Interview

Well today I had my interview at Golden Living Center. I feel it went rather well. I had to wait over an hour before they came and got me for the interview. Instead of taking the bus I decided to walk there. It is not a bad walk. Two and four-tenths miles, it took me about forty minutes to  make the trip. So if I do get hired I will not have to worry about getting there.

We discussed many things and had a great conversation. I feel that my love of nursing came across. At the end of the interview I asked her why she worked there. I got a great answer in reply and not the canned company line.

I then left to head back to the "Y" and went out into the rain and walked in the wrong direction. Stupid me I kept walking looking for a bus stop. I did find one eventually but had to wait in the rain for about an hour.

Once I got back to the "Y" I got into dry clothes and took the vet van to Walmart to do some grocery shopping.Thank God for food stamps or I would not be eating.

Yesterday I got a phone call from another Nursing home. They REALLY want to interview me. The lady all but offered me a job over the phone. A couple of problems though. One it is part time with the possibility of going full time. and the second is that they are located in Palmyra. Cat does not run any buses to Palmyra so i will have to figure something out. Also walking there is not an option nor is riding a bike. I did go ahead and schedule the interview for next Thursday.

Good News

Well yesterday I went to CareerLink. What a waste of time. Well not really, I was able to get my account info, so that was not a waste of time. I found that all the jobs they had when I did a search I had already applied for. Also when I looked under recommended jobs based on my work history and application history they had none available. LOL.

I got some great news today. I got a call from a local Nursing Home. They want to interview me. I have an interview on Friday at 1400. WOOHOO!! Now to get back to reality. I am not hired yet but at least it is an interview.

I called my Employment Program Specialist to give him the great news. He was happy but he is slammed with work from his vacation. I have to go see him today and he will get me some bus tickets. The great news is that there is a bus stop right in-front of  where I have the interview. I called the Cat Bus place and found what bus I need to take. But they have a limited run time so I am going to get there really early. Oh well, I like to arrive early for appointments anyhow.

Food Stamps

Well it's official. I now have food stamps. I applied for assistance on the 31st of December. I went in today as I mentioned I had to when I got a call from the assistance office. I walked the whole way there, Google says it was 2.8 miles from the "Y". I was going to take a CAT bus home but started walking and looking for a bus stop. Did not see any and came upon the street where I grocery shop and needed to pick up a few items so never did catch a bus home.

Tomorrow I am planning on going to Career Link. That is the unemployment office. I need to get hooked up with them again. I am not going to get any cash but they have job search options.

I am starting to get a bit frustrated with the VA. Yes they are providing me with a place to stay but that is about all they are doing. I thought I would have more contact with them. But oh well. I feel that my greatest fear when I started this journey is happening. I am falling through the cracks. I am so used to doing things myself with no help so I guess that is how it is going to be.

On another good note. I now have permission to tell you about one of my readers. he does not want me to mention his name. But I have a Senator from Washington as a reader. He contacted me and told me he is following my blog. I asked permission to tell you about him but he said he is fine with it just no names as of yet. It just makes me happy that I have someone with his status following my journey.

Friday Update

Well some great news!! I just got off the phone with the Dept. of Public Welfare. They tell me I am eligible for expedited food stamps. I have to go in on Monday to talk to them and take some paperwork in to them. Not to happy that I need food stamps but at least I will be able to eat.

Happy Friday

Well here it is another Friday at the YMCA. Got word the other day that they will be doing some pest control and spraying for bedbugs in the rooms today. I have to stand my mattress and box-spring on it's side so they can spray.

I am getting really bummed because I am finding it harder than I though to find a job. I am starting to think that I may in the next few weeks move back to Carlisle and live in my tent. I spoke to my last employer yesterday and they informed me that they could put me to work almost right away. I told them to make some calls and find me work here in Harrisburg.

They told me that my last client fell and broke his leg while my replacement was with him. I am  really upset over that bit of news.

I spoke to my middle son yesterday. Jon is leaving for the Army on the 6th and wanted to come see me. I had to tell him that I moved and he will try to make it here to see me. I hope that he does. I really miss all my boys. I want more of a relationship with them. I have not spoken to my oldest son in many years and that hurts me to no end. I am hoping that someday he reaches out to me. I have and continue to reach out to him but leave it in his court to reply to me. I am so proud of each of my sons. They are great young men.

