The Future is bright...

So I have spent the last 3.5 months posting my thoughts, opinions etc. here and have heard from many of you on it. Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and words of appreciation. While I do not feel I have done anything "spectacular" it is nice to know somebody out there appreciates it.

One of the questions in my inbox the other day was the fact that I do not post about my "bad days". I have them just like the rest of you. I have my early morning cries as I lay in the bed. But I have to dig deep and put on my "big girl panties" and face the world. It is not going to go away just because I am having a bad day. I have my bad nights too (last night being one of them). It helps to vent and let it out. It doesn't fix it but sure does make me feel better. I use various sources to vent my frustrations. I have a friend who I am sure is TOTALLY over me "dumping" on them although they continue to insist they do not mind. I am sure that like me, many of you tend to pull away from your spouse during these moments. After all, they have enough stress on them without having to hear our crap, right? WRONG!!! Now more than ever we need to be able to lean on our spouses. We need to know that everything we are feeling is OK and that we are not alone in the flood of emotions that pass through us each day. E-mail is a wonderful way to vent. You can sit at the computer and just let the tears and anger out while you unload into your message. I hope you all know that my e-mail is open to you if you need that outlet.

So why did I pick today's title? Because things are looking up. Not just for me but for all of us.

Tax time is right around the corner. Most people dread filing their taxes. This year I can't wait to do it!! Most of us are now in lower tax liability brackets because we made less money due to the strike. Our "obligations" and "dependents" did not go down in most cases. In some cases they actually increased. This will allow for bigger refunds for those of us who overpay our taxes or less money we will have to pay if we failed to pay enough. Ummm how can I say this part nicely....DO NOT GO TO AN INCOME TAX SERVICE FOR QUICK MONEY UNLESS YOU HAVE REALLY COMPLEX TAX ISSUES!! Most of us can file on Turbo Tax for a lot less money and it does not take long to get your money back!! If you file on the 1040 or the 1040EZ and do not have deductions to take(such as homeowner etc.) it is FREE!! Most other forms or itemized filings are $29.95. The IRS direct deposits into your account within 10 days of accepting your return. They also only direct deposit on Fridays so it could actually be less than 10 days!! For example: If you filed your taxes today (which you can't so don't even try lol) 10 business days would be the 23rd which is a Friday. That is when you would get your check. But if you file on Monday the 12th, 10 business days would be the 26th. The IRS would still direct deposit your refund on the 23rd since that is the Friday within the 10 day period. I have volunteered to assist anyone who needs it with getting their taxes filed this way. I also have a friend who works for an accountant who is willing to help us out with this. She is used to filing corporate taxes so ours will be no problem.

Oh let's talk about the letter we all received. There has been talk about it on other blogs and I posted the same response there that I am posting now:
Because this strike is NOT strictly economic the NLRB/Mackay "precedent" CAN NOT be used. In general, an employer may not offer employment to permanent replacements on better terms than it has offered to the union.(5) An employer, moreover, does not have the unlimited ability to hire (or threaten to hire) permanent replacements for strikers. Permanent replacements can only be hired if a strike is deemed an “economic strike,” i.e., a strike intended to force employer compliance with the union's legitimate bargaining demands. An employer can't hire (or threaten to hire) permanent replacements in the context of an “unfair labor practice strike” or a lockout. Additionally, an economic strike can be “converted” into an unfair labor practice strike at any time during the labor dispute. Furthermore, What this means is that employers who wish to preserve the option to hire permanent replacements are mindful of the importance of resolving doubts in favor of actions that demonstrate their good faith in bargaining and otherwise lawful conduct.(http://www.lera.uiuc.edu/Pubs/Perspectives/on... )

The NLRB can determine Vought's leaving without any "discussion" at the 2 previous meetings as NOT negotiating in good faith. Had they not walked out the circumstances may be different but they are not.If Vought comes to the table on Tuesday the 13th with the same mentality they did in the previous 2 meetings this will only delay the hiring of "replacement workers". I have no knowledge that this is what they intend to do and am only letting history speak for itself in making this assumption. We want to come back to work under fair contract conditions. Nobody has ever disputed that fact. Vought needs employees to build their products. They have made this apparent by sending out the letter. The logical thing to transpire at this point would be for an actual round of GOOD FAITH negotiations on both sides Tuesday. Vought's customers will not stand for another 3 month "learning" curve (I say 3 months based solely on the amount of time we have been out- might be more might be less. Either way it is not fair to the customer). Many of the contractors will not convert to direct hire. Some might but most of them do not want to take the ridiculous pay cut they would face. It is just the greed in their nature.

