Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer RMM, part of me is upset that I didn't get around to reading this earlier and then even more upset by what you are going through. I know this sort of thing is happening to many people right now but it's so much worse when it happens to someone you love and care about. One thing I've learned about you over the past couple of years is that you're not afraid of anything (with the exception of clowns, ferris wheels and balloons) and that you will never let anything beat you. I feel this way now and know that this is nothing more than a temporary set-back. I have *all* faith in you. {{{RockyMtnMinnie}}}
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie I am not a strong person any more. I'm pretty much beaten down. I can't trust anyone and expect that everything will just go wrong. I feel like I've been cursed and some days I actually believe it. Maybe I need a witch doctor.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Ooh e ooh ah ah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang! Sorry I couldn't help myself RMM! I sincerely hope the job interview works out for you. XXXX XXXX fingers and toes crossed and lots of hugs.
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer ^^don't know about a witch doctor, would you settle for Trader Sam? RMM, I know you better than that. You may not believe in you right now, but I do. You're the strongest person I've ever met, you've just been reminded of what is important in life, now you need to remind yourself just who *you* are. I already know.
Originally Posted By JazzCat I'm so sorry RMM. I really hope that things will get better for you soon. (((((RMM)))))
Originally Posted By crazycroc Here's some things we did when I walked out of my 9 year job without notice. 1. Rent out a room 2. Babysat kids-I wasn't working, so might as well get paid to chase little ones around. Made 400 a week CASH doing this. 3. Disconnected internet, cellphones, cable. 4. Sold cars, gave away my crap. We now only have our mortgage, electric and gas, water and phone every month. No CC bills or anything. If you are having credit problems,etc, I recommend reading creditboards.com and posting there. Good group of people who are either in the process of putting their lives back together or have already done so. That being said, I have empathy for your situation, and what I am hearing is that you are feeling overwhelmed. You are my buddy, and croc took the time to try to understand you in a time of despair. It will get better. I will send you a care package of crap. Your pal, Crazycroc
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie LOL! In a strange way, I would LOVE a croc crap care package. Just don't send me your apple sack.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is strangely comforting to hear I am not alone too. And if it helps you RMM, I shall share (please do not think this is one upmanship - it is not). I have been very depressed this year. It started with being laid off of a a very high paying, high profile role. As is often with these things, you live to your means. Once I was laid off, I looked around, and so were many of my colleagues. And the roles were paying 40% of what I was earning, when my overheads were at about 75% of what we were earning. At the same time, my parent's business had been failing (mom is disabled, and I have three baby brothers in their teens). I had been helping them. I didn't know what I was going to do. I had applied for about 58 roles within a 4 hour travel distance, and got about 5 interviews. When an opportunity came to set up my own company, I took it. So far, it is ok and I have had to continue to support two households. I found out my father died aged 52 (he died 2 years ago) this year. I have been diagnosed with diabetes recently and my blood pressure medicines have decided to stop working. Thankfully I have lost 31 lbs in the last 3 months, because I do not want to die young too. I love my wife and children too much. I keep needing to go in for dental surgery as well due to these complications. Two of my baby brothers are very ill, they have scoliosis and CMT and are likely to be in wheelchairs in a few years and die prematurely. They are also checking to see if they have heart defects. There are concerns that it is genetic, so my kids will need to be checked. Mom's conditions are flaring up too. Considering I was told she was terminally ill 25 years ago, it is always touch and go. My kids have speech impediments, and the school are blaming us. It is hard and getting to the point where my eldest no longer likes school. He is only 6. Sarah has a few things going on right now, but I will not right about that as she is a poster. All I will say is I am worried. I had to bale my parents out financially again this month. It took out some of the small contingency funds I had acrued. But now I am sick with a chest infection and not getting paid while I am off. Also our freezer broke the other day, and the money I had earmarked, I gave to my parents so they do not lose their house. Also, the night where a sock poppet monster decided to attack me on here, I found out my 22 cousin committed suicide. I don't know if I was more angry about that or the fact it was 6 months ago and we only just found out. And my new role is a real challenge. It is a 2.5 hour commute in the morning and a 2.5 hour commute in the evening. The work is hard, and several people think I have walked into a role that is unrecoverable. Fun. But if I can do it, I will save the lives of thousands, and reduce public expenditure by $4m. Plus it is a way to keep us afloat. What is sad is I used to come on LP for fun. And people seemed to used to like me around here. But seems a track record counts for little. I have learnt you can't count on anyone. And yes, I did wonder how people got through the recession. And the route my cousin took, sometimes seems very tempting. Too often for my liking. But I like a challenge and love my family. Hugs RMM, I am sure everything will improve for everyone. A little faith and trust is all we need (and a lot of hard work). Good luck in accomplishing your mission!
