Day one of this and I'm already going nuts....

[elevenelevenxo]

Well, I've signed up for unemployment, I've sent applications to a couple places, and I just applied to a new school in my hometown, which is about an hour north of where I'm living now.

I had an e-mail from the Jobs and Family Services that said I needed to clarify some information regarding being a college student and my eligibility for unemployment. See, I work full time and take as many classes as I can. Right now I've got 2 classes, so I'm only going part time this quarter. I pay for school through financial aid and student loans. I really hope they're not going to tell me that since I'm in school, I'm not eligible for unemployment compensation...... :mad: I would think that would make it more of a priority that I receive some sort of help!! It's not like I'm being a total bum living off of unemployment and cheating the system - I'm actually trying to better myself to get out of this mess! But I suppose that would be common sense and that's certainly not a concept the government is familiar with.

I'm going to go to my parents' later today, file my taxes, and really just get out of my apartment. I need to buy hair dye while I'm out.....if you saw my thread about Rebel with the pics, you no doubt noticed that my hair is dyed pink - something I imagine most employers will frown upon. :doh: So I have to 'normalize' myself, lol...

I've been a mixed bag of emotions since we found out yesterday afternoon. One minute I'm fine, thinking positively and optimistic, but the next I get this tight feeling in my chest and all I can do is cry. Cry because I don't know what's going to happen with Rebel, cry because I don't know what's going to happen with my relationship with my boyfriend of 2.5 years, cry because it looks like my best option is to move back home and away from this city that I've come to love....and cry because I'm having to change what I look like and who I've come to love to be (a girl with crazy pink hair and a nose ring!). I know it's all a part of growing up and sooner or later all of this was going to happen.......but of course it sucks when you're being told you have to do something and you lose all power over yourself, ya know?

I just feel helpless and I don't like it one bit.

Who else out there has been laid off? Either recently or in the past....? What did you do and how did you feel? If you had horses when it happened, what did you do?

[Kaitlyn]

I've been out of work for almost 5 months, I've gained weight, became depressed again and still looking for a job.Someone with more experience always comes along and I'm left in the cold because I've only got 2 years. I've tapped out almost all my resources and my car payments aren't going away. I'm not in school, I should have signed up and gone last year but I just didn't know what to do. So here I sit, searching.

On edit: And I'm going nuts! I'm so freaking bored without having a job I can't stand it.

[shewasmyshadow]

If you're willing to change your hair to a normal shade and take out the nose ring...then being a nanny might be a great option. :D I currently do daycare and it pays excellent. Kids are so much fun and easy to work with. You could even get a family with older kids if you don't do babies. :) Just a thought...

[HoustonFarrier]

I got laid off from a 6-figure software engineering job in 02.......got up the next morning, started full-time farrier work. It was a pretty drastic pay cut, but I will NOT accept govt unemployment (it's just me :) ).

When I was medically retired from the Army in 1988, I left Ft. Bragg NC, and drove to Cincinnati, OH to start a job with OSHA. Had no place to live....basically drove up I-75 until I saw rental appt. that I could afford :)

Look at is as an adventure....a challenge .....

Steve

[elevenelevenxo]

Yeah, I was thinking about that one. :) But unfortunately around here, it seems like you have to have some college education or at least be enrolled in an early childhood program.

I have retail experience, so I'm sending out those kinds of apps like crazy. Already applied to this toy store at a mall up the road called "Itsy Bitsy World," Petco, and when I dye my hair, I'll be checking with the tack store that's right up the road, the vet clinic I take my dogs and cats to (they know me and know I'm a good person....seems like I'm in there every week sometimes, LOL)....trying to find just about anything....

[elevenelevenxo]

Look at is as an adventure....a challenge .....

Very true and I'm trying to do just that. :) It's a darn good thing we don't have kids or a mortgage to pay.....but I do have car payments and we have the furry variety of kids (and now hoofed too....LOL), or else I'd tell my boyfriend to pack his bags, we're using this as a major opportunity to do some long-awaited sight seeing of the country.

But unfortunately this isn't a movie and I can't do that....

School is a step in the right direction though. Entry level wages for radiography is around the $30-45k mark....and that sounds darn nice if I can get it all done with in a year or so. :)

[shewasmyshadow]

No education needed to nanny. :D You don't need to be licensed for a single family. You do need experience with children and lots of good personal references.

