No-Go

So Plan B is a no-go. The state will not approve funding for my training. Apparently I picked a field (and wasted 2 weeks researching it) that the state thinks isn't marketable. Well, either is graphic design apparently! So bottom line, I have 8 weeks to find a job with the skills I have. I've sent out 7 resumes so far this week. And will be sending out more. Anything and everything I'm remotely qualified for will get a resume from me.

In the meantime, I'll be spending the whole day at the mansion for our Trick or Treat event. At least it will be a good distraction. I even convinced Eric to stop by and take photos for us. So I'll try to post some of those tomorrow!

Oh, interesting side note. The hiring guy for the Sports Network job I applied for in Burlington, MA went to Fitchburg State also. Small world.

Status Quo

  

The leaves are slowly disappearing from the trees. Winter is fast approaching. November starts on Saturday. Snow is even in the forecast. 

But here's something good in the world! Gas is below $3/gallon. I hope it keeps going lower. That would be nice. 

At 3:30 today I have a meeting with the Unemployment Office regarding the funding for training and getting an extension. I have all my paperwork filled out. I won't know for 30 days (or more) if it gets accepted. Nothing like living in limbo.

I'm still sending out resumes all over the place. For everything. I just sent one last night to CSN New England. The NBC Sports Network, in Burlington, MA. I have a friend who works there who sent me the info. She's telling the hiring manager about me. I'm way over-qualified and probably want too much money. But it would be a fun place to work. Although moving with winter fast approaching doesn't seem like much fun. I like my Plan B better. 

On the up side, a brand-new giant 2-story Wegmans just opened in Burlington, MA...

Plan B

It's been a few days since I updated the blog. I've been busy working at the mansion and I was at the unemployment office 3 times in the last week. I took 2 workshops and had a meeting with a counselor. And I have another workshop this week. I have a Plan B in the works. A Plan B that hopefully extends my unemployment benefits and gets me trained for a new career. I have a ton of paperwork to do and hand in over the next week, and hopefully within a month I will know if I will be heading in another direction, all paid for by the great state of NY. (And my tax dollars.) I will still be looking for a job in my field, and will continue to look for that, but I need to have another option just in case that doesn't work out. I will keep you posted!

Meanwhile, here are a couple of pictures I took on my phone this week while out walking Jenny...

The Mansion, etc.

So this is where I get to go hang out whenever I can. This is the Barnes Hiscock Mansion. A National Historic Site, and site of the Underground Railroad. Just a very cool and fun place. I enjoy every minute I get to spend there. I feel appreciated and I just really enjoy helping out.

And in other news, Novak visited New Zealand on "Spring Break"...
and went Bungee Jumping. Weeeeeee! 

Dancing Fools

Eric and I went to a wedding on Saturday night. My former co-worker and friend Jim Beebe (Beebs) and the lovely Liz Marcy got married. They met on a blind date and married 5 years later. It was a fabulous evening, probably one of the most entertaining weddings I've ever been to. They thought of everything. It was truly a lovely evening and I wish them nothing but the best.

The photo above was just leaked. I fear there will be more. We were dancing fools all night long! 

It was so nice to see the old crew too. I missed them all so much! 

Noteworthy.

Apparently my background is "noteworthy". That's it? 25 years of design experience is "noteworthy"?? What an insult. And from RIT nonetheless. I shouldn't let it bother me.They were rude from the get-go. And I knew I wasn't going to get the job. But rejection is never easy. It took me sending several messages to even get a response out of them. I'm sorry, but if I'm going to travel 160 miles to interview with you, at your request, I expect a timely rejection. And not one I have to drag out of you. And not one that is insulting and rude. Jerks.

Oh, and apparently there is no way I will get an extension for unemployment. My benefits will run out on December 23rd. Thanks for nothing. 3 years ago, I would have gotten (3) 6-month extensions. Now, they don't do that. And do you know why? Because they wanted the unemployment numbers to go down. Do you know why they are going down? Because people can't file for unemployment after 6 months. So as of Dec. 23rd, I will no longer be considered unemployed. Even though I most likely won't have a job. Isn't that fun? I love our government. Way to work the numbers in your favor and screw the hard-working citizens.

What Day Is It?

The problem with not working (aside from not working) is that I have no idea what day it is. My entire life has had a Monday - Friday / Weekend schedule. From school to work. This is the first time since I was about 4 that I have had this much time off from everything. I went up to the Mansion to volunteer yesterday and there was a woman who greeted me and asked me if I wanted coffee. (I love it there, have I mentioned that?) Anyway, she warned me that the coffee was going to be strong. And I said, "Well, it's Monday, so strong is good." It was Wednesday.

So speaking of the mansion, the executive director really wants me to work there full time and get paid. But there's no money. So she said she was going to look into getting a Capacity Grant. I was so excited. I have no idea if it would work out, but what a dream that would be. She wants me to be VP of Marketing. Wouldn't the be so fabulous? Think good thoughts, you never know! She makes things happen, so I wouldn't put it past her!

In the meantime, I have a meeting with an unemployment counselor tomorrow morning. (It took me close to 3 weeks to even get a meeting.) I'm not sure what will come out of the meeting, but I am hoping to find out if I can get an extension and maybe get some money to receive training in a new field or go back to school. There are no jobs in the Syracuse area for me. The other graphic designer who was laid off with me has not found a new job either. We're both in the same boat.

Lizzie Borden Took an Axe

I have been having the best time volunteering with the George & Rebecca Barnes Foundation. This week they hosted a play, Lizzie Borden Took an Axe. A local theatre company performed the play in the mansion, using all the rooms as their stage. It was really neat. Last night was opening night, I helped 'tend bar' before the show and during intermission.

This is the bar in the dining room.

It's one of my favorite rooms in the mansion.
(I'll take more of the other rooms as I spend more time there.)

This is the front hallway and the grand staircase the goes to the second floor. Such a beautiful place.

I wish I could get paid to work there, I love it. It's fun, the people are great and the mansion has such an amazing history. It's nice to be part of something that means so much to so many people.

A whole lot of nothing.

I have nothing new to report on the job front. I am still waiting for an appointment with my unemployment counselor to find out if I can take classes or get some new training of some sort. They sure are slow. Must be a government job... I guess they want to keep paying me for doing nothing.

This week has been every quiet. There's nothing on my calendar, no interviews, no appointments, nothing. It's been strange. The weather has been lovely. I've been keeping up with the running and taking Jenny on multiple walks each day. We'll both be thin and trim by the time this is over!

Here's a picture of the spoiled Corgi. 

I'm hoping Alex will be coming home this weekend. I heard a rumor that his coach was going to let him, but it wasn't definite. It would be nice to see him and help him celebrate his 18th birthday. Eek! 18? How did that happen??