Don’t I wish it was that easy?  I’ve been looking for a job for over a year and only managed to land one very temporary position that lasted for 2 months.

And I SWEAR… I take showers (especially before interviews)…

Still, with or without a shower, jobs aren’t that easy to find.  Rumor has it there are 6 people looking for every opening in my town.

I’ve got a college degree too.  And no, I haven’t gotten around to putting my application in at McDonalds or Walmart yet.  I’ve been focusing on jobs that I’m qualified to do.  And while I think that with my degree in IT I could learn to operate a cash register – even the kind with pictures instead of numbers – I have not got any real retail or fast food experience to help me get a foot in the door.

What about volunteer work?

Turns out you have to apply for THAT too.  And it helps to know someone… and be patient.  After 6 months of waiting I’m finally getting to do an orientation for a volunteer slot that has a 3 month commitment.

And I’m going to run completely out of money soon.  In 2 months I may not have a house to live in.  And how is that going to sit with my volunteer position – if I suddenly find myself with out a shower to take?

Yep, I’m headed down that road to becoming a “homeless bum”.  Me, and my 12-year-old son.  You might wonder why his dad doesn’t help – but dad’s been out of work for 3 years, run out of unemployment benefits, and can’t get on disability (which he really SHOULD qualify for) even though his health issues are probably the reason he can’t find work.

People just don’t want to take the risk of someone who might get sick being in their health insurance pool.

I wonder where people who think that their smart-ass comments like “take a shower and get a job” will take this country if we give them a chance?  Will things get better?  For whom?

Or will they get honest and quietly open a place to dispose of those of us people that have somehow fallen through the cracks no matter how hard we tried to do the right thing?