I'd rather not get a 'vacation' and I am known for my rants. (though not here) And here I thought there was a shortage of nurses.
I'll Keep you and yours in my prayers
Anita Me too! If I said my piece, I'd probably be sent on vacation too!
Hey, if any of us gets a vacation, I suggest a meet up in Woodstock NY. If we're going to be on vacation, it might as well be to some place fun (not that being here isn't fun, it is!).
Michelle |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 283
Location: Portland, OR | Foolishness of the various industries. You've gotta ask yourself, "Are we healthier as a society to require less healthcare folks?" I don't think so. So it comes down to money and who's got it? Gee, the bills are paid by the insurance industry. And BTW, they have most of the money in the country and out of it. Once we're able to extricate from the "war on terror", the next great battle will be the war on healthcare and its costs. Any of you guys that are employers know what I'm talking about. I'm apolitical, but I think Mark Twain would have a lot to say about this situation. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 283
Location: Portland, OR | BTW, Mike, cream rises, you will be fine. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Well, you're not alone ... out of me and my five male cousins that grew up together and are about the same age (mid 40's) three are unemployed.
The stock market may go up and down, but you can't say times are getting better until the unemployment line gets shorter. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Update: the health care company that owns the wife's hospital is concidering buying/merging with another competitor Health care company that is reported to be in serious finiancial shape...and where do they get the money to do that?...surely it wouldn't involve across the board working hours cuts to their employees...what a system... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Hey, according to a White House economic advisor, things are getting better....
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25083.html |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | ...only because unemployed people can't afford internet access... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
...only because unemployed people can't afford internet access... Lol! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | Originally posted by ladylaw:
Sorry to hear of your trouble. I could start ranting but I'd rather not get a 'vacation' and I am known for my rants. (though not here) And here I thought there was a shortage of nurses.
I'll Keep you and yours in my prayers
Anita depends on location, i suppose. there is a serious shortage here. not so many locals going to college and the folks that move here from the mainland usually develop "rock fever" after 2-3 years and long to get back to where they can drive in a straight line for more than 30 minutes. all things considered, hawaii is a wonderful place but we are very isolated. and traveling is not as fun or easy since homeland in-security reared its ugly facade. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | BTW, Mike, cream rises, you will be fine.
Thanks, and actually we are...there are many much worse things than what we are experiencing...but it does make you stop and examine where you are and where you want to be and the best route to get there...never much worried about it BC (before children)...Responsibility no longer becomes an option...
Used to be if I needed a break or different view, I'd pack the van, restring the guitars, and find a new gig/location/respite...now it woud take me all week to restring the guitars; the van is history; and there is no where to run...lol!
So, we deal with it! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Mike,
I'm late getting to this thread. Sorry to hear your wife's hours are being cut. Sign of the times My wife is being cut 20% and this is the busy season. I told her to expect more when it gets slow.
I sent you a PM. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Mike,
back at ya...
Yes, it is the sign of the times I think as well...Hopefully it will get better soon...
MM |
|
| |
|
|
Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 715
| Originally posted by AlexJW:
Sorry to hear about that Mike. I know the feeling, I'm loosing my job at the end of the month... and like you, I'd not long bought a guitar when I heard the news. But things always pick up ;) Welcome Alex!
I'm sorry you're losing your job. I hope it does pick up soon for you, though.
I worried about spending money when I bought my guitar last week. The one thing about this economy is that it is a good time to buy a guitar, so I could't pass up the deal. I'll just have to save money in different areas of my life, that's all.
I have heard that at least over in the US, repair shops such as auto repair and shoe repair are seeing an upswing in business because people are keeping their cars and shoes longer.
Michelle | |
| | |
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Alex I hope it gets better for you soon: I have decided to not let this change us other than being more frugal in some ways...as for my guitar collection, I have decided to continue to collect if possible...I just have to cull and sell now to finance where as before I used my now non-existant instrument fund...as long as I can finance one by seling another, I will do it...had to do that for years...
Problem is there are not too many I want to let go of which makes that process more difficult...positive side is that there are not as many instruments that I'm still interested in buying... :rolleyes: | |
| | |
Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 489
| Sorry to hear about this MM. I haven't heard of any belt tightening like that where I work (SE VA).
Was this for FTEs as well as per diems? | |
| | |
Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 489
| Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Four+ years ago I tried to convince my daughter that she should go to nursing school because that was a guaranteed job. One of the reasons I went into Nursing was because all the guys with Management degrees (like the one I'd just received) went to work managing fast food restaurants when I entered the service after graduation. I theorized that health care would always be in demand, and despite cyclical shifts over the years, I've always had a job.
I'd say it's still a good bet for anyone at a career path crossroad.
(I'm REALLY glad I didn't decide to try to play guitar for a living!) | |
| | |
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Losov:
I'm REALLY glad I didn't decide to try to play guitar for a living! Hey, I'd buy a CD of your songs! | |
| | |
Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 489
| Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
Hey, I'd buy a CD of your songs! | |
| | |
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Losov:
Then I'd have made ten bucks in the last 40 years. Oh, WOW! A double CD!!! 
 | |
| | |
Perfect Timing...