Step Talk

I can understand how you feel. Hang on Girl!!! Good things will come your way. Have you registered with the unemployment office in your city? Although you may not qualify you can still be eligible for their Job seeker services.

I was layed off from a job several years ago and found that I had been in that job so long that my skills were no longer current. The state paid for me to get retrained! I had to take a technical school for a year but I understand they even paid people transportation fees if they didn't have a car. That at least will keep you busy and they still allowed me to work temporary part time while going to school.

"GO BACK TO YOUR BRIDGE YOU EVIL TROLL. YOU HAVE NO POWERS HERE"

So is all your belongings still at ex house? Can you bring the kitties to your parents? Maybe they would let them come into an enclosed porch area if nothing else?

Also can you look for a cheap roommate until you get on your feet? I have found all my roommates thru ads in the paper, it is a lot cheaper to share the expenses . . . if you can't swing it yet maybe your family will help for a little while?

"In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer." -Albert Camus

I moved across country a couple of months ago. I have been looking for a job for the past 3 weeks. I am a nurse, and nurses are in high demand everywhere. I applied for several jobs and only received one phone call. I had an interview yesterday and was unofficially offered the job, pending approval of HR. But at least I got what I wanted...it's all dayshift. There are lots of positions open for nights and evenings, but it's difficult for me to work nights and I did the steady evening thing for 4 years (you don't have a life). Now watch...I'll start getting all kinds of calls now that I have a job!

Keeping yourself busy will help you not ruminate on everything going on in your life right now. I was always grateful to have a job to go to, especially when my personal life seemed to be going down the tubes. It was a wonderful distraction.

Don't worry...I'm sure something will open up for you. And if you want a kitty you can have mine...she just yacked 3 times all over the carpet

Is there anything that you stopped doing or didn't start because you had an instant family. Join a yoga group or gym. Learn to play a musical instrument or learn new language. I heard that learning a new language is a great way to stop negative thought cycles. You know those negative things you think about during stressful times. By learning a new language you start thinking and focusing on the new words a phrases and the negative thoughts are in English and not in your new language vocab.

Try to take advantage of your situation, you probably won't have this kind of "time to yourself" for very long. Hang in there.

The problem is that I do not have any income, so going, doing and driving are out of the question. My belongs are still at STBX's because I literally have no where to put them here at my parents. (You have to understand that my mother is a SERIOUS pack rat, every nook and cranny in this house is literally FULL of her junk. And guess who gets to inherent it when she dies? Thanks Mom, I love you too.)

The gas I have in my tank right now, is being conserved for job interviews, because it's the only tank of gas I have. I only have a 20 dollar bill on me, and it's for gas. My parents help me out, but I really don't want to burden them as little as possible. I am really actually a simpleton in nature, so I don't need a whole lot. I was able to take what I pretty much needed, except for a couple of items, but I will manage. My main problem here is that I have no source of entertainment, other than my laptop... I already have a serious addiction to it! LMAO!!!

My dad is horribly allergic to cats, and my mother doesn't want them here period. We don't have porches out here, and the garage is full of black widows and too much stuff for them to get into, plus one of my kitties is a special needs kitty and has to remain inside. They are fine at the house, and I know that STBX and the kids will take the best care of them. I just absolutely miss them.

Once I can afford my own place, I will arrange to get my things from the house, whether it be civil, or by police escort. I do know what my rights are. My STBX is not the type to take his anger out on property, because he knows that will be damaging in court. He's smarter than that.

I think that one reason STBX changed the locks on the house, (as well as the obvious that he's afraid I'll take everything with me like BM... but I don't want any of his stuff period.) is a way to prevent me from leaving him, his way of controlling the outcome. It's sort of a diversion. Knowing the way that he thinks, he feels the situation is out of control, therefore, what is the best way to gain control? Changing the locks. In that essence, it's also a way for him to gain communication, because eventually, I have to contact him to get my things. So, he's waiting. And this, puts back the 'responsibility' on me to contact him first... where he sees that as admitting and taking the blame.

My grandmother sent me a shoe box of old family slides to scan, so I've been occupying my time with running that project this weekend. But it's tedious work. Takes me 15 mins to run each scan, and each scan I can only do 4 slides at a time. The box is FULL of slides... going to be awhile...

So, back to my slides...

Retired (StepMom)

“Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong- sometimes it's letting go.”

My mother is also a packrat. Funny, we were just talking about that the other day. She has named my sister and me as her executors. I laughed and told her that me and my sister will make two piles: stuff to keep and divide amongst the kids and pile for the bonfire. When she was still with her husband I told her we were going to deal with it by dousing the place with gas and throwing in a match. I feel sorry for whoever has to go through my stepdad's house when he's gone, but I know it aint gonna be me!