DISPATCHES FROM THE GHOST MOOSE

Just got back from vacation. The family and I went to Scottsdale, AZ for a week. Air travel is as bad as ever - packed, cramped planes. We had to pay $75 each way to check 3 suitcases. What a ripoff. But, we had a great time. We have probably been to Arizona 30 or 40 times, but never made it to the Grand Canyon before this trip. What an impressive sight - the pictures do not do it justice. We also did a lot around the Scottsdale area, and it is startling how the economy there has tanked like it has here in Chicago. Restaurants are half full, open houses at so many condos, empty houses. No area is immune, I guess. I still hope to retire out there some day. But then again, who knows when we will be able to call it a career. Back to work tomorrow. I checked email remotely and responded or forwarded a few issues. I have a really great team who made it clear that things were under control, and please stay off email while on vacation. That is the kind of team that I look forwa...

Watching the Blackhawks game and waiting to leave for my son's playoff basketball game. I have been the asst coach this year - with him moving to high school next year, this is the end of bball coaching for me. I've coached each winter since 1st grade and it's always been a good use of time and has made the winter pass by a bit quicker. I was outside before and saw the tulips and daffodils are a few inches tall now. Hopefully they won't get buried by a late snowstorm like they did last year. I had a nice surprise at work last week. I was promoted from manager to director. I have now been at this company for a year, and have been able to implement a lot of measurable changes. I have been allowed to do the things that I thought needed to be done/changed, and it has been fun. Having a job I enjoy is something that is so refreshing....so rare. Even if this promotion did not happen, I'd feel the same way. A company that actually tries to be a place where talen...

Same old song - I hear from more colleagues that have been downsized than have gone back to work. I was in the dentist office on Saturday and read an article in Rolling Stone by Matt Taibbi about the financal meltdown and the role that the bankers played in it....I urge you to read the articles, as they really show this whole situation has been caused by the rich wanting to stay rich and in the process stealing from the middle class....I saw an article in the Daily Herald that the luxury car market has not suffered at all in this recession....OF COURSE NOT....BECAUSE THIS RECESSION IS BEING PAID FOR ON THE BACKS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS..... Now I see some logic in all those on line rantings that we smirk at...but there is some truth to them. Do a web search on Matt Taibbi and read his articles, or check out www.smirkingchimp.com This whole crappy situation and the impact on folks like us makes a lot more sense when you look at it from the standpoint from those who get bonuses that are ab...