I hate this, I really hate posting this as I am a positive guy...feel like I suck now as a person. I freaking got fired from my job today which I cherished, and treated as if it were my own place. I don't even know what time it is, and I have tears streaming down my face right now...tears of dread and gloom. Sorry ok my friends. I did not miss a day of work in the 3.5 years I worked there - never took a vacation day - never a sick day - never complained or whined about anything (I worked sick - and when I had stuff I really had to do...I worked - came into work after I hit a car head on while cycling) Then there was this consultant guy, that the owner hired to make the dealership more profitable in todays hard times...I get that. But my body shop I managed was making money and I really really didn't get it. The consultant guy said it was time for a new direction...from what I thought. My shop is / was the top producing shop in Indiana and the surrounding areas....hands down as that is what I am good at. You may say Tim, brighter and better days are before you...no, not where I live where un-employment is at like 20% right now. 10 to 15 years ago I would have laughed and said...I already have a new job. It is not that way now what so ever and I feel like I got sucker punched by a big bully. Dedication and hard work seems to matter very little right now. I am a very good and smart guy who got screwed, and the real owner doesn't really know what just hit him...but he will. Seattle does not seem too feasable right now given my plight. But I will continue on with my training and will run a Marathon on my own in June...I will ya know. Wish this did not happen, as I was looking forward to meeting sooo many RA people at Seattle. But my X took me for all it was worth. I paid more in child support than any man I know...(tears) I adore and love my Katie, Timmy, and Joey though. My X didn't care about anyone but herself...and I paid big time. I left with the shoes on my feet, and that was about it. My 401K was gone - my retirement was gone...as everything was gone. As she left me for someone else, who she had already bleed dry and divorced. I am just mad at myself for being a good guy...good guys finish last ya know. I am sure this will be my last post at RA for awhile. But I will still be running and checking in with you all. I am still Marathon training and will run the distance. Monday morning...what am I going to do. All I really want to do is go to work and help who I am working for make money. I feel so sad for my techs, my dear friends who I take care of. Your running buddie Tim....wish I had something funny to say, I really don't Wave run in the morning, prolly faster than I should. Hope my boss sleeps good tonight. Tears Tim My, how did I get here??? Erika, take my money and help someone else ok. Make sure someone else can run Seattle and NOT worry about the cost of the house....please, thanks sweetie. Sorry if this is a mess...cause I am I didn't get let go, laid off....I got fired I am so bummed

Oh Tim! How awful!

Every part of tha sucks Tim. I know the company says it's nothing personal, however, when you blind side a guy like that and hit him in the pocket book, it is personal. I've been exactly there Tim. I rode a bicycle to work all year round and kept free weights stashed in my office. I had just changed into a suit and was cut loose. I didn't much care about the suits. Since then I've only worn them twice. At my wedding and DD#1's. How does some one carry dumb bells and a bar bell on a bicycle???? If I would not have changed carriers, I never would have me my wife.

Best of luck, Tim -- you'll get past this.

I'm sorry Tim, and as much as I know this hurts right now, you must regroup over the weekend and try to think of the positives. We will start prospecting right away, pounding the pavement for work, new resume, everything. Sooner or later, something will break, but it won't come to you. You will have to find it. Let's start thinking about the good possibilities for tomorrow and not grieve over this unfortunate action. You are a good guy and there is always a place for good people somewhere. Spareribs

"feel like I suck now as a person." Oh no! This does not reflect you as a person at all. You are one of the most supportive people on this board! Dont leave us. Best of luck. God has chosen a newer direction for you. I hope you find it and run (literally and figuratively) with it! Laurie

Thanks all... I didn't sleep last night at all, and I feel horrible this morning. I feel numb and really down about myself. I understand people saying I will be fine - a new opportunity will come my way and such. Sadly, where I live and how really bad it is I will not find work what so ever right now...not even a low paying job doing something totally different. They showed a picture of our unemployment office in the paper last week, and the lines of people wrapped around the building many times....6 to 8 hour wait just to get in the building. And the Governor of the state said the unemployment money is almost gone and many will lose - or not get the benefits at all. I wanted to add that Indiana is a fire at will state. Which means an employer does NOT have to have a reason what so ever to fire someone...I feel this is terribly wrong that I have NO recourse what so ever, NONE. I was in a room of four people when this happened yesterday. I was crying as I heard the news and I asked....what did I do wrong, I asked them to name something I was doing wrong. The room was silent and no one would say a word. This was just strange because this just wasn't how the owner did things. He always seemed like a great guy and he told me I was doing a remarkable job ALL THE TIME. Heck, just last week he put his arm around me and patted me on the back and said...I want to thank you for your good efforts and work ethic. He then said he didn't really believe a body shop really could be proffitable and that I proved him wrong. But something happened with this consultant guy that changed everything. When I got fired the consultant guy told the owner some bold face lies about me the hurt me very deeply because - while not perfect - I did well at what I did and was very good with people and my resonsibilites. There are going to be a lot of my co workers on Monday that will say....Tim, our Tim of all people got fired. Oh well, I really don't know what to do really. I am just going to hate waking up Monday morning with no job to go to. At my age, and what my X did to me finacially, no jobs at all around here....I really worry about myself. Sorry, just venting as I really don't have any family at all to talk to, and not that many friends that I talk to that much....many of my good friends were my co workers. And the rest are married guys and gals, and I know they have their own lives and problems to deal with. Don't know if date night is still on tonight, as she has not answered me the past couple of days. Ok, off on a run and don't have a clue what it well be...I won't quit running though. Just think, yesterday I posted very positive thoughts about me and my job and dealership...then this happens RA people are the greatest...thanks Tom, I still think of you, and your Dear Donna all the time. I would give anything to experience what you two had together again in my own life. Another BIG disapointment is the Seattle Marathon. That I worked very hard for and my training was going so well (sigh). I just can't justify spending the money going that far away right now. Sad Tim...hate saying that

Tim, I am thinking of you and what you are going thru. You will overcome, never quit Over the last two years, my life has been well (not the greatest) but this too shall past. Take the time to let all this sink in and let your emotions loose and then "plan". It's just like training, set some goals and go for them, without setting goals they are near impossible to achieve. You know you can contact me anytime bud, feel free to do so. Tall