DISPATCHES FROM THE GHOST MOOSE

Halloween - and a very nice day. Not a single trick or treater yet. I hope I get some so I can get rid of the candy I bought. I remember 2 years ago when I was off - on Halloween. Like today, a very nice day. so I was driving to Wal Mart at 3:30 in the afternoon to get more candy, and it occured to me how little I had going on. It had come to that....and, I was off for 5 more months. I started this blog in December of 2008 after weathering too many days like that. and I know if anyone is reading this who is off feels just like that..... so, my transmission crapped out, and I am facing an expensive repair. Since the car has over 100k on it, I am going to look for a new car. I was hoping to get 2 more years out of this one, but I have to face the inevitable. I have put too much money into this one in the last year, and it seems like a money pit with no end...so, I will have to get that taken care of this week.. as always, I know too many people between jobs right now. I try to get their ...

My son finished freshman football season on Thursday - hard to believe a 9 game season is over already. It is 6:14 am, and the sun is a long way from showing up. Fall marches on. Last weekend I played golf at 7:20, and the sun was barely up. Apparently the time change is not until 11/7, so we have 2 weeks before the sun is up earlier, but of course, it will then be dark very early in the evening. Was talking to a friend that has been off work for awhile. He told me his wife had been let go this week. Now they will have to struggle to pay cobra in addition to covering their bills. What a bad situation - really puts a face on how bad things still are. As I've written before, it was 2 years ago that I was off, but it seems like yesterday. Where is the bailout for middle class folks affected by the greed of the banks that caused all this? It doesn't exist - we're supposed to survive on unemployment benefits while Goldman gives the tarp money out to those responsible f...

Playing golf this morning. Supposed to be nice today, then get colder this week. I got up at 5, it is now 6:20 and it is still pitch dark. Earlier in the season, we would be on the 3rd fairway at this time. I remember one of the last rounds last year - waiting on the first tee at 7:25 for the sun to come up. Probably one or two more rounds and call it a season......Hopefully I will shoot in the 80s before I put the clubs away. My son's football team won yesterday. One game left and his season is over. And then on to basketball season. Speaking of which, I think my playing days are officially over. I was running down the court 2 weeks ago and tore my hamstring - just from running. When you hurt yourself doing the simple act of running, it is time to hang them up. so - I will leave in a few minutes - in the dark, and head to the course. Should be a nice day to play. My friend Kevin has gotten much better than I, and we always have a good round. I should be home by the Bea...

I took today off to do some running around, and as I sit here typing, I remember looking out the same window from September through March as I searched the web for the elusive job. I went to WalMart this morning - that was a regular stop for me those days.....but, good to have a job to take a day off from. I still know a lot of folks not so fortunate. Fall marches on. The sun doesn't come up until almost 7 now. The time change will be in a few weeks, then the shortened days. It has been over 2 months since I went to Canada to fish - seems like yesterday. and next years trip will be here in no time. Funny how things change - as I stare out the window I see people that are new to the area, people walking little kids or taking dogs for a walk. Life goes on.

Into October we go. Beautiful fall weather. time to get out the halloween decorations. I remember back to when I was laid off, this is the point that it really started getting maddeningly frustrating. 4 weeks off was too much, and that was just the start of it. I played golf yesterday with a friend that has been off awhile, and it is sad how few interview opportunities exist now. I talked to another friend, and he has all but given up, and considers himself retired - at 52. I saw an article today about a guy that lost his house because he had put the house up as collateral for his 4 kids student loans. and student loans are not cleared in bankruptsy. This while the leech bankers are given billions of our money to give out as bonuses to their employees. Doesn't make any sense, does it? played golf yesterday. the sun didn't come up until 7:15, more than an hour later than in July.....happens every year

Hard to believe that October begins on Friday. I did one of my favorite fall things yesterday - we went to the world's largest corn field maze in Spring Grove. It was a nice cool day and we walked for about 2 hours. We probably didn't walk over 25% of the maze, which is 10 miles. It is an outing that we have been doing for the last 6 years or so. Each year is a different theme. Now that we've done that, all that remains for my fall list is to rake the leaves and seal the driveway. We probably have 6 weeks left to play golf. I remember playing last November for the last time, and getting 10 inches of snow 2 weeks after that last round. I bought new irons this year, and have been playing better, but still cannot get in the 80s. But, it has been an enjoyable season. Lots of early morning rounds. so - the lunch hour is about over. back to work now.

TGIF. Fridays are always good. Although I did play golf yesterday afternoon. It is now officially fall - very hot and sunny while we played, and it turns to dusk on the ride home. We probably have 6 weeks before the clubs get put away. and then the shovels come out. Talked to a friend the other night that had been off when I was, and landed before I did. His job was cut again 2 weeks ago. It never ends. I still know too many people searching. Having a job makes you ignore how bad things still are - but they really are no better than when I was off 18 months ago. With the elections coming, all the political rhteoric is just empty talk. You wonder what it will take to get things moving in the right direction. so, the weekend is almost here. Plenty of work to do outside, and football to watch. October starts next Friday - I can't believe how time flies. D