If you really want to "make his day", ask to move into _his_ basement!
My parents did this a few years ago to me. They were living in a camper at a lake and it got cold. So they just moved in! And then a few weeks later, my sister and her fianc� had to move in due to rat and rat poison problems in their neighborhood. So we had a crowded few months. At which point I turned the house over to my sister and moved to Oregon. =) We are all much happier now. So much so that I moved back within 100 miles of them. On your son's job situation, I would echo a previous post suggesting becoming a catering helper. They can never get enough semi-skilled help! They even hired me from time to time (with no skills whatsoever). And they paid like $150 for a party, with a handful available every weekend. Also, I'll pass along some advice my father gave me once when I needed a job. Put on your best clothes. Shine your shoes. Print some resumes. And walk into every business in town before 9:00 AM and ask if they need help. It has never failed me yet. Best thoughts to you and him. Jerry Johnson >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 02/21/03 12:05PM >>> hi gang, Another real bummer with the 22-year-old son. He's been working as a banquet cook and fills in at the pantry station in the line restaurant sometimes. It's a "boutique hotel" with a huge, deluxe fitness club attached. The restaurant serves the hotel, the club, and hopefully the general public. But the sales and marketing person (who just got fired) did a lousy job of publicizing it to the community. Between that and the economy, business has been lousy. Most of the restaurant staff have had their hours cut. Yesterday, my son found out he's being laid off (via a voice mail message). So, it's gone from bad (no roommate and not enough hours to make ends meet), to worse (no job). This is the third horse he's had shot out from under him since getting out of the cooking school. He's pretty bummed out. So am I - his moving home would create a virtual (or real) war zone. And subsidizing him until he gets up to speed on a new job (or jobs) and a roommate would be hard financially, especially when we're finally getting a handle on the budjet. <heavy sigh> My wife went over to "just be there" last night. (He only wanted "Mom" there.) She suggested he get real and go for a job at Starbucks or something just to make rent. Yes, I know the economy is rough right now. But I cringe at the idea of financing an education at the California Culinary Academy for him to end up at Starbucks. I think the problem may be that he doesn't have fast enough knife and "production" skills to keep up with the chefs' expectations - he loves food and cooking, but isn't the most coordinated person. (You should see his handwriting!) And he doesn't have the "fire" (drive) and confidence to charge into the typical line kitchen and take it by storm. (Pardon the mixed metaphors.) Yeah, I'm sure it will work out for him and us. Just feeling a little bummed and looking for some kind words from a bunch of great people. Have a nice weekend, everyone. -Ben ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
