I can't believe I put returning to work in May it seemed so far away and now it' seems like I should have put Aug. I don't know . I guess worst case I get denied and have to appeal. I'm trying not to to think about it too much. The stimulus check will help a bunch and the help I've gotten from buffistas has been good.

Although if this goes into August then I guess I'll be out of a job completely. And I still haven't been able to get in touch with the HR manager at work about the W2 info I need. I'm going to call the store manager tomorrow.

Hil, think of it as starting a business that serves people who have sudden extra time on their hands, not as a business for non-necessities. And if you're able to get it going while it can still be a side thing (whether that's before furlough or a furlough doesn't come), the risk is much less.

separately, {{askye}}. that's a lot to have hanging over you, and I'm shaking my fist at them for not getting you all your info before now.

And I'm tired of feeling like I'm living in the prequel of a some dystopian novel or tv series or movie. It sucks because it's been this slow motion slide since the election and it just keeps getting worse.Some of the things I thought would happen didn't but it took a lot of work and effort for them not to happen and now I feel like we are on the verge of just.. I want to punch people in the throat.

Askye- that is terrible. I am sorry you are going through this.

I am having a lot of trouble adulting. I think I might go back to EAP and see if I can talk to my therapist again, since it is a new year. I don't have too many things- I am not on the frontline, I don;t have kids, etc, but I can't get my routine set when I don't leave the house. I pretty much just want to cuddle Petunia and sleep. But there is actual work I need to be doing! Zoom is exhausting and I am on for, for hours a day minimum. Now that I am not in a panic about everything work related (all the panic stuff is done), I am having trouble motivating.

I've had several moments where I thought "this is the prologue scene in a novel."

Hello to everyone! I'm gald we all have this place for support, even in sucky circumstances. I'm supposed to be working, but my school laptop keeps overheating, especially when using teleconferencing services. I've started putting an ice pack on it, which seems to help.

And with that, I must be off to give DH a little childcare relief.

Sunset is in 25 minutes so I just sent DH to the corner booze store to get me wine. Sunset time is the time when I relax and have my wine, but I have been out for a few days.

I ran over to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription....and saw a woman wearing a mask, but smoking a cigarette at the same time. Like, I'm not exactly clear how she was slipping the cig under the mask, but I was like "...aren't these things contradicting each other?"

Also my anxiety brain is trying to tell me I 'm not going to get the stimulus check. I don't know why but I just feel convinced that they are going to find an issue with my taxed and withhold it even though I know that isn't true.

Happy birthday to the Lilybean! 15 ... O.O

Cashmere, if you want some suggestions for parents working with kids who have ADHD, hit me up -- I'm happy to point you towards resources, and speak to my own experience.

I didn't think I had to be actively looking for work because I was furloughed with the pandemic. 

Unfortunately the regulations for unemployment remain the same regardless of the situation at large.

But "reporting your job hunting activity" can be as simple as reporting that you contacted your employer (whether or not you got through!) about your furloughed job, and you can report the same thing every week. Revising the resume, confirming references, browsing for other jobs -- all these count, are super low key, and can be repeated with every reporting cycle.

and saw a woman wearing a mask, but smoking a cigarette at the same time.

that engenders ennui in me.

I managed to get into a flow and put 5 hours of work in! It's been *so hard* to get my brain into work mode here at home. I work remotely plenty, but I'm usually doing it somewhere outside my house! Hopefully I can keep this streak going all week.