So I'm retired. Now What?

Retirees and the DD214, Week ending Jan27th

2012-01-28T08:10:00.000-08:00

I separated about 15 people this week. Friday was the busiest I've been in while; I had 4 appointments. Some of the people that stood out in my mind are what I'm writing about today.

First, and most memorable, is the master chief petty officer from Friday. Anytime I see a master chief, I have one of 2 expectation: They are either very laid back or they are very formal. Most of them are of the laid back variety, and Friday's visitor certainly fit that mold. This particular sailor only had about 22 years in the navy. That may seem like a long time, but the fact is, the most Senior position for enlisted men in the navy is E9- Master Chief Petty Officer- and most of them have been in the navy for well past 20 years when they retire. Heck, most master chiefs stay in for the whole 30 years. This guy was ready to go. He was friendly, accommodating and very likable. I asked him if he had aspirations of being a Command Master Chief, to which he replied with an emphatic, "No." He told me he didn't like shaking hands and kissing babies (not a politician), and he was too much of a 'tell it like it is' kind of guy. This is the kind of mentor that I wish I'd had in my time in the navy- demanding, but fair and a no-nonsense leadership style. The old fashioned "work hard and play hard" kind of chief. Of course, everything I hear form my customers is subjective, in that I haven't read their evaluations, nor can I confirm what they tell me, but after so many years of being around sailors, you get to know different types of folks and can usually spot BS from a long way off.

I had to do a medical separation for a sailor this week, too. This was a young sailor who'd had a tough time. He had some mental issues. I know this because he told me. I read the information given to me in these circumstances, because, let's face it, I have a normal curiosity and want to know why people are being separated. However, this person's information was minimal, so I had no idea why he was being medically retired, just that he was getting out and would be getting a retirement check. He had no problem telling me that he suffered some sort of mental breakdown, so I simply nodded at the appropriate moments and listened to what he had to say. He was simply a mess (this is my opinion). While he seemed to be functional, he seemed to want to embellish everything he said. We've all been around that type of person... always building on the story. At first, this person starts out by saying he did 'x' and before you know it, he's the best at 'x' and people from other commands are coming to him to help them with their 'x' and the whole community couldn't function without his 'x.' After about 1 minute of this, I realized this was just a sad little guy with not much self esteem. And a very long, tough life ahead of him. The one thing that stuck out for me about him was his claim that he was a wrestler in the 150lb class (in high school), but needed to get into the 200lb class, and did so by eating steak, bought for the team by the coach. Yet he made 200lbs without being fat- he was in shape. He didn't give me a time frame, but I know that in my entire 4 years of high school, I only gained about 20lbs (OK, 30). Oh, and he lost 20lbs in 2 weeks (to make another weight class, I guess). Like I said, this type of person deserves a little sympathy, not disdain, so keep that in mind.

I also separated a guy that had simply decided to get out after being in the navy for 9 years. He wasn't bitter or angry at all, he just wanted a change. I say good for him.

I have to do 2 appointments with many of the sailors I talk to. The first is to give them a working copy of the DD214 they can fax to the reserve community. The second is to provide them a finished DD214. This is the process for Perform to Serve, PTS, separations. Big navy wants the manning numbers at a certain level, so a bunch of sailors are being shown the door, so to speak. "Thanks for your service, but we simply don't need you anymore." It's hard to believe the military is handing out pink slips, but it is the reality. The up side of the process is that the sailors that have 6 years or more can get some separation pay. Simply put, they either get half or full separation pay. In order to get full separation, the sailor has to have passed their last rating exam, be recommended for retention on the latest eval (I know, recommended for retention, yet being shown the door? Go figure), and they have to re-enlist in the reserves. If they don't do these few things, they only get half the money. As an example, assume the sailor has exactly 6years when he gets out. The formula is total number of months served (72) x base pay ($2662/ mo for E5 this year) x .10 (10%). In our example this comes out to $19,166.40, or $9,583.20 (5%) if they don't meet all the requirements for full sep pay. Using the same formula, an E6 with 14 years would end up getting $58,732.80 or $29,366.40, respectively. While that may sound like a pretty good deal, and in many ways it is, these people aren't problem sailors. Most of them are stellar performers, great leaders and have a wealth of experience that the navy is going to be without. Most of these sailor, especially the ones with 14 years of service, are in career mode. They've given up a lot over the years for the country. They've missed birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases, graduations, funerals and countless other memories. I hate that they aren't being given the opportunity to finish their career, since they were committed to doing exactly that. Too bad the navy has to let them go. On the other hand, I have to commend the sailors for not being angry, especially at me. Seriously, though, I'm sure most of them have already been through their angry stage by the time they get to my desk, and they are largely OK with where they are, and where they're headed. Also, a large number of them have already landed a pretty good job. Most of them a better job than mine. Which makes me question my own decisions throughout my career.

23 Years ago today...

2012-01-24T04:21:00.000-08:00

I was a 23 year old young man with aspirations of being something more. It was January 23, 1989. I had spent the night in a cheap motel, under the watchful eyes of the MEPS folks. MEPS is military speak for Military Entrance Processing Station. It's the last civilian thing you get to see before being sent off to basic training (Boot Camp). The night before, I could barely sleep. I was excited and scared. I had already shaved my moustache off but my hair was long and bushy. I resembled Carrot Top before anyone had ever heard of him, and many, MANY years before the steroided version of him came along. I had a wife at the time, and a 1 year old son, whom I already missed after only a few hours (I missed my wife, too- a little). I tried to get some sleep, but it was hard. The excitement and fear kept me awake for a good portion of the night, and the noise from fellow travellers didn't help much.

Morning came, much too early, and it sounded like the loudest telephone in the history of telephones. The rooms were all set to automatically call for the morning round-up. I got up, washed my face and brushed my teeth, found some breakfast and was ready to go. It didn't take long for us to get herded into the bus to take us all to the processing station for the second time. The first time for most of us was when we were getting our physical done for entry into the navy. In my case, it was 2 months prior, and it was also the time I got to pick my job. At least I knew what I was joining for, and I was excited about learning electronics. Of course, the first thing I had to do was get through 9 weeks of boot camp...

At the MEPS center that morning, we all went into the building and took care of a few last minute things. Mostly, we all just waited around for our time to leave. That time came soon enough. It was shortly after we were sworn in for the second time. Most people don't realize that there are 2 times a new recruit swears in: the first is when he or she is done with the physical and has chosen a field, and the second right before heading off to boot camp. As an E3 ( I had enough college credits to join the navy as an E3 as opposed to E1), I was the senior guy for our group of 10 or so recruits, so the person in charge gave me everyones records and told me to give them to the person incharge once we got to San Diego- this was 1989 and there were three boot camps: San Diego, Orlando (where all the females went) and Chicago. It was winter time and I was lucky enough to get to go to San Diego, for wich I received a lot of grief from the poor souls that got stuck in Chicago. In January. Haha. Suckers...

It was an uneventful trip for us in the plane. My only luggage was my toothbrush and the clothes I was wearing. My recruiteer was (the exception, and not the rule) one that made sure I was mentally prepared, and he told me much of what to expect, though not everything was exactly as he described it. He was right in telling me to leave everything at home. Some people show up with luggage, several days worth of clothes, etc, only to find out their recruiters were full of sh... not quite true stuff. I knew it was going to suck, I also knew not to bring stuff I was not going to be allowed to use for God knows how long. Once we landed in San Diego, life as we knew it suddenly seemed like a different time.

We were grabbed up as soon as we got off the plane by the good folks at RTC/NTC San Diego. That's Recruit Training Center/ Navy Training Center San Diego, for those who don't speak military. Nobody shouted at us yet, so I was a little surprised. We were put onto a bus, where the driver, dressed in dungarees- the precursor to the navy utility working uniform, which was the precursor to their current cammo style of woking uniform- told us to have a seat. that from this point forward everything we said was to be preceeded and followed by "Sir." Still, no one had yelled at us, althought he bus driver was stern and impersonal. Once we got to the facility, a short ride form the airport, we got off the us and lined up at which point we were pointed toward a bank of pay phones and told to "call home and let your loved ones know you're here, you're safe and you will call them again as soon as you can."

From this point on, everything-EVERYTHING- was structured. We got in line to get our hair cut, we got in line to get our uniforms issued to us, we stood in line for chow. It was during this time that we began to break the molds of our civilian lives and to learn how to be sailors. We were conitinually told to "get your hands out of your pockets!" Funny thing about not having your hands in your pockets is you realize that the muscles in your shoulders have atrophied and there is some discomfort in your arms hanging at your sides for a couple of days. Give it a try: let your arms hang at your sides; no pockets, no hands on hips. We were herded through paperwork, medical (yes, more medical stuff), uniforms, chow and finally a couple of hours of sleep. By now it's sometime after midnight and we've all been up for about 20+ hours. We've had our heads shaved and we're all tired, scared and lonely. We can't really talk to each other, so it's too early to try making friends.

This was day one. It's funny how many details you can remember, even after 23 years. It was a long day, to be sure, but utterly important in the development of a sailor. From day one we learned to pay attention to the little details. As a matter of fact, if there is one thing I would say about basic training, it's that everything comes down to "Attention to Detail."

***I realized after I posted this that the date said 24 January. I wrote it on the 23rd.

Retirees and the DD214

2012-01-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Friday and another week has come and gone in the exciting world of... OK, let's be real. My job isn't all that exciting. It does, however, give me the opportunity to talk to a lot of interesting people. This week I've had a number of interesting folks come across my desk. Not literally, mind you. If people are actually coming across my desk, I need to take a look at how I am treating them.

