Week 4 of unemployment

"I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Yes, sir.
Are you listening?
Yes, I am.
Plastics. There's a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?"

One unwritten benefit of unemployment: Catching up on movies that I should have already seen. I've started looking for hints as to what I should do next everywhere I turn. Maybe I should think about plastics.
Or not.
I don't know. I'm probably just as confused as Benjamin, but like to think that I'm not as slack jawed about it. Have I thought about graduate school? Yep. Have I done anything about it? Nope. Now, where did I put that scuba suit?

Took a break, but not broken

Ah vacation.
I've been going here and there for the last month, which is partly why I haven't been updating. No access to Mr. Internet.
But I was keeping the chronicle going - typing and writing and what not. So, I'm going to post some of the things I wrote and post date them.

Day 12

Day twelve of unemployment:

Taking a break for now. Prepping for vacation, actual, not the permanent vacation that I've made up a little song about.

Back next week.

Day 11

Day eleven of unemployment part II:

What is it with laundromats?
I approached $1 wash day at one of the laundry places in town and could hear a screeching spider monkey child before I even walked through the doors. Pleasant.
The Jerry Springer was turned up so loud that the TV speakers vibrated with effort on the high notes and excessive bleeps. When I looked up, a woman consisting of only a torso, head and arms ambles across the stage and there are puppets chiding people on stage. A man from the audience, girthy, large, flashes the crowd and says something like he's a buffet. He proceeds to go on stage and writhes around a stripper pole while removing his polo shirt. He's my dad's age and I'm embarrassed for him.
As I silently judged those around me, I thought, really? Without a hint of irony you're watching this? More screeching child. A woman talking about the man who knocked her tooth out. The employee gabbing on the phone, saying oh honey repeatedly.
Apparently this is what happens during the day when I would normally be at work or doing other work-related things. I go outside and eat licorice and read about "The Last Days of Dogtown" while thinking, aren't I living them right now?
I start to take my things out of the washers to transfer them to the heated drums. A woman who looks normal enough starts looking for washers. I point out the empty ones in front of me. Oh thanks, she says. As I'm thinking she's like me, I've found a like-minded person here, she sticks her head in the washers and sniffs. She does a double sniff on one and decides to pass.
"I have to smell them," she says. "I know it probably looks weird. But sometimes they have that rank musty water smell and I don't want that on my stuff."
It makes sense I tell her.
By the time I'm at the dryers, Maury Povich is on. It's makeover day. I can never resist the makeovers, even though it's clear the people they've chosen are incredible beautiful despite their ratted hair and torn t-shirts.
When I'm just about done with folding, the first reveal is made. I'm a little sad that I'll never know what the "please make me over" contestants will look like in the end. I think maybe I'll turn it on when I get home, just for closure.
Then I realize, nah, that's got to be on a channel I just don't get.

Day 11

Day eleven of unemployment:

List of to do's today:
- get laundry detergent
- do laundry
- check web sites for job updates
- Google how much of a cut pimps take out of earnings
- wash hair

Day 10

Day 10 of unemployment:

I still find it hard to type unemployment. Not because of shallowly seated psychological issues, but because of the sequence of letters. Perhaps this will improve.
I went to Michigan Works today. Ugggggg. Holy strip mall hell. There was nothing awful about it, but nothing good either. It was entirely mediocre. I'd already filled out all the drack online but was told I had to do it again, in blue or black ink.
Seriously? What's the point?
Oh, right, it all comes down to money. The employee on the computer diagonal from me was struggling. She was so not helpful to the lady who actually needed help. But she has a job and I don't...
Everything has been faxed and copied and entered into the necessary slots.
Today was the first day I went back to my employers. I had to drop off some statistics to go along with the freelance story I turned in last week.
When I pulled up, an ex-coworker was leaving the building. He was a little ways away. I was about to call out to him, but decided against it at the last minute. I'm not sure why.
The front desk lady, who I always like, immediately makes the face when I walk in. I jokingly call out, "security..." She doesn't find it funny and asks, "how ya doin' kiddo?"
My "just fine" sounds a little unbelievable, even though it's true. We chat for awhile. I ask if she can send up the papers because the thought of seeing all of the ex-coworkers on the other side of the little swinging door is a little much. And I wonder about my desk. If it's all cleaned off and sterile, it would make me sad.

Day 9

Day nine of unemployment:

I got up extra early and decided to read. I'm reading the Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank. I feel it's taken some of my very own thoughts and it makes me sad that I didn't write it first.

Today is Sunday in all it's glory. Gloomy and listless. Somewhere roast beef is being made. As it turns out, it's at my parents. I go for dinner and everyone seems to be all snotty. I mention to my mom that we'll probably be moving. She says oh well.
One of the nephews was all whiny while another one scissor kicked me in the belly when I went to pick him up.
At least I don't have to get up early in the morning, I think to myself. I prepare my unemployment papers before I go to bed. They're doing an investigation over my claim. Apparently, it's standard procedure, and I'm told it takes 3-5 weeks before it goes through. Great. Does that mean I can pay rent and utilities with IOUs pending the outcome?