Rising Unemployment Concern 07.02.09

It’s hard not to be concerned with seeing the unemployment rate rise month after month.  Just today the numbers were released bringing the national percentage up to 9.5%, a 26 year high.  You hear all of these predictions like, “expecting to only see another 1 million jobs lost for the rest of the year” and you really can’t put any faith at all in the economists’ predictions.  They naturally change their predictions often, and when the single month of June alone was -467k, it’s hard to imagine only another 1 million jobs will be lost over the next 6 months.

Georgia is sitting at a 9.7% unemployment rate as of May 2009, and my county, Whitfield County, had a rate of 12.4% for May.  Not as bad as some of course, but that’s nothing at all to be happy or proud of.  My county’s major industry was carpet, so when the housing bubble popped, so did things here.  I won’t even bring up budget deficits.

Leave it to Google to come up with an attractive way to view and compare Labor Statistics down to even the county level of the states.  It’s worth checking out if you’re curious where your state or county stands.  Personally I never hear about unemployment rates down to the county level much, so that’s an easy way to compare it to the state and even nationally.

As far as job security for myself, I really don’t know.  I work at a local government place, and everyone is unsure at the moment of every one’s fate here.  I’m sure I’ll blog about it later on how things turn out.  In the meantime, I’ll continue to try my best to work out a Plan B, because with everything, you should always have a fall back plan.

When will things improve?  Who knows.  But honestly I don’t have much faith in our current elected officials after seeing all of this massive spending and next to no improvement.  Perhaps I’m just bitter about the Cap and Trade Bill passing the House last week, or the talk of breaking the campaign promise of not increasing taxes on the Middle Class.

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Diesel Pump Woes 06.26.09

Obviously diesel vehicles aren’t quite as common on the road as compared to gasoline vehicles.  Which is why most gas stations only have one or two pumps that include diesel, if they even have one at all.  What I don’t like though is how those that do have them, have them combined with a gasoline pump, making a dual purpose pump.  The pumps are always positioned on the outside, and for some reason people are more attracted to the outside pumps it seems.  Because when they are need of gas, with multiple inside pumps free, which pump do they choose?  Of course the outside pump blocking access to the diesel pump for any diesel consuming vehicles in need.

I’ve wasted so much time waiting for access to diesel pumps while driving the 2500HD Silverado work truck.  I’m not usually a in-a-hurry type person, but when every minute you burn is burning potential sleep time that night that you’re going to miss out on, it’s easy not to like it.

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Smoking Regulation 06.15.09

After living for a while in a state that has a ban on smoking in public places, you forget how truly awesome the ban is.  May 2005 was the magic time when Georgia made the move.  No more being asked smoking/non-smoking when you’re seated.  The biggest problem that I have with the habit is the carelessness and manners, or lack thereof, that seem to follow the nasty habit.  Especially like for children, who have to ride in cars with their parents while they smoke away.

We were in North Carolina over the weekend working, when I was surprised to find out that they didn’t have such a law, yet anyways.  We stopped for a pit-stop on the way to Graham, and when I got back in the truck, it smelt like I just returned from a strip club or a casino.  I didn’t notice as I walked past the counter, but my brother said he saw the cashier smoking right there at the register.  Yuck!  After a few miles of riding with the windows down, the odor had disappeared, or at least enough not to notice as much.

I’d like to see it taken further, or at least the people doing it step up and use some manners.  Like for gas stations, why put the ash tray things at the front doors?  So the employees can stand there at the doors and smoke while on break?  That’s really thoughtful of your customers.  In fact, that is a sure way to lose me as a customer and have me drive to another store.  One that doesn’t, at that moment, have an employee at the front door covering you with their habit’s nasty odor as you enter.

As always, just my opinion.

Posted in Rants/Opinions | 1 Comment

Sad But True 06.11.09

I’ve thought about this before, even before running across this image, how we get so caught up in everyday life that we lose contact with those who we used to be in touch with almost everyday.  I’m just as guilty as others, even though our circumstances may be completely different.  Like a few of my friends from high school I haven’t seen in over a year now.  Partly because of me working all the time, as well as them being caught all up in the married life.  And some family, like cousins especially, I’ve not seen in over 5+ years.  Social networks can help you keep in touch, but I think as time passes, people you know certainly become people you knew.  Sure you know who they are, but you don’t really know them any more.

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Brother’s Keeper 06.09.09

Seeing how siblings usually grow up and grow apart, my brothers and I sort of have this pact that we won’t end up like most families do.  Both of my parents have an almost nonexistent relationship with one of their siblings, and as unfortunate as that is, it lies on the other side.  The reason that I say that is because my parents are the type of people that will help someone if at all possible and would do as the old saying goes, “give someone the shirt off one’s back.”  Being able to see how that is, we’ve all pretty much agreed that that is no option.  If I want to call up one of them when I’m older just to see what’s up, I want to be able to do that w/o any awkwardness.  With family, especially immediate family, there should be no awkwardness in contacting one another.

The whole spark of this post was a situation over the weekend.  I gave my brother a little bit of advice/opinions regarding finances and wanting to try to steer him and his wife in a better direction.  We have a great relationship as it is, from being able to joke around with each other between the different type of women we like, to being able to work together with no problems whatsoever.  Given that, I wanted to just make sure that I didn’t make him mad or anything with anything I had said.  His response was something like, “why would I get mad over something like that?  I like to get other’s opinions on things.  I think we all have a tighter relationship now than we ever have.”  And he is right, we do.

Not only do I want to succeed in life—I want to see them do the same.  I think we sort of have a responsibility of helping each other, whether with just advice or whatever, assuming that the other is open to it.

Posted in Life | 2 Comments

Re-Shingled Our House 06.04.09

This past weekend was spent re-shingling our house.  It’s been overdue for a couple of years now, so since we finally had a break in the rain we decided to do it.  My dad, Chase and I spent Saturday removing all of the old ones and Sunday we started putting them down.  Chase and I did all of the nailing down while my dad made the cuts that were needed, which worked out pretty well.  Dad ended up having to finish it on Monday and Tuesday because we were up in Knoxville working on a project.  It’s not 100% yet, but should be in the next day or so.  We still have the ridge cap to do and one shingle that needs some excess cut off.  At first I wasn’t too sure how the color change would look, but I think it looks even better now.  Before and after are below.

Posted in Home Projects | 2 Comments

Spanky, Before & After Haircut 05.29.09

Little Spanky is now a totally different looking dog.  We decided to take and get him groomed because he had gotten so many mats in his hair from biting his itches.  The lady that did his grooming said he was a sweetheart and was so easy to work with.  When we went to pick him up, I didn’t even recognize the little guy, but he seems to be very much enjoying it and being able to see without his hair in front of his eyes.  Such a difference from that little ball of curly fur that he once was!  I’m not sure if we are going to just keep him trimmed short from now on, or try to keep it up with regular brushing and baths.

Posted in General | 3 Comments

Memorial Day 05.25.09

Memorial Day is a special holiday that is often times over looked as just the monday off that creates another three day weekend.  Yesterday we picked up a new flag and bracket to fly it from our house.  Today we are very proud to be flying that flag, and will remember those that are responsible for giving us the freedoms we have today by making the ultimate sacrifice in defending and protecting our nation.

Memorial Day

We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As TAPS began to play.
The Chaplin led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here ‘neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you’ve given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore.
— C W Johnson

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