As of late, I've been job hunting and job hunting and, yes, more job hunting. I finally found one....but not before becoming increasingly broke, and finally filing for unemployment insurance benefits.
It should be noted here that when the decision is made to file for unemployment benefits, for me anyway, it's beyond the point of needing it - otherwise, I wouldn't have done it.
I need to tell you about the ridiculous snail's pace at which the state of Arkansas operates, but you couldn't grasp the true meaning unless you experience it. To give you an idea, it's almost as bad as waiting for a new and exciting post from Julia. But takes longer.
So anyway, I filed for unemployment (because, among other reasons, I realized that soon I would have no money to job hunt) and followed all the rules, and finally received a letter of determination in which they denied said benefits.
In the meantime, I found a job. My first day is this Monday. So the question becomes do I appeal for payment during the days/months I was unemployed? Hell yes, I appeal. I don't give a damn if it is denied again. I realize I'll probably never see a dime of that 1/10th percent of my former pay I would have gotten.
It's the principle.
Because I can, and because of that lazy bitch I spoke with during my wait on a decision who gave me NOT ONE DAMN ANSWER TO ANY QUESTION I ASKED HER except to say "you jus' have to wait on yo' letta." Because of the fact that they sit over there and don't do shit, and I feel like tax payers ought to be paying for them to work.
So they can work on my damned appeal.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
The Thursday Thirteen
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1…. I am currently an unemployed nurse. 2…. I'm married, for the 5th time. 3…. Looks like, once again, I didn't get it right this time. 4…. My dog is my best friend. 5…. I recently moved, still a bit depressed about it. 6…. My favorite TV show is Boston Legal. 7…. I'm itching to see the (apparently aptly named) movie Brokeback Mountain. 8…. My truck has GOT to go - I can't afford the gas it's going to take to get to work and back. 9…. I love candles. 10…. I burn inscence, and don't smoke pot! 11…. I have 2 sisters, one of which is a weird-o and the other I haven't spoken to in several years. 12…. On a normal day, I cry at least once. 13…. I feel sure I am in need of some sort of medication. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Friday, January 13, 2006
Made me think
I mean, really think.
Pardon me while I quote Jon at blurbomat:
Automatically, when thinking of gay/lesbian, I have always thought 'abnormal'. Why? I'm southern. Southern, and raised baptist. This ought to be explanation enough, but for those of you that aren't southern baptist-hip: gays and lesbians + any thought of such = sex, and not only sex, but unholy, immoral sex. That's just the way it is/was. Apparently mormons are raised in the same frame of thought.
I have been thinking that I'd really like to see Brokeback Mountain, but would wait until it came out on DVD so I could skip the bullshit at the theater. I mentioned to hubby that I'd like to go see it, and the face emerged...the one that says 'I'm a straight man.' As if I didn't know that already. As if I'd just asked him to perform in a drag show. The look that makes me want to roll my eyes and say "Get over yourself!"
Jon's post made me think: I really miss my friend Jimmy. Jimmy had been a friend of mine for many years. I'd known Jimmy was gay before Jimmy knew, or before he'd admit it. And admitting it took a lot. He even married a woman, and of course, it didn't work out. Jimmy was feminine, and was the reason for a whole new way of thinking for me. I was taught that it was a choice to be gay. So was Jimmy, but, this did not seem right. I remember feeling sorry for Jimmy many times...thinking that if there was ever a person that was meant to have been the opposite sex than he was when born, Jimmy was the one. He tried not to be feminine, but it was impossible. Really - not just an opinion - his breasts were large, his hips were wide...baby had back. And considering how big and burly he actually was, and, in contrast, how there was just simply no doubt about his sexual orientation once you met, talked, and spent time with him...I know Jimmy's was a very difficult life. So if it was a choice, why would it be such a difficult one? Why would one be born so given to the "wrong way to go?" But, Jimmy was always happy, always funny, and a joy to have as a friend. Truly the best person to have over for cheesecake and a showing/quoting session of Steel Magnolias or To Wong Foo. One of my very best friends, and those are few and far between. Jimmy, in his mid-20's, finally decided not to fight it anymore and gave in. He did some performances at a few gay clubs in Shreveport, and seemed to really enjoy it. I wish I had gone to at least one, I'm sure the pictures didn't do him justice..and come to find out Jimmy was GORGEOUS as a woman!! Eventually, Jimmy gave in to some bad influences and developed a problem with drugs...and constantly battled his weight, and it came down to a choice between life and stomach bypass surgery. He chose the surgery but the wrong surgeon, and died on Christmas Day a few years ago. What a loss, and what a shame that he died before he could experience the pride that so much of the gay and lesbian community are now able to celebrate after those like Jimmy suffered so much for it.
