Winter of Our Discontent

     Shakespeare had it right; winter breeds discontentment. Here in New England it has bred a form of malady combining boredom with depression.  Glorious, is it not? Let’s go with Not.

     I never believed that I would live through another winter like the one I enjoyed in 1978.  As a small child, I played blissfully in the snow and enjoyed staying home away from schoolwork.  I recall picking up my head, gazing out the window at the snow storm and going back to sleep.  It was blissful knowing that my biggest concern would be making sure my feet and hands stayed relatively dry as I formed perfect snowballs for our growing fort outside.  That was glorious. 

     The blizzard of 2015 isn’t creating the same memories.  For one, I’m an adult working and struggling to get into my office in Cambridge, MA.  We Rhode Islanders have had approximately 4 feet of snow fall on us.  However, our Massachusetts brethren have had 7 feet of snow.  They are at the deep end of the pool while we can be moderately comfortable in the shallow end.  Of course, we are all freezing equally. 

     For me, the worst part of this winter is dealing with the MBTA and the ongoing issues with all their trains. While I believe the CEO was scapegoated for the sins of the organization (most of the issues and maladies of the organization existed prior to her employment), I don’t see her stepping down as changing any of the issues at hand.  First off, the MBTA needs to replace the engines on several of the commuter lines as well as the inner city trains.  You can only do so much to repair old technology.  It’s becoming the equivalent to putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. Second, they need to retrofit several of the stations.  I have repeatedly sent notes to the MBTA through Twitter (they often respond) regarding the horrendous conditions at the South Attleboro MA station.  My understanding is that there is some sort of question over who is responsible for stations on the commuter lines.  The tracks are shared by Amtrak as well as being housed on town/city lands.  From what I have gathered, South Attleboro is being told that the maintenance and repair of their station is in their hands.  However, the MBTA and Amtrak also have a stake in the property.  If this argument stands, then why did the city of Attleboro retrofit their station and update the location completely?  While I did put a bug in the ear of a young Channel 10 reporter and advise her to chase the story, I don’t see much activity in place to change anything.  Of course, the MBTA will more than likely raise the rates (again) for the commuter rail services.  Pathetic.

Pretending

           I receive job listings via email from an electronic Brown University job board that includes work from all over the state of Rhode Island.  It’s something I signed up for more than a year ago while looking for full time work.  Here is the one thing I have noticed about it: most of the positions are listed as part time.  However, the descriptions are clearly describing a full time post, but offer very low pay and no benefits.

            I find this deplorable.  It is obvious that some organizations and corporations are seeking people willing to work for pittance. They are taking advantage of the “sellers market” concept by doing this.  What has happened to our country that this is an acceptable practice? 

            The state of Rhode Island has very few full time paying positions available in any field.  However, I sincerely doubt that Brown students are considering applying for the jobs posted on that board upon graduation.  Any college student in the state would be less than excited about applying for a part time position that offers so little.  This is especially true if one has had to take out numerous loans to pay for the education.  For a state with a large number of higher-education intuitions it is often noted that the students don’t lay down roots here. Gee, I wonder why?

According to the government statistics, our state unemployment rate was 7.4% as of October 2014.  I suspect that it was even higher.  Why? Simple – the numbers reflect the people collecting unemployment, but just because the government financial support ends doesn’t mean that people have secured employment.  It just means that they can no longer collect funds through unemployment. 

Rhode Island has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country.  Our state is very small and it has become necessary for those who live here to seek full time employment opportunities in different states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire.  With opportunities presenting success elsewhere and the positions in the state offering incredibly low pay, how is financial recovery and growth even in sight?

           

This isn’t just a Rhode Island issue; it’s an American issue. I don’t understand how employers justify a course of action that will ultimately ruin the country.  If  the American people cannot survive, never mind thrive, with one full time position that offers the opportunity to feed, house, clothe and care for ourselves and our families; are compelled to take multiple low paying positions that offer no benefits and are forced to purchase said benefits due to government regulations; are unable to educate our children due to the destruction of the public school system and elevated cost of higher-education,  how can our country grow? 

New Year, New Goals

        Happy 2015 everyone! While the new year has been in full swing for the past 2 weeks, I’ve been spending a great deal of time fighting off another head cold.  This has caused me to delay my writing.  I know, I know, I need a strict editor with a deadline.  I’ll do my best to make up for this delay.

As with most of us, I am greeting 2015 with a new outlook and a distinct group of goals that may look familiar.  First off, I plan to focus on my health and fitness.  While it may take a bit of time, this begins with getting rid of this cold 100%.  A leaky face isn’t a pretty thing.

My goal for 2015 is to be my physical best.  This isn’t the same thing as loosing a certain of weight (although, I do admit that is part of it).  I want to continue with my Pilates and boot camp routines adjusting them as my teachers changed venues.  Of course, my schedule has changed as well.  Now that I am a commuter, it’s more difficult to get in the groove of things.  I get very tired and am still in the process of adjusting to this time change.  However, I won’t let this prevent me from doing these fabulous physical activities. 

Second, I’d like to explore more and travel is a big new focus for me. Part of my plan is to save funds to travel by curtailing my usual foot ware purchases. Yes, I love shoes and have a tendency to own more than my fair share of them. I have an addiction to John Fluevog kicks and I won’t give that up!  However, I don’t need to own so many shoes and wear them infrequently.  I’d rather wear the ones I currently own and travel with them.  Better to have my shoes walk on new streets than stay in boxes in the closet.

Third, I plan on writing frequently and hopefully creating valuable essays worthy of a reader’s attention.  Only you can all tell me if I accomplish that goal, so I will check in with you all at the end of the year for a wrap up.  Hopefully, some of you will post a remark or two on this blog. 

Meanwhile, tell me what your goals are for 2015. I’d love to hear what everyone is plotting and planning.