Next topic.....THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE!!! I know many of us looked when the strike first began only to be told companies were not hiring. This is actually common for companies to implement a "hiring freeze" during the last quarter of the calendar year so they can budget for the following year. But the jobs are now out there. They may not be the most spectacular or may not have the most ideal hours but they are there. Go back to where you have already been and re-apply. Most companies only keep applications 60 days so you will need to update them at this point. A lot of companies can also be applied to right online. There are many out there who would even work with your regular work schedule when this is all over. They need dependable hardworking employees now that the holidays season is over. They need people who can work any hours (this rules out the teen-agers who have restrictions under the law). Applying for jobs is also a lot easier if you upload a resume to websites like www.careerbuilder.com www.monsters.com etc. By uploading your resume to these sights you can apply for jobs with the click of a button and it makes it accessible for potential employers to find you.

Wow! This was a long one!!I have plenty more to say but think I will end this for now.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

~TS1~
ts1_2008@hotmail.com

A New Year, A New Beginning....

Happy New Year to everybody!! The holiday season is now officially over and with it a little bit of the stress in daily life.

I am going to be spending the next few days doing my traditional "out with the old, in with new" routine. This year my process will take more of a meaning as I clear not only the clutter around my house but the emotional baggage I have carried for far too long.

These last 3 months have provided great insight into those in my life who I can truly depend on and those that are only around because they know I will be there if they need me. As hard as it may be, I have resolved to eliminate those people who do not provide mutually the support they have often sought from me. As I eliminate those who aee only taking up space, those vacancies are quickly filled with the new friends I have made along the way in this journey. While I may have found these people in bizarre circumstances, God has brought them to me for a reason. I have overlooked many true friends in the past instead choosing to remain "loyal" to people who do not deserve my loyalty. I will no longer be that person. This is one of my resolutions for the new year.

Today we begin the "cleaning of the clutter" that has overtaken my house. I look around at some of the things we have and all I can ask myself is WHY?? We take the first few days of the New Year and clean out our closets of clothing that no longer fits, toys that the kids have not bothered with in quite some time, and various other "stuff" that we have accumulated. It has been an interesting process over the last few years. We have even found things we had long forgotten we even OWNED!!

Ebay is my favorite outlet for eliminating the clutter. I have already started listing some of the things we have that were just collecting dust and am sure there will be a great deal more. Communicator and I have discussed holding an Ebay class at the Union Hall. If you are interested in it, please let one of us know and we can put a list together to get it organized and running. I have been selling on Ebay even long before the strike. It really can be quite profitable at times. It is also a great way to "nest egg" for those extras we all want in life.

I often have items that for one reason or another I do not list on Ebay. It is not that there is anything wrong with them but it may be something as simple as the weight or shape of them make shipping them difficult. I will be posting a FREE TO GOOD HOME blog next week. If you see something on there you want let me know. We can work out a way to get it to you.

Well got a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it so I will pop off of here for now. I have received a lot of different video requests lately. The problem I am running into is the copyright laws and artists requesting no uploading of their videos. "Weird Al" doesn't seem to mind so with my Ebay mindset today I hope you enjoy this one.....



~TS1~
ts1_2008@hotmail.com

Stopping to smell the roses.....

So I took my own advice this week.....

I took the time to devote my energy to those that matter the most in my life. I learned how to work the IPOD the mom-in-law got me for Christmas with help from my oldest. I have played HOURS of Monopoly with both my kids. We may not have it all- but we have just the right amount for me.

The kids are pretty sure I have flipped my lid. Yesterday we spent time doing nothing but spinning. Literally. We spun and spun in the kitchen and when we got too dizzy- we just collapsed on the floop in laughter. It was childish. It was pointless. But it was the greatest feeling I have had in years. We will do it again soon. Laughter is definitely the best medicine.

"Red Light Kisses" really threw them for a loop!! At first they weren't sure what to make of it. Then they were typical kids and started screaming "EWWW Mom & Dad you guys are gross". The one thing I noticed though was that seeing the hubby and I laugh and play like that helped put them at ease with the situation. We forgot about our stress as we played. We relaxed and just had FUN. It rubbed off on them- no matter how gross they thought we were being.


