[glowbelly]

i'm one of the lost statistics.

i was laid off in april, went on unemployment and decided to go back to school instead of going back to work. i could have filed for an extension on my bennies, but i decided against it.

i'm 28. there are 4 people in my one photography class that are doing the same thing.

i COULD go back to work right now, but i'm choosing not to. this doesn't mean that i should not be included as an unemployed person. i am.

during the 6 months that i was on unemployment, i applied for jobs. i had to. i'm gonna go ahead and say that i'm pretty well qualified for the work that i have experience in...guess what? not a one called me back for an interview, let alone hired me.

so there ya go.

if you want we can discuss my boyfriend's situation...which is worse than mine, because he works his ass off at a job that pays absolute crap. he's applied all over the place for something better and is getting no response. this is not because he isn't qualified or skilled. it is because there are a very small amount of jobs available in his skill set, and the competition is insane. plus he has standards and refuses to work at what he does and knows best for pennies.