NO Good Deed Goes Unpunished

You'd think the Department of Labor would want you to pick up part time work while unemployed. I'm not so sure. I did a one day project in November and dutifully reported it. As promised, the DOL docked my next check and I thought that would be the end of it. Then a week went by -- no check. Another week went by -- no check. Nor any other communication from the DOL.

I finally searched the entire DOL site to find a number at which I could talk to an actual person. Fortunately, Ric, the guy who answered, totally got it, solved the problem and released my checks. But would it have killed them to tell my what was going on instead of holding my money and ignoring me?

Here's the stupid story: because I worked, the DOL started holding my checks until I could explain why I wasn't continuing to work. Even though I filled out the form that said I worked one hour on one day. Full time work that ain't!

But Ric is the silver lining in the story. He not only understood, but empathised and gave me his name and direct number in case I ever need his help again. Let's hope I don't.

Begining to Look a Lot Like Christmas

There's nothing like a lovely little overnight sugar coating to get the Christmas spirit rolling. Sure is pretty in the sunlight.

Kind of takes the edge off spending the last 4+ months unemployed. Well, the odds of a new job between now and the end of the year are pretty much nil, so I'll just have to relax and enjoy the season. With a renewed appreciation that it is not about the price tags on gifts as it is about the people. I think I'll take some of this spare time and give it to a good food bank or something.