Hello All.

Just want to take a few minutes to apologise for some things that i have done in the past in the for sale section. I offered items for sale, but ended up not selling them.

Seems like i have been out of work forever, 8 months and counting is like a lifetime now, and, well, the black dog has really gotten me good.

Well, Sorry for the past issues, and i hope one day to make amends for it.

Thanks for reading this.

Andrij

PS: If ever the black dog gets a hold of you, see a professional ASAP. Dont be like me and let it grow.

whats a "black dog"?
and yea, i was wondering what happened

Rent the movie Ed.. It'll sorta make sense... Great semi crash scenes.. The TM will like it if she's a swishy Swayze fan... also starring Randy Travis and Meatloaf.. Available in finer video stores everywhere..:lol:

Black Dog is real bad depression . not good fcb

Andrij,
I've looked into that dog's eyes a few times. He especially loves to come prowling around when you're out of work for any length of time. By eight months, he'll be bringing in his personalized dog-dish and water bowl, and staking out a comfy spot near the fire.

When I was laid off, my company gave us training in job-hunting. Two of the main points were:
-- most openings are filled before they are ever advertised; and
-- the vast majority of jobs are found, not through agencies, or classified ads or mailing out resumes, but by networking - using people you already know, even if only slightly, to alert you to opportunities that will be opening up where they work, to suggest your name to hiring managers at their companies, and so forth.

You've got the beginnings of a network on this forum. Why don't you let us know where you live, what your skills are, and what sort of work you are looking for? Maybe someone on the list will hear of something opening up and can alert you in time to get your application in at the head of the line. No guarantees, but - hey, it couldn't hurt.

We're pulling for you. :wave:

-- D

Men in particular attach much of their self worth through our jobs.... women ususally play into that as well too. They also attach a man's value to what they can earn ... feminism hasn't really sunk in THAT far yet. It's a slippery slope and depression can mount quickly. It's not just about money, it's about feeling like a man, earning your own way, the "hunter" instinct that is basic in every man.

When I was forced out of a job 10 yrs ago, I fell into a deep funk for about 2 months. The dog chewed my butt like a Milkbone. The key is to keep trying, keep searching, keep being as social as you can be ... sooner or later an opportunity will come your way.

Get outside everyday, talk to people, even strangers ... you never know... sometimes when one door closes, another door opens. That's been my experience.

Hang tough and kick the dog in the chops!

Andrij....Glad you have that "black dog" under control. :) Just DON'T hold it in. Talk to wife, friends, doctor....anybody.....just get it out. About 4 years ago the dog came for me and he brought friends....i've been beating him back ever since. So far the "dog" and the cancer are in check.

"When life gives you lemons.....you race slotcars" :thumbsup::thumbsup:

It appears that you're from Australia. I'm not familiar with the economy there. What type of work are you experienced with?

It's been my experience that when I truly give up hope in my own ability to get through a difficult problem and just put it to God to get me through, truly asking in faith, He makes a way for me. Such is the hope of the Easter message we just celebrated...

Sorry to make light of your situation Andrij... Hopefully the humor helps.. I also have been unemployed since September so I share your dilemma.. The only thing saving my @zz right now is my income tax refund and an extension in unemployment benefits. The job situation around here is so dismal I can only laugh about it. I'm sorry, but I refuse to dress up in an Uncle Sam or statue of liberty costume and stand out front of a certain tax service place waving at passers-by. Never!!! I have 9 weeks left and hopefully I won't be flipping burgers or worse.. Good luck bud!! You have my best wishes!!

Fighting a back that continues to deteriorate cost me my management position and my side line hobby business; and it produced a wife and two girls that thought that dad was a lazy bum who didn't want to work. Eventually, the black dog grapped me and took me into a very dark cave. After five years of therapy, I clawed out of the cave and got back into management. However, I can not replace the years lost. I see peers that moved well up while I was in the pits. The family life is lost for good. Crap happens. The fight continues.

HT is one of the thing that helps me keep the black dog at bay. Focusing on a hobby helps keep depression and the border. HT helps keep that focus and links a person with some of the coolest people on earth!

