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Some Days are Just Better than Others

6/30/2018

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... but I'm still experiencing slightly rollercoaster-ish times as I navigate this whole landing-a-new-job ordeal.  In fact, today I even dragged myself to church to pray, but while trying to put up a decent prayer, I found myself all distracted by the Cute Baby situation going on in the pew directly in front of me.  It wasn't exactly Cute Baby who was shifting my focus, but all of the nearby parishioners ​ooing and ahhing over Cute Baby.  They couldn't stop themselves!  
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​People. Yes, it's a BABY and babies are CUTE.  But for the life of me, I couldn't figure out what it was that made Cute Baby so incredibly magnet-like.  I mean yes, I'm all for the appreciation of baby cuteness, but wow. *smh*


Back to focusing... well, I tried focusing at least, but praying while people are rubber-necking over a Cute Baby?  Almost impossible, I tell you.

So here we go, I hunkered down on my thoughts and crunched out a mental list of positive things for which I am thankful during this freakishly bumpy ride:
  • ​Making myself useful to offspring who have their own summer jobs (extra laundry loads, kitchen clean-up, shopping, food drop-offs, etc.)
  • Having actual sit-down breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with people whom I would ordinarily only see for dinner during the work-week
  • Morning workouts, thus eliminating the need for an extra evening shower
  • Establishing a decent - not 100% fake - tan (in progress, anyway)
  • Not having to take vacation time to move peeps in/out of residence halls, visit the dentist, or fly out to see my folks in New Mexico
  • Grocery shopping during the day, night, or whenever
  • Power housecleaning while everyone is out of the house for the day
  • Sleep, the ultimate gift of all, because I've had my share of tortured-sleep-deprivation days while raising kids over the years and can seriously appreciate uninterrupted zzz's

​Meanwhile, back to job searching with a vengeance... minus Cute Baby distractions, THANKFULLY.
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Letting the Inner-Tiger Loose

6/26/2018

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Feeling feisty to the extreme after submitting 34 job applications to 25 different employers. Also soon to be unrecognizable if this goes on too much longer.

Sensing a tail and fur coat coming on.
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The irony is SO not lost

6/22/2018

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While this week I was able to 1) collect another unemployment check and 2) score some consulting web design work for a client, the fact that my web work involved updating an online employment board with new job postings screamed: HOW IRONIC in big capital letters. So while feeling fortunate to have the extra side income by posting said web content, I am also wishing one of those job postings would have been relevant to my current job search.  *ergh*

Oh well - Onward and Upward! my dear Mom would say... and more time to focus on my tan.
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Hold that thought

6/19/2018

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Less than 12 hours after I published that last blog post, I received contact from the most recent job search lead with whom I had a couple of interviews last week.  

SO.

This blog could get really interesting, really fast. *fingers crossed*
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> 20 Leads

6/17/2018

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... but nothing new to report on the job front at this point. *sigh*

Age discrimination appears to be a real thing.  Just sayin'.
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Suntanning & Collecting

6/14/2018

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Here I am soaking up more sun after several days of job searching, because this is one of the best perks of unemployment yet - being able to kick back and enjoy the summer rays as all those job applications remain under consideration. And while luxuriating in the exquisiteness of this gorgeous day, another unemployment check magically deposited itself into my bank account. Meanwhile, sending up more prayers for landing that next dream job, lest I get too accustomed to all of this summer pampering.  

...and the family get too spoiled by all of the housecleaning/laundry getting done so quickly & mysteriously.
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Collected 1st Unemployment Check - BOOM!

6/9/2018

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Below is a screen capture of the weekly work search requirements needed for filing an unemployment claim in Nebraska, copied straight out of the Unemployment Insurance Handbook for Unemployed Workers (page 10):
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And as you can see, these are all of the required hoops necessary to jump through before claims are even considered (and/or paid out) - in addition to that whole orientation and 1-on-1 ordeal Governor Pete Ricketts put out there.  (See previous blog post.)  So while the State of Nebraska is bragging about the low unemployment rate going on (2.8%!!!), seems likely to be a direct correlation between these hefty requirements and beleaguered unemployed workers giving up on filing claims altogether.

Meanwhile... job-searching-with-a-vengeance continues.
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Surprise Selection Straight Out of Left Field

6/6/2018

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Last week I received a letter from the desk of Nebraska Governor, Pete Ricketts, informing me of my selection to participate in Nebraska's Re-Employment Services (NEres) program for help getting reemployed ASAP.  The letter also arrived with the threat of me losing my unemployment insurance benefits if I didn't go along with the program requirements.  Not wanting to lose said benefits, I coalesced and attended the required orientation where the facilitator displayed 3 videos on how to navigate the Department of Labor website, NEworks, and shared advice on next steps.  Finally, I was sent away with homework (3 online job assessments) after signing up for a personal 1-on-1 consultation, scheduled for tomorrow. 
​Alrighty - I'm on it, Pete.

So yeah, I'm rolling with all of these random requirements all while simultaneously running my own personal job search full-time, but there's still this running voice in the back of my head thinking... what will be jumping out at me from left field next?  Because if it involves anything related to insects, push-ups, or eating weird food - I'm so done.

​Meanwhile, the beat goes on.
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When Life Gives You Severance Pay

6/2/2018

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... take your peeps out for sushi.
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    I am Brenda Swenson and sometimes I blog.

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