Joining the Ranks of the Unemployed

Yes, It happened to me. I am now known as Unemployed Floyd.

My company had a big slowdown in work, so they decided to cutback on personnel. I had only been there a year and they had hired a replacement for me at a lesser rate. It was a high pressure job and it affected me about mid year causing some medical problems. They were not happy with how I was doing--hence the replacement. I was asked to train him for a period--then I was to be laid off. My replacement had convinced them to keep me on--The job really required 1.5 people to do. Thanksgiving came and people became focused in the holidays--the job market dried up. I was about to fire up the job search again and now this.

How did I feel?

Since I had been a manager, the process was very familiar to me. However, this was one of the very few times I was on the receiving end. I really wasn't sad--I felt a bit relieved. Short of leaving the job for another, this was an excellent way to leave. When interviewing, I can really say that I was laid off for lack of work. They were planning to reduce the division I was in.

So what's next..

I applied for unemployment. I have applied two prior times--1983 and 2000. In 2000, the company that I was working for ceased operations. Since, by law, I received two month's severance--I was ineligible for unemployment payments. Fortunately, at the end of two months, I found my next job.

I'll take a few days off to clear my head. I have contacted vendors and friends--put the word out that I'm back on the market...in the job search, that is. Clean up a few things around the house. I also start a programing class this next week.

What for the future? For the first time in a long time, I have different directions I could go. I will find a job. If I have to work part time--No Problem. I have never been afraid of work. I just need to keep my spirits up and persevere.

Or I could just stay home and be a kept man.

Kidding.

Ok, I finally fell victim to....

I finally bought an iPod.

I had resisted up to now. It was very expensive in my opinion just to play music.

What sold me? I had a friend that purchased one and had it plugged into his car. He has a Music Keg (Kenwood Hard Drive) hooked up too. He told me that he hardly ever uses it. He really loves his iPod.

Then I started looking at the Classic. As you have read from my previous posts, I fly up to Reno on a regular basis. I have tried to watch movies on the way up with both the laptop and portable DVD Player. Both were very clumsy to pull out and set up. The DVD player battery only lasts an hour and the flight is over an hour especially with a layover.

This iPod (80 gig) will last up to 5 hours playing video and 14 hours just playing music. It will hold 15,000 songs and untold movies. With that much room, I can store all of my music and then some, all on a device that is a little wider than a pack of cigarettes and about 1/2 inch thick.

Just amazing. Even though it was expensive, I view it this way. Way back when, I bought my first hard drive for a computer--it was a 20 MG hard drive. It was used and I got for a steal at only $200. Now the iPod with 80000 times the capacity for just $50 more.

I have to hand it to Apple. The packaging was very elegant and minimal. I am used to i-Tunes for transfer. Had a few problems with iTunes conflicting with some of my software, however with an update of iTunes and reinstall of the conflicted software--it smoothed out.

Now, in case anyone from Apple reads this, i do have a list of demands for the next generation of iPods:

1) Include an AC power unit. After spending that kind of money--you would think they would include one. They do not.

2.) Reduce pricing at the Apple Store. Pricing at the Apple Store is very high. To get that AC adapter, you would need to spend $26 for it. Now I bought just a charging unit with an AC and Car adapter for only $19 (Not Apple brand) at Radio Shack.

3) Get a sales force at said Apple Store to be able to let me as a consumer play with their equipment. The Salespeople at Apple Store are not much help. I guess when you can't open up the Macs or other equipment--you do not learn much about it.


All in all, I really like my iPod. I am trying to interest Valerie in getting one, however she is having more fun with her Nintendo DS...trying to reduce her Brain Age from 69 to at least her real age.


Now to load all that stuff..