First, there's the ET1 that decided to get out of the navy a few months early (about 10 years into his career). When I got the initial paperwork, it seemed to me that the member was on the fast track to making chief. I wondered why he was calling it quits. He's a stellar performer with a lot of qualifications in the submarine community. His skills are easily transferable to civilian life, so maybe he got a job offer that he simply couldn't pass up. Whatever the case may be, it's too bad he's getting out. The navy still needs good leadership. Well, as it turns out, this guy has actually 'been there, done that.' He worked at Camp David- yes, that one- as one of the equipment technicians. His networking skills landed him a position with the Secret Service! Very cool. So, even though he's going to be travelling a lot in his new career, he'll be living the dream, as they say.

Also this week, I had an ADSEP. That's Administrative Separation, usually a bad thing. And in this young woman's case, it was. She seemingly could not stay out of trouble. She was a Master-at-Arms, or MA. The MA rating is the navy's version of military police. It used to be a rating that you had to request to transfer to once you had a few years experience in the service. Very few people could simply join the navy as a Master-at-Arms, and the ones that did were usually policemen on the outside before they joined. This practice ensured the navy that the people that carry guns and had arrest authority were mature, responsible people, and not an 18 year old fresh out of high school. I see the wisdom in this. Well, shortly after the 9-11 tragedy, the navy had a great need for fresh MAs, so they opened the rate up to everyone. Basically, you could be a 19 year old cop, in a foreign country with a ton of responsibility, and not necessarily a lot of mentorship. In the case of this young woman, that seems like what happened. Here you have a relatively smart young person, without much life experience, in a foreign country where the drinking age is 18. Well, since she really didn't know her own limitations, she probably didn't have a clue she was headed down the wrong path. I'm certain she was given the opportunity to fix her shortcomings. Perhaps she didn't think there was anything wrong with her. Too bad. Now she has been eradicated from the ranks and is going to lose a considerable amount of her benefits. Of course, I'm speculating as to the reason for her troubles. It may not have had anything to do with alcohol, but what little paperwork I had indicated that booze was a likely accomplice to her problems. For what it's worth, I hope she doesn't continue her destructive behavior outside the navy.

I got the opportunity to talk to a couple of retiring sailors, too. One was a chief (E7) and had about 12 years of sea time! 12 years out of 20 he was on board a ship. I have to say, that's a lot of time away from your family! There's quite a bit of dedication involved in a career like that. Sure, out of that 12 years, he may have only done five or six deployments, but to be perfectly honest, shipboard life is tough, even when you're in port, tied to the pier. Watches, qualifications, duty sections, fire drills, training, dry-dock (or 'yard') periods and the work-up cycle all make for many hours of overtime, even when you're technically 'at home.'

On Friday, I had the opportunity to talk to a PO2 (E5) that was retiring after 20 years. She was one of a dying breed. You see, for years and years the navy allowed E5s to retire at 20 years with full retirement benefits. Well, around 2004ish, they changed their high year tenure rules. Now an E5 that doesn't make E6 within 14 years has to get out at 14 years- no retirement. The E5s that were already E5s by the time the new rule took effect were grand-fathered in, so they wouldn't be processed out. Those folks are becoming less and less common. To be honest, most people make First Class (PO1 or E6) prior to hitting the 14 year mark, but there are a few that don't make it, and even fewer that are going to make it all the way to retirement. This particular sailor was very excited to be leaving the service. She loved the navy, as we all do, but she was ready to leave... I guess her final command wasn't very good to her. She was one of the most well-prepared people I've had the opportunity to sit with through this process. She had all her paperwork with her and properly filled out. She already knew most of the information and even had her household goods shipment in the process. This certainly makes my job a lot easier, I only had to answer a couple of questions for her. I enjoy people like her. I get to spend more time on a personal level with them, instead of being the federal employee automaton most people envision when I tell them what I do for a living.

1 Week Down

2012-01-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

Well, after a week of eating right and exercising, I've managed to lose a whopping 2 pounds...

I have to admit, that's more than a little discouraging. I think I know why, though. First, when I say 'eating right' I am really only talking about quantity. I worry less about what I am eating as I do about the calorie count. Once I get used to eating less, I'll adjust my intake to be a little healthier. Actually, I eat pretty healthy already, though I realize there is room for improvement (less sodium, more lean protein, etc).

Historically, once I cut the sweets from my diet, and the cravings go away, after about three or four days, the rest is fairly easy. I haven't had any sweets since January 2, so I no longer crave them at this point. However, I still eat an egg almost every morning. I make myself an egg wrap, using a tortilla (yes, the kind made with lard and flour, found in any grocery store- about 120 calories each), a serving of egg whites (which I buy in a pint size carton), and one medium sized egg. I tried to use just egg whites, but the consistency of the omelette doesn't hold up too well; it falls apart while I'm trying to flip it. So one egg at about 100 calories added to a serving of egg whites at a whopping 25 calories, plus some sea salt (ahh, the evil part of my breakfast), salsa and onion powder, a 1/4 cup of cheese. The whole thing weighs in at a tremendous 300-ish calories. I also, and drink a pot of coffee (way too much, according to some) -14 calories total, without cream or sugar, and take some vitamins and supplements each day. Total: 359 calories.

When I go to work, I take with me a few talismans to use against the mid-morning hunger monster. I pack my bag with some yogurt (2 @ 80 calories each), an apple, a banana and some carrots. I also make myself a sandwich. So my 'healthy diet' is riddled with some things many fitness experts might frown on: bread (2 slices at 120calories total), lunch meat, whose sodium content is pretty high (can't think of an appropriate simile at the moment), and cheese (a meal without cheese is like a day without sunshine- there's your simile). Still, my sandwich fills my belly and prevents me from buying fast food or chips from the vending machine, so it's a win for me. I spread my snacking out throughout the day, sometimes eating my apple or carrots on the ride home.

Tho whole point is, I try to be proactive in this diet thing. Truthfully, I'm not 'dieting' so much as I'm changing the way I eat. Watching tv in the evening is a challenge, as I'm used to munching on chips or whatever, and washing it down with soda (although I've been drinking diet soda for years, so no calories, per se, but a separate issue with the aspartame in it, which I'd like to discuss at another time). Point is, I have to find a way to occupy both my mind and my hands so I am not so tempted to fill them with comfort foods. Luckily, I have a smart phone and some pretty cool games to play- sorry 'Angry Birds' fans, I'd rather play sudoku.

You see, I'm actually eating several times a day, but just directing my intake toward more wholesome foods. Dinner is probably the least healthy thing I eat. I've been trying to stick with Lean Cuisine type dinners. They are tasty... OK, they taste good enough. Still, the sodium content is pretty high in any manufactured food: soup being the worst offender (probably), followed by everything else. Still, a 300 calorie dinner, combined with a small, steamed bag of veggies is usually enough to get me throught the evening. If Istill need something to munch on, there are a few choices on the market these days: Special K chips are my current choice (120 calories for a serving of 27 chips), which, after not having sweets or fat or bad carbs all week, are simply delicious!

All these food choices are not the best available. I know this. I will eventually take a look at how I cook foods, I'll learn to make some different meats and fresh vegetables and I'll probably find a more holistic approach to eating- Eventually. For now, I'm happy to be losing a few pounds. I'm even more happy that I'm not starving to death, which is why most diets fail.
Losing weight is really much simpler than most people realize. Once you cut out the industry's attempts to sell you the latest diet, you'll see the simplicity of it. What the fitness industry does not tell you is that you can lose weight by simply eating less calories than you burn each and every day. That's the secret. The truth is, you could eat Twinkies every day (I prefer the Little Debbie snack cake diet, personally), and as long as your body burns more calories than the Twinkies you eat, you'll lose weight. You'll be increasingly unhealthy if you eat only sweets, but the concept is the same: burn more calories than you consume. Twinkies, by the way, each have about 150 calories. The problem is that one is never enough!

My daily allownce of calories, according to the program I set up previously, using myfitnesspal.com is 1730. This amount will allow me to lose about 2lbs oer week. If I exercise, I get more calories. So, if I run 3 or 4 miles that day, I get a considerable amount of additional calories. This might allow me to eat a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich as a treat once in a while without moving backwards.

For what it's worth, this is the exact opposite of my approach to paying off the bills: Spend less than you make.

Keeping track of my New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

We all know that these resolutions are usually doomed to failure, so this year, I've decided to put myself on the hot seat and make my resolutions stick- or, at the very least, allow myself to be held accountable. My resolutions are fairly basic. I haven't smoked in several years, and I quit drinking more than 20 years ago, so what else could I possibly need to change? Believe it or not, I have a couple things I don't really like very much about myself.
1) I have to make myself more impressive to potential employers. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful to have a job and I like what I am doing, for the most part. Simply put, I don't feel like this is where I should be at this stage of my life. Sort of an, "Is this as good as it gets?" feeling (thanks, Jack Nicholson).

So what am I doing to change this? First off, I bought the book "What Color is Your Parachute." Second, and more importantly, I'm reading the book and doing to exercises in it to determine where my true passion lies, hopefully leading me to a much fuller career. Third, I'm being more proactive in my current job; I actually ask my customers to say nice stuff about me in our online survey, I network with many of them and ask about their future plans. Finally, I'm trying to step outside of my comfort zone in my job, continuing to learn what I can and improve the whole process in the separations division.

