column or somethng, but for normal people.

Ho!

So let’s say you are in the job loss boat, what

do you do?

Stop spending immediately.  Be very shrewd.

Then put the money you owe in order.  Prioritize.

If the neighborhood butcher probably won’t come after

you right away, put his bill at the bottom, but do

not forget about him.  There is such a thing as karma,

and it can come back to bite you.

If your funds are shrinking fast and you are freaking

out, start thinking about further belt-tightening.

Like, give up the newspaper. Yes, I know you need it for

the want-ads, but you can read it at the library.  That’s

probably a hundred bucks a year right there.

And while you’re at the library, go to the bathroom there

and that will save you on toilet paper at home.

Think about what you can liquidate.  Look at online

auctions like ebay or zobids or yahoo.  Yes, it might

be a nice painting, but you can’t eat a painting these

days, can you???  It all comes down to survival.

Can you break into your retirement plans?  Normally

this would be a crazy idea of a short-sighted person,

but these are tough times. We do what we have to do.

Look at other expenses.  Maybe it is cheaper to go

to a cell phone that charges by the minute.  However,

watch out, because if you cancel your old cell phone

contract, that could cost you a couple hundred bucks

right there and for nothing.  It all comes down to being

smart and really thinking about expenses.  If you can

make a pot of soup out of left-over chicken bones.,

that just save you some money, didn’t it?

adventures that I have been having.  I have

more than enough advice for other people, but

still need some for myself. Ho!

Here is my job loss advice, continued on.  Yesterday

I started to make a sandwich and didn’t get back to

blogging.  It was a good sandwich with ham and lettuce

and mayo.

File for your unemployment benefits right away.  My

sister told me that her friend’s husband who is a laid off

computer type from Microsoft refused to apply for

enemployment. What kind of an idiot is that.  Apparently

he is too proud.  But doesn’t he realize that we all pay

into unemployment functionally for the event that this

sucky thing happens.  It’s like an insurance policy.

Moving on, appraise your morgage company or

lender right away and tell them about your lay off.

These days they may not care, as there are so many

houses in foreclosure, but do it anyway.  The more

people you can get on your side, the better.

Now, #3 here is a big one. You have to figure out

your health insurance.  Especially if your wife is

pregnant or something like that. Or if you are on

chronic medications.  Just my dad’s example is

enough to scare you, isn’t it? His bills will be

coming forever after 2 surgeries.

I think I need to get into more of a routine,

like I have had previously.

It is too easy to forget things like exercise

and work time.

Here is some advice if you are looking for a job

like me, or you think you might need to soon:

While you are still employed, start building that

rainy day fund.  For me this has been a godsend.

I’d be on the street if I hadn’t kept my expenses

to minimal before the job thing happened.  Even

with the addition of dish network, my expenses are

still very low compared to most people.

Next, think about simplyfying your living situation

or downsizing.  Now, right now in this economy, this can

be hard as so many people are upside down in their

mortgages and cannot sell except at a loss.  But if

you are in the position to do this, think about it.

Decrease those monthly expenses.

Finally, apply for credit while you have a job and

look good to the bank.  Credit card offers sure are

not pouring in to the mailbox like they used to,

but I’m still getting some.  Get a reserve of credit

cards in case the job situation really does turn to

job loss and you have to suck into your financial

reserves and then some.

For me I am glad I sort of had this type of ideas

scoped out before the big pink slip came.

but planning to return tomorrow.

Yesterday, I had a DishNetwork system installed. I

now get 45 TV, and 30 radio stations by satellite.

Currently watching the Blazers game!
The telescope will take a little more time to figure out.

It has an “Autostar” feature whereby it will automatically

intercept and track any star you want. But something is

wrong with the initial alignment and the desired

object appears off-center. Another 4-6 hours with the

instruction manual should do it …

but mostly we are pasting this plan together as

we go.

Elaborate insights are very helpful, and right on target

as far as any estimations I might have made.  So I look

forward to them.Veteran health-care professionals such

as Jonni would no doubt attest that Dad is now freely

exhibiting his wishes!
The instance observed reguarding Dads preference

for curtain position is very similar to a number of other

very similar recent events.
Here is my read  :

At this point, Dad feels the need to express his opinions

for personal preferences in order to show that he no

longer needs people to take care of him.
Up to now, Dad has spent weeks with people attending

his every need. As he recovers and aligns towards

normalcy, he no doubt gets personal comfort in

exhibiting to people that he can make his own decisions

and preferences.
Personally, I think that even if he gets discharged from

here, he still will need help.
But in the meantime…. a hint …I’ve learned…

use a “questioning” format… such as… “Dad, what do you

think about me refilling the bird feeder?”

as you can see.

In other news, as the Director of Facilities Management

and Patient Technology, I have been addressing issues

such as Dads hearing aid batteries and doing some telephone

revamping in his house.
Over the past few months, Dad and I have been talking

about getting him a new computer system. Yesterday,

I suggested to him that “now would be a good time,

” because in the coming weeks I can get a new system

ordered, and have it all set up and running by the time

he gets home. Today he authorized a budget for this project.

