Hiya, yeppers, not working right now but life is strange. My employer lost the haul I was working, a long story and I really got unfairly treated by the shipper but I've found a way to have the last laugh.

I am fortunate in that with my experience and skills I can pretty much just go out any day and get another job. The last time I started out the dooor to get a job, the World Trade towers were burning so that did take a little longer to get my present job. Still the prospect of beating the bushes seemed pretty boring so I tried another angle on the whole deal. Today a packet is in the mail headed my way. I'll recieve it and fill out and return the papers and along about December, I'll start receiving my retirement pension checks! The folks that "jobbed" me will still be working to my great satisfaction. You see they don't have the Teamster PEER program..."enhanched early retirement". I'm "established" for sure but only 59.

I was lucky to have this all work out for me. I wasn't to dismayed by the job loss except I really liked the job, it was easy and I really liked my employer and customers. I had a problem with the shipper which left me out the dooor but I won't have to deal with them anymore. I've got some hard-headed women on my side that were going to be great help while I was idle and like brother Todd keeps reminding us, I belong to the greatest club there is. Seriously, it always gives me great comfort when I count the number of chipper friends I have. I know with folks like this behind me, I really do have worth and I must, in fact, be doing something right! So I'm going to be all right until the checks start coming and I'm still packed from Southpoint '09 so see you all next June! Got some chip money and some blackjack money still so what else does a chipper neeed?

I know I'm more fortunate than some of my fellow chippers these days but don't think I'm being flip or gloating, I'm still thinking of you guys and sending positive energy your way. See you later, I'm off to buy my ladyfriend some of those Grey Goose martinis she likes for a celebration!