This morning, I got up at 6 am for my morning hike. I was hoping to get 3 miles in, but the heavy rains didn’t agree. I ended up walking .79 miles before giving in and coming home drenched.  Once I got [...]]]> You make Lemonade. Well I didn’t make lemonade, although it is tempting.

This morning, I got up at 6 am for my morning hike. I was hoping to get 3 miles in, but the heavy rains didn’t agree. I ended up walking .79 miles before giving in and coming home drenched.  Once I got home I got out a book I’ve been meaning to re-read for some time, and I turned on Hulu. (www.hulu.com) I have gotten into watching documentaries in the morning while Jenn and Sammy are still sleeping.

It's not a pink slip. It's a blank page.

This morning I watched a 40 minute documentary titled “Lemonade.” It’s about several different advertising people that were laid off in 2008 when the ad biz almost folded in on itself. It’s a story of where they went, and what they decided to do with the rest of their lives… it’s a great thing for me to see right now, since I am going through the same dilemma at this point in my life.

Many of you know I would love to open my own eyewear shoppe, I would also like to build furniture, or work photography, or teach martial arts, or any number of things I enjoy doing. So many possibilities, that losing my job is far from a tragedy, it’s my greatest opportunity.

If you want to watch this movie online, here’s the direct link: http://www.hulu.com/lemonade?c=Health-and-Wellness

Enjoy.

Good news is, my car is fixed… all back and driving nicely. I had to pay my deductible, but I am supposed to be getting paid back [...]]]> OK, so last week I had a wrecked car, and no idea where we were going to move into on the goal of being back in Bay City soon.

Good news is, my car is fixed… all back and driving nicely. I had to pay my deductible, but I am supposed to be getting paid back that amount from the other guys insurance. And I think we have a house to move into starting May 15th!

Also, and very much a relief to us, my unemployment came through… See I knew karma would catch up and leave us in a position to get going again

First Jenn and I are still searching for a house to move into up in Bay City. But sadly there are more houses for sale than there are for rent… This is proving to be tough.

Then, my unemployment isn’t coming through yet. So far it doesn’t say that [...]]]> So where to start, I really don’t know.

First Jenn and I are still searching for a house to move into up in Bay City. But sadly there are more houses for sale than there are for rent… This is proving to be tough.

Then, my unemployment isn’t coming through yet. So far it doesn’t say that it’s contested or anything like that. I just haven’t received any funds yet. I’m still good on what’s in the bank account, but bills are coming due, and I’m watching my savings dwindle.  We need to get to Bay City, so I can get a new job, and Jenn can work the Salon.

My 401K hasn’t updated for rollover. They need to be notified from my old job that I am no longer employed there. I need to start managing that money so that it works best for us.

And then On Monday, the tip top of it all, I wrecked the Xb. See, I was coming home from trip to the store. I was almost home when this guy in a black BMW ran his stop sign and I couldn’t stop in time. CRUNCH! So my Xb is off at the repair shop. I’m going to have to pay my deductible, and wait to have the other driver’s insurance reimburse me for it. Yes I’ll get the money back, but I need my money as much as I can while I’m unemployed available. So a little stress, plus having to wait a week while the frint end of my car get replaced and whatever else is wrong fixed.

So yeah, life has dished out the lemons. Here’s hoping that we can get this all behind us and recover.

I’m figuring things out right now and hoping to make a living as stress free as possible, unlike the last job.

Fingers crossed, have faith, and believe in the me that will make the future happen.

-Seth

On Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 I [...]]]> So, yeah. Right now some of you out there know, and many of you still don’t yet. This is kinda hard for me to discuss one on one. Overall it’s for the best, and it allows me to drastically rearrange and improve my life and the life of my family.

On Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 I got a call at work from my boss. She said she heard I wasn’t happy. We talked honestly for a little bit about my concerns. I was frustrated because of many things. I did not enjoy the hour drive to work, when there was an available location less than 10 blocks from my home. I also have felt that the recent extra hard push to perform, quoting the book “Sense of Urgency” was causing us as an organization to move into high pressure sales, and limit the options of our customers. I also felt this stress put onto the stores was causing a lot of issues with all locations. I know a few friends who are even taking medication to deal with this stress. I was medicating too, by eating fatty foods, and ignoring my health. My boss then TOLD me that she was excepting my two week notice. Funny thing is I never actually gave her my notice. Then she wanted me to fax her a written page of what we talked about…. ok, odd. Sad thing is I wasn’t thinking straight, I mean I’ve had this job for the past 7 years and I was in shock over losing it. So I faxed a typed copy to her….. but I didn’t sign it. Then Later she told me I had to send it again but this time with my last day on it… still not thinking straight I faxed it… and didn’t sign it. Also odd, she TOLD me my last day would be April 13th. Later that day my Market Manager came by and told me they decided to dismiss me immediately. He watched as I collected my things, clocked out and escorted me out the door.

So, I was let go.

I signed up for unemployment benefits yesterday. My company is notorious for challenging unemployment. I may have a little fight on my hands, but I know what happened, even if they’ll put their slimy HR spin on it. I was told I was quitting, I didn’t actually quit. The good news is that without the hour commute, and the price of gas, I’ll actually be spending way less money and be financially better off than I was when I was making $40k a year.

So now I am addressing my life. I am moving forward with plans to own my own business, many of you already know details on that, and how it’s been a dream of mine for a long time. I am also addressing my health issues, and my weight. For that I added a new blog onto the back of this one. You can check it out at http://www.sethjenn.org/weight/

So that pretty much covers it, I know my cell phone will light up with calls and texts from concerned friends, I am okay. In fact I think I’ll be far better off for this. Sometimes to get what we want out of life we have to take great risks.

Thanks,

-Seth

Sammy a few minutes old

Of course that was after Jenn went into labor at about 10pm the night before. We were so funny [...]]]> Another laps in blogging I’m afraid. Yup. As many of you already know Sammy didn’t see her shadow on groundhog’s day. She came on Sunday February 7th at 6:14 in the morning.

Sammy a few minutes old

Of course that was after Jenn went into labor at about 10pm the night before. We were so funny looking back at ourselves. We were afraid that it might be a false labor and we waited until Jenn couldn’t take it, and just as nervous people do, off to the hospital we went!

Shhh! she's sleeping

I wasn’t a bad labor from my point of view. I’m sure Jenn would disagree, but I was the coach not the pregnant mommy.

But anyway, that was seven weeks ago. This coming Sunday is Easter, and little Samantha Jeane Houston will be 8 weeks old. I’ve already been warned that Jenn’s parents have gone nuts with Easter gifts for Sammy. Heh.

So I’ve batched in some pics of our beautiful daughter

Enjoy, Seth