So Long Old Friend

They let Hank go yesterday, after nearly thirty years of service to the company. So what did he get for his efforts? Some Dunkin Donuts and coffee that he had to share with the few remaining employees. No severance pay, no retirement package, no gold watch. It’s a good thing I got him a happy retirement card because no-one else did. Still, I passed it around to them so they could all sign it. At least he could leave with a little dignity. I felt bad for Hank not only because he is a widower with bad legs and a weak ticker, but that after so many years of service to the company, they barely acknowledged his departure. But then, the management’s commitment to their employee’s well being at our company has never existed. In fact, after cutting back his hours and reducing his hourly rate, they finally laid him off after trying to force him to retire. You see, that’s what they do where I work. Because my boss is too cheap to pay the unemployment, he harasses people until they get so fed up that they quit. Often this works, but some people can tolerate a lot more BS than others, so those who can hang on to their jobs usually do.
Hank had a lot at stake, and he needed the unemployment benefits due him to help with the soaring costs of his medication and doctors bills. Medicare alone wouldn’t cover it, even with the supplemental insurance he had to get. I felt that it was shameful of the owners to do what they did to him, but he was able to hold them off long enough to cover his ass. In this economy, nobody is walking just because their boss treats them badly. So, so long old buddy, I will miss our time spent around the water cooler even though there wasn’t one.
It is Good Friday and the plant is now closed. In fact, it's now close every Friday. It is like a ghost town around here. Most of the lights are off, the factory is completely shut-down, and only a dozen or so office and key people are still here. I guess I’m one of the lucky few. When I started here 2 years ago, we had seventy five employees. We are on a 4 day week and as I sit here and ponder my future, I know that it’s only a matter of time before I get laid off or we go under. While I don’t relish the idea of joining the ranks of the unemployed, it does, at this point seem inevitable. Even though my boss is a totally incompetent megalomaniac, he has managed to keep things afloat. While I don’t want to go down with a sinking ship, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can hang on until the next rescue ship passes by, even a dinghy would work. If not, I guess I’ll just have to swim my way back into the mainstream. No problem, I’m comfortable in the water and I’ve still got a life jacket.

Aarons Family Adopts Runaway Puppy

Weighing in at 13 pounds and chock full of energy and sweetness, the newest addition to the Aarons family comes in the form of an adorable Australian Cattle Dog and Brittany Spaniel mix. Either lost or abandoned by her owner, the dog was put up for adoption after a week when no-one came forward to claim her. Found running loose on the streets of Waukegan, IL, the dog was rescued by Orphans of the Storm, one of the nation’s oldest and largest animal shelters and pet adoption agencies. Check them out at http://www.orphansofthestorm.org/ . It only took one look for Sally to fall in love with this critter, and within a matter of days, we took her home with us. Although no pooch could ever replace our first dog, Jackson, who we had to put down last summer, this canine cutie is quickly wining us over with her spunk and playfulness. Deciding on a name was a family affair with Sam, Sally and myself all tossing around different names for consideration. Some of the names we thought of were; Betsy, Sydney, Daisy. Although any of those would have been fine, I was looking for something else. I suggested Rosie and Sally and Sam both liked that, so that’s what we went with. Apparently it was the right choice because after only a few days with us, she responds to her name when called. Just 4 months old, she isn’t house broken yet but does obey the "sit" command already. This makes us think that she probably wasn’t abused or abandoned, but somehow escaped from her previous owner and for some unknown reason was not recovered. The shelter puts out a notice and a description of the stray dogs they find and if no-one comes forward within a week, the dog is then put up for adoption by the agency. Since she is by nature a herding dog and needs to run a lot, we will probably have to make some kind of dog run for her so she can stay outside while we are at work or school. No problem, we have plenty of room between our house and our neighbors. I’d love to include a picture for you but unfortunately, my camera crapped out on me yesterday. Instead, I’ve downloaded the closet looking dog I could find on Google so you can get an idea of what she looks like. Well, at least the face is right. That’s all for now, check back soon for more.

Gristmill Blog Launched Despite Killer Virus Prediction

Despite predictions of a potentially devastating computer virus just waiting to be unleashed, I decided to go ahead and post The Gristmill anyway. With my previous attempts at blogging having been somewhat unsuccessful, I was a little hesitant to get involved again, but there's just too much going on right now to sit back and stay on the sidelines. Of course, the Economy is first and foremost on every one's mind, but let's not forget about all the other things out there that bear mentioning. I am hopeful that this long overdue project will not only serve as an electronic bully pulpit for me to rant n' rave about what's wrong with the world, but will also serve as a means for exploring ways to fix things. If it furthers my friendships and career in the process, that would be a welcome outcome indeed. And in speaking of friendships and careers, please take a moment to notice the Etiquette Tip of the Day. I included it not to imply that any of my friends or family need any help in this area, but because it seemed like a useful and entertaining tidbit to start off the blog with. It also works nicely with the theme of my template. So, for all of you who have been gracious enough to indulge me by reading this premier edition of The Gristmill, thanks for your interest, and look forward to more postings soon!