Eleanor Arnason's Blog, page 121
May 26, 2009
Wiscon
I got back from Wiscon Monday evening.
When I do in-town cons these days I spend only one day, usually Saturday. I get too tired. It's not parties. I rarely do parties anymore. It's a combination of a lot of input and too much coffee. I can drink a lot of coffee when I'm not dealing with people, but the combination of input and caffeine is way too much.
There should be a simple solution: drink less coffee, drink decaf, drink tea. But that cup seems so comforting in my hand. I don't like decaf; an
When I do in-town cons these days I spend only one day, usually Saturday. I get too tired. It's not parties. I rarely do parties anymore. It's a combination of a lot of input and too much coffee. I can drink a lot of coffee when I'm not dealing with people, but the combination of input and caffeine is way too much.
There should be a simple solution: drink less coffee, drink decaf, drink tea. But that cup seems so comforting in my hand. I don't like decaf; an
May 20, 2009
Weather
It's overcast right now, and the temperature is supposed to be more than 90 today. Too hot. None the less, we are still in the perfect May week, when the lilacs bloom.
It's 10:30 a.m. and I have not yet made my bed. I wonder if this a sign of the kind of degeneration that happens when one does not have a job.[image error]
It's 10:30 a.m. and I have not yet made my bed. I wonder if this a sign of the kind of degeneration that happens when one does not have a job.[image error]
May 19, 2009
St. Paul Workforce Office
Today I went to a workshop at the St. Paul Workforce Office. It was less attractive than the suburban office I went to a week ago, mostly because there were almost no windows, just beige walls. The conference room was much smaller, and they had no coffee. The suburban office had free coffee in the conference room.
There were three people in the workshop with me, all unemployed: a customer service rep, a nursing home administrator and an engineer who had switched to IT in the hope of finding more
There were three people in the workshop with me, all unemployed: a customer service rep, a nursing home administrator and an engineer who had switched to IT in the hope of finding more
A Visit to the Doctor
I had a medical appointment yesterday. On my way I stopped at a coffee shop where I am a fairly regular customer.
"What is going on?" the shop owner asked. "I was in downtown Minneapolis yesterday, and there were hardly any clerks in Macy's, and hardly any customers either."
I decided not to mention the economy, collected my coffee and went on my way.
The doctor wants to see me again in three months. So I went to the front desk to make an appointment.
The intake person said, "I can't make an appoint
"What is going on?" the shop owner asked. "I was in downtown Minneapolis yesterday, and there were hardly any clerks in Macy's, and hardly any customers either."
I decided not to mention the economy, collected my coffee and went on my way.
The doctor wants to see me again in three months. So I went to the front desk to make an appointment.
The intake person said, "I can't make an appoint
May 13, 2009
Weather
On the plus side, we are entering into the two perfect weeks of spring that the Twin Cities get in May. The daffodils and tulips are blooming; the apple and other fruit trees are blooming; the French lilacs have just opened.
Pretty much all the trees have leafed out; and their leaves are still that light, fresh, spring green.
It;s been partly sunny the past two days. I like rain, but right now I want clear blue skies.[image error]
Pretty much all the trees have leafed out; and their leaves are still that light, fresh, spring green.
It;s been partly sunny the past two days. I like rain, but right now I want clear blue skies.[image error]
Wednesday
I exercised this morning, looked at a bunch of online job lists, sent out two resumes and signed up for three workshops on how to get a job.
I planned to get some writing done. Instead I took a nap.
As I mentioned before, Patrick and I took a workshop on looking for work after 40 last week. The engineer I met there warned me against depression and giving up.
He said when he first lost his job, he got up at 5:30, the way he always did on a weekday, and looked for a new job the way he had worked. H
I planned to get some writing done. Instead I took a nap.
As I mentioned before, Patrick and I took a workshop on looking for work after 40 last week. The engineer I met there warned me against depression and giving up.
He said when he first lost his job, he got up at 5:30, the way he always did on a weekday, and looked for a new job the way he had worked. H
May 10, 2009
Sunday
My last post was a little glum.
Yesterday afternoon I went over a story, making revisions. I think it's about as done as it's going to get, until I have comments from my writing workshop. Now I have to input the revisions, print the story and make copies before Thursday. That seems doable.
Yesterday evening I ran our roomba and dusted the living room.
So that's three things off the to-do list.
I've been working on cleaning out unfinished stories.
Right now, I have two stories with my workshop, on
Yesterday afternoon I went over a story, making revisions. I think it's about as done as it's going to get, until I have comments from my writing workshop. Now I have to input the revisions, print the story and make copies before Thursday. That seems doable.
Yesterday evening I ran our roomba and dusted the living room.
So that's three things off the to-do list.
I've been working on cleaning out unfinished stories.
Right now, I have two stories with my workshop, on
May 8, 2009
Unemployment in April
The official rate is 8.9%, getting close to one person in ten. U6 is 15.8%, more than one person in seven.
The average workweek is now 33 hours.
My own bet is a continuing decline in the economy, as people struggle with lost work, mortgages they can't afford, debt that has to be paid down somehow. This means reduced consumption. You aren't going to buy a new car, when you don't know how to pay for your house.
If consumers aren't buying, then businesses are not going to be investing and will prob
The average workweek is now 33 hours.
My own bet is a continuing decline in the economy, as people struggle with lost work, mortgages they can't afford, debt that has to be paid down somehow. This means reduced consumption. You aren't going to buy a new car, when you don't know how to pay for your house.
If consumers aren't buying, then businesses are not going to be investing and will prob
Unemployment Workshop
Yesterday Patrick and I went to the Bloomington Workforce (aka Unemployment) Center to attend a workshop on Looking for Work after 40, 50, 60 years of age.
My memories of Workforce Centers date back several years and are of the one at Lake and Chicago in South Central Minneapolis and the one on University in St. Paul. These are used by working and poor people. They may have changed, but the last time I was in them they were crowded, dark and dreary.
The Bloomington office, in a southern suburb, i
My memories of Workforce Centers date back several years and are of the one at Lake and Chicago in South Central Minneapolis and the one on University in St. Paul. These are used by working and poor people. They may have changed, but the last time I was in them they were crowded, dark and dreary.
The Bloomington office, in a southern suburb, i
May 6, 2009
Daily Report
I stayed in all day yesterday, using email, the Internet and the telephone to look for work and deal with some issues left over from my former job.
(My ex-boss filled out my termination form incorrectly, so I had to spend time talking to the insurance agency that handles the former job's COBRA. Fortunately, I used to handle COBRA for my former job, so I was used to dealing with the insurance agency, and its excellent COBRA specialist. Everything got fixed, and I had a pleasant chat with the lady
(My ex-boss filled out my termination form incorrectly, so I had to spend time talking to the insurance agency that handles the former job's COBRA. Fortunately, I used to handle COBRA for my former job, so I was used to dealing with the insurance agency, and its excellent COBRA specialist. Everything got fixed, and I had a pleasant chat with the lady
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