June 17: Bad News, Spiral, Magic 8-Ball

I received some bad news at work today.  It seems the health care system which recently acquired the hospital where I work has sent down an edict that no clerical staff are allowed to work overtime any more.  That means that the overtime money that usually helps my family make it through the summer has suddenly gone the way of the passenger pigeon.

Here I sit in my office at the university.  I had to leave my other job because I'd already worked too many hours.  I'm in a downward spiral at the moment, imagining everything from bankruptcy to foreclosure.  In one of my fantasies, an asteroid hit the hospital and took out the entire administration building.  That was actually quite pleasant.

I don't know what I'm going to do.  I don't know if or how my family is going to survive until the checks from the university start coming again in late August.  Basically, I don't know anything.  It has been a pretty crappy few days for bad news.

My question for Magic 8-Ball Monday is pretty simple:

Is my family going to make it through the summer financially?

And the answer from that wellspring of positivity, Holden Caulfield, is:

"She's fine, thanks.  I haven't seen her too recently, but the last I--"

I'm going to take that one to the bank.  Too bad I can't cash it.  I'm going to be "fine," according to Holden.  Of course, "fine" for Holden is a nervous breakdown and pneumonia.


Saint Marty needs to stop spiraling.  Now.

Anybody got a spare parachute?

October 26: Upheaval, Uncertainty, Upset Stomach

I found out last night that the health care organization I work for decided to restructure 21 middle managers out of jobs yesterday.  The translation of that statement is that 21 people showed up for work yesterday morning, went to one of their normal weekly meetings, and were given pink slips.  Sorry.  Don't let the door hit in the ass on the way out.  Obviously, that kind of upheaval is going to create a lot of uncertainty, unhappiness, and upset stomachs.

This is not unusual news in a country where the health care system is so broken that normal people have to decide between life-saving medication/treatment and food for their children.  However, when it hits this close to home, I just have to sit back and shake my head, wondering why God doesn't push a cosmic erase button and start the whole universe over.

I truly don't believe this problem is a Republican or Democrat thing.  It's not a rich or poor thing.  It's a people thing.  We live in a world where people don't care about each other.  Instead of working as brothers and sisters on this little ball of mud we call Earth, we just worry about ourselves.  Community has become a dirty word, right up there with charity and tolerance.

This morning, twenty-one people are unemployed who were employed yesterday.  People with families and mortgages and kids in college.  People who had their futures planned out, maybe even had vacations planned.  Instead of thinking about these individuals, everybody where I work is scrambling around, trying to protect their jobs.   It's not about "we."  It's about "me."

This world is a messed up place.  Quoting Kent M. Keith, Mother Teresa once said, "People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.  Love them anyway."

Saint Marty's going to try to find love today.

You tell 'em, Mother.