2) Lose weight. This is probably the single most failed resolution in the world. Why? Because it isn't specific enough. I look at myself in the mirror and I do not like what I see. I've let myself gain too much weight over the holidays and now it's time to get rid of the pounds. In light of this, let me say that I want to lose 30 pounds. This year.

Losing weight is easy. I can lose 5 pounds fairly quickly. The problem is that I seem to be losing the same 5 pounds every few months! Gaining the weight back comes even easier than losing it. How can I break this cycle? Well, having a support system is a good start. I'm not talking about someone that's going to nag me into losing weight. That'll never work. I'm talking about having a partner who's as invested as I am in this endeavor. The main thing I have to do is watch what I eat. No more eating just to be eating. That's foolishness for a man of my age. When I was a kid, and even as a young adult, I could eat anything and never gain weight. I miss those days! However, I have to be more mature about it. I simply can't eat the way I did when I was younger. I use this program to monitor what I eat:
myfitnesspal
It's a simple program and I even have it on my smart phone. Exercise is an important part of weight control as well. Having a program that involves other people makes it more of a team function, and not just a 'me against the world' challenge.

3) Pay off at least one large bill this year. I'm not nearly as bad off as some are, but there's a lot of room for improvement in this area. We- my wife and I- really only have 4 big bills, outside of our house and the regular stuff (insurance, utilities, etc, don't factor in this). This is a much more personal matter, but I don't mind sharing the fact that it's TIME to get started on this. This has been very important to me for a few years now and I've decided that this is the year we are going to get the ball rolling (it's also the year I was able to get my wife committed to the idea as well- can't do it without her).

I've been a fan of Dave Ramsey for a long time. His ideals are well-founded and make a lot of sense. Dave's philosophy about being debt free isn't unique, nor is it the only way to accomplish this goal, but I find it to be the simplest method for becoming debt free, and the method I plan on using.

These are my 2012 goals. Not overwhelming enough to be burdensome, but challenging enough to keep me on my toes. Here's to a successful 2012!!!!!!!

Something New.

2011-08-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been working at my current job for just over a year now and, while I appreciate the fact that I am making a decent living, I sometimes wonder if maybe there's something more.

     Instead of complaining about making $X per month or year, and instead of complaining about the quality of some of the people that comprise the civil service (the overwhelming majority of whom are terrific, professional people), I thought I'd put to work the fact that I meet a variety of people on an daily basis. I work in the separations department of the Personnel Support Detachment at a very large naval station, and get the chance to talk to all types of people: retiring officers, chief petty officers and enlisted men and women, sailors getting dismissed from the navy due to the needs of the navy, some are getting out simply to test the waters outside the military and some are getting kicked out. All of them have a story. Some of them are quite captivating.

     This is sort of a project in the developmental stages. Let's see if I can make it as entertaining in print as it is in my head:
     It’s Friday, the last day of the work week, and today is the last day of work for the month as well. Today I separated three people from the navy. It was supposed to be a day for me to catch up on my work and get ready for next week’s busy summer schedule, but I had 2 last minute separations that had to be done today. These two members are retiring as of the end of the month (2 days from now) and had to get their DD214 finished and all their paperwork processed today to ensure a smooth transition into the world of retirement. “Not to worry,” is what I usually tell the scheduling clerks. I can get this done.

      Today’s first appointment was at 0900, so I had about an hour and a half of ‘free’ time to catch up on a few things piling up on my desk. Having a clean desk on Friday afternoon is kind of important to me. I don’t mean completely clear of all files and papers, that would be… well, weird. For me, at least.

     So, my first appointment is a First Class Petty Officer (E-6) who is transitioning into the Fleet Reserve (the time between active duty and retirement, which begins at 30 years. Fleet reserve means that the member could be recalled by the Secretary of the Navy should a nasty war break out. It also means that the member is receiving a pension). It turns out that he was a Chief Petty Officer (E-7) until a month ago when he was reduced in rank at Court Marshall for a domestic violence charge, which, if you were to take the word of the member, was a bogus charge; no evidence was found to convict, yet they stuck him with the conviction, anyway. It sounds bogus to me. I’m not taking sides, just talking about the guy.

     He was, by all appearances a pretty good guy. We talked a little about his motorcycle and his future of being a motorcycle mechanic. He had a shaved head and several tattoos on his arms, indicating that he might be a biker-type. Of course I asked him about it, and, sure enough, he was a biker- and a mechanic, which was evident by how technical his descriptions of the bike were. It was hard to keep up, to tell the truth. I understand engines and how they work, but I don’t know them intimately, like a good mechanic does. We got through the appointment in just over an hour, but it’s done and his paperwork is turned in.

     Appointment number 2 was scheduled for 10am. This was a Navy Chaplain getting ready to retire. I had to explain to him why I was going to be delayed for a few more minutes, but he was very understanding. Once I sat him down at my desk, I realized that he was very laid back and relaxed. He made no real attempt to change the information on his DD214, he seemed like he was just ready to move on. I’m always thankful to have customers like him. Although he wasn’t the most interesting appointment I had this week, he certainly made my job as easy as possible, considering the short-fused nature of it.

     Appointment #3, and my last for the day, was someone getting out for PTS reasons. PTS is ‘Perform to Serve’ and is the navy’s way of reducing its numbers. While I don’t necessarily like the PTS system, at least it keeps me gainfully employed. This guy was a 2^nd Class Petty Officer (E5) and was, by most standards, a stand-up sailor. I don’t understand why they are letting good people go, but that’s the way it goes these days. He had all of his documents ready for me and is joining the Reserves to finish out his career.    A good guy with some pretty good, marketable skills. Too bad, but I guess people like him usually land on their feet. Perhaps this is a sign that he should be spreading his wings and trying to do something better? Who knows? Sometimes I wonder if I would have made it through the PTS process... I'm glad I didn't have to find out.

     Well, that was last Friday and I've had another three days of appointments. I'll talk a little about them next time. I think this job would drive me nuts if I wasn't able to talk to the customers a little. I mean, doing the exact same thing day after day would get monotonous. This work is like assemblyline work: Get the information, build the package, ask the customer if he (or she) brought the rest of the paperwork, send them back to where ever to get the things they are missing, do the loss documents, get the DD214 signed and move on to the next one. BOR-ING!! So it's good to get to talk to them a little before they leave.

What's wrong with this country?

2011-03-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I needed to get myself a new belt. The one that I had got destroyed- another story for another time. I found a belt at, where else, Walmart that was a reversible brown/ black belt just dressy enough for my suits, yet casual enough to wear with jeans. It lasted me all of 4 months... the buckle came apart. So I decided to get another one. This one came apart in a much shorter period. So I bought a third one... which promplty broke the first time I wore it. OK, I thought, enough of this. What is it about these belts that is causing them to be so cheap. I took a closer look at the belt, flipped it over and read the writing on the back of it (actually, it wasn't the 'back' since it's reversible). Lo and behold! Right there on my belt were the words "Made in China." Actually, since we are now a Spanish speaking nation, it read, "Hecho en China." That would be comical if it weren't so tragic. "Made in China" written in Spanish!

So I still need a belt. It needs to be black. Damn that whole reversible thing (I bought a brown belt that was, oddly enough, made in China). I want a simple, black belt that will work for slacks and jeans. I want it to be made of leather, and most importantly I want one that wasn't made in China.
I was out and about today and decided at the last minute to try to find myself a new belt. I drove down to the mall and went straight to Dillard's. Surely, the men's department at Dillard's would have a belt made in America! I looked at all the brands they had and not one of them was made anywhere but China. I then went to JC Penney, thinking my luck would be a little better. It was not. They had an even bigger selection of brand names, but none were made in America. One more stop at the mall: MACY'S.
Macy's has a selection that was about as big as the first 2 combined. I'm certain that at least one of the belts here would be American, after all, a few of the brands actually have the word 'America' in them. Yet, each one that I picked up and turned over lessened my hope that I was going to find an American made belt this day. One by one, I turned over the brands and was more disappointed each time I saw the words "Made in China" printed there. What's even worse is the fact that they wanted $25 or more for these items.

Well, it's Sunday and I need a belt. I fgured if I was going to have to buy a Chinese made belt, I was going to get it at a Walmart price, so off I went to Wally World. When I got there I saw that they had a decent selection. "What are the odds?" I thought. I looked at the first brand, Dickies, and was disappointed once more. Same with the house brand, Faded Glory. China, China, China. I picked up one more belt, flipped it over and read the words...

"Made in Mexico!" Well, it's a start. I found a belt that wasn't made in China. To be honest, I probably could have found one on the internet, but I needed it right away. I plan on getting my next one through a high end store or through an internet source. Maybe my luck will be a little better. Some day, maybe more American companies will realize that many Americans want to buy American products at a reasonable price. Without doing tons of reasearch, but relying on my own, limited experience, I believe thatAmerican products can be manufactured and distributed for the same price as their Chinese counterparts. It's about time that Americans begin to insist that American products are readily available. This is America! We can do anything! This is the greatest country the world has ever known and the stringest economy in the world. Why can't we make our own leather products? It iasn't as if we are short on cows, we eat a lot of beef in this country. We drink a lot of milk in this country. It's only a guess, but I'm pretty sure all those milk and beef cattle are covered in leather. Perhaps if we start small, insisting that our leather belts are mde in America, we can expand our demands to include purses, gloves and baseball mitts. Heck, let's have some vision! We could produce American made steering wheel covers, batting and golf gloves and even leather covered seats for our motorcycles and trucks! One step at a time, folks. Let's buy American when we can.

Free Healthcare for All!!!

