So, here we are, already at the end of another month. I can't say much in the way of positive news, so I'll just start by mentioning that today would have been my grandmother's 90th birthday. She's been gone two and a half years, and I miss her every day. I her honor, I went shopping after work. Unfortunately, things are so bad with the economy that I only bought essential items.

Speaking of the economy, things have become so bad that my company announced not only raise and hiring freezes, but an across-the-board 5 percent pay cut for anyone earning more than $35,000 a year. That includes me. The thing that bothers me the most is that I worked really hard to get where I am and, in 32 days, I will revert back to a salary that I was given in 2007.

I don't know how long the raise freeze will last, but I'm not counting on it being out of effect anytime soon. So, it will probably take me at least two years to get back to where I am right now. That just ticks me off, to be quite honest.

You see, I work hard, and I expect to earn a fair wage for my work. I guess I need to slow things down a little and not aim so high. Unfortunately, I'll probably be doing more work than ever, so I'll be forced to work twice as hard and twice as fast. And sure, my work will suffer. But, those are the breaks, I suppose.

The positive spin on this pay cut news was that the company was giving everyone who was affected by it an additional two personal days to use before the end of the year. Unfortunately, I have an overwhelming amount of days off allotted this year, and I haven't even taken any yet. I'm not the kind of person who can stay home and do nothing. I need to have a plan, to go somewhere and do something.

Speaking of going places, at this very moment, more than 200 colleagues from all over the country are gathered in a hotel ballroom in Minneapolis for the American Copy Editors Society annual conference opening reception. I had expected to be there, until I was told that it was not in my company's budget, so they wouldn't be sending me. I briefly considered going on my own dime. The conference registration fee and airfare to Minneapolis were reasonable, but the four nights of hotel really added up quickly. So, I'm following along from home, hoping I'll have a chance sometime soon to get out of town.

Of course, for that, I'd need more money. In fact, the 5 percent pay cut just about amounts to what it would cost to take a relaxing two-week cruise.

Ah, well. There goes that idea.

Enough for this month. Hopefully, things will look up in May (although I doubt it).