Originally Posted By iamsally First I want to say that I feel for you guys. It is a tough world right now. I really feel for people younger than us with kids still at home. Our potential retirement would look a lot better if this had waited another 10 years or so. Still, Rod has had no regular work for over a year now. We have been living on less than half of what we were used to. We paid off the house several years ago so that is a relief. (Even though its value is waayyy down.)But we ran up some credit card debt and bought 3 new cars in 4 years. (Not our fault, the first one was totalled by a drunk driver and the second was a lemon.) Anyway, we have been putting out more than planned. I was whittling down the debt until I had to start making smaller payments. But we lost all of our material possessions in a fire in 1984. So even though we have accumulated a bunch of *stuff* we have always known it was not important. I hope you get to live closer to the mountains and feel happier and free-er. We are all in this together. And we have no health coverage and cannot get any. We are between 55 and 65. So pray to god we don't get sick on top of it all. Don't mean to turn this into the whiny fussy butt thread. But it does help a bit to know that we are not alone. My best Sherry. Ruthie and Rod
Originally Posted By iamsally Oh gosh, I meant to send along best wishes to Dave and the fam as well. You know how much we love you guys. Hang in there dears.
Originally Posted By Tinkeroon ( I don't know what to say...it's been a rough year for so many, both far and wide. It seems everyone has had some really tough times in their lives these past few years. It looks like everyone is doing what they can to get through it all. It's so sad to read about your friends really struggling with so much uncertainty in all the many areas of their lives. I hope all of you know we care about you, pray for you, and send our best wishes. Don't give up! And RMM~good luck on your interview tomorrow! Hugs to all of you! (((LPers)))
Originally Posted By beamerdog >> I'm drowning in the American dream.<< so true, so true. I'm there in the same boat with all of you. Maybe we should start humming a little tune and waiting for the pixie dust, lol. hugs to all of you out there suffering.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 *hugs* for everyone This was just the thread I needed to read this morning. I've been so, so stressed out about money lately. The last few years, I've been a total fool. We had overtime available at work for the last nearly 6 years since I started, and I was working 65-70 hours a week every week. Now overtime has been eliminated, except for maybe a dribble here and there. I feel like I'm drowning in my bills now, and I feel so freaking stupid for not putting any money into savings while I was working that overtime. I don't even know where that extra money went! Well, apart from me buying books & movies and crap. I've been putting in applications every where for a couple of months now to get a second job, but nothing. People always tell you to get a second or third job when you're in this situation, but how can you do it when no one calls you back? I just don't know what I'm going to do if I can't get one.
Originally Posted By disney pete RMM Dave and anyone else out there in our LP community hang on in there good news is around the corner think positive think pixie dust think nice,one thing i ask in this time of stress and depression is never turn to the dark side (alcohol)i did many years ago and it nearly cost me my life,i believe we walk this way only once so make the most of it no matter what. (((((RMM AND DAVE AND ANYONE ELSE))))
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF Looks like alot of us are feeling the same.......Dave....I always love reading your posts.....and you have most certainly been there for me the past year and half. I don't know you personally.....but, I have always felt your posts to be so sincere. I hope this economy picks up soon and everyone is back at a job that they enjoy. Let's all hang in there. RMM---please let us know how your interview went.
Originally Posted By LuLu RMM - I was so sorry to hear how down you've been, but I have to say - Your first post really said a lot of important stuff. I've been hoping that if this recession does *anything*, it wakes people up to the emptiness of "things." We really have to change our consumer, big-house, self-indulgent lifestyles. My income is also down, but I've always lived rather humbly, so I'm scraping by. The main reason is that I'm renting out 2 portions of my house. (BTW this is how folks made it thru the Depression, I've read). Can you do this? It's probably against zoning laws, but if your neighbors are OK (and you have to be a good neighbor about it too) it can work. I was able to actually separate off 2 portions of my house, with their own entrances, so I don't even need to see my renters. Rents are high here, so it's a great help. You'll get thru it, please don't despair. Dave and jasmine too. Don't look back, make needed changes now and look forward. Things can get better!
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Since we have a lot of extra space, any thoughts on renting out the extra room to make a little extra money?
Originally Posted By LuLu If you have any questions beyond what I posted in #38, I'm happy to answer. I've been renting space here for several years, and this year also converted my home office to a "studio" rental.