2010-03-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

On this beautifu Sunday morning, as I get ready to go to work, I watch the disturbing news that there is very likely going to be enough voted to pass the president's healthcare bill. A few things that keep running through my mind, though:

1) If the bill is so great, why is it necessary for the IRS to add 15,000 new agents? This actually raises a couple more questions:
a) Doesn't this fact bother anyone? The IRS is almost as hated an institution as the KKK, yet nobody seems to have a problem with the addition of even more agents. Agents that are hired for one insidious purpose: to MAKE you buy health insurance.
b) In an economy that needs more jobs in the private sector, why is the president so eager to add even more burden to taxpayers by padding the offices of government employees. It doesn't seem to make sense.

2) Popular opinion seems to be in favor of scrapping this bill and starting over, yet our elected officials don't seem to be concerned about the opinions of their constituents. Where did they find the unmitigated gall to just do what they want and, in doing so, basically tell their constituency to 'shut up and go away?'

3) How can anyone believe that this healthcare bill will result in anything less than socialized medicine? The president and many of his minions have publicly stated their support and desire for a single payer type of insurance in this country. Anyone who believes that this healthcare bill is going to result in anything less than the same type of healthcare available in Canada, Cuba, England or Venezuela should explain how I
it is going to be different.

The worst is yet to come. Like it or not, this president is as progressive as Karl Marx. He has dedicated his life to taking from one and giving to another. His record and his words support this. Healthcare is one of the ways he will realize his dream of an American Utopia.

God help us.

What is it about Liberals??

2009-12-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

It's been quite some time since I blogged on here, but the time is right, I think.
I am watching the Copenhagen Climate Treaty unfolding before our eyes and I cannot believe that people are so defiantly denying the possibility that this whole global warming thing is a fraud! So, a few weeks ago, we find out about some stolen emails that clearly point out that the science is flawed. OK, so stealing emails is wrong. I know, I know. However, since we aren't trying to build a court case against this particular science, we don't have to worry about the evidence being admissible in court. However, the court of public opinion does have a say in the matter. How can reasonable people look at these emails- stolen or not- and not see the potential for the science being wrong? Talk about drinking the Kool-aid!! Why is it that saying that global warming is not man-made makes me a 'flat-earther' but denying the existence of potential proof of contradictory science doesn't make the rest of you 'believers' look foolish? Surely if the evidence is so strong the scientists, and Al Gore, should be able to hold it up for scrutiny. If it can be proven to be man made, then we can still change our ways. However, it seems to me that Mr Gore and a few others have much more at stake here than the good of the earth that they claim. Al Gore has untold millions of dollars in potential profits from the sale of carbon credits. I'll hand it to him, he is a shrewd business man. He is also a charlatan. While he flies around in his private jet, eating beef by the ton, we are all expected to abide by his claims that "the earth has a fever." If he is a true believer, then let him set the example and put down the cheeseburger and take public transportation for once. Bottom line: if global warming is man-made, then prove it. Put the science to the test.

Obama-Care

2009-11-08T18:10:00.000-08:00

Why is it that I can see the end result as clear as day, but those on the other side of the aisle can't seem to comprehend what is going to happen to our country?

Now that the healthcare bill is halfway through congress, I am getting a bit scared. Do people seriously need the government to take care of their every need? Are there truly 47 million people in this country that cannot get healthcare? The answer to the first question is, "Unfortunately." However, not all of us are reliant on the government to tell us what to do and how to live. The sad part is that the people that want government healthcare are totally unaware of the ramifications of giving up their freedom. I used to live in a country where we had a choice. The choice to rise above others and make yourself rich. Or the choice to make a comfortable living. We had the choice to save for retirement, or waste our years. We had the choice of working 40 hours per week to provide for our families or to work 80 or more hours a week and get ahead. With this new administration making sure that the economy cannot grow and ensuring that we 'need' them to help us, is it any wonder that more and more people want the easy route?

The answer to the second question is a resounding NO. The numbers of un-insured are skewed in the favor of those that want to pass a ridiculously expensive healthcare plan. The number of uninsured in our country include those that choose not to buy insurance, those that are between jobs (most of which are uninsured for less than 6 months) and illegal immigrants. The number of poor in the country that need the government to help them get insurance is closer to 15 million. Still a lot of people, but a far cry from the numbers touted by congress. Still 15 million: roughly 5% of the population of the country. Why? Why are we ruining the best healthcare system in the world that 95% of the people enjoy so that a few people can be covered? A better question might be, "Why don't we just insure those that truly need help?" We are about to transfer 15% of the GDP of the United States to the control of the government. The same government that has ruined every program it has tried to run: Amtrak, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security to name a few.

It's all about power. I believe that our president is a socialist. I believe it is his grand scheme to make our country a socialist power. He is well on his way. The more he gets his fingers around the throat of our economy, the tighter grip he will have on his dream: a social utopia. He is out to ruin this great nation, and we are letting him do it. I can't help feeling that we're doomed as a nation. Thanks, Uncle Barry!!

Pick Your Target

2009-08-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

Freeze it, personlize it, polarize it. This is Saul Alinsky's rule #11, established in his book, Rules for Radicals. It is basically a manifesto for the socialist movement in America.

President Obama is a student of Alinsky. His (Obama's) healthcare issues are not going favorably for him a this time, so what does he do? He falls back on what he knows best: polarizing his target. This time it is the insurance companies that he is demonizing.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8600691

Since the democrats are unable to get their healthcare passed by its own merits, they have chosen a more devious path: making the insurance companies into the fall guys for them. What they are seeking are documents from the insurance companies regarding pay, bonuses, travel, premiums, etc. One can only assime that they are going to paint these companies as evil AIG types that are living the high life at the expense of the peope they are paid to insure. Instead of congress making consessions to the insurance companies such as allowing them to sell healthcare across state lines, they are attacking them as evil capitalist entities tha are interested in nothing but the bottom line.

The democrats seem to be so rigid in their stance on healthcare reform that they are unwilling to listen to anyone- their constituency or their republican counterparts- with an opposing point of view, that they are now willing to risk the nuclear option. They may decide to use the reconciliation rule to get this hideous healthcare program passed. All they need is 51 votes, which they already have, in order to pass healthcare reform in its current state.

Make no mistake, this attempt at garnering information from the insurance companies is an Alinskyesque move. President Obama may not have asked Waxman to do it, but he has undoubtedly, over the past few days, changed his tune to one of disdain for the insurance companies. Small wonder that a few democrats took the ball and are running with it. These politicians know how to use this tactic to their advantage. In the next couple of weeks, the insurance compnaies are going to begin to squirm as the democrats continue to add pressure on them.

I can't wait until November, 2010!

A New Beginning

2009-08-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

No, it's not Star Wars, just my thoughts on the direction my life is taking.
Ever since I retired from the navy, I have felt like I should be doing something more worthwhile than delivering pizza. Yes, I worked for a contractor for a couple of months, but I realized that I wasn't cu tout to be a 44 year old 'trainee.' My patience level and the teaching methods involved were not copacetic to a good working environment. I do, however, appreciate the time I had there. I learned quote a bit about building, painting, siding, etc. I also appreciate the opportunity to earn a litle money that was given to me by the owner of the company. When work fell off, and we were laid off for a couple of weeks, I simply never went back. They didn't call me to come back to work and I found my current job, so it all worked out pretty well.

So, delivering pizza helps pay the bills. That's about it, though. There isn't really room for personal growth in the industry, unless you want to become a 'company man.' Let me say a bit about the retail food industry. The customer is always right. Period. Even at the expense of the company, the customer is always right. It sucks the life out of management. If someone seriously wants to eat free, all they really have to do is complain. If their complaint is not reasonably addressed by the store manager, all they have to do is complain to the corporate office. Corporate will call the store and tell the manager to give them what they want. Their reasoning behind this? Simple: "How many people do they know that they will tell about the bad service?" Nevermind that there may not have been any bad service... nevermind that the problem may have been addressed locally, nevermind that the same 'customer' has complained and gotten free food for three weeks straight. Unrealistic expectations are commonplace in management of any industry. However, in the food industry, those expectations are magnified. In my company, I am expected to help people at the counter with their order, which I do when I'm not on a delivery. However, only the manager has the key to the cash register. He (or she) has to stop what the are doing, come to the counter, take the money from the customer, unlock the register drawer and make change. Why do I have to work the counter??? Of course, the manager is also expected to keep labor costs down, which means he has to anticipate that business will not pick up and send home the employees that make the pizza, and the drivers that are no longer needed. Typically, after the dinner rush, most of the drivers and insiders (that's what we call our in-store employees) are sent home for the day. Typically, about 30 minutes or an hour after that, we get busy again. I think it's one of those weird Karma things, because it never happens until after the majority of the people are gone for the day. Anyway, the manager s stuck making pizza, doing the inventory, cashing out the drivers, handling daily problems, and working the front counter. The pay for managers in training is pretty pathetic, too. I told my manager that I couldn't afford to be a manager. Too much of a pay cut. So why does the company want only the best people to train as managers, but is unwilling to pay them to stay there for a year or so? If each store has at least 2 assistant managers, and the area has only 7 stores, it stands to reason that not everyone is going to be promoted to general manager. Of course, an even smaller percentage will be promoted beyond managing their own store. Sure, many companies have similar promotion statistics. Simply put, that's life. Be the best at what you do. However, it seems that pizza store managers have an extra set of hand cuffs holding them back. Maybe I'm biased because this is the first long-term job I've had since the navy.

