Jobs/Economy Etc.

Recession, Bailout, Layoffs...These words have been flowing like champagne on the AIG "Spagate" trip. Is there an end in sight? Who knows, so grab your cash hide it under your mattress and lock the doors b/c you never know if your job will be there tomorrow. And in the spirit of Thanksgiving...Sarah and I are thankful to be employed. You know it is bad when CNN puts an article from Career Builder on it's website with the 25 Best Cities to Find a Job In. Being curious as usual, I decided to take a gander and browse over the article. I figured that there would be some fairly cool places out there...well if North Dakota, South Dakota or Montana is high on your list then this article is for you. http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/11/24/cb.best.cities.find.jobs/index.html?iref=hpmostpop





Here are the top five on the list and what it would take for me to take a position in these cities versus being unemployed.





Top Five:


1. Sioux Falls, SD - Quaintly nestled near the Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska borders, this town from google maps looks like it is in the middle of America's quilt. Perks of this city include the balmy 25 degree average high in January, and the 93rd Angriest City in America according to Men's Journal. I would say that it would take $400K, plus private flights back to Memphis on the weekend, and my mortgage paid for me to take a job here. No wonder they top the list of best place to find a job. Chance of moving...2.3%


2. Rapid City, SD - What Sioux Falls is to eastern South Dakota, Rapid City is to western South Dakota. This city has a little more appeal since it is near the border of Wyoming and Wyoming has cowboys and mountains. I would say $90K would do, with a corporate apartment, and weekend pheasant hunts would get me there. Chance of moving...3.57%


3. Idaho Falls, ID - Located in the SE corner of Idaho, this town has more appeal than just potatoes and the Snake River. Because of it's close proximity to Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, I would take $75K, a new fly fishing rod, and snow skis. I wouldn't even require that my housing be paid. Chance of moving...19.8%


4. Bismarck, ND - Ummm...seeing that a drive to the Canadian border is closer than the drive to the next big city...I would say 7 figures, and a corporate jet with my own pilot would do the trick. I'll weigh in the fact that it is the capital of the state and Neil Behrend, a nationally known reproductive specialist, is from there...still though. Chance of moving... .00065%


5. Houma, LA - Proximity to home...excellent. Not too far from New Orleans...might be commutable. Located on the inter coastal waterway. Good fishing...I would take $90K, one of those swamp boats and an alligator gun. Chance of moving...6.8%.








Just my thoughts for the day. Enjoy and let me know what city you would most likely move to.

Gray's Five Holiday Predictions

It's that time of the year again. The Holidays! We love it and we hate it all at the same time. So in the spirit of long lines, holiday tradition, and Christmas Cheer, here are my 5 Holiday predictions:

1. Football - What would the Holiday season be without it? Just think if you woke up on Thanksgiving day and the Cowboys weren't slated to play? What if there were no bowl games during the Holidays. I'm not even going to think about it b/c it is bad for my mental health. So here comes the football prediction from the BCS. Oklahoma will be playing in the title game versus Florida. Unfortunately for Texas, who beat OU head to head at a neutral field, they will be left out. Fortunately, I will not have to be watching Bama play in the title game. Reason they are the ones to get there...Bob Stoops is sleeping with the BCS and the BCS wants to cheat on Bob Stoops with Urban Meyer. UF wins big and proves once again that the SEC is the real deal.

2. Baby - One of our friends will have a press release to announce that they are pregnant...by the way...i never got the whole "they are pregnant" statement. I have yet to see a man pregnant with a baby. Someone please explain...

3. Wedding - Along the lines of baby news will come wedding news. One couple that Sarah and I have known for more than 1.5 years will announce that they will be heading to the chapel.

4. Snow - I will experience my first ever White Christmas in Denver. I have never had one of these. I have had rainy Christmas, hot Christmas, and even foggy Christmas, but never White Christmas

5. Terrible Gift - I will win the "Terrible Gift" award this year. I have avoided this for several years now and I am due for the gift that belongs in this category with genuine leather cheetah figurine, dog door stop that has red ears, and Disney snow globe that was given to a 17 year old.

Oh the Holidays! It's when we get to put the "fun" in dysfunctional!

Brief Break in Blogging

It has been a bit since I have made an entry and I apologize. I had asked Wrigley to fill in for me in my absence, but apparently it is tough to submit a blog without an opposable thumb. At least we know he tried...