Why send Christmas cards?

They start coming the week of Thanksgiving. Cards arriving from people we see everyday and some we haven't seen in years.  The competition begins.  Who gets a card and who doesn't.  Especially if we want to stay on their list.  

As November moves into December, the days pass and the list gets longer.  You haven't started your list, picked out a photo or started writing the Christmas news letter.   You start to panic.  Along with Christmas shopping, decorating, school, work and church Christmas parties  you think, when am I going to have time to write Christmas cards?  Some how most of us manage to get them done although some delay long enough to make it a "NewYear's" Card.  It is usually either automated by printing address labels and simply signing the card or having your kids get in on the act.

As crunch time gets closer, there is "the decision".  Do you have to send a card to someone you don't really know/ like/remember and if so do you have to personalize it or can you just sign it and send it.   This is a bigger and bigger decision every year.  After all we are all busier than ever and of course jt costs almost 50 cents to mail the darn thing. Is this person really worth it? 

The other questions is do you really have to send a card to someone you see every day/week?  They know what is going on in your life. They were sitting next to you at the band concert/football game/PTA meeting.  you are unlikely to tell them anything they didn't already know. So why waste a stamp on them just because they were crazy enough to mail something when they live three blocks away? Will you lose face if you don't reciprocate when they send you a card?  Will you feel like you have to make an excuse like you are boycotting the mail service for raising the price of stamps so you aren't sending cards on principle?

Here is where the Grinch's heart grows three sizes one day.  Step back and think what a difference taking the time to hand write a note to that person you don't really know or care about?  Maybe they have been laid off or lost a loved one and maybe you don't even know about it. If you do know that they have had a hard year, what would a word of encouragement do for their spirits? What would it do for yours knowing you made a difference?  After all if you are going to spend 44 cents to mail the card you may as well get your money's worth.

Will I hand write all my cards this year?  Probably not, especially if I want the recipient to be able to read it. Any of you who have gotten cards from me before know what I mean. What I will do is make sure the person I am sending it to knows that I was thinking about them for the few minutes that I scribble a few thoughts to them that someone, somewhere cares for them.

If you don't get a card from me either one of two things happened. Either we keep in touch enough that you don't need to know what I am doing or what I am up to or post man couldn't read my writing.

No Job Joy #64 Christmas shopping

I admit that spending money while you are unemployed is something you should take very seriously but at Christmas there still has to be something under the tree.  So with my very brief list I headed out.

As I arrived at my designated stores,  I realized that one bonus of not having a job is that you can go shopping while everyone else is working. No sneaking a trip to the Mall between conference calls or getting up early on Saturday to beat the mobs.  Instead, the unemployed are greeted by happy  clerks who are at the start of their shifts and are still happy to be there.

So for the unemployed while we may not have as much money to spend, we can at least take joy in getting a decent parking spot, avoiding long check out lines, and smiling clerks who haven't been working since 3 AM. While our employed friends are exhausting themselves at the mall, we can be at home watching "Its a wonderful Life" with our family. Although depending how long you have been looking you might be wanting to spend some time away from your family. 

Today's No Job Joy is for empty parking lots and happy store clerks.

What your Christmas card says to your friends

In the spirit of Christmas I am going to do some posts on the time honored traditions of Christmas.  Today I will start with Christmas cards.

We all get them. Love some, hate others.  As you start making your list and writing out your Christmas Cards think about your card says about you.

Vacation Photo Card
This is the I took a cooler vacation than you card.

Close friends read:  That's nice. They went some where nice.  I really have to get on my spouse to get us somewhere nice next year so we can have a cool photo. Also I need to get matching outfits so we look nice.
Acquaintances read: Anything from "you show offs" to "that's nothing,  wait till you see where I went this year".
Unemployed friends read: Sucks to be me.
Do gooder friends read:  Just think what good you could have done with the money you spent or You just doubled your carbon footprint with the airplane flight.

The Generic Christmas card with just a signature
This is the "I'm busier than you so I can't write anything" card.  That or the "I had a really crappy year and didn't want to bring every one down"card.

