There's a hole

I have been a grumblesaurus lately.  Last week, I found a hole in the bottom of my shoe.

I know I should practice what I preach and go buy a new pair, but this hole symbolizes how precarious my life has become.

Buying a new pair of shoes is a monumental task right now.  Three years ago, I would not have thought twice.

I should backtrack a bit.  Three years ago, I worked at a job I was good at, Designer/Construction Manager.  My life was set up and I did everything by the book.  I had a savings, 401K and a team I had trained to handle projects.  I use to enjoy year end, five-figure bonuses.  And then...we got laid off.  Me and my team.

That was no problem for me.  I had a savings, 401K and job offers from all over the states, Scotland, China and New Zealand.  Well, four weeks later, those job offers dried up as well.  No one needed my skill of shaving months off a construction project.


No problem, I had my savings and 401K.  I had enough side jobs to make 10% of what I use to.  I could wait it out.  A year later, my 401K was nearly extinct.  I cashed in the remaining 5% and used that to live on.  Six months later, the savings was draining fast.

There were a lot of people saying to just get any job.  This is not so easy anymore.  Just look at the math.  We have like 300 million people in the states.  Only 150 million capable of working (minus disabled, children and retired folk).  We have 15 million un-employed and like 25 million under-employed (Yeah, i am one of the them.)  Drafters make minimum wage and due to the law of supply and demand, employers are looking for drafters with an Architectural license or an Engineering License.  I can do the work, but no license.  Puts me out of the running for a minimum wage job.

So I got a job doing construction.  40 hours guaranteed is better than gambling with side jobs.  There was a lot of work in the beginning.  But then, there was a week off here and then there.  A week without pay is serious.  A year of working a real job and my savings was gone...except for the $24 dollars I have.

I currently work or am on call for 7 jobs.

Martial arts teacher...no pay
Sales support...some pay
Laser Survey Tech...occasional pay
IT Tech...some pay
Construction...occasional pay
Solar Energy designer...occasional pay
Massage Therapist...occasional pay

DAGGUM! So why haven't I bought a new pair of shoes yet?  When I make money, I have to hoard so when I don't make money, I can still pay bills.  Right now, I am averaging 12% of what I use to make.  Go ahead and figure your current budget at 12% of what you make.  Now factor in a new pair of shoes.

I have more ranting about the subject, typical stuff: like the millions of jobs we have sent to other countries, the millions that work here illegally, the haves and havenots, but this is simply the tip of the iceberg.  Did you know icebergs melt faster on the bottom then the top?   If you are concerned about our economy's slow melt, maybe you should look under the water and see what is really going on.  Or just check out the bottom of my shoe.  It is a poignant lesson on what is happening.


So when my old glasses fall apart, or my car sits without gas, I get grumbly, When I get grumbly, I fall back on my warrior ways.

I keep my sword oiled.
I keep my sword sharp.
I keep my sword ready.

DarkArashi