Unemployment: Day 1

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/26/2020 at 15:24 • Filed to: None

Slept alright. Woke up at 7:50, brewed some coffee, and filed for unemployment. Helped another coworker over the phone file for hers . Chatted with my boss and another coworker as we are all tying up loose ends from either the office or home remote workstations.

Sent out a massive broadcast to clients about how we are closed until yadda yadda and whatever. First reply within 30 seconds is from one of my more... unsavory accounts, asking if I’ll still be compiling bids and scheduling. I’m like, no, we are closed and I’m still unemployed as I was six minutes ago . He replied with two more terse emails about how this affects him . Write a letter to your governor, sir. To be totally honest: I won’t miss him. Other replies have been fine. About two hours later, my top account announced they’re suspending all construction for the next six weeks . I’ve got my email on autoreply, voicemail set up, and auto reply for any texts. After 5pm tonight, my work phone will be shut off for 2 weeks... or longer... or forever, if not rehired. My level of confidence in being rehired is not as high as I would like, but it is what it is. I have a contingency plan in place — one I hope not to exercise under these circumstances, but one must always have a backup.

As for myself on a personal level: I won’t say that I was ever prepared for something like this. But I will say that I’m not terribly worried. Unemployment benefits will soften the blow even a little, and we have some reserves. I’ve suspended the insurance policy on the Paseo wagon, only the Pontiac Vibe will be active so that saves some money. There’s so little else I can control that I’m just not going to dwell on it because it will make me sick, so I’m just going to worry about what I can do.

I did pick up a new free TV a few weeks ago, so I think this is a great time to bust out the N64 and do what I did the last time I was unemployed: play MarioKart 64, Mario Tennis, and StarFox 64 alllll daaaaaaaaaaaay loooooooooooooooooong.

DISCUSSION (39)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:32

Starfox64 multiplayer was the bees knees...especially when you had ArWing vs. Landmaster Tank battles.

If you’ve not seen it, check out ‘A Fox In Space’ - guy in New Brunswick, Canada who is animating a series of episodes by hand (well, digitally by hand with a tablet, etc) based on Starfox, hilariously epic! He’s working on Episode 2 right now, but each episode takes him a LONG time....Episode 1 is here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uieM18rZdHY

Nom De Plume > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:32

The biggest crisis in my home gaming is Wii cancelled multiplayer over the internet years ago. Mario Kart is the definitive place to engage in crab mentality.

jminer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:34

Well shit - sorry man!

I imagine a large chunk of Oppo (as well as others we know) are going through this same thing. Crazy fucking times right now...

The Ghost of Oppo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:34

+1 for N64

TheRealBicycleBuck > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:38

Gaming? Not in my house! The list of projects is way too long for any gaming to happen. Reconciling the budget to account for the supplies I would need to complete those chores is another matter.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheRealBicycleBuck
03/26/2020 at 15:39

There’s no funds towards hobbies/home improvement and I’m not going to any stores if I can help it. It’s lockdown time.

fintail > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:42

Aren’t bathrooms and electrical fixtures “essential” I mean, seriously, I’d think those specific items would be covered.

I know some things are still going on, was forced to wake up at 3 after 7 this morning by a jackhammer tearing up a sidewalk on my street - light rail related, I suspect.

Don’t despair, this is a construction/housing addicted economy, once this passes you’ll be back to it in no time.

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:45

If this extends for awhile I can send you a (thoroughly cleaned and disinfected) S uper Nintendo. F-Zero is a good way to pass the time!

ranwhenparked > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:45

My fallback when the feces hits the fan, which I expect will be in another week or so, is to try and do some food or Amazon delivery work, they’ve relaxed the unemployment rules in my state to make it easier to do part time work while still collecting benefits.

66P1800inpieces > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:48

Agreed, take some time to decompress.

Mid Engine > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:50

I was wondering if you were still gainfully employed, sorry they threw you under the bus. Wife and I are still WFH so far, we’ve been told by our respective employers that jobs are safe. g rain of salt.. I have zero trust in co rporations.

Hang in there, if you get bored drop by Gold Bar for a cold one

Future next gen S2000 owner > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:52

I have a garage door that needs to be replaced....Got is delivered on Wednesday a few hours before the governor shut the state down. Although I think Home depot is considered essential retail....

VW Max > Nom De Plume
03/26/2020 at 15:52

I’ve never tried this, but a couple of my friends have told me about it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MarioKartWii/comments/ajb9t4/a_guide_on_how_to_play_mario_kart_wii_online_in/

facw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:52

Why are you doing anything for your boss? He just fired you, you can tell him to hire you if he needs you to do work. He should have kept you on payroll if there were loose ends that needed to be cleaned up.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 15:52

Let’s see, there’s the garden that needs to be weeded, a building that needs doors (I already have the wood for that), a mower that needs repair (parts arrived this morning), a closet that needs sorting, an office/storage space that needs to be cleaned out, the whole house is in need of a good spring cleaning.... And the list goes on. And on. And on. Ad infinitum.

