Black Friday

The Black Friday papers this year, a regular Thursday paper, weigh over 4 pounds. Black Friday sales are actually beginning Thanksgiving Day, so desperate are the retailers.

There are 79 inserts in the Thursday paper this week.

The routes I was driving normally have about 200 Dailies and about 700 Sundays on two weekend days.  Had I stayed with this job, tonight I would have been picking up 1,600 papers, at FOUR and a quarter pounds each, for the same rate (like I was supposed to be grateful) as ONE day of the Sunday papers.

Over 6,500 pounds of paper.  3 and a quarter tons.  60 bucks.

Four times as much work for the same amount – half the weekend pay for the Sundays, $60.00.  Minus deductions, of course.

***

The best part of it all:  I don’t have to touch a single fucking one of ’em.

***

My Unemployment was denied this week; they want to know why I was working for much less than minimum wage.

I wonder if "because I was stupid" is a good answer to that question.

The Food Stamps that I applied for have a zero balance on the debit card they gave me.  Supposedly, they are waiting on my former boss, because I was paid by personal check – no pay stubs to show them – and I couldn’t prove what income I had.

I have less than 100 cash.  There’s 66 in the checking account, and less than 200 left on the Visa card.

The day I got fired last week, I made the car payment; I have it for another month.  I paid the minimum due on the Visa card, and I haven’t used it up, yet.

I should be freaking out.  I should be sweating the details of The End, cuz it looks BAD.

Not yet.

Tomorow’s Thanksgiving, and for the second time in 35 years, I have some family to spend it with.

My parents died when I was 15.

(yeah, I was married for 12 of those 35 years. but my wife was Japanese, and it’s no special day for them.  She tried once or twice, but it was easier to just go out and eat, so I’m sort of being histronic not counting TG with her, but, really, it was 34 years between times I laid eyes on the cousin who I am eating with tomorrow, and joining him and his wife at her parents house for Thanksgiving lets me put off contemplating diaster for another day)

***

I am thankful that I am healthy.  I am thankful that my cat is healthy – he’s almost 11 and has diabetes and needs 2 shots a day, but he’s ok.  I am thankful because I will "own" my beloved Caliber for another month.  I am thankful that I live in Public Housing, that it is warm and not expensive (it’s less than 20 degrees right now outside, and I’M NOT OUT THERE)

***

Thing will work out – they usually do.

I hope all my readers have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving Day.

*****