Still Stuck

I’ve been job hunting since last September and most recently hunting every day. I search one site every day – all day. Go ahead, it’s ok to say it, I know you’re thinking it – I stalk this one site every day! I open every link and study what they are asking for before I jump and email them my resume (with all my personal information planted right on it), cover letter – pleading for them to hiring me. I’ve got a really business like cover letter and one that just says – look – I’m going to be honest with you, hire me, and teach this old dog. I kid you not! And you know what? I’ve got exactly 2 replies from that site and one was – thanks but no thanks. I started just applying for positions near me, but this last week I threw in my towel and started applying for positions near and far within reason. I still don’t want to be employed for $10 an hour and have to drive an hour to work. I think that kinda defeats my purpose. However, I am willing to accept that $10 plus full benefits as long as it is up north near me. Look, I’m separated and have a family to feed. I need something that works around my kids and their schools and their extracurricular activities. I do have to be somewhat picky, I’m sorry, but I do need weekends off.

I’m not completely unemployed, I am a substitute. I’ve subbed for the last five years for our district. Subbing is a job that has no guarantee. I’ve gone from subbing every day all day to hitting the search button all day every day just to find ONE half day job available.

So, that’s where I’ve sorta been this week. I’d much rather be immersed in my craft projects and decorating our rental – but to continue on that path, I need some sort of income. I do feel a bit of depression sneaking around my corner – like millions of other Americans. I’m trying to stay strong and positive. It is hard.

Part of the Family - 2

So, this is just one side of my dining room here in the rental. God, I want to paint badly – but I also have a practical side of me saying don’t spend money for paint in a rental – save it for garage sales, Michaels, thrift stores, etc. See – practical! Anyway, the table belonged to my great grandparents; it sat in their home a few blocks from the Chattahoochee River. I have photos of my dad and his parents spending the day on the river. There was no air condition in my great grandparent’s home. They lived in Phenix City, AL. It was HOT! And we visited quite often when I was little. And it was HOT! The lamp came from Overstock.com (said it was a Tiffany lamp – honestly I have no clue), the stained glass windows are from a local antique store here in Austin – they were a birthday gift quite a few years back. Yes, those are Longaberger baskets – bought when I lived in FL and that was about 12 years ago. The ferns are there just to hide the plug and the cord for the lamp. I have issues with wires – see blog about – crap in the corner. LOL I have a huge collection of old antique bottles and thought the little ones brought out the color in the stained glass window. The huge white thing is just from Hobby Lobby and the little angels are from a friend or family member – I’ve had them for a while, too. Oh yeah, the crock – I almost forgot – that was my grandmothers, she actually made a lamp out of it. The lamp was ugly, but I saw the beauty in the crock.

 

Finally in the dryer

Oh dear – I don’t usually forget to move the wash to the dryer. But today was just one of those days. I did not sleep last night, not at all. Raye was up coughing ALL.NIGHT! And she spiked a fever, so this morning I decided the cough had gone on far too long and it was time to have it checked out. Not to mention, I heard on the news there was several confirmed cases of whooping cough in our county. Well, not only was it confirmed in our county – We have a confirmed case of whooping cough in our elementary school. That’s right, whooping cough - highly contagious – confirmed – in Raye’s school! Joy! Raye has all of the symptoms. I sent her to school – yeah, I did…we don’t have 100% proof that she has whooping cough – so to school she went. I did drug her up; she needed to make it till at least 9am. Don’t shake your finger at me; if she has whooping cough, she picked it up from school. AND besides it is too late to worry about sharing it at school, she’s past the point of no return. And besides, I taught my kids to share. I am kidding – sorta. So, back to the doctor visit, the nurse came in and asked her questions, took Raye’s temperature and left us to wait for the doctor. The doctor arrived and asked her questions and checked Raye out. She could not confirm whooping cough either because whooping cough can disguise itself into bronchitis and asthma. It can mimic symptoms. Great, so the doctor wrote out two scripts and sent the nurse back in to swab Raye’s nose…results in a week.

Our Fireplace

I keep moving things around and decided I like this grouping on the right side. The little painting in the background was painted by my daughter. The plant was from my grandmother’s yard, yes the same deceased grandmother the other plant came from. I dug several of these cacti up from her yard in Georgia and brought them back to Austin. The other stuff I just picked up over the years.

 

EDITED 4-28-09 - I've moved things around - again! Sigh

Our Foyer

See that off white churn on the floor? We became fast friends when I was younger; I earned my first set of stitches from that thing. Needless to say when my grandmother passed away that was the first thing I asked for. The oversized candle sticks were found at Big Lots and World Market on sale of course. The white picture frame came from an antique mall here in Austin. The hope chest is circa 1986 - every girl that graduated back then was given a hope chest. What I'm now wondering is - what in the hell was I suppose to hope for? LOL! The plant in the corner is a desert rose. It will be so pretty when it blooms! Google it - trust me!

Oh My - Oops I did it again

Yes, I did let you all down. I said I'd be back and in fact I was not. I totally dropped the ball here again.

So, now that my life issues are settling down - somewhat.

I’m searching, applying and, yes, I have actually had a few interviews…very few. There are jobs out there, and I’ve been applying for said jobs…I’m just not said friend of a friend (thought I was, but her co-worker had a friend that needed a job, too) who needs a job, too! I’m trying not to become a deranged lunatic, but the fact is I am qualified for every job I have applied for. It is becoming harder and harder moving on when you fill out the application, turn it in on time, attach your resume…and then you wait and wait for the call for the interview…and then you notice the job has been removed from the website and you were not called. That’s right, no call, no interview, removed from the website is how you figure out the position was filled. Like I said, it is becoming harder and harder for me to move on, I need a job! Sigh