Also found out my pay today is much less that I was expecting. I got $47.94. That hurts big time.

Happy New Year

I would like to wish all my readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Well today I got a call from an agency. I did not catch the name of the agency. But they wanted to hire me on the spot. They had an assignment that I could have taken and been working tonight. I had all but accepted the assignment until they told me where it was. The assignment was in Carlisle, where I just moved from on the 19th of Dec. Thus due to my lack of transportation I lost another opportunity. That is two in one week.

Also today I applied for medical assistance and food stamps. I have to find a way to get to the assistance office this week to drop off some paperwork that they need.

I also changed the address in my drivers license and for my CNA certification. I still need to change the address on my Ham Radio license, but that costs money that I do not have. Oh well I will get it done as soon as I can.

Turned Down For A Job

Well I have been applying for jobs like crazy. Today I got a call from MedStaffers here in Harrisburg. They did an over the phone interview. Everything was going gangbusters until I told them I did not own a car. They did not care that I have access to a bus system and cabs. Now the bus system is not that great but it is there. They told me that I needed to own a car to be able to work for them. Needless to say I am bummed. Oh well there are other employers out there. Hopefully one will hire me soon.

Survey

Yesterday I was asked by my case worker and the "Y" housing program manager to stop in today to participate in an internet survey for the VA. It is a survey about services that the VA provides and whether they applied to me and if I have been able to access the services.

I told them that I had internet in my room. They gave me the web address to the survey. Last night I typed in the address and went to the page. After some searching I found the survey and filled it out. Many of the service's I knew about but many I did not. I filled it out honestly. I am sure that the survey as I filled it out would not look favorably on the VA. So I hope that they take the information they are gathering and make the needed changes to address the problems I noted.

Things have been going ok. I am starting to run short on cash but am budgeting the best I can. I updated my resume yesterday. Also filled out a bunch of applications on the web for jobs. Hopefully I will soon have a job.

I am also waiting to talk to my jobs counselor about getting into school to improve my skills. The VA has a program that will pay me for my living expenses while I attend school. I want to look into that because if I improve my skills I will be able to get a higher paying job.

Christmas Eve

Well here I am living at the "Y" on Christmas Eve. Not where I thought I would be last year at this time.

I had a meeting with my Case Worker this morning. She told me I will have to submit 3 applications for work per week. I kind of balked at that idea because I feel it is to low. I will be submitting many more than that per week.

Also we discussed the amount that I would have to save per pay towards getting my own apartment. She wants me to save 10% of my paycheck. I think again that the amount is to low. I will adjust as I see fit. I also informed her that I would be saving for a car. At this point to me a car is of more importance. Lack of transportation is severely limiting my available options.

I kind of did lay down the law. I informed her that if I am unable to find an income in the next two weeks that I would be moving out and back to Carlisle and living in a tent. I can make a call today and start working tomorrow.  She was not keen to that idea. I am surmising that it may be that if I were to do that I would be a black mark against the VA and it's efforts to end homelessness among vets. Oh well I have to do what I have to do.

The last few days I have been doing some exploring of my new city. I have found a few places to eat and a very small neighborhood grocery. I have taken some pictures and am posting them here for you to see.

24 Hours

Well it has been a little over 24 hours since I moved into the YMCA. I am finding it not nearly as bad as I imagined it to be. I expected worse, much worse. I don't know what I expected but it is not a nightmare. It is just like when I was in the Army in that it is barracks living. Anyone that has experienced barracks living will know what I mean.

I met with the case worker assigned to me yesterday and she got me all signed into the program. She was unable to access her one program to work on my care plan. So I will meet with her again on Monday. Not sure what they mean by care plan because it has a medical meaning for me seeing as I am a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). I will find out on Monday.

Today at 1130 I have a meeting with the guy helping me find work. I really need to get an income ASAP. Hopefully he is as good as he portrays himself to be. These folks need to realize that I am putting a lot of trust in them to help me get over this speed bump.