My friend Christie called yesterday. She was laid off from her company on Thursday. I guess Thursday is The Day when it comes to lay offs. I wonder if there's some published data to show that it's the best day of the week to give employees the boot.

I'll be there is a whole study about it. Psychologically, it doesn't ruin the "festive" mood of a workplace Friday. It's far enough from the drudgery of Monday. And the booted employee has the Friday day to come to grips with the reality of unemployment before the first weekend without a Monday to dread.

The Seattle Times is running a series of articles on the Puget Sound ecomony and how hard it is to find work these days. Reading some of the articles, I feel somewhat lucky that I've had four interviews; some of these people haven't had any. One man was laid of from Boeing last year and the paper has been doing periodic follow-up interviews with him and his family. They sold their house and moved into an apartment.

My unemployment benefits run out in December. Unless there is a reinstatement of a current federal program to extend unemployment benefits in depressed areas, I'll lose what measure of income I bring to the family.

Money is such a status symbol, isnt it. I've always been proud of the fact that I've earned everything I own and that I've rarely been in a position to have severe needs. Wants maybe, but my needs have always (even if barely)_been met. So far, Rob hasn't had to pay any of the bills I normally cover, like the mortgage, homeowner's dues and utilities. When my benefits run out, though, unless I have some sort of job, everything will fall upon him.

It's not something I look forward to. I've been dependant before, when I was a stay-at-home mom while Dave was on active duty. I couldn't get a paying job while the boys were so small, so I did volunteer work instead (they provided free day care while the person volunteered). Every purchase I wanted to make, I had to ask for the money and it was embarassing. Dave didn't ever say no, which retrospectively maybe he should have so our finances wouldn't have gone down the toilet, and I never asked for anything I didn't think necessary. Needing my own income is one reason I started selling Princess House; it fit the bill for me. Lorie asked me whether I'd consider doing it again seeing as I'm unemployed...but I don't think it's right for me at this point in my life. I don't have that charm she does so it really is work for me :)

Oh, well. It's a holiday and people have the day off to enjoy. Tomorrow, you all have to go back to work and I'll be sleeping in, and wishing I had somewhere to go too.