Well, at first, delivering pizza was fun, it kept me busy, helped pay the bills and I made pretty good money, without any responsibility at all. I still make pretty good money, but I recently began to feel like I was wasting away. With no responsibility beyond ensuring that the store is cleaned and stocked up, I felt that my talents are being wasted. I felt that I was becoming stagnant. I couldn't stand the thought of being a 45 year old man whose primary source of income is pizza delivery. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind doing the job, and I am grateful to have a job when so many don't, I just don't want to be delivering pizza when I'm 45, unless it's a part time gig to help get some bills paid off. I applied for a couple of government jobs. Jobs that I felt I had a pretty good shot at getting. In comes budget cuts. I have yet to hear from either of those government jobs. Probably a good thing in the long run.

The next phase of my life is due to start in another couple of weeks. I made a promise to myself that if those government jobs fall through, I am going back to college. So a few weeks ago I contacted a local technical school to see if I could use my GI Bill to get some education. Well, not only does the GI Bill pay my entire tuition, it also pays me a monthly stipend! Pretty cool. So now I can go to school and cut my hours back a bit and still make a decent amount of money. In a year and a half (hopefully, my transcripts will allow me to get done that quickly), I'll have another degree- this time it'll be in network security. I hope that by the time I get done with this school, the economy has recovered sufficiently and I don't have to worry about finding a good job. I figure I've got about 20-25 years of good work left in me, an I need to make a good amount of money to eventually retire.

Life is good. I have a good woman who loves me (sometimes I wonder how she can stand me), I have a home and a pension check. I have a good family and live in a decent neighborhood. I have God and Jesus loves me. I still have my health (and my healthcare, but that's a post for another day). Things are going to get better.

How to spend $18 Million.

2009-07-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

If it wasn't bad enough to print an extra $750 billion or so dollars and forcibly put it into circulation, now we are finding that not only is the stimulus not working like it was advertised, but that unemployment continues to rise. But it's alright, the president knows what he is doing. I don't like the idea that somehow, when someone is elected to office that he suddenly knows how to fix things. I find the idea ridiculous. A politician, buy his very nature, does not know how to run a business. All a politician knows how to do is get elected and make promises to people that will eitherhelp him get re-elected or line his pockets with more cash. This has never been more true than with the current stimulus package that is supposed to help get our country outof its economic doldrums. First, thepresident puts his number 2 man in charge of the stimulus and making sure that it is being spent in a responsible and efficient manner. Of course, Joe Biden cannot remember the website 'number.' That should have sent a wave of fear throught the hearts of anyone watching the video. Now we find out that the website wasn't doing what they wanted it to do and have decided to spend $18 MILLION re-vamping it.
http://www.760kfmb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10669541
Government mentality, at it finest. Some might say that $18 mil is a dropinthe bucket, but I will say that $18 million would- could- provide about 500 people $36,000 per year. Or, since the website is a five year contract, $18million might give 100 people a $36,000 per year job for the next five years. Since when does a website cost $18 million to re-vamp? This is waste. pure and simple. More waste? Here ya go:
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread481669/pg1
Why is it that our government thinks it can spend its way out of a recession? Even if it were possible, it seems that the only jobs being created by this stimulus package thus far are the sign makers and the website re-vampers. The rest of us are just going to have to wait, I guess.

2009-05-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

As May heads off into the sunset, and June is quickly arriving, I realize that I am about to turn 44 years old. While most of the time I feel that age is simply a number, sometimes I feel every one of those years in my bones. I am nowhere near where I thought I would be by this stage of my life. I have a minimum wage job (I'm still thankful for it), I have more debt than I want and my savings is a joke. I am less fit than I have been for may years and, most days, can't seem to find the desire to get out and exercise. On the other hand, I have a pretty good life. I have a wife that loves me more than I deserve, I have a home, a paid for truck and motorcycle and I had the privilege of serving in the navy for 20 terrific years. However, there's something I've been wanting to do for quite some time and I think now might be the time to do it. I want to tell a side of my life that I usually keep to myself- or, more correctly, not too many people know this side of me.

I quit drinking almost 17 years ago. I quit as a result of a continuing battle with the drug commonly known as alcohol. The only time I ever got into trouble in the navy was a direct result of drinking. The funny thing about it was that only a few days before the ill-fated Saturday, my good buddy Rob asked me what I was going to be doing over the weekend. We both lived in the barracks and worked in an A-6 squadron, so we were working long hours. I told Rob that I would probably go get a bottle of Jim Beam and see how messed up I can get. He asked me "Why do you do that to yourself?" To which I replied, "Well, I figure I'm going to have to quit drinking sometime, so I might as well have as much fun as I can." I had no idea how prophetic my statement was! After finishing most of the bottle of Jim Beam I had gotten earlier in the day, I managed to get myself into trouble (most of the night is still a mystery to me) with a senior petty officer who was living in the barracks at the time. Well, I was put on report and the issue was pushed all the way to the top... At this time I was still trying to blame everyone else for my ills. "It was my first time!" "So-and-so didn't get into trouble, why am I?" "I'm being singled out." At any rate, the morning after my incident (it was actually late in the evening before I got out of bed), I made a conscious decision to stop drinking. This was simply not working for me. I am blacking out and doing stupid things. I am alienating the people around me. I'm not growing as a person.

I made the decision to stop drinking. I made it with the intention of never drinking again. I decided that I would seek the advice of the professionals, so I went to see my command DAPA (Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor). He set me up with the medical facility and I went, willingly. Keep in mind that, at this time, I was also looking at being reduced in paygrade, and possibly being kicked out of the navy, so I had ulterior motives in addition to seriously wanting to figure out why I am the way I am. I found out a few days later that I wasn't supposed to see the DAPA. Actually, he wasn't supposed to see me because of the pending case against me. However, since I had seeked him out, nothing was made of the fact that I went there before my case was settled. I was diagnosed as alcoholic and scheduled to go to rehab! I was quit surprised, but more on that later.

I was scheduled for Captain's Mast http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonjudicial_punishment and was, of course, scared to death. I was determined to make the best case I could, keep myself out of trouble and just be as honest as possible. Surely they wouldn't expel me from the navy if I was seriously trying to be better, would they? I spent hour upon hour practicing what I was going to say to my commanding officer, ironing my uniform, practicing my salute and praying. It's funny (sad, actually) how we reach for God when we are in trouble, but forget about Him most of the rest of the time. I went to my first alcoholics anonymous meeting the day before my mast. I went alone, and had no idea what to expect. More on that later. When the day came for mast, I was ready for the worst. I got my briefing- "salute the CO, remove your cover on my command, stand at attention, etc" and when I stood in front of the Old Man (navy speak for commanding officer), he told me to stand at ease, "we're not going to bust you, we're going to help you." At which point I was relieved, but still wanted to speak (I didn't get the opportunity, but it's OK). My case was dismissed- no record of it remains- but I was directed to go to DAPA...

Now I could get on with figuring out this alcoholic stuff. I couldn't possibly be an alcoholic, I drank mostly on the weekends, and never got drunk during the week. In fact, I rarely drank during the week at all. Still, those occasional blackouts were a little disconcerting. My last drink was on August 17, 1991. I made the decision to quit drinking before the navy decided to 'help' me. I took a battery of psychological tests to determine my level of alcohol dependence. I don't mind stating that, while I had to answer yes to many of the questions, I still didn't feel that I had a serious problem. Afterall, it had been a couple of months since my decision to stop drinking.

February of 1992, I was finally told that I was going to go to Chorpus Christi for alcohol rehab. The flight out there was uneventful; I went there with one other guy from my command- someone else who needed 'help,' and we were not allowed to go anywhere alone, or leave the immediate area. I suppose they were used to dealing with people that were desperate for a drink. Once checked in to the facility at Chorpus Christi, we were immersed into the program the very next morning. 6 weeks of therapy! I went to group therapy, one on one counseling and attended an AA meeting each night. *I have to stop for a moment to say that AA used to have a saying- "Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here." They don't practice that to the letter anymore because discussing the meeting with other members often happens at home, on the phone, etc. However, AA is still very big on anonymity, so while I don't mind talking about some of the subjects, any names I may mention are not real.* I met a lot of very interesting people during the meetings. Some famous people, some doctors, lawyers, housewives, rich people and poor. This disease definitely knows no bounds. However, each night, when I went back to the facility, I still felt like I wasn't really one of those people. Nobody seemed to have quite the same story as me. My counselor beat me up with facts every day. I still came away with the feeling that I was being misdiagnosed. He once told me "If it quacks like a duck and has webbed feet, it's a duck!" His attempt at painting me as an alcoholic was not having much effect. I knew there was a problem, but I felt like I had a handle on it. One night, as I was trying to drift off to sleep, my mind kept going back to the things I had been hearing over the last several days. About 10 days into my treatment, I finally admitted that I was an alcoholic. It's simple, really. I was suffering blackouts. Not that many, maybe 5 in my whole life, but they were happening, I was getting into trouble- again, probably only a few times- and I was losing friends. People just get tired of hanging out with a loud, drunken fool who thinks he's funny, or worse, thinks he's a good dancer... I also fit the criteria: Trouble at work, trouble at home, DUI charges (none stuck, but that's another story), anger, resentment, etc. I disagree with the medical profession labelling anyone who drinks more than a certain amount per week is alcoholic. There are a number of other labels I disagree with, too, but I suddenly felt strongly enough about myself to admit my disease. Funny thing about me is that I never really had to fight the urge to drink. Once it was gone, it was gone. Do I miss drinking a beer on a hot day? Of course I do, but not so much that I shake or crave or am even tempted to have one. I just simply can't do it. I always give thanks to God for removing the desire for alcohol from me.