Since it is Tuesday- here is another clip from Tuesdays with Morrie (hang around long enough you will probably see the whole movie just really out of order haha)

THANK YOU Does not begin to cover it......

Today was a GREAT day. It was one of those days I don't even have to look for anything simple to be thankful for. There are so many to thank I do not think I will hit everybody and my advance apologies if I overlook you......

To the members of IBEW- Thank you for all of your generosity and hospitality during todays toy drive. It was truly an honor to meet so many of you.

To the United Way: THANK YOU!! There are no other words that could possibly summarize the wonderful events of today.

To the members of our hardship committee- thank you for all of your hard work. It has been a crazy couple of weeks but today made it all worth it!!

Today was simply amazing. I met so many of you for the first time and the expressions on everyone's faces were AMAZING!! I am still humbled by this entire experience. I am completely speechless by the amount of love and holiday spirit I was surrounded by today. (Those of you who do know me are aware that "speechless" and I do not encounter each other often).

Let me end this with the ONLY choice to summarize my emotions right now.....

Today is a good day

So I really TRY to have a positive outlook on each day as it comes. Today is a good day.....

1. I have made it through 82 days of my spouse being on strike without killing him (not to say I haven't entertained the thought haha)

2. I have awesome kids who now know the REAL meaning of the holiday season.

3. I got a million hugs from 53 five year olds

4. I managed to close out my 1st semester back to college with a 3.5 grade point average

I may not know what tomorrow holds- but today is a good day and I will enjoy it to the fullest....

Live for Today- Worry about Tomorrow when it gets here

Since the beginning of this, I have my good days and I have my bad days. Some say how can ANY day possibly be good? This thought has even come to me on its own. But I stop and look around. I look at my spouse being able to spend time with our children. This was not something that had happened much over the years and I see the sparkle in their eyes. That makes that day a good day. Nothing could replace that.

Several years ago, my husbands father became ill. He required major surgery. The night before the surgery, my husband curled up in my lap and sobbed uncontrollably. This was one of the rare occasions I had seen him cry. The reality of his fathers aging and now illness had hit him like a ton of bricks. When I asked him why he was crying he said "Something could happen to him and I don't even know him." As a child, his father worked day and night at the plant to make sure the family was taken care of and had everything they wanted. As my husband grew, he did what most of us are guilty of- he found himself consumed with the events in his own life and never took the time to enjoy the wisdom and company of his father. As time went on, he continued to be caught up in his own life. His father has since recovered but that was a turning point for our household. It was then we began to realize how precious time is and we need to seize every day to the fullest. We still don't do as well with it as we would like. It takes effort and the will to MAKE the time.

I recently read a book by Mitch Albom entitled Tuesdays With Morrie Some of you may have read it or seen the movie. For those of you who have not here is a quick summary: Morrie Schwartz was a real man who shared his illness and journey to death with the world. Ted Koppel featured Morrie on "Nightline" twice. Morrie was Mitch's teacher and mentor in college. Then "life" happened. Mitch became so consumed in his own quest for the all mighty dollar he lost sight of what mattered. Until one night he saw Morrie with Ted Koppel on the 1st installment. Morrie was dying of ALS (Lou Gehrig's). Mitch decided to reconnect with his old friend before it was too late. Even in dying, Morrie continued to teach Mitch lessons that we should all heed while we are still living. The irony in this story in relation to ours: During the course of the story the writers at the Detroit Free Press went on strike. Instead of sitting around the house, Mitch took this time to experience the moments he was too busy for before. Here is a clip from the beginning of the movie:



I am still working on the blog I promised last night- don't think I have forgotten. That one is just a little more in depth than I originally anticipated

Ladies, we have the "gonads" too......

So in the beginning it was said the Union did not have the "gonads" to go out on strike. Last night the kids and I were surfing through YouTube.com looking at a bunch of videos of different songs we like and I stumbled across this one. Not one you would hear on mainstream radio because of the one word in the title but it is oh so true and made me smile a little bit.

Elizabeth Cook- Sometimes It Takes Balls to be a Woman


Well I need to grab some coffee- will blog more later. Just wanted to start my day with a smile.
Much Love,
~TS1~