Out of Work
OUT IN REAL LIFE your humble narrator here at Stump Lane got laid off. Boss Man made a “business decision.” Margins are so squeezed, it just doesn’t make sense to keep the operation going. He’s closing up shop. For Ol’ Montag, it was a slip down another step in the decline we’ve been documenting in this space recently.
But it’s not ALL gloom and doom. I have this opposing sense of liberation from the alienation we’ve also begun dissecting in this space. You [I] have nothing to lose but your [my] chains. The chain I’ve labored on since the start of my working life. It is a ponderous chain! Oh but if it goes on too long they could take our house away? Well lah-tee-fucking-dah! The only thing they’ll have taken is the FAKE money we invested in the down payment, and the thousands of additional FAKE dollars and hundreds of hours of labor we’ve “invested” in maintenance and improvements, not to mention interest payments and FAKE “principle” payments. One day we’ll look back on it as having been done a terrific favor. The chains coming off.
Do your worst, Strivers and Moneymen!
For years I’ve been moonlighting on the side and have a few small jobs to work on for the very short term. Hoping to ramp that business up to replace the lost income, though construction is slow all over right now, and from what I’m hearing, likely will be until past 2014. Wish me luck. While I like to keep real life and blog life compartmentalized, I’ll let old blog friends in on the secret in private, if interested. Especially ones who might have connections in the construction or design fields. ;-)
Anyway, the pertinent result of this development is that my posting, commenting elsewhere, BLAWGing in general, will be sporadic and probably more dim-witted than usual for a little while as I get my bearings. Apologies to all who commented on the Revenge and Justice post, especially Justin who’s comments I still hope to respond to at some point, in some form.
Stump Lane 
Oy. Luck to you, Montag.
Well hell. Good luck, sir.
thanks guize.
Walking without a net is what it’s all about. Stay in touch your alienation and don’t look down!
Luck & all from one out-of-work to another (though I, fool or wise man that I am, quit voluntarily). We gotta chisel out a new way of life for ourselves.
just going by the relief and sense of freedom of the past few days, i don’t know why i didn’t quit voluntarily years ago.
I’m sorry to hear it, bud. Let us know if we can do anything to help.
A good opportunity to ponder existentially the full meaning and value of “work” and “job” and “employment” and “career” and what those things really mean.
Kinda hard to really know their meaning when your life revolves around the job you hold, revolves at least routinely if not permeating all waking moments.
Good luck finding what you need to support yourself. Lots of creative options enable a person to step mostly or fully outside the grid, if you choose. Grey and black markets are pretty resilient, though participating in them can screw with a Dedicated On-The-Grid life. PoPo and Prosecutor alike usually enjoy making life tough for the grey and black marketeers, and Uncle Sam’s citizen-money-theft-service (IRS) really hates a grey and/or black marketeer.
But it can be fun for people with the right temperament.
I am very sorry to hear about your troubles, friend. I’m even sorrier that I’ve been so out of touch over the last few years.
Hang in there!
hey. great to hear form you, JR. managing to keep trouble at bay and keep busy working for myself. is still soulless busywork, but at least it keeps the bill collectors off our backs. hope all is well with you folks.