I'm claiming my life back

The time for boo hooing is over. Does it suck that I'm away from Tiffany and the kitties? Yes, absolutely! Does it suck that I'm STILL unemployed and there are no job prospects in sight? You betcha! Does it suck that I'm sleeping in my parents living room and basically out of a suitcase? Sure does! But there are so many people out there who have it even worse so I am gonna stop complaining. In stead of feeling sorry for myself, I'll start moving forward.

All good and well in theory but we'll see about the practice!

I got a rejection e-mail from a job that I really liked today. The Nordic environmental standard "Swan" was looking for a specialist to go though the applications. They passed on me. Moving on.

I had an appointment at the social services today. As you know, I'm not getting any unemployment benefits yet so this is what it has come to. This person, my case person, has restored some of my faith in humanity. Last month she gave me enough to pay my bills and have some to spend. This month she upped it without me asking for it. I think my expenses are still just a tad bit higher than what I will be getting but the situation isn't as dire as it might be. I have roof over my head, food in my belly, phone that's working (for now) and internet connection to stay in contact with Tiffany and to look for jobs... some people don't even have that so I will try to be thankful for what I've got.

Speaking of thankful...I am open for donations towards plane tickets to USA for thanksgiving! 553 euros... 750 dollars. Anybody willing to part ways with that money, do not hesitate to contact me!

After living together for over 2 years and being able to see each other and talk to each other every day, getting used to the 7h time difference is very difficult. Having barely any money for phone bills doesn't make things any easier. Skype, as great as it is, requires working, uninterrupted internet connection that seems to be unattainable for us. Either there is interruption on my end or the connection keeps going off on Tiffany's end. Computer to phone skype calls are not all that better, even if they are free. I guess you get what you pay for...which in this case is not whole lot.

The job situation in USA is not looking good for me. I have not heard from the guy at Rutgers since I came to Finland, and my professor who put me in contact with him and has been helping me in my job search, has not heard from him either. It might be that there's nothing to tell, but telling me that would go a long way. How can I work for someone who is so unreliable?

In other job related news though, my professor, Eric, who's real day job was working for the EPA, a federal entity, has resigned and is going to the private sector. As I am not an american, I couldn't have been hired by the EPA. Now that he will be working for a private company, he might be in a position to help me. If there are any positive news, I will let you know. But this could be very good news for me and Tiffany.

In totally unrelated news...in 2004 when I was doing my 6 months of practical training for Loimi-Häme, I rented a room from my parents' neighbors. It was just a room and I had to share a bathroom with a drunken older man who also rented a room from the same house...anyway, I ate and showered etc at my parents house. To make things easier (calling on the phone was just TOO complicated) I bought these walkie talkies for myself and Arttu so that we could go back and forth and they could call me to eat or just to come over. I absolutely LOVED those things... fast forward to 2010 and me back in Finland...I went through my stuff in the attic and guess what I found? My walkie talkies! I bought new batteries for them and we are now going back and forth with Arttu again! I'm on my computer downstairs, he's in his room upstairs...now we can bullshit whenever we want! He is going back to the army for the final 3 days in few hours but after he gets released, it's on!!! I think the range is between 500-1500m, so unfortunately we can't do this while he's away...

I should look into jobs that require communication via walkie talkies... I'm like a kid in a candy store...call me a geek all you want, I love them!