2009-05-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

I have lately found myself watching the news a lot more than I used to. Following the political debate is fascinating. It's also frustrating. I can imagine that the people on the opposite side of the political spectrum from me feel the same way. While I find the current situation we're in to be frightening because it seems we are moving steadily toward a socialist government, I can imagine that those who are more liberal in their views are likewise thinking that those evil capitalists just won't go away! When I think about it, I see the scenario playing the same way every time, no matter who happens to be in power.

I feel like the conservative approach in politics is the only way that the country will be safe. Instead of re-stating the same reasons, yet again, suffice it to say that my beliefs are what they are and no amount of argument is going to change them. I'm certain that the liberals are feeling the same way, and for the same reasons. It's frustrating! I believe a certain way, and I am absolutely certain that I am correct! Yet I cannot make those who believe the opposite see what I see as plain as the nose on my face. Why can't a liberal understand that capitalism is the only way to make our country grow? Why can they not understand that only wealthy people are able to build an economy (ever gotten a paycheck from a poor man)?

Likewise, liberals must feel some frustration when they think, "why can't those conservatives understand that only government can do this job?" They think we're selfish and greedy because we think that welfare should have limits, because we think that universal health care will ruin both healthcare and the economy, they see the end result- a utopia of happy, unselfish people all working for the common good without the need for competition- as clearly as conservatives see how capitalism encourages growth.

I believe the answer is that each side is struggling to convince those people who form the middle; the people that are pro-life, but feel that abortion is a necessary evil for some. They are looking for the people that feel that a certain amount of government intervention is necessary to keep others from taking unfair advantage. They want those who feel that gun ownership is a right, but should be closely regulated by the government. I believe that most people fall into this category and that is primarily what causes most of the argument. Much like the NRA refuses to give any ground in the fight for gun rights, I truly believe that many of their members feel that individuals have no business owning a RPG. The organization has to fight for the rights of gun owners, just like Planned Parenthood has to continue to fight for the rights to abortion, even for under aged women (this should light a few fires!!). If they give an inch, their fight will look half-hearted and their contributors will cry foul!!

Perhaps this is the reason why most of our recent presidential elections have been for the guy who is going to do the least amount of damage. Who hasn't voted for the "Lesser of 2 Evils?" With the exception of the most recent election, I think most will agree with me on this. Even Barack Obama ran a fairly moderate campaign. Why was this? Simple. He wanted to appeal to the moderates and those voters who congregate toward the center of politics. He was a magnificent candidate, and I'm sure he is a great guy to hang out with. He's a good father and a good husband, he has a terrific looking family (although I do not find Michelle Obama to be as beautiful as the media tends to portray her, but more on that another time), he is athletic, attractive and really smart (his politics not withstanding). He captured the country in a wave of change: promises to be different than any other. Promises to be more transparent. Promises to be open and honest and willing to look at topics from multiple angles. He was going to win this election no matter who the republicans put up against him. Part of me is glad that he won. It has been said that it took our country 4 years of Jimmy Carter to bring us Ronald Reagan. Obama appealed to the moderates. Those of us who simply grew tired of seeing our values tossed aside.

We are never going to be able to change those of a different political bent and we shouldn't want to. We should be able to support our position and appeal to the voters who choose to follow us. Without differences, we end up worse off than we are now... maybe that was the problem all along. Conservatives seem to have lost their way and the liberals were right there to pick up the lost voters.

2009-04-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

Well, pizza delivery isn't so bad. I make decent money (depending on the customers' appreciation), I have very little stress, and I usually get too much pizza to eat. It isn't what I had envisioned for myself after 20 years of service, though. I regret that I didn't prepare myself mire thoroughly throughout my career. I think I may be ready for another job soon, though. I like the people that I work with at Domino's, and I'll probably work there even after I find another career. I just can't see myself working for minimum wage at my age. Even though my pay usually ends up being more like $15-18 per hour, I think I can do better. I am putting some thought into management, but don't see how I could do it, as it would require me taking a cut in pay. Starting out, managers of Domino's make about $9/ hr. It just doesn't compare to my $500/ week. It is intriguing, though. How far could I take it? Could I get up into corporate management? Tough call. I'll certainly continue thinking about it. It's a challenge. I need a challenge.

Another Job Fair... Yippee!!!

2009-03-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

OK, so I have been putting resumes in at virtually every company around in the hopes that somebody needs some kind of human resources or customer service type help. I just want a foot in the door kind of job. I'm not trying to start out as the district manager or anything. I seriously just want to get a regular job in a regular company. So one avenue for a job search is the Job fair. Job Fairs are where a whole bunch of companies send recruiters to collect resumes for future employment needs. It is a way for them to gather a bunch of information on potential employees, and I have been to several of them. Most of the employers at these fairs are polite and talk to everyone there for a few minutes each. Most of them have stuff-you know, bags, pens, post its, magnets, etc. Some people actually load themselves down with a bunch of this stuff. I rarely take more than a pen or a magnet. Something trivial. I don't want a bunch of useless garbage to remember my trip to the job fair. I am getting rather frustrated by these gatherings. I have made arrangements to take the day off work (prior to my retirement), I have scheduled my day around them, I have tried to make it to as many of them as possible. I figure that if I get my name out there often enough, somebody will eventually call me for a job interview. Not to be.

I have learned in the last few months that people with Human Resources degrees are a dime a dozen. It seems that you don't really need a degree in HR to do HR. My job in the navy was human resources and customer service. Unfortunately, it isn't a skill in high demand. I have discovered that most of the companies at these job fairs are looking for people with technical skills. I started my career in the navy as an avionics technician and moved away from the field after my first tour. That turns out to be a mistake of sorts. I could get a job tomorrow if I was still an avionics tech. If I had spent 20 years as a hull tech (a welder or plumber) or a machinist mate I would be working on the civilian sector right now. It is a shame. I always say that the navy was the best thing that I ever did and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I sure do wish I could talk to myself 20 years ago and show how important it is to do the right stuff, take the right job assignments, tackle the toughest jobs. You know, be a go-getter. A hard charger.

On the other hand, if things hadn't worked out the way they did, I might not have met Sherry, and I wouldn't trade that for all the money in the world. I know things will work out the way they are supposed to and i will do fine. I am working right now, and I have a couple things still in the works, so I won't despair. I don't think I am going to go to the next job fair, though. I have already put in resumes with most of the companies that are supposed to be there, and the rest of the recruiters there are representing colleges. I have no desire to go to college right now. Perhaps in the future, but now it is all about work and paying the bills. I am skipping the job fair because I just get tired of the rejection.

Got a Job!!

2009-02-28T21:07:00.001-08:00

Well, it took me 3 and a half months and about 1000 resumes, but I finally got myself some work. In hindsight, had I thought about it, I would have saved the paper I sent to countless potential employers and just focused on what I know: work. I thought my 20 years in the navy, coupled with the fact that I have a college degree and supervisory experience would get me a foot in the door and well on my way to my next career. I thought that I was qualified for some sort of management, even at the entry level. Boy, was I wrong. Maybe I tried too hard, maybe I truly don't have what employers are looking for or maybe I simply put together a lousy resume'. Since I was 16 years old and looking for work I have never, ever had trouble finding a job. I was a young, strong kid that showed up when I was supposed to and worked like I was supposed to and I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty doing hard work. I drove a forklift, stocked shelves, waxed and buffed floors, cleaned toilets, pumped gas and bagged groceries. I didn't mind. I delivered pizzas and tended bar (after beginning as a barback) and had a ton of fun doing it. So, what happened? Why can't I find a career?

Well, I was getting absolutely no responses to my applications, and I was beginning to get a bit scared. I found a temporary job helping out at a contracting firm. It was ok, I made $12/ hour, but I knew that I was going to continue to look for more meaningful work. I learned a lot about the construction industry, but was under no false pretenses that I would be able to make a career of it- the guys I worked with had all been doing it for 20+ years. I simply don't have the time to invest 20 years into something to build up a business. I need to make myself a career right now. Anyway, work fell off and I was sent home for a few weeks, so I really began hitting all the job sites for potential work. Nothing.

OK, so I picked up a job tutoring a couple hours per week, but it surely wasn't enough to pay the bills. In fact, as of this writing, I haven't gotten my first paycheck even though I've been tutoring for a month. I should get the first check in a day or 2. Still, things were starting to weigh heavily on my mind and I was becoming a little bit worried. Finally I got a call to come into Dominoes Pizza for and 'interview.' Yep, I had to interview for the delivery driver job! OK, so the manager had every intention of hiring me (I guess) and the job was technically mine to lose, so I was on my best behavior, tried to be as personable as possible (harder than you might think, for me) and answered all the questions respectfully and honestly. So he hired me. Wow, what a relief! As silly as that may sound, I couldn't believe how much relief I felt when I got the job! Thank the Lord above! As hard as it may be to believe, I am looking forward to delivering pizza! It may not be the be-all-end-all, but I will be bringing a little money into the house. Who knows where this one might end? Management? I don't know, maybe later. Right now, I'm happy to be contributing to the household.

