Today was my first real day of unemployment. I was suddenly laid off last week by a Student Loan lender giant.
The 7 (When did they add the last 3?) stages of grief went by fast. Shock, denial, pain, grief, anger, barfaining...(OK, bargaining) went by over the weekend. I know they will return later like an old friend.
This morning, I watched Romancing the Stone on the TV. I sat outside in my garage, listening to smooth jazz piped in from the radio. (Who knew radio was still free - and so many stations to choose from?) I watched the clouds roll and play in the slight breeze. I watched a hawk riding the thermals, gaining height in the sky by simple moves of the wing. I enjoyed a Perdomo ESV as I thought about life and the ironies we all encounter. I felt peace, Real peace in not knowing what comes next. Travel? Moving? New Job/s?
What comes next, I do not know. But I do know I have the support of my loving wife, my kids, my neighbors (true neighbors!), my ex-co-workers, my "band of brothers" in my church and my host of friends. Can a guy really ask for more? I know rough seas are in our family's future - maybe. All I can think of Sir francis Drake's prayer. "Distub us, oh Lord"

Sorry to hear it. If your area is anything like Baltimore, there are plenty of lower paying jobs to tide you through.

Hang in there buddy. One door closes then another door opens.
My advice(what ever that’s worth) Eventually we all get a second opportunity.
When opportunity knocks, be prepared. Don’t open that door gently....Kick that mother down!

For what its worth:

I went through this about two years ago. I chose not to be unemployed. I "went to work" every day in my den/home office. My job was to find a job. I didn't change my schedule although I did lose the jacket and tie but went in, closed the door and focused on the job search. Now, in my line of work, this may have been easier since there are a lot of sites where openings in my field are posted but I would imagine the process could translate. I checked the listings, called old friends and colleagues and old bosses. It took 6 mos but it worked in the end.

Good luck.

Sorry to hear about it, its always hard in these trying economic times. As much as it sucks, walmart is always hiring. They have benefits and will help while you revamp your resume and work on finding a new job.

sorry to hear that brother. Hang in there, whatever's meant to happen will happen. I wish you the best

Hang in there. When one door closes, another opens. Maybe this is an opportunity to find a field/job that you always wanted to work in but didn't because you had a job.

Sorry to hear of your job loss, Gump........
I was 'downsized' back in Jan. of this year. Still looking. Not sure what benefits you will have, but the incentive package will pay 67% of your Cobra costs for 9 months. It helps......
Unemployment, lasts for over a year now, if you can live on it.........
Hang in there........

Welcome to the club.

Hang in there bud,hopefully things pick up soon.Enjoy the extra family time,smell the roses & relax a little while you have the time.I'm sure the wife will find a whole bunch of jobs around the house to stop you going completely mad
Good luck!

Sorry to hear that. I am sure things will pick up? My best friend got laid off from a job he had for 11 years last October. Now a year later, he started his own business and he's the boss now! Making more money too... (he took 8 months off and worked on himself)

Now, I work for the same company and things aren't looking very good in the near future for me? I have been working with them for 13 years. Times change, like seasons - A career is no longer a career?

Good mojo sent....