newbuzz...Now that I commute to work (40 miles each way), I really miss my local community. As a longtime resident of my small hometown, I never realized how much I am identified with its culture. Not only have I lived in Cannon Falls and raised my children here, but all of my jobs over the last twenty years have been within city limits as well. For twenty years I have been able to walk or ride bike to work and home again for lunch. When I took my car, the maximum drive time was eight minutes (and that was if I hit the stoplight on a red). I was able to run errands on my coffee breaks and let my dogs out at noon. I knew that these were conveniences. But I have learned recently that these are the experiences that have made up my world view as follows: I know people, people know me, everyone is friendly, there is always enough time, things change slowly, people are the same, and I know what to expect. As I begin to adjust to my new schedule and my new digs, I cannot help but feel alone and isolated. I miss the comforts of home. By venturing outside of my comfort zone, I will expand my view while bringing my own to share with others. The mixing of cultures that occurs in the workplace is facilitated by etiquette and subtle mores that make it easy for everyone to benefit from differences.

newbuzz...I have not made a donation via cell phone to Haiti yet. Though this is an amazing way to fund a truly worthy cause, I cannot jump on the bandwagon. I have already made a commitment to help those in need whom I encounter on a daily basis. Often, this includes my family members. Sometimes it is a friend. More and more often, it is just me, and managing my own needs and finances. Hard times have surely changed my financial behavior. Now I must think about every penny that leaves my purse. I cannot spend much on entertainment or going out, and I cannot donate to every cause that pops up. But, this does not mean that I cannot make a contribution. My efforts at putting my own finances to rights as well as the help I can give to family and friends makes a mark on this earth as surely as the medical personnel who are helping earth quake survivors in Haiti. I agree with Theodore Roosevelt who said, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." If I keep this in mind, and act on it accordingly, there is no reason to feel that I am not doing my share, and no reason to doubt the power of my contributions.

newbuzz...I was reluctant to get up at 5:30 this morning, but then my husband arrived and placed a steaming, aromatic cup of coffee on my bedside table. Who could resist? Not me. I sat up and sipped my coffee in bed, watching the traffic update on the morning news. No slow downs, no crashes reported. Great. Now I could take my time and leave for work at 6:50. I dressed in leisure and headed downstairs where my husband met me bearing a bowl of hot oatmeal. I checked my email and my Farmville, packed my lunch, poured a second cup of coffee, and headed out the door for work. Then I realized I did not have my cell phone. I searched the house in a frenzy that can only be understood by fellow commuters who know that leaving one minute too late can result in several minutes late to work. I had to leave without the phone and this had me wracking my brain all the way in hopes of remembering where I might have laid it. I forgot my coffee in the car, but I made it to work in my high heels and a big hurry. Stepping off the carpet, my heel hit the slippery floor tile and I fell down in the lobby. I landed on both knees and only missed going face forward by bracing myself with the palm of my right hand. It hurt and it was embarrassing, until I realized that no one was watching. With more than ten people in close proximity, not one of them gave a second glance or asked if I was okay. That was weird. I thought that this was Minnesota, home of "Nice". I survived the morning and had a good day at work. I found my phone when I got home. My knees kind of hurt and my arm is sore, but I guess I will make it another day. Today I was reminded that while my actions can control many things, my reactions control my destiny.

newbuzz...With less than two weeks of commuting under my belt, I am ready to vote for mass transit. I would like to have a train from Rochester to St. Paul, (Minnesota, that is). I am prepared to pay taxes for this service. Whatever must be spent on the front end will save money and hassle on the back end. I do not like quick-stopping drivers on snowy days. I do not like fast drivers on foggy days. I do not like crazy, careless drivers on clear, dry, sunny days. I do not like to wait while the quick-stopping, fast, crazy, careless drivers are scraped from the road after they have an accident during rush hour. But, I would certainly like to sit on a heated or air conditioned train seat and check my email over the wireless internet on my laptop. I would like knowing that I was not responsible to drive or park the train. I would like to watch people and just zone out. I would like being part of a communal carbon foot print that would help preserve our healthy environment and natural resources. Jesse Ventura began a great work in our state with the Light Rail transit system. We just did not let him go far enough. I want mass transit, and I want it in my lifetime.

newbuzz...I have joined the ranks of the 90% of Americans who are employed. After three months of uncertainty and leisure, I am glad to be back on a schedule. Although I will never forget the brief interlude I had from the rat race and the world of the super busy, it is good to know where my meal ticket is coming from. Along with the experiences of having a job, losing a job, and getting a new job, I have learned to relax more and worry less. My new peace of mind does not protect me from the various calamities that may be just around the corner, but it does allow me to really enjoy what I am doing now and the things that I have today. Now I have a new schedule and a new routine. (Well, I am waiting for it to become a routine, so far, it is just all new). My dogs miss me during the day, and my husband beats me to the mailbox, but these are things that I can make up for on the weekend. I can no longer watch endless hours of daytime television or play on Facebook at will. But, my morning coffee is there for me and I know where to find my old friends. I think I am ready to just get on with it. Now, if all the other 10% of the unemployed could find jobs, I would be satisfied.

newbuzz...I know that the real reason Farmville is so popular is not because it is a great application, or a fun social outlet, or even an addictive past-time. It is because the unemployment rate is through the roof. That's it. Plain and simple. Displaced workers need something to do. The middle aged unemployed gravitate to the easily understood, wholesome apps like Farmville or Happy Aquarium. Here we showcase our work ethic on the farm, and then go to the ocean to daydream of happier times. The younger set go for Yo Ville and Sorority Life where they can keep busy with the things they understand and like to do in real life. The angry unemployed and underemployed go for apps like Mafia Wars where they can have fun pretending to be bad. Now I know that people with jobs actually find time to play on Facebook apps, but really, they did not become so popular in the mainstream until the bottom fell out of the economy. Unemployed people cannot spend money. They cannot go anywhere and they cannot buy anything. But, in the interest of finding a job, they must have the internet. They must search for and apply for jobs online. To that end, they spend many an hour on the world wide web. In order to keep their spirits up, they have to keep in touch with friends. Hence, social outlets like Facebook have become popular. Once logged in, there is a short path from checking on friends, to checking on the farm, or the fish, and so on. I think we will know that the economy has turned around when there is a downtick in the number of players on Facebook apps.

newbuzz...As I ponder the upcoming first day on my new job, I cannot help but reflect on the last twelve weeks of unemployment. At first, I was busy catching up on rest from the last six years of working full time and attending weekend college. Then, I spent a few weeks in a frenzy of activity around the house and yard. I did all the cleaning and organizing that had gone by the wayside far too long. I completed half finished craft projects and made new items for Christmas gifts. All the while, I was intently looking for jobs. I scanned the internet job boards and sent out resume after resume. I read rejection emails, and went on interviews. Finally, I began to relax. I slept soundly through the night. I woke up when I was rested. I got dressed when I felt like it, and left the house on my own schedule. I realize now that what I gained from losing my job was my own locomotion. I truly had control of my day in a way that I had not had in a long time. So, for a few short weeks, my economic security was traded for the personal freedom of my own time management. I did not have to worry because I was not rushed into anything and therefore I did not have the tendency to forget. There was plenty of time to get things done and to rest and relax. As I prepare for reentry into the work world, I want to remember how restorative it has been to stop swimming upstream, and just go with the flow.