http://www.elsaschafer.com Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:52:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I feel so sorry for this lady. It is not a pretty story. At least not pretty in so far as the details that I have heard from her.   You see, these two women were partners in a thriving, successful business.   The business was doing well.   Then all of the sudden, at least the way I hear the story, this ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/when-business-partners-split-up How do you know when it is you have food poisoning and when it is just the flu?   I ate at a mexican restaurant and people have been saying that they have gotten sick there. I just scoffed at that-- what a bunch of light weights that can't take a spicy jalepeno.   But this was not like that.  My stomach ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/is-this-food-poisoning We are starting to hear at my workplace that there may be layoffs soon.   We thought we were pretty well insulated from the economic downturn, but I guess not.    It is difficult for families.  Many of my friends have adult children who are moving back home, and out of work or looking for work.   Even the adult children in graduate school ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/rumblings-of-discontent I am so sick about this I think I feel like throwing up.   What my cousin told me about her husband.  That he decided he didn't want to mess with her or the kids anymore so he got a newer model, a girlfriend, and he has moved in with her.  What kind of a midlife crisis is this ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/the-rest-of-the-story Well this is really depressing and quite unexpected.   I asent a note to my cousin whom I had not communicated with in some time.  We have kept missing eachother on the phone so I finally wrote a note.   And guess what I hear back?   Not the happy cheerful hi how are you or all the latest about their kids' activities ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/divorce-in-the-family This is really a drag that happened to my friend.  I feel so sorry for her. No sooner had they finished working on their dream home and were about to move in, than thieves broke in and stole all the copper tubing right out from the walls that hadn't been drywalled yet.  Imagine that!   I feel so bad ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/the-price-of-copper I am away for work all week and living out of a suitcase.   This has helped me realize that hotels are the ultimately depressing place.    Nothing to do. Nothing to eat. Nothing to smell except stale air.   I know some people like to get away and be in a new environment, but to me this only reminds me that ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/hotel-rooms-are-dull Some things I find so depressing. Things like politicians.   Just listening to some of our local politicians talk and I am ready to go look for some Advil. They give me such a headache and I find listening to them to be such a downer.   Since commerce is down, they are telling us that tax revenues are down. That means ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/the-ultimate-impetus-to-depression I am getting to be more and more of a survivalist.   By that I mean, that I am focused more and more on planing for the worst and being prepared for it.   For instance, lately when I go to the store I have been buying extra canned goods so that I can start developing a year's worth of larder in case ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/tough-tactics-for-tough-times This blog continues my previous one that I goofed up and froze up. Some days I have a lot to say and some days not.  It is what it is.   Sometimes things look bright and the economy looks like it is about to turn a corner, and other days not.  Sometimes we wonder if there will ever be a recovery ... http://www.elsaschafer.com/howdy-hi