Making lemonade from furlough lemons –

By The Editors
  
We asked some of our members to send us stories about how people are coping with the furlough.  Trying to make the best of a bad situation can help and it doesn’t hurt to keep your sense of humor, either. The following were sent in by members across the agency.

Let them eat cake!


Kaia Petersen from the Hazardous Waste Toxics Reduction Unit at Southwest makes “Furlough Cakes” and brings them in for her section to share.  Kaia already has a reputation for being a fantastic cook and baker, so she has no problem enticing people throughout the region to cruise by and grab a slice.  So far she’s treated the section and other lucky people who catch wind of it, to such cakes as chocolate pound cake and apple cake.  She has pulled out her cookbooks and is busy plotting cakes to bring in for each month there is a furlough day.  Kaia is humble about her talent and often says that “people will eat anything.”  Fortunately, with her baked goods, it isn’t difficult!
Joe Cason and Nannette Brooks “caught” 
with furlough cakes

Ten things to do on your furlough day

In the tradition of the “top ten” lists of the Late Show…

1. Make a great meal with Hamburger Helper and generic-brand spaghetti.
2. Dress like a hobo and ride a freight train.
3. Look for part-time work at a local farm. If there’s no work at local farms, see #2.
4. Fill out the forms to apply for Medicaid.
5. Make furlough cakes to bring to the office.
6. Sell some of your backyard produce at a busy public location. Apples are always popular.
7. Put on a blues album and sing along. Or howl like a dog if you get tired of singing.
8. Go to your house of worship and confess your sin of being a greedy state employee living like a leech on the taxpayers of the state.
9. Go to the union hall or phone or email your union Local and ask how you can help.
10. Call the Governor and your legislators and tell them you are mad as hell at how they are treating you and you plan to use every furlough day to fight back.

Attend OktoberFest-themed furlough rally on Oct. 11

Furlough rally planned for October 11 at Sylvester Park, Olympia from 11 AM - 3 PM

• Food & Music
• Fight the Furloughs
• Update: Health Care & Negotiations
• Guest speakers
• Legislative Info and more.....

Helping others in need


Members from Local 1253 near the Richland Field Office, including Ecology activists, used a recent furlough day to collect and deliver pet food to low income seniors needing assistance to feed their furry companions. 

Kathy Conaway, one of the participants, said “It felt good to do something positive with the time and to help some people.”

Ideas for belt tightening times

• 
In moderation, enjoy good food, enough exercise and positive thoughts – and thus make room for belt tightening.
• Join a carpool, vanpool, ride a bicycle or walk more – it will save money and help the environment to boot.

• Get involved and advocate for the highest good – otherwise, someone else will decide for you.

• Make a list of things you have been wanting to do – Turn off the TV and see what you can accomplish.

• Keep in close touch with the important people in your life – friends, family, work, your banker.
• Find a way to “wish” for what you need – letting someone know your needs is most of the way to receiving your wishes.

• Put a light under your passions – it will be your mirror to the world and make you feel good, too.

• Remember to have compassion - even your worst day is exceeded many times over by those less fortunate.

• Anything is possible - for those who believe in themselves and what they can accomplish.

• The more ideas the better – just take a little time each day and add your own thoughts to this short list

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