[stomachmonkey]

Aug 27th 2004, company meeting, we are told GMAC is no longer going to be our creditor and a new creditor has not signed on so you've got 1/2 hour to grab your personal effects before the building is locked down. Acclaim Entertainment, we shut down 3 locations in the US, 3 in the UK, 1 each in Germany, France, Spain, Japan and Australia. Complete global corporate meltdown in 1 day.

Kinda figured it was coming and I'd already had my staff clear out earlier in the week. Benefits ceased immediately and they stuck us for our last paycheck, lost 100+ vacation days and all my stock options. Ouch!

Wife is a teacher for NYC, she had been out on child care leave. She calls her principal to tell her she's coming back to work. She gets stuck with the class from hell which makes the next 9 months around my house a living nightmare and nearly destroyed my marraige but at least we have some income and benefits for our kids.

I spent the last year at home taking care of the kids and co-producing a couple of infomercials that still aren't done. Who woulda thought it was that difficult to get people to invest a measly $1,000,000 to get them going.

Couple of months ago I start doing some consulting for the worlds 5th largest software publisher, they are giving me so much work that I had to hire 5 freelancers to get it done. Problem is that after payroll and expenses I'd be better off working at McDonalds.

They've made me several job offers over the last few months which I've turned down.

Getting close to September and the wife is panicking about going back to the hell hole. If she does it's $800 a month to put the son in day care so I can try and work. If she does not go back it's $800 a month in medical plus no income from her.

So they call last week and say "what will it take to get you on board?" I give them a number and they call back later that day and say OK.

So I start on Monday.

What a relief.

I'm getting my life back.