I don’t know about you, but I’m in no mood for Christmas. I had to force myself to get out some decorations this year, and I by-passed a tree (I’ve got one of those cool little fiber-optic plastic trees that’s awesome.)
I’m looking around at friends and former colleagues getting laid off and struggling to make ends meet. I’m looking at my own budget and considering getting a part-time job to make ends meet after Mountain Xpress announced last week that the company would institute an across-the-board pay cut of about 8 percent.
I’m looking at the nightly news, and seeing so many bailout plans, corruption scandals and ponzi schemes that it’s making my stomach turn. And I’m looking ahead at 2009 and seeing the prospect of lots more bad news on the way.
Sorry to be such a downer. What do you think? Is 2009 going to suck even worse? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Anybody got a part-time gig for Ashvegas?
24 Comments
Miss Potter: Ummmmm….when you talk about "thanks to those bastards in DC" I seem to remember that you worked for one who thankfully got beaten by Mr. Shuler. It looks like your ex-boss could use some help: he’s in a deep pile of sh*t with his bank. Maybe he and our illustrious sheriff can share a cell.
At least you have the good sense to support Ashvegas! May you be redeemed.
Ooh, on the self interest front: This subscription idea could maybe allow me to circumvent the block on the server at work. (Even if it wouldn’t, I’d pitch in.)
Ash — I’m as broke as everyone else, but I’d pay $5 a month to keep Ashvegas going. You consistently have some of the most pertinent info on the net when it comes to local media — which all seem to be having their share of problems, thanks to those bastards in DC and on Wall Street.
We’re hoping to add some free-lance writers and video editers next year. You’re at the top of the list if you’re serious.
I noticed you’ve taken more of an interest in obituaries lately!
And we’ve branched out from just obits.
Might be worth a follow up.
Dark as things may seem, I’m still going to celebrate Christmas with my family and friends. Don’t forget the reason for the season — although I heard on local talk radio today that He was probably born closer to April 17th.
Maybe we should move Christmas to tax time.
NOT!
Cheer up dude — we could all be much worse off.
Merry Christmas and a happier New Year to you and all of Ashvegas!
Deborah Potter
Do it bro I got your fifthski right here.
to i got your back: yes, that’s a good idea. i think i’ll do it. i’ll ask people to subscribe, like Hopkins has done.
Dad, yes!
firelady, a fragile little Christmas, indeed. thank you for your encouraging words.
Catnap, LOVE it! You two really should be YouTube stars by now.
Damn, Dean. i got nothin’ on you.
Miss Daisy, you’re right — this time is ripe with opportunity for people with vision, and balls, and … o yeah, cash. But i’m with ya!
What about setting up a donation to keep Ashevegas alive. Have it go through PayPal with Credit Card Donations only starting at $5. Readers will back you up for your hard work.
Set it up like Jim Hopkins did on the Gannett Blog. I already have saved up my $5 by collecting aluminum cans.
Go for it and you will be surprised at your readership.
Gordon, the first thing that goes in a down economy is the marketing and advertising budgets. I think I need something else.
Meantime, can bestbloggah at least get the bestbloggah stick sometime?
loyal reader, thank you for your thoughtful encouragement.
I share your blues.
It’s nice to see that you have readers pulling for you and putting out positive vibes and comments. I have a feeling they need cheering up as much as you do but they took the time to write some encouraging words.
Ash: I’m really struggling with the "ho ho ho" holiday spirit thing, too. I’m sickened by the vivid images I see of people all around me struggling just to survive. I’ve just resigned myself to celebrating a very little Christmas this year. It’s taken a little bit more thought to be grateful for all we’ve been blessed with especially when life appears tenuous and in some ways untenable. But I’m also grateful for all we’ve been spared and all the unseen blessings yet to arrive. A fragile little Christmas it will be.
You have contributed a great deal to Asheville. I know I am very grateful for this site. You’ve announced events that are very important to my work. You introduced me to Asheville, even before I moved here. (Take Gordon’s advice).
