As an employee of the state of NY, it looks like I'll be furloughed one day a week, without pay, starting the week after next....which equates to a 20% pay cut...

Luckily my wife and I live modestly, and we'll still be able to pay our bills, but my "fun money" is officially shut off.

Hopefully I can still afford to go to Wildwood (especially now that I have the Friday before off by executive order!)

On the plus side, 3 day weekends means more time playing in the wind....locally at least.

bummer....

but your quiver looks good to go, mate!

I first got going kiting while unemployed, it was tough to find money for kites, but I had soooo much time to fly. Now I'm back at work and have at least three kites that are still waiting to show me what they can do! It's tough just to keep my fitness good.

enjoy all the extra days!

Sorry to hear that... at least from the money side. :sniff: Congrats on the play side. :singing: At least the Frenzy was already in the barn before the play budget got curtailed.

There is always a life of crime. Feel free to hit up Kam for references

All the best to you & yours,
Sam

Boy, I hope you guys can still make Wildwood, I've been waiting to meet you since I bought your 1.4M Beamer! If not, one of your Fridays off will have to be spent here, either at the runway, or Southwick, at least before camping season starts. I dont know what will happen after that, though I did see a video of the beach in August, and looking south from the Concession stand, there was no one on the beach! I couldn't believe it. It was quite windy in the video, maybe thats why it was deserted, but all the better for me! Of course, unless you have empire passport, there is a day use fee, but as soon as I can talk to someone there, I'm going to find out what they think, but imagine camping there and walking out in the morning, throwing up a kite and your off!

Bob, that sounds like a plan. I can probably still afford gas in the truck so I guess that's all I need.

As of right now, I'm still planning to go to WW, but I've got to take a close look at the $$$ situation before then...

my wife works for the state of CA and she has been on furloughs for close to a year now. She debates now if she would rather have the pay back and lose her 3 day weekends or lose the pay and keep her weekends

It all works out. I took a cut of 6 bucks an hour a year ago to keep a job and honey was laid off and still not working.

Things picked back up, not per hour but the amount of hours per week, I don't like OT but I prayed for something and got slapped right upside the head with more hours.

Plus, I get to weld a couple hours a day for a friends shop now.

Worry is a bottomless pit that does absolutly nothing.

Enjoy the long weekends you'll be healthier and live longer.

Thanks for the words of support everyone. I'm not actually worried, I'm just going to miss buying kites on an impulse It could be far worse, at least I still have gainful employment, albeit 4 days a week....

Dakiez - I heard CA state workers won their money back? They are saying the same will happen here, short term pain I guess, our contract guarantees a certain salary and with furloughs the state is violating that contract (violating the law...)

they were saying some workers would get there money back depending on which department you are in, but then the governors office appealed the decision ... so back and forth and back and forth. The only people winning in this deal is the lawyers. I don't have facts, but I would be curious to see if any of this actually saved the state money or if all the legal BS added up a bigger bill than just leaving the whole situation the way it was without any furloughs. Politics just makes me tired.

Yeah politics are definitely frustrating, in NY they are basically using the furloughs as a power play to get the legislature to pass a budget, which is already over a month late.

Oh well, as furb said at least the quiver is in good shape! A flying I will go!

Mmm three day weekends ... actually Mmm two day weekends - have to work most of Saturdays

Hijack; BigBen I just noticed your avatar:o... Story?...

I use to have three day weekends (10 hr shift) and miss them. We will be thinking of you and we are thankful you still have work! My work is taking major budget cuts as well and am very thankful that we look like we will not have to lay anyone off. Furloughs and cutting positions not filled are still on the table.

Keep you head up and make the best of the extra fly time.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben91682 Yeah politics are definitely frustrating, in NY they are basically using the furloughs as a power play to get the legislature to pass a budget, which is already over a month late.

That was the exact reason they did it here! Our budget hasn't passed on time in years. The state issued IOU's to everyone they owed money to. try and deposit a IOU in your checking account and better yet give an IOU to your mortgage company. Oh well ... here's to ya bro .. cheers! Lets go fly a kite :wee:

Yeah, I've also got a hobie cat that I'm sure will eat up some of those furlough days. I'm glad it's hitting in the summer, so I can get out and enjoy the weather.

Willard - The picture was an early morning wake-boarding session, and I was lucky enough to wake up a squadron of geese (who poop all over the lawn at our camp, we basically wage war with them all summer). You can watch it unfold here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/benandnik/WakeboardVsGooseVol1#