Moments Worth Mentioning

Saying that I have LOTS to write about would be an understatement. It has been a whirl-wind week of turkey dinners, long lost family, interviews, airports and a little head cold to make it interesting.

I have been waiting for it…. For the feelings of being overwhelmed. I am here to tell you that the stress has officially made it’s entrance.

This is when things start to get complicated. I am trying to coordinate moving trucks, moving helpers, making a cross-country drive, new bank accounts, apartment lease terminations, selling furniture, packing, and change of address forms. I am trying to blend my availability with everyone who is offering to help. I am trying to say my goodbyes. Basically I am trying to get out of Michigan as cheaply and easily as possible, and unfortunately, my attempts are failing.

As of late this afternoon all plans have been changed and my tentative schedule has been thrown into a complete tailspin. I promise that I am never moving again.

Though this process, I am learning a hard lesson on Supply and Demand. Thanks to everyone moving out of Michigan, the Uhaul trucks cost a fortune… literally! They quoted me a price that was over twice as much as it was for me to move INTO Michigan a year and a half ago. I have done extensive research on every type of moving possibility…Pods, moving companies, ect. Nothing is cheap. Nothing is easy. I have resorted to selling/getting rid of as much as possible to lighten my load going across the country. I am basically going back to Georgia with my clothes, my computer and my scrapbooks. Oh yeah, and my Christmas tree.

My flight leaves tomorrow at 5:45am straight for Atlanta. Over the next four days I have 3 turkey dinners to consume and lots of people that will be asking for an explanation. I am considering printing out my blog and handing out copies. I also have two interviews planned for while I’m in town. After that, I will be flying back to Michigan to quickly finish my packing and will be on the road with a 12 hour drive ahead of me before I can blink.

Let the fun begin…

It’s a done deal. The papers are signed. I am officially out of a job as of next Wednesday.

Right now I would describe myself as emotionless. I have conflicting feelings of frustration and relief. I want to be happy about going back to Georgia and yet I am a little sad to say goodbye to all that I have known for the last year and a half. I have reinvented myself up here in Michigan. Its hard to believe that the journey is coming to an end. An abrupt end.

In a fit of frustration I posted every piece of furniture that I own on Craigslist. I have rational reasons to sell my things. A) Um, hello… I’m unemployed. Money is good. B) Fewer things to move back across the country is also good. C) Most of this stuff has made the journey from my college apartment, home ownership, and 2 Michigan moves. And, most of it was hand-me-downs when I first got it. It has had a good life.

I have been screening phone calls and emails all day. I have already sold a few things, with pickups scheduled for tomorrow. This is me trying to take control of a situation that couldn’t be more OUT of my control.

In other (good, no GREAT) news:
I bank at Chase. (I love this bank by the way. I am bummed that Georgia doesn’t have them.) Anyways…. they have this program called Chase Picks Up the Tab. Basically, every month or so they randomly pick out a few debit card purchases from the millions of transactions and reimburse the lucky sole for their purchase. Well, I got a phone call today informing me that I was the chosen one! They told me that they would be crediting my account for the $53 that I had spent at Walmart a few weeks ago. YAY!!!

I jumped the gun last weekend and went ahead and put up my Christmas tree. My reasoning behind my early decorating centered around the fact that I had planned on going home for two weeks in December. I wanted to be able to enjoy my tree for a long time before I left.

Needless to say, after yesterdays events, my Christmas plans have drastically changed. My Christmas tree is now doomed for a very short display this year. One of my first thoughts after hearing the news was how upset I was that I had just decorated my tree. How dare they interrupt my Christmas festivities! I’m a little embarrassed that my tree even crossed my mind at that point…

This weekend I plan to take down my lovely tree and to start the packing process… yet again. I have made plans to go home for an unexpected Thanksgiving and will be sticking around for a few extra days to hopefully line up some interviews.

After a few days, I will fly back to Michigan to finish packing up my things. I guess I will be home for the holidays this year… which now means something totally different.

I even allowed a Michigan elf the privilege of being on my tree this year…
Somehow I blame him.

I blog tonight as a way to digest today events. It has been one of those days that I will probably always remember. Its been a day that I can’t say that I haven’t been expecting. But mostly, its been a day that has brought me back to reality.

This song and dance we do each day can disappear in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, my independence song and my Michigan dance were just cut short. I was laid off today.

I’m not really sure what else to say at this point. My last day is December 1st. The next few weeks/months are to be determined… Until then I plan to keep this song on repeat in my car.

I am fully aware that I am currently employed thanks to General Motors. My company has a long lasting relationship with GM and I am thankful for that. But…

Allow me to share my opinion on the current GM crisis.

First and foremost: Something is obviously not working. GM would not be in their current situation if everything was running efficiently within the company. From what I have seen, the entire industry is terrified of change. And ultimately the lack of change has landed GM in this predicament. Just because it has always been done a certain way does not make it right!

I have obviously not grown up in Detroit. I don’t have dads and granddads in the automotive field. Therefore, I have not been brainwashed to think of the UAW as a necessity. Instead, I grew up in a part of the country where men and women go to work everyday for companies that don’t have contracts and hidden agendas. They go to work and make an honest living without the sense of entitlement that comes from working for a union. People go to work and earn a paycheck that is worthy of the job they preform. At one point (a hundred years ago) I’m sure the unions played a vital part in protecting the employees from unfair and unsafe working conditions. I have still yet to discover what their purpose is in today’s workforce. From what I’ve seen, all they do is require GM management to bend over backwards to supply their employees with fitness centers, tuition reimbursements, computer centers and lots of overtime pay. What if GM hired people, regular (nonunion) people, to do the required jobs? Imagine the cost savings…

It seems that every news channel is speculating about what the government is going to do for the automotive industry. Are they going to bail them out or not? Um, excuse me… But what makes GM, Ford and Chrysler any different than the rest of the struggling companies in the United States. The airline industry, home builders, and electronic stores alike are all in the same sinking boat. Everyone is struggling in this economy. As a tax payer, I have a hard time bailing out companies that have done so little to help themselves.

Also, it is amazing to me how much the automotive industry has frowned upon ANY government involvement up until this point. Every time the government tried to pass regulations concerning alternative fuels or better emission standards it was frowned upon by Detroit. It is funny that it is now okay to look to the government for help.

So what is the solution?

I don’t pretend to know every aspect of what is going on with GM. I do, however, understand that there is not a simple solution. Sadly, whatever is going to happen will surely effect the rest of the country. Over 3 million jobs are dependent on the auto industry. GM did not get into this mess overnight, and it seems very selfish for them to want an overnight fix. Regardless of what happens I am sad to say that the tax payers will be ultimately footing Rick Wagner’s bill. Because, if GM goes under those 3 million people will be lined up at the unemployment office looking for a handout.

I wonder what it is like to feel so entitled?

See other great De-Motivational posters here.

I have recently stumbled upon a blog that has now become part of my daily surfing. This girl is so incredibly selfless, truly inspiring and heartwarming.

Amy Beth has created a ministry that targets high school girls. It has grown into a full fledged business that keeps this angel working overtime! If that wasn’t enough, she has opened her home to a girl who is (was) pregnant and in need of a lot more than just a roof over her head. “Roomie” as she is lovingly referred to in the blog welcomed a healthy baby boy late last night. The love, support and prayers that surround these two girls is overwhelming. I’m so excited to see what He has in store for these three!

Feel free to add this to your blog favorites.

Amy Beth with “roomie’s” baby boy