Spammers.

It's frustrating enough not getting replies from the zillions of jobs I've applied for... but when I do get an email and it's a scam! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Sadly I know there are plenty of people who fall for them (which really is sad).

It just pisses me off!

One year near.

One year of being unemployed is getting closer and closer. No leads. No interviews. And all I can think of is that my unemployment checks will end in December. I cannot throw my son the 1st birthday party I wanted to. Our savings is getting smaller each month which means and dreams of buying a house are more and more out of reach. We cannot afford to move... and if I cannot find a job in Chicago where can I?

I just do not know how to get a job. I've tried everything, but nothing seems to work. Recruiters don't want me. My project management skills in the music industry don't seem to be a big selling point. Going to school is not an option since I cannot afford childcare. I dread the idea of working the overnight shift at the supermarket but that is what it's looking like so I can watch Miles during the day.

Being unemployed can really make you feel worthless.

My Day.

Wake up some time between 4am and 6:30am.
Coffee.
Breakfast.
Help LP get her bags ready for work.
Go to snotty park before anyone gets there.
Feed Miles.
Nap #1... check Facebook, look for jobs, apply for jobs, try not to get down about being out of work.
Go for a walk... usually to the grocery store.
Feed Miles.
Play with blocks and toys.
Nap #2... either get on the computer or read or start prepping dinner.
Feed Miles.
Play some more... work on walking, keep Miles from getting into things.
Maybe go for a walk or go to one of the other parks for a swing session.
Feed Miles.
Miles starts getting really tired and cranky toward the late afternoon so spend time being goofy to make him smile until LP gets home.
LP gets home so start dinner.
Work on budget and bills plus work on grocery lists, Target lists, lists, lists, lists.
LP puts Miles to sleep so I clean up all the toys and books.
Eat.
Clean kitchen.
Watch some TV and hang out with LP although we are usually too tired to talk much.
Asleep around 9pm.

The Park.

I live by three parks. One of them is named Fellger Park. This seems to be the cool hip spot for parents on the Northside of Chicago to bring their children... children under eight. I have seen people drive up, park on the street, pull out their stroller, strap the kid(s) in, and walk twenty feet into the park. And not any stroller will do... it must be the Bugaboo. This is the Northside park to be seen. It's where to show off your kid, what your kid is wearing, and chat with your lady friends about what car you should buy since your Mercedes is getting old (2 years) and your husband should make more money. If your lady friends cannot make it that means you just need to play with your iPhone and ignore your kid.

How do Miles and I fit in? We don't. We try to avoid this park since it tends to be over crowded and the people are not very nice to us. We don't have a Bugaboo. We don't have our group of lady friends. We don't want to hang out. We just want to spend some time on the swing and do a little crawling around. We get the snotty stares. We've been told that it's surprising Miles is not walking yet (and how many 8 month babies do, and even if he was 16 months is it any business of yours?).

Miles and I tend to only go in the early morning when the park is empty. This morning's trip actually had a nice encounter with another dad and his daughter. They actually spoke to us. They actually were having fun. It was a nice surprise. Then they left and the regulars came in and soon Miles and I went home.

Not Giving Up...

No I am not giving this blog up, I am just not finding much time to type... and not many exciting things going on to post about. Lately my posting has been limited to blurbs on Twitter and Facebook.

I did try to start a second blog at the beginning of 2009 about my life and times on unemployment. With every day being the same... and getting absolutely nowhere on the job hunt I realized it was just so depressing (not therapeutic) to write about. The winter months found me learning to be Mr. Mom... and trying to stay sane being inside all of the time. Landing no job interviews since being laid off was just not good (and still is not)... but writing a blog about it seemed to make everything worse. So myunemployedlife* got the axe.

Hopefully there will be a brighter future for this blog and for me...

Paczki Day!

Today is Paczki Day! So LP and I, along with Miles for the first time, made our annual trip to the Pasieka Bakery to buy some paczki for LP to take to work. This is the first year I did not get to take some to share since I don't have a job. This all means that Lent starts tomorrow.

81st Oscar Wrap Up.

Slumdog Millionaire... did not see it.
The Reader... did not see it, but own the book which I never read.
Milk... did not see it.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona... did not see it.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button... did not see it, but almost did.
The Duchess... did not see it, but it's in my queue on Netflix.
Man on Wire... saw it and though it should of been a short.
WALL-E... saw it, and thought it was good, not great.
The Dark Knight... saw it!