Humpday, 8 Sweltring 2010
As some of the studio audience might not be aware of the dire straits that the Funny Farm is going through these days, allow me to bring you up to speed on the basics of the situation: since being laid off by SearsMart in January of 2009, I've been living on (i) the ten weeks' severance from SearsMart; (ii) the unenjoyment claims that I have received from the state of Michigan (26 weeks + 33 additional weeks of unemployment, beginning when the severance ran out in the middle of April, 2009 – which then ended in the middle of June 2010 during yet another successful derailing of the federal legislative process by the Republican't Party); and (iii) a $10K dispersal from my rollover IRA (of which I have set aside $2.5K for extra tax penalties and early withdrawal fees). There has been no extension of my unemployment as of yet; the local EI center tells me to register online and use the EI (lack of) help line in case of any problems; the online system rejects my claim out of hand; and the EI (lack of) help line is either busy or automagically connects me to a voice mail telling me that no one can answer my call, and then hangs up. The online site directs me to call the (lack of) help line if I want to contact them about any problems I might be having with processing my unemployment claim.
Just a tad confusing, frustrating, and daunting to use methinks. I've finally found a few positions to apply for in my area of expertise out there in the last few weeks, but all of my experience is outdated (because it didn't take place in the last couple of years) and so I seem to be getting tossed out in the first run through the pile of resumes. I have been fortunate enough to be able to try and look for a job (in and of itself a full time position) in an area that I have had considerable professional success over my prime working years. But that time seems to be coming to an end. I'm going to have to get something soon and/or come up with enough work on my own to make ends meet.
Due to some diligent spending habits* and a horking big income (especially for a cheap bastich like me) of $70K/year during the reign of the Ilegally Installed Drunken Cokeheaded Deserter, I managed to get five years ahead on my mortgage (which was entered into in December 2003), along with maintaining a zero credit balance and staying current on my car note and all of my bills. I'm still managing to hold to those benchmarks as I write this post. But the day that I won't be able to meet all of my financial obligations is getting closer every day. [shameless plug] Unless you can help me out with a subscription or a donation to this blog [/shameless plug]
It was going to be one step closer after today – my 2006 Honda Civic has been on the road for more than two years since the service representative at Troy Honda** informed me that my rear brakes were shot and needed to be replaced. Since they had spent most of the day dicking me around on a two hour service job, I was a bit suspicious, and got a second opinion. The long and the short of that story is that I am still using the same rear brakes that the Honda dealership told me were shot over two years ago. Coincidentally (cough), my car came off warranty just before that service call (which they forgot to tell me about until after they had done the work), and the brake job would have added even more ill-gotten gains to their coffers.
So, today, I finally had enough spare cash to get the job done. I drove over to my mechanic's place, he takes the car for a spin around the block, and he tells me that my brakes are 'glazed' (as far as I can understand it, the brake rotors/drums get all shiny and so they squeal a bit when the pads/shoes first get applied to them), and, while it's a bit annoying, there's nothing to worry about yet. So that's approximately $100-$200 that didn't have to come out of my pocket today. Bonus!
Then, as we're winding things down and I'm getting ready to leave, he asks me if I'm still trying to fix computers on the side. These days, I'll even go so far as to watch Faux Snooze if there's some cake to be made by doing so***, so of course I offered to take a look at it and see what I could do. Thus it was that I got another small commission, solved the problem, and have managed to put some cash in my pocket. Double Bonus!
So how was your day?
* - Scotsmen have nothing on Belgians in the frugality department. These days, I'm so broke I have trouble paying attention...
** - as detailed previously, here at The Funny Farm, in July 2008.
*** - as long a I get to make off-color commentary about the Republican't propaganda I'm viddying. Some nerf balls to toss at the screen would also be greatly appreciated, in case anyone's looking to hire for that job...