The day after I found out that I had the job, I got a call from another job that wanted to interview me. Another part time job making $11 or so per hour, about 15 hours a week. Again, I doubt that this one will lead to a new and rewarding career, but I am glad to be getting the call. Maybe it will work out- I'll find out Monday when I get the final interview. I also got another call on a job I applied for to be a home survey taker for a research company called Westat. I had to do a 'reading' on the telephone and I guess that the company decided that my voice was acceptable (they probably accept everyone that wants to do it...) and they are going to give me a chance... in a couple months when a position opens up. Still, once I have three jobs (4, if you count the tutoring) I should be bringing in quite a bit of money. So, things are looking up, even if I don't have the job I thought I was going to get. But all is well. When things aren't going your way, go with what you know. That's what I am doing. I know how to work. I know how to be on time. I'm not afraid of getting dirty.

2009-02-19T20:30:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is, almost March and I still haven't found a job. I do not want any one to feel sorry for me, but you cannot convince me that I don't have something to offer an employer! What in the heck is going on? Surely, somebody needs a pizza delivery driver!! OK, so I am starting to lose some of my positive outlook. I can contain it for a while longer, but my patience is waning more rapidly than I thought it would. I went to a job fair today and contacted a few prospective employers, but, as usual, all the employers there were more concerned with applicants that have some technical background. So much for Human Resources... So much for my degree. I am now thinking about going back to school to learn a little but about computers- the technical side. I contacted one school who has a program that will be largely covered by my GI Bill. I would only have to come up with a couple hundred dollars out of pocket to take the course. Of course, I have to have a job before I can consider any more schooling. I cannot afford to spend any money on anything outside the household and my immediate expenses. Once I find a job- any job- I should be able to budget a few bucks to get started. I am getting a little bit scared, and so is my wife. I feel like the our country is on the verge of total collapse. Never before in my life have I not been able to find work almost immediately. This is frightening. Tomorrow, I am going to pound the pavement to see if there are any employers that do not conduct interviews online. Maybe a restaurant??? I don't know. I do know that this sucks! I am young enough to do hard work, and I am mature enough to show up and actually work every day. I am racking my brain to come up with a method of earning a living. Thus far, my blogs haven't earned much (none, in fact). I thought I would try this blogging thing as a means to write. I enjoy writing, I enjoy debate. I simply need some traffic. Maybe people will show up, maybe they won't. Alt least I know that I am trying something new. We'll see.

Bipartisanship and finding a new job

2009-02-10T07:04:00.001-08:00

So, our new president has decided to have a press conference in which he will entertain questions form stalwart institutions such as the Huffington Post.

Mr. Obama glided through the questions without making any obvious news. Then, he
turned to Mr. Stein, 26, who last month became the White House correspondent for
his publication.
“Are you willing to rule out — right here and now — any
prosecution of Bush administration officials?” Mr. Stein said, asking whether
Mr. Obama intended to endorse an investigation by a so-called Truth and
Reconciliation Committee.

I can only imagine what might have happened to George W bush had he decided to field a question from Rush Limbaugh or TownHall.com. We would never had heard the end of it. Yet he allows a question from the same website that allowed its viewers to celebrate the death of Tony Snow. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come. Now, don't get me wrong, I respect the president and I hope and pray that he does a wonderful job, but this seems to show a lack of judgement. I do not, however, like the direction that he seems to be taking these last few days. It seems that our dear leader is taking the low road when it comes to placing blame. He said that we were not going to continue the failed policies of the last eight years. He said during his campaign (which was run as brilliantly as a presidential campaign can be run) that he did not want to resort to the politics of fear, yet as he is experiencing- perhaps for the first time in his political career- resistance to his plans, he stoops to the exact form of political rhetoric that he lambasted the Bush administration for using.

President Barack Obama warned on Thursday that failure to act on an
economic recovery package could plunge the nation into a long-lasting recession
that might prove irreversible, a fresh call to a recalcitrant Congress to move
quickly. Yahoo
News
“A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe
and guarantee a longer recession, a less robust recovery, and a more uncertain
future,” Obama said in his prepared remarks. Breitbart

So now we are forced to make a decision: either pull the trigger on this monstrosity of a stimulus package, or refuse to throw good money after bad. I am of the opinion that this economic stimulus package is not going to be good for the economy. It won't be as bad as the last one, in which we have no idea where the money went, but I still do not believe that this black hole of economic ideas is going to fair any better than the crazy spending habits the last administration. But for the president to resort to fear in order to bring us all online is ridiculous.

Again, I hope and pray that this stimulus plan actually works, I could certainly use a job right now, but I have my doubts. I see no possible way for this great country to spend its way out of debt. We print more and more money resulting in inflation, and the problem still doesn't go away. What's the next plan? Spend $2 trillion? $3Trillion? When is enough going to finally be enough? The tough economic times are getting tougher by the day. I am not even working at my construction job because people are a little hesitant to put money into this economy. Many people are holding on to their paychecks. What is the tourism trade here in Virginia Beach going to look like this spring and summer? Scary times abound.

On the other hand, there are thousands of jobs being advertised on the internet. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of thousand of job seekers going after them. I am registered on at least 10 job sites, including Monster and CareerBuilder (just to name a couple), and get job alerts every day. I do my duty and apply to the ones that I think I am somewhat qualified for and wait for the phone to ring, which it never does...
Until today.

I am excited that I have a job interview. I have a feeling that I am going to overplay my hand when I actually sit down with the interviewer, if I do not do my homework on the company. I only voice this fear because I don't want to be disappointed if I don't do well. I hope this isn't the case. I plan on preparing this afternoon for the questions and how to make myself the best candidate for the job. Perhaps this is only the tip of the iceburg and I will begin to get more interviews as the days go by. I think I may be on the verge of better days. I think this because I have updated my profile in what may be the most important job search website that I am associated with. The Virginia State employment Commission has a very good site and they also have very good job counselors, 2 of which are veteran preferred counselors. My counselor showed me a few mistakes that I had made on my profile and she showed me how to makeit look better for the employers. She also told me to come by anytime for some coaching... maybe I'll go ask her about this one. I cannot let myself get discouraged. I know that I am going to find the right job at the right time.

2009-02-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

So, now that I have a truck and still no word on whether or not I will be working tomorrow, I decided that I wanted to write a little bit about some of the benefits the navy has for its retirees.

For all of you who think that we get full medical benefits for life, let me tell you that you are incorrect. We have to decide on an HMO type of plan; either Tricare Standrd or Tricare Prime. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, but they are both relatively inexpensive. Our Tricare Prime costs us $400 or so per year. So, all things considered, our insurance, while not free, is quite inexpensive. Yes there are co-pays and tons of rules and qualifications, blah, blah, blah, but what plan isn't complicated?

I will be able to get my prescriptions free or at a greatly reduced price, though. that may be quite valuable as I grow older and get more broken.

A benefit that I don't use nearly as often as I should is the commissary privilege. This is where military folk buy their groceries and sundries. There is no sales tax added (just a small surcharge to help pay the employees) and products are often cheaper than even Wally World (though, not always). I recommend the commissary for anyone that is buying bulk groceries and meat. Milk is less expensive there, too, but the commissary is usually too far to drive for a gallon of milk. The price is offset by the distance. Like I said, buying in bulk or enough for the entire month makes the commissary a good deal.

Another benefit that I have as a retiree is the use of the gym on base. Unfortunately for me, I am several miles from the nearest base, So unless I get a job on or near the base, the gym is not cost effective for me, even though it is free. Navy gymnasiums have come a very long way since I joined in 1989. They have always had decent weight room and exercise equipment, but in the 90's, they seemed to go through some transformation. The navy had a long tradition of fat, drunken and often slovenly appearances (something we struggle to overcome still). Sometime in the nineties, fitness was determined to be a quality of life issue and the facilities began to get much better. Upgraded equipment was added, programs were offered to help people with their weight, diet and exercise programs and even aerobics classes were offered for active duty, retired and dependents at little or no cost. Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) was infused with more money to facilitate these programs. Quality of life pushed its way to the forefront of navy life and everyone attached to the navy felt the benefits. The benefits of a strong MWR program are too numerous to count, but sailors are encouraged to request any type of program addition they feel is important. Not everything is approved, of course, but the fact that you can fill out a request is testament to their dedication to the quality of life of sailors and their families.

A very important feature of navy retirees is the ability to insure a portion of your retired pay for a surviving spouse or family member. This benefit is called the Survivor Benefit Program (commonly referred to as SBP). It works like this:

You select an amount that you want to protect for your spouse (or qualifying child) and pay 6.5% of that amount for the insurance (I don't know if it is technically 'insurance' or not, but that's the way I picture it). Say you want to protect $2000 of your retired pay, should you expire before your spouse. It would cost you 6.5%, or $130 per month for this protection. If you die before your spouse, then they (the spouse ) are awarded 55% of the amount you insured. In this case, $1100/ month. Now, this sounds good, and it is in many circumstances: you find out that you have a terminal illness shortly before your retirement date, you are uninsurable otherwise (cancer survivor, etc), you are already approaching retirement age (60-65), just to name a few.

I have another plan that deserves some explanation. Realistically, most of us retirees are going to be finding another job when we leave the service. In many cases, we might be making less money than we did in the service, so our expenses are a great concern to us. I had thought that I would get $1000 worth of SBP for $65/ month. However, when I started looking a little more closely at the numbers, I realized that if I died before Sherry, she would get a whopping $550/ month! That adds up to $6600/ year. Not much in the greater scheme of things. So I decided that I would get a $250,000 term life insurance policy for only $43/ month. This is a 20 year policy, so I actually have some work to do before that 20 year term is up, the ultimate goal to be self insured at retirement. The payout for the insurance policy is $250,000, as I stated. That amount, correctly maintained in a good mutual fund, would net her- at a 4% per year withdrawal rate- $10,000 per year and would last her as long as she was alive. Some experts say that 8% is sustainable, but I think 4% is more conservative and more realistic. So, for $22 less per month, she would get an extra $3600 per year! For me, it was a no brainer. As I said, there are those who need SBP, and they should take advantage of it. However, in my case (everyone has to make this decision on their own) it was more cost effective to go term insurance. With the current economy, these numbers may not be accurate, and my heart goes out to those who are reaching retirement age this year, but for me, I have faith in the marketplace, and NO faith in the social security system to remain in place long enough for me to benefit, so I have to plan to take care of myself.