Hang in there Andrij. You got family - HT family! :)

hey andrij.i have had the black dog of unemployment and seperation/custody battle for a while now.all i can say,is exercise,eat right,see friends,and continue your life.clean the house,shower often,and just basically care for yourself the best you can.i have seen groups,and talked with people who are going through the same thing and found it very helpful.the economy sucks here right now too,and i am in the worst job category here of all.construction!i got pretty bummed out when i lost my job,but nothing has been harder than losing my family.the only thing i can do is suck it up,deal with my emotions,and stay motivated.personally,if ya get down,don't hold things in.let yourself purge.holding things in is like throwing spray cans on a fire.they will explode eventually.good luck keeping that old dog at bay,and all the best in the future!neil,canada

Hey here what i do is go to the sell and trade and find something somebody is looking for. now see if you can find it for them. kill alot of time and you find new wed site you did nt know about.If found it makes it fun. fcb

Been there myself, bro. Never for 8 months but when you cant seem to make something happen, its gonna make you feel like crap. Things'll turn around eventually you'll see. Hang in there.

Hope something turns up soon. Hang in there. :thumbsup: rr

Wow, lot of good advise here.

Hopefully this economy gets off its' ass!

Don't want to get off topic here so...Good Luck & STAY POSSITIVE!!

Back in the mid 90's I was in the building trades as an apprentice. Wound up being out of work for 6 months. I had to give it up and go back to being a truck driver. But I must say that during that time, I felt worthless, my wife was working, I was collecting unemployment checks, but it wasn't much because at the time I was only making about $11 per hour. It was a really terrible time fo rme that I'll never forget. A lot of people that my wife and I know are out of work, and it brings back all those memories for me. I honestly know how you feel.
Hang in there, try and think outside the box, I really hope you do find something soon. Take care, Dave:wave:

Back around 1980 I was unemployed due to a career choice that did not work out & wound up living at home with my mother for 5 month's of unemployment. I remember my "pet" black dog very well. :(Talk about feeling worthless !
:thumbsup:Fortunately I got work at a defense contractor in Long Island & then applied for civil service tests. I was hired a year & a half later by the MTA-NYCTA as a Train Conductor on Aug. '82.I now have 26+ years in & will retire on my
55th birthday as of 2/2011, after which I will fulfull Dad's prophesy that I will be nothing but a bum ! Great career to with a Pension & Med. benefits after I retire too.Next to my "Boss" Stasi it was the best move I ever made !
While I need not fear any layoff's I realize that no man is an island.I have had to help out my stepson after he lost his job & dealt with his schizophrenia Issues & new baby.I know friends that have lost their job's & fear that the fabric of this country can be seriously torn if things do not improve.
Anyway, I want to tell you to have hope & NEVER ever surrender to the black dog ! Stay away from negative people that just want to "Hang out" all their lives.A freind of mine from the neighborhood has been doing that since back in the day ( 1970's) & now he is 54 years old.I even told him about the Transit test last Oct. But he just could not be bothered. Stay away from alchohol & drugs too.Those are the "black Dog's" favorite meals-Do not feed him !That was part of my downfall years ago.
I realize that It is easy for me to say at this time but you must have hope & keep trying.
All my life I have been "a few clues short of a master criminal " as I call it (Possible ADD,ADHD,results of serious parent abuse etc. not sure ) but I was able to make something of my life & am confident you will do well also.

:thumbsup:Keep the Faith !

Neal:dude:

Thanks for all the support guys.

Much appreciated.

Well, got out of bed today, and stayed out. Spent about 4 hours in the slot rooms, yep, 2 rooms, 1 for the track and sets, the other where my "madman" table is. Couldnt for the love of me, find my camera to record the mess at the beginning, nore the still messed up table, but i did sort out/throw out some useless junk, and found a dusty 4 lane partially finished track. Seems it never got past the set up and test with wallwarts stage.

I found more than 30 diecasts i want to convert to slotcars, about 40 pieces of foam for the track, and a variable voltage/amperage powersupply. I think i bought it 3-4 years ago, and never took it out of the box.

I found 3 boxes of junker bodyshells, dying to be "modified" and i also found my 1st modified slotcar from the last time the slotcar bug bit me.

Tomorrow i will stop looking at trash on the net, find that camera and take some pics of my track, and some of my cars. Even something as simple as this is a struggle at times, when the old apathy bug bits hard.

Thanks again guys, as i said, really appreciated your comments.

Andrij

PS. No job yet, but somehow i managed to finish off a security guard course, now to organise the paperwork, and see what the govt will do with my application

Andrij

3 boxes of junker body shells....Whoooo hoooo! That would make any slot car customizer Happy!! It is good to see you are keeping busy and from the tone of your post you seem to be doing much beter now. :)

Bob...Have been praying for the whole world every day...zilla