July Ramblings

We've had at least 5 days with temps over 100. My electric bill is going to be way higher than I can afford, especially now that I'm unemployed. Am trying to not run the AC but it is miserable.

I've applied for a couple more jobs. Of the 3 that I interviewed for before the old job ended, one thanked me for interviewing and hired someone else. Then I never heard for a second interview for one of them which means I didn't get it. The third job I just never heard anything at all. I was up against 2 other people for that job. Nothing. Discouraging.

Here's something even worse, though. It is amazing how many people out there are scum. I got scammed and my name and phone number (which used to be unlisted but is no longer since I can't afford the $1.25/month) got passed along to scammers. Oh, and my email address, too. I can't change either because that's what's on the resumes I've sent out.

Every 2 hours, every day during the week, I get a phone call from a scammer asking me about my application to go back to school. I keep telling them that I did not sign up for anything, am not interested and to remove my number. Hasn't gotten me anywhere. So next time my caller ID has the number I am reporting them as harassing to the phone company.

Last night I got an email telling me that in order to be considered for the human resources support position I applied for I needed to click the link and provide them with my credit report. No phone number to call to verify who they are and I did NOT apply to them nor would I *ever* provide my personal information or a credit report. That is the employer's obligation. Definitely a scam.

So I have no income and have to deal with harassing phone calls and emails from people who want to steal my identity or money or both. Hello! You want to steal the identity of someone with NO INCOME?!?! How stupid is that!

Alma is being helpful and encouraging and trying to get me through until I can get an unemployment check at the end of the month. I filed my claim on the 30th but haven't heard from them yet. Probably next week.

Today Alma is taking me into Chico since she has to go anyway (I think she timed that on purpose so I wouldn't use the gas). She won't let me do anything for her in return but I will find a way to do something for her. She is always helping me with things. Yesterday she came over and pulled the screen off the roof that is outside my bedroom window. It's one of those that is attached to the house outside the window sill, not a fits-in-the-window-frame screen. Anyway it does make a huge difference in the warmth of the room (usually if it's under 90).

It's hard to keep my chin up. I know that technically I have only been unemployed for 3 business days but there is nothing out there. If my mom didn't call me every day I'd be in really bad shape. She's my biggest emotional support system now. Susan, Alma and my friend Tammy from my old job are a big help, too. I pray that I can find a job to support myself. I can't apply for anything that pays less than unemployment which adds to the difficulty.

For now I just pray and try to smile. I think about the beautiful roses Ernie gave me my last day of work. Ernie is a really sweet man. He once offered me a job but he does litigation and I prefer probate. He's one of the better attorneys in that firm. John's been helpful, too. The other 3 could care less. I know that I'm expendable to a lot of people. That's just the way it is. But to have one person in particular be practically jumping for joy at the prospect of ruining me, well that hurts.

There has to be something better out there for me. At least I pray there is.

In the meantime I am going to just keep trying. It's all I can do. If you feel like saying "hi", please do. You don't need a reason. Just knowing I'm not alone in the universe helps. And say a prayer for me. My vision is good. Now if I could just get a job.