My thanks to blurbomat for making me think.
Pardon me while I quote Jon at blurbomat:
"Until you stop seeing the sex, and start seeing human beings trying to figure it out, just like you, we'll never move forward. This is the burden of the conservatives. The progressives are mostly there. This is the civil rights burden of our time. It's not a rejection of God. It's not a rejection of religion. It's a rejection of hate, prejudice and ignorance. It's a rejection of the most evil part of any organized group, Jesus or otherwise."
Automatically, when thinking of gay/lesbian, I have always thought 'abnormal'. Why? I'm southern. Southern, and raised baptist. This ought to be explanation enough, but for those of you that aren't southern baptist-hip: gays and lesbians + any thought of such = sex, and not only sex, but unholy, immoral sex. That's just the way it is/was. Apparently mormons are raised in the same frame of thought.
I have been thinking that I'd really like to see Brokeback Mountain, but would wait until it came out on DVD so I could skip the bullshit at the theater. I mentioned to hubby that I'd like to go see it, and the face emerged...the one that says 'I'm a straight man.' As if I didn't know that already. As if I'd just asked him to perform in a drag show. The look that makes me want to roll my eyes and say "Get over yourself!"
Jon's post made me think: I really miss my friend Jimmy. Jimmy had been a friend of mine for many years. I'd known Jimmy was gay before Jimmy knew, or before he'd admit it. And admitting it took a lot. He even married a woman, and of course, it didn't work out. Jimmy was feminine, and was the reason for a whole new way of thinking for me. I was taught that it was a choice to be gay. So was Jimmy, but, this did not seem right. I remember feeling sorry for Jimmy many times...thinking that if there was ever a person that was meant to have been the opposite sex than he was when born, Jimmy was the one. He tried not to be feminine, but it was impossible. Really - not just an opinion - his breasts were large, his hips were wide...baby had back. And considering how big and burly he actually was, and, in contrast, how there was just simply no doubt about his sexual orientation once you met, talked, and spent time with him...I know Jimmy's was a very difficult life. So if it was a choice, why would it be such a difficult one? Why would one be born so given to the "wrong way to go?" But, Jimmy was always happy, always funny, and a joy to have as a friend. Truly the best person to have over for cheesecake and a showing/quoting session of Steel Magnolias or To Wong Foo. One of my very best friends, and those are few and far between. Jimmy, in his mid-20's, finally decided not to fight it anymore and gave in. He did some performances at a few gay clubs in Shreveport, and seemed to really enjoy it. I wish I had gone to at least one, I'm sure the pictures didn't do him justice..and come to find out Jimmy was GORGEOUS as a woman!! Eventually, Jimmy gave in to some bad influences and developed a problem with drugs...and constantly battled his weight, and it came down to a choice between life and stomach bypass surgery. He chose the surgery but the wrong surgeon, and died on Christmas Day a few years ago. What a loss, and what a shame that he died before he could experience the pride that so much of the gay and lesbian community are now able to celebrate after those like Jimmy suffered so much for it.
My thanks to blurbomat for making me think.
Friday, January 06, 2006
GenuReflection
I haven't really posted much about Christmas, except to say I received a new digital camera which I've really enjoyed thus far. I suppose the reason I haven't posted much is because it wasn't a really enjoyable occasion this year. It seemed to be tainted by our recent move, and Hubby and I seem to always have a good arguement right around a supposed-to-be-great-holiday.
This Christmas was no exception.
For enjoyment, I had no choice but to refer mentally to Christmas Eve 2004 when I decided, for something different, I would go to Christmas mass with hubby. Having never stepped foot inside a catholic church before, I was in awe of everything - the beautiful stained glass windows, all the crucifixes, the bowl of holy water in the middle of the aisle, the benedictine monk officiating the service in full dress (I've never seen a monk!), and other things never before seen by my eyes, and I was trying militantly to be inconspicuous - so much so that I, walking behind hubby, wasn't paying attention when he knelt down IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAMNED WALKWAY to genuflect and I tripped over him.
