Truly depressing. Isn't it just like the government to take someone who's worked so hard to try and get just a little bit ahead and nonchalantly hang them out to dry? It's like they dont' want regular folks to do any better. I swear, if you want to get ahead in this day and age, you have to be willing to screw as many of your fellow man as possible, legally or otherwise. It is a sad indictment of our society and our leadership.

As for decompressing once a year, I call that elk camp. I haven't done that now since 2004. Maybe this year. Maybe that's also what's ruining my attitude.

When you have only what you need, isn't that a Bhuddist moment?

I have resigned myself to the notion that for the rest of my life it really doesn't matter too much how much harder I work, how many more sacrifices I am willing to make; I will not do any better than I am doing now, and it can only go downhill from here. Most likely my next assignment will mean some sort of pay cut. At least I am set now to do as much as I had planned for my family. I am at the point where I really can't be canned unless I quit on the job, the company can't afford to let me go, but they have no room left for me to expand, and I am unwilling to move up to corporate mgmt due to the law of diminishing returns.

The problem with winning the rat race I guess is the piece of cheese at the end of the maze is never what you expected it would be.