Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Rainy Wednesday

Looks there's like a long rainy day ahead of me today. At least that's what the weatherman on TV said and he's rarely too far off the mark.

I'm getting ready to go pay my last respects to a friend from church who passed away over the weekend. Funerals in the rain can elicit some really depressing thoughts. I don't think I want to go that direction today though.

I got my paperwork sent in to ODJFS yesterday afternoon and checked with the IRS this morning, my refund won't be in for about another two weeks for some reason. I thought this e-filing thing was supposed to be a lot quicker than that. I haven't gotten any important e-mails this morning, so unless I get something later on I'm planning to start updating my resume this afternoon.

Working on my resume is always an exercise for my brain. Wording and rewording and shifting paragraphs here and there to make it look as professional and complimentary to myself as possible.  Telling the truth while trying to give the impression that I'm younger than I really am and not a grumpy old coot who could kick the bucket before they get him trained for the job.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Busy, busy, busy.

I woke up again at 5 a.m. today, but this time I rolled over and went back to sleep for a while. I did get up at 7 a.m. and got ready for the day. Don't want to let myself fall into a rut of laying around in bed or living in my pajamas.

I had planned to work on my resume this morning but other things pushed that plan to the side for a while.

Since my employer only said "job performance" and wouldn't discuss exactly why I was discharged and there wasn't a category like that, I put "undisclosed reason" on my application for unemployment benefits. That tripped a flag and ODJFS emailed me that they needed clarification via an online form.

The form said to "briefly describe" why I thought I was discharged. No indication of how much "briefly" was, so I gave them a couple of paragraphs...and crashed the javascript application. Okay, they were LONG paragraphs. Really long. I pared down my description a little and resubmitted it. This time it didn't crash, but it did tell me there was a 1500 character limit. So I had to use a machete and cut the crap out of my beautifully worded document. In the end it was a mere shadow of it's glorious beginning. Hopefully it conveyed at least a hint of the anguish I feel at being so coldly terminated.

Add to that they want a quarterly breakdown of my wage earning information for a 16 month period. Yeah, like I keep that handy. Took me all day to come up with all of this stuff. Getting ready right now to run down to the post office and get it in the mail to them.

I should also be getting some paperwork to fill out regarding medical insurance. Wonderful! I just LOVE having to track down all of this information.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Work, work, work...

Today was the first Monday that I didn't absolutely HAVE TO get up at 5 a.m. to get ready for work. I got up anyway. It didn't FEEL right sleeping in.

So, I've been busy today getting started on this new adventure.

I logged into ODJFS and started a new claim for unemployment benefits. I'm a little nervous since I now receive a small retirement income from two previous employers. The total amount is far less than the "official" poverty level, so hopefully it won't impact my benefits to severely.

My employer didn't specify exactly what the "Job Performance" issue was that precipitated my departure and "Job Performance" wasn't an option on the application...so I just said "Undisclosed." I'm praying that won't be an issue. One of my previous employers tried to get my unemployment benefits denied by lying about the reason for my departure many years ago. That's a nightmare I don't want to relive if possible.

I also contacted one of my retirement providers about starting health insurance with them. It's better than the policy that I had with my former employer, but also more expensive. The cost of the policy will probably eat up most (if not all) of my retirement benefits, so we'll be living on my wife's retirement check. Not having health insurance isn't an option since I have multiple health-issues and my medical expenses are pretty significant.

I still need to get a few more things nailed down, who knew being out of work could be so much work?

Sunday, February 26, 2012

A New Post At Last

After a long time ignoring this blog, I appear to have more time to devote to it now, seeing as how I am suddenly unemployed.

After four and a half years doing the same job, I was summoned to the office and dismissed for "job performance." I suspect it was office politics. A new department manager with a wife who needs a full-time job.

They had planned to get rid of me last August but circumstances made it impractical for them to do so. This time they got their ducks in a row and bid me goodbye. It was very cut and dried. "Hi, we're dismissing you, sign here, clean out your desk, give us your keys, don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Tomorrow is the first Monday in a long time that I don't have to get up at 5 a.m. to go to work. It's probably going to feel a little strange.

I'm understandably a little depressed but I think I'll get over it eventually. And, of course, it will be quicker if I find a steady source of income.

Monday comes with a lot of stuff to adjust to, phone calls to make, things in my life are changing and I guess I'll have to adapt.

I think perhaps the most annoying thing about all this is when I'm in that half-awake/half-asleep mode, sort of daydreaming and I think of something I need to do at work...and then I realize...No, I don't need to do that at work because I no longer have a job.