Oh I know things could get worse.. I mean.. at least I have my health (well kindof).
I've been spending 6-8 hours a day since I lost my job looking for employment.. I've applied many many places (including verizon).. no one wants me. Heck I haven't even heard from warehouse jobs I've applied for. Problem is it was really really nasty when I got fired. I called in sick my first time in the 9 months I worked there. Boss called me in his office and literally told me he'd beat the out of me if I did it again.
Now I knew he had a nasty temper as I had seen him rip into some of the other guys for little stuff like that but I put it aside being I needed work. But when it came to personal threats I wasn't going to take it. It turned into a long, drawn out two hour shouting match back and forth despite my initial attempts to keep it a grown up, logical conversation. The jerk even told me I'd better take my tools with me because they may not be there the next day if I didn't.
I've never had a boss treat me like that. I've never had to fight against anyone, and I've never felt threatened by any employer of mine. All I did was work hard for the guy and make him a lot of money, I'll be if I'm going to put up with that from ANYONE.
When all was said and done I was laughing and told him he's lucky I'm not the kind of guy to file an anonymous tip with the FBI (he's pakistani) and his reply.. "Oh that's it... when you come back to me apologizing tomorrow I'm not going to give you your job back". Needless to say I don't think I'll be getting a good reference from him for any job I apply for, and unfortunately there's not a dern thing I can do about it, being the man's a millionaire and his brother is a lawyer - and I'm dirt poor.
Wife's still on good terms with a bunch of managers at the local cable company she used to work for (charter). Heck we still get free cable and internet! haha. She's trying to pull some strings to get me a telephone sales job there and if she can pull it off, the commissions are very nice as long as I can deal with a structured corporate environment. Heck I almost look forward to a structured environment as the two places I've spent the last few years with have been chaotic, at best.
I actually spent a year in school for IT administration awhile back, but with no FORMAL experience (and the fact that I don't think anyone feels comfortable with hiring a "grungy uneducated mechanic") I've had absolutely no luck finding a job in that industry. Can't even land an interview for a help desk support job. My choices are pretty much.. fast food... working on cars again... or waking up in the middle of the night some day with the "perfect idea" for making money off the internet. Heck I can pay one of these companies $49.95 for that! hahahaha Does anyone want to MLM with me? hahaha
Anyways thanks for the support and the advice. I'll stay in touch. I have a friend who thinks he knows a guy who has a socket A motherboard just laying around.. so maybe I can come across a hand-me-down that will at least get me back in the game.