Anyone need their garage cleaned out?

2009-02-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

OK, so today I bought a used pickup truck. I needed a reliable truck to (hopefully) generate some income. How am I going to do that? Hmmmmm. Well, I know that I can rake leaves. I also know how to mow grass and paint and hammer a nail. I have put in windows, tiled floors, organized rooms and done some demo work (that's demolition, not demonstration). I am still putting in job applications all over the place, but I can no longer afford to wait for my ship to come in. I have to swim out and meet it. I may never be rich and famous, but I hope to be able to pay the bills and put food on the table.

I had to sell both my Escort and my full-sized pickup in order to do this. I also put a couple of my meager paychecks aside in savings in order to make this happen. I like talking about my vehicles, especially the Escort. The pickup was your garden variety Ford F150. 1988, with a straight 6 cylinder engine. They stopped making this engine several years ago. My belief is that it was too good a motor to continue to make them. A big, strong 6 cylinder engine with as much displacement as many modern day V8's, and more torque than many engines. This engine just never quit and could tow pretty much anything you chained to it. It was too big for me, though. I decided to get rid of it, because I knew that I wasn't going to be making as much money as I used to (at least for a while) and the truck simply used too much fuel to drive everyday. My thought was to get rid of both of the vehicles and buy one, thus saving us a few dollars per month on insurance.

The Escort I was a lot more attached to, emotionally. I bought it 4 years ago when I first got my orders to go to Richmond. I had just bought a home and my wife works here, and really enjoys her job, and my step-son had gone to school his whole life right here with the same kids. It's all he knew. Therefore, I decided that I could drive to Richmond everyday and I needed a car that got decent mileage in which to make the daily commute. I bought the car from the original owner, who had upgraded to a new Toyota. I paid her $500 for the Escort and immediately spent about $300 more getting it tuned up, new brakes and generally making sure it was road-worthy. I began driving it to Richmond everyday- about 100 miles each way- and spent a huge amount of time in it (thank God for Sirius and XM!). The car got about 36 miles per gallon on the interstate (going about 75-80 mph). The fuel tank was too small to make 2 trips to work, so I fueled up every day. After doing that for 7 months, the powers-that-be authorized us to move our office to Yorktown, VA (this was a mere 45 miles each way). Oh, happy day!!!! Well, after 6 months of that, I was nominated to go to Kuwait for 6 months (that's a story for another day). After being gone for 7 months, I thought I would be going back to my office, but the command had other ideas. So, from January of 2007 to November of 2008, I made the drive from Va Beach all the way to Petersburg, VA (85 miles each way). This trip, although shorter than the 100mile trip I was accustomed to making, took me the same amount of time to travel- 1:45 each direction. So, once again, I began spending 3+ hours each day driving my wonderful little car. I had an idea that one day I would want to sell the car, though, so I developed an Excel file to log my gas mileage every day. Because I travelled a 4 lane highway, and not an interstate, my mileage increased to almost 40mpg! I have it logged, if you don't believe me. (I have met others who drive a similar car that claim even better mileage). The Escort was not a beautiful car. I never tried to paint it, remove the surface rust, or even get any dents out of it. I simply put gas in it, changed the oil and rotated the tires regularly. In the four years I owned it I had a laundry list of mechanical things done to it: Tires (twice), new cylinder head (and a new radiator, belts, hoses and labor, totalling $1700), left side window glass (some wise guy decided to use them for target practice- never figured out who it was), windshield (twice), brakes (twice), throttle body sensor, oil pressure sensor, and, most recently, a timing belt (after 185,000 miles, I reckon it was about time to replace that little gem). I figure I invested about $3500 into that little machine over the years. I bet it saved me at least twice that in gas mileage. I had the idea that I would get top dollar for a car that got that great mileage, but I needed to get people to come look at it. I was getting no hits on my ad at $1500, so I lowered it to $1250. Again, no hits. $1000. Got some interest, but no real nibbles. Resubmitted the ad to read "I REALLY need to sell this car- $900" and the calls started. A young couple ended up buying it. They were realistic about the looks of a cheap car, and really appreciated the fact that I had taken such good care of the engine/ drive train. I showed them the fuel mileage log and offered to help replace the brake pads. They offered me $800 and I accepted it. Off they drove in my darling little car... :-(
But I am confident that they got a good car and will take good care of her....

So, now I had $1800 burning a hole in my pocket, so I knew I had to get another vehicle before I spent the money on something else. Afterall, my goal was to get a truck without generating any more debt. I looked at several small trucks online, and finally found one I could go look at just up the road. I saw this truck and immediately knew that I wanted it. I tried my best no to look too eager, but I think I failed miserably! I hate it when that happens! This is why I don't make a living playing poker. I had to take a few hundred out of savings to get the truck, but I am convinced that I got a good deal. Now the trick is going to be making a living with it. Wish me luck.

2009-02-04T15:12:00.000-08:00

Well, today started out badly. I got up, got dressed and went to the jobsite that I worked at yesterday. I sat there for over anhour waiting for someone else to show up to get the day started- after all, this was supposed to be an 8 hour day for me. Nobody showed up by 8am, so I called and started home. When someone finally called me back, I learned that I was not needed until next Monday. Needless to say, I am home looking for work. I put in another application for a job that I felt I was qualified for, submitted my resume' after adjusting it to fit this particular job. Now the waiting game starts. Hopefully I hear something in a day or 2, but I think that I will call the company and ensure that my resume' is there. It can't hurt, and maybe it will get my name noticed... who knows? I do know that I need to find something that can ensure me a full time paycheck.

I am looking for a small truck. I hope to use it to generate income of some sort; gosh, raking leaves, removing clutter, anything. Of course, the problem is I only have a limited amount of money, generated through the sale of my full sized truck and my little daily driver. I hope to find something suitable in the next few days, but I refuse to go off half-cocked. That's how you get screwed.

It's funny, you know? I spent so much time thinking that I would be able to find meaningful work that I didn't worry too much about it when I was active duty. Makes me think about the ant and the grasshopper http://www.dltk-teach.com/fables/grasshopper/mstory.htm. Well, winter is here (figuratively, as well as physically) and I am running out of food. Oops.

2009-02-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

So today I had to leave work early because I had another job to do. I had already cleared it with the owner of the company I work for, but I still got an earful from the guys (really, just one guy) at the site! Today I drove 30 miles in order to tutor several 4th and 5th grade kids in basic math. I saw the ad on the internet, thought I might be qualified, so I applied- and got the job! OK, so it's only two days a week and only one hour sessions, but it actually pays pretty good. I wanted to do it for more than the money, though. It is depressing enough not being able to find a job to suit my attributes (don't worry, I'm still keeping a positive outlook), so I though to myself, "why not?" I have done a little bit of instructing in the navy- not enough to be a master instructor, or anything, but enough to think that I know what I am doing. I had no idea what to expect, but went to the classroom and tried to figure out what I was supposed to do. Pretty soon the kids came in, I sat them at a table together and we started out with very simple fractions. I had a good time relating to the kids, and I think I connected with them. I was able to teach them a thing or two, and I believe they are somewhat motivated to learn. Who knows, maybe I'll find my career in the classroom???

I am tired of the negative feelings

2009-02-02T18:30:00.000-08:00

After 20 years of naval service, I have been transferred to the 'fleet reserve.' Basically, this means that I am still attached tot he navy, but because I have reached my high year tenure without reaching the rank of E7, or Chief Petty Officer, I am only authorized to be on active duty for 20 years. (Yes, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances that allow E6's to stay longer than 20, but none of them apply to me.) I knew this day was coming for a long time. I knew that there would come a day that I was no longer wearing the uniform of the United States Navy, that I would have to find another way to make a living, that the security I've known for so long was coming to an end. I should have prepared. Well, I should have prepared better, anyway.

Instead of paying off my bills and finding a good job, I spent too much time thinking that I would be able to find something lucrative fairly quickly. Then along came the economy. Well, I have yet to find that elusive career, I have instead put out hundreds of applications- all via the Internet, because that's how it's done these days- with little or no feedback. I am working with a small contracting company for far less money than I feel I should be making. Far less money than I need to replace the income I no longer get from the navy. I find myself wondering what went wrong and I keep coming up with the same answer; it isn't all my fault.

I am a believer in God and Jesus Christ and I also believe that I am being tested. Maybe tested is the wrong wording here. I am supposed to learn something from all of this. I'm not yet aware of what it is that I'm supposed to learn. I have figured out that I can squeek by on my new income and my navy pension. It is going to take a lot longer to get ahead, and I am going to have to make some adjustments, but it's possible. My wife is being very understanding about it, so my support system is strong. I started to feel very badly for myself, but as I have learned from past mistakes, pitying yourself does no good. So I am dedicating myself to learning as much as I can about as many things as I can. Something will work. It has to. But until that something breaks, I'll contnue to do what I can, work as many hours as I am allowed to and cut my expenses wherever I can. Negative feelings BE GONE!! I am still strong and will continue to talk to God each and every night. Soon, I'll see the lessons.