You earned it

7.1.2kXI

If you have the occasion to get unemployment pay, go for it, as you've been paying into it the whole time you've been working. I had a go in the early part of the last decade, and despite a rather ridiculously paltry weekly sum, I had an easy go of it: I just filled out the stupid form and the stack of quarters came in the mail.

I'm on my second round of state aid and this time it's gone differently. I'm afforded a much different view of the whole process, and it's wacky. (I think it's my fault, though, as I ticked the "Not Looking For Work" box on Week one.)

First thing is I got a letter saying I was scheduled for a phone interview on Wednesday between 10a and noon. Problem was, that Wednesday I actually had a meeting scheduled at 11a! I emailed the bureau and told them as much and asked them to reschedule. Their robot sent back email and said, "too bad. You can't reschedule." And that was that.

Of course, on my way to the meeting, the phone rang. I pulled over and answered it and some guy from the bureau identified himself. I told him what I just told you and expressed my dismay about their inflexibility and the guy said, "You checked the "not looking for work" box. Don't do that again and we won't call you." Oooh ... so that's how it works!

So I checked the appropriate boxes from then on and got a letter saying I was scheduled for a live interview at 8am on Thursday! It also said the appointment could not be rescheduled! So, I got up early and took Ez to the bureau office. He played with markers as the bureau stooge gave me job leads for Flash designers, dental technicians and gardeners (no shit). I was courteous and interested. Hell, I need my fucking stack of quarters.


Tonight - Tunnel Top.


bye-ee!
whrr ... clik!