Close Friends read : You must be really busy not to write something more personal to ME.
Acquaintences read:  I'd better send them one or else I'm off the list next year.

The year in review letter
The card of choice for the creative type.  Typically sent by empty nesters, busy bodies or Moms who have kids who are in music sports, drama, drill team so I have to tell the world that I am in carpools so much I have time write this letter while I am waiting in line to pick them up.

Close friends read: We all know your kids are wonderful. Why did you waste the stamp, I knew all this because I was sitting in the carpool line behind you at all these events.
Acquaintances read: Wow my life must really suck if I can't think up enough stuff to fill a page and send people I barely know.  That or my friends have way too much time on their hands.
Single Friends read:  Having kids can't be that hard. They still had time to get out this silly letter.

So before you start writing your cards this year. Think of your audience.

Merry Christmas

Gilligan's Campout

This weekend my oldest son had a scout camp out. To commemorate the trip I thought I would channel some Gilligan's Island.  My apologies in advance to the original lyrics.

Just sit right back and you hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from a parking lot,
with boys and men and kit.

The scout master was a mighty scouting man,
The quartermaster brave and sure.
Twenty boys went to camp that day,
for a weekend of fun,  a weekend of fun.

The weather started out quite rough,
the troop they bundled up.
If not for the leaders of the fearless troop,
the troop would be lost, the troop would be lost.

They came to camp to learn some skills to get them through the wild,
Like campfire building,
and lashings too.
Orienteering and cooking food.
They ate some cobbler with their Dads,
and spent time in the woods.

So this is the tale of the first year trip,
They stared with a five mile hike,
then  learned some knots and how to lash.
And how to read a map.

They learned,
they grew
and played some ball
despite the wind and cold
you'd never know that it froze, except we got a bead

They made the dinner and pitched their tents
with out the help of Dads.
They even did a skit or two,
and gave us all a laugh.

So next time they go camping,
we know they're sure to smile
with all the skills they learned in camp
they can do it them selves.

Thanks to our first year leader and all the other adults who made Troop 890's first year camp out a success and learning experience for all the boys.

How being Unemployed is like having a disease part 4

Being sick is never fun and one of the ardest things to do is have patience. When you are sick you want to lie around for a while hoping you feel better.  As time passes you get tired of feeling sick and laying around watching TV. 

Looking for a job can be the same way.  You may need to take some time off to get over the idea of having to look for a job.  Eventually you decide it is time to get out there and get your next job. Here is where things get interesting.  When you are sick and you get up too early you are worthless to yourself and those around you.  When you start looking for a job too soon, your attitude may not be "well" or you may not have decided on the right "cure" for joblessness. In this case you can make things worse because you can "infect" others with your sick attitude or you can relapse by getting a job that is a bad fit in which case you be "sick" again soon. 

I am not saying wait around until everything is perfect. What I mean is that you have to have your attitude and your goals set before you start looking or you will waste time looking at things that are not good for you or you will turn off good contacts with a bad attitude that could have been the help you needed.

So the doctor's orders are to get your attitude in a positive place and know what you want from your next job so that you can get it.

Top 10 things I am thankful for this year

Since I didn't post on Thanksgiving I will give you my post holiday view of things that make my life wonderful David Letterman style. Sorry this is going to be a long one. I hope you have a long list as well.

10. A healthy family - This year I know of many friends who have been through tough illnesses or the loss of loved ones.

9. People watching - Not only can it be entertaining and put your life back in perspective but it is free.  Especially entertaining at a Renaissance Fair.

8. My Mother in laws pecan pie -  While she didn't actually make it herself this year, the fact that I am the only one who really likes it and every year she makes sure there is pecan pie at Thanksgiving is something I am thankful for.  Bonus - the pie was home made as part of a fundraiser so at least the profit went to a good cause.

7. Not having to go shopping on Black Friday -  I got to sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast and spend the day with my family.  No digging through messed up displays, waiting in long lines, standing outside a store while it is still dark for something I can pay 5%  more for with out battling other sleep deprived crazy people.

