Its official: I’ve just been officially recognized by the gummint as being unemployed. I called the NC ESC to get my PIN reset so I could file online and a helpful staffperson named Harriet did that and filed my claim for me. I was on hold for 30 minutes before Harriet got to me but her willingness to help and cheerful demeanor made it all worthwhile.

My unemployment checks are a pittance, actually, though they’re the maximum the state will pay. The amount is a fraction of my former salary. It will be a painful transition period but we’ll be able to keep the lights on here at MT.Net.

I was told something else interesting: the ESC doesn’t want my job search records, at least not right away. I was told to dutifully fill them out and keep them around but only send them in if/when the ESC asks to see them. I suppose the ESC is so busy with claims now that they don’t have the staff to sort through mounds of job search forms.

I’m calling the N.C. ESC this morning to reset my online login. A call to their “Remote Services Center” resulted in many “all circuits are busy” calls. Finally got through just now, though their phone system tells me I’m in for a 20 minute wait.

Maybe I’ll reconsider and mail my resume to the Somali pirates. Does Somalia have a functioning postal system? (In a touch of irony, in my previous role I could’ve told you all about Somalia’s postal system).

My wonderful wife is celebrating a birthday today.

Happy birthday, my love!

I’m still spending hours scouring the job boards for a new position. Hopefully things will pick up this week now that Thanksgiving is over.

Even though I’m in-between jobs and wrecked one of our cars, I’m still way, way up on this year. How cool is that?

Hope everyone enjoys a peaceful and loving Thanksgiving.

Amazing what a good night of sleep can do for you. I fell asleep before 9:30 last night and woke up feeling much better. I think I’ve turned a corner on this head cold.

Now if I could only get some callbacks for these jobs to which I’ve applied everything would be good.

I am really beat tonight. Could be too much geeking out last night, lack of good sleep, or anything else. I’ve had this chest cold thing going since the weather changed (which was about the time I got laid off, coincidence or not) and its been dragging me down today.

I think my best plan tonight is to spend the rest of my waking hour(s) in bed with a book.

We took the kids to the Raleigh Christmas parade this morning. It was in the 20s with a steady wind, and we were in the shade at the corner of Fayetteville and Hargett. Even so, we all had a great time watching all the bands and floats go by.

We also took the opportunity to ride the bus to and from the parade. It was super easy, and though the bus only runs hourly on weekends we spent the extra time hanging out in Marbles. I think the kids enjoyed the bus ride as much as the parade itself.

I’ve been so busy job hunting (and making my rounds of civic meetings) that I forgot to post about Monday’s CAC presentation by Raleigh police chief Harry Dolan.

Chief Dolan spoke about the state of crime in the city and what needs to be done to reduce it. He stressed again and again that it begins with the parents and the community, not the police, and I fully agree. It was easy to tell that while the chief would rather not put kids behind bars, until someone close to these kids can show them a better way he’ll keep locking them up. But he’d be much happier if these kids had mentors.
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