Tough times just require more creativity, big brains and big hearts- all of which you have in spades. As my Pagan neighbor said to me on Sunday: Blessed Yule.
Ash,
Here’s something to hang your stocking on. A little holiday cheer from the hardest working girl in Mrs. Newell’s class (until after lunch when she gets a little fidgety.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riU1Yr8iKC4
Wife is in the hospital, and probably will be until after Christmas. She’ll live, but be a bit creaky for some time to come. Parents are dead, and I have no family, really other than her.
I’ve got a tree lit, beer, wood for the stove and a job that just plain blows. I’ve seen my salary drop by almost $50k in three years.
But I’m healthy. I’ve got that.
Buck up and get on with it.
The economy tanking has given me the first inclination of hope for our so-called health, so-called care, so-called system. Everyone has to be thrown off balance and a little uncomfortable for change to happen, so the environment is ripe. And hopefully people in general will appreciate each other more, come together, help one another. It could happen!
Time to start hosting advertisements on Ashvegas, BestBlogger.
Ash – Take heart. First of all, if decorating is depressing, don’t do it! We realized years ago that the whole Christmas scene made us depressed for whatever reason so we quit doing it. Now we just enjoy being together. We don’t feel an obligation to decorate, buy presents, bake cookies or go caroling — things we enjoyed at one time but now all of these things remind us of insincerity and consumerism. Call us cynics, call us Scrooges, but so be it — guarantee we’re happier than most.
As far as the economy goes — this attitude of simplicity makes us a lot less worried. We’ve always chosen a simple lifestyle — smaller house, smaller cars, having our own garden, buying at Goodwill and Go Grocery, heating with wood, even things like going to matinees instead of movies at night, getting only a basic level of cable service, etc.
Mind you, we could have gotten a huge mortgage and borrowed to buy fancier cars but we chose not to. Now we’re glad to be in our one-bathroom home as we watch people suffer around us. We have two small businesses (micro businesses) and that’s the ultimate non-job-security, but it forces you to be creative. This summer we set up a clothes line and even now when it’s cold and rainy outside, we can’t bring ourselves to use the dryer and hang up the clothes in the house (we’ve come to love our very stiff jeans!).
Don’t let yourself be sucked into the depression of Christmas or the economy. You have a lot of talent (just look at this blog – the most popular in Asheville and probably all of WNC – I wouldn’t have the faintest idea how to do this, wouldn’t even know where to start!). You have what it takes to pull through these circumstances!
Lesley, thanks for you thoughts. This is good stuff. We need to be creative during these times, and help each other out. These are bad times, but there’s also opportunity to change, grow, learn.
Ami, i’m game!
I opened my email this morning to find a whole host of sad tidings. It’s one thing to talk about the federal bail-out(s), economic theory and the foreclosure mess, but it’s quite another to know actual real people who are suffering.
There just aren’t enough answers to go around, but I have a couple of thoughts. I live in a modest house, but we have an extra bedroom (two if we make the girls bunk together) I have told all of my friends and family that the first few to need shelter are welcome to join us. After Katrina, people all over WNC opened up their homes to strangers who needed a place to stay, often indefinitely. This economic crises will touch many more lives than Katrina, and on average, Americans have way more square footage than they need.
I know there are plenty of reasons not to share our homes. I’m sure Fox News could dredge up some fear mongering stories about serial killers preying upon the kindness of strangers. If that worries you, stick with family and close friends.
Carpooling is another idea. I mean serious, 70’s style carpooling – cramming your car full of people who travel the same route as you – school, work or recreation-wise.
Finally – food sharing. Statistically speaking, there is someone in your immediate neighborhood who is hungry. Offer to bring a meal to an elderly neighbor or check with a nearby church – they usually have a list of people in need. I’m not religious, but churches are often a first line of defense for families in financial trouble.
Just my two cents. I’m thankful that I still have that!!
We need someone to shoot a simple video of our new song "Oh, Sh*t – It’s Christmastime". A cynical ditty. You game?