This evening, Carola and I will have dinner at an Indian

restaurant. She leaves tomorrow.

Dads “surgery #2,” and his “surgery #3″ took place exactly

a week ago today.
******* A M A Z I N G *******

Carol and I shot off my bangsite childhood cannon this

evening at a park near Dads house, and I forgot to bring

my camera!
Dad sounded good during a brief phone call moments ago.

This may not be of interest to my readers (if there are

any), but I need to put it here for family FYI – - The

following is my understanding of “people movements”

in the coming days….

Carola leaves today.
Aunt Bee arrives Sunday at noon. I pick her up at

the airport.
I give orientation and then leaves Sunday afternoon.
Jonni arrives Tuesday morning. Bee picks her up at the

airport, and gives orientation.
Wednesday Bee goes to home for a few hours, probably

using Dads car.
Aunt Bee leaves Thursday morning, Jonni takes her to

the airport.
Sometime during all of the above, it is likely that Dad

will be moved from Sacred Heart to the step down

Health Center.
The hospital Social Worker will arrange specialized

transportation, and ensure check-in.

Note to Aunt Bee and Jonni : “Carola knows all about

that stuff, and has left you some notes.”

Later down the road ….
I return to next week late in the day.

Gus and Carola have alluded that they plan to return

at some point, but right now they are “wait and see.”

Dad looks even better today.

He’s more alert.

Smiling more.

Chit chatting with the nurses.

He’s still getting his appetite back – always eating less

than 50% of his meals – but takes in more every day.

The Physical Therapist came by this morning, and

helped him into a chair. Dad described this as,

“exhausting, … like the kind of work they do at Midas.”

I spoke with Dr. G. this morning who was once again

pleased with Dads progress. I noticed that Dads urine

bag was a “true yellow” at the time of that visit … and

this afternoon it was back to a more pinkish shade.

G. one again said Dad would likely be “discharged early

next week.”
Carola and I have been using the term “discharge” to

distinguish it from “ready to go home.”
She and I had a “board meeting” last night, and in

addition to being the acting Director of “Finance,”

she is now the Vice President of the “Patient

Recovery and Support Division.”
She has been making all the contacts to ensure

Dad has an optimal recovery profile upon “discharge.”
It now looks like Dad will spend at least 2 weeks

at an “interim step-down facility” before he comes

home from the hospital.
Even Dad is now supporting the concept saying,

“It would be foolish not to.”
Carola knows alot more about what’s going on with

all of that. Sorry, she’s not here to elaborate.
One of the places under consideration is only a mile

or so from Dads house. I took a short tour, and it

“looks OK.”

And nice that they have wifi.

Late bulletin :

dr. G. came by. Impressed by the “color” of what is

coming out of the catheter. Alum irrigation has been

discontinued. One of the two catheters may be removed

tomorrow.

G. said Dad would probably be “out next week.”

Dr. L. the Hospitalist has “signed off the case.”

As I recall, last night when Dad was considering the

possible options for today’s breakfast he came up

with a smorgasbord of selections. Turns out he

just had oatmeal.
He’s more conversant, and can speak easier and more clearly.
He seems more “tired” than yesterday.
Today he got a bath, clean sheets, and made a trip

the bathroom for a bm. All those events left him

with few reserves of energy.
More friends periodically coming by…
Lunch were “tastes” of milk, cottage cheese, and pie.
Dr. L. the Hospitalist came by for a few minutes. I

took the shortness of his visit as a good sign. He

simply said that since Dad has apparently licked

the infection, he will be converting to oral antibiotics.
Dads “critical path” now is more of a urinary/surgical

recovery issue to me managed by Dr. G., and services

of Dr. L. may no longer be required.
Dad just got “scooted up” on the bed, and the

IV person is now looking for a new “site” so the one

one his neck can be discontinued.
Seems like he “yawns” alot, but apparently this is

not medically significant.
I mentioned to Dad that I would be going to travel

next week for a short trip, and that there is a possibility

that I might end up working there. He said that his

opinion of this location was, “favorable.”
Evening nurses now coming on duty … the familiar

Allison and Janice.

If you are literate you’ll be able to read it.

I don’t know if there are any other laid off people

out there online, but maybe.

For me (except for the money!!!) I am starting to

wonder if it wasn’t actually a small blessing in

disguise, as my dad has been having some health

issues.  If I can collect some unemployment, and

get him back on his feet, and then get another job

with my new blogging skills, maybe it will all work

out.

Dad just called and reported that he’s asked his neighbor

to take him in to the emergency room due to some

new blood in the urine.

He also anticipates that they will go ahead with the

transfusion at this juncture.

I’m going to go down there and “see what’s up.”

In case you were wondering, I’m just now leaving

the house to go.  I ran into some “disruptive” computer

problems ; possibly now OK.

I’ll send out a report from there later.