Days that are productive for the home are never productive for the business.  Today? Has been very productive for the home.  I've done four loads of laundry.  I've cleaned the kitchen.  I've clipped some dead stuff off of Ralph (the begonia my friend Wendy gave me for my birthday) and brought him inside for the winter.  I do not know exactly where to put him that is plant-friendly and unreachable for Poppy, though I'm sure I'll have that figured out before too long.  I'm kind of leaning toward the bathroom, but I'm not sure why.  I backed up my Documents folder and Outlook to Will's portable hard drive.

Business-wise, however–wow.  I have checked my e-mail.  Doesn't that just scream productive?

The thing is, I need to kick it up several notches work wise.  The whole economy and people panicking and over reacting thing has literally hit home.  Last night Will came home and told me that he'd been cut back to just four hours a week at his job…his job where he is the only person in his department (driving).  Apparently it came down to either being able to keep him at his current part time schedule or give most of his hours to a guy who transfered in….into a completely different department.  This person that transferred in can't do Will's job.  Why can't he do Will's job?  Because he doesn't speak a single word of English.  No kidding.

Look, I don't want to go off on a polarizing political rant or alienate anybody, but it is really hard not to be bitter about the situation.  Will is the only driver for his company.  He is the only one who can pick up customers or take them where they need to go.  The new guy who transferred in can't even do his own job properly, let alone fill the hole left by Will because the new guy cannot read, write or speak English.  But somehow it is more important to make sure he gets his 40 hours a week, even if it means taking 20 of Will's.

Seriously–this isn't meant to bash people who don't speak English.  That's a hot issue and I'm sure people have very strong opinions on both sides of it.  This is more my disgust at the situation.  You know, if it was just a matter of budget cuts and they had someone coming in who could do Will's job, I wouldn't be nearly so angry.

So–I have to step it up.  I have to produce more, bring in more and hold things together for us.  Will is already out looking for a new job, but to be honest–I almost don't want him to have to find one.  It's my turn to be the support for our little family.  Will has been there to catch me while I found my feet in the writing world.  It's my turn to catch him so that he can keep up with his studies and not worry about how he is going to pay for the car.

This is why I am so frustrated at my lack of productivity today.  The fact is that while I do these household chores, I'm processing and planning and thinking, but it doesn't feel as productive as writing and getting paid.