Enjoy your gaming time. Post frequently so I can live vicariously through your shenanigans.

wafflesnfalafel > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 16:03

M ake sure to stretch and limber up every 45-60 minutes of n64 time, and remain hydrated. (And maybe let your wife play for a bit every once in a while.)

gettingoldercarguy > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 16:03

Do a barrel roll

VincentMalamute-Kim > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 16:06

Wow, you’re being very rational and calm about it. Of course, the other option is to become hysterical - that’s what I’d be doing.

Nom De Plume > VW Max
03/26/2020 at 16:07

Thanks, will try this tonight.

PyramidHat > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 16:48

I love the “yes, but what about me ?” sentiment. Not surprising, though. I’m WFH and I’m getting e mails from folks trying to do ridiculous shit and it’s all I can do to say “yanno, maybe now isn’t the time....”

shop-teacher > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 16:58

I think you’ve got a pretty good attitude about it all. My best for you and Mrs. Space Crab weathering this storm with as little damage as possible.

speedy964 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 17:13

Since my college shut down, I have been clearing the backlog of games on Steam. To give an idea of how many games I have been playing, according to GoG, which is linked to my Steam account last month, I had 10hrs of playtime v.s this month 40 hrs so far.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 17:24

Ohhh...I have an N64 with a Starfox game...Lylat Wars? Also, Goldeneye...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > TheRealBicycleBuck
03/26/2020 at 17:26

Same situation here. Though we have enough materials here to keep me going for a couple of months. And that's for just the inside jobs.

The Snowman > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 17:31

Kinja'd!!!

Do a barrel roll! I dug mine out but playing Mario 64

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 17:48

I just finished GTA san andreas in 16 years or less.

benjrblant > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 17:50

Hi! Welcome to the club.

RPM esq. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 18:06

Is there a way for me to remotely buy you a beer via delivery? Important questions in quarantine times.

facw > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
03/26/2020 at 18:26

All we had to do was follow the damn train!

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 18:56

StarFox 64! Play the Independence Day mission 20 times for me. I could play that level and never quit.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 19:38

You’re doing all you can do. Just don’t let it get you down, as it was definitely not your fault.

Apparently the labor market has been really tight... People I know have been hunting for people for a long time with little luck, so there’s a good chance you could pick something up. My in-laws own a construction-related business that is apparently classified as essential (but now that’s in question) and they’ve been hunting for someone that would just show up for an interview for months.

If I hear anything about hiring in my group for something involving lights and buildings, I’ll let you know. One of my bigger projects right now involves commercial lighting...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Mid Engine
03/26/2020 at 20:29

I feel like some of us could work pretty much indefinitely like this. My wife is full-time WFH already, so the only change is having me home all the time and now the baby home as well since we’re hunkering down and self-isolating as much as possible. If I was in pure dev work like I used to be, there’d be zero reason for me to ever be at an office aside from a manager wanting to see me warm a seat.

Mid Engine > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
03/26/2020 at 23:22

I’ve been working from home for 20 years, but I am in sales and do need to see customers routinely. My wife is a program manager and goes to the office every couple of weeks. We’re very much used to doing our thang from home.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > facw
03/27/2020 at 13:43

That one wasn’t the worst for me, Flying the remote control airplane for David Cross was.

facw > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
03/27/2020 at 13:47

I had a lot of trouble with that. I also had a lot of trouble with the learn to fly mission, though that was because I was trying to fly with a flight stick (which you’d think would make sense), but it turns out that planes were actually much easier to control with the keyboard, with the stick it was just pilot induced oscillation all over the place.

Remember the Merit from GTA SA? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/27/2020 at 14:16

I’ve suspended the insurance policy on the Paseo wagon

Nooooooooooooooooooo

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > facw
03/27/2020 at 15:38

It actually took 3 physical copies of the game, 2 PS2 machines and 2 ps3 machines. My original was destroyed by our dog, who had screws loose and a tendency to violently freak out got tangled in wires and even more violently freaked out, des troying a number of things in one sweep. Then another ps2, another copy, That Ps2 eventually died and I donated my controllers and games to some kids. Eventually my sister donated her ps3 to us when she upgraded to a 4. Bought myself a ps3 copy and started over many years later. Then that Ps3 died, I got a gamestore re-manned one and started again. This was a hard fought victory and I’m not really a gamer, most of my lifetime total on the joystick (ye s joystick, one button) was on the commodore 64. By the way that Commodore 64 lasted from 1982 to about 2012 until it wouldn’t turn on anymore at my cousin’s ‘one of every system ever’ game room. The dog was a Kerry Blue terrier.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > facw
03/27/2020 at 19:59

I didn’t mean to ignore this agreeable comment, but more to come soon.... DOT DOT DOT...

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Remember the Merit from GTA SA?
03/27/2020 at 20:00

Yes :(