Yeah, totally inconspicuous.
Hilarious now. Then, not so much.
During this last year or so I've learned quite a bit. The list follows:
- Some men believe wholeheartedly that you are there primarily for their every need or want, and can be muy hurtful and childish.
- How much shit I'm willing to put up with for a fidelitous man.
- Nursing is very much a rewarding profession, except monetarily.
- Precisely how much weight I can gain until my wedding band starts to cut off the circulation to my ring finger.
- Just how much of a smartass a 12-year-old can be.
- Full-time job + new marriage + mom + college = too fucking much.
- There is no limit to how much the price of gasoline can rise, and, according to public opinion, it is directly related to how much of an ass the president is/becomes. (Refer to Farenheit 9/11.)
- Even if your husband works for a gas distributorship, your gas is still going to cost you a small fortune. 'Perks'? My ass.
This Christmas was no exception.
For enjoyment, I had no choice but to refer mentally to Christmas Eve 2004 when I decided, for something different, I would go to Christmas mass with hubby. Having never stepped foot inside a catholic church before, I was in awe of everything - the beautiful stained glass windows, all the crucifixes, the bowl of holy water in the middle of the aisle, the benedictine monk officiating the service in full dress (I've never seen a monk!), and other things never before seen by my eyes, and I was trying militantly to be inconspicuous - so much so that I, walking behind hubby, wasn't paying attention when he knelt down IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAMNED WALKWAY to genuflect and I tripped over him.
Yeah, totally inconspicuous.
Hilarious now. Then, not so much.
During this last year or so I've learned quite a bit. The list follows:
- Some men believe wholeheartedly that you are there primarily for their every need or want, and can be muy hurtful and childish.
- How much shit I'm willing to put up with for a fidelitous man.
- Nursing is very much a rewarding profession, except monetarily.
- Precisely how much weight I can gain until my wedding band starts to cut off the circulation to my ring finger.
- Just how much of a smartass a 12-year-old can be.
- Full-time job + new marriage + mom + college = too fucking much.
- There is no limit to how much the price of gasoline can rise, and, according to public opinion, it is directly related to how much of an ass the president is/becomes. (Refer to Farenheit 9/11.)
- Even if your husband works for a gas distributorship, your gas is still going to cost you a small fortune. 'Perks'? My ass.
2006 edition of Bloggers' Cutest Pets
Is this the cutest dog you've ever seen? (Dooce's dog, Chuck)
Isn't this the cutest puppy you've ever seen? (One from ninjapoodles' newest litter)
Of course, no pet pic can compare with the face only a mother could love. (Gasp!)
Isn't this the cutest puppy you've ever seen? (One from ninjapoodles' newest litter)
Of course, no pet pic can compare with the face only a mother could love. (Gasp!)
Sunday, January 01, 2006
A New Year
In a future post I will elaborate on my Christmas but for now, some New Year's Day pics. (Can you tell I'm having a blast with my new camera??)
After a run of boredom and depression, today was a beautiful day...and I spent much of it out and about in Hot Springs National Park. How many folks can say they spent New Years Day outside in springtime weather at the park? It was truly a lovely day with temps in the low 70's, and as it happens, I have a few pictures! (Click on any of them to enlarge.) We drove up the mountain through the park and the view was outstanding despite the overcast weather. I took the pic above at the Gulpha Gorge Campground. (Notice that pic on the site is damn near like my handywork!)
I would say the perps were illiterate, but apparently they CAN write.
Added purely for fun. I get hysterical every time I pass this on my way home!
To round out the evening, dessert at Macaroni Grill in Little Rock. Trust me...order the Caffe Latte Cheesecake. TO DIE FOR.
After a run of boredom and depression, today was a beautiful day...and I spent much of it out and about in Hot Springs National Park. How many folks can say they spent New Years Day outside in springtime weather at the park? It was truly a lovely day with temps in the low 70's, and as it happens, I have a few pictures! (Click on any of them to enlarge.) We drove up the mountain through the park and the view was outstanding despite the overcast weather. I took the pic above at the Gulpha Gorge Campground. (Notice that pic on the site is damn near like my handywork!)
I would say the perps were illiterate, but apparently they CAN write.
Added purely for fun. I get hysterical every time I pass this on my way home!
To round out the evening, dessert at Macaroni Grill in Little Rock. Trust me...order the Caffe Latte Cheesecake. TO DIE FOR.
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