Unemployment

For the first time in my life, I have to file and collect unemployment.  Trust me, this is not the path I ever wanted to follow.  And, to make matters worse, despite my intelligence, I find the whole process to be quite confusing.

First I had to call in to start.  That, thanks to phone tree technology, took three phone calls. When I did finally get through, the computer voice told me that I couldn't call until Wednesday so I had to start all over again.  When Wednesday came, I did finally get everything in order and the woman with whom I spoke was very nice to me.  When I called the computer system was down, so she wasn't able, at the time, to enter my information, but she thought everything was in order.  Just in case she took my home phone number so she could reach me.  Not ten minutes later she called to say all was well and I should plan a phone interview for Sept. 15 and another one for the 24th.  She further informed me that I would be receiving several mailings.

The mailings came.  Apparently, I am scheduled to attend a Reemployment Services Orientation on Sept. 16th in Newton, NJ, a mere 56 miles from my house.  Now I don't mean to sound like a whiner, but I don't want any job other than teaching.  I spent a lot of time and money to get the experience and education I have.  I do not want to do something else.  Anyway, now I have to duke it out on Monday and plead my case.  REally, do I have to go all the way to Newton??

In the meantime, I have applied to three jobs in the last week.  Just today, I applied for a leave replacement position at Copper Beech Middle School.  I interviewed there earlier in the year, but did not receive the job.  However, it seems that this is the third time this position has come up.  Clearly, if they had chosen me in the first place, they wouldn't be in this fix.

So, I just wait.  Wait for an unemployment check.  Wait for an interview.  Wait for the understanding of why I am in this position in the first place.