From Jobs to Jypsy

When I first started this blog I fully intended to make it a chronicle of job hunting. I was laid off in February of 2008 and was so convinced I would find a job within a short period of time I didn't even sign up for Cobra insurance. Why would I - I would have a job within a month! Little did I know the bottom was about to fall out of the economy, although I should have recognized it coming. Perhaps I was living in a fantasy world. This past two years or so have taken a lot out of me. I'm starting to question whether I even have the skills needed to get a job - ANY kind of job - and my confidence is at rock bottom. I've managed to keep my head above water which I know a lot of folks have not been able to do and am so grateful I'm still in my house and managing to get the bills paid (although I just found out my mortgage company is going to raise my mortgage for the second time in 4 months - not quite sure how that's going to get paid now). I've never not had a job before and this has been a humbling experience. I went last week to the public clinic to see if I could get some prescriptions for some ongoing medicine I take, and in May I'm going to see if I can get into a hospital medical program that caters to the low-income. I checked to see if I qualified, and I'm well below the poverty level they specify. I feel useless, frustrated and depressed. I find it hard to understand how I can apply for 188 jobs in a 7 month period and get only two interviews out of it. Some aren't even jobs related to my professional field - jobs in department stores, Walmart, Target and other retail places not to mention temporary and part-time positions. I feel like I can do anything if someone will explain what they want me to do. I'm really not fussy.



I know how people react to whiners and that's why this has become instead a pick-me-up journal of the one thing that keeps me laughing and makes me think about something other than myself. Being a dog-lover most of my life, I think it was a miracle a little lost kitten wandered into my life just before the storm came roaring in. She gives me love without asking for anything but a little kibble and some time outside in the sun. She's given me something to focus on and something to excel at - being her 'staff'. It pleases me when someone remarks about how sweet she is, how social she is, and what an amazingly funny and personable cat she is. I can't help but beam with pride because I know it's mostly all her, but I like to think maybe a little of it is the way she's been raised and I'm a good pet owner as well.

I will continue to fight the good fight in job hunting and hope that somewhere is a business or company willing to take a chance on a 'mature' worker. And Jypsy will continue to keep me laughing.