Sad News For Me This Halloween

Actually, it is both sad and unfortunately not the best news I have ever shared. At the beginning of October I mentioned I was going to be getting my work done to do up my haunted house I do every year for the past ten years without fail. This year it will be quite somber and quiet around here because there will be no grand display of Halloween, I will be stuck living in shadows this year, in all regards, my personal Halloween has been canceled. Why? Its simple economics really, I don’t have the extra money to spend on the extra electricity this year, as in the past the bill after Halloween usually had an increase of around $300. Therefore, based on the current budget restrictions we have as a household, my wife and I, but mostly me, decided to forego the expenses this year. My son recommended we put up donation boxes but I refuse, the haunted house and haunted forest walk have always been free to anyone wanting to have the shit scared out of them. That won’t change. Yes I’m very sad, but I think next year I will be able to have my fun. But right now, just paying bills and doing the grocery shopping all but wipes us out each month. Do not despair and do not weep for me, I had the great fortune of finding meaningful employment, well actually, I was found. In many ways I’m thankful I write on this blog because that is how, in a round about way, I was found. But, that and the job are another tale for another day. Look at it this way, for Halloween this year I get to go roam the neighborhood, and when its over I don’t have much of anything to clean up. It will be a considerable change, but hell people, it will be all good by this time next year. I will continue to post in the Halloween spirit as we count down the days to the greatest day I know, Halloween.

Let’s Talk About Some Dumb Luck

Okay, so I have been job hunting, looking for something to actually utilize what I know this time. Yesterday I go to an interview for a job, salary unknown, with a company which actually took an interest in my full resume. Little did I know that when I arrived the interview word get seriously sidetracked to say the least. Instead of discussing the job I actually applied for I was asked many questions about my, now expired, class A CDL. Then, I was told that I would be offered $30.00 an hour along with as many hours of overtime allowed by law at time and a half I could handle. Here’s the kicker, the potential employer wishes to pay everything associated with getting my CDL active. Really? Yes really, and yes I have a written offer explaining the offer.

What’s the catch? Why did I let it expire a year or so ago? Federal laws changed, making it impossible for an insulin dependent diabetic to hold an interstate CDL of any class. Well, at the time I didn’t have a use for it, so I didn’t attempt switching to a non-insulin injectable product. Come to find out, I can renew it, but here’s the catch, it has to have a rrestriction added to it, changing it to an intrastate CDL, meaning it is only good in the state it is issued and cannot be used to go state to state legally. After discussing this with the potential employer today I was pleased to be informed that the restrictions will not change the terms of the offer. Bonus!

So y’all are probably wondering if I accepted the offer yet. That answer is no, I asked to have until Monday to give him my decision. Why? I need to think about it, I need to talk more with my wife, and I don’t want to commit to something on the spot because there are things to consider. Like? The company does not offer benefits of any sort, no medical, dental, vision, 401k, and so forth. Not a particular problem for me, because I’m covered through the VA, but my wife has the very expensive burden of providing coverage for our family, dental and vision only for me,  since I was laid off. As you can see, there are things to consider first. A plus is the money, do the math, that’s grossing over $60k annually plus the overtime. As well, I will be home every night. We just need to figure out if the money outweighs the benefits shortcomings. I guess I will let y’all know in Monday or so.