Unemployment: Take Two

Unemployment happens. Sometimes it happens again and again. In my case, twice within a span of less than two years; the majority of those twenty months spent unemployed.

I was asked if I am more prepared for this hardship now than the first bout of unemployment. Heck no. You still feel the panic and the emotional turmoil surround you like a thick black fog. Suffocating. Okay, so it wasn't that dramatic. I actually didn't feel much which is not to say that the event is any less stressful. I was aware that each day could be my last and was greatful for the few months that I was employed. I am also hopeful that this is merely temporary.

In any case, when life gives you lemons, what do you do? Do you:

1. Curl up in a fetal position and rock yourself back and forth and search the recesses of your mind for that happy place.
2. Fall into a downward spiral of depression and despair crying "Woe is me?"
3. Binge on $1 menu items until you pass out. (This one is quite tempting!)
4. Take those lemons and sell them to make a few bucks.

Of course, number 4. Take something and make something. What have I done so far?

1. File a claim to restart unemployment insurance benefits. DONE
2. Requested more work from my freelance jobs that I had established during the first period of unemployment. (Yes, I kept these small jobs after obtaining FT work. I'm no fool!) DONE
3. Withdraw son from daycare. DONE
4. Take inventory of items to sell on eBay this week. DONE
5. Brainstorm and list topics for new articles to write this week. DONE
6. Clean my home office in preparation to work my pants off this week. DONE
7. Bake a weird gluten-free, dairy-free, raw sugar banana/peanut flour bread so as not to waste the overripe bananas sitting on my counter. Hey, unemployment does not allow for the waste of food products. DONE
8. Rake leaves and scoop poop from the back yard. FAIL (Seriously?)

Now it's time to find some Superbowl snacks!