The unemployment news remains troublesome. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says payroll employment continues to decline - 539,000 jobs lost last month alone, with the total unemployment rate at 8.9 percent and rising. This widespread loss of jobs has ma…

I am a musician, and had my Trio. One year Valentines Day turned up on a week night. Maybe a Monday … slow night. We normally didn’t work on Mondays. They told me to come in alone. Could have been a As usual, I did my best.

Saw the owner and the manager standing in the double door opening watching me. I thought they were happy. WELL, they were! TOO happy!

On my break, they came over to me and said “___________ you know you did a really good job tonight. You don’t NEED those 2 other guys. From now on, just play by yourself.” WHAT I thought? I said “I will need more money if I have to do that. I have to work VERY, VERY HARD to make it sound rich, and big like that, and alone!” I got the extra money. I would have rather had my Trio. So much easier, more fun, not worth the extra HARD work. No wonder I got carpal tunnel - both hands. I am retired now, but worry about everyone that has a job…