My patience is being tested right now as I'm typing. I am currently on hold with the Vermont Unemployment helpline to figure out what the heck my PIN number is so I can make my weekly claim. I tried (multiple times) to redo it online, but it said to call the 800 number. This hold music is nice, but driving me crazy.
I know people use and abuse the system, and so they need to make it hard to get unemployment. I have been what the politicians and news media use the term "underemployed" for the past 6 years. That doesn't mean I've been on unemployment benefits for that long or have even tried applying for unemployment until now. I've always just "gotten by" on multiple temporary and part time jobs- substituting in 4 school districts, part time work where I can. I guess I'm lucky that I have 2 seasonal full time jobs that sort of get me by.
It feels weird applying for unemployment because I want to work. Not that people who are unemployed and apply for help don't want to work, it's just that I'm 34. I have a BA plus 6 credits towards my masters. I am a hard worker and love to work. Have I just not looked in the right area for jobs? Apparently not. I could still be teaching in South Florida. I could be teaching overseas somewhere. But I'm not. I'm sitting here at the computer at a little after noon on Monday waiting for someone to pick up the phone and let me get my unemployment benefits that I've been working for this far in my career.
Applying and taking unemployment benefits does not mean I'm giving up. I may have given up on teaching here in the State of Vermont, but I have not give up on working here in the state that I love. I applied to 3 jobs last week, like they asked I do. I went to my seasonal job's orientation (even though I don't start until December 10th or so). I signed up to substitute teach- just to get by (pay my bills) until my seasonal job starts.
In other words, I'm not a slacker! I might still be in my pj's, but I'm not a slacker!
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