[elevenelevenxo]

See, I don't have experience with kids. :( Dogs and horses....lol, but I think I'd probably not get offered a job if I said I'm a skilled pooper scooper and ask where their muck pile is for changing diapers.... :p

[shewasmyshadow]

See, I don't have experience with kids. :( Dogs and horses....lol, but I think I'd probably not get offered a job if I said I'm a skilled pooper scooper and ask where their muck pile is for changing diapers.... :p

ROFL. :p

[Sundays Man]

Jessica, it's ashamed that too many people judge by what they see on the outside of people. But you don't have to have pink hair or a nose ring to be in control of your life. People will often be blinded to what a unique and good person someone is just because of what they see on the outside. You can be in control of your life even without the external stuff. You are who you are and you are in control of your own life whether you like it our not. You are much, much more than just pink hair or a nose ring. You are Jessica and there is no one else in the world like you. Just let the real you come through in your personality and it won't matter if you have no hair, pink hair or brown hair. Enjoy being you and let the rest of the world get over it.

Just don't give up. Keep knocking on every door and turning every rock. Just what you need will come along. Keep us updated on your situation.

[Remali]

Hang in there! I have been out of work since last June (well, I just found out today I got the job I applied for quite some time ago), except for a few temp jobs here and there and a failed job last month, I've been out of work for awhile and on unemployment....I sure know how you feel and those emotions can get ya down, I would find myself hopeful one minute and so scared and worried the next. I'm not sure either about going to school and getting unemployment....here in WI you must be available for work in order to get unemployment so here in WI I think you may not be able to go to school and get unemployment, but I could be wrong and things may have changed since someone told me that.

As for your horse. This is what I did......I talked to the barn owner right away (happens to be the same people I bought my mare from), told them that I wasn't sure if I could afford to keep my horse any more due to my job loss......they were very nice and told me that they really hated to see me give up my horse and were willing to work with me, so perhaps you could talk to your barn owner?

[elevenelevenxo]

As for your horse. This is what I did......I talked to the barn owner right away (happens to be the same people I bought my mare from), told them that I wasn't sure if I could afford to keep my horse any more due to my job loss......they were very nice and told me that they really hated to see me give up my horse and were willing to work with me, so perhaps you could talk to your barn owner?

Yeah, I'll do that. She wasn't out yesterday so I'll either swing by later or give her a call. Since I'm new to the barn, I don't really know what to expect....I mean she doesn't know me from Adam, so who knows what'll happen. I think I'm good though for a while longer. I've got somewhat of a cushion and my parents have said they'll help me with bills until things get straightened out....and I'll only be paying one more month's share of rent since our lease is up on the 1st and I'm just going to move back home. That leaves me several months money left for board before I really need to worry and by then I'm really hoping I'll have a job. If nothing, I at least have about a week long farm sitting gig that should bring in $250 or $350, which is yet another month's board.

[elevenelevenxo]

Jessica, it's ashamed that too many people judge by what they see on the outside of people. But you don't have to have pink hair or a nose ring to be in control of your life. People will often be blinded to what a unique and good person someone is just because of what they see on the outside. You can be in control of your life even without the external stuff. You are who you are and you are in control of your own life whether you like it our not. You are much, much more than just pink hair or a nose ring. You are Jessica and there is no one else in the world like you. Just let the real you come through in your personality and it won't matter if you have no hair, pink hair or brown hair. Enjoy being you and let the rest of the world get over it.

Just don't give up. Keep knocking on every door and turning every rock. Just what you need will come along. Keep us updated on your situation.

Thank you Sundays Man. Those are some really kind words. :)

I know I'm not defined by the color of my hair or having a silly nose ring....those things are just fun and a part of who I am....and I'm just sad to see them go. But it's pretty much an inevitable fact of life. And I guess my bank account will appreciate me not buying jars of $9 hair dye every few weeks....lol.

[Sundays Man]

I know what you mean. I hated to let my hair go too. I mean really, it let go of me I should say. I used to have curly long hair and now it looks like, well let's just say, some of it turned loose and some of it turned gray.LOL Maybe that's why I grew a beard for many years, making up for my loss.:rolleyes:

[elevenelevenxo]

Maybe that's why I grew a beard for many years, making up for my loss.:rolleyes:

Hehehe I think if I tried that, I'd just be more upset and it still wouldn't help me get a job! :hysterical:

"Who's the crazy girl with a beard?"
"I don't know, she keeps muttering things about wanting to work here and how she misses her pink hair....just call security and get her out!"

[TheRedHayflinger]

but at that point you could always join the circus!!!

If nothing else, apply at some temp agencies...pay isn't great at all, but it IS incoming funds!!! LOL