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       Stardate: 20210922.16h24
       Location: SBUX
       Input Device: Fujitsu P1610 UMPC
       Audio: Bad SBUX tunage
       Visual: SBUX table with UMPC next to trenta iced coffee with view of
               the mountains in the background.
       Emotional: Mild headache, meh
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       I figured that I should write today since I have turned another 
       birth year.  I should have died 30 years ago, but that did not
       happen and I guess I have more work to do in this existence.
       
       I am not too fond of birthdays and they weren't a big thing growing 
       up.  My wife and my kids don't understand that, but that is ok.  
       When I do celebrate, it is for their sake not really mine.  It is
       just another point of time in my timeline.
       
       A year ago this month, the 16th to be exact, I lost my job of 17 
       years.  I have had the luxury of being able to live off of my "shit 
       hits the fan" fund as well as the generous severance package from my 
       former employer.  Well, the funds are finite and it feels like about 
       time to switch gears.  If you do not have a "shit hits the fan" fund, 
       I highly recommended starting one, even if you can only afford to
       contribute a few bucks a week.  It is good to at least start
       something.  I know that I will be starting mine up again once I am
       gainfully employed.
       
       During this time of not working, I have been able to do so many 
       things that I was not able to do when I was employed.  Stuff like 
       volunteer work and helping others, especially during these crazy
       pandemic times.  I have been able to provide my tech skills for free
       to help out a local recovery center with their technological 
       challenges.  I have also been able to provide support and guidance to
       the people that go to this center.
       
       More importantly, I have made myself more available to my family and
       friends.  Last October, I was able to help out my folks back in
       Cleveland.  They are elderly and have not been able to properly 
       maintain their house.  I was able to spend time with them and also
       reconnect with old friends.   
       
       My family at home has seen quite a bit of me and I have been able 
       spend much more quality time with them than in previous days.  The
       lockdown stuff kinda helped this along as well.  We have family
       meals together every evening and sometimes cook together.  Our 
       mealtime discussions last much longer and each of us is more engaged
       in the conversations.  Previously, there was always a rush to just
       finish our meals and get on with whatever evening activities that 
       preoccupied our minds during the meals.  The kids are getting older
       and will soon be out of the house.  My eldest will be starting
       college next year with my youngest following shortly after.  I am
       fortunate to have had these times to spend with them.
       
       I guess why I am writing about this is just to reflect and be
       grateful for how my unemploymency has unfolded.  I could not have 
       even fathomed how this past year would have played out without 
       having a job or could I have even seen the opportunities that have 
       been given to me during this period of downtime.  Funny thing is 
       that I did not really have any worries and just trusted that 
       everything would be ok.  Even though I have not yet secured a job, 
       I still feel like everything will be ok and work out the way that it 
       should.  It is a great day to be alive!
       
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