Fittin to Git Outta Dodge

I'm taking a moment from packing for my trip to Tennessee/Mississippi, listening to my iTunes, and also feeling pretty lucid and carefree. It's nice to be in a light-hearted state-of-mind again!

I checked out the website for the hotel/casino where I'm staying, and wouldn't you know it, the Counting Crows are playing there the exact same day I'll be there.

I've been wanting to see them in concert lately, and it's crazy that they so happened to be playing in some small town I've never heard of, and on the one and only day I'll probably ever be there.

Strange how things like that happen.

I doubt I'll be able to see the show, due to my cousin's wedding reception, but if I can somehow manage to get to there, I'll be loving that.

As I'm typing this, Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata' has started playing. I am in love with Beethoven's music, for those of you who do not know.

The 'Moonlight Sonata' is my all-time favorite of his compositions. I don't think any other piece of classical music has ever captivated me quite like that one. It perfectly captures a feeling inside that is truly difficult to put into words.

Everytime I hear it, I experience a stimulating bevy of feelings, all at once. It's as if the music somehow understands something intrinsic within the soul without even trying. Without saying even one word, the notes in the music inherently speaks a language that cannot be spoken.

It stirs up feelings of familiarity, validation, and comfort to name only a few; it also stirs up a kind of feeling that's not unlike what it might be like to have an old flame of love rekindled once again. Almost instantly, it pierces the veil of the person you're trying to be, and reminds you of who you really are.

In case you can't tell, I kind of like it!

Since this post turned out to be a music-themed one, I suppose I'll mention that iTunes is now playing another artist you don't hear people mention very much: Nick Drake.

I only recently discovered Nick Drake, sometime around 2007. I don't even remember how I came across his music, but it was momentarily and in passing.

Yet, it was enough for my ears to perk up and listen. I remember the song being one of the ones on his Pink Moon album, and it was the reason I went out and bought the CD.

His music is moslty mellow and folksy, if you will, but it's very good in my opinion. His story is a sad one, having died of an overdose of anti-depressant medication at young age.

But his music is immortal, and enjoyable at that.

Funemployment?

Considering I work for a Fortune Top 100 Company (it was before the recession anyway), I've been very aware of the large amounts of people that have been getting laid-off.

I think the count so far for my employer this year is around 12,000 people.

Most of the people who I've known that have been affected were absolutely thrilled, however. The reason for this was the fact that they recieved decent severance packages, and wouldn't have to work for a while.

I have to tip my hat to those people.

I would immediately be thinking about what happens after the severance runs out. Hmm. I'm really laid-back about most things, but I guess that's one of the few situations I'd definitely get very stressed out about.

I would be freaking out if all I had for income was a paltry unemployment check.

I know that anyone can be affected by this these days, so I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for that possibility. In light of that, I read this article today, which I thought would help me see things differently if I were to be part of a RIF (reduction in force) someday.

I'm not so sure it helped though. I might enjoy it for a week or two, but after that, I'm not sure I'd be able to see it as 'funemployment' for very long.

I hope I don't get the chance to find out!