I am so upset right now I am not sure what to do at this point. I was laid off from my job the end of July. In the state I live in I am entitled to 30 weeks of unemployment benefits. Well I just found out TODAY that I am being denied all benefits since I am going to school full time. I am in a Associates program and not a certificate program, and to continue receiving benefits, I must either one drop out completely, or  drop to part time and lose all my financial aid. I am NOT dropping out of school or going part time! What really gets me pissed off, is that 2 months before signing  up for classes, I went to the unemployment office to make sure that if I went back to school I would not lose my benefits. I was told that I need to fill out paper work to get the extension, but as long as I was still looking for work I would continue to receive money, EVEN if I was denied the extension. Now I am being told I have to be in certificate program off there approved list. The list consists of Medical Assistant, and Medical Coding and Billing Specialist. Great professions but not what I want to do. I am really not pissed about the money, it’s the principal of the situation, I was told one thing and now what I was told is not being honored. I do have the right to appeal that ruling, and I will. When I was told this I did ask why wasn’t this on the paper work I filled out for school, and the response was “We can’t give out any negative information on the program, then people would sign up for it.” No shit, but if I was told that this was going to happen I would have gone part time or done one of the “approved” programs… UGH!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate this fucking state!

Sorry I have been kinda not around. I finally started school on September 4th. I walked in to my first classroom in almost 10 years, but I did it. I had been talking about going back to school for years now, but this year I actually did it. I got all the financial aid a girl could ask for, and a new laptop. I like most of my classes, I loath my algebra class. I am horrible at math always have been, now the professor is making even worse. He doesn’t make any sense at all! You know the scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day off, when the teacher has this horrible mono tone voice, yeah that is my professor and even worse he doesn’t take questions in class, he will only see you if make an appointment before class and it’s only for a certain time frame. I am not sure if I should complain, I don’t want to seem like a pain in the ass in the first couple weeks of school.

My Digital Photography class, now I love that class. We took a tour of the studio’s today, and felt like I walked in to Mac heaven. Mac’s everywhere, and all the professional camera equipment you could have. I am excited about this class, I will be learning more about digital photography, and hopefully be using what I learn someday to take a “great” picture.

Sorry it’s been a little bit since I wrote anything, but I have been busy with getting everything ready for school. I have been working on my financial aid, and looking in to getting a school loan. I promise there will be more soon, along with some more pictures I have taken over the past couple of weeks…

I do not like the heat, by any means. My favorite time of year is the fall, warm days and sweatshirt ready cool nights. This year I find my self getting a bit excited about the hot, humid days. Days were I think if I leave the comfort of my artic condition of my apartment, I might melt in to a puddle. Since I am being laid off, I am looking forward to the summer. Days at the beach with my daughter, the smell of salt water in my nose, the sand in some of the most uncomfortable spots, smell of fried dough on the boardwalk. Sunsets that make you want to cry, cause you have the sight to witness them, and feel sorry for those who can not enjoy it’s beauty. I greet summer this year with open arms, and lots of plans…

I have been busy the past week. I just got my new toy! No it’s not sexual, though it seems that maybe it should have been, but that is a whole other post.

I received as a a late Mother’s day gift, a Nikon D40X! It is a digital SLR for those of you can not speak camera. Now for the longest time I had my heart set on a Canon XTi, but after doing some reading, and actually going to camera stores and playing with both, I had a change of heart and settled on the D40X. So I have been walking around and taking pictures of everything.

I have also been getting my ducks in a row to start this fall semester at the local community college. No, I have not decided what I am going to major in, so I am just taking the general classes. So if I decide to not pick a major and get an associates in General Studies/Liberal Arts I will be more qualified to ask you “Would you like fries with that?” Since I will be unemployed in August, I plan to be going full time. I have applied at the community college, and according to my best friend “a monkey could apply and get in. it’s just a formality.” and I have started my application for financial aid. Depending on what I receive in financial aid, will determine on how many classes I take. I am both excited and scared.

Here are some of the pictures that I took this past week…

So I have decided to take this lay off in stride, keep my nose clean for the next 2 months, get my severance and go back to school in the fall. But for what? This hot mamma suggested that I go to nursing school, that is a great idea, if I was good at math. I really suck at math, this is really embarassing but I can’t even count change with out a calculator. It’s sad I know. I like to work with people but I don’t want to be yelled, I am tired of the call center life and would really like a change. When I look at the certificate programs that the local community college offers, nothing jumps out at me, nothing sparks my interest. I have interest but they are most like a hobby, and not a lot of money making. I love kids, but I am not sure if I could deal with screaming ones all day long. The area I live in is mostly factory work and I am not a factory kinda of worker. So what do I wanna be when I grow up? I have no fucking clue!

I found out on Friday, that my department is being closed and moved. I will be unemployed as of August 10th! My best friend says this is a blessing, I see it as a huge road block on my plans. They have offered a severance package, and a rather good one, I have only been there 7 months. My husband and his family are pushing the going back to school thing, cause the “call centers around here are drying up”

It will be nice to not have to worry about work for the rest of August, but I wanted to start looking for a house at the end of this year, and I am really going to new a new car. This is really frustrating…

Ladies and Gents, I am not the proud owner of the Nintendo Wii!!!!!!!!!! I am not sure how I can tell you how super excited I am! I can’t even remember the last time I complained of Nintendo thumb, til the other day. I can download a good portion of the old school games.. You know it is amazing how much you remember of game that you have not played in 20 years. The last time I looked at Super Mario Brothers I was 7… There is also my new favorite game is Tiger Woods 07. I am horrible at golf, real golf. This is something that I actually feel like when I am done playing that I could go to the best course in the world and play with the best of them. There is also a game that actually makes you bowl. You have to stand like you would for real and do the whole motion, the only thing to remember is not to let go of the controller… If you all get a chance check out

wiihaveaproblem.com

It wasn’t working when I did the post so I could not link it..

So I disappeared for a bit… I was dealing with the home life. It takes a lot out of me. Things have seemed to get back in to order, and working with the schedule we have now.

I am looking forward to the vacation we have planned in July, the only thing I am not looking forward to, is the 15 hours to North Carolina in the same vehicle as my husband’s mother. I am really working on my husband to decide to take our own vehicle. A couple of weekends ago we did a short day trip with the in-laws. We went to Maine. The Monster seemed to handle herself fairly well, she did get very bored towards the end and got a little cranky, but I am sure that was cause she really didn’t sleep in the car, maybe 45 min. It was a 2 hours drive to Maine, and the entire time, my crazy MIL seemed like she needed to discuss all the plans she has for Monster’s education. Wait a fucking minute here.. who is the parent? Me or you? “Well you, you hate school, you didn’t even consider college after high school.” Ummmm that is just what you assume, I did not grow up with money and the privileges that my husband had. So no I didn’t go to college, not cause I didn’t want to, because I could not afford it. “Well you didn’t try hard enough and look at you now, a blue collar worker.” Fuck YOU!!! Your son works in a factory, He has a job with his name on his shirt and he has a college degree. I suggest that we drop this subject really quick or it’s going to get really ugly.

ARGH!! She really knows how to make me feel worthless…

Nothing really exciting going on. Dealing with some family shit right now, be back asap…