Something in the air?

If you follow me on Twitter at all you know that I was laid off this weekend. Which in and of itself is weird because I don't work on weekends. Or haven't in awhile. But there it is.

The third party that I had been temping with for the last almost 3 years let a bunch of us go in a last minute decision to cut costs, right when work was actually starting to get busy again. I'd blame the bank, but it's the third party that made the decision and..well...more on them another time.

They were good enough to offer 2 weeks of severance which in the Temp World is pretty much unheard of, so it took the edge of. It helps that my agency at least appeared to be on top of finding me work from moment one.
However, things seem to suddenly be at a standstill after a lot of language about getting things moving. Last week, before the layoff, I had called about possibly moving over to a legal firm where A-the money is a little better, and B-generally different (better) working conditions. I was told that right now they are only really hiring people who have been in it for awhile. Now we are all being encouraged to submit for it. So which is it, they are hiring or not hiring?

Then there was the rush to get me into a 4 hour training to prep for a test for another bank because that bank is apparently in a big hurry to hire. We get the training...time passes and there is absolutely no information on when this actual test is supposed to happen. 

Now the direct deposit for this week failed and the day after it still seems to be failing. So I'm operating with 9 dollars in the bank and a pending child support check to my ex wife that will bounce.

Is the Universe trying to tell me something about continuing as a temp? At least with this agency?

Recovery? Seriously?

The news is blaring about how the Recession is over.

Well, this is technically true. A Recession is marked by 3 quarters in a row of negative growth. As we have just had a quarter of growth, the recession is over.....
For now.

I'm not an economist and despite my admiration for a few of them I don't have a whole lot of respect for the study anyway. It's all theory, sometimes you can base a theory on history, but its still theory.

We base our perspective on our economy in this country on Gross Domestic Product or GDP, this is a number that comes out of analyzing the value of goods produced and consumer spending. This is taken from a bunch of numbers that are amassed and run through mathematical formulas on some genius' spreadsheet.

Liars like Maria Bartiromo go on about how what's good for Wall Street is what's good for Main Street. But we know this woman has no knowledge of history and is also married to one very rich honcho. Out of touch much, bitch? And Jim Cramer goes on and on and on about absolutely nothing. Gets everything wrong on every count and somehow we still ask him how we are doing...Like he fucking knows his ass from his checkbook.

But to my mind, there is only one true measuring stick to how well the economy of a nation is going. A simple two part question.

Does everyone who wants/needs a job have one and are they earning enough to thrive?

By thrive I mean, 3 meals a day, a decent roof over your head and the ability to save for an improved future for you and your family.

A simple question with a simple answer. Yes or No.

The answer is still a resounding NO.