Good Thing I'm Unemployed...

It's been a while since my last entry. I had planned a trip to Florida to visit friends and family after my departure from work. My mother was recently admitted to an alzheimers facility. My step-father has been battling with lung cancer in both lungs. Although currently in remission, his health is fragile for other reasons, and his guilt is overwhelming for agreeing to let go of my mother's care. Then there's my father, who needs arthroscopic surgery in both knees, but his excessive weight denies him the procedure, so he is barely ambulatory. Illnesses aside, it was great to see them all. It was also a huge distraction, as my mind was occupied with thoughts other than my recent unemployment.

That being said, however, while in Florida, my sister and I did embark on a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas. She and I are trying to develop a new product to introduce to the market place. It's a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself. I mean, I would buy it. What other proof do I need? My sister suggested that I look up Donny Deutsch, who is supposedly a marketing guru, to help us in our efforts. According to some of the recent Internet search results I found, Donny is not necessarily the next "Mahatma Gandhi" of marketing, but it's a place to start.

I have an opportunity to work with an outplacement service for the next 6 months. I hope to meet with them for the first time next week. During my initial phone interview yesterday, I was asked what I wanted to do. The answers fall somewhere between everything and nothing:

I'd like to continue my position as a technical writer because of the salary associated with the position and because communication skills are part of my genes, but is it a passion? The answer is no.

I would love to be a published author, but it could takes years to achieve such a goal and what do I live on in the meantime?

I would love to open an animal shelter, but where does the money come from to begin such an endeavor?

So much to do...so little money. But it's the beginning of my journey and far too soon for me to become pessimistic. For now, my glass is half full.