FatherJohn where are you??????

We miss you fatherjohn! I hope you & your family had a wonderful Christmas!

hugs,
Skeye

Greetings all. I am still around. As some know, the job has been stressful for some time and I was beginning to look elsewhere. Long story, I have put the job search on hold for family reasons but the stress of the job has increased. I end up fighting depression but can't allow it to show. It has been taking a toll on me. My wife finally had two days off and she asked me to leave town with her for a break. We are on the coast in Oregon for a short rest. I have another meeting set up with corporate the fist week of January which hopefully will end the pressure one way or the other. Of course the pain increases with the stress and each day is a new start hoping for relief. Blessings to all and I will drop in later.

Hey Fatherjohn! Good of you to check in with us! We always have a concern for members that have not checked in for a while. Trust me, you have a rather larger following here, and your absence is noted. I hope things go well for you, and for that fact all of us here this next year. I think 2009 has been a rough one for many of the members, and one I would not like to see repeated any time soon. Take care my friend!

Michael

Susie, Thanks for starting this thread. I did feel isolated and that goes with the depression. I did have a job opportunity but did not feel it was the right decision. Then, after talking things over with the family, my wife wanted to wait to look any further. Our son became engaged at the end of November, he picked my birthday, what was he thinking. My wife did not want to be seperated from him and his bride to be so we wait. As far as work, I believe they are trying to put the pressure on for me to quit so they don't have to pay unemployment. Since there is less than two weeks to the big meeting, I am going to try and take as much time off and wait to see what they do.

Christmas was low key but it was good to have our kids together. Our son called from Iraq and we played pass the phone around. I will try a little better to keep connected. Thanks Michael, Patti, Char and Skeye for the encouragement.

Some days my brain works some days it don't, lol. I always try to keep a mental note of missing peeps here at the forum and then I forget till it resurfaces again. I use to have one of the very best memories around. At work we relied alot on what I could remember on cases and clients. Compared to then and now I am brain dead. Sometimes I do get a little aggravated because I can't remember things well. My daughter hits me with, mom, thats old news don't you remember me telling you that.

Yes, I do remember your son getting engaged in November. Is this the son in Iraq? Seems his girl had a miscarriage if I remember correctly. Hope all is well there.

Yes, depression does seem to make us want to crawl in a hole doesn't it. Well, when the idiots have their meeting In Jan whatever you do-don't quit as they would like for you to do. I am sure you are right they really don't want to see you on unemployment-but do the idiots not know that is why they pay for it. People never fail to amaze me at times. I am thinking it will get really nasty and I hope you are up for the battle, if nothing else sort of mentally prepare yourself for it. But, I just believe with all my heart there is work out there for you that will be every bit as meaningful as what you are doing now, only difference is you will work like a normal person would, not some super charged die hard. Lordy, how you have managed to pull it off thus far is just beyond me. But, all those years of work like you have will catch up with you eventually and none of them wil be around to help pick up the pieces. Just not worth it. Your family and you are worth much more than any job could possibly ever be, let them be first for a change. It will be a hard habit to change no doubt, but well worth it. You have a let the job become a personal thing, don't do that please on your new job. Stop & smell the coffee or flowers, which ever you like the best, lol. Glad you are resting. Keep us posted please.

Thanks PAlady for the post. There is not much that can be done at this point. I am just waiting but in the mean time, I am on a working vacation. That means that I am on vacation but since there is no one else to take the urgent and emergency calls I still handle them. Since I fired my wife (just jpoking) I have had to go in and handle finances especially as we reach the end of the year. All deposits have to be made in accord with tax exempt laws and tax laws. Did I mention that we have increased our student population by over 30 percent. That means more students to get settled.

My wife looked at me as we drove back from the coast today and she said for the first time since she could remember, I looked rested. I am going to still try and take as much of the rest of this week off as possible. If I am still working after next week it will be with new terms. I will reduce my hours and someone else will have to be on call during my days off. For the first time in 6 years I will not be teaching a single class. I am planning on going into the meeting with a few items of my own that will need to be discussed.

Take care and we will keep updating. Thanks

Hey FJ,
I'm soooo glad to here you are finally rested up some what, Please take care of yourself and don't let them bully you (I'm sure you wont!) in the upcoming meeting. I hope everything works out to your favor like you want, you deserve it old boy!!!
Much love & man Hugs!!!
Your Old Buddy,
Pete
PS> did you get the Christmas video's I sent you?