LyondellBasell, this one could hurt!!!

[AngieDoogles]

I agree completely with Gayle. I think you are taking it hard because you have such a huge heart. Hang in there. Hopefully things will start to get better soon.

[DianaB]

Marilyn, I know that you're worried about what's going on and I know that you know this passage from the Bible, but I'm going to share it with you anyway. Pay special attention to verse 34. This is from the Message--

Matthew 6:19-34

A Life of God-Worship
19-21"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
22-23"Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!

24"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.

25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

[Marilyn]

Thank you, Diana, yes, I know this scripture very well, and I'm trying to maintain the proper perspective, and pray a lot and try to give it to God since He is the one in control.

When you are right in the throws of something it does become difficult, and I was using this forum to release some of my concerns, I guess. We seem to at least have some information now and have an idea what our liabilities will be. It will probably be pretty bad for our branch as I feared. We will know for sure on Monday. Not enough to affect anyone's job, but definitely our pay this month, when the big right-off will occur if it goes as we think it may.

Thank you all for listening, and for your support. You are such a wonderful group of ladies and friends!!!!!

I'm feeling much better now that we have some information and a direction on how to conduct our business with them in the future. My direct boss is pleased with what we've done. And I think our other management are too, now that all the freaking out is over.

With great rewards, come great risk sometimes.

[judy]

I'm so glad you are feeling better about this situation. One day at a time.

Hugs,

Judy

[DianaB]

Marilyn, I know that this is a couple of days late but how did Monday go at work?

[HALEY]

love you post Diana.

but my belief is this recession is going to get worse before it gets better!

[Marilyn]

Well, the LyondellBasell thing is not looking good. We don't have the final ruling yet, now they are saying maybe by next Tuesday. It is looking like we may get stiffed for over a $1M. At my branch, it's $700K of that amount. I did find out that the commission plan works both ways. We share in the profits and the losses. I haven't calculated the damage yet, because I just didn't want to know, but if they write off the $700K, our profits in a month are not this much, so my commission will be a negative number. I will still get my base pay, but no commission until I make enough commission from profit to offset the negative. Once the negative is paid back, I'll start receiving positive commission pay again.

So this thing is personal, and it looks like those of us who do earn commission will lose pay. We are blessed and do not live paycheck to paycheck, so we will be okay. There are at least 2 people who are not in the same situation as we are who will be affected.

We just have to increase sales elsewhere as much as possible to offset this loss which is difficult right now. I'm working on some things to try to improve the situation and reduce the damages. One reason I haven't been on here as much this week.

Thank you all for caring so much, my dear friends. Our family is very blessed though. We will weather this okay. It's just money, the important things are doing great!!!!