golo editor's blog

meet, "grumpy-not"

 abuse

Angela: I noticed that you joined GOLO on Valentine’s Day of last year. Do you remember what you were doing that day and why you were on GOLO?

Grumpy-Not: I was just at work and that’s when I started looking at GOLO and I noticed comments. It was some of the comments on stories that led me to GOLO. I wanted to put my 2 cents worth in too. Happy anniversary to me on the 14th… I guess it was the slowness at work that led me to being laid off in October. 

Angela: How have the last few months been for you since the layoff?  

Grumpy-Not: I have good days and bad days. I noticed that I sleep a lot. I know why it happens. I feel tired and like I don’t’ want to do anything but I have great friends and family and when I want to get out of the house they’re there for me.

Angela: Did your layoff come as a surprise?

Grumpy-Not: When I got laid off in October I was in shock! Well, I wasn’t really shocked I just didn’t think it would happen to me because I had more seniority. I spent time thinking about what I really want to do but I already have a BS in Education. I decided to take the time off and spend it with the family. My former employer offered outplacement services and I have a resume writing class next week and I have meetings with career counselors.

Angela: It sounds like things are going to work out.

Grumpy-Not: I hope so. I haven’t even started looking, and did my own resume, nine years ago. I haven’t touched it since.

Angela: Is there a danger in working the same company for a long period of time?

Grumpy-Not: I don’t think there’s a danger. In my thought I was going to retire with the company. I had already thought I’d be retiring early at 54 but it didn’t work out that way.  My job was affected by the problems with the auto industry.

Angela: How important is it to have friends and family during times like these?

Grumpy-Not: Really important to me. I was feeling really bad one weekend and a friend asked me to come spend the entire weekend. Also, at Christmas it was a really hard time. Friends brought me through and keep telling me that everything is going to be okay, and these are my GOLO friends.

Angela: It warms my heart to see people meet on GOLO and become friends.

Grumpy-Not: I have a couple of friends on GOLO who I spend a lot of time with. When the boys go to their dad’s house I’m with my GOLO friends.

Angela: Did you ever think your online friends would become your real-life friends?

Grumpy-Not: No. I was very nervous about it and I’m still nervous about some aspects of it. I have to be careful about who I involve in my life because of my children.

Angela: Do you think you’ll let them get involved with social media?

Grumpy-Not: I’m sure they will want to be on it. But I will monitor what they’re doing. I am going to have to learn it quickly. I’m very afraid of predators online.

Angela: What’s the most important lesson you teach your children? 

Grumpy-Not: To have respect for themselves and others.

Angela: Do you think that’s missing nowadays?

Grumpy-Not: I do. I see parents interacting with their kids in public and its like kids run over their parents.

Angela: Do you believe in spanking?

Grumpy-Not: Yes I do. My boys are very head strong but the only time I spank them is when they do something that might cause harm to themselves or others, because they are very rough and tumble. They’re all boy.

Angela: What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever done?

Grumpy-Not: I’m not really a funny person

Angela: So, tell me about something fun you’ve done.

Grumpy-Not: I enjoy spending time with family. We take a week and go to the beach-- my extended family. We get a house and spend the week fishing, swimming, reading and hanging out. This year it will be hard. My sister lost her job the day before Christmas. We may go the mountains instead.

Angela: What was your childhood like?

Grumpy-Not: I was a tomboy. The girls in the neighborhood were older and picked on me so I always played cars and football with the guys. My mom said I climbed every tree in the yard. I never had time for baby dolls. I didn’t have time for Barbie

Angela: So that’s pretty funny that you have 2 boys now.

Grumpy-Not: Yes and they are as hard-headed as I was. I was heavily into sports. I won a volleyball tournament at camp one year. I played softball in high school. Basketball and softball.

Angela: Did you get grief from other girls?

Grumpy-Not: No I was pretty much a loner in high school. I hung out with a core group of friends, and I love to watch the Tarheels play ball.

Angela: Where would you like to be 10 years from now?

Grumpy-Not: At a place where I’m comfortable with myself and my boys who will be 15 and 16. I’d like to see them grown up and succeed in the things they do.

Angela: Tell me something you’d like to do before you’re done here on this earth.

Grumpy-Not: Spend a lot of time traveling and going a lot of places. My ex-husband and I used to keep a bag packed all the time and I’d love to do that again.

I’ll take the boys to Disney World this summer if I get a job.

Angela: What’s your pet peeve?

Grumpy-Not: Close-mindedness. That you don’t allow anyone to have a different thought. It’s hard for me to watch people bash other people. There’s a way to talk to people.

Angela: I may have you teach that class on GOLO.

(We laugh)

Grumpy-Not: That would be a hard one to teach.

Angela: The pay would have to be good, huh?

Grumpy-Not: It would have to be REAL good!

Angela: What would you say to people who may be in denial about possibly being laid off?

Grumpy-Not: Make sure you have your resume updated and have a copy of it with you.

Make sure you have personal things at home, not just on your computer.

You can’t trust that you’ll be able to go back and get your things. Someone else might pack it up for you. If you have personal

Angela: How hopeful are you that this is going to turn out for the best?

Grumpy-Not: I’m very hopeful and trust that the Lord had a plan for me. I’d felt for a long time that I needed to be doing something else and I feel it was his way of showing me that it was time. I’m ready to look forward to the journey and where it will take me.

If you're looking for honest, open conversation from someone who oozes sincerity, there's someone I'd like you to meet. I had a chance to chat with "Grumpy-Not." two weeks ago and she was so easy to talk to that we kept going "off-the-record and sharing personal stories. Now it's your turn. Meet, "Grumpy-Not:"   

Angela: Is there anything you’d like to say to GOLO?

Grumpy-Not: Just enjoy GOLO for what it is. It’s a community of friends and it can be great friend and a very stressful place if you allow it to be. But I think it’s the greatest place and I’ve been really impressed.

Angela: Nice talking to you Grumpster.

Grumpy-Not: You too.

Filed under: People