Thank you, everyone, for your support!
Here it is Wednesday, and I'm already in the middle of the first week of my "unplanned vacation". (Hey, it sounds better than unemployment!)
I am starting to feel the stress get to me, but it's due to other things going wrong besides the job situation. I need to vent:
John was informed today that his contract position ends next month. The contract that he signed did not specify the end date, but he was told prior to signing it that it would be for a duration of 6 months. At the time he was offered this contract, he was also offered a 3 to 6 month temporary position from another company. The contract job paid more, and appeared to be the better offer, so of course he chose the contract position. That means we are both job searching. Is this a sign to move out of New York State? Or just another obstacle to overcome? Trying to find the positive side: Maybe we'll move south?
On Monday, the motor blew in John's car. For the low price of $550, we can get it fixed, or we can let it sit and go with just one car. We're going to have to get it fixed, (A) because there is still a year worth of loan payments on it, (B) we wouldn't be able to drop the insurance on it anyhow, and (C) I can't get to appointments and future interviews being way out in the country without a vehicle! Trying to find the positive side: At least I don't have to drive now, which I hate doing since the accident, and we are spending less money in gas!
There are other little things irritating me today too. One of those stupid cluster flies somehow got into the house and it keeps landing on me, and it won't let me kill it! I went to bake this afternoon and discovered we are almost out of flour and completely out of shortening. Let's hop in the car and go to the store. Wait...I can't..aaaagh! . It's just little petty stuff that doesn't really matter, but it is irritating when I have so much on my mind.
I've been busy this week contacting people to network for a new job. I now have more personal and professional references than I need, and referrals for companies out of state if we decide to relocate. I've explained our predicament to creditors and renegotiated payments and deferred others. I've updated my resume, and had it reviewed by a couple of friends, and sent it to a career agent today to be re-tweaked again. I have always been told to keep a resume to one page, but he turned into a 1 and 3/4 page resume.... So I need to either eliminate a lot of information, or add more to it, so it doesn't have a quarter page of blank paper. Maybe I'll just enlarge the font, and go for 2 pages.
I've attempted, again, to sell something on E-bay, but no bidders yet. If I could get one sale, it would give me encouragement to become an official e-bayer. I currently have a new compact digital camera bag for sale. Even though I haven't sold anything, I have found bargains. (indicating that I am much better off in a career as a buyer than in sales!)
I spoke with my friend that was laid off the day after me today, and she is understandably bitter. Although I am irritated that the company didn't cut costs in some common sense areas instead of laying people off, I never became really bitter. I even have empathy for the company and those employees that are still there for now. I guess the difference is that I didn't take it personally, I understand that this is a tough economy, I've had to deal with John's lay-off for over a year, and, compared to my car accident, this life altering event isn't as bad.
Thanks for reading!
Ann Marie
