The end of the first week

You never see the one that gets you

On August 29, 2012 (about a week ago) I suddenly, unexpectedly lost my job as Manager of Communications and Social Media at Columbus State University (Columbus, Georgia). Totally didn't see that one coming.

The latest round of state-funded budget cuts by the State of Georgia took another $1.7 million from our already ailing institutional budget. We had heard positions would be cut, but were under the impression they would be vacant positions. As it turns out several vacant and currently filled positions were cut, mine among them.

What to do?

I returned to work the next morning to close hand-off my projects, let my boss know what issues to watch for in the coming days (I had several university-wide projects in the works), dump the files that only I cared about, back up my computer files, and get my one little box of personal items from my desk. A long time ago, I decided that I would never have more personal items in or on my desk than would fit in a Hammermill paper box.

Being that I was in Columbus solely for the job and really didn't have much of a support network there, I decided to come back home to Louisville, Kentucky for a while. I booked a one-way ticket from Atlanta to Louisville for the evening of August 30 and headed out. After a full-body x-ray and a lower-body pat down, I made it to the Southwest Airlines gate to board my flight. Thankfully, we were a full 20 minutes early arriving in Louisville. I emerged from the airport to ponder my situation.

My eventually-to-be-ex picked me up, we had dinner, and I returned to what used to be my home where she still resides. I am grateful to have this safe harbor to tie up in right now.

I'm not sure what it says about me that I felt the need for support right now. I am generally a pretty independent person. I just didn't think I could hand this on my own in the first few days.

Comes the weekend.

On Friday, I spent the day searching for jobs online. Thankfully, I am actually finding positions available for which I am qualified and that are appropriate for someone with more than 20 years experience in marketing communication. I noted all the jobs I found during my brief search and we set off for an afternoon of "let's get Jeff's mind off all this madness."

Saturday, the eventually-to-be-ex had plans with a friend for the day. I am glad to see her going out and doing stuff. It makes my heart glad. I decided to spend Saturday and part of Sunday at one of my best friend's place. Surprisingly, we set off to Lexington, Kentucky where he was set on buying a car to replace his car that had seen its better days. It was another instances, though accidental, of getting my mind off the employment situation and helping a friend who was pretty much nailed to the floor over purchasing this vehicle.

Job Apps and Jazz

Sunday morning, I arose early to pull out the trusty iPad and continue my search. The bestie got up about an hour later to ready himself to go to church. As we chatted, he pulled out his iPad and started streaming WBGO Jazz 88.3 from Newark, New Jersey. He left, letting the music play on, while I sat at his dining room table and started working on job applications. Job applications and jazz. It has become my morning routine now.

Scared to death.

I'll be honest. I am scared to no end about what comes next. My income runs out at the end of September. At that point, if I am careful, I'll have about two months of living expenses left. As closely as I can determine, I'll get a whopping $330 per week (more like $200 per week after taxes) from the State of Georgia's unemployment insurance program. That will last, if I'm lucky for 20 weeks, which will take me after the first of the year. Unless Congress acts before the end of December, there are no extensions available.

My apartment costs me $955/month. God only knows how much COBRA insurance will cost, although I am fortunate in that being still married to the eventually-to-be-ex, I can workout something to go on her insurance, which may be a little less money.

Clearly I will have to move out of my apartment. I will lose my independence and depend on the kindness of others to survive. That is unless I am able to find a job.

The job market is tight, but at least there are openings out there. I'm resigned to the fact that there is better than a 50-50 chance I will have to accept a cut in pay. Thankfully I am, thus far, debt-free. I'm mobile and swift, which may give me an edge in the job market.

But, I'm scared. 

I believe in days ahead.

My favorite band, the Scissor Sisters, had a song on their first big album called "Mary." In the lryics of the song was the line, "I believe in days ahead." I have used that as my mantra now for years. I believe in days ahead. Despite being scared, I really do believe.


The eventually-to-be-ex has a job she loves making medical equipment. She's no stranger to my situation. She lost her job of more than two decades a few years ago. If she can recover from that sort of job loss and find something totally suited to her, then I know there must be hope for me.

She gets up at the ungodly hour of 4 a.m. to get ready for work and is out the door each morning by 5:15. She works a ten-hour shift. I don't see how she does it, but she does and she loves it.

I get up and make a cup of coffee and sit down at the kitchen table with her notebook computer and my iPad. On comes the jazz, in goes the coffee, and away go my fingers on the key board as I search and apply for jobs. Job apps and jazz.

I've done this for at least four hours every morning since I've been here. After which, I try to do something active such as run or do yard work (I have the need to do stuff around the house because I feel like a mooch being here and feel like I want to repay my keep).

The now.

So, that's the now for the present. I've not made my return reservations to Georgia. I'm hoping a miracle will happen. Given the chances of that happening, I'll probably look at returning next week sometime to start selling off some of my furniture and getting the apartment in move-away readiness. My lease expires at the end of December. If I break the lease early, I will owe another month's rent as a penalty. Being this close to the end of the lease, I may try to hang on until it expires. But only time will tell if I will be able to do that.

Stay tuned and let's hope for better news ahead.