January 16, 2009

There were 4 posts published on January 16, 2009 (this is page 1 of 1).

The badge of unemployment

On my way home I picked up some takeout from a place in Cameron Village. Waiting for my turn to pay, I noticed a man holding the familiar MasterCard with the Cardinal photograph and “North Carolina” on it. It was an icon to the jobless in North Carolina: the unemployment insurance debit card.

“Hey, I used to have one of those,” I said to him, maybe looking to boost his spirits, or drum up camaraderie.

“Yeah,” he nodded, seeming a bit embarrassed. “The design industry isn’t doing so well these days . . .”

He trailed off, but it didn’t matter. I knew exactly how he felt.

“Good luck,” I offered as he turned to pick up his food, and he thanked me.

It’s tough out there and a lot of people are just barely hanging on.

Highlights of 2008: Rocket

I ended last year on a sad note when we said goodbye to my longtime feline companion, Smitty. Then in the following months we moved into a new home (and judged the kids ready for a pet), so we decided it was time to get a dog.

We met Rocket through a Lab rescue organization, and decided to “test-drive” him for an hour one evening. It wasn’t long after then that Rocket joined our family for good.

He’s led us on romps through the neighborhood, kept good company, become a great car traveler, learned a few tricks, and pretty much been everything we could’ve hoped for in a dog.

Paycheck!

I got my first paycheck in a long while today. What a feeling that is!