6. Texas weather - Even though I grew up knowing the brisk chill of late November and seeing the empty corn fields of Iowa I still like Thanksgiving in Texas.  The first time I had Thanksgiving with my wife's family and cutting the Christmas tree in shorts, fighting off mosquitoes seemed a little strange. Growing up we had to dig the snow away from the trunk of the tree to be able to get the saw where we could cut it. I got over it when I didn't have to put up Christmas lights with out gloves and heavy boots.

5. Football - This time of year college football is really getting exciting.  The conference championship games, the rivalies ( Go Mizzou beat KU!) and the annual BCS debate. It is also important to me in that it brings back memories of working out side in the fall cutting firewood with the Iowa or Iowa State football games on the tractor radio and wondering where my little brother was hiding so he wouldn't have to do as much work. We usually found him in the house drinking hot chocolate and reading, especially if it was cold.  (Sorry Andy I just had to go there.)

4. Bicycles - Not only do they help keep me in shape so I can enjoy my favorite brew from Shiner,TX,  they also give me something to share with my kids.  We get to go on rides together, watch the Tour de France, and share a classic sense of freedom.

3. Good tools - While I typically don't have as much time to use them as I would like, my tools help me maintain the house, fix kids toys and make new things.  Having good tools makes the job get done faster and easier. Fixing and building new things helps me stay in touch with that side of men that enjoy knowing we can make things.  Too many of us just generate reports, or manage people who do and forget the spiritual satisfaction of taking raw materials, investing time and creativity to create something that doesn't evaporate when we turn off our computer.

2. The Internet - Yes, kind of a big generic thing to be thankful for but it has helped me this year with a lot of specific things. Facebook has helped me connect with family across the country and keep up to date on people down the street.  LinkedIn helps me as I stay connected with my work network and make getting a job easier for a lot of people. Blogger for giving me a place to express my self and Twitter to have a new gadget to play with and keep us informed on breaking news like Michael Jackson's death and what color underwear Ashton Kusher is wearing today.

1. Not having a job - Yes that is a bit over the top even for this blog but the truth is not having a job has given me a lot of things to be thankful for. De-compressing from the rat race,  spending time with my kids and wife, meeting new people, getting things done around the house that I wouldn't have done if I were working, learning new things and all the other No Job Joys that I have written about.

No Job Joy #63 Camping in the rain update

As you may have read in my last post I was headed for a wet camping experience so I wanted to update you on our adventure.  A job search is very similar to camping in the rain.  Your attitude can make or break your search and interviews. Try new things you might surprise yourself.  Finally while being unemployed is not a great place to be, it is worse in your mind than reality.

While it was raining as the boys hiked in and the adults set up, the rain did end before lights out.  Unfortunately we did get another shower around 2AM.  We woke up to wet grass and some soggy trails.  Regardless the boys and the adults went about the activities of the day with enthusiasm. After lunch the sun even came out to help dry things out. 

A few things to take from this experience.  First is that attitude is everything.  As we were driving up none of the boys cared that they would be hiking and setting up tents in the dark and in the rain.The boys could have been complaining about getting wet.  When they came into camp they were laughing and joking. When you are interviewing the same thing applies.  You can't worry about how long the search may be or what if I don't have enough experience. Your attitude will carry the day.

Second you may be surprised what you can accomplish if you try.  Setting up in the dark can be hard add rain and things can get challenging because you want to hurry to keep things dry. Despite the challenge, all the boys were dry and happy on Saturday showing they could get the job done.  Working a job search will have many challenges and give you plenty of chances to give up. If you do you will be wet longer.  If you try your best odds are you will get dry faster.

Finally things are never as bad as you think they might be. As you might have gathered from my last post I felt there was a good chance we would be wet and cold on Saturday morning. Even though it rained during the night, things dried out and everyone had a great day.  Despite all my concerns about getting wet and cold, proper planning and execution kept us warm and dry.   In your job search  you may go through some rough times but if you have done your preparation and have a good attitude things will likely be worse in your mind than they are in reality.

Today's No Job Joy is for camping in the rain and staying dry.