A Day in the Life of the Unemployed

It all began three years ago when we purchased our first home.  There was this tiny tree growing next to the stairs of our front porch.  It couldn't have been more than two or three years old.  One of the first comments I made to Ben was - I hate that tree and we should pull it out before it gets much bigger.

So fast forward three years.  We now have a tree that is 5 - 6 years old growing next to the stairs of our front porch.  I'm still complaining about it and wanting to cut it down but Ben persuades me to use my abilities else where and to leave the tree chopping down alone until he can get to it. By now it's growing over the porch and I have to push it out of the way every time I walk up or down the stairs.  I keep complaining about the tree and then one day, I come home to see the above pictures in the same order.  First I notice that something was different about my porch but couldn't quite put my finger on it.  Then I see a big pile of sticks next to the lawn and think to myself..."What has Ben been up to?"  Then it hits me.  He cut my tree down!  The empty hole next to the porch was where my tree was!!  Oh Happy Day!!  I was so excited that I whipped out my camera (which is ALWAYS in my purse, unsure of when the perfect picture moment will happen) and snapped a few shots. 

THEN I walk into the house and see the ceiling fan box next to the door...with the fan INSIDE!! 

Oh Happy Day again!  I swear I felt like it was my birthday!  TWO things I've been "gently hinting" at for MONTHS are FINALLY DONE and in the SAME DAY!!  

So we took the fan back to Lowes because it NEVER worked.  Apparently the motor inside was broken from the get-go.  We exchanged it for another fan (one we didn't like nearly as much and is far too formal for our "casual Florida room" but one that works.  We figure one day, we'll put that fan in another room once we find the "perfect" fan for our Florida room.  

So I publicly wanted to give my husband props for all that he did for me.  For those of you who are unaware, Ben has been jobless with ZERO income coming in for the past 4 months.  OUCH!  Strangely no one wants to hire a guy who is going to quit on them come December 31st - go figure.  

So we've been waiting...and waiting...and waiting and finally seasonal work has arrived!  He got a call back from Best Buy which is PERFECT for him and his expertise.  The job pays MUCH less than we hoped for, but after 4 months of nothing, something starts to sound pretty nice.   He accepted the job and began on Sunday.  Because as you know, seasonal employees don't get to choose the days and hours they work.  Hence, Ben's having to work on Sundays.  

Now..here's the clincher.  After accepting the job, and starting, he learns that as a Seasonal employee, you can only work a MAXIMUM of 25 hours per week for the first 3 weeks.  SAY WHAT?  We were thinking something more in the 40 hours a week, seeing as how he applied for a FULL TIME position - apparently my idea of full time and their idea of full time are slightly different.  THEN after 3 weeks he can start working 40 hours a week.  We aren't sure if there is ever a chance for overtime in the equation but are hoping that at some point there is to help supplement the loss of income during the first 3 weeks.  Upside - for the lack of pay and hours, after 30 days, he can get the employee discount which we hear is quite nice...let's hope so!