Some Notes About Unemployment

First of all, let me make it clear that I am currently unemployed by choice. I was made redundant at my last job, that part of it certainly not my preference, but I haven't started to look for work yet because I'm selling my house and am not sure when I'll be available to start working. I could get work around here any time I want (I get 4-5 calls a day with job offers), but I plan on getting as far away from frigid New England as possible, and when I say "frigid" I refer to both its winters and its women. So to all the ladies (who aren't emotionally unavailable and / or ice cold), don't take my current status as being "unemployable", rather think of me as currently "financially independent". I'll start working again later, don't you worry, and then I'll have plenty of cash to throw around to prove to you that I'm a viable mate (but make no mistake, my cash gets spent on me from now on, and only me).

That out of the way, here are some things I've learned while unemployed:

1. People with jobs are pretentious. They are always too busy to chat, and get annoyed when you call them to shoot the shit while they are at work. Oh, too busy to return an e-mail are you? Whatever.
2. You think your work day is long? Try spending it at home with nothing much to do, waiting for your friends to get home from work so they'll actually talk to you on the phone.
3. People are more attached to their jobs than they will ever care to admit, and when it comes right down to it will sell their soul to the devil that is their employer rather than stand up for what they believe in. I can say this because standing up for what I believe in was what got me unemployed. Hell, I wasn't even JUST standing up for me, I also represented the guys who worked for me, clearly earning me no admiration from those in whose hands my fate was held. Those guys? Still gainfully employed, working feverishly to help my former employer survive his decision to kick me out onto the street by implementing the redundancy plan for him. See item #4.
4. You learn who your friends really are when you lose your job. People will feel bad for you and hang out with you to get you out of the house even if they'd rather not, but they'll only go so far. Nobody has any principle anymore. Or loyalty, for that matter. The same guys who you stood up for day in and day out, who you lobbied to get raises for, to keep on the payroll even when they outlasted their usefulness - those guys will help your former employer twist the knife in your back rather than have to think about finding other work.
5. The friends that will support you are never the ones you thought they would be.
6. If it wasn't for TiVo and the Discovery channel, there would be NOTHING to watch on TV during the day.

That's all for now. Now if you'll excuse me, Discovery channel is running a special on the marmut that I simply can't miss.