One of my worst summers ever

[BadJoey]

I know my story will not seem to bad to most of you but it has me down . I lost my good job at the bus factory in March due to a lack of new bus orders (1/2 million each  ) . Still unemployed in May I took a back breaking seasonal job delivering ice . The pay sucked and I was working 70 to 75 hours a week ,6 day weeks . I just got my car together last year and was looking forward to this summer . I might have had the car out 5 or 6 times all summer . Between my regular house hold duties I just didn't have time or energy to play . A few times I almost took it out but didn't because I felt like I had too . Taking it out is a fun thing and being so burned out it wasn't going to be fun . Next time you guys buy ice I want you to know the person delivering that ice works like a dog . No holidays off including July 4th , that's one of the busiest days . Well things are slowing down now and I got 2 days off for the first time all summer and it's raining and cold . Oh well I hope to get a few days . Of course now I have to start job hunting again . Not sure about the rest of you but there is nothing worth having around here . Sorry for crying just feeling bad for myself and I know my problems are nothing next to many, it's that I feel like I got screwed out of my summer .

[ChallengerHK]

I'm sorry to hear about the troubles, Joey. If you look over some of the other off-topic postings you'll find a lot of people in a similar boat.

When you go to search for a job, look at indeed.com. It collects jobs from monster, careerbuilder, dice, all of the other big sites, plus a lot of local sites and newspapers. Makes the search a lot more efficient.

[brads70]

Keep your chin up! Better days ahead!   Hundreds of thousands in your position. Me too I went from making 60K a year to 12k.  Almost everyone I know had had their "standard of living" dropped in the last 5-8 years! I see adult men working in places were kids used to work Example...McDonald's. At least your not sitting on your butt , your doing your best , which is all one can ask!

[AARCUDADEN]

BadJoey, we all feel your pain brother. I think most of us here are either overworked or underpaid or both. I've been working the last five years at a parts store for only minium wage and i just barely scrape by.We can hope its gets better 

[Chryco Psycho]

things will pick up again eventually , hang in there
 I feel the same way , I have to run my butt off in the summer when the work is there to survive the 9 month winters & rarely get to enjoy my own cars , I finished restoring my Chall back in may & have driven it 4 miles this summer only because I lost my storage & had to move it .

[BadJoey]

Thanks guys . I'm hopeing things pick up at the bus co. and I get called back . Contract negoations with the union are going on now . My best hope is maybe there is some orders being hushed up until that is over . Either way it is good to hear I'm not alone and although I wish none of you bad luck I hate to think it is just me . Thanks again .

[Topcat]

You're in company here with me also Joey. I've been beating my head trying to find decent work. Whenever my cell phone starts ringing; I get all excited before I see the call coming. Indeed.com and Craigslist are the one's I keep hammering at.

[Road_Runner]

Definitely keep your chin up.  There are sooo many of us that can relate to your situation.  My wife found work a little over 3 months ago after being out of work almost exactly 2 years.  She's making 1/2 what she made before working 50-60 hours a week now, no paid vacation or sick days, etc. etc.  I know she hates starting over career-wise but I know we were very happy when she landed what she did.  There are many in the business community that think that business could pick up dramatically after the November elections so hopefully things will turn up at least by the holidays or first of next year.

Later, Jim

[JoltinJoe]

Feel for ya.  Just remember that one of our troops got killed today by some nutjob in Afgan...

[whitesatinmopar]

All you can do is hang tough and keep looking and hoping    The business sector and the upper crust in command are apparently a ruthless lot these days. Pam got notice a month ago her job was being moved 500 miles away to home headquarters. Yes they offered to move her/us picking up all cost involved. But with our ages it would make no sense, they would not offer any job stability even if she did accept and make the move. They ask her to stay on for 30 days (which is up) and they would pay her a "stay on" bonus for working while another could be trained for the position. Yesterday they told her the 30 day thing won't start until they hire a replacement, and they haven't as yet even interviewed anyone let alone hire someone. Playing games and pulling strings, it's a game of power and control with management these days.   

[ChallengerGary]

Joey, don't feel too bad.  Like other people have said, there are a LOT of people in the same boat (including me). At least you were willing/able to take the job you got.  I know what that type of work is like; right before I graduated High School,I worked for years at a plant nursery and tree farm in South Florida.  It was back breaking work but it helped me build up muscle and character.  Hell, I used to have to back dirt for hours at a time (that's right I was a real Dirt Bagger  )  As a result,  I know I will never go hungry because I know I am willing to bust my butt to make a days pay.  I went form being a 145# weakling (at 6'4") at my H.S. Graduation to being a 190# guy that could pick up engine blocks by myself because of that work.  I even got a job as a bouncer at a night club when I turned 21 (which I always thought was hilarious - knowing how scrawny I used to be).  I guess what I am saying is, you did the right thing by taking what was available even though you had to sacrifice your leisure time to do it.

I too have been "out of work" since mid-June.  Got turned down for unemployment but I have made darn sure my kids got new clothes for school and there is always food in the fridge.  Granted, there have been days when there was less than $.50 in our bank account, but even my wife says she is happier now than she has been in years...Go figure

[HP2]

If the good times don't last, than neither will the bad times.

[djwhog]

 

Man I here ya, seemed like all I did was work, hard for less $$ and yet it rained every wekend except 3, now the wind is 40+ and it is fall, can not do squat outside, but as other said, at least we are not in Afaganstan or Iraq etc.

Pryers for all of us, man at least we own the right cars huh!

Take care and buck up, it has to get better:) 

[BadJoey]

On the news last night a local distribution plant is leaving town by next July laying off 400 more .Means 400 more people trying for the same jobs as me . I'm lucky , not a lot of bills and the wife has a so so job . You're right about having the right cars djwhog . I remember my wife telling me I like that car too much and like I told her these days it's the only thing that makes me feel like I'm worth a s$%t . When people are saying how nice it is it makes me feel good about myself which counts for a lot . I know things will get better , I always make out some how or other . In worst case I can draw unemployment all winter and I know the ice co would hire me back next summer . NOT what I want but I do what I have to . I just got spoiled at the bus factory so I'll keep my fingers crossed on that . Thanks for caring guys it helps talking about things .

[JoltinJoe]

I went form being a 145# weakling (at 6'4") at my H.S. Graduation to being a 190# guy that could pick up engine blocks by myself because of that work.  I even got a job as a bouncer at a night club when I turned 21 (which I always thought was hilarious - knowing how scrawny I used to be).  I guess what I am saying is, you did the right thing by taking what was available even though you had to sacrifice your leisure time to do it.

I graduated from high school @ 6' 1" 130pounds myself!